Water Star Community Program

The Water Star Program guides, inspires and recognizes communities that take exemplary actions to protect, improve and enhance their local waters.

Communities of all sizes, cities, counties, villages and towns can become a Water Star Community. Depending on the actions they are taking, they could become a Bronze, Silver or Gold Water Star Community.

The program is comprehensive and includes:

surface water … groundwater … habitat … health … recreation

And crosses all areas of municipal life and include:

• Educational programs
• Planning and zoning
• Physical improvements to land, shorelines and buildings
• Municipal ordinances and policies
• Municipal programs and operations

How will we decide if you are a Bronze, Silver or Gold Water Star Community?

• A comprehensive listing of more than 450 actions is under development
• Each action is qualified for its impact on water resources and is given a designation of Critical, Important or Enhancement.
• Each action is also given points based on the amount of energy, resources, and effort needed to accomplish it.
• There are a number of pre-requisites that a community must meet to begin the application process.
• A web-based application will be developed that allows communities to only answer questions applicable to their size and context. I.e. a community not on a river or lake will not be asked the questions about piers or a town with county zoning won’t be asked the land use questions.
• It will take a percentage of points available as well as in the appropriate priority areas to receive a star.

Visit the Water Star Program website (exit this site)

RESULTS

• Communities and their citizens would not only have improved the environment for themselves, wildlife and communities downstream. The citizens would place great value and have an increased understanding of the components value. For example in the area of surface water:
• Citizens would understand that water is inseparable from the economy and their community.  Economic development or re-development that is good for the waters is also good for the local economy, and vice versa – they are inseparable.
• Citizens will value the magic and service that water brings to a community – natural beauty, drinking water, habitat for fish and wildlife.
• As a result of ongoing community education regarding best practices and state of the art water protection and restoration best management practices will be installed on private property resulting in less stormwater runoff and improved water quality.

NEXT STEPS

Success Stories

Every action will have a written description about the action, what it is and the rationale followed by a Wisconsin Success Story and resources to learn more. The Water Star Steering Committee is soliciting one to two page success stories.  For more information go to the Water Star blog or contact Suzanne Wade.

Steering Committee
A steering committee of Rock River Coalition, Town and Country R, C & D, consultants, University staff, DNR staff, and others with a vested stake in the five components will be developed. They will first develop a logistical strategy for program development including staff location, membership, decision-making methodology, and participation.

Contact: Suzanne Wade, UWEX Rock River Basin Educator and current Water Star Coordinator at 920-674-8972 or Suzanne.wade@ces.uwex.edu

Visit the Water Star Program website (exit this site)