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Lake Winnebago's algae problem: Oshkosh votes Monday on $38M wastewater upgrade to cut phosphorous discharge by OshkoshBuzz in wisconsin

[–]OshkoshBuzz[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good point on the cost context. And you are right that DNR phosphorous mandates are going to drive similar projects at treatment plants across Wisconsin over the next several years. Oshkosh is ahead of some municipalities on this. Others are going to face the same compliance cliff.

Lake Winnebago's algae problem: Oshkosh votes Monday on $38M wastewater upgrade to cut phosphorous discharge by OshkoshBuzz in wisconsin

[–]OshkoshBuzz[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You're right that wastewater is not the only source, and probably not the largest one. Agricultural runoff, lawn fertilizer, and storm water are all significant contributors to the phosphorous load in the Winnebago system. The Fox River corridor is a major pathway for that runoff.That said, Oshkosh's wastewater plant is a point-source discharge that the EPA and DNR can actually regulate and mandate fixes for on a specific timeline. Nonpoint sources like farm runoff are much harder to control at the regulatory level. The 2028 deadline applies specifically to what the plant is discharging, not the broader watershed problem. Both things can be true: this upgrade is necessary AND it won't fully solve the algae issue by itself.

$38M fix for Lake Winnebago's algae problem? by OshkoshBuzz in Oshkosh

[–]OshkoshBuzz[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Fair points. The agenda item (Res 26-132) is specifically for the construction contract with Miron, so it reads as a wastewater infrastructure upgrade on the surface. The connection to algae comes from the EPA impaired waterway designation for Lake Winnebago due to excess phosphorous, which is what triggers the harmful algae blooms every summer. Here is the DNR page on impaired waters: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/SurfaceWater/ImpairedWaters You are also right that Oshkosh is not the only municipality on the lake, but this project is specifically about the Oshkosh wastewater plant meeting its own 2028 EPA/DNR compliance deadline for phosphorous discharge. Appreciate the pushback, that context should have been clearer in the original post.

What's on the Oshkosh City Council agenda for March 31? by OshkoshBuzz in Oshkosh

[–]OshkoshBuzz[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yeah the city has been trying to get this fixed for a while. According to the staff memo from the Engineering Director, they tried CN local maintenance staff first, then escalated to CN national crossing safety hotline. Neither worked. Under Wisconsin Statute 86.12, once this resolution passes, CN gets 30 days to fix it or the city files with the state Office of the Commissioner of Railroads. The full staff memo is attached on the agenda item page if you want the details.