May 15, 2007
Deadly fish disease confirmed in Lake Winnebago system
National Safe Boating Week launches May 19
Northern zone musky season opens May 26
Musky fishing continues to grow in popularity
DNR warden receives 2007 national wildlife officer award
Youth deer hunt scheduled at Buckhorn State Park
Adopt-A-Trail program seeks volunteers
Power transmission line project may result in incidental take of rare turtle
DNR launches chronic wasting disease management public dialogue
Deadly fish disease confirmed in Lake Winnebago system
State seeks to expand emergency rules aimed at containing deadly fish disease
MADISON – Reports over the weekend that a new viral fish disease likely killed fish in the Lake Winnebago System is spurring Wisconsin fisheries officials to seek to expand the reach of emergency rules aimed at preventing viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS, from spreading to new waters.
Fisheries officials will ask the state Natural Resources Board to meet in a special session Thursday, May 17, to consider expanding key emergency rule requirements beyond Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, the Mississippi River and their tributaries. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. in Room 613 of the State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 S. Webster St., Madison.
“When we originally went to the Natural Resources Board in April, they made it clear to us that if VHS was found outside Lake Michigan, Lake Superior and the Mississippi River, they wanted us to come back and they would consider extending the rules to new waters or statewide,” Staggs says. “That’s what we’re doing now that initial tests indicate the disease has spread to the Lake Winnebago system.”
Based on their suspicions in April that VHS virus was already in or would soon be found in Lake Michigan, Lake Superior and the Mississippi River, fisheries officials proposed different special rules on fish handling, live well and bait bucket water handling and boat cleaning for those waters than for inland waters. They thought the virus would be in those three major water bodies and their tributaries because they are connected to eastern Lake Michigan waters where VHS had already been confirmed and where it had killed thousands of game fish and panfish in 2005 and 2006.
VHS is not a health threat to people who handle infected fish or want to eat their catch, but it can kill more than 25 fish species, causing them to bleed to death.
DNR received news late May 11 that two drum, or sheepshead, from Little Lake Butte des Morts had tested positive for VHS, and that other dead fish collected from Lake Winnebago itself appear to have the virus was deeply concerning. The Lake Winnebago system is home to a $234 million fishery and the world’s largest lake sturgeon population, and it has dozens of boat landings and many boaters coming from other states and other parts of Wisconsin. Fully 90 percent of anglers answering a 2006 survey said they do not own or live on waterfront property on that system but bring their boats there. Movement of boats from one water body to another is a likely path for spreading the virus.
Until the Natural Resources Board considers expanding the requirement later this week, Staggs urges boaters and anglers on all Wisconsin lakes and waters to take those steps that will help prevent the spread of VHS to more waters.
• Do not move live fish (including unused bait minnows) away from the landing or shore.
• Drain all water from bilges, bait buckets, live wells and other containers when leaving the landing or shore.
• Use live minnows purchased only from registered bait dealers in Wisconsin or catch it yourself in the same water you fish.
• Before launching and before leaving for the day, inspect your boat and trailer and clean both of all visible plants and animals.
In addition, Staggs urges people who have been boating on the Winnebago System to disinfect their boats and boating and fishing gear before moving to new waters by mixing 1/3 cup of bleach with 5 gallons of water. Apply the solution to the hull, trailer, live well, bilge and any other areas or things that may hold water or moisture. Leave the solution in contact with these areas for at least 5 minutes before rinsing off. Do not rinse the bleach solution into lakes or rivers.
Some of these steps are the same ones DNR has been asking boaters and anglers to take for years to prevent the spread of invasive species such as zebra mussels and Eurasian water milfoil.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Staggs- (608) 220-2609, George Boronow- (920) 662-5426
National Safe Boating Week launches May 19
MADISON – Boating enthusiasts and advocates are gearing up for the 2007 National Safe Boating Week May 19–25 to promote boating safety to approximately 78 million recreational boaters nationwide.
This year’s campaign is themed “Wear It!” to focus attention on the importance of always wearing a life jacket on the water.
