Wisconsin DNR News
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/June 19, 2007
Panfish spawning season can be a rewarding fishing experience for young anglers
Boating safety programs aimed at keeping people safe on lakes and rivers
Draft Waterfowl Strategic Plan available for public comment
Major anniversaries for Brule River and Black River State Forests in 2007
Help protect wildlife health by reporting dead birds, animals
State firewood restriction relaxed for dimensional lumber scraps
Panfish spawning season can be a rewarding fishing experience for young anglers
MADISON -- Panfishing is considered one of the easiest kinds of fishing you can do and fishing during the panfish spawning season makes it even easier. That is why state fisheries specialist say the next couple of weeks is the perfect time to take young anglers out on a fishing adventure and to connect with their natural world.
“During the spawning season, there are lots of active fish to be caught,” says Rachel Piacenza, an aquatic education assistant with the state Department of Natural Resources. “Panfish move into the shallows to spawn, so shore fishing is ideal. This is perfect for families who do not have access to a boat. With many active fish near shore, children will have a great time catching many different types of fish.”
The better known kinds of panfish in Wisconsin are bluegill, perch and crappie and although the spawning seasons of perch and crappie are over, plenty of bluegills can still be found along the shorelines.
“I was out this week and the bluegills were biting,” says Joe Hennessy, a DNR warm water fisheries specialist. “It’s a paradise for panfishers and a great time to take the kids out. The fish are easy to see and easy to catch, making it a very rewarding fishing experience.”
Even when the panfish spawning season comes to a close, panfishing remains a great way to introduce children to fishing. They’re still relatively easy to catch and with simple equipment and just a shallow body of water, you can start creating family traditions.
“Fishing is a great way to connect one-on-one with children, teach them something they can do for the rest of their lives and then hopefully pass on to their own kids,” says Piacenza. “I remember the numerous times my uncle took me fishing. There were times we didn't catch a thing, but it was still fun and I wouldn't have traded it for anything else. Those are memories I will remember for the rest of my life.”
New and advanced anglers can visit Take Me Fishing on the DNR Web site [http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/kidsparents/takeme.html] for places to fish, tips for fishing with kids, equipment needed and much more. Current regulations for most waters are a daily bag limit of 25, with no minimum length limit.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Hennessy – (608) 267-9427 or Rachel Piacenza – (608) 261-6431
Boating safety programs aimed at keeping people safe on lakes and rivers
Boating safety course now offered on line
MADISON – With more than 15,000 inland lakes, 43,000 miles of rivers, and 659 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, waterways are a focal point for outdoor recreation in Wisconsin. But with an estimated 1 million boaters gearing up to use state waters this year, boating safety specialists say that safety education and courtesy are key to keeping boaters and other people safe while enjoying their time on the water.
One way boaters can make sure they are up to speed on boating and navigational regulations is by earning a boating safety certificate. The certificate -- available through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or the U.S. Power Squadron -- is required for anyone born on or after Jan 1, 1989 and who is at least 16 years of age. There are now specific age requirements for all recreational vehicles safety education certificates in Wisconsin, (ATVs, boats and snowmobiles).
“We know that our boating safety graduates have fewer accidents and problems on the waterways simply because they know more about boat and motor maintenance, navigational rules, knots, first aid and other topics taught in the course,” said Roy Zellmer, boating safety administrator for the state Department of Natural Resources.
“Studies show that people who don’t have boat safety training are five times more likely to be involved in a fatal boating accident than someone who has taken a safety course,” Zellmer said. “Most insurance companies also offer discounts to graduates of a boat safety course because they are safer, more knowledgeable boaters.”
Zellmer notes that it is now easier than ever to find a boating safety course with a new Internet option rather than taking the traditional classroom course. The DNR has teamed up with BoatSafe.com to offer an Internet safety course that gives students the opportunity to earn a boating safety certificate online.
“This online course really helps get the boating safety message to those youth and adults who find it difficult, if not impossible, to attend one of our regular classes,” Zellmer said. “Before this online course, our options for those people who weren’t able to find a course to fit their schedules were very limited. Now, with a computer and access to the Internet, they can take an approved course when it is convenient for them.”
But the online course isn’t for everyone. The material is written at a 14-year-old reading level and is not recommended for children younger than that. Younger children are encouraged to find a traditional boating safety class.
