Angling Matters

So, where is this heading?

fly fishing Recently, a trout farmer, near Polar, Langlade County, WI said that his operation was close to bankruptcy; however, he soon obtained a permit for a high-cap well from the DNR. Suddenly he was willing to pay $380,000 for two 80-acre farm properties strategically located near a highway. He admitted that he was now considering the bottled water business. Where did that money come from? Many locals are convinced that Perrier/Nestle is financing him. Spring water pours into his trout hatchery and then exit into the Rabe Creek, which eventually feeds the Little Wolf river (Class 1 Trout Stream). Extraction of large quantities of water is bound to create an environmental disaster downstream.

Polar and other areas in Langlade County have tremendous quantities of pure spring water and if Perrier is successful in establishing a foothold, this region could eventually become a huge water-bottling center. If Perrier is allowed to operate here, why not other water bottlers? And if they can operate in Langlade County, why not other counties or just about anywhere it pleases? Wouldn't a landowner, in these hard times, succumb to a large sum of money? And remember, it's estimated that Perrier/Nestle can gross .5 to 1.8 million dollars in one day from a single pump.

releasing So where is this heading?

While we've cited just a few examples of trout streams, just about every type of fishing and water use would be affected if bottlers were allowed to extract huge quantities of water. Even the Great Lakes are affected.

Bear in mind that once water is extracted from an area and transported to another distant region, it is permanently removed from its origin in the normal evaporation/precipitation cycle, which is so vital to replenishing aquifers, lakes, rivers and wetlands.

Perrier's and other bottlers' invasion of groundwater is nationwide. Perrier is mining water from Florida, Maine, Pennsylvania, Texas, California and other states. It has more than 75 pumping sites. Citizens' organizations at every one of these states are suing or asking Perrier to get out.

Clearly, modern, groundwater legislation, without loopholes, is needed immediately. Once a company gets even a toehold in a state, it is very difficult to change the status. It must be underscored that the overwhelming majority of DNR employees are hard workers and dedicated to their job, but the contradiction in present laws handcuffs them. For example, the DNR in Wisconsin cannot generally reject a request for a high-cap well permit except if it is proven that water extraction may adversely impact a municipality. But at the same time the DNR is also assigned to protect and preserve the public trust. Conflicting laws! If we changed "a municipality" above to "the environment" we've given the DNR considerable control.

It is imperative that stringent legislation is in place immediately, or the adverse consequences in Wisconsin, Michigan and other states would be irreversible.

While we've concentrated mostly on Wisconsin, the Perrier's probing tentacles extend to just about any place where there's a hint of ample groundwater.

Do we need to give up our precious water to bottlers who obtain it for free and sell it back to us? Isn't it our responsibility to save the water for the fish and the environment for our future generations, instead of allowing companies to convert our precious natural resource to money?

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