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The Pedal and Paddle Pollution Tour of Eau Claire Gateway to the Lower Chippewa River State Natural Area

Start the tour at Phoenix Park!

Lat: 44.812296 N Lon: 91.503768 W

The Value and Significance of the Lower Chippewa River State

Natural AreaBy Kate Ebnet and Katrina Smith

The Lower Chippewa River Basin (LCRB) cov-ers 5300 square miles of land over 15 counties in west central Wisconsin. The Wisconsin De-partment of Natural Resources included much of that land in the Lower Chippewa River State Natural Area (LCRSNA).The surface wa-ter of the LCRB drains through a network of ever-larger streams and rivers and ends up in the Lower Chippewa River (LCR). As this wa-ter runs over the land and flows downstream to the LCR, it accumulates different types of pollutants from many different sources.

Environmental scientists classify pollutants as either point or nonpoint. Point-source pollu-tion is discharged from a single, identifiable location, such as an industrial dump site or a wastewater treatment plant. Nonpoint-source pollution accumulates from many indistin-guishable locations and is carried to the river by stormwater runoff. Oil leaks on the road, fer-tilizer and pet waste left on lawns are just a few examples of local nonpoint pollution sources.

Not only are industrial, agricultural, and gov-ernmental entities accountable for pollutants that enter the LCR, but so is every resident living in the LCRB. When not properly dis-posed of, pollutants end up in the LCR, and are distributed throughout the LCRB and LCRSNA. Our everyday choices, from how we use fertilizer on our lawns to where we wash our cars, directly impacts the water quality of the LCR. Even those of us who live far from the river influence LCR water qual-ity because stormwater runoff carries pollut-ants from everywhere in the basin to the LCR.

The LCRSNA is one of the most important ar-eas in the United States because many rare, endangered, and threatened species find suit-able habitat here, including 125 rare species (more than any other area of comparable size in Wisconsin), 70% of Wisconsin’s fish species, 50% of its plant species, and 75% of its nesting bird species. The LCRSNA also contains 25% of all the prairies left in the state. In addition, the LCRSNA lies within the Mississippi River Flyway, providing a resting place for migrating birds.

The LCRSNA is a place rich in biodiversity be-cause it is composed of a mosaic of ecosystems and habitats. Biodiversity is defined as the vari-ety of species living within a given ecosystem. Biodiverse ecosystems sustain many intercon-nected species. Biodiverse ecosystems provide a wide array of ecosystem services to humans, such as food, medicine, and goods we all rely on in our everyday lives. The LCRSNA purifies our air and water, decomposes our wastes, reduc-es flooding, and disperses seeds and pollinates our crops. And it’s a great place to recreate!

To learn more about pollution sources that contaminate the Lower Chippewa River State Natural Area, pedal or paddle your way to each waypoint along the Lower Chippewa River and read each pollution message on the back of this map!

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Map image courtesy of Sean Hartnett. 2010.

End at the Hwy 85 Rest Area

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DIRECTIONS

USE SIDE “ A” OF THIS MAPto locate the waypoints of the tour along the Lower Chippewa River by GPS coordinates. Pedal, hike, or paddle to each waypoint.

USE SIDE B OF THIS MAPto read messages about each way-point in the tour and learn what you can do to take action against local pollution in your communi-ty.

1. Lawn Pesticides Lat: 44.801944 N Lon: 91.497660 W

2. Invasive Aquatic Plants Lat: 44.808544 N Lon: 91.516994 W

3. Preventing Invasive Species Lat: 44.799372 N Lon:91.519361 W

4. Pathogenic Microorganisms Lat: 44.801289 N Lon: 91.511707 W

5. Fish Consumption Advisories Lat: 44.799372 N Lon: 91.519361 W

6. Light and Noise Pollution Lat: 44.780270 N Lon: 91.536285 W

7. Pharmaceuticals 7. Estrogen Mimics Lat: 44.779877 N Lon: 91.536778 W

8. Road Salt in Storm Water Runoff Lat: 44.778865 N Lon: 91.539520 W

9. Riparian Buffers to Prevent Pollution Lat: 44.778457 N Lon: 91.568930 W

10. Herbicide Pollution Lat: 44.763548 N Lon: 91.574075 W

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Half Moon Lake

Start at Phoenix Park!

you know owns land along the LCR, you may also want to remove some or all of your lawn or change the way you care for it. Replace lawn directly on the riv-erbank with native vegetation. Only wa-ter an existing lawn when necessary and avoid using pesticides and herbicides, especially if no riparian buffer is pres-ent. It is important that we maintain ri-parian buffers so that they can continue to minimize pollution, reduce erosion, and provide habitat for wildlife within the LCRSNA.

