Hearings and Meetings Archive
Beaver Management Listening Session
Date: 01/21/2026
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: In-Person; See Details for Information
Shawn Rossler, Shawn.Rossler@wisconsin.gov or 608-225-2663
A public listening session hosted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to gather public input on the state's Beaver Management Plan. DNR staff will provide a brief overview of the steps being taken to revise the current beaver management plan. Members of the public will then be provided the opportunity to share their thoughts on issues, concerns or solutions relating to beaver management. Input collected during listening sessions will be considered during plan development.
Attend in person:
Milford Hills
W5670 French Road
Johnson Creek, WI 53038
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Fisheries Habitat And Management In The Mecan River Watershed And Lake Puckaway Survey 2023 And The Upper Pine River
Date: 01/21/2026
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: In-Person & Virtual Options; See Details for Information
Shawn Sullivan, Shawn.Sullivan@wisconsin.gov or 920-622-3595
DNR fisheries habitat management staff work with a variety of partners to improve access and the fisheries in central Wisconsin. This Fisheries Spotlight will focus on these partnerships and the positive achievements accomplished through working collaboratively.
DNR fisheries habitat management staff, working with the help of partners, also conduct trout nest, or Redd, surveys on the upper Mecan. This Fisheries Spotlight will define a Redd, the ecological importance and showcase the data-collecting partnerships that will help guide fisheries management activities into the future.
There will also be a discussion on the 2023 Lake Puckaway fish survey results and changes observed in the fishery. We will also talk about a unique project to continue the removal of brown trout in the Upper Pine River in Waushara County. This project has a 20-year history of trying to restore native brook trout to the Upper Pine River.
This meeting is part of the Northern Wisconsin Fisheries Spotlight Series, which allows the public to learn about game fish management and meet the DNR staff members working in northern Wisconsin.
Presenters: Shawn Sullivan and Steve DeVitt, DNR fisheries habitat biologists, and Scott Bunde, DNR fisheries biologist
Join this meeting via Microsoft Teams.
Meeting ID: 285 520 643 271 76; Passcode: re9yo9Tm
Join by phone: +1 608-571-2209; 536230470#
Join in person:
Wautoma High School
514 S. Cambridge Street
Wautoma, WI 54982
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Beaver Management Plan Committee Meeting
Date: 01/21/2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Shawn Rossler, Shawn.Rossler@wisconsin.gov or 608-225-2663
The fourth meeting of the Beaver Management Plan Committee. The committee will discuss the current beaver management plan and a potential list of issues to be considered within a new plan.
This meeting will be held virtually. Contact Shawn Rossler at Shawn.Rossler@wisconsin.gov to register and receive the meeting information.
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Trout Habitat Improvement Evaluations on projects in Shawano and Waupaca Counties
Date: 01/20/2026
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: In-Person & Virtual Options; See Details for Information
Elliot Hoffman, Elliot.Hoffman@wisconsin.gov or 920-420-9581
Let’s take a closer look at two of the better trout streams in Shawano County: The North Branch Embarrass and the West Branch Red rivers. We will specifically be talking about trout trend data, cooperative projects with local partners and substantial habitat projects that are ongoing and in the near future. We will also be talking about warmwater fish sticks that have been taking place on the Chain O’ Lakes in Waupaca County and Legend Lake in Shawano County, and how working with the lake associations to provide more complex habitat in area lakes that lack structure for quality fisheries.
This meeting is part of the Northern Wisconsin Fisheries Spotlight Series, which allows the public to learn about game fish management and meet the DNR staff members working in northern Wisconsin.
Presenters: Elliot Hoffman, DNR fisheries biologist, and Kyle Kossel, DNR fisheries habitat biologist
Join this meeting via Microsoft Teams.
Meeting ID: 272 208 325 137 06; Passcode: im3UB2dv
Join by phone: +1 608-571-2209; Phone Conference ID: 249538589#
Join in person:
Shawano Community Middle School
1050 S. Union Street
Shawano, WI 54166
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Wisconsin Waterways Commission Third Quarter Funding Meeting
Date: 01/20/2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. - End of Agenda
Location: In-Person & Virtual Options; See Details for Information
Patrick Anderson, PatrickA.Anderson@wisconsin.gov or 715-416-5020
The Wisconsin Waterways Commission will host a meeting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, for reviewing and recommending funding of projects.
Join this meeting via Microsoft Teams.
Dial in by phone: 608-571-2209; Phone Conference ID: 427 005 283#
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Public Hearing On Permanent Rule WM-06-25, Relating To Chs. NR 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 19 and 45, and the 2025 Wildlife Management Housekeeping Rule
Date: 01/16/2026
Time: 2:00 p.m. - End of Agenda
Location: Virtual
Scott Karel, ScottR.Karel@wisconsin.gov or 608-206-0222
This is a public hearing on a proposed rule, Board Order WM-06-25, relating to chs. NR 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 19 and 45, and the 2025 Wildlife Management Housekeeping rule. Registration is strongly encouraged if you plan to provide spoken comments during the hearing. To register, please save and complete the fillable appearance slip and submit it to Scott Karel at ScottR.Karel@wisconsin.gov. You may also submit written comments on the rule to DNRAdministrativeRulesComments@wisconsin.gov by 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 17, 2026. Written comments will have the same weight and effect as spoken testimony presented at the hearing.
