May 2025 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 a.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjsSsuJRKcA&list=PLz1F3wus1j4waMx2rbPQUEReDmDcngkdT&index=8

WISCONSIN NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD

AMENDED AGENDA

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

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board meeting will convene at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in public meeting room G09, State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 South Webster Street, Madison, Wisconsin. The Board will act on items 1-4 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 May 28, 2025
       
2. CONSENT
   1. Approval of brief of action from April 9, 2025
   2. Acknowledgment of Donation – Friends of Crex Meadows donated $31,000 to support LTE hourly wages at the Glacial Lake Grantsburg Work Unit
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
   3. Acknowledgment of In-Kind Donation - Mead Grounds Association will hire a contractor to conduct brush removal and field preparation to improve Field 3 of the Mead Dog Training Grounds
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
   4. Acknowledgment of Donation – Newport Wilderness Society donated $25,898.57. This donation will be used to fund an LTE natural resources educator position
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
   5. Acknowledgment of Donation – The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin will make a direct donation of seed valued at $35,000 for Rush Creek State Natural Area
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
   6. Acknowledgment of Donation – Friends of Horicon Marsh donated $23,008.58 to support Horicon Marsh LTE expenses
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
   7. Acknowledgement of Donation – Musky Clubs Alliance of WI, Inc. donated $75,000 to the Bureau of Fisheries Management
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
   8. Acknowledgment of Donation – Sturgeon for Tomorrow donated $35,000 to the Bureau of Fisheries Management
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
   9. Request that the Board authorize a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Board Order WM-05-25, for proposed rules affecting chapters NR 10, related to beaver management
      (Scott Karel, Wildlife Regulation Policy Specialist)
       
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-03-25, and conditionally approve the public hearing notice for Board Order number WM-03-25 and notice of submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse for proposed rules affecting chapter NR 10 related to revising sharp-tailed grouse management zones
      (Scott Karel, Wildlife Regulation Policy Specialist)

   
   OTHER APPROVALS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome) 

   2. Land Donation and Project Boundary Expansion – Green Bay West Shores Wildlife Area – Marinette County
      (Terry H. Bay, Director, Bureau of Facilities and Lands)
   3. Land Acquisition – Tiffany Wildlife Area – Buffalo County
      (Terry H. Bay, Director, Bureau of Facilities and Lands)
   4. Land Transfer and Project Boundary Expansion – Mound View State Trail – Grant and Lafayette Counties
      (Terry H. Bay, Director, Bureau of Facilities and Lands)
       
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. Presentation of the 2024 Shikar Safari Club International Wildlife Officer of the Year Award
      (Casey Krueger, Chief Conservation Warden)
   2. Informational item on the proposed timeline and process to update the department’s turkey management plan
      (Taylor Finger, Game Bird Specialist, Bureau of Wildlife Management)
   3. Overview of Wetland Program Efforts
      (Ben Callen, Waterways Program Director and Andrea Sedlacek, Communications Director)
   4. Presentation on the 2025-27 Reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program 
      (Steven Little, Deputy Secretary and Maggie Hutter, Management and Budget Director)
       
7. DEPARTMENT SECRETARY’S MATTERS
   1. Acts of the Department Secretary
      1. Real Estate Transactions
   2. 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjsSsuJRKcA&list=PLz1F3wus1j4waMx2rbPQUEReDmDcngkdT&index=8

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 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 a.m. on May 21, 2025.

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.