“Life jackets are the number one proven way to save lives in the event of an unexpected accident,” says William Engfer, chief of recreation enforcement and education for the state Department of Natural Resources. “We want people to be safe recreating on Wisconsin waters, so we hope to encourage people to wear them.”
Recent statistics released by the U.S. Coast Guard indicate that 87 percent of those who drowned in 2005 were not wearing life jackets.
“It is not enough to simply have life jackets on board. Boating accidents happen much too fast to be able to count on having time to reach for one. To ensure your safety, you must wear your life jacket at all times while on the water,” Engfer says.
Technological innovations of today’s jacket make it possible for a recreational boater to choose from any number of jackets custom-designed to the boater’s favorite water activities and personal tastes. This year during National Safe Boating Week, and throughout the boating season remember to practice safe and responsible boating and be alert and aware while on the water.
A list of upcoming boat safety courses in Wisconsin can be found on the DNR Web site at [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/es/enforcement/safety/upcoming.htm]. The classroom boating safety course consists of a minimum eight hours of classroom instruction in the principles of boating safety. An online boating safety course is also now available at [http://www.boat-ed.com/wi/].
The North American Safe Boating Campaign is produced by the National Safe Boating Council in partnership with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators in collaboration with the Canadian Safe Boating Council. The campaign is produced under a grant from the Sports Fish Restoration (Wallop-Breaux) Trust Fund administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. Visit
www.SafeBoatingCampaign.com for campaign materials and additional safe boating resources.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: William Engfer at (608) 266-0859
Northern zone musky season opens May 26
MADISON – Results of a recent study of how muskellunge move about lakes and home ranges may be of interest to musky anglers who will be searching out a trophy fish when the northern zone musky season opens May 26.
Researcher Jordan Weeks, a Department of Natural Resources fish biologist and avid musky angler, with the assistance of other DNR staff and several musky organizations, completed a two-year study in 2005 on the movement of muskellunge and their home range patterns.
“There were two questions I was looking to answer,” says Weeks. “Do muskies spawn in the same lake each year and if so, do they stay in that lake all summer long?”
Results from the study showed that nearly 60 percent of muskies spawned in the same lake each year, which meant that a good proportion -- about 40 percent -- had moved onto other lakes. However, Weeks discovered that regardless of whether the muskies left the lake they spawned in or not, once they got where they were going, they usually stayed there.
“The summer home range for muskies is about 4 acres or roughly four football fields,” says Weeks. “As an angler, once you know the home range and you see the fish you want to catch, you can use that to your advantage and keep fishing in that relatively small area.”
It’s the nature of muskies to show themselves off at times, but not always bite, according to Weeks. Once you know they’re there, slowing down and looking for certain structures in the lake can be a clue to where the elusive fighter has disappeared to.
“If you see a fish on a particular structure in your favorite lake, such as a log, a turn in the weed edge or a sunken island, you know that that fish will be somewhere within a four football field area,” says Weeks. “Once I locate a fish and it’s not coming off its usual structure, I move on to the next closest piece of structure I can find and that often brings out that fish.”
Although this claim isn’t backed by statistics, Weeks’ experience during the study suggests that turning your trolling motor and electronics off might reduce your chances of spooking the fish.
“Some fish -- and I can’t say all of them -- when I tried to sneak up on them with my trolling motor, they were always swimming away,” says Weeks. “However, there were several fish I could drive right over with my outboard motor. The trolling motor may or may not spook the fish, but it’s a chance I don’t want to take, especially if there’s a real big fish.”
One musky survey last year on Lake Wissota in Chippewa Falls produced a 50 and a 54-inch musky.
“Most of the larger water bodies have the potential of having 50-inch plus fish in them,” says Joe Kurz, a DNR fish biologist. “However, these fish are older and wiser and not as easy for anglers to catch, much less hook.”
