May 2026 Agenda and Meeting Materials

WISCONSIN NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD

MEETING AGENDA

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

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

The meeting can be streamed live on YouTube: May 27, 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, May 27, 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 May 20, 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 May 27, 2026
2. CONSENT
   1. Approval of the brief of action from April 15, 2026
   2. Acknowledgment of Donation - Friends of Peninsula State Park donated a Ski-Doo Skandic snowmobile valued at $16,495. This donation will be used to groom winter trails at Peninsula State Park
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
   3. Acknowledgement of Donation – Friends of Havenwoods State Forest donated $115,000. This donation will be used to support educational programming at Havenwoods State Forest over the next three years
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
   4. Acknowledgement of Donation – Badger History Group donated $20,000. This donation will be used to restore grassland at Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
   5. Acknowledgement of Donation – Dane County Conservation League donated $17,000 to the Bureau of Wildlife Management. This donation will be used to fund two LTE’s that will be conducting critical grassland habitat management work on the Buena Vista, Leola Marsh and Paul J. Olson Wildlife Areas
      (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 Emergency Board Order FH-21-25 (E) for proposed rules affecting chapters NR 20 and NR 40 related to changes to the bag and possession limit for round goby on Lake Winnebago system area waters 
      (Kari Lee-Zimmermann, Fisheries Regulations & Policy Specialist)

   SCOPE STATEMENTS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)

   2. Request that the Board approve the statement of scope for Board Order FH-20-25 and conditionally approve a public hearing and submittal of the proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse. This rule package affects s. NR 20.35 to allow for alternate size and bag limits for walleye under specific conditions for the rehabilitation of walleye fisheries
      (Kari Lee-Zimmermann, Fisheries Regulations & Policy Specialist)
   3. Request that the Board approve the statement of scope for Board Order WY-18-25 and conditionally approve a public hearing and submittal of proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse. This rule package affects chs. NR 102 and 104 to establish designated use classifications for subsistence fishing and wild rice waters and to revise outdated information in ch. NR 104
      (Laura Dietrich, Water Evaluation Section Manager)

   OTHER APPROVALS (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome) 

   4. Request that the board initiate a master plan process for the Wolf River State Trail (Langlade County)
      (Erin Rieser, Property Planning Section Manager)
   5. Land Donation for the Governor Knowles State Forest in Polk County
      (Kaylin Helm, Real Estate Section Manager)
5. OPEN FORUM (Citizen testimony and written comment on topics not addressed in other agenda items welcome)
6. INFORMATION ITEMS (Written Comment Welcome)
   1. Presentation of the 2025 Shakir Safari Club International Wildlife Officer of the Year Award
      (Casey Krueger, Chief Conservation Warden)
   2. Update on Wisconsin’s elk herds and the 2026 elk season quotas
      (Josh Spiegel, Wildlife Biologist, Bureau of Wildlife Management)
7. DEPARTMENT SECRETARY’S MATTERS
   1. Retirement Recognitions
      1. David Calhoon, Community Financial Assistance, 30 years
      2. William Phelps, Drinking Water and Groundwater, 35 years
      3. Jill Crom, Office of Business Services, 41 years
   2. Acts of the Department Secretary
      1. Real Estate Transactions
   3. Department Secretary’s Matters
8. BOARD MEMBERS’ MATTERS
   1. 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.