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annual average rates of soil loss for each soil type that can be sustained
economically and indefinitely without impairing the productivity of the soil.
These values have been determined for each soil type by the U.S. Soil Conserva-
tion Service.   Chapter 92 of the Wisconsin State Statutes requires that soil
erosion control plans be prepared and maintained for counties identified by the
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection as priority
counties for soil erosion control.    The Commission has prepared agricultural          I
soil erosion control plans for Washington and Ozaukee Counties.     Those plans
identify priority areas for cropland soil erosion control within these counties
and the watershed, and, additionally, recommend farm management practices
intended to reduce cropland soil erosion to tolerable levels. Soil conservation
and management are closely related to the issues of stormwater management, flood
control, control of nonpoint source pollutants, changing land use, and deterio-
ration of the natural resource base.     Therefore, it is important that soil
conservation be considered within the framework of a comprehensive watershed
planning program which will enable the formulation of coordinated, long-range
solutions.
The local programs described above and the Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources priority watershed program described below have probably resulted in
some reduction in the pollutant loadings from nonpoint sources. However, this
element of the plan has only been partially implemented.
The initial regional plan also recommended that local agencies charged with
responsibility for nonpoint source pollution control prepare refined and
detailed local-level nonpoint source pollution control plans. Such plans are to
identify the nonpoint source pollution control practices that should be applied         I
to specific lands. Working with the individual county land conservation commit-
tees, local units of government, and the Commission, the Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources is carrying out the recommended detailed planning for nonpoint
source water pollution abatement on a watershed-by-watershed basis.         This
detailed planning and subsequent plan implementation program is known as the
Wisconsin Nonpoint Source Priority Watershed Pollution Abatement Program. This
program was established in 1978 by the Wisconsin Legislature and provides cost-         I
sharing funds for individual projects or land management practices to local
governments and private landowners upon completion of the detailed plans. These
funds are provided through nonpoint source local assistance grants administered
by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.       Four such programs are
currently underway in the Milwaukee River watershed: the North Branch Milwaukee
River Priority Watershed Project, the East and West Branch Milwaukee River
Priority Watershed Project, the Milwaukee River South Priority Watershed Pro-
ject, and the Cedar Creek Priority Watershed Project.6
6Wisconsin Department   of Natural   Resources  Publications  No. WR-253-90, A
Nonpoint Source Control Plan for the North Branch Milwaukee River Priority

Watershed Project, June 1989; WR-255-90, A Nonpoint Source Control Plan for the
East and West Branches of the Milwaukee River Priority Watershed Project,
February 1989; WR-245-91, A Nonpoint Source Control Plan for the Milwaukee River
South Priority VWatershed Project, December 1991; and, A Nonpoint Source Control
Plan for the Cedar Creek Priority Watershed Project, 1992.
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