View the hearing appearance form, notice of preliminary hearing and scope statement on the DNR's Proposed Permanent Rules webpage.
Join this hearing via Microsoft Teams.
Join by phone: 608-571-2209; Phone conference ID: 666 091 820#
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Richard Bong State Recreation Area – 2026 Special Use Zone Calendar Meeting
Date: 01/15/2026
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: In-Person & Virtual Options; See Details for Information
Bart Tucker, Bart.Tucker@wisconsin.gov or 262-224-1871
This is a public meeting to discuss and establish the 2026 Special Use Zone (SUZ) calendar for Richard Bong State Recreation Area. Representatives from user groups looking to reserve space for events in the SUZ should attend this meeting.
Contact Bart Tucker to view the agenda.
Join in-person:
Molinaro Visitor Center, Richard Bong State Recreation Area
26313 Burlington Rd.
Kansasville, WI 53139
262-878-5600
Join via Microsoft Teams.
Meeting ID: 286 449 343 724 10
Passcode: 79Nv6sX2
Join by phone:
608-571-2209; Meeting ID: 795 374 110#
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Wisconsin Standards Oversight Council - Urban Soil Health Tech Standard Team
Date: 01/15/2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: In-Person; See Details for Information
Carl Wepking, Carl@Wisconsinlandwater.org
This is the monthly meeting of the Urban Soil Health Tech Standard team, as organized by the Wisconsin Standards Oversight Council.
Join in person:
Fitchburg DNR Service Center
3911 Fish Hatchery Road,
Fitchburg, WI 53711
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Walleye Movement Study In The Winnebago System And Upper Fox River (Acoustic Telemetry) And Changes To Lake Sturgeon Movement
Date: 01/14/2026
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: In-Person & Virtual Options; See Details for Information
Angelo Cozzola, Angelo.Cozzola@wisconsin.gov or 920-410-9170
The Winnebago System is home to one of the state's premier walleye fisheries. The walleye population of the system is known for its spawning migrations on the Wolf and Upper Fox rivers. In 2021, local fisheries staff started a walleye movement study to gain insight on spawning migration patterns, quantification of spawning ground use and general movement trends throughout the year.
This presentation will summarize the movement of over 100 sonic-tagged fish throughout the Winnebago System. Funding that made this project possible was provided by the Fox River Natural Resource Trustee Council, Walleyes for Tomorrow, the Sheboygan Walleye Club, as well as support from the general license sales.
Additionally, while most of the lake sturgeon spawning in the Winnebago system happens on the Wolf River, there is a small contingency that utilize the Little Wolf River. Lake sturgeon have been spawning at the Manawa Dam on the Little Wolf River since the dam was constructed in the 1920s. In 2024, the earthen portion of the Manawa dam collapsed after intense flooding causing a run of river flow and opening a large portion of river upstream for all fish species. But with only a small portion of lake sturgeon using the Little Wolf, it was uncertain how this new flow and area would affect the sturgeon spawning migration and use in the Little Wolf River. Therefore, the DNR has started an acoustic study to better understand sturgeon movement, use, and recruitment by lake sturgeon throughout the Little Wolf River. The second presentation will disclose those changes discovered from this study.
Funding that made this project possible was provided by the Sturgeon for Tomorrow and Winnebago sturgeon spearing license sales.
This meeting is part of the Northern Wisconsin Fisheries Spotlight Series, which allows the public to learn about game fish management and meet the DNR staff members working in northern Wisconsin.
Presenters: Angelo Cozzola, DNR fisheries biologist, and Margaret Stadig, DNR Winnebago sturgeon biologist
Join this meeting via Microsoft Teams.
Meeting ID: 219 194 919 387 65; Passcode: mJ9SX73q
Join by phone: 1-608-571-2209; Phone Conference ID: 723096490#
Join in person:
JP Coughlin Center, Room A
625 E County Road Y
Oshkosh, WI 54901
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Beaver Management Listening Session
Date: 01/14/2026
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: In-Person; See Details for Information
Shawn Rossler, Shawn.Rossler@wisconsin.gov or 608-225-2663
A public listening session hosted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to gather public input on the state's Beaver Management Plan. DNR staff will provide a brief overview of the steps being taken to revise the current beaver management plan. Members of the public will then be provided the opportunity to share their thoughts on issues, concerns or solutions relating to beaver management. Input collected during listening sessions will be considered during plan development.
Attend in person:
Hayward Holiday Inn Express and Suites
15586 County Road B
Hayward, WI 54843
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