NRB_Content Page_October 2023 agenda and meeting materials

October 2023 Agenda and Meeting Materials

Wisconsin Natural Resources Board

October 2023 Natural Resources Board agenda. This is the official agenda.

SINCE THE POSTING OF THIS AGENDA, THE FOLLOWING HAS CHANGED:
Item 5.E has been removed (10/18/23)

Public Testimony List

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 receipt of your request to testify and/or written comment is 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19, 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:

https://youtube.com/live/mJEep-SK3q0?feature=share

WISCONSIN NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD

AMENDED AGENDA

Agenda Amended  10/18/23: Item 5.E has been removed.

For meeting at:
Room G09, State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2)
101 South Webster Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53703

Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board meeting will convene at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, Room G09, State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2) 101 South Webster Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53703. The Board will act on items 1-3 and 5 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.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

  1.  ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
    1. Calling the roll
    2. Secretary’s Remarks
    3. Approval of agenda for Oct. 25, 2023
  2. CONSENT
    1. Approval of brief of action from Sept. 27, 2023
    2. Acknowledgement of Donation – The Friends of Copper Falls State Park will donate $17,833.38 in the form of a 2024 Ski-Doo Expedition SE 900 snowmobile. This donation will be used to respond to emergencies on park trails and groom cross-country ski trails at Copper Falls State Park, located in Ashland County, Wisconsin
      (Adam Payne, Department Secretary)
    3. Acknowledgement of Donation – The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin will donate $25,000 to support oak conservation at South Bluff State Natural Area, located in Sauk County, Wisconsin
      (Adam Payne, Department Secretary)
  3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION CONCERNING ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA
  4. INFORMATION ITEMS (Written Comment Welcome)
    1. Lake Michigan Lake Trout Stakeholder Group and associated public input update
      (Justine Hasz, Fisheries Management Bureau Director)
  5. ACTION ITEMS
    ADOPTION (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)
    1. Request the Board adopt Board Order WM-09-21, proposed rules affecting chapters NR 8, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, and 27, to the 2021 wildlife management housekeeping rule
      (Scott Karel, Wildlife Policy Specialist)
    2. Request adoption of Board Order WM-16-22, proposed rules affecting chapter NR 10 related to establishing the 2023-2024 migratory bird season framework and regulations
      (Scott Karel, Wildlife Policy Specialist)
    SCOPE STATEMENTS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)
    1. Request the Board approve the statement of scope for Board Order WM-09-23, and conditionally approve the public hearing notice for Board Order number WM-09-23 and notice of submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse for proposed rules affecting chapter NR 12, related to wildlife damage and abatement
      (Scott Karel, Wildlife Policy Specialist)
    2. Request the Board approve the statement of scope for Board Order FH-12-23 and Emergency Board Order FH-11-23(E), and conditionally approve the public hearing notice for Board Order number FH-12-23 and notice of submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse for proposed rules affecting chapters NR 20 and 25 related to Lake Superior cisco and lake trout regulations
      (Meredith Penthorn, Fisheries Management Policy Specialist)
    OTHER APPROVALS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)
    1. Land Acquisition and Monetary Donations – Big Muskego Lake Wildlife Area Requesting board approval to acquire approximately 30.1 acres from Lisa Leonard Heck for Big Muskego Wildlife Area – East Lake Segment (BML) for $525,000 under the authority of s. 23.09(2)(d)15., Wis. Stats., and ss. NR 1.40(1) and (2)(a) and NR 1.41(1)(a), Wis. Admin. Code, and to accept monetary donations totaling $276,000 from the City of Muskego and the Big Muskego Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District towards the purchase price under s. 23.09(2)(o), Wis. Stats. and MC 1403.1. The remaining $249,000 will be funded with $75,000 from a North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Grant and $174,000 from the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship Program pursuant to s. 23.0917, Wis. Stats
      (James Lemke, Real Estate Section Chief)       REMOVED
    APPROVAL OF WOLF MANAGEMENT PLAN AND ADOPTION OF RULE (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)
    1. Request approval of the Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan 2023
      (Randy Johnson, Large Carnivore Specialist)
    2. Request that the board adopt WM-03-21, proposed rules affecting chapters NR 10 and 12 related to gray wolf harvest regulations
      (Scott Karel, Wildlife Policy Specialist)
  6. 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 3 and 4 of agenda for required pre-registration information and protocol.
  7. DEPARTMENT SECRETARY’S MATTERS
    1. Acts of the Department Secretary
      1. Real Estate Transactions
    2. Department Secretary’s Matters
  1. BOARD MEMBERS’ MATTERS
    1. Board Member Matters

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 comment 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://youtube.com/live/mJEep-SK3q0?feature=share

The following meeting resources are also 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 constitute 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 a.m. 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, submit written comments or to register to testify at a meeting.

Public Participation Deadline:  NRB Liaison receipt of your request to testify and/or written comment is 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023.

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.

Natural Resources Board

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