Wisconsin DNR News February 26, 2008
Survey seeks to find out who is purchasing Wisconsin state trails passes
Inland game fish season closes March 2
Deadlines approach for ice fishing shelter removal
2008-09 hunting and fishing licenses on sale March 10
Survey seeks to find out more information on use of Wisconsin State Trails
MADISON – What activities are people using Wisconsin State Trails for the most? That is among the questions Wisconsin State Parks Program officials are hoping to find out through a new on-line survey.
“We have very limited data on the numbers of people using our trails and what they are using them for,” says Peter Biermeier, chief of external relations and planning for the Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Parks and Recreation. “We’re asking people who purchase a State Trail Pass to take this short, online survey so we have more information on the numbers of people using trails for different activities.”
A Wisconsin State Trail Pass is required for anyone 16 years and older to bike, in-line skate, horseback ride, or cross-country ski on certain designated trails. The pass is not required for people who hike on trails. In general, Biermeier says, the pass is required for trails that require more maintenance, such as the linear bicycle trails on abandoned railroad corridors that are covered with limestone screening, or in some cases blacktop, as well as for cross-country ski trails that are groomed and tracked in state parks and forests, and for horseback riding trails.
There are currently more than 1,700 miles of trails in the Wisconsin State Trails System [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/parks/trails/index.html], made up mostly of linear trails, and thousands more miles of hiking and biking trails within State Parks and Forests. The trail pass is required for about 875 miles of trails on 36 different DNR properties. A Wisconsin State Trails Pass costs $4 a day or $20 annually for both residents and non-residents.
Biermeier says other things they are hoping to learn from the survey are where people most often purchase passes, how often they use the pass, whether people use them primarily for a single activity or for multiple activities, how many different trails they visit, how satisfied they are with the quality of the trail maintenance and facilities, and what priorities people would like to see trail pass revenues used for.
People can access the online survey through the Wisconsin State Parks Web page at [www.wiparks.net] which has links to eight other pages related to trails.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Wisconsin State Parks - (608) 266-2181
Inland game fish season closes March 2
MADISON – Anglers should be aware that the game fish season on most inland Wisconsin waters closes at the end of the day on Sunday, March 2.
The panfish seasons remain open year-round as does the season for certain game fish on select lakes and rivers, including much of the Wisconsin River and its impoundments. Waters that remain open are listed in the Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations and on the Department of Natural Resources Web site.
In addition, an early trout season opens 5 a.m. on March 1 and continues until Sunday, April 27 at midnight. The early season is catch-and-release only, and only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used while fishing for any species of fish on trout streams.
Most trout streams are open to early fishing with the exception of most Lake Superior tributaries and most streams in northeast Wisconsin. Check the 2008-09 Trout Fishing Regulations and Guide to verify which waters are open during the early season and visit
http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/seasons/earlytrout.htm for tips on the flies and techniques to use – as well as other information – to help make your early trout season more enjoyable and successful.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Hennessy - (608) 267-9427; Larry Claggett – (608) 267-9658
Deadlines approach for ice fishing shelter removal
MADISON – Deadlines are approaching for ice anglers to remove ice fishing shelters from inland and boundary waters. Anglers should note that the regulations for removing ice shanties were changed this year. Previously the dates to remove ice shelters from inland waters were March 5 for waters south of Highway 64 and March 15 for waters north of Highway 64. Under the new regulations, shelters must be removed be the end of the first Sunday following March 1 south of Highway 64 and by the end of the first Sunday following March 12 north of Highway 64.
Dates are determined by anticipated ice melting. If not removed, shelters, also known as shanties, can sink or be carried away, creating a danger to boaters.
All ice fishing shelters must be completely removed by:
• March 1 – Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters.
• March 2 – Inland waters south of State Highway 64, except for the Fox River downstream from the DePere dam in Brown County, where shelters must always be removed daily and when not in use.
• March 15 - Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters.