The northern zone musky season will be open from May 26 to Nov. 30 and includes inland waters north of Highway 10. Current regulations for most waters are a daily bag limit of one and a minimum length limit of 34 inches.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Jordan Weeks– (608) 785-9002, Joe Kurz- (715)726-7884
Musky fishing continues to grow in popularity
MADISON -- When the first day of the 2007 northern zone musky season arrives May 26, more anglers will be catching more fish faster, and sending more back to the water to fight another day, than a generation ago.
“The popularity of musky fishing is definitely growing – the number of participants has more than quadrupled over the last 50 years,” says Tim Simonson, a Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist who co-chairs the agency’s musky team.
An estimated 456,000 anglers pursued muskellunge in Wisconsin in 2001, the last year in which survey results are available, up 25 percent since 1994.
The legendary “fish of 10,000 casts,” used to take two guys in a boat 50 hours to catch. Now it is closer to 24 hours and 3,000 casts.
And more anglers are landing trophy fish than a generation ago, based on reports from Muskies Inc. members. In 2006, members reported catching more than 60 fish 48 inches and greater. That’s up from the average over the past decade of about 29 fish over 48 inches.
More fish of all sizes are being released
During 2006, muskellunge harvest averaged only about 26 fish per 1,000 acres of Class A musky water, down from 41 per 1,000 acres in 1990, Simonson says. Class A musky waters are the best musky waters, with the most fish and the biggest fish.
Here’s some other interesting facts about the fish named the official state fish in 1955. More information can be found on the DNR Web site at [http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/musky/].
• Fishable populations of musky are found in 711 lakes and 83 stream segments in 48 counties. The heaviest concentration of lakes with musky is found in the head water regions of the Chippewa, Flambeau, and Wisconsin rivers.
• More world records have been landed in Wisconsin than anywhere else.
• The state and world record is a 69 lbs, 11 oz. fish taken from the Chippewa Flowage. Also credited to Wisconsin is the world record hybrid musky, 51 lbs, 3 oz. from Lac Vieux Desert.
• Musky densities are very low, even in the best waters, because muskies are large top predators that tend to choose vulnerable spawning sites. Good musky waters average 1 adult fish for 3 surface acres, compared to up to 20 adults per 3 surface acres in good walleye lakes.
• In the latest year for which survey results are available, anglers in 2001 reported catching 296,289 musky.
• 2006 was a great year for anglers; they reported catching more than 60 musky over 48 inches, including a 54 lb, 10-oz fish from the Lower Fox River and a 51-lb, 2 oz fish from a Vilas County lake.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Simonson - (608) 266-5222
DNR warden receives 2007 national wildlife officer award
MADISON –Tom Heisler, a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources conservation warden from Sawyer County, has been selected to receive the 2007 Torch Award for Region 5 of the National Association of Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association.
“This award recognizes warden Heisler’s excellence as a field conservation warden, and his selfless work ethic on behalf of the warden service, the DNR and the people of the State of Wisconsin,” said Chief DNR Warden Randy Stark.
The Torch Award Program was established by a group of retired officers as a symbol of "Passing the Torch" to acknowledge the outstanding work of wardens early in their careers. The annual award is presented to officers in each of the association’s seven regions. Eligible officers must have less than five years experience, demonstrate a genuine desire to protect the resource and develop professionally, and have demonstrated exceptional ability and initiative in the performance of his or her duties, including public education. The goal is to encourage professional development in conservation law enforcement.
Stark said that during Heisler’s first five full years of employment he built a balanced program focusing on the DNR warden force’s three core disciplines: law enforcement, education and community involvement. Heisler is a member of the Upper Chippewa warden team and is stationed in Winter in Sawyer County.
“Warden Heisler has quickly adapted to new threats to our natural resources. For instance, Tom has participated Wisconsin’s fight against chronic wasting disease,” Stark said. “In an effort to reduce the escapes of captive deer, he has worked cooperatively with various deer farmers within his area to verify their deer farm fences were constructed within the legal requirements. He has also spent a considerable amount of time enforcing baiting and feeding rules to help combat the spread of CWD in our wild deer herd.”
