Climate Prediction Center 

Looking for a long range forecast for what the weather will be like?

The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) is responsible for issuing seasonal climate outlook maps for one to thirteen months in the future. In addition, the CPC issues extended range outlook maps for 6-10 and 8-14 days as well as several special outlooks, such as degree day, drought and soil moisture, and a forecast for daily ultraviolet (UV) radiation index.
  
Visit NOAA's website for 6 to 10 day, 8 to 14 day and monthly forecasts.

News from the Wisconsin Association of Lakes

April 2009 - Slow-no-wake bill passes Legislature!

A bill (SB 12) that will establish a statewide slow no wake zone for motorboats within 100 feet of a lake’s shoreline awaits the Governor’s signature to become law. This bill is a positive step forward to preserve water quality, prevent shoreline deterioration, and improve public safety for citizens who are fishing, swimming, and paddling on our shorelines. 

Boating too close to shorelines can contribute to shoreline erosion problems, reduce water clarity by stirring up lake bed sediments, release phosphorus—the nutrient responsible for algae blooms—from lake bed sediments, and harm fish habitat when propellers uproot shore land plants. 

A provision within the bill allows local boating ordinances to extend slow-no-wake zones farther away from the shore (for example, 200 feet as Dane County has done). Local boating ordinances may also specify slow-no-wake zones that are less than 100 feet from the shoreline. This provision recognizes that there are some locations where a more localized approach may be desirable to accommodate recreational use. An exemption is also included for water-skiers pick up and drop off zones.

April 2009 - Phosphorus lawn fertilizer bill passes Legislature

The Clean Lakes Bill (AB 3) has passed both houses of the legislature and awaits the Governor’s signature to become law. Passage of this bill has made Wisconsin a national leader and a model for other states. 

The bill creates a statewide law regulating phosphorus in lawn fertilizer and will prohibit the display, sale, and use of lawn fertilizer containing phosphorus, with certain reasonable exceptions. The Wisconsin Association of Lakes member lake associations, lake districts, and concerned citizens from across the state worked together to advance this bill, which is modeled after Dane County's existing and successful county ordinance. 

Nutrients like phosphorus—a common ingredient in lawn fertilizer—are degrading 90% of Wisconsin’s inland lakes. Plants don’t absorb more phosphorus than they can use, and excess phosphorus from lawns washes directly into our lakes and streams, causing smelly algae blooms, fish kills, and declining water quality. 

This bill is a small, but significant step forward in the efforts to curb the avalanche of nutrients that pollute our public lakes.

April 2009 - Aquatic invasive species transport bill

The Legislature has introduced a bill (SB 123 and companion bill AB 162) that would improve regulation of aquatic invasive species. 

This bill offers some technical changes to improve upon the “illegal to transport” language that was passed in the supplemental budget bill in May of 2008. Current law prohibits “invasive species” from being transported on a highway. This bill would prohibit the transport of aquatic plants or animals on a vehicle of any kind on a public highway. This bill would prohibit the launch of watercraft (expanded to include any vehicle, seaplane, watercraft, or other object of any kind) with aquatic plants or animals attached. Authority for law enforcement officials is also broadened under this bill. 

This bill would give the Department of Natural Resources authority to respond to invasive species that are new to Wisconsin, or are an increasing threat to Wisconsin resources.

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WDNR News
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Brought to you courtesy of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
You can view all the current weekly news and previous news articles at the WDNR's web site.  The WDNR Weekly News is updated every Tuesday at noon.  You can also subscribe to their E-mail Updates to have the news delivered to your inbox every week!  (Links below will take you to the WDNR's website)  

11/18/08   Online advice helps private well owners fix water problems
MADISON - The drinking water doctor is in. Wisconsin's private well owners who want to check on their drinking water can now go online to get advice if they notice that their water smells, tastes ...  Read Full Article