“In Wisconsin”
Thursday, January 14, 2010

>> WELCOME TO "IN WISCONSIN."
I'M PATTY LOEW.
FOR THE PAST DECADE WE'VE CHRONICLED THE COMEBACK OF WHOOPING CRANES IN OUR STATE.
>> WE'RE WATCHING HISTORY IN THE MAKING.
>> LATE LAST YEAR TWO MAJOR SETBACKS, SEE WHAT IT MEANS FOR THIS ENDANGERED SPECIES.
ALSO, A SNAPSHOT OF OUR STATE'S ENVIRONMENTAL FUTURE FROZEN IN TIME.
>> THE CLIMATE IS CHANGING QUITE RAPIDLY AT THE PRESENT TIME.
>> WE'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT ICE RESEARCH IN VILAS COUNTY.
IN OUR MONEY MATTERS SERIES, IT'S A NEW YEAR AND TIME FOR THE MAKEOVER.
AN EDUCATIONAL MAKEOVER.
>> I'M HAPPY.
HAPPY TO LAND AND FINALLY GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND GET GOING ON THIS DREAM.
>> PLUS, YOU'LL MEET A 17-YEAR-OLD WHO PERFORMS MAGIC ON THE MARIMBA.
>> I FEEL LIKE IF I WERE IN SOME OTHER FIELD I WOULD JUST WISH I WERE IN MUSIC.
>> THOSE REPORTS COMING YOUR WAY NEXT ON "IN WISCONSIN."
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "IN WISCONSIN" IS PROVIDED BY THE PEOPLE OF ALLIANT ENERGY, WHO BRING SAFE, RELIABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ENERGY TO KEEP HOMES, NEIGHBORHOODS AND LIFE IN WISCONSIN RUNNING SMOOTHLY.
ALLIANT ENERGY, WE'RE ON FOR YOU.
AND THE ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND ORAL SURGERY SPECIALISTS
OF MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH, A VETERINARY TEAM WORKING WITH PET OWNERS AND FAMILY VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN, PROVIDING CARE FOR ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION ANIMALS, WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY BIKE WHICH IS.
>> WE BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH OUR ONGOING MONEY MATTERS SERIES.
UNEMPLOYMENT HAS BEEN ON THE RISE IN WISCONSIN AND MANY PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT A NEW BEGINNING IN THE NEW YEAR.
ENROLLMENT IS UP AT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE STATE AS PEOPLE LOOK FOR AN EDUCATIONAL MAKEOVER TO IMPROVE THEIR FUTURE PROSPECTS.
"IN WISCONSIN" REPORTER ANDY SOTH SHOWS YOU HOW THE ECONOMY IS AFFECTING A NUMBER OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN WISCONSIN.
>> WHAT ARE YOU DOING TONIGHT?
>> LINDA O'MALLEY IS A BUSY WOMAN.
>> I'M WORKING THREE JOBS TO FEED THREE HUNGRY TEENAGERS.
THAT'S WHERE THE MAJORITY OF MY MONEY GOES, TO THE GROCERY STORE.
I'M ONLY STAYING AFLOAT.
>> ONE OF THE THREE JOBS KEEPING O'MALLEY AFLOAT THE STYLING HAIR AT A NURSING HOME.
AFTER YEARS OF MAKING OVER CLIENTS.
SHE IS LOOKING FOR A MAKEOVER OF HER OWN.
O'MALLEY WANTS TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL FOR A NURSING DEGREE.
>> I REALLY FEEL IT'S MY CALLING.
>> JUST WHEN SHE WAS CONTEMPLATING GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.
>> DO YOU NEED SOME DIRECTION IN YOUR LIFE?
>> SHE LEARNED ABOUT A SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST AT A LOCAL COLLEGE.
>> YOU CAN ENTER THE CONTEST.
>> THE PROMOTION HAS BEEN DONE AT A NUMBER OF UW COLLEGES, THE TWO-YEAR CAMPUSES OF THE UW SYSTEM.
>> A TOTAL VALUE OF OVER $2,600.
>> THE ONLY THING HOLDING ME BACK NOW IS MY FINANCIAL LIMITATIONS.
PLEASE HELP ME WITH AN EDUCATION MAKEOVER.
WE'RE READY AND THE PATIENTS ARE WAITING.