10. Herbicide Pollution by Erika Herum

When most people think of herbicides, they only think about the benefits. Her-bicides are a mixture of chemicals and natural substances people use to con-trol weeds and grow visually appealing lawns, gardens, and farms. However, herbicides can pose risks to wildlife and plants. They can poison animal tissues and encourage herbicide resistance in weeds. Herbicides enter waterways from stormwater runoff when it rains im-mediately after they have been applied. They can also leach into our groundwa-ter supply, which is often the source of municipal drinking water supplies as it is in Eau Claire.

There are several ways to reduce her-bicide pollution. Farmers can plant ri-parian buffers instead of planting their crops right up to the edge of a river. They can stop using herbicides altogether or only use them prudently. Homeowners can control weeds by watering lawns and gardens correctly, using mulch, planting native species, and setting their lawnmower height to no less than three inches. Gardeners and farmers should practice these alternative methods and use herbicides sparingly to protect the environment and conserve valuable lo-cal natural resources like the LCRSNA.

References lists for all of these messages are available at http://www.uwec.edu/watershed/tour/index.htm.

We hope you have enjoyed this tour and have gained an appreciation for one of Wisconsin’s most valuable

natural resources: the Lower Chippewa River State Natu-ral Area. We hope you have

also gained awareness of how our everyday choices affect our ecological community.

Please take the opportunity today to do your part to pro-tect the LCRSNA. Together, we can take sustainable ac-tion to preserve our natural resources for generations to

come.

Sincerely,

The Environmental Civic Agency Learning Community,

2010

1. Lawn Pesticides by Hillary Johnson and Lauren Kurkowski

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, “A pesticide is any substance used to control or repel a pest or to prevent the damage that pests may cause.” Many of us use pesticides on our lawns and gardens. Pesticides applied to lawns and gardens are often washed away by rainfall and into storm sewers and flow directly into the LCR. Pesticides found in urban stormwater runoff do not pass through the wastewater treatment plant, but go into the river untreated. Broad-spectrum pesticides are harmful to many different organisms. The herbicide glypho-sate is very toxic to aquatic species. Even small amounts can kill aquatic animals and plants. Glyphosate is also danger-ous to land-inhabiting plants, animals, and soil microorganisms. It can damage the ecosystem and reduce biodiversity in the LCRSNA. Studies have also shown that human exposure to glyphosate during pregnancy can result in the degradation of umbilical, placental, and embryonic cells.

The best way to prevent pesticide pollu-tion is to avoid using pesticides altogeth-er. Keep your lawn and garden healthy by handpicking weeds, using mulch, and watering and mowing properly. If pesti-cides are required, use natural products. Treat only for specific pests instead of us-ing a broad-spectrum pesticide that kills everything. Build a rain garden to filter out harmful chemicals in stormwater runoff. Redirect roof downspouts to grassy areas to increase absorption into the soil. Get involved in the community and support legislation that regulates pesticide use. En-courage local lawn and garden stores to carry natural pesticides. Offer stores sug-gestions for alternatives to pesticides so they can inform customers. It is possible to have a lush and healthy lawn and gar-den without harmful pesticides!

2. Invasive Aquatic Plantsby Conner Vail

Invasive animal and plant species are a destructive pollutant in the LCRSNA. Inva-sive species are species not native to a giv-en ecosystem; like other pollutants, they do considerable harm to the ecosystem of the LCRB, including the river, floodplains, and other nearby waterways. Invasive aquatic plant species such as curly-leaf pondweed, purple loosestrife, and reed canary grass have invaded native ecosys-tems in the LCRB. Studies show that in-vasive species like curly-leaf pondweed replace native aquatic plants, thus reduc-

ing populations of native waterfowl, like mallards. Research also shows that in-vasive aquatic species reduce food sup-plies for panfish like bluegills. Large fish like bass also find it difficult to hunt in waters choked with invasive weeds.

