DNR Continues to Pick Winners and Losers

Among the most often repeated statements by the DNR throughout last year's Contested Case Hearing was that their Operating Orders for Lake Koshkonong simply "mimicked mother nature."

To paraphrase, DNR documents indicated that holding back 7.2 inches of additional water depth for summer recreation safety and fishing did not follow the natural order - did not mimic summer drought conditions.

Likewise, DNR claims that their artificial draining of the lake from November 1st to May 1st also mimicked mother nature when, with no dam at Indianford, Koshkonong would have been very shallow, if not non-existent.

Now we learn that the DNR has violated the conditions of "Mother Nature" for the benefit of migratory birds passing through Horicon Marsh - a water body mapped fully within the Rock River Basin.

From the DNR:

Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area - Water levels at Horicon Marsh have been held at full pool throughout the summer, but as a result of the recent lack of rain, water levels have been declining a bit Conditions for the fall waterfowl season will depend on weather patterns over the next two months. There are no planned draw downs for the marsh, expect for isolated impoundments in order to re-establish vegetation as waterfowl food.

The motivations of the DNR are as transparent as ever - once they failed to bulldoze the Indianford Dam, they set their sites on the operating orders mandating water levels.

If the Janesville Gazette can say Lake Koshkonong will never become "another Lake Geneva," then certainly the RKLD can respond by saying, Lake Koshkonong should not become "another Horicon Marsh."

From the RKLD FAQ page:
Is the only thing the wetlands owners really care about is their duck hunting clubs?
The DNR appears to have a bias in favor of the duck hunters. Is that true?