>> THE JUDGES LIKED O'MALLEY'S LETTER.
>> REMEMBER THAT CONTEST?
>> I WON.
>> THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR HER TO START HER NURSING EDUCATION WITH A SEMESTER OF FREE TUITION AT UW WASHINGTON COUNTY.
>> IT IS A LITTLE START BUT IT'S THE START I NEED.
>> WHILE THE UW COLLEGES CAN'T MAKE IT FREE FOR ALL THEY'VE RESISTED RAISING TUITION FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.
>> IT IS OUR PARTICULAR MISSION IN THE STATE TO MAKE HIGHER EDUCATION AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE MIGHT STRUGGLE.
>> IN THIS DOWN ECONOMY THE UW COLLEGES HAVE SET ENROLLMENT RECORDS.
IN FACT, ENROLLMENT IS UP ACROSS THE UW SYSTEM.
INCLUDING FOUR YEAR CAMPUSES LIKE UW-PLATTEVILLE.
WITH ITS EMPHASIS ON ENGINEERING AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL TRACKS IS BURSTING AT THE SEAMS WITH A 50% ENROLLMENT INCREASE OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS.
>> WE HAPPEN TO HAVE THOSE CRITICAL MAJORS FOR THE FUTURE.
IN TECHNOLOGY, IN FORENSIC INVESTIGATIONS, IN ENGINEERING, IN INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY.
>> PLATTEVILLE HAS A LONG ENGINEERING TRADITION BUT ITS RECENT GROWTH COMES FROM BETTER MARKETING OF THE PROGRAM IN THE TRISTATE AREA IT SERVES AND LETTING STUDENTS FROM IOWA AND NORTHERN ILLINOIS PAY IN-STATE TUITION.
>> IT'S A WIN FOR THE STUDENTS ATTENDING BUT A WIN FOR THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
BECAUSE WE'RE PRODUCING ENGINEERS.
>> WHILE EMPHASIZING CAREER OUTCOMES HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL FOR PLATTEVILLE, BEING TOO FOCUSED ON TRAINING FOR A PARTICULAR TYPE OF CAREER COMES WITH RISKS.
>> THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO IS GO WITH A FAD.
A FEW YEARS AGO IN THE DOT COM BUBBLE IT WAS COMPUTER SCIENCE.
EVERYONE SHOULD GO INTO COMPUTER SCIENCE.
THAT BUBBLE BURST.
NOW IT'S BIOTECHNOLOGY.
EVERYONE GOES INTO BIOTECHNOLOGY.
AND THAT'S A GREAT FIELD, IT IS A GROWING FIELD, BUT THINGS CHANGE AND IF YOU'VE LEARNED HOW TO LEARN AND HAVE THOSE COMMUNICATION SKILLS, YOU HAVE THOSE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, YOU'LL BE A SUCCESS.
>> IT'S PRIVATE COLLEGE WEEK AND ROLF WEGENKE IS TAKING HIS MISSION TO THE AIR.
>> PRIVATE COLLEGE ISN'T ALWAYS MORE EXPENSIVE.
>> A BIG PART OF THE JOB IS CONVINCING PEOPLE IT'S AFFORDABLE.
>> THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING PRIVATE COLLEGE WEEK.
HE SAYS THE STATE'S PRIVATE SCHOOL AVERAGE ANNUAL TUITION LOOKS HIGH AT $22,000 BUT THE AVERAGE AID RECEIVED TOTAL $17,000 FOR A NET COST OF $5,000, COMPARABLE TO UW SYSTEM CAMPUSES.
>> WE'RE COMMITTED TO FINDING THE AID, FINDING THE RESOURCES SO YOU CAN PURSUE THAT DREAM AT THE COLLEGE OF YOUR CHOICE.
>> THAT DREAM SEEMED UNDER THREAT FOR SOME AT BELOIT COLLEGE IN THE FALL OF 2008.
IN NEARBY JANESVILLE THE GM PLANT CLOSING SENT ENROLLMENTS SOARING AT BLACKHAWK TECH AND UW ROCK COUNTY.
AT BELOIT THE DOWN ECONOMY AFFECTED AN ENROLLMENT DROP AND THEY LAID OFF TEACHERS.
>> WE PUT IT OUT THERE NOT SO MUCH THAT THE COLLEGE WAS GOING UNDER, BUT THE COLLEGE WAS RESPONDING QUICKLY.
