Beach Pollution Along Lake Michigan By John Berge

Beach advisories (what were earlier called closures) in Racine due to
high pollution levels were down in 2001 compared to the closures of the
previous five years, but for Wisconsin as a whole, only the year 2000
was higher in the past six years. Illinois and Indiana Lake Michigan
beaches were also "closed" more in 2001 than in any of the last six
years. These data and others were shared in a sparsely attended "Mega
Beach Meeting" held on October 19 in the Racine City Hall.

A summary for the nine tested Lake Michigan beaches in Southeastern
Wisconsin during the 62-day 2001 swimming season from June 16 to August
18 when all beaches were scheduled to be open, prepared by the
Southeastern Wisconsin Beach Task Force, showed closures ranging from
only 2 days at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee to 28 days at Milwaukee's
South Shore Beach. Eichelman Beach in Kenosha was closed 23 days and Zoo
and North Beaches in Racine were closed 16 and 13 days, respectively.
Quarry Beach, while not on Lake Michigan, was closed 10 days, in part
because of algae growth. Three beaches in Milwaukee's northern suburbs
were tested less frequently (twice a week rather than the five times per
week of most of the others) and were closed only 4 days.

Dr. Richard Whitman of the United States Geological Survey has found
excellent statistical correlation in the e. coli concentrations in the
water between Lake Michigan beaches quite far from each other.
Correlation between North Beach in Racine and 63rd St. Beach in Chicago
was significant at above the 99% confidence level as were 63rd St. Beach
and West Beach in Portage, Indiana. However, the confidence level
dropped as the distance increased; between North Beach and West Beach
the confidence level was lower, but still at the 95% level. A 99%
confidence level means that the data indicate that there is only a 1%
chance that the agreement is due strictly to chance.

In Racine, samples were checked for e. coli all summer long not only in
the water, but in the sediment under where the water samples were taken
and in the beach sand above the high water mark. The beach sand was more
contaminated than either the water or the sediment. This fact was
probably part of the cause for very high water contamination when 2.5
inches of rain fell on August 16, washing large amounts of sand into the
water during a ten-day test of deep grooming vs. shallow or no grooming
of various areas of the beach. Deep grooming appeared to reduce the e.
coli count more than the usual shallow grooming or no grooming. It is
not known whether this was a dilution effect or disinfection by the sun.

Over 1000 isolates of e. coli from these tests have been sent to the
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Water Institute for DNA analysis in
the hope that the sources of contamination can be determined. Scientists
there expect that they will be able to differentiate between avian and
mammalian DNA, and possibly even differentiate between goose and
seagull, human and dog or wild animal sources.

The Racine Health Department has prepared a PowerPoint presentation of
the results so far in this study which is being paid for with Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources and Center for Communicable Diseases
funds. It will be updated regularly as more data comes in. We hope to
have them present this data to the Southeast Gateway Group at some
future general meeting of the Group.


Calendar, December 2001 and January 2002:

December 8: John Muir Chapter Executive Committee Meeting in Baraboo,
WI.

December 13: Southeast Gateway Group Executive Committee Meeting, 7:00
p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church, corner of Durand Avenue and Pritchard
Drive in Racine. This meeting is for both the newly elected ExCom
members as well as those serving in the year 2001 and will include
election of officers and appointment of committee chairs.

December 20: This month's General Meeting is our Holiday Party with a
potluck dinner at 6:00 p.m., special awards, and a "lighter" program
including a report from the student winner of our 2001 Green Award. For
further information, see the article below.

January 1: Deadline for the February/March issue of the Southeast
Sierran.

January 12: John Muir Chapter Executive Committee Meeting in Baraboo,
WI.

January 17: General Meeting of the Southeast Gateway Group at the
Northside Library in Kenosha, 1500 27th Avenue, starting at 7:00 p.m., a
speaker from Transit Now will speak on "Transportation-Commuter Rail for
Racine".

January 19: Annual Planning Day (delayed a week in order to avoid a
conflict with the John Muir Chapter Executive Committee meeting on
January 12). All active and would- or might-be-active members of the
Southeast Gateway Group are invited to attend part or all of this
session in which we schedule the events for the coming year. Session
starts at 9:00 a.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church, corner of Durand Avenue
and Pritchard Drive in Racine and will be followed by a short Executive
Committee Meeting. A lunch will be served.