After covering the basics, students take an online test. A $10 fee covers the cost of taking the exam and the cost of the safety certificate, the same price as through traditional classroom instruction.
To operate a boat in Wisconsin, children ages 10 or 11 must be accompanied by a parent or an adult at all times. Those who are 12 to 16 can operate a boat with a parent or adult on board or by themselves if they have passed an approved boating safety course and have their certificate with them.
For personal watercraft use, children ages 12 to 16 are required by law to have a boating safety certificate. Adult supervision on a PWC does not take the place of a safety certificate.
To take the online boating safety course or to find a classroom course near you, go to the DNR’s boating safety Web page [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/es/enforcement/safety/boated.htm].
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Roy S. Zellmer - (608) 264-8970
Draft Waterfowl Strategic Plan available for public comment
MADISON – Wisconsin waterfowl hunters and waterfowl enthusiasts have until August 31 to comment on a plan for waterfowl management in Wisconsin.
“This plan is the most comprehensive look at the past and current condition of waterfowl resources and waterfowl hunting in Wisconsin in decades,” said Kent Van Horn, migratory game bird ecologist for the Department of Natural Resources. “It represents a blueprint for the future of waterfowl management in Wisconsin.”
Wisconsin has a long history of being an important state for waterfowl production and waterfowl management. It has been nearly 140 years since the first waterfowl harvest limits were established, even predating deer hunting, for which the first bag limits in Wisconsin were established in 1897, 110 years ago.
Since these early times, Wisconsin has lost 50 percent of its original 10 million acres of wetlands, adding to the challenges faced by waterfowl and waterfowl managers. Regardless, biologists in recent years are recording some of the highest waterfowl breeding populations since the introduction of waterfowl population surveys in Wisconsin.
Work on the plan began in 2005 and includes input from thousands of citizens, and wildlife and hunting organizations, say wildlife managers. Hunter surveys indicate that hunters are generally satisfied with current hunting seasons and bag limits but at the same time feel that the overall quality of waterfowl hunting would improve with more opportunities to see more ducks and experience less hunter crowding.
The draft plan is organized into six primary objectives:
• Continue to provide habitat and management for waterfowl and other wetland species.
• Monitor and evaluate waterfowl populations across seasons and locations.
• Improve the overall waterfowl hunting experience and the measures of hunter satisfaction.
• Manage resident Canada goose populations at a level that balances conflicting interests.
• Develop new waterfowl hunting education and hunter recruitment strategies.
• Conduct research to better understand variables that affect resident breeding and migratory populations of waterfowl and apply this knowledge to management strategies.
The plan is available on the DNR Web site at [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/plan/waterfowl.htm]. Comments can be submitted via email, regular mail, fax or phone. Hard copy versions can be requested by contacting Kimberlee Benton at (608) 261-6458.
“This is the time for waterfowl enthusiasts to get involved,” says Van Horn, “whether you’re a hunter or a birder, we’re looking forward to your comments, as this plan will guide the future of waterfowl management in Wisconsin.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Benton - (608) 261-6458
Major anniversaries for Brule River and Black River State Forests in 2007
MADISON – The Brule River State Forest will observe its 100th anniversary and the Black River State Forest its 50th anniversary in 2007.
Brule River State Forest, established 1907
From its source near Solon Springs in Douglas County, the Brule River drops 418 feet -- 328 feet in the last 19 miles -- before flowing into Lake Superior. Along the way it is fed by springs and streams that flow through 82,000 acres of pine and hardwood forest, about half of which is protected as the Brule River State Forest.
While the Brule River State Forest has a variety of features and offers a myriad of recreational opportunities such as bird watching, hiking, skiing, and hunting, it is the Brule River that has established the forest’s international reputation as a fishing and paddling destination. The state forest protects the majority of the land surrounding the Brule River from its headwaters to Lake Superior.
Dave Schulz, Brule River Forest superintendent, invites visitors to enjoy the present day forest with an eye to its history.
“If you visit the Brule River State Forest during our 100th year, we invite you to not only look at the today’s forest but to look back through the years at the events that formed the Brule River State Forest. The early explorers of the 1600s found a river and forest that was largely untouched by man.
“In the 1800s, lumber barons moved into the area and began harvesting the incredible untapped pine forest. Timber harvest brought railroads to the area, which in turn opened the region to fishermen and early settlers. In 1907 one of the lumber barons, Frederick Weherhauser, donated 4,320 acres to the state for a forest reserve. Now, in 2007, we celebrate 100 years of sustainable forestry here at Brule by not only celebrating the past but by looking to the future.”
