2025-09-Coulee Region Sierra Club Newsletter - September 2025
SEPTEMBER 2025
“Earlier this summer, access to climate.gov … was thwarted by the Trump administration, and its production team was fired. … Now, a team of climate communication experts is working to resurrect its content.” - https://tinyurl.com/climatesitecomeback
Sierra Club Mission: To explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; To practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; To educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.
September19at5:30p.m.
CRSCActionGathering ProtectourPublicLands!
401 West Ave. S., La Crosse Pizza provided!
If you can drive or afford a car, you may not understand what it’s like to rely on walking, rolling, transit and asking for rides. But for nearly a third of people living in the United States – people with disabilities, young people, seniors and people who can’t afford cars or gas – this is every day life. The Week Without Driving experience was created so those who have the option to drive can learn firsthand about the barriers and challenges that nondrivers face and work with non-drivers to create more accessible communities for all. Learn more and sign up to be part of the experience at weekwithoutdriving.org
CRSC is co-sponsoring La Crosse Area Week Without Driving (see https://tinyurl.com/wwdlacrosse) which will include bus and bike rides, walk audits, panel discussions, a film and more. In addition, WWD Bingo is a is a fun way for all to join in. Check the website for more.
Sign up to join us and we'll send you weekly updates with actions you can take and events near you including online and local programs!
The National Park Service was founded on August 25, 1916. For over 100 years, these parks and other public lands have provided open space and clean water for our communities, habitats, plants, and animals. They've connected us to our history and culture. They provide our families with opportunities to get outside together and create lifelong memories.
At September’s Action Gathering, we'll fight for legislation that will protect these cherished resources, learn how staff shortages and other cuts are harming public lands, and take action to protect people and the outdoors.
No need to register! Everyone welcome! Pizza provided!
September30(tentative)
Transit2Trails
Ride the SMRT bus from La Crosse to Coon Valley’s Veterans Park
REGISTER:tinyurl.com/CRSCT2TWWD
Enjoy public lands, learn about regional public transit and the Coon Creek watershed, experience a Sierra Club Transit 2 Trails event, and participate in Week Without Driving all in one trip!
DATE IS TENTATIVE! We’ll catch the Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit (SMRT) bus mid-morning as it circulates around La Crosse, then arrive in Coon Valley where we will walk on the paved, one mile Veterans Park Trail loop, learn about the Coon Creek watershed, and enjoy a selfpacked picnic lunch. We’ll return to La Crosse on the SMRT bus, arriving back in the early afternoon.
Transit 2 Trails is a National Sierra Club initiative that draws attention to the need for better access to public parks, natural areas, and green spaces. The SMRT fare will be FREE for this trip (normally, $5 each way). Read more about the SMRT here: https://rideSMRT.com
Register (space is limited!) at tinyurl.com/CRSCT2TWWD or by calling 608-315-2693. If you have questions before deciding, please email (CRSierraClub@gmail.com) or call.
High School Stewardship Award
Congratulations to Onalaska High School student, Aditi Muduganti, recipient of the 2025 Coulee Region Sierra Club High School Environmental Stewardship Award!
Aditi was honored at a small ceremony on Sunday, August 24 at Summit Elementary School, site of one of Aditi’s many environmental projects, a Miyawaki “pocket” forest.
Aditi’s list of accomplishments are impressive, including her environmental projects. She has been awarded two City of La Crosse Youth Climate Action Fund grants. She is the author and illustrator of a children’s book, “Tech Tales: Heroes for a Sustainable Future,” introducing youth to climate action and sustainable technologies. She has distributed 100 books to schools, libraries, and non-profits.
One of her apps, Renew Tech Ed, helps local communities implement sustainability projects.
New CRSC Board Member
CRSC Board member Flo Sandok resigned her position in July. The Board invited Colleen Gnabasik, who has been co-hosting the monthly Action Hours, to apply and, at its August meeting, unanimously welcomed Colleen as its newest member. Her term will end in December 2026.
In her application, Colleen wrote, “Some of you know that I actually worked at the Sierra Club in San Franciscofrom March 1999 to May 2000. I was a HR Assistant. Carl Pope was the Director and Rosa Malone was my supervisor. It was there that I felt for the first time that I had found my tribe.