• March 16 – Inland waters north of State Highway 64, Lake Michigan, Green Bay, and Lake Superior.
All ice fishing shelters had to be removed from Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters by Feb. 20. This earlier date, affecting the Mississippi River south of the Minnesota-Iowa border, is set to correspond with Iowa regulations.
After the date for removing ice fishing shelters from a frozen lake or river, an angler may continue to use a portable shelter but must remove it when it is not occupied or actively being used.
Failure to remove a shanty or ice fishing shelter by these deadlines could result in a forfeiture of $248.60. Additional costs may be incurred if the shanty or ice fishing shelter breaks through the ice and must be recovered and disposed of.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Bureau of Law Enforcement - (608) 266-2141
Annual hunting and fishing licenses go on sale March 10
MADISON – 2008-09 Wisconsin hunting, fishing, trapping and other licenses and harvest permits for fish and wildlife activities in Wisconsin go on sale Monday, March 10. Annual licenses are valid from April 1, 2008 through March 31, 2009. Hunting and fishing licenses for the 2007-08 license year expire on March 31, 2008.
“We’re here to answer questions regarding licenses as folks plan their hunting and fishing trips, purchase a recreational vehicle, or pursue other activities. Just contact our call center,” said Diane Brookbank, director of customer service and licensing for the Department of Natural Resources.
DNR customer service staff is available to assist the public by phone and online from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Spanish and Hmong bilingual customer service representatives are also available.
Customers may reach Customer Service at 1-888-WDNRINFo (1-888-936-7463) or by e-mail at WDNRInfo@wisconsin.gov. An online chat is available at
http://dnr.wi.gov/contact/.
Hunting and fishing licenses can be purchased over the Internet through the DNR Online Licensing Center [http://www.wildlifelicense.com/wi/], at DNR service centers during their regular business hours (check service center link for hours of operation, which vary by service center; service centers are closed Saturdays); [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/cs/servicecenter/locations.htm], at automated license issuance system sales locations [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/cs/licenseagents/], or by calling toll-free 1-877-WI LICENSE (1-877-945-4236).
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Bureau of Customer Service and Licensing, (608) 266-2621
OUTDOORS CALENDAR
*Indicates date remains the same each year, except some permit deadlines may be extended one day if they fall on a Sunday or Federal Holiday.
September 15 through First Saturday in May
• From Sept. 15 through the first Saturday in May, hook and line fishing is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise in all Lake Michigan tributaries except the Oconto River and its tributaries and the downstream portion of the Peshtigo River (see regulations for details).*
February 28
• Cottontail rabbit season closes in northern and southern zones.*
• Mink trapping season closes in the northern, central and southern zones.
March 1
• Early catch-and-release only trout season opens statewide, with exception of spring ponds and Great Lakes tributaries; barbless hooks required. Season runs to midnight April 27.
• Ice fishing shelters must be removed from Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters.*
• Lake trout season opens on Lake Michigan, Green Bay & Lake Michigan tributaries through Oct. 31.*
March 2
• The fishing season for all game species closes on inland waters that do not remain open all year. Check the current fishing regulations for waters that remain open to fishing.
• The game fish season closes on tributary streams and ditches of Green Bay and the Fox River up to the first dam or lake (except yellow perch is open until March 15). There is an exception to this closure for portions of 9 major Green Bay Tributaries. Check the current fishing regulations for waters that remain open to fishing.
• Correction - Ice fishing shelters must be removed from inland waters south of Highway 64 by March 2. The regulations were changed this year to set the date of removal south of Highway 64 to the first Sunday following March 1. Ice fishing shelters must be removed from inland waters south of Highway 64.*
March 10
• 2008-2009 hunting and fishing licenses go on sale.
March 15
• Ice fishing shelters must be removed from Lake Michigan, Green Bay, Lake Superior, inland lakes north of Highway 64, and Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters.*
• Yellow perch season closes on Green Bay and its tributary streams and the Fox River from the mouth up to the De Pere Dam.*
• Beaver trapping season closes in the Mississippi River zone.