At Half Moon Lake, we see an example of habitat fragmentation, one of the ways humans encourage invasive species to gain a foothold in a habitat. Habitats are fragmented when large areas are broken up by roads, development, or other an-thropogenic changes. According to one study, habitats are broken up when we construct apartments, boat landings, and hospitals, and this fragmentation creates empty spaces that invasive plants fill. In-vasive aquatic species also cost us mon-ey. Economists have found that invasive aquatic species lowered property values by 8%. Monitoring and controlling in-vasive aquatic species costs the federal government $137 billion annually. Help prevent the spread of the invasive aquatic species by cleaning your boat and discarding leftover bait in a garbage can, NOT into the waterway; discarding leftover bait in any waterway is illegal. Check out Clean Boats Clean Waters (http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/cbcw/) for more information about preventing the spread of invasive aquatic plants.

3. Preventing Invasive Speciesby Tania Richter

Originally introduced as leftover bait, the rusty crayfish is an increasingly com-mon invasive species found throughout Wisconsin. This species is found in small numbers in the LCRB. The rusty crayfish can migrate on its own both by hitch-hiking on watercraft and by travelling through standing and running water-ways. Knowing how rusty crayfish spread can help us prevent them from prolifer-ating in the LCRSNA. Rusty crayfish can travel by boat bilge or on watercraft. So before you leave a waterway, empty all containers holding water back into that waterway and carefully remove any vis-ible plants, soil, and animals that may have “hitchhiked” during your trip. At home, hose down your watercraft with hot water from a high pressure sprayer or allow your boat to dry on land for five days to ensure that unwanted “hitchhik-ers” too small to see don’t survive and travel to a new waterway with you. Fi-nally, never release bait species such as minnows, crayfish, or worms into the body of water you are fishing. This is illegal. Check with government sites such as the USDA National Invasive Species Information Center (http://

www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov) to en-sure that you are following the laws. By following simple precautions, we can all help prevent the spread of in-vasive species in the LCRSNA.

4. Pathogenic Microorganisms in Recreational Watersby Jacci De Wolfe

Pathogenic microorganisms are micro-scopic organisms that cause disease. Many are naturally present in recreation-al waters in the LCRSNA. However, high concentrations of them in the water in-crease the risk that people will get sick. Scientists assess the health risk of rec-reational waters by measuring the con-centration of Escherichia coli (E. coli), which indicates how much fecal mat-ter is in the water. Just as a thermometer measures temperature, E. coli measures the amount of fecal matter present in water. Fecal matter can contain patho-genic microorganisms such as Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and some strains of E. coli that cause gastrointestinal illness. Reducing the amount of fecal matter that enters the LCR and its surrounding lakes and rivers reduces the risk that people will contract these illnesses.

Stormwater runoff is the main way most fecal matter is washed into the LCRSNA. Stormwater runoff flows into storm sew-ers or down the banks of the lakes and into the LCR, and so it is not treated by the wastewater treatment facility. To re-duce the amount of fecal matter that en-ters waterways in the LCRSNA, you can decrease the amount of stormwater that flows directly into it. Make a rain gar-den, which allows stormwater to soak into the ground and filters out pollutants. To reduce the amount of fecal matter that enters waterways, do not feed wild-life because it encourages them to con-gregate near recreational areas. When walking your pet, carry a bag to pick up your pet’s waste and properly dispose of it in a garbage can.

5. Fish Consumption Advisoriesby Ricarda Bieke and Eric Miller

Whether you are an avid angler or just an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys the LCR, fish contaminants and their sourc-es affect you. Mercury is one of the con-taminants found in fish. Mercury is a byproduct of coal combustion, which is the main source of power in the Mid-west. Mercury from burning coal enters the atmosphere and then is rained into

lakes and streams. Organisms at the bottom of the food chain, phytoplank-ton and zooplankton, are the primary consumers of mercury in our water. As each ascending consumer eats these tiny organisms, mercury is biomagnified up the food chain. Top predators such as walleye, Northern pike, and muskie have the highest bioaccumulated con-centrations of mercury.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) publishes fish con-sumption advisories (http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/consumption) to inform people about which fish species are not safe to eat. These guidelines can help you avoid potential health problems caused by eat-ing locally caught fish. The WDNR ad-vises pregnant women and children to consume fewer local fish because stud-ies show that mercury can cause neuro-logical problems in developing fetuses and young children. Together, we can all contribute by taking small steps to re-duce the sources of mercury by decreas-ing our energy use and by encouraging cities and co-ops to switch to cleaner forms of energy such as wind, solar, nu-clear, or hydroelectric power. One day, fish consumption advisories may not be needed. Now that’s a vision we can all live with!

