EM Insight 2025 Quarter 4: October - December
Quarterly News and Highlights from the Environmental Management (EM) Division
The EM Insight is a quarterly report from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Environmental Management (EM) Division that profiles some of the great results that our staff, teams and partnerships have achieved. The division is pleased to present the following highlights of our work from October - December 2025.
In This Edition
Headline News
Opportunities to get Involved in Habitat Restoration and Resiliency Projects at Allouez Bay and Wisconsin Point
This past fall, representatives from the St. Louis River Alliance, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Lake Superior Headwaters Sustainability Partnership and the DNR led a tour of habitat restoration and resiliency projects at Allouez Bay and Wisconsin Point. The event was an opportunity for people to learn about the history of this area, ask questions and share their ideas with partners working on these projects.
The tour explored the Bear Creek Trail on Wisconsin Point to see recent upgrades and learn about ongoing habitat restoration efforts, such as prescribed burns to manage invasive species and sustain native plants. In Allouez Bay, wetland habitat restoration efforts are bringing back an evenly distributed mix of open water and plants, which helps to increase populations of marsh birds that have become rare due to loss of nesting and foraging habitats. This work will also improve fish spawning habitat and coastal resiliency. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative helps fund many projects underway to protect this special place.
Project partners are seeking community input to guide restoration on Allouez Bay and Wisconsin Point. Understanding how people connect with and recreate in these areas is important to guide future work. To learn more and get involved, visit the Allouez Bay and Wisconsin Point Restoration Projects website.
DNR Celebrates Wisconsin Recycling Excellence Award Winners Ahead of America Recycles Day
In honor of America Recycles Day on Saturday, Nov. 15, the DNR announced the winners of the 2025 Wisconsin Recycling Excellence Awards. The awards honor communities, businesses and organizations for going beyond what is required by law when it comes to waste reduction, recycling, composting and other efforts to reduce waste going to landfills and conserve valuable resources.
The DNR received a record number of nominations in 2025 and recognized 22 winners in four categories: Projects and Initiatives, Overall Program, Special Events and Innovation. View the list of winners and their profiles on the Wisconsin Recycling Excellence Awards webpage.
EPA Approves Extension of Wisconsin's Multi-Discharger Variance
The DNR received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in September 2025 to extend the availability of the state's multi-discharger variance (MDV) for phosphorus. This will help the DNR assist facilities to comply with nutrient reduction requirements in permits in an effort to prevent harmful algal blooms and help achieve better water quality in Wisconsin.
The MDV is used by approximately 150 municipal and industrial wastewater dischargers to delay imposition of lower phosphorus effluent limits when required facility upgrades would result in economic hardship for the local community. Dischargers covered under the variance install and optimize phosphorus treatment equipment as budgets allow while paying annually into a fund used by county land and water conservation departments to implement agricultural runoff best practices, such as cover crops or buffers along waterways. These practices are typically 10 times more cost-effective, on a dollar-per-pound basis, than treating phosphorus in wastewater.
Initially approved in 2017, the MDV was set to expire in 2027. With the reauthorization complete, wastewater dischargers may continue to utilize the MDV through 2035. County conservation programs will continue to receive an expected statewide total of $1.2 million annually from dischargers covered by the variance.
More information about the multi-discharger variance program, including a fact sheet and most recent DNR program policy, is available on the Statewide Phosphorus Multi-Discharge Variance webpage.
New And Updated Resources
Air Management Offers New Compliance Monitoring Webpage
The Air Management Program added a new feature to the Compliance With Air Regulations webpage. The webpage includes a new "Compliance Monitoring" button, which adds to the comprehensive list of compliance assistance resources. The Compliance Monitoring webpage offers supporting documents to help facilities understand and apply applicable compliance monitoring requirements.
DNR Announces New Online Tool To Help Private Well Owners Interpret Water Lab Test Results
The DNR partnered with the UW-Madison Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, Wisconsin Department of Health Services and UW-Madison Division of Extension to create a new online tool, Be Well Informed. This tool helps private well owners interpret their drinking water lab test results. The Be Well Informed generated report also provides educational resources for any recommended next steps.
Wisconsin has over 800,000 private wells that serve about one-quarter of the state's population. Testing private wells annually is the best way to make sure drinking water is safe. More information is available for private well owners on the DNR's Information For Private Well Owners webpage.
Social Media Spotlight
Using leaves for mulch and composting can enrich the health of lawns and gardens, save you money on fertilizer and improve water retention in your soil.
- 22,467 impressions on Nextdoor
Disposing of old pumpkins in the trash takes up valuable landfill space and fuels the microbes that generate methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
When you're cleaning up after the holidays, make sure rechargeable batteries and electronics don't go in your trash or recycling bin.
- 509,205 impressions on Facebook
If you get your drinking water from private wells, testing your well is important. About one-third of Wisconsin private well owners have ever tested their water.
- 44,603 impressions on Facebook