The forest’s reputation has likely been enhanced, Schulz adds, by some of the more noteworthy visitors who have been attracted to its banks over time, including five U.S. presidents who have either fished or visited the river -- Ulysses S. Grant, Grover Cleveland, Herbert Hoover, Calvin Coolidge, and Dwight Eisenhower. Coolidge made Cedar Island Estate his “summer White House” in 1928 putting up the federal government in the Central High School in Superior.
Anglers delight in the Brule's spring and fall runs of steelhead trout and salmon, and summer runs of brown trout. Brook trout fishing is the mainstay on the upper river.
For canoeists and kayakers, the Brule River is consider by many to be a “paddler’s paradise” offering quiet scenic stretches for families and novices to challenging rapids and ledges for experienced whitewater runners. One section of the river offers nearly continuous rapids and ledges that, depending on water levels, have been rated as between Class I and Class III drops. Canoes and kayaks may be launched only at ten designated launching sites within the forest. No motorboats or inflatable craft are allowed.
The forest includes Rush, Hoodoo, Minnesuing, and Upper St. Croix lakes within its boundaries along with the Brule and nine tributary streams. Eight miles of Lake Superior shoreline are in the forest boundaries.
Along the streams, the forested lowlands and uplands provide habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. These include white-tailed deer, eagle, osprey, kingfisher, warblers, fisher, otter, black bear, gray wolf, wild turkey and much more. The rare black-backed three-toed woodpecker also lives and nests on the forest.
Within the boundaries of the Brule River State Forest are five State Natural Areas that have been designated for protection because of their unique ecological importance representing some of Wisconsin’s rare native plant and animal communities. These areas include examples of boreal forests, pine barrens, and extensive stretches of undeveloped Lake Superior shoreline. Among the many rare species found within these areas are the endangered Lapland buttercup (Ranunculus lapponicus) and threatened wood turtle (Clemmys insculpta).
Camping is available year-round within the forest at 35 rustic campsites. Campers and day users will find picnic areas and a self-guided nature trail. There are also miles of hunter walking trails that are off limits to motorized traffic.
Cross-country skiers have more than 16 miles of trail available at the Afterhours Ski Trail while snowmobilers can traverse about 30 miles of groomed trail. Ice fishing is available on Upper St. Croix, Rush and Minnesuing lakes.
The property is also the official “portal” for the North Country National Scenic Trail extending from North Dakota to New York. Numerous other trails are available for hiking and snowshoeing.
In addition to the significant economic impact the Brule River State Forest provides to the region by attracting visitors, the forest is also economically significant in the region for timber production. Following a master plan for the forest that was revised in 2002, about 600 acres within the forest are managed for sustainable timber production generating about half a million dollars a year.
Black River State Forest, established 1957
Spranning 68,000 acres in west central Wisconsin, the Black River State Forest offers visitors a multitude of recreational opportunities. From canoeing, to horseback riding, to deer and small game hunting, to snowmobiling and all terrain vehicle riding, to mountain biking and cross-country skiing, the Black River State Forest has become a popular destination for a wide variety of people seeking outdoor recreation.
The adjacent Jackson County Forest increases the total acreage open to outdoor recreation by another 120,000 acres.
Like other Wisconsin state forests, it is the geological features of the area that attract many visitors. The Black River State Forest lies on the edge of the glaciated central plain east of the rough coulee region, or driftless area, of Wisconsin. Visitors who hike the nature trail to the top of Castle Mound can observe what was once the bed of glacial Lake Wisconsin. Unglaciated buttes, sandstone hills, and castellated bluffs such as Castle Mound dot the vast forest landscape.
Today the land is dominated by jack pine which fuels Wisconsin paper mills, scrub oak and a mixture of other species including aspen and regenerating white pine.
Prior to European settlement, the area was dominated by large white pines, which were prized by loggers during the 1880s when sawmill towns and their railroads dotted the area. In Eastern Jackson County the communities of Goodyear, McKenna, Zeda, Bear Bluff Station and Chaplin boomed during logging days, according to Ralph Eswein, Black River Falls author of “Logging Dilemma in the Big Swamp,” a history of the area.
