August 2021 Agenda and Meeting Materials

View Wisconsin Natural Resources Board agendas, meeting calendar, webcasts, biographies and public participation info online.

Public Participation Deadline: NRB Liaison receipt of your request to attend the tours, testify [Required information: include agenda item number and description, your name, city and state of residence, day time phone number, and organization you represent (if none, state “self”); If representing an organization: only one speaker per organization, per agenda item] and/or receive written comment is 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 4, 2021.

The Natural Resources Board will meet in-person. Remote testimony from the public via Zoom may be accepted for this meeting (no in-person appearances). Members of the public can submit their request to testify remotely or their written comments by the posted deadline date for Board consideration.

The public is encouraged to watch the Board meeting via YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/PiNrFT4Dfzw

After each meeting, the webcast will be permanently available on demand at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/About/NRB/NRB-Webcasts

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Tuesday, August 10, 2021, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board will tour and/or receive presentations at the following locations (NOTE: The public must pre-register with Board Liaison to attend scheduled tours. Registration information is located on the last page of the agenda. Exact tour schedule is subject to change): 1) At approximately 11:30 a.m., the Board will arrive at the new Milwaukee DNR Headquarters, 1027 W. St. Paul Avenue, Milwaukee, for a Secretary’s Office welcome and tour. 2) At approximately 12:00 p.m., the Board will break for lunch. 3) At approximately 1:35 p.m., the Board will arrive at Linwood Water Treatment Plant, 3000 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive, Milwaukee, for a tour of the facility (not open to the public). 4) At approximately 3:15 p.m., the Board will arrive at Lakeshore State Park, 500 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, for a tour and presentations on: park development, improved recreation opportunities, and Lake Michigan as a water resource. The Tuesday tours will end at approximately 4:00 p.m. No action will be taken. Due to practical considerations and COVID concerns, the NRB tours scheduled for Tuesday, August 10 have been cancelled.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board meeting will convene at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, in the Milwaukee Harbor Room 107, 1027 W. St. Paul Avenue, Milwaukee. The Board will act on items 1-4 and 7-8 as listed on the Agenda.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that at approximately noon on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board will have lunch in Room 107. No action will be taken.

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 August 10-11, 2021
2. CONSENT
   1. Approval of brief of action from June 23, 2021
   2. Mark and Sandy Tibbits will donate $23,000 to Wyalusing State Park to enhance the experience of all park visitors
      (DNR Secretary Preston Cole)
   3. 1. Land Donation – Big Swamp Wildlife Area – Buffalo County;
      2. Land Donation – New Munster Wildlife Area – Kenosha County;
      3. Land Donation – Rush Creek Natural Area – Crawford County; and
      4. Land Donation – Rush Creek Natural Area and Rush Creek Streambank Protection Area – Crawford County
         (Jim Lemke, Real Estate Section Chief)
   4. Request that the Board authorize a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Board Order WY-21-20, for proposed rules affecting chapter NR 102 related to site-specific phosphorus criteria for Lac Courte Oreilles
      (Marcia Willhite, Water Evaluation Section Chief)
3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION CONCERNING ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA - None
4. ACTION ITEMS
   ADOPTION (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)
   SCOPE STATEMENTS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)
   MISCELLANEOUS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)
   1. Presentation of the 2020 Shikar Safari Club International Wildlife Officer of the Year Award (Informational – written comment only)
      (Casey Krueger, Chief Conservation Warden, and Shikar Safari Representative Janis Bohner)
   2. Request adoption of Board Order FH-08-21(E), proposed rules affecting chapter NR 20 related to Minocqua Chain walleye harvest regulations
      (John Kubisiak, Treaty Unit fisheries team supervisor)
   3. Request adoption of Board Order WT-09-19, proposed rules revising chapter NR 216 related to storm water pollutant discharge elimination permits.
      (Shannon Haydin, Chief, Storm Water Section)
   4. Request that the Board approve the Statement of Scope for Board Order WM-06-21 and conditionally approve the public hearing notice and notice of submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse, for proposed rules affecting chapter NR 19 related to wild rice harvesting
      (Scott Karel, Wildlife Policy Specialist)
   5. Request that the Board approve the Statement of Scope for Board Order WY-13-20 and conditionally approve the public hearing notice and notice of submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse, for proposed rules affecting chapters NR 102, 106, 205, and 207, and other related regulations for the purpose of updating Wisconsin’s water quality antidegradation policy and procedures
      (Marcia Willhite, Water Evaluation Section Chief)
   6. Request that the Board approve the Statement of Scope for Board Order FH-04-20 and conditionally approve the public hearing notice and notice of submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse, for proposed rules affecting chapter NR 20 related to sturgeon spearing harvest regulations and gear use
      (Todd Kalish, Fisheries Management deputy bureau director)
   7. Land Acquisition and Expansion of Project Boundary – Green Bay West Shores Wildlife Area – Oconto County
      (Jim Lemke, Real Estate Section Chief)
   8. Request approval of the fall 2021 wolf season harvest quota
      (Keith Warnke, Fish Wildlife and Parks Division Administrator)