I have been helping Kathy and Chris plan the monthly action hours from the beginning. I believe that during this
August Report
On August 6, CRSC members Pat and Bobbi Wilson, Kathy Allen, and Colleen Gnabasik picked up trash along La Crosse’s River Valley Drive. Thank you!
On August 7, CRSC co-sponsored a Grow Solar Power Hour at The Nature Place in La Crosse. Transitioning from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy is a club priority.
The August 22 Action Gathering focused on the budget appropriations process and how it’s affecting Mississippi River protection and research programs. Two guests, currently working for USGS, provided background and updates before participants made calls. (See page 5 for a script if you are interested in taking action).
Aditi’s pocket forest project was just completed this summer with community volunteers, including some CRSC members. These small urban forests spur quick growth and rich biodiversity by densely planting native trees and shrubs in very fertile and loose soil.
In addition to these projects, Aditi is a member of the La Crosse Citizen’s Climate Lobby and the Green Council at Onalaska High School as well as the Indian Youth Climate Network, La Crescent Leos (president), and the Wisconsin Association of Student Councils (region 6 president).
She is a 2025 National STEM Champion, received an Honorable Mention in the Trust for Sustainable Living 2025 International Student Competition, earned awards at the 2023 Wisconsin Envirothon, the NASA Space Hacks Hackathon in PACE, and the Wisconsin Interscholastic Speech and Dramatic Arts Association. She won the Congressional App Challenge Award for the Third Congressional District in 2023.
We were excited to meet and learn about Aditi’s many talents and interests, and inspired by her commitment to environmental sustainability. You can view her recent Sustainability Chat online at https://www.sustaininstitute.com/post/sustainability-chats-ycaf-aditi-muduganti
current administration, anyone who loves nature, and is able, has a duty to counteract the destructionbeing levied. I take inspiration from Greta Thunberg who has accomplished much at such a young age. I also take inspiration from Jane Goodall who continues to accomplish much at an advanced age.
I am not a scientist, a professor, author, or someone with a high I.Q. I am just a regular person with ideas and a willingness to pick up trash along a highway. Thanks for giving me a chance to work with you inprotecting Wisconsin's environment.”
Welcome to the CRSC Board, Colleen! Your experience and enthusiasm will help us make a difference!
On August 21, CRSC and the state chapter hosted a happy hour at JavaVino in La Crosse. Wisconsin Chapter Executive Director, Elizabeth Ward and Campaign Coordinator Jadine Sonoda attended along with about a dozen CRSC members. We enjoyed the beautiful evening and heard about Sierra Club actions and plans for the coming months.
Nancy Hartje, Aditi Muduganti, Kathy Allen, Photo - Larry Sleznikow
Environmental Ed Grant Report
In January, CRSC awarded an Environmental Education grant to Liz Ramsay, seventh grade teacher at La Crosse Longfellow Middle School for her class’s Just Recycle initiative. We have received reports over the spring semester and present highlights here. To read all the Just Recycle updates https://tinyurl.com/crscJustRecycle
March 24, 2025: Seventh grade students at Longfellow began the new startup. Students are fully in charge. Student volunteers printed and labeled eight recycling containers and delivered them to participating classrooms. In all, 22 classrooms signed up, but more are asking to participate.
April: In the second week of the program, students collected 212 items. This is a total of about 450 recyclables in our first two weeks. Students are very excited about adding aluminum to the list of items collected. In less than one month, there are 25 total classrooms participating because of a student created and produced morning announcement. And, Just Recycle was showcased at the La Crosse School District Parent monthly meeting
Final report: The Just Recycle concluded for the school year on June 6. Additional funding was secured through the La Crosse Public Education Foundation to expand beyond the original number of participants. The program will continue in the 2025-2026 school year. Increasing numbers of students volunteered and the program was presented before the La Crosse District School Board and the Rotary Club. More than three thousand milk cartons, plastic cups, and aluminum cans were diverted from the landfill.
