[Coastal America logo]

Project Summary

Milkhouse Waste Reduction

Great Lakes Regional Map


1. Project Identification

Name Milkhouse Waste Reduction
Region Great Lakes
State Wisconsin
Location Brown County, WI
Date of this update July 27, 1998

2. Problem(s) addressed (check one or more)

Habitat Restoration/Protection  
Wetlands X
River systems X
Beaches/Dunes
Offshore areas
Mangroves
Assisting Species at Risk
Pollution Mitigation
Non-Point Source Pollution
Other (describe)  

3. Project Description (100 words or less. Please include qualitative information, e.g. acres of habitat restored, miles of steam reopened to migration, and legislative authorization, e.g. WRDA, ISTEA, CWA/NEP, CZMA, etc.)

Phosphorous, an organic nutrient, is essential to the development of green plants. In aquatic systems however, low phosphorous levels limit the growth of algae and aquatic weeds. When external sources of phosphorous overload aquatic systems, plants experience a high growth rate that can deplete the aquatic oxygen supplies and negatively impacting fish and other aquatic organisms and their habitats. Excessive phosphorous loading into the waters of Green Bay, Wisconsin, originates from many nonpoint sources. One identified source of phosphorous into Green Bay are milkhouse wastes from dairy farms.

As part of the Wisconsin Nonpoint Source Water Pollution Abatement Program, a Priority Watershed Plan was drafted for the East River Priority Watershed, which includes part of the Greater Green Bay, Wisconsin metropolitan area and surrounding communities. The East River Priority Watershed Project initiated the NPS control recommendations of the Lower Green Bay Remedial Action Plan. The East River Priority Watershed Plan has provided the basis for a guide to implement NPS control measures to achieve desired water quality conditions. The East River Water Quality Demonstration Project provided maintenance, organized volunteers to plant the wetland, organized educational events, located the farmer-cooperator and managed local activities. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources entered into cost sharing and local assistance grants. The Natural Resource Conservation Service provided funding through its National Technical Center as well as construction supervision, local management and maintenance; the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture provided funding; and the Agricultural Engineering Department of the University of Wisconsin, Madison provided system design, project management and data analysis.

This project documents the effectiveness of a constructed wetlands in reducing the amount of phosphorous introduced into Green Bay and Lake Michigan from milkhouse waste discharges. Evidence from other locations, including the states of Georgia, Maryland, and Maine, has documented that wetland filter strips have been successful in handling dairy waste discharges. Conventional filter strips have worked exceptionally well in barnyard systems in Wisconsin.

4. Goals/Benefits (quantify where possible using measures of success list) Was a cost-benefit study conducted for this project? yes/no If yes, provide a summary of findings.

Lead: EPA
Others: NRCS, NOAA, USGS, Cooperative Extension Service

5. Partners (include each participant's responsibilities - funding, permitting, etc.)

6. Funding/Contributions (organization and amount)

7. Legislative authorities used by each participant

---

8. Value added by Coastal America Partnership including Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals achieved through this collaboration (500 words or less)

---

9. Project Status

Initiation date May 1992
Completion date September 1997
Current stage Completed

10. Contacts

11. Any additional information/comments

---

This page was last updated on Saturday, 24-Jun-2000 11:48:46 EDT
Coastal America * Coastal America Regions
Coastal America Reporters Building 300 7th Street, SW Suite 680 Washington, DC 20250
(202) 401-9928 * (202) 401-9821 (FAX)
comments to lawrencea@fas.usda.gov