Tom also has been very responsive to his constituents, responding to citizen complaints of various fish and game violations and bringing those who steal from law abiding sportspersons to justice, said Dave Zebro, warden supervisor of Spooner. In addition, he is a volunteer safety instructor and attends safety courses to teach young outdoor enthusiasts how to recreate legally, responsibility and ethically. Heisler is also involved in the warden service “No Child Left Inside” initiative designed to introduce youth to outdoor activities.
Heisler will receive his award at the association’s national conference in the Twin Cities in July.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Heisler – (715) 266-2032
Youth deer hunt scheduled at Buckhorn State Park
NECEDAH, Wis. – Young hunters who have not previously harvested a deer with a gun can apply to participate in a special deer hunt that will be held this fall at Buckhorn State Park near Necedah.
The two-day hunt will be held Nov. 3 and 4 and is open to youths who are at least age 12 but not older than 17 as of Nov. 3, 2007, according to Joe Stecker-Kochanski, Buckhorn State Park superintendent. The hunt is intended to help young hunters learn safe deer hunting techniques.
“We’re trying to give youngsters a quality experience where they can have a chance at actually harvesting deer – and to learn to do it safely,” Stecker-Kochanski said. The hunt will be with shotguns for either antlerless or antlered deer.
The hunt is only open to youths who have not previously harvested a deer with a gun at the time of application; however, a youth hunter who takes a deer in the 2007 Herd Control hunt or in a chronic wasting disease hunt after submitting an application will remain eligible to participate in the hunt.
The event is limited to 56 youngsters. They will be allowed to hunt on approximately 2,000 acres of Buckhorn State Park and Buckhorn Wildlife Area south of Necedah in Juneau County. Each youth must be accompanied by a qualified chaperone. Applicants can select a qualified family member or friend as the chaperone or authorize the park to assign a chaperone. The chaperone is not allowed to hunt or carry a firearm, must be at least 21 years old, and have at least 5 years hunting experience.
Applications are available from: Youth Deer Hunt, Buckhorn State Park, W8450 Buckhorn Park Ave., Necedah, WI., 54646-7338. Information and applications are also available on the park Web site at [http://dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/parks/specific/buckhorn/lhd.htm].
Applicants for the event will be selected by a drawing. Each youngster selected to participate must have completed a Department of Natural Resources-certified hunter education program and must attend a Learn to Hunt Deer Workshop August 25 or 26 at the LaValle Sportsmans Club. A $20 fee for that workshop and hunt will be collected by Friends of Buckhorn State Park.
Applications must be received at the park by July 15. A drawing will be held on July 16, and all successful applicants will be notified by July 24.
Stecker-Kochanski said hunting licenses are not required for this special youth event. Anyone interested in the hunt can call Buckhorn State Park for an application at (608) 565-2789. The application forms are also available at DNR service centers.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Stecker-Kochanski - (608) 565-2789
Adopt-A-Trail program seeks volunteers
MADISON –Earth Day has passed, but individuals and groups looking for ways to celebrate Earth Day any day can help keep Wisconsin’s State Trail System beautiful year-round by joining the Wisconsin Adopt-A-Trail Program.
Adopt-A-Trail sponsors generously donate their time to keep Wisconsin’s trails clean and safe. Sponsors help collect litter, assist with the control of invasive species and perform minor trail maintenance, leading to a better environment in our parks and forests.
Similar to the Adopt-A-Highway Program, the Adopt-A-Trail Program was established to allow either groups or individuals the opportunity to adopt a trail in one of the 95 properties in the Wisconsin State Park System.
“There are thousands of miles of trails in Wisconsin that could benefit from some volunteer labor,” says Joe Warren, who coordinates the program for the Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Parks and Recreation. “Wisconsin is a national leader in developing recreational trails, with more than 1,650 miles of linier trails on abandoned railroad corridors and thousands of miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails in parks and forests.”
Sponsors apply to adopt a trail at the property of their choice. The cost for the program is $20, which helps cover the cost of posting two Adopt-A-Trail sponsorship signs and other associated costs.
