THE OFFICIAL WEB SITE OF THE MADISON TIMES WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

NEWS AT A GLANCE

Compiled By A. David Dahmer

• Zebra-mussel and shoreland-zoning ordinances

MADISON — County Executive Kathleen Falk is inviting public comment on two topics at a Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission public hearing Monday, Jan. 12, 6:30 p.m. in Courtroom 2F on the second floor of the City-County Building, 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The topics are:

• An ordinance prohibiting introduction of zebra mussels to Dane County waters, and

• Proposed shoreland-zoning ordinance changes to make erosion-control requirements and procedures consistent with the county’s erosion-control and stormwater-management ordinance.

“We need to try to prevent zebra mussels from getting a foothold in our beautiful lakes,” said Falk. “They can cluster together to severely impact water-intake facilities, fishing and boating, beaches, and the natural balance of the lakes.”

Zebra mussels originated in Eurasia and have rapidly spread across North America during the past decades. In 2001 and 2002, individual adult zebra mussels were found in Lake Monona, but they have not yet established populations in our lakes.

Zebra mussels can coat hard surfaces such as gravel, rock, native mussels, intake pipes, boats, and motors. Once they are attached, they reproduce very quickly: A mature female zebra mussel can produce one million eggs per year. Due to their high reproductive rate and the limited number of natural predators, zebra mussels can significantly populate a body of water within several years.

The proposed ordinance would prohibit placing watercraft, equipment, or trailers in Dane County’s waters if there were reason to believe that zebra mussels were attached. Boaters would have extra motivation to remove aquatic plants and animals before launching or leaving, to drain lake or river water on land, and before properly disposing of unwanted live bait. Ordinance violators would be subject to a $50 forfeiture on first offense and $100 for subsequent offenses, if a law- enforcement officer suspected that their boat or trailer had zebra mussels attached.

The shoreland-zoning standards apply within 300 feet of a river or stream (or to the outside of the floodplain if that is greater), and within 1,000 feet of a lake. Shoreland zoning is administered by Dane County Zoning in unincorporated areas.

The changes under consideration would make the erosion-control provisions of that ordinance consistent with the countywide erosion-control requirements found in the Dane County Erosion-Control and Stormwater-Management Ordinance. In addition, certain activities in the shoreland zone would be subject to more scrutiny, given the environmental concerns about land disturbance so close to the water. For example, the exemption for residential construction of less than 4,000 square feet is proposed for removal, and runoff leaving the site must be directed to a stable outlet to prevent offsite erosion problems caused by water velocity and volume.

The Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission will consider public input before making changes to the draft ordinances and introducing them to the Dane County Board.  — Office of the Dane County Executive

• Support for Dejope growing

MADISON — A growing number of notable supporters are endorsing a “yes” vote on the DeJope Revenue Sharing Agreements negotiated between the City of Madison, Dane County, and the Ho-Chunk Nation, which will be submitted for final approval by Dane County voters on Feb. 17.

Recent supporters include: former Governor Tony Earl; State Representative David Travis; Dennis Harkins, President of A Simpler Way and former Director of the Wisconsin Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services; George Meyer, former Director of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; former State Banking Commissioner Bill Dixon; and union activist and former State Senator Joe Wineke.

“Recent budget deficits have forced cutbacks in local programs that provide vitally-needed human services to people with disabilities, seniors, and many other people in Dane County,” said human services advocate Dennis Harkins. “The DeJope Revenue Sharing Agreements will provide $91 million to Madison and Dane County in the first 13 years alone and millions more every year after that. These new revenues will help restore local human services programs and hold down property taxes.”—  www.YESontheAgreements.org

END OF LOCAL NEWS