March 20
• Winter crow season closes.*
March 28
• Remaining permits not issued through the spring turkey permit drawing will be available for sale beginning at 10 a.m. on a first-come, first served basis through license sales outlets, and DNR service centers. In addition, licenses can be purchased on line through the DNR Web site or by phone at 1-877-945-4236.beginning at noon. A complete list of units with the number of permits is available on the DNR Web site at [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/cs/springturkey/index.html].
March 31
• Hunting, fishing, sports, and conservation patron licenses expire.*
• Otter trapping season closes in central and southern zone.
• Trout season opens on designated sections of some Lake Superior tributaries. See the current Wisconsin Trout Fishing Regulations and Guide for more information.
DNR Public Hearings and Meetings
Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations, including the provision of informational material in an alternative format, will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Please call the contact person listed for the meeting or hearing with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.
Hearings
February 27 - A contested case hearing in the matter of the application for an expansion of a loading apron on Lake Michigan by Washington Island Ferry Line, Inc., Town of Liberty Grove, Door County, Wisconsin has been rescheduled to April 8-9. For information contact the Division of Hearings and Appeals at (608) 266-7709.
March 5 - A public informational hearing for the purpose of giving all interested persons an opportunity to make a statement with respect to the proposed issuance of Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) Permit No.WI-0063827-01-0 for Drake Dairy Inc. located at N8870 Drake Court, Elkhart Lake, WI 53020 will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Town of Russell Town Hall- N9691 County Rd H, Elkhart Lake. Drake Dairy Inc. is being issued a WPDES permit because their current number of animal units exceeds the 1,000 animal unit threshold that requires a WPDES permit. People wishing to comment on or object to the proposed permit action are invited to do so by attending the public hearing or by submitting any comments or objections in writing to the Department of Natural Resources. More information, including a copy of the proposed permit, is available for downloading at the WPDES Public Notices [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/ww/drafts/pubnot.htm] Web page. and for inspection at the Department of Natural Resources, Southeast Regional Headquarters, 2300 N Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53212; or contact Michelle Lehner at (414) 263-8498, or by e-mail at michelle.lehner@wisconin.gov.
March 12 - Pursuant to §§ 23.09(2) and 227.11(2)(a), Stats., interpreting § 23.09(2), Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold a public hearing on revisions to ch. NR 58, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to the implementation and administration of grants for endangered resources at 4 p.m. in Room 613, of the State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 South Webster St., Madison. The Department is revising ch. NR 58, the Endangered Resources Small Grants administrative rule, to add provisions establishing a grant program to provide financial assistance to the public, nongovernmental organizations, and public agencies to protect species of greatest conservation need and their habitat. The State Wildlife Grants Program, funded through a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will provide funding for projects that protect species of greatest conservation need and their habitat, and that implement the Wildlife Action Plan. The ultimate goal of the program is to prevent the decline of wildlife species to a point where they are endangered. Projects funded by this grant program will also help protect and restore important land and water resources, allow for the collection and evaluation of information necessary to be able to determine which wildlife species are in trouble, and support efforts to establish and maintain partnerships. By emphasizing a proactive approach, the State Wildlife Grants Program supports efforts to take action to protect declining wildlife species before they become too rare and costly to protect. The new program will provide a 50 to 100 percent cost share to agencies, landowners and organizations who meet the criteria of the program. The department has made a preliminary determination that this action does not involve significant adverse environmental effects and does not need an environmental analysis under ch. NR 150, Wis. Adm. Code. However, based on the comments received, the Department may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding with the proposal. This environmental review document would summarize the Department’s consideration of the impacts of the proposal and reasonable alternatives. The proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be reviewed and comments electronically submitted through the Wisconsin Administrative Rules Web site: [http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov]. Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted via U.S. mail to Ms. Heidi Nelson, Bureau of Endangered Resources, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Comments may be submitted until March 19, 2008. Written comments whether submitted electronically or by U.S. mail will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearings. A personal copy of the proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Ms. Nelson. For information call Heidi Nelson at (608) 267 0797.