Later, as settlers hungry for land came to the United States, much of the area was temporarily farmed. But marshy acid soils and adjacent sandy areas proved inhospitable for farmers and during the hot dry 1930s that created Dust Bowl conditions in the Southwest United States, farms failed in Eastern Jackson County.
Under the New Deal Administration of Franklin Roosevelt, the federal Reclamation Agency purchased farms in eastern Jackson County along with parts of Wood, Juneau and Monroe counties. The Wisconsin Conservation Department administered the land as a state forest for the federal government until the mid-1950s. It was dedicated as the Brule River State Forest on July 1, 1957.
Eastern Jackson County has traditionally been a prime deer hunting area, leading Black River Falls to proclaim itself the state’s deer hunting capitol during the 1960s. Hunters also go afield after ruffed grouse, turkeys and waterfowl on flowages created within the forest. Today a multitude of recreational users visit the forest.
There are all-terrain vehicle trails for motorized sports and trails for horseback riders. State forest trails connect with the adjacent Jackson and Clark county forests trails, providing ATV riders with about 235 miles of trail. Canoeists enjoy the scenic Black River and hikers can take trails atop Wildcat Mound and at Castle Mound Campground to view remnants of sandstone areas formed 400 million years ago during the Cambrian Period. The forest has 24 miles of trails open to mountain biking in the summer, and groomed for cross-country skiing in the winter. Snowmobiling is also a popular winter activity on the 51 miles of snowmobile trails in the forest that connect to hundreds of more miles of snowmobile trails in the area.
Views in the forest reveal the vast bed of Glacial Lake Wisconsin, which was formed about 10,000 years ago during the last Ice Age. Eastern Jackson County’s flat, sandy areas with poorly drained marshy areas are the inheritance of the Ice Age.
While the area has become a destination for outdoor recreation with campgrounds, ski, mountain bike, ATV and snowmobile trails, the large tracts of undeveloped land also provide habitat for Wisconsin’s southernmost wolf pack, and solitutde for visitors wanting to connect with nature.
More information on the Brule River and Black River State Forests can be found on the DNR Web site by clicking on the “Natural Resources” button, then “Forestry” and “State Forests.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Schulz, Brule River State Forest - (715) 372-5678 or Peter Bakken, Black River State Forest - (715) 284-1406
Help protect wildlife health by reporting dead birds and other animals
MADISON – Wildlife officials working to assure healthy wildlife in Wisconsin are asking people to report unusual die-offs of wild birds, especially waterfowl and other water birds, to aid in wildlife disease surveillance. Die-offs of birds should be reported to the statewide Dead Bird Hotline 1-(800)-433-1610.
Death of a number of birds in one area is a strong indicator that disease may be present or there is a poisoning problem. Any number of dead crows, blue jays or ravens should also be reported as these species are the most likely to die from West Nile Virus (WNV), which can be transmitted to humans through mosquito bites.
“From a disease monitoring viewpoint a report of a number dead birds – rather than a single bird -- in a small area such as around a pothole, slough, bay, or section of lakeshore or within your neighborhood is a stronger indicator that a significant disease such as Avian Influenza may be present. Knowing our wildlife are healthy helps assure people remain healthy too,” said Julie Langenberg, VMD and leader of the Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Health Team.
Biologists are also interested in knowing about dead mammals -- other than road kills -- that are not badly decomposed or scavenged, and any wild animals displaying abnormal behavior or showing outward signs of illness such as weight loss, disorientation, or lack of fear. These can be reported to a DNR Service Center or a DNR wildlife biologist. The DNR Wildlife Health Team routinely performs necropsies on many wild species as part of its statewide disease surveillance efforts.
Wildlife health experts say people should handle dead animals in the following manner:
• Wear gloves, or a plastic bag inverted over your hand; place the carcass in a sealable plastic bag.
• Avoid direct skin contact with the carcass and wash your hands thoroughly after sealing the plastic bag.
• Refrigerate the specimen or place it on ice (keep it cool but do not freeze) and call the Dead Bird Hotline or DNR staff for further instructions on what to do with the carcass.
West Nile Virus Surveillance in 2007
Officials at the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services announced on June 6 the first WNV positive bird of the 2007 season. (See the news release on the DHFS Web site at [http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/News/PressReleases/2007/060607westnile.htm].) The infected bird was a crow found in Wood County. West Nile virus can be transmitted to humans by mosquitoes in their saliva.
