RURAL NONPOINT-SOURCE POLLUTION-CONTROL IN WISCONSIN - THE LIMITS OF A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM

This paper examines the relationship between best-management practices , institutional needs, and improved water quality within the watershed s of Wisconsin's program for controlling rural nonpoint source polluti on. The first section describes the federal requirements for state non point source programs and the legislative and management methods the s tate of Wisconsin uses to put those requirements into practice. The em phasis of the paper, described in the second section, is the instituti onal difficulty in evaluating the success of a large, integrated water quality program. Measurements which are investigated include (1) wate rshed water quality before and after implementation of BMPs; (2) progr am participation as measured by eligible vs. participating landowners, BMPs considered necessary vs. BMPs implemented, or dollars allocated to the NPS program vs. dollars expended; and (3) institutional goal co ordination and management effectiveness. It is found that, despite the size and sophistication of Wisconsin's NPS program, there is little i f any improvement in ambient water quality in these watersheds, probab ly because of a general lack of adequate participation in this volunta ry program.