NRB_Content Page_August 2026 agenda and meeting materials

August 2026 Agenda and Meeting Materials

Wisconsin Natural Resources Board

August 2026 Natural Resources Board agenda. This is the official agenda.

WISCONSIN NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD

MEETING AGENDA

Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026

Location:
Radisson Hotel River Falls
100 Spring Street
River Falls, WI 54022

The meeting can be streamed live on YouTube: Aug. 13, 2026 NRB Meeting Broadcast

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board will tour and/or receive presentations at the following locations.

Note: The public must pre-register with Board Liaison to attend scheduled tours. Registration information is located on the last page of the agenda. Exact tour schedule is subject to change.

  • At approximately 9:45 a.m., the board will meet at Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area, at the end of Long Ln, Stockholm, WI 54769, for presentations on the State Natural Area and bluff overview.
  • At approximately 11:45 a.m., the board will meet at the Saratoga Park Pavilion, W6389 Pepin St., Bay City, WI 54723, for presentation on water quality TMDLs and collaborative efforts on the Mississippi River, followed by lunch.
  • At approximately 1:15 p.m., the board will receive an overview of the Pierce County.
  • Islands habitat project, followed by a boat tour of the islands at approximately 2:15 p.m.
  • At approximately 4:15 p.m., the board will receive a demonstration of a remote operated vehicle (ROV).

The tour will conclude at approximately 4:45 p.m. No action will be taken.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board will have an informal dinner at Tattersall restaurant, 1777 Paulson Road, River Falls, WI 54022. Following the dinner, there will be an informal walking tour of sustainability projects at the UW River Falls campus, 501 Wild Rose Avenue, River Falls, WI 54022. No action will be taken at either location.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB) meeting will convene at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. The Board will act on items 1-4 and 7 as listed on the agenda.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that public testimony will be accepted both in person and via Zoom for this meeting. The deadline to request to testify and/or submit written comments for board consideration is 11 a.m. on Aug. 5, 2026.

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 Aug. 13, 2026
  2. CONSENT
    1. Approval of the briefs of action from June 24, 2026 and July 23, 2026
    2. Acknowledgement of Donation – The Dane County Land and Water Resources Department – Parks Division donated infrastructure improvements valued at $110,585. This donation will be used to provide additional parking for users accessing the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    3. Acknowledgement of Donation – The Friends of Peninsula State Park donated the Highland lot storage building valued at $150,000. This donation will be used to store and protect trail grooming and maintenance equipment at Peninsula State Park
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    4. Acknowledgement of Donation – The Friends of Peninsula State Park donated $32,100 to fund seasonal natural resources educators at Peninsula State Park
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    5. Acknowledgement of Donation – The Friends of Lakeshore State Park donated $22,000. This donation will be used to support natural resources programming and staff wages
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    6. Acknowledgement of Donation – The Newport Wilderness Society donated $54,000. This donation will be used to support staffing costs for natural resource educators
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    7. Acknowledgement of Donation – The Friends of Horicon Marsh donated $39,000 to the Bureau of Wildlife Management. This donation will be used to support Horicon Marsh LTE expenses
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    8. Acknowledgement of Donation – The Kocourek Trailhead Foundation donated phase one of the trail system to be developed at Rib Mountain State Park valued at $437,362. This donation will be used to enhance trail recreation opportunities at Rib Mountain State Park
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    9. Acknowledgement of Donation – The Friends of MacKenzie Environmental Center donated a track chair valued at $21,270 to support universally accessible recreation
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    10. Acknowledgement of Donation – The Friends of High Cliff State Park donated $92,000 to High Cliff State Park to fund a reroute of Indian Mound Trail
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    11. Acknowledgement of Donation – The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks donated $75,000 to the Wisconsin State Park System
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., 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 WY-19-25 and conditionally approve a public hearing and submittal of the proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse. This rule package affects chapter NR 105, and updates numeric water quality criteria for toxic substances for the protection of human health
      (Laura Dietrich, Water Evaluation Section Manager)
    2. Request that the Board approve the statement of scope for Emergency Board Order NH-10-26 (E) and Board Order NH-11-26 and conditionally approve a public hearing and submittal of the proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse. This rule package affects ch. NR 12 and is related to wolf depredation claims
      (Scott Karel, Wildlife Regulation Policy Specialist)


    OTHER APPROVALS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)

    1. Land Donation for the Devil’s Lake State Park in Sauk County
      (Kaylin Helm, Real Estate Section Manager)
    2. Easement Acquisition for Forest Legacy Easement Program in Vilas County
      (Kaylin Helm, Real Estate Section Manager and Ron Gropp, Forest Legacy Program Coordinator)
    3. Land Acquisition for Governor Knowles State Forest in Burnett County
      (Kaylin Helm, Real Estate Section Manager)
    4. Land Acquisition for Green Bay West Shores Wildlife Area in Oconto County
      (Kaylin Helm, Real Estate Section Manager)
    5. Land Acquisition for Upper Wolf River Fishery Area in Langlade County
      (Kaylin Helm, Real Estate Section Manager)
    6. Land Acquisition for Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area in Oneida County
      (Kaylin Helm, Real Estate Section Manager)
    7. Acceptance of Donation – Dairymen’s Foundation, Inc. donated $15,000 to the Bureau of Fisheries Management, Office of Applied Sciences. This donation will be used to support a DNR-funded Ph.D. student at the UW-Madison Center for Limnology
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
  5. OPEN FORUM (Citizen testimony and written comment on topics not addressed in other agenda items welcome)
  6. DEPARTMENT SECRETARY’S MATTERS
    1. Retirement Recognitions
      1. Charles Cameron, Community Financial Assistance, 33 years
    2. Acts of the Department Secretary
      1. Real Estate Transactions
    3. Department Secretary’s Matters
  7. BOARD MEMBERS’ MATTERS
    1. Determine 2027 NRB Meeting Dates
    2. Board Member Matters

For up-to-date information about the NRB, including meeting agendas, materials and how to provide comments or testify, please visit https://dnr.wi.gov/about/nrb.

For any NRB-related questions, to request information or to submit written comments, please contact:
Ashley Bystol, NRB Liaison
telephone: 1-608-267-7420
email: DNRNRBLiaison@wisconsin.gov

The NRB and the DNR are committed to ensuring accessibility for individuals with disabilities. To request information in an alternative format, please contact the NRB Liaison.

The DNR is committed to providing a safe and comfortable environment for all staff and visitors. To support individuals with chemical sensitivities, we kindly request that you refrain from wearing or using scented products while attending a meeting.

2026 NRB Meeting Dates: 

Natural Resources Board