According to the DHFS Web site, the chances of a person contracting WNV are very low and most people infected with West Nile virus will not have any symptoms. Those who do become ill may develop a fever, headache, and rash that lasts a few days. Symptoms may begin between three to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Children, older adults and people with compromised immune systems are at an increased risk of severe disease from the virus.
The best prevention is to decrease exposure to mosquitoes:
• Limit time spent outside at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
• Apply insect repellant to exposed skin and spray clothing with repellant since mosquitoes may bite through clothing.
• Make sure window and door screens are in good repair to prevent mosquito entry.
• Properly dispose of items that hold water such as tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, or discarded tires.
• Clean roof gutters and downspouts for proper drainage.
• Turn over wheelbarrows, wading pools, boats, and canoes when not in use.
• Change the water in birdbaths and pet dishes at least every three days.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas, and hot tubs; drain water from pool covers.
• Trim tall grass, weeds, and vines since mosquitoes use these areas to rest during hot daylight hours.
• Landscape to prevent water from pooling in low-lying areas.
Avian Influenza surveillance in 2007
Surveillance for the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza will continue in 2007 with researchers focusing on examination of carcasses from die-off events, sampling of hunter harvested waterfowl during hunting seasons, and sampling of birds live-captured in waterfowl banding operations.
Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a group of viruses that affect wild and domestic birds. The viruses are only found in a small number of birds in the wild, usually waterfowl and shorebirds, and rarely cause disease in these birds.
Highly pathogenic H5N1 – not found to date in North America -- has been detected and associated with deaths in wild birds in Asia and Europe. These findings have led to concern that certain migratory birds could carry this strain into North America. There is equal concern that illegal importation of poultry or poultry products, movements of infected captive wildlife, or infected people could introduce this H5N1 to the U.S.
“The vast majority of detections of this highly pathogenic H5N1 in wild birds in Asian and Europe have come from dead or sick birds,” Langenberg says. “So this year in Wisconsin we will focus AI testing on avian mortality events. We need everyone to help by reporting unusual bird mortality events, especially if they involve water birds.”
For more information on Avian Influenza visit the DNR Web site [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/whealth/issues/AI/background.htm].
Avian Influenza surveillance in 2006
Wildlife health experts from DNR, USDA-APHIS, Bad River Band of Chippewa and other non-governmental partners collectively sampled 2,020 birds in Wisconsin for the highly pathogenic (HP) variety of H5N1 Avian Influenza in 2006. No evidence of HP H5N1 was found.
“Routine surveillance for emerging wildlife diseases is the best tool we have for limiting wildlife losses and for protecting humans from transmissible wildlife diseases,” Langenberg says. “Our biologists, foresters and conservation wardens are always on the outlook for signs of disease in wildlife but the public’s role in early detection is equally important. Frequently, we first hear of problems from citizens. Wisconsin’s wildlife belongs to the public and everyone can help wildlife stay healthy by reporting unusual mortality events.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Businga - (608) 221-5375
State firewood restriction relaxed for dimensional lumber scraps
MADISON – People camping at Wisconsin State Parks and Forests are allowed to bring scrap lumber such as 2x4s and 2x6s, with some exceptions, for campfires, according to state forestry officials.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources put a new firewood rule in place this year aimed at reducing the risk of people inadvertently bringing emerald ash borer or other invasive forest pests to parks or forests in the firewood they bring along for campfires. Under the rule, firewood may not be brought in from more than 50 miles away from the park or forest, or from out of state.
“During the first several weeks of camping season, we found that the use of lumber scraps as firewood is more common than we realized,” says Andrea Diss-Torrance, DNR forest health specialist. “The forest health group has determined that dimensional lumber scraps are of low risk in transmitting pests and diseases that attack live trees, so we are adding a note to distinguish them from minimally processed wood that does pose a threat.”
Dimensional lumber is milled lumber -- such as 2x4s and 2x6s -- that is dried and bark free. Lumber is fully dried and debarked before it can be used in building, which means it cannot harbor pests and diseases of living trees like raw wood or logs can.
“Campers should be aware that minimally processed wood such as pallets, skids, or slabs are still prohibited from entering state properties and will be confiscated if the wood was harvested beyond 50 miles from the campground or from out-of-state,” says Diss-Torrance. Pallets and slabs are cut wood, but they can be fresh enough or have enough attached bark that they can harbor pests or diseases.
