Stormwater Education Across Wisconsin Jessica Schultz Northeast Wisconsin Stormwater Consortium

Who we are… Look around the room today. I am sure you see many familiar faces, maybe you see people that you work with regularly, or people that you see only at conferences like these. 46 organizations with Stormwater I & E programs were registered for the conference today. We are the educators. 46 organizations with Stormwater I & E programs were registered for this conference.

Well over 99% of Americans are not our professional peers.

Our goal, as educators is to get our message to these people… but how? The Other 99+% Our goal, as educators is to get our message to these people… but how?

When Words Become the Picture I want to start by talking about the power of language. If this doesn’t make you stop to think, I don’t know what will. It’s a tag cloud of the most common words used in advertisements for toys marketed to boys. Ugh, kind of explains a lot. I wonder what would happen if we created  a similar tag cloud of the words the conservation community uses in its advertisements, press releases, brochures, websites, and other materials. - Eric Eckl, Water Words that Work Image from Information is Beautiful Blog Wordle – www.wordle.net

Nonpoint Source Pollution Sprawl TSS Detention Pond When Words Become the Picture Stormwater TMDL Biofilter Impervious Surface Illicit Discharge Watershed Management Nonpoint Source Pollution Sprawl TSS Would we see great big words like “clean water,” “family,” and “doing your part,” or would we see giant jargon terms like “watershed” and “nonpoint source pollution?” TMDL Impervious Surface Hydrograph Nonpoint Source Pollution Watershed Illicit Discharge Detention Pond Biofilter TSS Stormwater Watershed Management Sprawl Riparian If we are taking the time, effort and resources to create educational materials – across the State of Wisconsin, we need to make sure we are connecting with the people who need the education – not the people who understand the jargon already. This stunning image from the Information is Beautiful blog. Hydrograph Detention Pond Riparian

What is happening out there? So…. What is happening out there?

…using words and pictures they can Stormwater groups and municipalities are connecting to the public… …using words and pictures they can relate to

Healthy Happy Do Your Part Play Family Activities You Can Clean Water When Words Become the Picture You Can Quality At Home Polluted Runoff Healthy Clean Water Happy Make A Difference Land & Water Conservation Development Do Your Part Would we see great big words like “clean water,” “family,” and “doing your part,” or would we see giant jargon terms like “watershed” and “nonpoint source pollution?” TMDL Impervious Surface Hydrograph Nonpoint Source Pollution Watershed Illicit Discharge Detention Pond Biofilter TSS Stormwater Watershed Management Sprawl Riparian If we are taking the time, effort and resources to create educational materials – across the State of Wisconsin, we need to make sure we are connecting with the people who need the education – not the people who understand the jargon already. This stunning image from the Information is Beautiful blog. Play Together Family Activities Riverbank

    Explore Learn A few of Wisconsin’s Current Stormwater Campaigns Helping you help Dane County’s lakes and streams. myfairlakes.com

Let’s Take a Closer Look… Menomonee River Group Southeast Wisconsin Clean Water Network Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network La Crosse Urban Stormwater Group Madison Area Municipal Storm Water Partnership NorthCentral Wisconsin Stormwater Coalition Chippewa Valley Stormwater Forum North East Wisconsin Stormwater Consortium Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust

Menomonee River Group City of Brookfield City of Greenfield City of Wauwatosa Village of Butler Village of Elm Grove Village of Germantown Village of Menomonee Falls Village of West Milwaukee Milwaukee County Sweet Water -is a collaborative effort to achieve healthy and sustainable water resources throughout the Greater Milwaukee Watersheds

Menomonee River Group Pet Waste Program Scoop It, Bag In & Toss It! Program started in Menomonee Falls The program is being expanded throughout the group. Each Dogipot system contains 2 boxes of 200 biodegradable bags to be used and thrown into the garbage bins This program is to encourage proper pet waste disposal and reduce the stormwater pollution of our rivers.  The disposal system includes bio-degradable bags to be used and thrown into the garbage bins. Menomonee Falls 1336 dog licenses were applied for in 2010 An estimated 396,000 lbs of dog poop is generated a year (according to a 2008 projected estimate by American Community Survey) Over the paste 2 years of the program, on average 400 piles of pet waste/month are picked up at each digipot system location. This year, Menomonee Falls has 9 systems. That can add up to 43,200 piles/year! Dogipot Systems Scoop It, Bag In & Toss It!

Paws Pledge for Cleaner Rivers Menomonee River Group Paws Pledge for Cleaner Rivers The 2nd part of their Pet Waste Pram is the Paws Pledge for Cleaner Rivers.