Sept. 17 - Solar Co-Benefits
Clean Wisconsin's Solar Co-benefits report describes some of the cobenefits of solar farms on water quality, soil health, wildlife habitat, and health, in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change. The research has shown that when solar farms replace conventionally-farmed row crops, like corn, it can reduce sediment and phosphorus pollution runoff into nearby lakes, rivers, and streams by 75-95% and reduce groundwater contamination from nitrates. Join us for a virtual Lunch and Learn event to hear more! Register here: https://lnkd.in/gxqMAagx
Can you help put together the October newsletter? Copy provided - you put it together (be creative!) for online and printed distribution on October 1. Email CRSierraClub@gmail.com or call 608-315-2693.
Sierra Club Fundraiser!
Team Sierra is an annual fundraiser to support the important work of Sierra Club Teams. The Wisconsin Chapter has seven Issues Teams–Clean Water, Transportation Access and Equity, Moving Beyond Coal to Clean Energy, Public Lands and Forests, Wildlife, Tar Sands Pipelines, and Mining. Led by Chapter staff, these statewide groups of volunteer activists learn and educate about important club priorities. We can support these teams by joining and donating.
This year’s fundraiser goes through September 15. Learn more about teams and how to donate at https://tinyurl. com/wiscteamsfr25.
Tuesday, September 9 - Locally Grown, Nationally Known.
From popular parks to hidden gems, Wisconsin is bursting with special places that make it possible to connect with nature. We recently asked members of our volunteer teams to tell us about their favorite spaces –places they go to play, rest, relax and be inspired –places they are passionate about and work to protect.
Register for the online event here: https://tinyurl.com/ WISC25LGNK
When you register you’ll also have a chance to share the name of your favorite outdoor place in Wisconsin. We’ll share the results of this informal survey during the event.
CHAPTER
AWARDS NOMINATIONS ! CHAPTER AWARDS NOMINATIONS !
Every year the Sierra Club Wisconsin Chapter recognizes volunteers and organizations for outstanding service and accomplishments on behalf of Wisconsin's environment. Awards recognize new activists, long-time members, chapter supporters, non-club organizations, and more.
Learn more about the awards and how to nominate someone at https://www.sierraclub. org/wisconsin/awards
The state chapter is seeking executive committee members to help oversee the chapter’s direction. Email Linda@frankenvironmental.com for more info.
More September Events
9/3, 6, 10, 13: Friends of the Blufflands work days. Details: https://www.facebook.com/friendsoftheblufflands
9/ 3: Enviro Wednesday at The Nature Place 7 pm https://natureplacelacrosse.org/calendar/envirowednesdays-3-2025-09-03/
9/ 3: Coon Creek Community Watershed Council 4th Anniversary Celebration. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Lindahl’s Swiss Hills, Stoddard. https://cooncreekwatershed.org/ 9/ 5, 12, 19, 26: Check Out the Trails in La Crosse, a Public Library series. https://tinyurl.com/lpltrails0925
9/ 6: Scouting for Deer & Invasives - Boscobel Bluffs State Natural Area. 9 to noon. https://tinyurl.com/ mvcdeerboscobel
9/ 6: All Abilities Stroll 10 am District 1 Community Ctr, BRF https://www.jacksoninaction.org/abilities
9/ 8: Driftless Dialogue - Brad Steinmetz 5 pm Kickapoo Valley Reserve. http://kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar/ 9/10, 20, 23: MVC Volunteer for the Wild Work Parties https://tinyurl.com/mvcsept25work
9/10: Friends of the Black River - Beaver Ecology in Wisconsin 6:30 pm https://tinyurl.com/fobr-beavers
9/11: Distinguished Lecture in Physics. 5 pm, UW-La Crosse https://tinyurl.com/uwlaxphysicstalks2025
9/12: Tundra Swans of the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge. 6 pm, JavaVino, La Crosse. https:// tinyurl.com/laxscicafe0925
9/13: Hemlock Trail Plant Walk 9 am Wildcat Mountain State Park https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/events/105656
9/13: Incredible Insects with Barrett Klein at the Nature Place.10 am https://natureplacelacrosse.org/calendar/ driftless-area-bioblitz-5/
9/13: Repair Cafe at La Crosse Public Library 10:30 to 12:30 https://www.lacrosselibrary.org/event/repair-cafe42431
9/13: Barrett Klein, author, Insect Epiphany 6 pm Pearl Street Books, La Crosse https://www.pearlstbooks.com/ events
9/17: BIRDS! at The Nature Place 7 pm https://tinyurl. com/tnp0925birds
9/18: Celebrate SOLAR & Ribbon-Cutting at The Nature Place 2 pm https://natureplacelacrosse.org/calendar/ solar-array-installation-ribbon-cutting-celebration/ 9/20: Gardens and Gazing on St. Joseph Ridge. 5:30 to 9 pm https://tinyurl.com/mvcgazing25
9/24: Leaf It - Fall Sustainability 4 pm La Crosse Myrick Park Main Shelter. Register by 9/23. https://www. cityoflacrosse.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/ 9087/17
9/29: Week Without Driving film - Free to Ride 5 to 6:30 pm La Crosse Public Library (or online) https://www. lacrosselibrary.org/event/week-without-drivingdocumentary-screening-free-ride-43443
Grow Solar is a solar group-buying and education program that makes going solar easier. It’s offered by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), the cities of Onalaska and La Crosse, and La Crosse County. Business and home owners in La Crosse County can pool their buying power to secure significant discounts that make installing solar more affordable.
