NRB_Content Page_September 2026 agenda and meeting materials

September 2026 Agenda and Meeting Materials

Wisconsin Natural Resources Board

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

WISCONSIN NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD

AGENDA

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026
Location:
Stone Harbor Resort & Conference Center
107 N 1st Ave
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235

The meeting can be streamed live on YouTube: Sept. 23, 2026 NRB Meeting Broadcast

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 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 7:30 a.m., the Board will gather in the Harbor Ballroom at the Stone Harbor Resort and Conference Center, 107 N 1st Ave, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235, for welcoming remarks.
  • At approximately 9:05 a.m., the Board will meet at Heim’s Hillcrest Dairy LLC, E3731 Rock Ledge Rd, Algoma, WI 54201, for a presentation on agricultural best management practices, a walking tour of the farm and a soil pit demonstration. The Board will also receive an update from Kewaunee County on private well trends. The visit will conclude with remarks from Peninsula Pride Farms, followed by lunch.
  • At approximately 12:20 p.m., the Board will meet at Crossroads at Big Creek’s, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235, to receive an overview of Crossroad’s at Big Creek’s mission and goals, along with briefings on the Lower Green Bay and Fox River Area of Concern and the Green Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.
  • At approximately 2:35 p.m. the Board will meet at Peninsula State Park, 9462 Shore Rd, Fish Creek, WI 54212, to receive an overview of Peninsula State Park and take a walking tour of Eagle Bluff Light Station and Eagle Tower and Ramp III.
  • The tour will conclude at approximately 5:30 p.m. No action will be taken.

The tour will conclude at approximately TBD. No action will be taken.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB) meeting will convene at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026 at the Stone Harbor Resort & Conference Center, 107 N 1st Ave, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235. The Board will act on items 1-4 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 Wednesday, Sept. 16, 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 Sept. 23, 2026
       
  2. CONSENT
    1. Approval of the brief of action from Aug. 13, 2026
    2. Acknowledgment of Donation – The Friends of Crex Association donated $27,000 to the Bureau of Wildlife Management. This donation will be used to support LTE wages for staff within the Glacial Lake Grantsburg Work Unit facilities and properties
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    3. Acknowledgment of Donation – The Friends of Crex Association donated $28,000 to the Bureau of Wildlife Management. This donation will be used to enhance public lands and infrastructure within the Glacial Lake Grantsburg Work Unit
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    4. Acknowledgment of Donation – The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin donated $25,000 to the Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation for restoration and enhancement of South Bluff State Natural Area
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    5. Acknowledgment of Donations – The Andrew F. Bell Second Restated Revocable Living Trust has made two cash donations of $18,092.00 for habitat restoration and management on public lands 
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    6. Acknowledgment of Donation – The Friends of High Cliff State Park donated the completed Lime Kiln Trail repair and restoration project valued at $1,200,000
      (Karen Hyun, Ph.D., Secretary)
    7. Request that the Board authorize a preliminary public hearing and comment period for the Statement of Scope for Board Order DG-01-26, for proposed rules affecting ch. NR 140 related to setting numeric standards to minimize the concentration of pesticide substances in groundwater (Cycle 13)
      (Carla Romano, Groundwater Section Manager)
  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 Board Order WA-15-24, for proposed rules affecting ch. NR 530, related to implementation of electronics recycling program requirements and affecting small businesses
      (Sarah Murray, Recycling and Solid Waste Section Manager)
    2. Request that the Board adopt Board Order NH-08-25, for proposed rules affecting ch. NR 40, related to invasive species management
      (Mackenzie Manicki, Invasive Plant Specialist and Invasive Team Leader)
    3. Request that the Board adopt Board Order FH-20-25, proposed rules affecting 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)
    4. Request that the Board adopt Board Order FH-22-25, proposed rules affecting chapter NR 20, related to changes to the bag and possession limit for detrimental species on waters of the state
      (Kari Lee-Zimmermann, Fisheries Regulations & Policy Specialist)
    5. Request that the Board adopt Board Order FH-10-25, for proposed rules affecting chs. NR 20, 21, 22, and 23, related to changes to fish possession limits on inland and outlying waters
      (Kari Lee-Zimmermann, Fisheries Regulations & Policy Specialist)

    Scope Statements (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)

    1. Request that the Board approve the statement of scope for Board Order FH-07-26(E) and FH-08-26 and conditionally approve a public hearing and submittal of the proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse. This rule package affects chs. NR 20 and 25 and is related to fisheries harvest management in Lake Superior
      (Kari Lee-Zimmermann, Policy and Regulation Specialist)
    2. Request that the Board approve the statement of scope for Board Order FR-02-26 and conditionally approve a public hearing and submittal of the proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse. This rule package affects ch. NR 47 and is related to forestry grant and state aid administration
      (Amanda Koch, Division of Forestry Policy Advisor)
    3. Request that the Board approve the statement of scope for Board Order NH-03-26 and conditionally approve a public hearing and submittal of the proposed rules to the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse. This rule package affects chs. NR 10, 18, 19, 27 and 29 and is related to endangered and threatened species regulations
      (Scott Karel, Wildlife Regulation Policy Specialist)

    Other Approvals (Citizen Testimony and Written Comment Welcome)

    1. Land Donation for Lake Kegonsa State Park in Dane County
      (Kaylin Helm, Real Estate Section Manager)
    2. Land Donation for Upper Wolf River Fishery Area in Langlade County
      (Kaylin Helm, Real Estate Section Manager)
    3. Land Donation for Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area in Dodge County
      (Kaylin Helm, Real Estate Section Manager)
    4. Land Donation and Project Boundary Expansion for the La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area in Vernon County
      (Kaylin Helm, Real Estate Section Manager)
    5. Easement Sale for Big Muskego Lake Wildlife Area in Waukesha County
      (Kaylin Helm, Real Estate Section Manager)
    6. Easement Acquisition for Forest Legacy Program in Langlade County
      (Kaylin Helm, Real Estate Section Manager and Ron Gropp, Forest Legacy Program Coordinator)
    7. Land Exchange for Blue River Bluffs State Natural Area in Grant County
      (Kaylin Helm, Real Estate Section Manager)
    8. Land Acquisition for Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit in Waukesha 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. Informational update on the 2027-29 biennial budget request as it relates to the Department of Natural Resources
      (Maggie Hutter, Director of Management and Budget and Terry Bay, Director, Bureau of Facilities and Lands)
    2. 2026 Wildfire season
      (Jim Kujala, WI DNR Fire Section Chief, Gail Good, Air Management Program Director, and Andi Sedlacek, Communications Director)
  7. DEPARTMENT SECRETARY’S MATTERS
    1. Retirement Recognitions
      1. Margaret Peters, Technology Services, 20 years
      2. Stefan Fabian, Bureau of Investigations, 34 years
      3. Dreux Watermolen, Bureau of Environmental Analysis & Sustainability, 40 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.

2026 NRB Meeting Dates: 

Natural Resources Board