These Once Were the Stories of
the Little Plover River

Little Plover River 1997

LITTLE PLOVERLITTLE PLOVER
RIVERRIVER
WATER……WATER……
Going,Going,
Going,Going,
GoneGone ??

Little Plover River 2005

WATERWATER
 WATER is not an infinite resourceWATER is not an infinite resource
 We can do without oil but not WATERWe can do without oil but not WATER
 Currently, more WATER is beingCurrently, more WATER is being
pulled out of the ground than can bepulled out of the ground than can be
replenishedreplenished
 The discussion has begunThe discussion has begun

Where is the LittleWhere is the Little
Plover?Plover?
The Little Plover starts in the town of Stockton, just below the
terminal moraine, flows west through the Town of Plover and the Village of Plover,
where it forms Springville Pond, and then joins the Wisconsin River.

Facts of the Little Plover
 90% of flow is from Groundwater
 Class I premier cold water trout stream
 Most studied River in America
 We have been warned since 1965 in report after
report of the pending dry up of the Little Plover
River
– 1965 Weeks study
– 1985 Hunt study
– 1997 Lampert & Lee watershed management study (this
report accurately predicted the dry up of the Little Plover in
2005)
 As predicted, the Little Plover dried up in 2005
– The dry up was so severe that brook trout died and this
dry up continues 5 years later in 2010
– The ecosystem was been harmed

We all use Groundwater…We all use Groundwater…

Public Rights Stage SetPublic Rights Stage Set
 On March 23, 2009, The Wisconsin Department ofOn March 23, 2009, The Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources announced the publishing of aNatural Resources announced the publishing of a
Public Rights Flow (PRF) Order for the Little PloverPublic Rights Flow (PRF) Order for the Little Plover
River setting a flow of 4 cfs at County Trunk R.River setting a flow of 4 cfs at County Trunk R.
 Here are a number of documents, articles and news stories covering theHere are a number of documents, articles and news stories covering the
PRF; these can be found on our website:PRF; these can be found on our website:
– The March 23, 2009 news release from the DNR's West Central Office in Eau ClaireThe March 23, 2009 news release from the DNR's West Central Office in Eau Claire
announcing the PRF Orderannouncing the PRF Order
– The DNR's Findings of Facts and Order establishing the PRF at 4.0 cfsThe DNR's Findings of Facts and Order establishing the PRF at 4.0 cfs
– Portage County Gazette article on the PRFPortage County Gazette article on the PRF
– The River Alliance of Wisconsin's press release "Conservation Groups Applaud PublicThe River Alliance of Wisconsin's press release "Conservation Groups Applaud Public
Rights Flow for Little Plover"Rights Flow for Little Plover"
– A brief article fromA brief article from Words on the StreamWords on the Stream "Little Plover Gets A Lifeline" "Little Plover Gets A Lifeline"
– Stevens Point Journal article on the PRFStevens Point Journal article on the PRF
– A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article from September 2009 "Trout kill in Little Plover RiverA Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article from September 2009 "Trout kill in Little Plover River""

Education - ConservationEducation - Conservation
RecreationRecreation
The Goal of the FLPR is to protect thisThe Goal of the FLPR is to protect this
valuable resource, the Little Plovervaluable resource, the Little Plover
River, and the groundwater that givesRiver, and the groundwater that gives
it life. We hope not to leave students,it life. We hope not to leave students,
“Our leaders of Tomorrow,” without the“Our leaders of Tomorrow,” without the
water we all enjoy todaywater we all enjoy today..

How Serious is theHow Serious is the
WATER Issue?WATER Issue?

Little Plover Dry upsLittle Plover Dry ups
 20052005
 20062006
 2007 (augmentation)2007 (augmentation)
 2008 (augmentation)2008 (augmentation)
 20092009
 2012 remains below the public rights stage2012 remains below the public rights stage
of 4 cfsof 4 cfs
1 cfs (cubic foot per second) = 7.5 gpm1 cfs (cubic foot per second) = 7.5 gpm
(gallons per minute)(gallons per minute)

AugmentationAugmentation
(fake flow)(fake flow)

Groundwater Levels Affect 90% of Wisconsin’sGroundwater Levels Affect 90% of Wisconsin’s
Lakes and Rivers (Not Just the Little Plover)Lakes and Rivers (Not Just the Little Plover)
Picture by Francie Rowe
Pleasant Lake, Waushara County

High Capacity WellsHigh Capacity Wells
(HCW)(HCW)
 Pre 1950 the Golden Sands had 24 HCW. TodayPre 1950 the Golden Sands had 24 HCW. Today
there are over 3000 wellsthere are over 3000 wells
 A High Capacity Well can pump at least 100,000A High Capacity Well can pump at least 100,000
gallons per day; for 3000 wells that equalsgallons per day; for 3000 wells that equals
300 million gallons per day300 million gallons per day
 300 million gals/day is equivalent of 3” of water over300 million gals/day is equivalent of 3” of water over
the entire Central Sands per yearthe entire Central Sands per year
 Current maximum pumping for all HCW wouldCurrent maximum pumping for all HCW would
exceed 30” of water over the Central Sands.exceed 30” of water over the Central Sands.
 Wells areWells are PermittedPermitted notnot RegulatedRegulated

