August 2023 Agenda and Meeting Materials

View Wisconsin Natural Resources Board agendas, meeting calendar, webcasts, biographies and public participation info online at: http://dnr.wi.gov/about/nrb/overview.html

Public Participation Deadline: NRB Liaison's receipt of your request to testify and/or written comment is 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023.

The Natural Resources Board will meet in person. Remote testimony from the public via Zoom may be accepted for this meeting. In-person public appearances are also welcome. Members of the public can submit their request to testify remotely, in person, 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://www.youtube.com/live/YenaE-Bbz4Q?feature=share

WISCONSIN NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD

AMENDED AGENDA

For meeting at:
Western Technical College
220 South Main Street
Viroqua, WI 54665

Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023
Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board will tour and/or receive presentations at the following locations (NOTE: The public must pre-register with the 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 Weister Creek - 24 Valley Bridge Crossing, (Coordinates: 43.64586596406194, -90.66705677674219) for a walking tour and presentations on TU-DARE, watershed sampling, and easement acquisitions efforts in the region. 2) At approximately 12:45 p.m., the Board will arrive at Wildcat Mountain State Park, E13660 State HWY 33; Ontario, WI 54651, for a lunch break. 3) At approximately 2:30 p.m., the Board will arrive at Herrick Dairy Farm, 12130 Highway 33; Cashton, WI 54619, for a tour. 4) At approximately 3:45 p.m., the Board will arrive at All Seasons Dairy Farm, 7649 Oboe Avenue; Cashton, WI, for a tour. The tours will end at approximately 4:45 p.m. No action will be taken.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, at approximately 5:30 p.m., the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board members will meet for dinner at the Driftless Café, 118 W Court Street; Viroqua, WI 54665. No action will be taken.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board meeting will convene at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, at Western Technical College, 220 South Main Street; Viroqua, WI 54665. The Board will act on items 1-4 and 7-8 as listed on the agenda.

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.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that at approximately 11:45 a.m. the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board may convene in closed session under the authority of s. 19.85(1)(d) of the Wisconsin Statutes for a safety and security briefing and under the authority of s. 19.85(1)(g), Wis. Stats., to confer with legal counsel regarding strategy with respect to pending litigation against the NRB and the DNR.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

1. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

   1. Calling the roll
   2. Secretary’s Remarks
   3. Approval of Agenda for Aug. 9, 2023
2. CONSENT
   1. Approval of brief of action from June 28, 2023
   2. Request that the Board authorize a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Emergency Board Order FR-06-23 (E) for proposed rules affecting chapter NR 47 related to federal funding for the Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program
      (Laura Buntrock, Urban Forestry Partnership & Policy Specialist)
   3. Acknowledgement of Donation – Bob Oesterreicher donated $25,000. This donation will be used to support the Fisheries and Aquatic Vegetation Assessment project
      (Adam Payne, Department Secretary)
   4. Acknowledgement of Donation – Newport Wilderness Society will donate $22,910.00 to Newport State Park. This donation will be used to pay for the Newport natural resources educator (naturalist) and corresponding programs at Newport State Park for fiscal year 2024
      (Adam Payne, Department Secretary)
   5. Acknowledgement of Donation – Equestrian Friends of Governor Knowles State Forest Inc. will donate $21,237 for construction of a 20 feet by 20 feet open-air shelter to be built in the Trade River Day Use Area at Governor Knowles State Forest
      (Adam Payne, Department Secretary)
3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION CONCERNING ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA
4. ACTION ITEMS
   ADOPTION (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)
   1. Request adoption of Board Order WA-18-21, proposed rules affecting chapters NR 500 and 520 related to disposal of material dredged from the Great Lakes
      (Kate Strom Hiorns, Recycling and Solid Waste Section Chief)
   OTHER APPROVALS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)
   2. Request approval of the Joel Marsh Wildlife Area Land Sale– Polk County
      (James Lemke, Real Estate Section Chief)
5. OPEN FORUM (Testimony that pertains to topics not on the meeting agenda or not in litigation) – after items 1-4 or following morning break at approximately 10:15. Please refer to pages 4 and 5 of agenda for required pre-registration information and protocol.
6. INFORMATION ITEMS
   1. Crex Meadows Wildlife Area Water Management Update
      (Eric Lobner, Wildlife Management Bureau Director)
   2. Great Lakes Commercial Fishing Update
      (Bradley Eggold, Great Lakes District Fisheries Supervisor, Bureau of Fisheries Management; Charlie Henriksen, Lake Michigan Commercial Fishing Board Chair)
   3. Overview of Agricultural Nonpoint Efforts and CAFOs
      (Brian Weigel – Deputy Administrator, External Services Division)
   4. Wisconsin Wildfire Program Overview
      (Catherine Koele, Wildfire Prevention Specialist)
   5. Summary of the Department’s 23-25 Biennial Budget Including Operating Budget and Capital Development Budget
      (Paul Neumann, Management and Budget Section Chief and Terry Bay, Facilities and Lands Bureau Director)
   6. Informational update on WM-03-21, permanent rules related to gray wolf harvest regulations
      (Scott Karel, Wildlife Regulation Policy Specialist)
7. DEPARTMENT SECRETARY’S MATTERS
   1. Retirement Recognition – Action
      1. Kim G. Sebastian, Forestry, 33 years
   2. Acts of the Department Secretary
      1. Real Estate Transactions
   3. Department Secretary’s Matters
8. BOARD MEMBERS’ MATTERS
   1. Board Member Matters
   2. Approval of the 2024 Natural Resources Board Meeting Dates

The public is welcome to view the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB) meeting via YouTube. The NRB also provides opportunities for citizens to testify and to submit written comments about issues that come before the NRB. See complete information on public participation at Board meetings at http://dnr.wi.gov/about/nrb/public.html.

The public is encouraged to watch the Board meeting via YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/live/YenaE-Bbz4Q?feature=share

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 at https://dnr.wi.gov/about/nrb/ -- click on the blue “View agendas” button then scroll down.), supporting documents, and public comment.

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

Public Appearance protocol: Remote testimony from the public via Zoom may be accepted for this meeting. In-person public appearances are also welcome. Members of the public can submit their request to testify remotely or their written comments by the posted deadline date for Board consideration. 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”). 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.

NOTE: The Board welcomes citizen input on matters of natural resources management and Department programs and policies.  Comments concerning any individual’s personal information or personal business are not appropriate and will not be allowed.

The time for item 5. – Open Forum - will be after items 1-4 or immediately following morning break at approximately 10:15. If you request to testify during Open Forum, please be ready to speak when the Board takes up this item. Each speaker will have three minutes to give their testimony; however, the Board Chair has final discretion on time limit.

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 may be removed from the meeting or remote location. 

Please contact Ashley Bystol, NRB Liaison, at 608-267-7420 or by email at dnrnrbliaison@wisconsin.gov with NRB related questions, to request information, to submit written comments, and to register to testify at a meeting.

Public Participation Deadline: NRB Liaison's receipt of your request to testify and/or written comment is 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023.

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