The Wisconsin Idea at the Wisconsin Academy is a public policy program that brings Wisconsin residents together with a diverse array of experts and stakeholders to find solutions to statewide problems. The program's Waters of Wisconsin initiative explored the question: How can we ensure healthy aquatic ecosystems and clean, abundant water supplies for tomorrow's Wisconsin.
The effort culminated in October 2002 with a two-day public forum attended by more than 700 scientists, water users and managers, officials and policy makers, business leaders, Native American tribes, nonprofit organizations and advocates, artists, poets, musicians, and other interested citizens. The event, and all that led up to it, validated what opinion polls tell us: Wisconsinites don’t just value their waters—they love them.
This report brings together our findings and recommendations, as well as the thoughts and experiences of hundreds of our fellow citizens regarding the status of our waters, the necessity of farsighted policies and effective monitoring, the importance of civic engagement and a guiding water ethic, and the vital role of education.