Winnebago County Water Quality Program Valuation Study

"The goal of the study was to estimate the economic value that residents in Winnebago County were willing to pay in new and additional taxes for the creation of a county water quality program. With drastic changes to the landscape that began over 150 years ago, water quality in Winnebago County has suffered. Higher water levels and other effects of dams; erosion from logging, farming, construction, wave action and ice heaves; and the influx of nutrients (phosphorus and nitrates) and sediments (soils and other solids) entering the water from agricultural and urban land uses have all contributed to the deterioration of water quality. New sediments continue to enter the waters of the county and previously deposited sediments are resuspended in shallow water bodies by waves from wind and boats."-- from Overview.