February 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 testify and/or written comment is 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 17, 2021.

In light of COVID-19, the Natural Resources Board will be meeting via eConference. The public will not be allowed to watch the meeting from GEF 2. 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 Zoom Webinar at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83059031463
Or iPhone one-tap:
US: +13017158592,,83059031463# or +13126266799,,83059031463#
Or Telephone:
Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833
Webinar ID: 830 5903 1463
International numbers available here.

If the Zoom Webinar is at capacity and you cannot join, please view the Simulcast at: Meeting Webcasts

After each meeting, the webcast will be permanently available on demand.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board meeting will convene via eConference at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 24, 2021, originating from Public Meeting Room G09, 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 11:45 a.m. or at the conclusion of the open session on Wednesday, February 24, 2021, originating from the State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 S. Webster Street, Madison, WI,the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board may convene in closed session via eConference under the authority of s.19.85(1)(g), Wis. Stats., to confer with legal counsel regarding litigation involving the NRB Agenda February 24, 2021 2 Department’s implementation of a wolf hunt in 2021 (Hunter Nation, Inc. et al v. WDNR et al, Civ. No. 2021-CV-31 (Jefferson County)).

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. CONSENT
   1. Approval of agenda for February 24, 2021
   2. Approval of brief of action from January 22, 2021 (Special Meeting)
   3. Approval of brief of action from January 27, 2021
   4. The Friends of Governor Dodge State Park will donate $530,000.00 in the form of a new multiphase equestrian campground facility at Governor Dodge State Park, located in Iowa County, WI
      (DNR Secretary Preston Cole)
   5. The Friends of Kohler-Andrae will donate $80,000.00 to purchase and install new, accessible playground equipment at Kohler Andrae State Park, located in Sheboygan County, WI.
      (DNR Secretary Preston Cole)
3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION CONCERNING ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)
   1. The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin will donate $102,000.00 for the purpose of stormwater improvement at the Daisy Field campground at Potawatomi State Park, located in Door County, WI
      (DNR Secretary Preston Cole)
   2. The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin will donate $99,000 to be used to support the Wisconsin Bat Program that manages, conserves and monitors bat populations throughout Wisconsin
      (DNR Secretary Preston Cole)
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. Request adoption of Board Order WY-18-18, proposed rules affecting chapter NR 113 and 114 related to clarifying and streamlining certain regulatory requirements for septage servicing
      (Wade Strickland, Water Quality Permits Section Chief)
   2. Request adoption of Board Order RR-10-17, proposed rules affecting chapters NR 700 to 799 related to implementation of 2015 Wisconsin Act 204 and 2017 Wisconsin Act 70, adequate direction for contaminated sediments, and other changes needed to update, clarify, and promote consistency within chapters NR 700 to 799
      (Darsi Foss, Environmental Management Division Administrator) REMOVED
   3. Request adoption of Board Order WM-01-20, proposed rules affecting chapters NR 8 and 10 related to furbearer registration and tagging simplification.
      (Shawn Rossler, Furbearer Specialist, Bureau of Wildlife Management)
   4. Request that the Board approve the Statement of Scope for Emergency Board Order WY-26-20(E) and Board Order WY-27-20 and conditionally approve the public hearing notice for WY-27-20 and notice of submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse, for proposed rules affecting chapters NR 114, 146, 520 and 524 to allow for third party administration of operator certification examinations.
      (Steve Geis, Certification Services Section Chief)
   5. Request that the Board approve the Statement of Scope for Emergency Board Order FH-28-20 (E) for proposed rules affecting chapters NR 20 and 25 related to Lake Michigan whitefish management.
      (Brad Eggold, Great Lakes District Fisheries Supervisor)
   6. INFORMATIONAL: Congress Matters: Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) 2021 Spring Hearing Advisory Questions (Written Comment Only)
      (Tony Blattler, WCC Chair)
   7. INFORMATIONAL: Walleye Spring Hearings regulation proposal for lakes of concern in Oneida and Vilas Counties (Written Comment Only)
      (John Kubisiak, Treaty Unit Fisheries Team Supervisor)
   8. Request that the Board authorize public hearings for Board Order FH-09-20, proposed rules affecting chapter NR 20 related to fishing regulations on inland, outlying and boundary waters (the 2021 Fisheries Management spring hearing rule)
      Amendment: Added question re incidental harvest of carp on the Winnebago System
      (Meredith Penthorn, Fisheries Management Policy Specialist) ( Written Comment Only)
   9. Request approval of Wildlife Management's 2021 spring meeting agenda.
      (Scott Loomans, Policy Initiatives Advisor, Division of Fish, Wildlife and Parks)
   10. Request approval of Wisconsin’s Sturgeon Management Plan
       (Brad Eggold, Great Lakes District Fisheries Supervisor) REMOVED
   11. Request that the board approve revising white-tailed deer 3-year population objectives.
       (Bob Nack, Big Game Section Chief)
5. 1. OPEN FORUM (Testimony that pertains to topics not on the meeting agenda) – at approximately 10:15 a.m. following break. Please refer to pages 4 and 5 of agenda for required pre-registration information and protocol.
6. INFORMATION ITEMS (Written Comment Welcome)
   1. DNR COVID-19 Update
      (Todd Ambs, DNR Deputy Secretary)
7. DEPARTMENTS SECRETARY'S MATTERS
   1. Retirement Recognition - Action
      1. Mark A. Heyde, Forestry, 39 years
      2. Steven R. Hoffman, Wildlife Management, 33 years
      3. Bradley D. Johnson, Forestry, 28 years
      4. Karla F. Konkel, Customer and Outreach Services, 41 years
   2. Department Secretary's Matters - Informational (Written Comment Welcome)
      1. Acts of the Department Secretary - Real Estate Transactions
      2. Department Secretary's Matters
         1. Update on wolf management planning process and on 2021 wolf harvest season preparation (Keith Warnke, Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Division Administrator)
      3. Planning Status Update - None
8. BOARD MEMBERS' MATTERS (Written Comment Welcome)
   1. Review of Board Member Spring Hearing Questions
   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 Zoom Webinar at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83059031463
Or iPhone one-tap:
US: +13017158592,,83059031463# or +13126266799,,83059031463#
Or Telephone:
Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833
Webinar ID: 830 5903 1463
International numbers available here.

If the Zoom Webinar is at capacity and you cannot join, please view the Simulcast at: Meeting Webcasts

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: Only remote testimony (no face-to-face appearances) will be offered at the December meeting. You must be pre-registered to testify. 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.

The time that item 5. - Open Forum may be before the Board is approximately 10:15 a.m. or immediately following morning break. If you arrive late at either location, you may 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 may 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, February 17, 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.