Online survey to gather public comment available through August

The Dane County Land and Water Resources Department manages an Aquatic Plant Harvesting Program to cut and harvest Eurasian watermilfoil and other invasives from county waters. 

From now through the end of August 2017, Dane County invites area residents to participate in an online survey to complement the county's comprehensive assessment of aquatic plant communities and the harvesting program. 

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi said, “Every five years Dane County assesses the health of our aquatic plant communities. We also review our management strategies for providing reasonable use of the lakes for boating, fishing and swimming, while preserving the health and balance of the lake ecosystem; and for maintaining flow in the Yahara River to prevent high water issues including flooding.
 
I invite county citizens to take a five-minute online survey to tell us what you think about aquatic plant management needs for area lakes and rivers.”
 
Public comments and the plant survey field work to be conducted during summer 2017 will provide valuable information for updating aquatic plant management plans for waters across the county where county staff operate mechanical harvesters. 
 
Aquatic plant management plans provide an inventory of existing plants in a lake or stream, and describe how native plants will be protected for their role as the foundation of healthy ecosystems, while nuisance non-native species will be controlled and recreational access will be provided. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources requires these plans in order for them to permit aquatic plant harvesting programs under NR 109 Wis. Admin. Code.
 
For more information about aquatic plant management, visit the Dane County Office of Lakes and Watersheds website.

For more than twenty years, Madison has hosted this annual event which makes available discounted compost bins and rain barrels to tens of thousands of area homeowners. The year’s event is on Saturday May 13th at the Alliant Energy Center in the northeast parking lot from 10am – 2pm.

The event is part of a community-wide effort by the Madison Area Municipal Stormwater Partnership to promote practices that reduce and improve storm water runoff into Dane County lakes, rivers and streams.  The Ripple Effect campaign is an effort to help homeowners understand three important facts:

• Rain that runs off roofs, land and pavement travels through storm sewers and ditches to our lakes, rivers and streams.
• Stormwater runoff carries excess nutrients like phosphorus with it, which can turn your lakes green and smelly.
• The way to protect and clean your lakes and streams is to make sure only rain—and nothing else—goes into the storm drains and ditches!

Harvesting rainwater and recycling grass clippings and leaves helps prevent waterways from getting green and smelly. Fifty gallon rain barrels and compost bins will be $30 off through the event and residents can save $85 off the one-hundred gallon rain barrel. Pre-order online before May 1st using the promo code MAD17 and save an additional $10. For more information visit http://www.cityofmadison.com/streets/compost/CompostBinSale.cfm

From our friends at Public Health Madison and Dane County (PHMDC)
 
In recognition of National Radon Action Month, Public Health Madison and Dane County (PHMDC) urges all residents to test their homes for radon. Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless, radioactive gas that can ultimately be fatal.
 
Radon is normally harmlessly dispersed in outdoor air, but can reach harmful levels when it enters buildings though cracks in foundations, particularly in the winter months when homes and other buildings are closed up and heated.
 
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Surgeon General's office estimate radon is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S.  About 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked.  If you do smoke and your home has elevated radon levels, your risk of lung cancer goes up seven times.
 
Testing homes for radon is simple and inexpensive.  Test kits can be purchased at local hardware or home product stores usually for under $25.   PHMDC also has test kits for sale at $10 per kit. (See below for detailed information).
 
The EPA and the Surgeon General of the United States recommend that the test be done in the lowest lived in level of your home. After leaving the opened kit in the room for the recommended amount of monitoring time, all you need to do is to send it to the laboratory for analysis. The lab will send you easy to understand results within two or three weeks.
 
If testing shows that you do have a radon problem, you will need to install a system that will prevent the radon from accumulating in your home. Such systems should be installed by a certified mitigation contractor. According to Clint Marshall, Public Health Radon Specialist, “The cost of a radon mitigation system can vary, but typically runs around $1,200.”
 
This is why PHMDC joins the EPA during National Radon Action Month to remind the public that ignoring this hazard can have terrible consequences, and that it pays to take action against this invisible and preventable threat to the health of your family.
 
For more information regarding radon, including a list of qualified radon remediation contractors, visit the Wisconsin Radon Information Web site at:
www.lowradon.org.
 
For more detailed background on radon see the following link:
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/brochure/profile_radon.htm
 
To purchase a test kit or to speak with the Public Health Radon Specialist, call the South Central Wisconsin Radon Information Center at (608) 243-0392.
 

This segment incorporate news from Dane County Regional Airport
 
It is winter in Wisconsin, so that means it is time to plan spring travel! There are lots of great direct destinations from MSN, one of the most accessible airports in the country with great, affordable parking. If you’re there, check out several of the great, new restaurants, including Vinoteca Wine & Tapas. If you’re planning a trip, check out a few newsworthy notes from the Airport Director:

• Delta has expanded the number of direct flights to Atlanta
• Frontier has resumed seasonal direct service to Orlando
• Travel deals from MSN… check out these recent rates:
  • Dallas (DFW) on Delta - $206
  • Daytona Beach (DAB) on Delta - $248
  • Denver (DEN) on Frontier - $146
  • Newark (EWR) on United - $200
  • New York (LGA) on Delta $200
  • Orlando (MCO) on Frontier $106
  • San Francisco (SFO) on Frontier $227
  • Sarasota (SRQ) on Delta $234
  • Tampa (TPA) on American $230

Fly frequently, fly locally!