In 2013 there are 1000 highIn 2013 there are 1000 high
capacity wells in Portagecapacity wells in Portage
CountyCounty
andand
over 3000 in the 6 counties thatover 3000 in the 6 counties that
comprise the Central Sandscomprise the Central Sands

Data Supplied by Portage County and Wisconsin DNR

Data Supplied by Center for Land Use Education and Wisconsin
DNR

Graph provided by Wisconsin
DNR

Source-Wisconsin
DNR

Source: UWSP Center for Watershed Science and Education

Source: UWSP Center for Land Use
Education

It’s Serious Enough that :It’s Serious Enough that :
In the 2009/2010 session, Wisconsin State legislatorsIn the 2009/2010 session, Wisconsin State legislators
considered groundwater legislation because theconsidered groundwater legislation because the
permitting of high capacitypermitting of high capacity wells is virtually
uncontrolled.
A fact finding work group was headed by Sen. MarkA fact finding work group was headed by Sen. Mark
Miller’s and Rep. Spencer BlackMiller’s and Rep. Spencer Black
The work group visited Portage County and the LittleThe work group visited Portage County and the Little
Plover River in October 2009Plover River in October 2009

Little Plover RiverLittle Plover River
Appreciation DayAppreciation Day

What is Appreciation Day?What is Appreciation Day?
 Each year 140+ students fromEach year 140+ students from
Roosevelt & Plover Whiting schoolsRoosevelt & Plover Whiting schools
 Walk to Little Plover River ParkWalk to Little Plover River Park
(Hoover Ave) for hands on River(Hoover Ave) for hands on River
Education/ExperienceEducation/Experience
 Bring own brown bag lunchBring own brown bag lunch
 A Friday afternoon the first weekend inA Friday afternoon the first weekend in
May (opening of trout season)May (opening of trout season)

8 Stations8 Stations
 Fly castingFly casting
 Fly tyingFly tying
 Water conservationWater conservation
 Would you drink this water?Would you drink this water?
 Trout shockingTrout shocking
 Stream flow monitoring/macro invertebratesStream flow monitoring/macro invertebrates
 Incredible journeyIncredible journey
 Aquatic Invasive SpeciesAquatic Invasive Species

 To date, almost 900 students haveTo date, almost 900 students have
engaged in water conservation educationengaged in water conservation education
activitiesactivities
 Over the years, many volunteers haveOver the years, many volunteers have
helped to make the Appreciation Day ahelped to make the Appreciation Day a
success. Ten of our volunteers havesuccess. Ten of our volunteers have
participated every year since 2007participated every year since 2007
 In total, our volunteers have contributedIn total, our volunteers have contributed
approximately 1400 hours to this eventapproximately 1400 hours to this event
2012 was our 6th
Event

Students Arriving

Picking Up Goodie BagsPicking Up Goodie Bags

Fly Rod Casting

Fly Tying

The Incredible JourneyThe Incredible Journey

Stream Flow/Macro InvertebratesStream Flow/Macro Invertebrates

Who Is That Kid?

UWSP Students CollectingUWSP Students Collecting
MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates

Trout Shocking DemonstrationTrout Shocking Demonstration

DNR Volunteers

DNRDNR VolunteersVolunteers Get ApplauseGet Applause

Shocking and Capturing TroutShocking and Capturing Trout

Viewing TroutViewing Trout

Fingerling TroutFingerling Trout

Water ConservationWater Conservation

Would You Drink ThisWould You Drink This
Water ?Water ?

Aquatic Invasive SpeciesAquatic Invasive Species

Rain or Shine They ComeRain or Shine They Come

Friends Receive Wisconsin WildlifeFriends Receive Wisconsin Wildlife
Federation Water ConservationFederation Water Conservation
Organization of the Year Award forOrganization of the Year Award for
20112011

Award Installation at Roosevelt and Plover/Whiting
Schools November 28 and 29, 2011
3rd
, 4th
and 5th
Grade Students

WATER?WATER?
What value do you place on Wisconsin’sWhat value do you place on Wisconsin’s
streams, rivers and lakes; our Naturalstreams, rivers and lakes; our Natural
Resources that rely on groundwater?Resources that rely on groundwater?
Thank youThank you
For joining the WATER discussion!For joining the WATER discussion!

Join the FriendsJoin the Friends
ContactContact
Barb Gifford 715-344-3539Barb Gifford 715-344-3539
barbaragifford@charter.netbarbaragifford@charter.net
friendsofthelittleploverriver.orgfriendsofthelittleploverriver.org
PARTNERS
American Rivers River Alliance of Wisconsin
Golden Sands RC&D Wisconsin Wildlife Federation
Central Sands Water Action Committee

Little Plover River 1997