On July 27, the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve adding a Clean Water Now referendum question to local ballots for the November 8, 2022 election. Bayfield County joins Adams, Green, Juneau and Outagamie Counties as the latest to join the Clean Water Now movement.
The question on the ballot will read: “Should the State of Wisconsin establish a right to clean water to protect human health, the environment, and the diverse cultural and natural heritage of Wisconsin?”
The Clean Water Now advisory referendum gives Wisconsinites a direct way to express their support for more action by state government and elected officials to protect drinking water and groundwater across Wisconsin.
“Bayfield County voters know it’s critical to have clean water for tourism and agriculture. This fall, voters will get a chance to send a message to state leaders that they should do more to ensure water is protected for drinking, fishing, recreation, and a strong economy,” said River Alliance of Wisconsin Water Advocates Organizer Johnson Bridgwater.
Wisconsinites raised concerns about the urgency of protecting our water during the Speaker’s Water Quality Task Force hearings in 2019, but proposals from the task force fell short and the legislature has not taken meaningful or urgent action on the water quality protection bills that were proposed.
Five counties had majority YES votes in recent elections. In spring 2021 elections, voters in Marquette County (73%), Portage County (77%) and Wood County (76%) approved referendum questions. In spring 2022 elections, Eau Claire (79%) and La Crosse (86%) Counties approved the question.
The Clean Water Now referendum is a multi-county, multi-year referendum campaign. The result of the Clean Water Now referendum gives Wisconsin’s policy leaders even more evidence that clean water is a bipartisan issue that voters across the state want them to address.
About Clean Water Now
The Clean Water Now campaign is a county-level, non-binding referendum to show unity around the pressing need to address critical water issues. It is an opportunity to let Wisconsin’s policy leaders know that having clean water is an issue that voters across the state want them to provide.
Support the Campaign
Explore voteforcleanwater.com to learn more about this effort. Then, sign up for Clean Water Now updates.
Contact Johnson Bridgwater, if you have questions about the Clean Water Now campaign: jbridgwater@wisconsinrivers.org.