February 6-8: Environmental Education Programs by the International
Crane Foundation in Racine Public Schools and the Golden Rondelle
Theater.

February 14: Southeast Gateway Group Executive Committee Meeting, 7:00
p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church, corner of Durand Avenue and Pritchard
Drive in Racine.

February 21: General Meeting of the Southeast Gateway Group at Messiah
Lutheran Church, corner of Durand Avenue and Pritchard Drive in Racine,
starting at 7:00 p.m. John Reindl, Recycling Manager for Dane County,
will discuss what an ideal household hazardous waste collection and
disposal system should be and what is the situation now in various
counties of Wisconsin.



Bring a Friend & Come to the Pot-Luck Christmas Party

Shawna Brown to present a report on her trip to Belize

Messiah Lutheran Church; December 20: 5:00 p.m, hors d'oeuvres; 6:00
p.m., dinner.

Shawna is a Case High School student who received our gift of $100 last
summer to help her finance a trip to the rain forests in Belize, where
she joined other students from around the world to learn first-hand
about this special ecosystem. Shawna will tell us about her exciting
adventure and what she learned.

To cut down on the pot-luck cleanup, the committee is asking everyone to
bring their own plate, cup and silverware. Call Donna Peterson at (262)
637-3141 if you plan to attend and she will give you the menu options.


Legislative Watchdog by Jean Mcgraw

Of course we are 100% behind our President in his war against terrorism,
and so far he seems to be doing an excellent job. But we should not let
our enthusiasm for this effort make us forget and neglect other
important domestic issues.

Here in Wisconsin the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is
finally getting around to take steps to reduce mercury pollution
although they have had the authority to regulate mercury pollution from
coal-fired utility plants for thirty years. Now they propose a 90%
reduction in emissions by 2017. This is much too long: studies suggest
this 90% goal is attainable by 2007. (Legislation to cure the problem is
also pending in Congress, but as usual very slowly. If we pass a good
rule, that could give Congress a push in the right direction.)

All our Wisconsin lakes and rivers and all our fish are contaminated
with too much mercury. The fish, formerly an excellent source of cheap
protein in our diet, are now dangerous to eat. Wildlife that depend on a
fish diet such as loons and eagles show ominous signs of birth defects
and decreased reproductive capacity. Coal fired utility plants and
hospital incinerators are the source of nearly all this mercury.

Worse yet, it is estimated that 10% of children in Wisconsin and
throughout the nation have elevated levels of mercury in their blood,
resulting in lower IQ and various birth defects. And then we wonder why
our children don't do better in school. No amount of money spent for
special education is going to remedy this problem.

If you write one letter this month, make it to:
Mr. Jon Heinrich
DNR Air Management
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921

Urge him to immediately to impose pollution controls on these offending
industries.

The Wisconsin bill to ban cyanide from being used in mining (SB 160) is
at the moment still in committee. Despite the protests of mining
advocates (!) there has never been a mine using cyanide anywhere that
didn't cause major water pollution, and (2) there is absolutely no
shortage of copper in the world-there are plenty of producing mines. Why
should Wisconsin be a guinea pig for so-called new protections? No one
would profit from the mine except out-of-state corporations. It would
furnish a few temporary jobs and leave the area devastated in a few
years. Call your State Senator and your State Representative and urge
them to support the ban on cyanide mining.

Nationally, we must guard against Administration efforts to drill the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Improved CAFE standards, well within
the technology of auto manufacturers, would save far more oil and make
us less dependent on Arab imports, but the Republican Administration
refuses to take this step.

President Clinton decreed that the roadless areas in our national
forests should remain intact and be declared wilderness. This was a done
deal until snowmobile businesses and logging companies started a lawsuit
to hold up the new law. Ask Senators Kohl and Feingold to continue to
firmly oppose mining in the ANWR and to urge that the roadless policy be
declared law and fully implemented.

The Boehlert-Kind amendment to the Farm Bill provided conservation
funding for farms, very important for support of our Wisconsin farmers
who want to keep our water pure. I am happy to say that the entire
Wisconsin delegation in the House voted for this amendment, including
Paul Ryan. The amendment lost by 20 votes. Hopefully, it will be put
back in the Farm Bill in the joint Senate-House conference.

