June 2020 Agenda and Meeting Materials

Public Participation Deadline: NRB Liaison receipt of your written comment is 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2020.

In light of COVID-19, the Natural Resources Board will be meeting via eConference. Members of the public can submit written comments by the posted deadline date for Board consideration. No public appearance requests will be accepted. The public watch the June Board meeting via live webcast via this link.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board meeting will convene via eConference at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, originating from Public Meeting Room G11, State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 South Webster Street, Madison, Wisconsin. The Board will act on items 1-4 and 7-8 as listed on the Agenda.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that at approximately 10:45 a.m. or at the conclusion of the open session on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, the board may convene in closed session under the authority of s.19.85(1)(g), Wis. Stats., to confer with legal counsel regarding current litigation involving 1) the Upper Wolf River State Fishery Master Plan (Heikenen, Peters and Friends of the Wolf River v. WDNR, Civ. No. 2018CV002865 (Dane County)),and 2) hunter safety courses (Hunter Nation, Inc. v. WDNR, Civ. No. 2020CV00038 (Marathon County)) AMENDED.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that matters concerning natural resource issues or the Department’s program responsibilities or operations specified in the Wisconsin Statutes, which arise after publication of this agenda may be added to the agenda and publicly noticed no less than two hours before the scheduled board meeting, if the Board Chair determines that the matter is urgent.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

1. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
   1. Calling the roll
   2. Approval of agenda for June 24, 2020
2. CONSENT
   1. Approval of brief of action from May 27, 2020
   2. The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin will donate $38,000 to be used to support the Wisconsin Monarch Collaborative
      (DNR Secretary Preston Cole)
   3. Land Donation – Emmons Creek Fishery Area – Waupaca County
      (Jim Lemke, Real Estate Section Chief))
   4. Land Sale – Winter Station – Sawyer County
      (Jim Lemke, Real Estate Section Chief)
3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION CONCERNING ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA
4. ACTION ITEMS
   ADOPTION (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)
   None
   SCOPE STATEMENTS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)
   MISCELLANEOUS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)
   1. Request approval of the Statement of Scope for Emergency Board Order WA-06-20(E) and Board Order WA-07-20, and conditionally approve the public hearing notice for Board Order WA-07-20 and notice of submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse, for proposed rules creating chapter NR 159 relating to regulating fire fighting foam that contains certain contaminants
      (Kate Strom Hiorns, Recycling and Solid Waste Section Chief)
   2. Request approval of the Statement of Scope for Board Order FH-02-20, and conditionally approve the public hearing notice and submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse, for proposed rules affecting chapter NR 25 related to Lake Michigan whitefish management and Great Lakes commercial harvest reporting
      Response Summary for Public Comments on Preliminary Public Hearing
      [PowerPoint]
      (Brad Eggold, Great Lakes District fisheries supervisor)
   3. Request approval of antlerless deer harvest quotas, antlerless permit levels and a deer hunting season framework for 2020 CORRECTED (Pages 12-13)
      Amendment: Holiday Hunt [PowerPoint]
      Amendment: Deer Quotas and Permits [PowerPoint]
      (Bob Nack, Big Game Section Chief)
   4. Request approval of the Western Prairie Regional Master Plan
      Amendment: Western Prairie[PowerPoint]
      Western Prairie Regional Master Plan
      [PowerPoint]
      (Terry Bay, Facilities & Lands Bureau Director)
   5. Land Acquisition – Anthony Branch Streambank Protection Project – Dane County
      (Jim Lemke, Real Estate Section Chief)
   6. Land Acquisition – Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife and Natural Area – Jefferson County
      (Jim Lemke, Real Estate Section Chief)
   7. Land Acquisition – Waterloo – Mud Lake Wildlife Area – Dodge County
      (Jim Lemke, Real Estate Section Chief)
5. 1. OPEN FORUM (Testimony that pertains to topics not on the meeting agenda) – at approximately 10:15 a.m. following break. Remote testimony only. Please refer to page 4 of agenda for required pre-registration information and protocol.
6. INFORMATION ITEMS (Written Comment Welcome)
   1. Wisconsin’s 2020 Forest Action Plan
      [PowerPoint]
      (Mike Warnke, Forestry Services Deputy Division Administrator, and Amanda Koch, Division of Forestry Planner)
   2. Sandhill crane management and population update
      [PowerPoint]
      (Taylor Finger, Migratory Bird Specialist)
   3. DNR COVID-19 Update
      [PowerPoint]
      (DNR Deputy Secretary Beth Bier)
7. DEPARTMENTS SECRETARY'S MATTERS
   1. Retirement Recognition - Action
      1. Eric P. Syftestad, Waste and Materials Management, 34 years
   2. Department Secretary’s Matters – Informational
      1. Acts of the Department Secretary – Real Estate Transactions
      2. Department Secretary’s Matters - None
      3. Planning Status Update - None
8. BOARD MEMBERS' MATTERS
   1. Appointment of two Sporting Heritage Council Nominees
      (Bill Smith) Written Comment Welcome
   2. Board Members’ Matters

The public is welcome to attend a (face-to-face) Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB) meeting. The NRB also provides opportunities for citizens to testify and to submit written comment about issues that come before the NRB. See complete information on public participation at Board meetings here.

Board Meetings are webcast live. To watch, go to the webcast archive and click on this month’s meeting. After each meeting, the webcast will be permanently available on demand.

The following meeting resources also are available: Agenda Item Packets (also known as green sheet packages are linked to the corresponding item on the website/html meeting agenda here -- click on the blue “View agendas” button then scroll down.), supporting documents, and public comment. Media Site recordings and the Brief of Action are used as the legal record of Board Meetings.

Public Appearance Protocol: The following is from the Board’s meeting guidelines: Only one speaker per organization. Testimony that threatens, intimidates, or includes disparaging comments about Board Members, department staff, and other members of the public will not be allowed. Those that do so June be removed from the meeting or remote location. Written comment is always welcome.

Due to public health advisories on COVID-19, there will be no Open Forum or public appearances for the June meeting. All 2020 regional tours have been cancelled. All 2020 regional meetings will be moved to Madison. Future 2020 Open Forum remote presentation opportunities June be held at the following DNR locations (schedule is subject to change):

Please contact Laurie Ross, NRB Liaison, at 608-267-7420 or by email at laurie.ross@wisconsin.gov with NRB related questions, to request information, to submit written comments, to register to attend a Board tour, and to register to testify at a meeting or listening session.

Public Participation Deadline: NRB Liaison receipt of your written comment is 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2020

The NRB and Department of Natural Resources are committed to serving people with disabilities. Please contact the NRB Liaison to request NRB information in an alternative format.