In addition, it is against state air quality rules to burn wood that is painted, treated with preservatives, or that is made up of a composite of wood and glue.
“Emerald ash borer and other invasive pests most likely entered this country in pallets or other minimally processed packing material,” says Diss-Torrance.
Wood that is rough-cut, has bark attached, and/or is not completely dried is also prohibited unless harvested within 50 miles of the state area it will be used on and from within the state.
Painted, preservative-treated, or laminated lumber, and chip-board or other re-constituted wood that contains adhesives should not be burned. Toxins are released when such wood is burned and are a serious health hazard. Campers should bring these types of wood back home and dispose of it at a landfill.
More information and details on acceptable processed wood can be found on the DNR Web site at [http://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/firewood/] or on the firewood information line 1-877-303-9663.
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane Cummings Carlson, DNR Forest Health Program Coordinator - (608) 275-3273.
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.
April 15 through July 31
• It is illegal to allow dogs to run on DNR lands and Federal Waterfowl Production Areas lands during this time unless the dog is on a leash no longer than 8 feet. Doe not apply to class 1 field trial grounds or DNR lands open to dog training.*
July 1
• Training dogs by pursuing bear allowed through August 31. (Note exception on DNR lands; see current Wisconsin bear hunting regulations for rules.)*
July 15
• Turtle season opens statewide through Nov. 30 for those species that are not listed as endangered or threatened.*
August 1
• Fall turkey hunting applications due.*
• Deadline to apply for goose hunting permits for the Collins and Horicon zones.*
• Sharp-tailed grouse permit application due.*
• Deadline to apply for bobcat, fisher and otter permits.
• Deadline for successful applicants to purchase or transfer Class A Bear License.*
August 6, 7, 8, & 9
• Public hearings on the proposed 2007 migratory game bird season hunting zones, season length and bag limits. The public hearings will all begin at 7 p.m. on the following dates at the locations listed.
o August 6, La Crosse – State Office Bldg, Rooms B-19 and B-20, 3550 Mormon Coulee Road
o August 7, Rice Lake – University of Wisconsin at Barron County, Room R228, Meggers Hall, 1800 College Drive.
o August 8, Appleton – Agricultural Services Center, Main conference room, 3369 West Brewster St.
o August 9, Waukesha – State Office Building, main conference room, 141 N. W. Barstow St.
August 25
• Over the counter sales of antlerless deer tags begin at noon at all license vendors.
• Permits to hunt deer in State Park deer management units during one or more deer hunting seasons including the archery, gun and muzzleloader seasons go on sale at noon on a first-come, first-served basis until they are all sold. The number of hunters allowed in these state parks is limited. In the past, hunters applied for access to hunt in one of these state parks through the Hunters’ Choice program, which has been discontinued this year. Now, hunters must purchase a $3 access permit online or at any DNR license sales location (same cost as the old hunters’ choice permit) for the park of their choice.
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
June 21 - A public hearing on the application from Aurora Health Care, Inc. for an air pollution control permit to construct an air contaminant source in the Town of Summit, Waukesha County, Wisconsin will be held 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Oconomowoc Community Center, 324 West Wisconsin Ave., Oconomowoc. Aurora Health Care, Inc has submitted to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources an air pollution control permit application (Air Pollution Control Permit Number 07-MF-087), including plans and specifications, for the construction and operation of a Medical Center, to include a 110-bed hospital, medical offices, and utilities located in a separate central plant building. The surface parking lots that will surround the Medical Center will have capacity to accommodate 1,480 vehicles. An air pollution control permit is required pursuant to Chapter NR 411, Wisconsin Administrative Code, as the proposed development will exceed parking space equivalency standard of 999 vehicles and is located in a Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA). The DNR Bureau of Air Management analyzed information submitted by the HNTB Corporation, Inc., consultant to Aurora Health Care, Inc., for the construction of a 110-bed hospital, medical offices, utilities located in a separate central plant building, and supporting surface parking area. The Bureau of Air Management has preliminarily determined that the project will meet applicable criteria for permit approval as stated in section 285.63, Wisconsin Statutes, including the ambient air quality standards for carbon monoxide, and should, therefore, be approved. The DNR has prepared an environmental assessment for this project, pursuant to Chapter NR 150, Wis. Admin. Code, which identifies the anticipated impacts of the project. DNR has made a preliminary determination that this proposed project will not have an adverse effect on the environment and an Environmental Impact Statement will not be required. This recommendation does not represent approval from other DNR sections, which may also require a review of the project. Information, including the applicant's plans and air quality analysis and the DNR's preliminary analysis and environmental assessment regarding this proposal, is available for public inspection at the Bureau of Air Management, Department of Natural Resources on the second floor of the State of Wisconsin Building, 345 W. Washington Street, Madison, Wisconsin. Written comments will be accepted from the public regarding the proposed air control permit and/or environmental assessment for the construction of the Aurora Health Care, Inc. development. These comments will be considered in the WDNR final decision regarding this project. Written comments will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the hearing. Interested persons wishing to comment on the preliminary determination and/or environmental assessment should submit written comments by July 6, 2007 to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Air Management, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Attn: Mike Friedlander. For information contact Mike Friedlander at - (608) 267-0806.