Southeast Wisconsin Clean Water Network City of New Berlin City of Franklin City of Kenosha City of Oak Creek City of Racine County of Kenosha Village of Caledonia Village of Greendale Village of Hales Corners Village of Mt. Pleasant Village of Pleasant Prairie Village of Silver Lake Village of Sturtevant Village of Wind Point Town of Bristol Town of Salem Town of Somers UW-Parkside

Greening Up Your Yard Workshops Southeast Wisconsin Clean Water Network Greening Up Your Yard Workshops focuses on the causes of polluted runoff; practices people can employ to reduce their contribution, such as rain gardens, rain barrels, composting, healthy lawn care (use of  fertilizers, pesticides, etc. ) Including:  Target audience & message.  If you have a document (sign, poster, image, link to website, photo, videoclip, PSA, ect.) that you can forward to me that I would love to show it! We are focusing on nonpoint pollution and yard care practices. Our message is that people can make a difference in their yards to reduce pollution to our waters. Our target audience is homeowners and largely men (who do most of the yard care). Your plan for 2011-2012 –We are planning a mass media campaign that would be launched possibly this fall, but more likely spring/summer of 2012. Our goal is a $100,000/year budget. We are considering radio, TV, billboards, newspapers and a stronger Facebook presence. Our website is undergoing some revamping as well. We would try to get funding to keep it going for three years. We are working with several volunteers—one a brand manager at a major company and another who recently owned and sold a successful PR firm to help plan the campaign. Are you staying with the same focus?  Moving on? We would stay with the same focus, although we are still in planning stage for the larger campaign. Successes and lessons learned from your last campaign, project or endeavor. Last year we spent about $10,000 on radio ads and advertisements on TV Channel 12 website. Thousands of people were exposed to news stories in local dailies, on TV and a radio interview. 150 people attended rain garden workshops. I know we could have had a much bigger impact if we had more money to purchase more frequent radio spots on more stations, and other media such as TV. Despite our small budget, 73 people have built rain gardens since 2008 (holding back nearly 700,000 gallons of rainwater and snow-ice melt). Over 100 people participated in a rain garden tour last fall. Main message for 2011 - 2012: People can make a difference in their yards to reduce pollution to our waters. 6 workshops focusing on the causes of polluted runoff and the practices people can employ to reduce their contribution.

Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network Root-Pike WIN - funded a total of 73 rain gardens at 70 sites in Racine, Kenosha, Milwaukee and Waukesha counties.  Thirty-two of the gardens are open to the public and feature an educational sign that describes how rain gardens function to improve water quality. Keep approximately 695,520 gallons of rain water and snow-ice melt out of roads and storm sewers each year by capturing and infiltrating runoff in rain gardens. Root-Pike WIN is currently seeking funding for it’s 2011 intiative The Rain Garden Initiative is made possible by funding from SC Johnson Fund, E.C. Styberg Foundation, Southeast Wisconsin Clean Water Network, Michigan State University's Networked Neighborhoods for Eco-Conservation in partnership with Great Lakes Protection Fund, Wisconsin Energy Foundation, Racine Community Foundation, In-Sink-Erator, Southeast Wisconsin Watersheds Trust, River Network/Miller Coors, Wild Ones, and in partnership with UW-Extension and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 73 Rain Gardens in 3 years!

La Crosse Urban Stormwater Group City of La Crosse City of Onalaska La Crosse County Town of Campbell Town of Holland Town of Onalaska Town of Shelby Village of Holmen Village of West Salem

Focus on Erosion Control • Posters for break and timeclock rooms and stickers for lumber, concrete and utility installation vehicle dashboards were developed to remind drivers to stay on tracking pads and respect erosion control measures at home sites La Crosse Urban Stormwater Group Focus on Erosion Control focus primary effort. They determined that in this hilly area, riddled with cold-water streams and so close to the Mississippi, reducing erosion from home construction sites is a primary issue. All permits in the Storm Water Group's region are now given to builders and homeowners in a folder that reminds them of the Web site and erosion control basics and keeps everything together. This consistency is new and we are working at making processes the communities more consistent for builders. Folder for all permits across region

Focus on Erosion Control La Crosse Urban Stormwater Group Focus on Erosion Control Posters for break and timeclock areas Stickers for lumber, concrete and utility installation vehicle dashboards • Posters for break and timeclock rooms and stickers for lumber, concrete and utility installation vehicle dashboards were developed to remind drivers to stay on tracking pads and respect erosion control measures at home sites Appointments were made and these were delivered personally to all utility operations managers and on-the-ground team leaders, to explain the issues and opportunities and to ask them to use them and teach colleagues.

Focus on Erosion Control • Posters for break and timeclock rooms and stickers for lumber, concrete and utility installation vehicle dashboards were developed to remind drivers to stay on tracking pads and respect erosion control measures at home sites La Crosse Urban Stormwater Group Focus on Erosion Control Tri-fold brochure for homeowner’s A brochure explaining homeowners' responsibilities for erosion control. This is made available to the public in countertop displays on permitting and lumberyard counters. It's being presented with bids by Builders Association members, and shared with technical college building students, realtors and others.

