What an amazing summer so far. It has been filled with frozen yogurt…
…very hot weather runs…
…air conditioning (wearing a sweatshirt!)…
…finding old photos (my brother is too cute…
…moving back into my office…
…watching my first American Legion baseball game a couple blocks from my house…
…training with Paul, including deadlifts…
… And going to Genna’s 31 party and hanging out with friends and cute babies.
I’ve also been busy doing research on CAFOs. CAFO stands for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations- basically a giant farm. There is a proposed CAFO in Saratoga, and the people who live in that small town (population: 5,383 via Wikipedia) are very upset. Historically, CAFOs have had negative effects on the towns that they are in, and the citizens are very aware of that. This particular CAFO will include 3,500 cows!
I went with one of my Trout Unlimited board members to an open meeting about the proposed farm and the 49 high capacity wells that are needed for that farm. There were a lot of people!
Wysocki Farms gave a presentation about the farm and brought in a groundwater expert to discuss the possible impact on the environment.
I don’t live in Saratoga- in fact, I don’t even live in Wood County. My main concern is about the three trout streams that run through the proposed farm site, and what will happen to the groundwater. Our area is currently in a drought, so the streams are already in poor condition.
In fact- I got to experience the drought (and high capacity well)’s impact on the streams firsthand when the DNR folks offered to take me out with them on their fish survey on Ten Mile Creek. When the DNR surveys the fish in a stream, they use electricity to draw the fish out of their hiding spots, then net, measure, and count them. We headed out early on a hot, humid day, and the team of four were incredibly kind and informative. Here’s a few photos from the areas that they were surveying.
The spiders were working hard.
I left a cryptic message on the bank…
Some of those stream segments looked like the fairy world on True Blood.
There were a couple nice sized brown trout.
The DNR people even let me hold the fish they caught!
The survey includes a prescribed distance, so we had to climb around obstacles!
The water was so low in segments that it was only a couple inches deep.
This adventure was beautiful but concerns me- the streams aren’t supposed to look like this.
If the wells are approved and the CAFO moves in, how can the streams possibly survive?
Last weekend, we had the rare opportunity to attend a wedding, instead of working at one. Our college friends (and Delta Omicron siblings) Josh and Sarah got married in Sheboygan. We had an incredible time catching up with everyone!
We love you, and miss you, Rachael!
The bride and groom are both teachers, so they had a school bus as their “getaway vehicle!”
The ADORABLE baby Halle…
Look at all that DO bling! 😉
The Delta Omicron siblings that could make it 😀
I am so ready for babies, Brian… I swear!
We had a wonderful time. Congratulations, Josh and Sarah Clavette!! We love you!
Brace yourself for a shamefully cute photo of Abbie:
I also had the opportunity to go on a Harley ride with my friend Justin, and a bunch of his HOG friends. We were in a group of 8 bikes, including a dad with his 6 year old in a side car and a woman on a trike! Justin was sporting his new Packer bike. I didn’t take a good photo of the bike in all it’s glory, but you get the idea. 🙂
I’m off to get ready for the launch/release party for Hoopla magazine, a publication that I shoot for, and to pack for a busy four days with four photo shoots!
See you on the other side of the weekend!
Miles this year: 379.6
artist & athlete | a glimpse into real life, Heidi style 