Forever Chemicals in our Water + Fish

Mornin' to everyone experiencing subzero temps this week (lookin' at you guys up north). This is the Wiscampsin Weekly - the email that gets you in the know on the Wisconsin outdoors in 5 minutes or less. New reader? Subscribe here. 

*We're not gonna plug our slick referral program below, so instead we'll just say hey neighbor, watch out for deer*

What we're concerned about this week:

• Forever chemicals in Wisconsin's water ☠️

• Latest cargo shipment in 50 years 🛥

• Listening session for wolf management 🐺

A threat to our health (and Friday night fish fry's)

Water. 

Behind cheese, it's perhaps the most important element to us 'Sconnies, responsible for the beer we drink, the fish we fry, and the lakes we recreate on ("My aunt Susan can barefoot water ski!").

But something threatens the health of our water - and ourselves - and it isn't FIBs flocking to Door County every summer.

Forever Chemicals (PFAS and PFOS)

• Synthetic chemicals found in everyday products like nonstick cookware, fast food wrappers and stain-resistant clothing

• Fish in Great Lakes and other WI waters found to have elevated levels of PFOS

• Cause health issues such as decreased fertility, testicular cancer, higher cholesterol, and more

Wisconsin's plastic-y problems

How these PFAS and PFOS made it into our water, we haven't the slightest clue, but likely it's from litter and pollution. 

The presence of these 'forever chemicals' - dubbed because they last thousands of years  - are practically inside everyone at this point because of the proliferation in the everyday products we use:

• Food Packaging: pizza boxes, food wrappers, take out containers, microwave popcorn bags, disposable trays, and bakery bags;

• Non-stick pans (Teflon)

• Firefighting foam

• Carpets, rugs, furniture textiles, window treatments, car seats

• Stain-proof and waterproof clothing

• Outdoor gear

• Umbrellas

• Personal care products like dental floss, mascara, foundation, menstrual underwear

• Artificial turf

• Medical equipment and masks

• Building products

• Firefighters’ personal protective equipment

 Not only is it in our drinking water, but also in another major source of, erm, intake, for us 'Scons. 

Freshwater fish. 

Something smells fishy

This may read more like a nightmare than a research study for us fish-feastin' folk, but...

Fish from the Great Lakes, as well as waters like Lake Wausau and the Stevens Point Flowage, have elevated to "extremely elevated" levels of forever chemicals (but we're not the only ones - this map shows fish from all over the country contaminated with PFAS). 

Which is why the DNR is recommending we keep our freshwater fish consumption to a minimum, as low as one meal per week depending on the source. 

One study claimed "dining on one fish caught in freshwater could be the same as drinking PFOS-contaminated water for a month, with highest levels of the harmful forever chemicals observed in Great Lakes fish."

And it's not exotic lake critters (like your Cousin Joe and his affinity for Mud Puppies). The Great Lakes Consortium advises limiting meals of black crappie, bluegill, rock bass and yellow perch. NO! Not the bluegill!!! 

Alright, the good news

As a couple of guys writing this, we're not sure which concerns us more - the testicular cancer, or the limiting of freshwater fish consumption. 

But thankfully, the DNR announced that water quality is the new #1 priority of the agency. 

"We absolutely have to invest more to protect and improve and safeguard our water quality in the state of Wisconsin," said Adam Payne, the newest head of the DNR. 

The agency responsible for the conservation of state's natural resources is currently investigating 90 different sites throughout Wisconsin for forever chemicals, like Eau Claire, Wausau and Marinette.

Now, what can actually be done at this point, we're not sure... but Governor Evers has pledged $100 million to fighting these forever chemicals.

Our uneducated opinion? Limit your use of plastics throughout the day and fish from clean water sources (not the pothole on the side of the road). 

Hope we didn't bum ya too much with today's edition. Don't worry, there's still plenty to be stoked about in the Great Wisconsin Outdoors - now get out der!

Wiscampsin Weekly Poll

Jeepers cripes, 69% of you said you're gonna buy the Ice Age Trail Alliance Specialty Plates?! Those Ice Age Trail road sections are going to be a thing of the past in no time!

NEW: Wisconsin Events

Butt glued to the couch? Here are some great Wisconsin events to get you out 'der:

WINTER STAR GAZING on Saturday, February 4, 2023, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit - Ice Age Trail Visitor Center - W2875 Hwy 67, Campbellsport, which is a half mile west of Dundee.

PENINSULA STATE PARK CANDLELIGHT EVENT on Saturday, February 4, 2023, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Peninsula State Park

CANDLELIGHT SKI, HIKE AND SNOWSHOE on Saturday, February 4, 2023, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Blue Mound State Park

Know a WI Outdoors-related event happening? Reply to this email with the details and we will share the week before the event!

Nuts and Seeds 🌰 

🐺 Your chance to bark about wolves: The DNR is hosting a listening session on Feb. 7th so you can bare your teeth and howl any opinions on the state's management of the wolf population. They newest plan aims to move away from a state maintained herd to six locally managed zones. All bark, no bite, please...

🚤  Latest cargo shipment in 50 years With ice coverage on the Great Lakes at the lowest its been in almost forever, the port of Duluth-Superior recently saw the latest departure of a cargo-carrying freighter in 50 years. At the time of reporting, ice only covered a wimpy 5% of the Great Lakes. Not great for our ice fishing goals.  

🔥  DNR heat mapping campaign: This summer seemed a bit toasty don't ya think? The DNR just released results from the Milwaukee heat mapping campaign, depicting where you can go to cool off. The results? Trees and less urban density = cooler temps. Good to know!

Meme of the Week 😂 

A review from the Trail... Is that you, ma?