June 25 – A prehearing telephone conference in the matter of a conditional approval of a high capacity well to Village of Mukwonago will be held at 9:30 a.m. originating from the Division of Hearings and Appeals, 819 N. Sixth St., Milwaukee. On Feb. 26, 2007 the Department of Natural Resources conditionally approved an application submitted by the Village of Mukwonago regarding a test well and possible prosecution well. The department received a petition for a contested case hearing pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 227.42 with respect to whether it was appropriate for DNR to issue the conditional approval for a well without using the environmental review process under § 1.11 Wis. Stats that applies to an application for approval of a high capacity well to be located in a groundwater protection area or a high capacity well that may have a significant environmental impact on a spring. The prehearing conference is to identify parties to the proceeding, further define issues for hearing and establishing a schedule for the hearing, which will be a Class 1 contested case hearing. For information on participating contact Bill Coleman, Division of Hearings and Appeals at (414) 258-6736.
June 29 - A telephone prehearing conference in the matter of the issuance of a conditional approval of a modification of the water facilities plan and specification approval for a high capacity well to the Village of East Troy pursuant to Wis. Stats. §§ 281.34 and 281.41 and Wis. Admin. Code chs. NR 108, 811 and 812 will be held at 10 a.m. originating in the Division of Hearings and Appeals, 5005 University Avenue, Suite 201, Madison. The Department of Natural Resources, conditionally approved a modification for the Village of East Troy Water Utility to move the location of Well No. 7 from the test well site to the monitoring well (MW-1) site. The distance between the test well site and MW-1 site is approximately 12 feet. The department received a Petition for Contested Case Hearing pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 227.42 and Wis. Admin. Code NR 2.03, from the Lake Beulah Management District and the Lake Beulah Protective and Improvement Association as to whether it was appropriate for DNR to conditionally approve a modification of the Village of East Troy’s Water Facilities Plan and Specification Approval for a High Capacity Well to change the location of Well No. 7 without using the environmental review process under Wis. Stat. § 1.11, to the extent that any requirement to use that process applies only to the change in location of Well No. 7 and w7hether all of the Wis. Admin. Code § NR 811.16(4)(d), requirements for separation distances from potential sources of contamination were complied with, given that the location of Well No. 7 was changed. The purpose of the prehearing conference will be to identify parties to the proceeding, to simplify the issues which may be contested at the hearing, establish a discovery schedule and set a date for hearing. No testimony will be heard at the prehearing conference, however, a date may be set for the hearing on the merits at the conference. When the hearing is held it will be a Class 1 contested case pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 227.01(3)(a) and the fair play provisions of Wis. Stat. ch. 227 will apply. For information contact the Division of Hearings and Appeals at (608) 266-3865.
Meetings
June 20 – The DNR Fishing Tournament Advisory Committee will meet from 1 to 4:30 p.m. in the "Gathering Waters" conference room of the DNR South Central Region Headquarters, 3911 Fish Hatchery Road, Fitchburg. The team will be reviewing the summaries of the comments from the public hearings and the Bass Fishing Tournament Pilot Program provided to the Natural Resources Board. More information on the committee and bass pilot program are available on the DNR Web site at [http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/fishingtournaments/fishtournruledev.htm] and [http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/fishingtournaments/basspilotprogram.htm] For information contact Andrew Fayram at (608) 266-5250.