March 12, 13 & 14 - Pursuant to §§ 29.014, 29.041 and 29.192(3), Stats., interpreting §§ 23.09(2)(intro.), 29.014(1), 29.041 and 227.11(2)(a), Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold public hearings on revisions to chs. NR 20 and 21, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to hook and line harvest of lake sturgeon. The proposed rule change would increase the minimum length limit of lake sturgeon from its current 50” limit to a 60” limit and reduce the season length from 6 weeks to 4 weeks on all inland waters where lake sturgeon are now harvested and the lower St. Croix River on the Minnesota-Wisconsin boundary waters. The regulation change would significantly reduce the number of lake sturgeon harvested each year (up to 80 percent). The rule change would likely affect sturgeon anglers’ (both resident and nonresident) opportunities to harvest a fish, but will ultimately provide protection of Wisconsin’s sturgeon populations. The department has made a preliminary determination that this action does not involve significant adverse environmental effects and does not need an environmental analysis under ch. NR 150, Wis. Adm. Code. However, based on the comments received, the Department may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding with the proposal. This environmental review document would summarize the Department’s consideration of the impacts of the proposal and reasonable alternatives. The proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be reviewed and comments electronically submitted at the following Internet site:
http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov. Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted via U.S. mail to Karl Scheidegger, Bureau of Fisheries Management and Habitat Protection, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Comments may be submitted until March 14, 2008. Written comments whether submitted electronically or by U.S. mail will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearings. More information or a copy of the proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Karl Scheidegger at (608) 267-9426. The hearings will all be held at 3 p.m. on the following dates at the locations listed:
March 12, Park Falls - Conference Room, DNR Office, 875 South 4th Ave.
March 13, Eau Claire - Conference Room, DNR Office, 1300 W. Clairemont Ave.
March 14, Madison - Room G09, GEF #2 State Office Building, 101 S. Webster St.
March 13 - Pursuant to §§ 285.13(1) and 285.61(7), Wis. Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold a public hearing to receive public comments on proposed permits for operation of a Murphy Oil USA, Inc., petroleum refinery located 2407 Stinson Ave, Superior, Douglas County, Wisconsin, at 1:30 p.m. at DNR Superior Service Center, 1401 Tower Ave., Superior. Murphy Oil submitted to the DNR permit applications (numbers 07-SDD-243, 07-SDD-246 and 816009590 – P03), including plans and specifications for construction of small fugitive emission sources such as valves and to amend a past permit to conform the permit to the “as built” equipment and operation of a petroleum refinery. DNR staff made a preliminary determination that the application meets state and federal air pollution control requirements and that the permit should be approved. The permit application and the DNR’s analysis and draft permit may be reviewed on the Air Permit Page of the DNR Web site at [http://dnr.wi.gov/air/permitzip/APM_toc.htm] or at the DNR Bureau of Air Management, Seventh Floor, 101 South Webster St., Madison; Northern Region Air Program, Superior Area Office, 1401 Tower Avenue, Superior,; and at the Superior Public Library, 1530 Tower Ave., Superior, or by contacting Steven Dunn at 608-267-0566 or by e-mail at Steven.Dunn@wisconsin.gov. Written comments on the application or DNR’s review should be sent by March 13, 2008 to: Wisconsin DNR, Bureau of Air Management, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921. Attn.: Steven Dunn. For more information contact Steven Dunn at 608-267-0566.
Meetings
February 26-27 - The State Natural Resources Board will meet in Room G09 of the State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 South Webster St., Madison. Check the Natural Resources Board Web pages for the current agenda. For information contact Laurie Ross, Natural Resources Board Liaison, at (608) 267-7420.