Adopting a trail is also one of the ways people can celebrate National Trails Day on Saturday, June 2, Warren says. Additional information on National Trails Day is available online at
http://www.americanhiking.org/events/ntd/faq.html Groups or individuals interested in adopting a trail should contact the property manager at the park, forest, trail or recreation area where they would like to adopt a trail. Additional information about the Wisconsin State Park System Adopt-A-Trail Program is available online at [http://www.wiparks.net].
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Warren - (608) 267-7487
Power transmission line project may result in incidental take of rare turtle
[EDITOR’S NOTE: Wisconsin’s endangered species law (s. 29.604, Wis. Stats.) requires the Department of Natural Resources to notify the public when it proposes to authorize the incidental taking of a state endangered or threatened species.]
MADISON – The construction of a portion of a high-capacity electricity transmission line across northern Wisconsin could result in the incidental taking of a rare turtle species if encountered during construction.
As part of the environmental permitting process for the American Transmission Company line from Wausau, Wis. to Duluth, Minn., a screening for rare species determined that sites along the line in Wisconsin could potentially contain suitable habitat for the wood turtle, a threatened species under state law. The 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line will be approximately 220 miles in length, 208 miles of which are located in Wisconsin.
DNR staff and a qualified herpetologist further evaluated the corridor and recommended measures that will avoid most impacts the project will have on the turtle. However, they determined there are four areas along the corridor where measures could not be implemented to avoid impacts on the turtle, and where “incidental take” may occur.
Under the “incidental taking” law, the DNR can authorize the taking of an endangered or threatened species if it will not jeopardize the species' survival or recovery in Wisconsin.
One segment in Douglas County, known as the LH spread, is approximately 19 miles long and includes 4 sites where the presence of the turtle is suspected. Project developers will undertake a variety of conservation measures to minimize the adverse impacts on the turtle, including installing turtle exclusion fencing and conducting turtle removals prior to any construction activity. In addition, the extent of vegetation clearing will be reduced, low impact clearing methods will be used within suitable habitat, and a qualified herpetologist will be responsible for on-site monitoring during construction. Finally, the land disturbed during construction will be restored to natural vegetation upon project completion. The overall loss of turtles is expected to be very low.
DNR staff have concluded that the proposed project will minimize impacts to turtles by adhering to conservation measures; is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence and recovery of the state population of these turtles or the whole plant-animal community of which they are a part; and has benefit to the public health, safety or welfare that justifies the action.
Copies of the conservation measures, information on the turtle, and the jeopardy assessment are available on the DNR Web site at
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/er/take/notices.html or upon request from Lisie Kitchel, DNR, Bureau of Endangered Resources, 101 South Webster, Madison, WI 53707, (608) 266-5248. Public comments will be taken through May 25, 2007 and should be sent to the address above.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisie Kitchel – (608) 266-5248
[EDITOR’S ADVISORY: The following news release was previously issued May 10, 2007 by FAX to media statewide.]
DNR launches chronic wasting disease management public dialogue
Agency looking for advisory group members
MADISON – The state Natural Resources Board, the Department of Natural Resources’ policy-making body, recently approved an extensive public involvement effort during 2007 to engage citizens in establishing the next phase of chronic wasting disease (CWD) management in Wisconsin.
DNR hopes to engage multiple and diverse interests potentially impacted by DNR’s disease and deer herd management decisions in the dialogue, according to CWD project leader Alan Crossley.
DNR’s goal is to work with the public to come up with a plan and strategies to manage CWD to protect the state’s free-ranging deer population while considering the needs of the economy, hunters, landowners and others. Changes in management resulting from the public dialogue are expected to be in place for the 2008 deer hunting seasons.
“We all want a healthy deer herd. We believe that working together we can map the best way to get there,” said Crossley.
One important step in the dialogue process is establishing a 30-40 member stakeholder advisory group which reflects the broad spectrum of diverse interests in CWD. Members of this group will be selected by a search committee and appointed by DNR secretary Scott Hassett.
