The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is failing to adequately enforce federal Clean Water Act provisions that are under its purview, according to an environmental legal agency.

The agency has failed to “limit discharges of nutrients (e.g., phosphorous and nitrogen), determine the “reasonable potential” of a discharge to violate a water quality standard, and to keep clean waters clean,” Midwest Environmental Advocates said.

Gov. Jim Doyle’s proposed budget will make matters worse by cutting 85.5 full-time jobs beyond the 300 vacancies that already exist. MEA urged the Legislature to adequately fund the DNR.

“Despite the agency’s best intentions, DNR is incapable of implementing its responsibilities with insufficient resources and staff,” says Karen Schapiro, MEA’s Executive Director. “The consequences of further staff reduction at DNR put Wisconsin’s lakes, rivers and streams at great risk. The budget cut-backs also put DNR at risk of having citizens petition the EPA to de-delegate the authority of DNR to implement the Clean Water Act. If the DNR is unable to properly implement and enforce the law, the only option may be to call upon the EPA to step in and take over the program in Wisconsin.”