> > > Mr. Russ Anderson, WDNR > Environmental Review Coordinator > 3911 Fish Hatchery Road > Fitchburg, WI 53711 > > Dear Mr.Anderson: > > In a recent episode of Discover Wisconsin our community was > described in part as follows:· > Lake Arrowhead is one of > Wisconsins wonderful lakes. Its also a member-owned community > that welcomes visitors to not only the lake, but also their 36-holes > of championship golf. The term hidden gem may be overused, but > after one look, we feel Lake Arrowhead truly fits this designation. > · > Not only does Lake Arrowhead provide lakeside living at its finest, > but it is also home to TWO 4.5 star,championship golf courses and > you may be surprised at what other recreation we found around the > area. > > The Wisconsin Department of Tourism recognizes the economic value > that the lakes and other recreational opportunities provide to Rome > and the surrounding area. In fact, travel and tourism is a > significant contributor to Wisconsins overall economy and quality > of life. In 2012, tourism in Adams County generated $8,460 per > capita of direct spending; this amount ranked 4th in the > state. > > This is an established and growing recreational area. What started > with three man-made lakes has greatly expanded to include: > · > popular snowmobile and ATV trails > · > two existing 18-hole golf courses with plans by Sand Valley Golf > Club to develop up to 5 additional destination courses > home to the Wisconsin Trapshooting Association state facility and > campgrounds > > What for many began as a site for spending weekends and vacations > has become a community that is attractive enough to establish a > permanent, primary residence. The population of Rome has shown > steady growth over the years from less than 600 to more than 3,000 > full-time residents. > > The proposed Golden Sands CAFO located just beyond our border is an > imminent threat to this community (many Rome residents are actually > closer to the proposed CAFO than some of the Saratoga residents). > Not only will the health and welfare of its citizens be impacted, > but the economic base of this area will be threatened. Our > primary concerns include: > · > The effect on the water table after 49 high capacity wells > are installed and pumping millions of gallons of water, much of > which will be lost to evaporation instead of being returned to > regenerate our groundwater. The Central Sands has already seen > exponential growth in high cap wells rising from less than 100 in > the 1950s to more than 3200 wells now. How can this be sustainable? > · > Higher nitrate levels in the water supply could jeopardize > our access to good clean water in the future > · > The immense amount of manure that will be generated and redistributed > to fields in the area; this will lead to odor and run-off issues > affecting the local streams, rivers and lakes > · > Negative impact on the wildlife in the area after 6,000 + acres of > forestland is removed and replaced by cropland. > > We implore WDNR to do its duty to protect the 8,500+ people already > residing in the Saratoga-Rome communities. Most CAFOs have been > sited in much more rural areas, so the environmental impact there > is not as great as the potential for disaster that this Saratoga > CAFO proposal represents. How can more weight be given to the profits > of a corporation than to the protection of thousands of residents > who already live and work in this area? As your Mission Statement > says, carry out the public will and consider the future and > generations to follow. We truly need WDNR to step up and protect > the citizens of this area from the environmental threats posed by > the Wysocki Farms proposal.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 14:55:36 +0000
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