      Click Here (or go to: https://www.research.net/r/Aug2021_NRB_Wolf_Comment) to submit written comment on the agenda item for approval the fall 2021 wolf season harvest quota in Wisconsin.

   9. Ratify the department’s determination that a firearm restriction is necessary to protect public safety on land purchased with Knowles-Nelson Stewardship funds in the Town of Merton in Waukesha County. ADDED (NOTE: public participation deadline on this item has been extended to 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 5)
      (James W. Lemke, Real Estate Section Chief)
5. OPEN FORUM (Remote testimony (no in-person appearances) that pertains to topics not on the meeting agenda or not in litigation may be accepted) – at approximately 10:15 a.m. or following break. Please refer to pages 1, 4, and 5 of agenda for required pre-registration information and protocol.
6. INFORMATION ITEMS (Written Comment Welcome)
   1. . Great Lakes Commercial Fishing Update
      (Bradley Eggold, Great Lakes District Fisheries Supervisor, Charlie Henriksen, Lake Michigan Commercial Fishing Board Chair, and Craig Hoopman, Lake Superior Commercial Fishing Board Chair)
7. DEPARTMENTS SECRETARY'S MATTERS
   1. Retirement Recognition - Action
      1. Cole P. Couvillion, Forestry, 30 years
      2. Todd A. Naas, Wildlife Management, 30 years
      3. Steven L. Sisbach, Law Enforcement, 38 years
   2. Department Secretary's Matters - Informational (Written Comment Welcome)
      1. Acts of the Department Secretary - Real Estate Transactions
      2. Department Secretary's Matters
      3. Planning Status Update - None
8. BOARD MEMBERS' MATTERS
   1. Proposed revision to NRB Manual Code section III.A. regarding election of officers.
      (Marcy West)
   2. Board Members’ Matters

The public is welcome to attend a 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.

The public is encouraged to watch the Board meeting via YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/PiNrFT4Dfzw

After each meeting, the webcast will be permanently available on demand at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/About/NRB/NRB-Webcasts

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.

Live transcription of the webcast is auto-generated and not a legal record of the Board Meeting. The approved Brief of Action and meeting recording constitute the official Board’s minutes.

Public Appearance Protocol: Only remote testimony will be offered at this meeting (no in-person appearances). You must be pre-registered to testify. Please include your name, daytime phone number, email address, city of residence, agenda item you request to testify on (include topic for item 5-Open Forum), and name of organization you will represent (if none, state “self”). Only one organization representative per agenda item. Those that do not pre-register will not have the opportunity to testify. Confirmed speakers will receive meeting logistics via email. Those confirmed to testify on a specific agenda item will testify on that item prior to vote.

Please review: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/about/NRB/public.html.

The time that item 5. - Open Forum be before the Board is approximately 10:15 a.m. or immediately following morning break. If you arrive late at either location, you August lose your opportunity to testify. Each speaker will have three minutes to give their testimony.

The following is from the Board’s meeting guidelines: Only one speaker per organization. Testi mony 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 August be removed from the meeting or remote location. Written comment is always welcome.

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 request to testify or written comment is 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 4, 2020

The DNR strives to ensure the comfort and safety of staff and visitors by encouraging a fragrance-free environment. Our chemically sensitive staff and visitors thank you for refraining from using scented products.

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.