6. Light and Noise Pollutionby Brian Kendzior

Light and noise are two types of pollu-tion you may not immediately think of as a threat to biodiversity in the LCRSNA. Light pollution is artificial lighting that harms ecosystems. Bright streetlights and household security lighting that leak light into the night sky are the big-gest source of light pollution and a waste of energy. Artificial nighttime glow has been linked to increased occurrence of skin cancer in organisms, as well as dis-ruption of vital cycles that dictate sleep/wakefulness and migratory instincts.

Noise pollution is human-produced sound that can damage ecosystems and quality of life. We contribute to noise pollution by driving cars, playing loud music, and operating other loud equip-ment. Studies have shown that noise pol-lution is directly linked to reduced sleep times in humans and other animals; this increases stress, promotes disease, and increases the occurrence of mental ill-ness. Noise from loud boat motors has also been shown to increase the likeli-hood of cardiovascular disease in fresh-water largemouth bass.

You can help reduce light pollution by using outdoor lighting that delivers a narrow, focused beam of light instead of broad, peripheral glow. In addition, respect noise ordinances in your local community and while using recreation-al watercraft.

7. Pharmaceuticalsby Lisa Karnish and Julie Murphy

Trace amounts of prescription and non-prescription medicinal drugs, or phar-maceuticals, are another form of pol-lution in the LCRSNA. Pharmaceuticals enter our waterways when we improp-erly dispose of old or unused medica-tions. Don’t flush medications down the toilet or dump them down the drain. If you do, trace amounts of these pharma-ceuticals end up in the LCR, because they are NOT filtered out at our waste-water treatment facilities.

At the Eau Claire Wastewater Treatment Plant, six million gallons of water are treated at the facility every day. At our treatment facility, wastewater moves through a series of settling tanks to re-move particles and is then treated with good bacteria, which ‘eat up’ any re-maining contaminants. From May to September, the water is chlorinated and dechlorinated before it is released into the LCR to ensure the safety of the pub-lic, who are using the river recreation-ally during these months. After passing through the many stages of treatment, the treated wastewater is eventually re-turned to the LCR via an underwater pipe located underneath the I-94 over-pass. However, our wastewater treat-ment facility does not remove or test for organics, solids, pH, heavy metals, am-monia, or phosphorus.

The WDNR does not currently require testing for pharmaceuticals. To help al-leviate this growing problem, take ad-vantage of the Prescription Drug Dis-posal Program in Eau Claire County. This program offers four free convenient disposal locations where you can take unwanted medications, including pre-scription drugs, over-the-counter medi-cations, vials, inhalers, sprays, and pet medicines. For more information re-garding the disposal program, contact Eau Claire County Planning and Devel-opment at (715) 839–5055.

7. Estrogen and Estrogen Mimicsby Angela Peper

Estrogen is an essential hormone natu-rally produced in the body. Estrogen mimics are artificial hormones that have a different chemical structure but be-have the same as estrogen biologically. Both types of estrogens can be found in many products we use everyday. Birth control pills contain synthetic estrogen. Estrogen mimics are found in herbicides like Atrazine, in parabens in many per-sonal hygiene products, bisphenol-a and phthalates in polycarbonate plastics, perfluorinated chemicals in nonstick cookware, nonylphenol in detergents, and triclosan in antibacterial soap. These estrogens enter the water through human and animal excretions and are rinsed down drains or deposited directly into the ground and water. Wastewater treatment facilities do not have the tech-nology to remove estrogens and estro-gen mimics from wastewater, so levels of estrogens continue to rise as they cy-cle through our waterways. Eventually, humans and other animals are exposed to potentially dangerous estrogen con-centrations.

Documented effects of overexposure to estrogens in aquatic animals include de-layed sexual maturity, decreased size of male reproductive anatomy, and thinner eggs. Specific data on the estrogen con-centrations in the LCRB have not been collected; however, similar adverse ef-fects have been documented in nearby waterways. Overexposure to estrogens have been correlated with increased rates of breast, uterine, and prostate cancer; heart disease; stroke; decreased muscle mass; decreased sperm count; and decreased sex drive in humans.

There are five things that you can do im-mediately to avoid increasing the levels of estrogen and estrogen mimics in the LCRB: do not use herbicides on your lawns or gardens; use personal hygiene products that are labeled “paraben-free”; use aluminum or stainless steel water

bottles instead of polycarbonate plastic bottles; do not use nonstick cookware or antibacterial soaps; and make your own laundry detergent! The ingredients are common household products and much cheaper than laundry detergent.

