April 2024 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 receipt of your request to testify and/or written comment is 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.

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/dhiTrocXbBY?feature=share

WISCONSIN NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD

AGENDA

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

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board meeting will convene at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in public meeting room G09, State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 South Webster Street Madison, Wisconsin. Board will act on items 1-4 and 7 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)(g), Wis. Stats., to confer with legal counsel regarding strategy with respect to pending litigation, including WMC & Leather Rich, Inc. v. DNR & NRB, 21CV342 (Waukesha County), Appeal No. 2022AP718 (Wisconsin Court of Appeals), and Great Lakes Wildlife Alliance v. NRB & DNR, 23CV3097 (Dane County).

ORDER OF BUSINESS

1.  ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
   1. Calling the roll
   2. Secretary’s Remarks
   3. Approval of agenda for April 10, 2024
2. CONSENT
   1. Approval of brief of action from Feb. 28, 2024
   2. Acknowledgement of Donation – Orbridge LLC donated $135,000. This donation will be used to plant 300,000 tree seedlings on Wisconsin’s State Forests and other Department owned lands
      (Steven Little, Department Deputy Secretary)
3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION CONCERNING ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA
4. ACTION ITEMS
   SCOPE STATEMENTS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)
   1. Request that the Board approve the statement of scope for Board Order WM-18-23, and conditionally approve the public hearing notice for Board Order number WM-18-23 and notice of submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse for proposed rules affecting chapter NR 10 related to the Deer Management Assistance Program
      (Scott Karel, Wildlife Regulation Policy Specialist)
   2. Request that the Board approve the Statement of Scope for Emergency Board Order FH-03-24 (E) for proposed rules affecting chapter NR 20 related to Minocqua Chain walleye harvest regulations
      (Scott Loomans, Fish and Wildlife Policy Specialist)
   OTHER APPROVALS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome) 
   3. Land Acquisition – The department is requesting approval to acquire 37.7 acres of land for $322,000 for the Brule River State Forest in Douglas County
      (Jim Lemke, Real Estate Section Manager)
   4. Land Acquisition – The department is requesting approval to acquire 55 acres of land for $645,000 for an Ice Age National Scenic Trail corridor (IAT) within the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit (KMSF) in Waukesha County
      (James Lemke, Real Estate Section Manager)
   5. Request approval of department recommendations for the FY 2025 Laboratory Accreditation Program Fee Adjustment
      (Zana Sijan, Certification Services Section Manager)
   6. Request approval of the Wisconsin Sharp-tailed Grouse Management Plan 2024
      (Bob Hanson, Northwest Sands Wildlife Biologist)
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 a.m.. Please refer to pages 3 and 4 of the agenda for required pre-registration information and protocol.
6. INFORMATION ITEMS (Written Comment Welcome)
   1. The Rebecca Wallace Award
      (Tim Cooke, Internal Services Division Administrator, Steven Little, Department Deputy Secretary)
   2. Presentation of the 2024 Laboratory of the Year Award
      (Zana Sijan, Certification Services Section Manager)
   3. Expanding elk hunting to the Central Elk Management Zone in 2024
      (Christina Kizewski Wildlife Biologist - Central Elk Zone Biologist)
7. DEPARTMENT SECRETARY’S MATTERS
   1. Retirement Recognition
      1. Lisa M. Klingeman, Parks and Recreation, 21 years
      2. Julie A. Sauer, Land and Facilities Management, 33
   2. Acts of the Department Secretary
      1. Real Estate Transactions
   3. Department Secretary’s Matters

8. 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/dhiTrocXbBY?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 online 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 the 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, 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 April 3, 2024.

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.