Madison Area Municipal Storm Water Partnership City of Fitchburg City of Madison City of Middleton City of Monona City of Stoughton City of Sun Prairie City of Verona Dane County Village of Cottage Grove Village of DeForest Village of Maple Bluff Village of McFarland Village of Shorewood Hills Village of Waunakee Town of Blooming Grove Town of Burke Town of Dunkirk Town of Madison Town of Middleton Town of Westport Town of Windsor UW-Madison

Madison Area Municipal Storm Water Partnership Provides Native Plants at a reduced price Open to schools, non-profit organizations (homeowner, lake or neighborhood associations, youth groups, faith centers, clubs, ect.), Municipalities and Individual residents in Dane County. The Plant Dane! Cost-Share Program 2011 Through a gift from the Graham-Martin Foundation* (GMF), the Plant Dane! Program provides native plants at the greatly reduced price of $1.80 each—less than half the normal retail price. The Plant Dane! Cost-Share Program is open to schools, non-profit organizations (homeowner, lake or neighborhood associations, youth groups, faith centers, clubs, etc.), municipalities and individual residents in Dane County, Wisconsin. The process is simple: Click on “Graham-Martin Foundation Native Species List” below and peruse the different species available. Make notes of which you’d like (esp. their Latin name, as this is how they are listed on the order form). Once you know what species you want, complete the order form. Remember that plants must be ordered in multiples of four (4, 8, 12, 16, etc.). Pre-selected plant mixes come in flats of 32 plants. The Bird & Butterfly seed mix will cover 100 sq. ft. The website will time out after 60 minutes of inactivity, so be sure to have your list of plants that you want to order ready and avoid interruptions if possible. Submit your electronic order form. Once submitted, print out two copies of your order summary—keep one for your records and mail the other with a check made out to “Graham-Martin Foundation,” and mail to: Plant Dane! Program c/o Dane County LWRD One Fen Oak Court, Rm 234 Madison, WI 53718-8812 All orders must be received with full payment no later than Friday, May 13, 2011. Orders without full payment will not be processed. Optional: Attend the Retain the Rain! Workshop on April 9, 2011 Pick up your plants, which will be delivered to One Fen Oak Court, Madison, WI on June 25, 2011, 8a-9:30a. Participants must pick up plants on this date, or have a relative, friend or neighbor pick up plants for them. Contact Marcia Hartwig, Madison Area Municipal Storm Water Partnership Education Coordinator at (608) 224-3746 or hartwig@co.dane.wi.us, for more information. *The Graham-Martin Foundation, Inc., is a registered 501(c)(3) organization, dedicated to the preservation and restoration of natural ecosystems and the promotion of environmental education.

Madison Area Municipal Storm Water Partnership Love Your Lakes, Don’t Leaf them campaign – Previously, used TV, Radio, Billboards, yard signs, coasters & social media. 2011-2012 plans have not been finalized yet – these campaigns will move forward but not sure to what degree

Rock River Stormwater Group City of Beaver Dam City of Beloit City of Fort Atkinson City of Janesville City of Jefferson City of Milton Public Works Department City of Watertown City of Whitewater DNR Heart of the City Lake Sinissippi Association Lake Sinissippi Improvement District Rock River Coalition Town of Beloit Town and Country Resource Conservation & Development UW-Extension UW - Whitewater Photo by Mark Preuschl

Rock River Stormwater Group Fall of 2010 Leaf Raking Campaign Educational campaign and research project

NorthCentral Wisconsin Stormwater Coalition Marathon County City of Wausau City of Schofield Village of Weston Village of Rothschild Village of Kronenwetter Town of Rib Mountain City of Mosinee City of Merrill City of Marshfield City of Stevens Point City of Wisconsin Rapids

Getting the public involved in 2011 NorthCentral Wisconsin Stormwater Coalition Getting the public involved in 2011 Upcoming Workshops: Compost Bin Sales/Workshops Rain Barrel Workshops $20 – build your own barrel Demonstration Rain Gardens Following 3 rain gardens on their website to show progression.

Chippewa Valley Stormwater Forum Chippewa County Eau Claire County City of Altoona City of Chippewa Falls City of Eau Claire City of Menominee City of River Falls Village of Lake Hallie Town of Eagle Point Town of Lafayette Town of Seymour Town of Union Town of Washington

Chippewa Valley Stormwater Forum 2011 Media Campaign In the spring of 2011, Rain to Rivers began running TV ads to promote clean water. They are currently running- this “Rubber Duckie” ad and a “Fish Bowl” ad. The commercials were originally developed for San Diego’s Think Blue campaign – because these commercials were funded partially through the EPA, San Diego has made them available to use and edit with permission.

