NRB_Content Page_December 2025 agenda and meeting materials

January 2026 Agenda and Meeting Materials

Wisconsin Natural Resources Board

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

WISCONSIN NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD

MEETING AGENDA

Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026

Location:
Room G09, State Natural Resources Building (GEF2)
101 South Webster Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53703

The meeting can be streamed live on YouTube: Jan. 28, 2026 NRB Meeting Broadcast

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB) meeting will convene at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. The Board will act on items 1-4 and 7-8 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 Jan. 21, 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 Jan. 28, 2026
  2. CONSENT
    1. Approval of brief of action from Dec. 10, 2025
    2. Acknowledgment of Donation – The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin has donated $25,000 to the Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation. This donation will be used for restoration and management at South Bluff State Natural Area
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    3. Acknowledgment of Donation – The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin has donated $81,136.15 to the Bureau of Wildlife Management and the Bureau of Parks and Recreation Management
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    4. Acknowledgment of Donation – The National Association of State Park Directors donated $20,000. This donation will be used to support the installation of a Braille Trail at Havenwoods State Forest
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    5. Acknowledgment of Donation – The Mississippi Valley Conservancy donated $65,000 worth of rock for use on stream restoration activities on Plum Creek in Crawford County to the Bureau of Fisheries Management
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
  3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION CONCERNING ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA

  4. ACTION ITEMS
    ADOPTION (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)

    1. Request that the Board adopt LE-05-24, proposed rules affecting chapter NR 64 related to all-terrain vehicles
      (Lt. Jacob Holsclaw, Off-Highway Vehicle Administrator)
    2. Request that the Board adopt DG-01-24, proposed rules affecting chapter NR 809, related to drinking water standards for PFAS, and affecting small businesses 
      (Steve Elmore, Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau Director)
    3. Request that the Board adopt DG-02-24, proposed rules providing technical corrections to chapter NR 809 to clarify and correct existing language and add Consumer Confidence Report requirements 
      (Steve Elmore, Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau Director)

    SCOPE STATEMENTS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)

    1. Request that the Board approve the Statement of Scope for Emergency Board Order WM-16-25 (E) and Board Order WM-17-25 and conditionally approve the public hearing notice for WM-17-25 and notice of submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse, for proposed rules affecting chapter NR 10 related to administering the elk hunting license drawing
      (Scott Karel, Wildlife Regulation Policy Specialist)
    2. Request that the Board approve the Statement of Scope for Board Order AM-15-25 and conditionally approve the public hearing notice and notice of submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse, for proposed rules affecting chapters NR 419 to 425 related to incorporation of reasonably available control technology requirements for sources of volatile organic compound air emissions
      (Brianna Denk, Air Quality Planning and Standards Section Manager)

    OTHER APPROVALS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome) 

    1. Land Donation – Statewide Public Access - Bayfield County
      (Kaylin Helm, Real Estate Section Manager)
    2. Land Donation – Point Beach State Forest - Manitowoc County
      (Kaylin Helm, Real Estate Section Manager)
    3. Request approval of department recommendations for the 2026 bear harvest quotas
      (Randy Johnson, Large Carnivore Specialist)
  5. OPEN FORUM (Citizen testimony and written comment on topics not addressed in other agenda items welcome)
  6. INFORMATION ITEMS (Written Comment Welcome)
    1. Overview of the Office of Agriculture and Water Quality and Progress on Statewide Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy
      (Jeffrey Voltz, Director, Office of Agriculture & Water Quality)
    2. Overview of a DNR research study: Demographic analysis and future projections of Wisconsin deer hunters
      (Dr. Daniel Storm, Research Scientist, Office of Applied Science and Adam Mohr, Research Scientist, Office of Applied Science)
    3. Summary of research on wake boats and impacts to lakes
      (Michelle Nault, Lakes & Rivers Section Manager)
    4. Agency’s response to the petition for rulemaking on wake boat restrictions in the State of Wisconsin
      (Steven Little, Deputy Secretary)
  7. DEPARTMENT SECRETARY’S MATTERS
    1. Retirement Recognitions
      1. Bradley Eggold, Division of Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 35 years
      2. Patrick Neal, Division of Public Safety and Resource Protection, 35 years
      3. Alan Niebur, Division of Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 34 years
      4. Kirsten Held, Division of Forestry, 34 years
      5. Tamara Ryan Nadolny, Division of Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 32 years
    2. Acts of the Department Secretary
      1. Real Estate Transactions
    3. Department Secretary’s Matters
  8. BOARD MEMBERS’ MATTERS
    1. Election of Board Officers
    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 the DNR's NRB webpage.

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.

Natural Resources Board

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