Persons interested in being considered for selection to this advisory group can self-nominate themselves by using a form located on the “CWD in Wisconsin” pages of DNR Web site at [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/whealth/issues/CWD/]. Hard copy applications are available by contacting CWD communication specialist Nick Van Court at (608) 266-0920. Self-nominations are due June 8, 2007.
“Participating on this stakeholder advisory group will be a big commitment requiring attending meetings one Saturday per month from July through January,” noted Crossley.
He emphasized that “the involvement of citizens interested in making (that commitment) will help shape our future approach to managing CWD in Wisconsin.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Crossley - (608) 266-5463
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.*
May 16 – 20
• Spring turkey hunting period F:
May 20
• Yellow perch season opens on Green Bay, the Fox River and other Green Bay tributaries through March 15 with a bag limit of 15. Yellow perch season on Lake Michigan opens June 16.*
• Set or bank pole and setlines can be used on specified waters in the Wolf and Fox river basins through Sept. 30. Check the current Setline, Set or Bank Pole Regulations for open waters.
May 26
• Muskellunge season opens north of State Highway 10.
June 2 – 3
• Free Fishing Weekend. No license or stamps required to fish inland waters or outlying Wisconsin waters of the Great Lakes and Mississippi and St. Croix rivers. All bag and size limits and other regulations apply.
June 3
• State Parks Open House Day -- free admission to all state parks, forests and trails.
June 16
• Yellow perch season opens on Lake Michigan with a bag limit of five (5).*
• Northern zone bass season goes from catch-and-release to daily bag limits. Check current regulations for bag and size limits.
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
May 15 - A public hearing pursuant to §§ 29.014 and 227.11, Stats., interpreting § 29.014, Stats., on revisions to chs. NR 10, 12 and 16, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to hunting, nuisance wild animal removal and captive wildlife will be held at 1 p.m. in Room 608, of the State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 S. Webster Street, Madison. Annually the department updates administrative code language to correct inconsistencies, update outdated language and provide clarification where appropriate. This year, the department is proposing the following changes related to hunting, nuisance wild animal removal and captive wild animals: 1) Clarify that a disabled person is a person who holds a Class A, B or C disabled permit; 2) establish that the rabbit hunting season closes on the last day in February rather than February 28; 3) correct a cross reference in the firearm deer hunting season; 4) update the fisher zone map which is based on the recently updated Deer Management Zone Map; 5) relax bear carcass registration so that bear may be registered at stations that are adjacent to highways that form the boundary of the bear management zone in which it was killed; 6) correct drafting errors in the rule that establishes small game hunting in state parks; 7) clarify that landowners who are removing certain nuisance wild animals are not subject to hunting or trapping seasons; and
update cross references and terminology so that Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s animal diseases and movement rules and DNR’s captive wildlife rules are consistent. Department staff have 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 at [http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov]. Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted via U.S. mail to Scott Loomans, Bureau of Wildlife Management, Wisconsin DNR, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Comments may be submitted until May 17, 2007. 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. For more information contact Scott Loomans at (608) 267-2452.
May 15, 17, 22, 23 & 24 - Public hearings the state on proposed changes to the state’s mercury rule will be held around the state in April. The Department of Natural Resources has proposed revisions to NR 446, which requires each utility with coal-fired electrical generating units affected by the federal Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR) to meet an annual mercury emission cap. There are currently 48 such units in Wisconsin, operated by eight utilities. The proposed changes would allow the Department to implement the CAMR in Wisconsin. The proposed changes include: requirements in the federal CAMR will meet the consistency commitment in the current state rule; compliance with the CAMR would require each Wisconsin utility with affected coal-fired power plants to meet an annual mercury emission cap without participating in EPA’s national trading program; and rules to achieve a 90 percent mercury reduction at all coal-fired power plants will be adopted by June 30, 2010. Incentives will also be developed to encourage early achievement of the 90 percent reduction. Gov. Jim Doyle directed the agency to reach a 90 percent reduction by 2020. A January 2007 Citizen Petition submitted to the DNR requested that the same revisions be made to Chapter NR 446, except that it called for a 90 to 95 percent reduction in emissions by 2012. For more information contact Jon Heinrich, Bureau of Air Management Environmental Analysis Section Chief, at (608) 267-7547. The public hearings on revisions to NR 446 will all begin at 1:30 p.m. on the following dates at the locations listed:
May 15, Green Bay - Green Bay State Office Building, Room 152-A, 200 N. Jefferson St.