Chippewa Valley Stormwater Forum Top 10 Things You Can Do to Keep Area Waters Clean – Video Clips Conserve Water: Keep Your Rain Don’t Overfeed Your Lane Leaves & Grass Clipping Keep Soil in your Yard and Out of our Waterways Be a Pooper Scooper Practice Careful Car Care Use a Proper Container for Trash & Recycling Kick Your Chemical Dependency (HHW) Be a Watershed Watchdog Make Friends with your Watershed The video clips have been used as part of presentations and where we have capability to run a computer at informational booths at various events.

North East Wisconsin Stormwater Consortium Brown County Calumet County City of Appleton City of De Pere City of Fond du Lac City of Green Bay City of Kaukauna City of Manitowoc City of Marinette City of Menasha City of Neenah City of Oshkosh City of Two Rivers City of Waupun Fond du Lac County Outagamie County Town of Black Wolf Town of Buchanan Town of Fond du Lac Town of Friendship Town of Grand Chute Town of Greenville Town of Harrison Town of Lawrence Town of Ledgeview Town of Menasha Town of Neenah Town of Scott Town of Taycheedah UW Oshkosh Village of Allouez Village of Ashwaubenon Village of Bellevue Village of Combined Locks Village of Hobart Village of Howard Village of Kimberly Village of Little Chute Village of North Fond du Lac Village of Sherwood Village of Suamico Winnebago County Ayres Associates AECOM Contech Construction Products Davel Engineering Foth Martenson & Eisele, Inc. Mau & Associates LLP McMAHON Associates, Inc. OMNNI, Inc. R.A. Smith National Robert E. Lee & Associates SEH Inc. 2011 Members 5 Counties 12 Cities 13 Townships 11 Villages 1 University 13 Business Partners

North East Wisconsin Stormwater Consortium

2011 Exhibiting Home & Garden Show Green Bay March 17 - 20 Walleye Weekend Fond du Lac June 10-12 Farmer’s Market – Green Markets Appleton June 18 July 16 August September

North East Wisconsin Stormwater Consortium Rain Barrel Coupon Program NEWSC Members distribute flyer/coupon Coupons available to public at RenewOurWaters.org Coupon good for 10% off any in-stock Rain Barrel Currently 11 participating retailers

Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust Sweet Water – Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust Sweet Water -is a collaborative effort to achieve healthy and sustainable water resources throughout the Greater Milwaukee Watersheds Southeastern WI Watersheds Trust works with many municipalities throughout the Greater Milwaukee Watershed from the furthest northern reaches to the estuary.  We are working with a group of municipalities along with Root-Pike WIN to develop a watershed restoration plan for the Root River.  We are working with municipalities within the Menomonee Watershed, a subset of whom share a stormwater permit.  These include: West Milwaukee, Butler, Brookfield, West Allis, Wauwatosa, Greenfield, and Menomonee Falls.    This group is now expanding with the support of an EPA grant that will fund their work to develop a pilot watershed-based permit for the Menomonee River, one of 3 pilots in the country.  This group of municipalities is also pledging support for the outreach campaign which will become part or component of their i/e permit requirement.  The outreach campaign is being developed for the entire Greater Milwaukee Watershed and all municipalities within that 1100 sq. mile region may be able to credit the campaign to their e/i. Will be in discussion with the DNR on that point.  We recently submitted a planning grant to the DNR in partnership with this group with the meeting of the i/e requirement outlined in the grant as one of its objectives.  The campaign will focus on behaviors and actions residents can take to reduce the flow of stormwater and nonpoint pollution from their homes and other activities.  The main messages will be build around these actions with an underlying and maybe overlaying message being that the actions of each person when multiplied across a highly populated area can have a positive or negative affect on the health of our waters and therefore we each have a role to play.

Into Social Media… Twitters Membership – As of April 28 over 200 million The average daily sign-up rate has been 460,000 new accounts – that’s daily! Average number of Tweets per day – 140 million Facebook – More that 500 million active users (50% of active users log on to Facebook in any given day) Average user has 130 friends Average user is connected to 80 community pages, groups and events Average user creates 90 pieces of content each month There are more than 250 million active users currently accessing Facebook through their mobile devices.

Are you thinking what I am thinking?

Possibilities of Working Together? State Stormwater Educators are holding a meeting July 14 Representatives from all of the groups mentioned in this presentation have been invited to attend the meeting as well as UW-Extension Basin Educators. State-wide Stormwater Education Collaboration Is on the agenda.

Wisconsin’s Waters are enjoyed by people of all ages, all year round.

Northeast Wisconsin Stormwater Consortium www.Renewourwaters.org Northeast Wisconsin Stormwater Consortium PO Box 1861 • Appleton, WI  54912 • (920) 858-4246 • newsc@newsc.org