Fishing is a Wisconsin tradition and is fun for the whole family. Eating fish provides a diet high in protein and low in saturated fats. Many doctors suggest eating 1 to 2 meals of fish each week is helpful in preventing heart disease. However, fish also take in pollutants from the water they live in and the food that they eat. Some pollutants can build up to levels in the fish that can be harmful to fish consumers – even humans. There are fish consumption advisories in over 350 bodies of water in Wisconsin due to mercury contamination. So, how can you get the health benefits of fish while reducing unwanted contaminates? By following fish consumption advisories and doing your part to keep unwanted hazardous chemicals out of our waters.

To help limit the amount of mercury in our waters, St Croix County asks residents to bring in mercury containing items like thermometers and thermostats to the county Clean Sweep events rather than throwing them in the trash. These events will take place in May and September each year. Mercury containing items can also be brought to the Planning and Zoning Department in the St Croix County Government Center in Hudson. Thermostats with tilt switches are also accepted for recycling by R&S Heating in Hudson and Anderson Heating in Houlton.