February 27 - The DNR Division of Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Water Quality Advisory Committee will be meeting from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Schmeeckle Reserve Visitor Center, 2419 North Point Drive, Stevens Point. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the 2008 BMP monitoring cycle, review mapping of vernal pools and discuss resulting adaptations to forest management in Kettle Moraine State Forest. For more information, contact Carmen Wagner at 608-266-16677 or Carmen1.Wagner@Wisconsin.gov.
February 28 - The External Advisory Team for the DNR's proposed Glacial Heritage Area will meet from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Municipal Building, 136 N Monroe St., Waterloo. The Team will be discussing options for creating and expanding conservation parks, linking trails between parks and cities, and protecting lands adjacent to rivers and creeks in the Study Area. For more information visit the Web site
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/facilities/glacial/index.html or contact John Pohlman at 608-264-6263.
February 29 - The Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming – Ad-hoc Waste Materials Recovery and Disposal Work Group will meet from noon to 3 p.m. in room 613 of the State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 S. Webster St., Madison. The agenda includes continuing revision of the waste policy templates. For more information, or if you need special accommodations to attend this meeting, contact Nick Sayen, DNR, at (608) 267-2466 or nick.sayen@wisconsin.gov.
March 3 - The Groundwater Coordinating Council (GCC) will meet from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will be hosted by the UW Water Resources Institute in their Conference Room on the 2nd Floor of Goodnight Hall, 1975 Willow Drive, on the UW campus in Madison. The proposed agenda includes a discussion of groundwater education, research, monitoring and data management activities, including consideration of the UWS Groundwater Research Plan, manure management issues, preparedness for flooding, arsenic species distribution in Wisconsin ground water, and agency updates. For more information, contact Jeff Helmuth at (608) 266-5234.
March 4 – The second meeting of the Phosphorus Criteria Advisory Committee will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the University of Wisconsin Memorial Union, 800 Langdon Street in Madison. The specific room will be listed the day of the meeting in the Memorial Union’s “Today in the Union” announcements. The purpose of the committee is to advise the Department on promulgating phosphorus criteria for water quality standards that will apply to Wisconsin lakes, reservoirs, streams and rivers. Development of these criteria is required by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. For more information, please contact Jim Baumann (608) 266-9277.
March 6 - The Wisconsin Clean Diesel Coalition will meet 9:30 a.m. to noon in the WHEDA conference room (1st floor) of the Tommy Thompson Building, 201 W. Washington Ave., Madison. The group will discuss project ideas for new Diesel Emission Reduction Act funds. For information contact Jessica Lawent, Wisconsin DNR, at (414) 263-8653.
March 10-25 - Deer management unit information meetings [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/news/DNRNews_Lookup.asp?id=105#art2] will be held throughout the state to give hunters and others an opportunity to get the most up to date deer management unit [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/deer/dmu.htm] information, preliminary deer population estimates and find out what the 2008 deer hunting season structure may look like in a series of public meetings across the state. Local wildlife biologists will be on hand at each meeting to provide information and answer questions. Other topics attendees can expect to learn more about include: CWD; October antlerless-only gun hunting opportunities; local buck and antlerless harvest histories; the Sex- Age- Kill (SAK) deer population estimation process; and deer population estimates, distribution and abundance. For information contact Keith Warnke, Madison (608) 264-6023 or the local wildlife biologist listed as the contact in the news release linked above.
March 12– Milwaukee River Revitalization Council Meeting 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, 1111 E. Brown Deer Road, Milwaukee. Agenda includes: Citizen Water Monitoring Update, presentation by Friends of Milwaukee's Rivers; Milwaukee River Basin Water Quality Issues, presentation by Wisconsin DNR, & Milwaukee Regional Partnership Update. For more information, contact Matthew Aho at 414-263-8586.
Edited by Paul Holtan
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
PO Box 7921
Madison WI 53707-7921
(608) 267-7517
Fax: (608) 264-6293
E-mail: paul.holtan@dnr.state.wi.us
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/news/