>> ONE YEAR LATER BELOIT'S ENROLLMENT IS BACK UP TO A HEALTHY LEVEL AND THE TOTAL ENROLLMENT FOR ALL OF WISCONSIN'S PRIVATE COLLEGES AS NEVER BEEN HIGHER.
>> OUR PIECE OF THE PIE ATTRACTS A SPECIFIC TYPE OF INDIVIDUAL, A SPECIFIC TYPE OF STUDENT, A SPECIFIC TYPE OF PARENT AND THE DEMAND IN SUPPLY IS ALMOST INELASTIC.
THEY'LL DO ANYTHING TO GET HERE.
>> MULTIPLIED BY THE SMALL THICKNESS.
>> LIKE ANY VIBRANT MARKETPLACE THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE IN THE COLLEGE MARKET.
THE CHALLENGE IN TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES IS MAKING THE SALE.
AT LEAST FOR NOW LINDA O'MALLEY IS A SATISFIED CUSTOMER.
>> I'M HAPPY.
HAPPY TO LAND AND FINALLY GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND GET GOING ON THIS DREAM.
A GOOD DREAM.
WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH MY LIFE IS HELP PEOPLE AND HELP THEM TO FEEL BETTER.
I'VE BEEN DOING THAT AND I FEEL A STRONG DESIRE TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE.
>> LINDA O'MALLEY TELLS US HER COURSE WORK AT UW WASHINGTON COUNTY IS GOING WELL.
IT WILL TAKE HER THREE MORE YEARS OF PART-TIME SCHOOLING TO EARN HER ASSOCIATES DEGREE.
THEN SHE WANTS TO GO ON TO UW MILWAUKEE TO COMPLETE HER TRAINING AS A REGISTERED NURSE.
IT'S BEEN A SEASON OF SETBACKS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION IN BARABOO.
FIRST VANDALISM AT THEIR HEADQUARTERS AND THEN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF A PRIZED WHOOPING CRANE DURING MIGRATION.
THERE ARE 360 WILD CRANES IN THE ENTIRE WORLD, A FEW DOZEN OF THEM CALLING WISCONSIN HOME.
FOR THE PAST DECADE "IN WISCONSIN" HAS CHRONICLED THE COMEBACK OF WHOPPING CRANES IN OUR STATE.
HERE IS A LOOK BACK AT THEIR FUTURE IN WISCONSIN.
>> A FIELD IN SOUTHERN WISCONSIN ON A DAY IN JUNE.
WITNESS SOMETHING REMARKABLE.
A RETURN.
A RETURN OF THE WHOOPING CRANE TO WISCONSIN.
>> THE WHOOPING CRANE IS ONE OF THE RAREST BIRDS IN THE WORLD.
AT ONE TIME THE NUMBER WAS ONLY 21 BIRDS IN THE WILD.
>> FONDROW OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION TRACKS WISCONSIN'S POPULATION OF WHOOPING CRANES.
TODAY IN THIS FIELD THAT'S SIX BIRDS OUT OF THE ONLY 36 OR SO THAT MIGRATE IN AND OUT OF THE STATE BUT CALL WISCONSIN HOME.
WORLDWIDE THE BIRDS' NUMBERS ARE SMALL.
THERE ARE ONLY 400, INCLUDING THOSE IN ZOOS.
FREE FLYING WHOOPING CRANES NUMBER LESS THAN 200.
THE BIRDS THEMSELVES ARE MASSIVE.
THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT SPARROW SIZED.
>> WHOOPING CRANE STANDS UP TO ABOUT FIVE FEET TALL.
IT HAS SNOW WHITE FEATHERS AND BLACK PRIMARY WING TIPS AND IT HAS A BLACK TRIANGULAR MASK ACROSS ITS FACE AND A RED PATCH ON TOP OF ITS HEAD.
>> THEY'RE DISTINCTIVE.
HARD TO MISS TRUCKING ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE BUT NOT SO EASY TO FIND.
>> TYPICAL MIGRATION DAY THEY CAN FLY UP TO 200 MILES A DAY DEPENDING ON WHAT KIND OF TAILWIND AND THERMAL ACTIVITY THEY HAVE TO SORE ON.
>> SHE TRACKS WHOOPERS AS THEY FLY THROUGH THE SKIES AND NOTING THEIR SOCIAL BEHAVIOR ON THE GROUND.