8. Road Salt in Stormwater Run-offby Vanessa Meyer and Courtney Tick-ler

Road salt is put on our roads and high-ways to melt snow and ice every winter so we can travel safely. An average of 385,000 tons of salt is used by the Wis-consin Department of Transportation every winter! And this number doesn’t account for salt used by businesses, schools, and the general public.

Road salt dissolves in water or snow and is washed down storm drains directly into the river. Road salt is not removed from water flowing through storm drains. Road salt can have harmful effects on plants and animals that live in the river. The LCRSNA supports a wide variety of flora and fauna, all threatened by any changes in their ecosystem. Fortunate-ly, the LCR does not currently contain harmful concentrations of salt, but chlo-ride tests indicate that concentrations in the LCR are steadily rising and will continue to rise if we don’t change our habits.

One way to help preserve the LCRSNA is to put pressure on the local and state government to reduce the amount of road salt used every year. Contact the city council officials in charge of public works (http://www.ci.eau-claire.wi.us/home/public-works). There are substi-tutes and additives that the city could use that aren’t as harmful as road salt; these may be more expensive, but the environmental benefits are worth it. You can also help by reducing your own per-sonal use of road salt. If you use salt at your home or a local business, mix the salt with additives like sand or gravel. Less salt on the roads mean a healthier LCRSNA.

9. Riparian Buffers to Prevent Water Pollutionby Haley Highmark

Trees, shrubs, and other plants that grow directly on the bank of a river are called riparian vegetation. If the area in which riparian vegetation exists is large enough, this area can be considered a riparian buffer. Studies show that ripar-ian buffers significantly reduce pollutant runoff into the river and provide shelter for many animals. Riparian buffers inter-rupt the flow of surface water runoff into a river, forcing water to slow down and soak into the soil. In some forms, nutri-ent pollutants that soak into the ground can then be used by plants for growth. In addition to reducing pollutant runoff, the roots of various plants provide struc-tural support for riverbanks by holding the soil together.

As a citizen you can find information about how to help establish and main-tain riparian buffers by contacting lo-cal agencies such as the Farm Service Agency (http://www.fsa.usda.gov), the Natural Resource Conservation Service (http://www.nrcs.usda.gov), or River Country Resource Conservation and Development Council (http://www.riv-ercountryrcd.org). If you or someone

Left to right: back row: Ruth Cronje (English), Lauren Kurkowski, Angela Peper, Jacci De Wolfe, Courtney Tickler, Katrina Smith, Haley Highmark, Rica Beike, Julie Murphy, Lisa Karnish, Kate Ebnet, Vanessa Meyer,

Garry Running (Geography and Anthropology). Front row: Hillary Johnson, Eric Miller, Brian Kendzior, Paula Kleintjes Neff (Biology), Connor Vail, Sarah Peterson, Don Mowry (Social Work). Missing: Erika Herum, Tania

Richter.

ln September 2010, an interdisciplinary group of University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire (UWEC)

undergraduates and faculty from English, biology, geography, and social work formed the Environ-mental Civic Agency learning community. With funds generously provided by The Wisconsin

Environmental Education Board (WEEB) and the UWEC BluGold Commitment fund, we created

this Pedal and Paddle Pollution Tour of the Lower Chippewa River State Natural Area. The purpose

of the tour is to encourage you to hike, kayak, canoe, or bike to the GPS waypoints indicated on the other side of this map to learn about point and nonpoint sources of local pollution. After you take this tour, we hope you’ll join us in active steward-

ship of our unique natural resource.

Take our virtual Pedal and Paddle Pollution Tour at

www.uwec.edu/watershed/tour/index.tour

Special Thanks

To the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board (WEEB) and the UWEC BluGold Commitment Fund for their generous sponsorship of the

Pedal and Paddle Pollution Tour.

To our Environmental Agency Com-munity Partners:

Meg Marshall (Clear Vision Eau Claire Sustainability Task Force), Eleanor Wolf (Lower Chippewa River Alli-

ance), Kirsten Cahow-Scholtes (River Country Resource Conservation and Development Council), Dan Langlois

(UWEC Environmental Adventure Center), Dan Zerr (UWEC Extension Lower Chippewa River Basin Edu-cator), and Paul LaLiberte and Ken Schreiber (Wisconsin Department of

Natural Resources).

We also wish to acknowledge thegracious help of

Dr. Sean Hartnett (Geography and Anthropology),Tiffany Coggins, Kat

Running, Danielle Ryan (UWEC BITS trainer), Tyler Schroeder (our web de-veloper) and the anonymous student

who took the photograph that appears above.

Thanks to Documation, LLC for their services to print this map.

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