Letter dated 10/07

October, 2007

The Defense Fund wants to thank all those who have volunteered in the past year. These are people who assembled our mailings, gathered petition-signatures, answered letters and emails, signed in meeting-attendees, acted as monitors at the DNR open house, and sold “Dam It” t-shirts.

Now we are asking everyone who cares about the future of the Manitowish Chain to join

a targeted lobbying campaign. You’ll see below a list of officials who need to know what has happened to this small North Woods town. For more than four years, Manitowish Waters has faced an uncertain environmental and economic future because of a DNR with unbridled power. Take the time to write a note, send an email or make a phone-call.

The first person on our list is the new DNR Secretary, Matt Frank. He has assumed office at a time when the DNR is confronting criticism throughout the State. The agency’s budget has been cut and departments are short of staff. So why spend money on an ill-advised sturgeon experiment? You’ll also see the members of the Assembly’s Natural Resource Committee. Its chairman, Scott Gunderson, has taken the time to visit MW and tour the Chain. But other members of his important committee need to find out about our situation. Finally, there are members of the Natural Resource Board which oversees the DNR. The Defense Fund testified in front of the NRB last December. The NRB members were sympathetic but felt that a 70-year-old Public Service Commission Order prevailed. They need to know that the DNR violated that Order this summer when it released so much water over our Dam in the midst of an extreme drought that our water-levels fell far below the mandated 7’3”.

If you have any questions about these officials or about what you should say, contact our President, Jack King. His email address is: jgrovking@yahoo.com.

Matt Frank 101 S. Webster St. - AD/5, Madison, WI 53703

Secretary, State of Wisconsin DNR matt.frank@dnr.state.wi.us

Scott Gunderson PO Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708

Chair, Natural Resources Committee (262) 534-2616 Rep.Gunderson@legis.wisconsin.gov

Jim Ott - District #23 PO Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708

Member, Natural Resources Committee (888) 534-0023 Rep.OttJ@legis.wisconsin.gov

Garey Bies - District #1 PO Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708

Member, Natural Resources Committee (920) 854-2811 Rep.Bies@legis.wisconsin.gov

Daniel LeMahieu - District #59 PO Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708

Member, Natural Resources Committee (920) 528-8679 Rep.LeMahieu@legis.wisconsin.gov

Mary Williams - District #87 PO Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708

Member, Natural Resources Committee (715) 748-5980 Rep.WilliamsM@legis.wisconsin.gov

Terry Moulton - District #68 PO Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708

Member, Natural Resources Committee (608) 266-9172 Rep.Moulton@legis.wisconsin.gov

Lee Nerison - District #96 PO Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708

Member, Natural Resources Committee (608) 634-4562 Rep.Nerison@legis.wisconsin.gov

Spencer Black - District #77 PO Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708

Member, Natural Resources Committee (608) 266-7521 Rep.Black@legis.wisconsin.gov

Louis Molepske, Jr. - District #71 PO Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708

Member, Natural Resources Committee (715) 342-8985 Rep.Molepske@legis.wisconsin.gov

John Steinbrink - District #65 PO Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708

Member, Natural Resources Committee (262) 694-5863 Rep.Steinbrink@legis.wisconsingov

Ann Hraychuck - District #28 PO Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708

Member, Natural Resources Committee (608) 267-2365 Rep.Hraychuck@legis.wisconsin.gov

Gary Hebl - District #46 PO Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708

Member, Natural Resources Committee (608) 266-7678 Rep.Hebl@legis.wisconsin.gov

Cory Mason - District #62 PO Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708

Member, Natural Resources Committee (608) 266-0634 Rep.Mason@legis.wisconsin.gov

Christine L. Thomas College of Natural Resources - UWSP

Chair, Natural Resources Board Stevens Point, WI 54481

Jonathan P. Ela 2130 Chamberlain Ave.

Member, Natural Resources Board Madison, WI 53726

John W. Welter P.O. Box 28

Member, Natural Resources Board Eau Claire, WI 54702-0228

David Clausen 1265 - 58th Ave.

Member, Natural Resources Board Amery, WI 54001

Gerald M. O’Brien Box 228

Member, Natural Resources Board Stevens Point, WI 54481

Howard D. Poulson N795 Tamarack Rd.

Member, Natural Resources Board Palmyra, WI 53156

Jane Wiley 2400 Park Rd.