TAKE THE SUBJECT OF THE BIRD'S DANCING.
THE MOVEMENT OF WHICH MAY BE MUCH MORE THAN SOCIAL.
>> THEY DANCE WHEN THEY'RE NERVOUS.
IT CAN DANCE TO BE AGGRESSIVE, DANCE TO RELIEVE STRESS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT IS DEPENDING ON THE CONTEXT.
>> THE CONTEXT HERE MAY BE ONE OF TERRITORY.
THE WHOOPERS SITE A RIVAL.
A PAIR OF SANDHILL CRANES AND THEN REACT TO THE INTRUSION.
AND DANCE AT THE CONCLUSION.
FONDROW'S FIELD WORK IS PART OF A REINTRODUCTION PROJECT THAT IS YEARS IN THE MAKING AND THAT WILL LAST MANY MORE.
IT INCLUDES A FLOCK OF STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES.
ONE OF THE COLLABORATORS, THE NECEDAH WILDLIFE REFUGE.
>> OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE 125 BIRDS, WITH 25 BREEDING PAIR.
OF COURSE, WE'D BE HAPPIER WITH MORE THAN THAT.
WE'LL BE MONITORING THIS FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER TEN YEARS.
>> ENDANGERED OR NOT THE CRANES MAY BE FORCED TO CONFRONT CIVILIZATION DURING THE LONG MIGRATION FROM HERE TO FLORIDA OR IN THIS DAY'S PURSUIT OF BUGS IN A FARMER'S PLOWED FIELD.
BUT THE RESEARCHERS ASK, IF YOU SEE THEM, STAY A DISTANCE AWAY.
KEEP THEM WILD.
AND ENJOY THEIR REMARKABLE RETURN.
>> HOW CAN YOU NOT BE EXCITED TO SEE THIS CREATURE WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO LOSE ALL TOGETHER AND NOW IT'S BACK AND SO FAR SO GOOD.
WE HOPE IT WILL THRIVE.
WE'RE WATCHING HISTORY IN THE MAKING AND WE'RE PART OF SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO HAVE A PLANETARY IMPACT.
IT'S REINTRODUCING AND TRYING TO SAVE THIS SPECIES FOR THE WORLD.
>> AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, A PRIZED BIRD WAS KILLED DURING MIGRATION IN DECISION.
THREE GROUPS ARE NOW OFFERING A $10,000 REWARD FOR INFORMATION ON ABOUT WHO SHOT AND KILLED THE RARE BIRD.
THE FEMALE WHOOPING CRANE SEEN IN THIS VIDEO WAS FOUND DEAD IN WEST CENTRAL INDIANA.
IT IS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES WITH THIS PARTICULAR FEMALE BIRD BEING CALLED LIKELY THE MOST IMPORTANT BIRD IN THE ENTIRE EASTERN MIGRATORY POPULATION.
HERE IS WHY.
THE 7-YEAR-OLD CRANE IDENTIFIED BY A LEG BAND WAS THE ONLY FEMALE TO HAVE HATCHED AND RAISED A WILD WHOOPING CRANE CHICK.
SHE LEARNED TO MIGRATE BEHIND ULTRALIGHT PLANES BUT HER CHICK MIGRATED FOLLOWING THE PARENTS.
THE CRANE SHOT WAS AMONG 19 WHOOPING CRANES MIGRATING FROM SUMMER GROUNDS NEAR.
>> FLYING SOUTH FOR THE WINTER MIGHT APPEAL TO SOME PEOPLE BUT FOR SCIENTISTS ON TROUT LAKE IT IS PRIME TIME FOR KEY RESEARCH.
WHAT CAN YOU LEARN FROM A SHEET OF ICE?
"IN WISCONSIN" REPORTER ART HACKETT EXPLAINS THAT ICE COULD HOLD THE KEYS TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FUTURE AND HE SHOWS YOU WHY IN VILAS COUNTY.
>> THESE TWO ARE LIMNOLOGY RESEARCHERS AT TROUT LAKE RESEARCH STATION.
LIMNOLOGY IS THE STUDY OF LAKES, WHAT'S IN THEM AND WHAT SURROUNDS THEM.
IN OCTOBER OF 2007, SMALL AND RUSAK WERE TAKING THEIR NEXT TO THE LAST SAMPLES OF THE YEAR.
>> WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL ALL THE LAKES TURN OVER AND THEN THAT'S WHEN WE DO OUR FINAL SAMPLINGS.
CINDY MONITORS THAT WITH HER TEMPERATURE AND OXYGEN PROFILE.
>> WHEN A LAKE TURNS OVER IN THE LATE FALL ORGANIC MATTER RISES TO THE TOP.
IT HAPPENS AS TEMPERATURES DROP.
SPENDING FOUR HOURS IN A BOAT BECOMES LESS ATTRACTIVE.
>> WE'RE USUALLY RARING TO GO ON THAT LAST DAY.
>> THREE MONTHS LATER THE CREW FROM THE UW TROUT LAKE STATION ISN'T IN A BOAT.
THEY ARE ON THE ICE.
TIME MEINKE PULSE WATER SAMPLES FROM VARIOUS DEPTH.
>> HE'S PAYING ATTENTION TO THE 15-INCH PLUG OF ICE PULLED FROM THE SAMPLING HOLE.
>> THE ICE GREW AND MOTION TOWARD THE BODY OF THE LAKE.
SINCE THAT TIME WE'VE HAD SNOW AND RAIN ACCUMULATE ON TOP OF THE SURFACE.
THEN WE HAD A WARMING SPELL.
THIS WHITE STUFF THAT IS NOT CLEAR LIKE THE REST OF THE ICE BLOCK IS THE STUFF THAT HAS REFORMED SINCE THE ORIGINAL FREEZING AND IT CONTAINS DIRT AND AIR AND OTHER PARTICLES THAT MAKE IT CLOUDY LIKE THAT.
>> THE ICE CREATES A RECORD OF POLLUTION FROM THE AIR AND RUNOFF FROM SURROUNDING LAND.
BUT THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT THE ICE MEINKE AND OTHER RESEARCHERS AT TROUT LAKE HAVE NOTICED.
>> WE ARE FINDING ICE FORMING ON THE LAKES MUCH LATER IN THE YEAR AND THE ICE IS LEAVING THE LAKES MUCH EARLIER IN THE YEAR.
>> ICE IS SORT OF LIKE A MINER'S CANARY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND WARMING.
>> DR. JOHN MAGNUSON IS A PROFESSOR OF LIMNOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN.
ICE, HE SAYS, IS A GOOD INDICATOR FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
>> AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, IT IS SO SENSITIVE TO WARMING.
ICE MELTS QUICKLY AND AS THE ENVIRONMENT WARMS UP, IT LEAVES A SIGNAL THAT CAN BE SEEN VERY EARLY IN THE SEQUENCE.
>> AND THE FREEZING OF A LAKE DOESN'T JUST REFLECT THE FACT THAT IT IS COLD ON ONE PARTICULAR DAY.
IT REFLECTS A PATTERN OVER TIME.
>> SO IN THE PREVIOUS ONE, TWO OR THREE MONTHS AND SO IT'S ALSO AN INTEGRATED MEASURE.
>> IN THE DURATION OF ICE COVER ON A GIVEN LAKE MEASURED OVER A SPAN OF YEARS REFLECTS THE CLIMATE.
CLIMATE REFERS TO LONG-TERM CONDITIONS AS OPPOSED TO WEATHER, WHICH IS WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
UNTIL SCIENTISTS STARTED STAMPING THE TROUT LAKE STATION YEAR ROUND THERE WERE NO RELIABLE LOGS OF ICE ON AND ICE OFF DATES FOR TROUT LAKE AND OTHER LAKES IN THE AREA.
THE RECORD STARTS IN 1982 AND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS.
>> THE GENERAL TREND IN ALL OF THESE LAKES IS FOR LESS ICE COVER AT ABOUT SEVEN DAYS LESS ICE COVER ON AVERAGE EVERY TEN YEARS FOR TAKE GROUP OF LAKES.
>> THIS IS THE GRAPH FOR TROUT LAKE.
ITS ICE DURATION HAS DROPPED 5.6 DAYS PER DECADE.
>> THE LIMNOLOGISTS HAVE ONLY BEEN WATCHING THE TROUT LAKE CLUSTER FOR 25 YEARS.