Learn more at the online Grow Solar Power Hour on September 17 at 1:00 p.m. Learn more register for a Power Hour at https://www.growsolar.org/la-crosse/
Changes in renewable energy programs and incentives have made it even more important to act quickly if you have been considering solar, battery storage, upgraded electrical systems, insulation, heat pumps, hybrid water heaters and more. Most incentives will end by or before the end of the year.
Even without these incentives, climate and financial benefits of upgrading are impressive, and the need for reducing fossil fuel emissions is ever more urgent. Those living in the City of La Crosse may be eligible for the Green Homeowners United partnership program - check https://www.greenhomewi.com/lax. Vernon County residents can connect with the Vernon County Energy District at https://vced.energy
Share Your Solar Story!
Do you have a solar installation on your home or business? Would you like to help encourage others to take the solar plunge? We are collecting short videos for a virtual solar tour library.
Virtual solar tour hosts will show their installation with a description of the details, share the installation experience, answer questions they had when they were deciding, and illustrate how adding solar has affected their energy use and costs.
Hosts may share their decision process and any surprises (positive or negative). If they wish, they can agree to answer questions by email, phone, or in person from those who view their virtual tour.
No experience is needed. If you want, we can send someone to interview your or you can do your own video. Be an influencer for the climate! Email CRSierraClub@gmail.com or call 608-315-2693 for more details.
Call to Action - Support Local Science and the Environment!
At our August action gathering, we learned about the federal appropriations process and the risk of budget cuts for environmental science agencies like NOAA, NASA, EPA, and USGS. The funding for the USGS's Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC) on French Island could be drastically reduced. The Trump administration even proposed zeroing out the budget of the division that oversees Science Centers, the Ecosystems Mission Area. If the funding is cut, 100 local jobs and decades of scientific research will be in danger!
You can help by contacting our members of Congress and asking them to support the highest appropriations for environmental science agencies.
Learn more about appropriations (and the whole budget process) by watching the video clip on our Youtube page here: https://youtu.be/ugTRmeK_mFA. Then, call your members of Congress!
Here is a sample script you can use as a starting point, if you're not sure what to say, along with the phone numbers. (Tip: if you’re nervous about making calls and would rather leave a message, call outside regular office hours and you'll get their voicemail).
You can learn more about UMESC and their amazing work to get more talking points for your call at their website, https:/ /www.usgs.gov/centers/upper-midwest-environmental-sciences-center
“Hi, my name is ________ and I live in ________, my zip code is _____. I'm calling because I want my member of Congress to support the highest appropriations for environmental science agencies in this year's budget, and I want Congress to complete the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process in 2025.
I'm particularly concerned about the U.S. Geological Survey’s Upper Midwest Environmental Science Center, which is housed in my community. It is one of only 18 such centers in the country. Supporting this USGS center means continued monitoring of water quality, invasive species and ecosystem trends. Its scientific and community outreach work and employment opportunities benefit our community. It stands to benefit from your support of the highest appropriations for science. Thank you for your time."
Phone Numbers (save these in your contacts!):
Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-CD3): (202) 225-5506
