Here & Now

Cole ‘Doubling Down on Science’ at DNR

Frederica Freyberg:
The governor’s budget proposes millions more towards the Department of Natural Resources for science positions, water quality programs and clean energy. In tonight’s closer look, we sat down with DNR Secretary Preston Cole to learn more. We started by asking about his pledge to, “double down on science in natural resource management.”

Preston Cole:
Well, the notion of natural resources, you know, what’s embedded in that is a science of water, air quality, what’s going on with our fishing population — what’s going on in our forest. As a forester, I have a science-based background, but also the doubling down of science means that we should be using modern day technology as well as evolving technology. For example, the water council in Milwaukee is developing all types of strategies around issues around drinking water and storm water. And that’s the doubling down. We have to pay attention not only to the basic science of natural resource management, but also the evolving science and technology. And so that is the doubling down of science and technology.

Frederica Freyberg:
There’s funding in the governor’s proposed budget for the creation of a DNR Bureau of Science with five employees and a director. How far does that go toward making science the epicenter as you would say of natural resource management?

Preston Cole:
That gives a person who reports to me the opportunity to advise me accordingly on science-based natural resource issues of the day. What’s evolving in other states. What type of research is currently going on: forest, fish, wildlife, drinking water, water quality-related issues. And that person as my advisor has my ear. No good corporate company that has — that makes something doesn’t have a science and technology officer, a research development officer. We’re literally mimicking what the private industry has been doing for thousands of years, having individuals working on and advising leadership around ever evolving natural resource issues.

Frederica Freyberg:
What is your messaging on climate change? Because the previous administration as you know said it was in public dispute.

Preston Cole:
Well, the Department of Natural Resources and my opinion about this, and I will say that our position is we have to educate about what’s going on in terms of climate and climate change. We understand that it’s a real phenomenon that is currently going on and much of it is man-made. But we want to be able to tell that story in a variety of ways. You can’t go on a website of Wisconsin’s top leading companies, Fortune 500 companies, and not see a message around what they’re trying to do, what strategies that they’re putting in play to reduce their carbon footprint. So one doesn’t necessarily have to listen to the Department of Natural Resources on climate change. There are a litany of voices out there that understands from the highest levels of government to town halls and some of our villages, is that we believe this is going on. We have to do something about it. And again, that hue and cry from voices throughout Wisconsin, we want to be part of that discussion as to what citizens can do to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Frederica Freyberg:
What are the top issues for you as you lead the DNR?

Preston Cole:
Consequently, drinking water is the number one issue. Of course, and as you’ve heard Governor Evers lead with, this is the year of drinking water. For those of us in the business of drinking water and regulating drinking water, it’s a very serious notion given the fact that surety has been lost in many communities around that you can’t turn on the tap and have surety that you’re going to get clean drinking water. So what we feel about that particular issue is, we also see signals from the Legislature who put a water task force in place. We believe that’s where we’re going to be able to get something done relative to drinking water. I’m excited about what it proposes from the task force that Mr. Vos has put in play to the governor’s signaling the year of clean drinking water. On the landscape, we know that chronic wasting disease in our cervid deer population is a challenge. So I’ve been asked to look back as to what has the state of Wisconsin accomplished with $52 million spent since 2002. I’ve also been tasked to ask other regions and other states what are they doing in terms of research so that we’re not duplicating research here in Wisconsin that other researchers may be doing.

Frederica Freyberg:
On CWD, I’ll get back to water in a minute, what has Wisconsin done since 2002 on CWD?

Preston Cole:
Well, one of the first things that we’ve tried is to eliminate CWD in the cervid deer population through harvesting them with programs like “Earn a Buck.” Earn a Buck was tasked to, you know, reduce the population. And it did a very good job of reducing the population. So much so, we felt pushback from a lot of hunters that weren’t seeing deer on the landscape. So consequently, we know that as recently as putting out kiosks where folks can leave us heads of deer and we know that in that spinal column and deer skulls is more prions that we’ve ever once known. Dumpsters, for folks who don’t want to move their carcass. We’ve limited certain places where carcass movement can be moved to and from, which is an important operational implication. And again, constant education about chronic wasting disease.

Frederica Freyberg:
On water issues, even with the increases in the governor’s budget proposal, are there enough resources for prevention and enforcement around this?

Preston Cole:
Well, I will say the governor has led with $83 million worth of effort. That’s a big lift in anyone’s mind. $83 million is $83 million. That said, where we hope to use those funds, again, is water quality, water quality protection, science-based water quality initiatives. Looking around the state as to where some of those emerging contaminants are, PFOS, which is a human threat, nitrates in drinking wells. So there’s never going to be enough money but we believe we can get something done.

Frederica Freyberg:
Two Wisconsin Senators, Tom Tiffany and Duey Strobel, called the Stewardship Program, “Wisconsin’s hidden debt” and say that it should not be re-authorized. What do you think about that?

Preston Cole:
I would say that everybody is entitled to an opinion. And the stewardship program is a legacy program that begins to coalesce around preserving pristine ecosystems that we find throughout the state of Wisconsin. But we have a number of properties where there are private inholdings. When those opportunities come up, the state of Wisconsin should be taking and purchasing those properties. And in doing such, we can have a unified state forest, a wildlife area without private properties internal to those. And so I would offer that as a counter point to what stewardship does in terms of preserving unique ecosystems as well as, you know, filling the gaps in current state properties that are out there.

Frederica Freyberg:
Some Republican legislators are concerned that the DNR will now embark on regulatory overreach. How do you respond to that?

Preston Cole:
We are a — certainly a regulatory agency. We take a common sense approach to regulations. We always have conversations with individuals first before we issue any actions. We have to understand the circumstances that behind any type of violation. And that’s the beginning of the conversation. Again, common sense regulations is what we put in play.

Frederica Freyberg:
All right, Secretary Cole, thanks very much.

Preston Cole:
Thank you.