TO GET REALLY LONG-TERM DATA YOU HAVE TO COME TO MADISON'S LAKE MENDOTA, WHERE SCIENTISTS HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE ICE COME AND GO FOR 150 YEARS.
>> WE NOTE THAT IT'S THE FREEZE AND BREAKUP DATES ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM YEAR TO YEAR BUT WHEN YOU OPEN IT UP TO 150 YEARS, WHICH IS ABOUT FIVE GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE, YOU CAN SEE THAT IT USED TO FREEZE ON AVERAGE AROUND FOUR MONTHS A YEAR AND NOW IT'S FREEZING ON AVERAGE AT AROUND THREE MONTHS A YEAR.
SO WE'VE LOST ABOUT 25% OF THE ICE COVER ON MENDOTA.
>> MAGNUSON SAYS LAKE MENDOTA'S ICE COVER IS BECOMING NINE DAYS SHORTER EVERY DECADE.
>> WE'RE BEGINNING TO HAVE LAKES IN SOUTHERN WISCONSIN THAT DON'T FREEZE EVERY WINTER.
NOW, THAT HASN'T HAPPENED TO MENDOTA YET.
WE CAME CLOSE A FEW YEARS AGO.
>> IN THE WINTER OF 2000-2001 THE ICE COVER LASTED ONLY THREE WEEKS.
MAGNUSON WON'T PREDICT WHEN THE FIRST ICE-FREE WINTER WILL OCCUR BUT HE OFFERS ANOTHER PREDICTION INVOLVING SNOWFALL.
>> THE SCENARIOS FOR THE FUTURE IS THAT THAT WILL CONTINUE.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE HIGH LEVELS OF SNOWFALL AND A LOT OF PRECIPITATION IN THE WINTER.
THAT WILL PROBABLY RESULT IN MORE SNOW ON THE ICE AND THE ICE WILL BE ALREADY THINNER AND SO WE WOULD EXPECT THAT WE'LL HAVE MORE GRAY ICE RELATIVE TO CLEAR ICE IN THE FUTURE.
>> LIMNOLOGISTS CARE ABOUT THE MIX OF GRAY ICE AND CLEAR ICE FOR A REASON.
MORE GRAY ICE MEANS LESS LIGHT ENTERS THE WATER.
LIGHT LEVELS CAN ALTER THE POPULATIONS OF MICROSCOPIC PLANTS AND ANIMALS LIVING UNDER THE ICE.
>> SO WE HAVE TWO SAMPLES, THE GREENER ONE COMES FROM UP VERY NEAR THE SURFACE.
THE CLEARER ONE COMES FROM A LITTLE BIT DEEPER THAN THAT AND IT JUST IS A LITTLE BIT OF A DEMONSTRATION OF HOW THE ALGAE HAVE TENDED TO FLOAT TOWARDS NEAR THE SURFACE WHERE THERE IS MORE LIGHT.
>>  THOSE CHANGES WORK THEIR WAY UP THE FOOD CHAIN AFFECTING WHAT KIND OF FISH LIVE IN WISCONSIN'S LAKES AND THE RESEARCHERS CARE ABOUT THE NUMBER OF DAYS THE ICE IS COVERED NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY PLAN ON ICE FISHING.
>> THE CLIMATE IS CHANGING QUITE RAPIDLY AT THE PRESENT TIME AND SO YOU CAN SEE THE SIGNAL OF THE WARMING THAT IS OCCURRING IN THE ICE COVER DATA.
>> MAGNUSON LOOKS AT THE DATA FOR LAKE MENDOTA AND SEES A DISTURBING CLUSTER.
>> THE RED DOTS ARE THE TEN SHORTEST ICE COVER.
ALL BUT THREE ARE IN THE MOST RECENT YEARS.
>> THE TEN YEARS WHEN THE ICE WAS FROZEN OVER THE LONGEST, IT TURNS OUT, WERE ALL MORE THAN 100 YEARS AGO.
>> SEVERAL RECENT SCIENTIFIC PAPERS FROM THE UW CONTINUE TO DOCUMENT THE STEEP DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF DAYS FOR ICE COVER DURING THE LAST 40 YEARS.
WARMER TEMPERATURES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA AND OTHER INFLUENCES, LIKE CHANGES IN THE OCEAN CURRENTS, CAN IMPACT WEATHER CONDITIONS HERE IN WISCONSIN.
FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION HAS COVERED THE STATEWIDE BOLZ YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION FEATURING GIFTED TEEN MUSICIANS PERFORMING WITH THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
WE'VE SEEN THEM COME COMPLETE ON VIOLIN, CELLO AND TRUMPET.
THIS YEAR AN INSTRUMENT USUALLY FOUND AT THE BACK OF THE STAGE IS IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
HIS INSTRUMENT IS THE MARIMBA AND HE'S 17-YEAR-OLD GREGG RISS OF OREGON.
§§ 
>> GREG RISS HAS A GREAT MUSICAL ROLE MODEL.
HIS MOTHER, LAURIE.
>> IT WOULD BE PROBABLY UP.
SHE'S REALLY THE PERSON WHO EXPOSED ME TO MUSIC AT AN EARLY AGE.
I CREDIT HER FOR THAT.
>> LAURIE RISS IS A MEMBER OF THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
SHE GOT GREG STARTED WITH MUSIC LESSONS WHEN HE WAS QUITE YOUNG.
AT FIRST HE FOCUSED ON GUITAR.
>> HE WAS ONLY LIKE SIX YEARS OLD, I THINK.
WE WENT TO OUR FIRST SUZUKI CAMP AND THE TEACHER HEARD HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME AND HE PLAYED HIS FIRST SONG AND THE TEACHER SAID WOW, GREG, THAT'S REALLY LOUD.
>> IN FIFTH GRADE HE DISCOVERED A PASSION FOR PERCUSSION.
AND IN SEVENTH GRADE HE TOOK ON THE MARIMBA, TOO.
>> I JUST LOVE PLAYING WITH A BUNCH OF MALLETS.
IT'S A LOT OF FUN.
I LIKE BRINGING OUT THE EXTREMES OF THE INSTRUMENT BECAUSE THE MARIMBA CAN BE LOUDER THAN PRETTY MUCH ANY INSTRUMENT BUT IT CAN ALSO BE INCREDIBLY SOFT AND JUST DIFFERENT ARTICULATIONS.
>> GREG STILL PLAYS A RANGE OF TRADITIONAL PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS WITH THE WISCONSIN YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND IN THE BAND AT OREGON HIGH SCHOOL AND IN PRIVATE LESSONS HE TRIES OUT SOME MORE EXOTIC INSTRUMENTS, TOO.
LIKE THE SHEKERE, THE BRAZILIAN RIQ AND THE REBINIQUE.
>> I'M TRYING TO GET EXPOSED TO AS MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF THINGS AS I CAN.
>> STARTING NEXT YEAR HE'S PLANNING TO FOLLOW HIS CURIOSITY AND PASSION FOR PERCUSSION BY MAJORING IN MUSIC IN COLLEGE.
>> I FEEL LIKE IF I WERE IN SOME OTHER FIELD I WOULD WISH I WERE IN MUSIC.
I JUST NEED TO KEEP DOING IT.
§§
>> A YOUNG MAN WHO CLEARLY KNOWS WHERE HE'S GOING.
THAT REPORT ON GREG RISS WAS PRODUCED BY LIZ KOERNER AND NARRATED BY WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION'S KATHY BISSEN.
GREG WILL COMPETE AGAINST THREE OTHER HIGH SCHOOL AGED MUSICIANS, PIANIST JOEL WENG, LEAH LATORRACA ALSO ON VIOLIN.
THE PROGRAM CALLED WISCONSIN YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETE, THE FINAL FORTE, WILL AIR TWICE.
FIRST THE EVENING OF JANUARY 16th AT 7:00 AND AGAIN JANUARY 20th AT 9:00 P.M.
WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US.
NOW HERE IS A LOOK AT SOME OF THE REPORTS WE'RE WORKING ON FOR THE NEXT EDITION OF "IN WISCONSIN."
>> DO YOUR SUMMER TRAVEL PLANS INCLUDE ECOFRIENDLY DESTINATIONS?
>> JUST AN INCENTIVE TO GET US THINKING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.
>> THIS IS ANDY SOTH.
SEE HOW TOURISTS CAN GO GREEN "IN WISCONSIN."
>> I'M REPORTER JO GARRETT.
JOIN US AS WE TRAVEL THE BRUNSWEILLER, A RIVER SAVED FROM DEVELOPMENT.
>> HE FELT IT WAS HIS LIFE MISSION TO PRESERVE IT.