We support the war effort, but that does not mean we should give carte
blanche to the Administration on all their questionable domestic
policies.


Cranberry Sales 2001 By Donna Peterson

Our first year selling cranberries, to my delight, was highly
successful. I would have been happy if we had sold 100 pounds, but I am
pleased to say we sold 240 pounds with a profit of more than $450. The
berries have been well received and buyers so far have given them rave
reviews.

We all need to give a special "thank you" to Lila Berge for the use of
her pickup truck, which was used to bring the berries home. Also a big
"thank you" to Nita Larson for her work on designing the sales sheet for
the newsletter. And the biggest "thank you" to these additional people
who did their part to make this event a great success: John Berge, Frank
Egerton, Barb & Dennis Flath, Betty & Bob Gericke, Nancy Hennessey, Eric
Howe, Bev Iverson, Jean McGraw, Roz McHugh, Jim & Connie Molbeck, Mary
Ann Ortmayer, Dian & Bob Sorenson, Barry Thomas, Melissa & Jay Warner.
Without these loyal members, the sale would surely have turned out
differently. Next year, I'll be looking for more sales people. Who
knows, we may even sell berries at the Farmers Market.

(And we all want to thank Donna for all of her energy! -ed)


From the Chair By Nita Larson

I have resigned for health reasons as chair of the Southeast Gateway
Group of the Sierra Club effective early last month.

Lest there be speculation as to what the health problem is, on September
sixth I took a grand fall on my patio and fell on my right hip. Pain!
Pain! Pain! I cracked the pelvic bone. Having been an extremely healthy
person all my life and never having had a cracked bone before, this has
been a new adventure for me. I am starting my eighth week on pain
killers, etc. The situation is much better, however, I have found myself
preoccupied with the pain. Dana Huck, as vice-chair, will take over
holding the meetings, etc. I am doing everything I possibly can to
assist her and I am sure we will finish the year 2000 in great style.

See you at the December meeting.


Recycling Fluorescent Lamps By John Berge

Many Sierrans have switched to fluorescent lamps from incandescent lamps
to save on energy. The former lamps also last up to nine times longer
but they do eventually wear out. What should we do to responsibly
dispose of them? Some might take them to work and have them recycled by
their employer but most have no such opportunity.

Mercury Waste Solutions, 21211 Durand Avenue in Union Grove, has agreed
to assist Racine County home owners recycle their fluorescent lamps
without charging the fees that they charge industrial and commercial
companies. They do ask that the homeowner call ahead at (262) 878-2599,
so that the proper bill of lading can be prepared and the person will be
expected to arrive at the office during the normal working hours of 8:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The glass and aluminum are
separated from the mercury and rare earth phosphors, the "white powder
inside", and recycled or properly disposed of.

Fluorescent lamps are not recycled under the Kenosha Household Hazardous
Waste Program. A call to them yields the following instructions: Put the
lamp in a plastic bag, break the lamp and put it into the regular waste
collection bin. This unfortunately puts the mercury and rare earths into
the sanitary land fill where recent research has shown that the mercury
will be methylated and be emitted with the waste gases and thus back
into the environment in the most toxic form.

Walworth County does not have a regular household hazardous waste
program.


Population Issues_ By Nita Larson

In the richest country in the world, we face steadily worsening social
and environmental problems that seem to defy solution_yet we are trying
to address these problems without coming to grips with their root cause:
overpopulation.

More people means more pollution, more sprawl, less green space, and
even more demands on the earth's already overburdened resources. Water
and energy shortages, air pollution, the United States: the consensus:
150 million-our size 50 years ago. We could reach that sustainable
population size within three to four generations if we do two things
now.

Lower our fertility rate. We believe in education and measures that
encourage smaller families.

We support tax incentives to lower fertility and free access to family
planning education and contraceptives. However, the Bush
Administration's "global gag rule," which links birth control with
abortion, has largely cut off funding to any nonprofit agency that
provides abortion services. This, in spite of the fact, that U.S.-funded
birth control assistance programs to help Third World women have the
smaller families they say that want have proven successful.