June 20 - The Wisconsin Forest Sustainability Framework Advisory Committee will meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Forest Products Lab, One Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison. As a sub-committee of the Wisconsin Council on Forestry, the group is charged with drafting a monitoring framework for forests across the state. The agenda includes a review of forest biodiversity and discussions on the socioeconomic, legal and institutional aspects of forests. For information contact Amy Peterson at (608) 267-9680.
June 21 - The DNR Bureau of Wildlife Management will conduct a Sex-Age Kill (SAK) deer population estimate formula review follow-up meeting at 9:30 a.m. at the Gander Mountain store near Wausau, 1560 County Highway XX, Rothschild. The purpose of this meeting is to continue the review and implementation of SAK audit recommendations, including identifying and prioritizing projects to improve the deer population model and to increase the credibility of population estimates. For more information contact Keith Warnke at - (608) 264-6023.
June 22 – The annual public open house meeting for the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest will be held from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Boulder Junction Community Building, 5386 Park St. (Highway M), Boulder Junction. The purpose of the open house is to share with the public the property management and improvement projects the state forest staff will be working on over the next several years. Maps and other information will be available to describe where timber sales, tree planting, wildlife and fish habitat management activities, trail and campground improvements are planned. Maintenance, law enforcement, forest management, fish and wildlife biologists, and recreation staff will also be on hand to answer questions on the property’s operation. The open house will not include discussions related to ATV use in the forest. A stakeholders’ group has been working to develop a proposal for ATV trails in the state forest and the public will have an opportunity later this summer to comment on it before the department makes a recommendation to the Natural Resources Board. For information contact Steve Petersen, Superintendent, Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest, at (715) 358-9225.
June 22 & 23 - Informational meetings have been scheduled by Department of Natural Resources foresters to assist forest landowners in Oconto and Marinette counties in salvaging the downed trees and returning these lands to productive forests. On June 7 a tornado destroyed 14,400 acres of woodlands in Shawano, Langlade, Menominee, Oconto and Marinette counties. Foresters will provide information about woodland cleanup and timber salvage including contracting with logging companies, site assessment and reforestation options, landowner grants for reforestation, and potential insect and disease problems. The same information will be provided at each meeting, and there is no cost to those attending. For information contact Todd McCourt, DNR Forester, Oconto County, 920-846-2980, Dave Beer, DNR Forester, Langlade County, 715-882-2191 or Cole Couvillion, DNR Forestry Team Leader, Wausaukee. 715-856-9150. The meetings will be held:
June 22, White Lake - 6 p.m. at the White Lake Community Building
June 23, Lakewood - 9 a.m. at the Lakewood Town Hall, 17258 North Road
June 23, Wausaukee - 9 a.m. at the Wausaukee Town Hall, N11856 Hwy 141
June 26-27 – The state Natural Resources Board will meet at a location to be announced. For information contact Laurie J. Ross, Natural Resources Board Executive Staff Assistant at (608) 267-7420.
June 27 – The DNR Forestry best management practices advisory committee will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Goodman Park in Marinette County. Tim Miller from the DNR Lands Division will give an update on ATV issues in the morning and in the afternoon the committee will head out to the Wild Rivers Legacy Forest to hear about the history of the parcel and how conservation easements are preserving this working forest. The committee will also visit some active timber sales on Marinette County Forest to see current harvesting equipment in action -- the goal is to get an idea of how equipment has changed since the BMPs were first put in place in 1990s. The full meeting agenda, as well as notes and presentations from previous meetings are available at: [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/forestry/Usesof/bmp/advisory/]. For information contact Carmen Wagner, Forest Hydrologist at (608) 266-1667
June 28 – The DNR Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest ATV Stakeholders group will meet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Reuland's Catering, 1571 Hwy. 51 North, Arbor Vitae to continue to evaluate sustainable use of ATVs on the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest. For information contact: Bob Dall at (715) 365-8993 for details.
June 28 - The DNR Brownfields Study Group will meet from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Eaton Corporation, 4201 N. 27th St., Milwaukee. The meeting is free and open to the public. If you need more information about the meeting agenda, location or parking, please contact Andrew Savagian at (608) 261-6422, or [andrew.savagian@wisconsin.gov].
June 28 - The Private Water Advisory Council will hold a conference call at 10 a.m. to discuss the proposed revisions to chs. NR 812 and NR 146, Wisconsin Administrative Codes, to reflect changes to ch. 280, Wis. Stats. For information on how to join the call contact Dorie Turpin at (608) 266-0162.