>> FIND OUT ABOUT THE BRUNSWEILLER'S NEW SPECIAL STATUS.
AND THAT'S REALLY ODD.
IT'S LIKE WISCONSIN'S VERSION OF RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
I'M "IN WISCONSIN" REPORTER LIZ KOERNER.
I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT MAKES WISCONSIN ODD.
>> THOSE REPORTS NEXT THURSDAY AT 7:00 ON OUR NEWS PROGRAM "IN WISCONSIN" RIGHT HERE ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
A QUICK REMINDER ABOUT OUR INTERACTIVE BLOG CALLED THE PRODUCER'S JOURNAL.
IT IS UPDATED EACH WEEK DAY BY THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN FRONT OF AND BEHIND THE SCENES OF "IN WISCONSIN."
WE HOPE YOU'LL CHECK OUT THE PRODUCER'S JOURNAL AT wpt.org AND THEN CLICK ON "IN WISCONSIN."
YOU'LL FIND OUT IN ADVANCE ABOUT REPORTS WE'RE WORKING ON, THE PEOPLE WE'VE MET AND THE PLACES WE'VE BEEN.
FINALLY THIS WEEK WE LEAVE YOU WITH THE FRIGID WATERS OF LAKE SUPERIOR LOCKED IN OLD MAN WINTER'S ICY GRASP.
ENJOY THIS SNAPSHOT OF WINTER ALONG SUPERIOR'S DESOLATE SHORELINE.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK "IN WISCONSIN."
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "IN WISCONSIN" IS PROVIDED BY THE PEOPLE OF ALLIANT ENERGY, WHO BRING SAFE, RELIABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ENERGY TO KEEP HOMES, NEIGHBORHOODS AND LIFE IN WISCONSIN RUNNING SMOOTHLY.
ALLIANT ENERGY, WE'RE ON FOR YOU.
AND THE ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND ORAL SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH, A VETERINARY TEAM WORKING WITH PET OWNERS AND FAMILY VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN PROVIDING CARE FOR ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION ANIMALS WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY BIKE WISCONSIN.
>> HERE IS WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON FOR THE NEXT EDITION OF "IN WISCONSIN."
ECOFRIENDLY DESTINATIONS IN OUR STATE.
>> JUST AN INCENTIVE TO GET US THINKING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.
>> SEE HOW WISCONSIN TOURISTS CAN GO GREEN AND A SCENIC JOURNEY DOWN A WILD RIVER IN ASHLAND COUNTY AND THAT'S REALLY ODD.
WISCONSIN'S VERSION OF RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
"IN WISCONSIN" THURSDAY AT 7:00 ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> HERE IS WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON FOR THE NEXT EDITION OF "IN WISCONSIN."
ECOFRIENDLY DESTINATIONS IN OUR STATE.
>> JUST AN INCENTIVE TO GET US THINKING AGAIN ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.
>> SEE HOW WISCONSIN TOURISTS CAN GO GREEN AND A SCENIC JOURNEY DOWN ONE OF WISCONSIN'S NEW WILD RIVERS IN ASHLAND COUNTY.
AND THAT'S REALLY ODD.
IT IS LIKE WISCONSIN'S VERSION OF RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
"IN WISCONSIN" TONIGHT AT 7:00 ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> DO YOUR SUMMER TRAVEL PLANS INCLUDE ECOFRIENDLY DESTINATIONS?
>> PARTS OF THAT WAS THE TRAVEL GREEN.
JUST AN INCENTIVE TO GET US THINKING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.
>> THIS IS "IN WISCONSIN" REPORTER ANDY SOTH.
SEE HOW TOURISTS CAN GO GREEN.
>> "IN WISCONSIN" THURSDAY AT 7:00 ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> I'M REPORTER JO GARRETT.
JOIN US AS WE TRAVEL THE BRUNSWEILLER, A RIVER THAT WAS SAVED FROM DEVELOPMENT.
>> IT IS SO UNIQUE AND SO SPECIAL.
HE FELT IT WAS HIS LIFE MISSION TO PRESERVE IT.
>> CONSERVATIONIST MARTIN HANSON MADE IT HAPPEN.
FIND OUT ABOUT THE BRUNSWEILLER'S NEW SPECIAL STATUS.
>> "IN WISCONSIN" THURSDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.