Rethink immigration. Our current immigration rates are five times higher
than our traditional annual averages. Returning to earlier, lower
immigration levels makes sense when our environment is struggling to
sustain the people already here. However, several organizations aiming
to limit immigration have been stung by charges of racism. The racism
charge is hard to deflect and it was one factor involved when the Sierra
Club membership voted down a provision, advanced by Sierrans for U. S.
Population Stabilization in 1999, calling for limits on the influx from
abroad for environmental reasons. But almost all immigration control
groups reject the racism charge, pointing out that they favor
limitations on sheer numbers not any race-based quotas.

Let us look at California. In all the media hoopla about the power
deficit in California, very little attention was paid to the explosive
increase in electricity demand due to the state's rapid population
growth. In 2000, California added 571,000 people, a 1.7 percent growth
rate that outpaces Bangladesh. Immigration has also contributed to
California having one of the highest fertility rates in the U.S.: 2.4
births per woman (up from below replacement level, 2.0, in the 1970's).
The state, already 40 percent more densely populated than Europe, now
has a birth rate comparable to Sri Lanka or Chile. Immigration accounted
for an incredible 96 percent of California's population growth from 1990
to 1997. The U.S. Census Bureau says the state will have nearly 59
million people by 2025.

What is the result of this population gain? Each year, California loses
some 122,000 acres, or 1.5 percent of its open space, to relentless
sprawl; California today is in a constant water crisis, and it's
projected to worsen; species are threatened and air quality has suffered
because California has the highest density auto population in the world

As California goes, so goes the nation.

By reducing fertility and immigration, the U.S. could start now on the
path toward a sustainable future.

_Excerpted from: "E The Environmental Magazine"



With all the clearcutting and destruction of forests, I think the
following story is a gift for the holidays.

The Little Oak Tree By Nita Larson

After our Highway 38 cleanup in October, during the potluck, a
discussion of trees came up. I said that I would like a tree (Ginko, I
preferred). However, Melissa Warner stated that she and Jay had an oak
tree that they were going to dig up, and that I could have it. Of
course, I envisioned a huge tree with roots to everywhere, but Melissa
stated that it was two years old and about two feet tall. I said I would
take it.

One day Melissa called and said that Jay was digging up the little oak
tree. It would be placed in a black greenhouse container. I readily
agreed to pick it up. However, during the intervening time, I had fallen
and cracked my pelvic bone.

I drove to Jay and Melissa's house and there on the front porch was the
little oak tree in a black container. I somehow managed to get it in the
front seat of my car. Upon getting it home, my son helped me get it out.

Now the problem was where to put it. I decided I wanted it on the
parkway between the two carriage walks in front of my house. Knowing I
could not dig the hole, I called the Forestry Division of our Racine
government. I stated that I had this two year old oak tree and since the
city provides trees for parkways and plants them, could they plant my
tree for me. The answer was "Yes!" I was thrilled. Then began the work
of all the city departments involved in the planting of the little oak
tree.

Before the tree was planted, the City Water Department, the Electric and
Gas Utilities and the City Forestry Department were involved! Then, two
weeks later, I heard a truck stop in front of my house.

On looking out the window, the Racine Water Department truck with a huge
container of water in the back was there. A gentleman got out of the
truck, picked up a hose with an attachment on the end and proceeded to
water the little oak tree.

Needless to say, all the love and concern provided to this little oak
tree was priceless. I am putting a red ribbon on his/her top for
Christmas. Thanks to Jay and Melissa Warner for saving this little oak
tree.


Bold Adventure!
Reintroduction of the Endangered Whooping Cranes into the Eastern
United States

Speaker: Deitrich Shaff
Director of Education, International Crane Foundation
Thursday, February 7, 2002; 7:00 p.m.
Golden Rondelle, 1525 Howe Ave., Racine
Call for free reservations, (262) 260-2154

The public is invited to attend this free program which will explain the
details of the exciting and inspiring Operation Migration story. Watch
the story unfold as the eight Whooping Cranes raised at the Necedah
Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin are eventually led on their fall migration
by an ultralight airplane to the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge
in Florida.

The saga is sure to delight young and old alike. Their fascinating
adventure will continue next spring when the birds are expected to
return to Wisconsin on their own.

The following organizations are responsible for the planning and
financing of Operation Migration: The Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources, The International Crane Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service and the Natural Resources Board of Wisconsin.

Cosponsored by the Southeast Gateway Group of the Sierra Club.