Surface Water_Content Page_Wisconsins Nutrient Reduction Strategy

Wisconsin’s Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy

A framework for nutrient reduction and management

Wisconsin’s approach to nutrient loss reduction relies on a combination of regulatory programs and conservation efforts at the local, state and federal levels. These efforts target both point sources (e.g., wastewater treatment facilities) and nonpoint sources (runoff from rural and urban landscapes) to improve water quality. Most importantly, progress is driven by strong partnerships at the watershed scale, bringing together municipalities, sanitary districts, county land and water conservation departments, farmers, environmental groups, UW-Extension and state and federal agencies. A statewide Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy is not just a document, it also represents a process by which the partners identify shared goals and how they can work together most effectively to achieve those goals.

Development Of A New Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is leading the development of a new statewide Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) in collaboration with the Interagency Water Quality Workgroup comprised of representatives from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP); Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association; the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS); University of Wisconsin – Madison, Division of Extension; Dane County Land and Water Resources Department; and the US Geological Survey (USGS). The target date for completing the new NLRS is December 2025. 

The image features a collection of eight logos belonging to different organizations. The logos are arranged in two rows. The top row includes logos for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, WI Land+Water, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The bottom row includes the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension, Dane County Land and Water Resources Department, and USGS.

Development of the new NLRS is ongoing, but the Interagency Water Quality Workgroup has developed draft objectives. These draft objectives will be revised based on information gathered during the stakeholder engagement process.

Stakeholder Engagement

The Interagency Water Quality Workgroup will host a series of informational webinars and listening sessions to ensure the new NLRS is relevant to and aligns with the efforts of the many organizations and individuals working to address nutrient pollution. These events will provide interested individuals and organizations with opportunities to learn more about the NLRS and to provide input into the new strategy.

Information about the webinars and listening sessions will be posted on this page. You can also sign up for updates about the NLRS and stakeholder engagement process:

What Is A Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy?

Wisconsin's current Nutrient Reduction Strategy*, published in 2013, provides a broad overview of nutrient management activities for both point sources and nonpoint sources in Wisconsin. This strategy documents ongoing activities whether they are implemented by federal, state or local agencies. It identifies areas where further progress is needed. Developed by the DNR with contractual assistance from the University of Wisconsin-Extension, it was the original document that set the state's nutrient reduction goals and influenced the development of the state's strategy moving forward. However, the 2013 document does not identify specific strategies to coordinate programs and resources across agencies and organizations and there was no process to engage stakeholders in the development of the 2013 Strategy. The Interagency Water Quality Workgroup is prioritizing the identification of nutrient loss reduction strategies in consultation with stakeholders in the development of a new strategy.

* Note that the word “Loss” has been added to the title of the new strategy currently under development in order to more accurately reflect the overarching goal of reducing the loss of nutrients from point sources and nonpoint sources into surface water and groundwater.
 

2017-2019 Progress Report

Cover of the 2017-2019 Progress Report for Wisconsin's Nutrient Reduction Strategy.

The Wisconsin Nutrient Reduction Strategy, developed with partners and finalized in 2013, envisioned that implementation progress would be measured, tracked and reported to the public. The 2017-2019 Implementation Progress Report provides a comprehensive description of the substantial and widespread efforts to reduce nutrient losses to Wisconsin rivers, lakes and streams.

2015-2016 Progress Report

More About Wisconsin's 2013 Nutrient Reduction Strategy

  • Wisconsin's 2013 Nutrient Reduction Strategy was developed in response to the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan 2008. Each state in the Mississippi River Basin was called to develop a strategy by 2013 to reduce the amount of phosphorus and nitrogen carried in rivers from the state to address the biological dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. It was also developed in response to the call from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for states to develop frameworks for nutrient reduction.
  • Wisconsin's Nutrient Reduction Strategy was also developed to meet intrastate needs for Wisconsin's lakes and streams and groundwater. It includes needs for the Great Lakes consistent with Annex 4 of the 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
  • This strategy does not call for new regulations for either point sources or nonpoint sources. It builds on existing programs and existing requirements, including those adopted in the last few years.
  • This strategy is intended to be a living document that changes to reflect new developments and advances in Wisconsin's nutrient reduction efforts.