May 17, Stevens Point - Portage County Annex Building, Conference Room 2, 1462 Strongs Ave.
May 22, Eau Claire - DNR Office Building, Front Conference Room, 1300 W. Clairemont Ave.
May 23, Madison - Room 041 (Department of Public Instruction’s room in GEF III), 125 S. Webster St.
May 24 Milwaukee - DNR Southeast Regional Headquarters, Room 141, 2300 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
May 16 & May 30 - A public hearing in the matter of the application of Flambeau Mining Company for issuance of a Certificate of Completion of Reclamation of the Flambeau Mine near Ladysmith in Rusk County will commence at 2 p.m., and will continue until 5 p.m. It will continue at 6:30 p.m. that evening, and at 8:30 a.m. on May 17, 2007. The hearing will be held in the County Board Room of the Rusk County Courthouse, 311 Miner Avenue, Ladysmith. A contested case hearing on the application will commence at 9 a.m., on May 30, 2007 in the County Board Room of the Rusk County Courthouse, 311 Miner Avenue, Ladysmith. The hearing will continue on May 31 – June 1, and June 4, if necessary, at the same location. All witnesses who have filed testimony shall be present at the contested case hearing and made available for cross-examination unless all parties stipulate that such a witness need not be present. Rebuttal witnesses will be allowed if appropriate. For information contact the Division of Hearings and Appeals at (608) 266-7709
May 17 - Pursuant to §§ 23.09(2)(intro.), 23.091, 23.11(1), 23.22(2)(a) and (b)6., 27.01(2)(j), 29.041, 227.11(2)(a) and 227.24(1)(a), Stats., interpreting §§ 23.09(2)(intro.), 23.22(2)(a), 29.014(1), 29.041 and 227.11(2)(a), Wis. Stats., public a hearing will be held on Natural Resources Board Emergency Order No. FH-22-07(E) which revises chs. NR 19 and 20, Wis. Adm. Code, pertaining to control of fish diseases and invasive species at 5 p.m. in Rooms 140 and 141, DNR Southeast Region Hdqrs., 2300 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Milwaukee. The rule: 1) prohibits the possession on the water and use of live fish, fish eggs, crayfish or frogs from outside Wisconsin, except minnows imported in compliance with U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) import and health requirements; 2) prohibits the possession on the water and use of dead bait, except used on Lake Michigan or on the water the bait originated from, or when preserved in a way that would kill VHS virus; 3) prohibits the transportation of live fish or fish eggs from waters of the Great Lakes or the Mississippi River drainage, except 1) fish being exported in compliance with USDA APHIS regulations and orders; b) fish or fish eggs tested and found to be free of VHS virus; and c) fish or fish eggs transported with the prior written approval of the Department; 4) requires all boaters to drain water from bilges, ballast, buckets and live wells immediately after leaving waters of the Great Lakes or of the Mississippi River drainage, unless exempted in writing by the Department; 5) allows the Department to deny permits for the use of non-standard minnow gear to prevent the spread of invasive species or diseases. The emergency 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 until May 28, 2007 via U.S. mail to Mr. Bill Horns, Bureau of Fisheries Management and Habitat Protection, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Comments may be submitted. 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. For information call Bill Horns at (608) 266-8782.
May 21 - A public informational hearing on a request from First Place Condominiums for a proposed Chapter 30 permit to place a structure (template piles) on the bed of the Kinnickinnic River and a permit to remove or disturb materials on the bed of the river in the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County will be held at 5 pm. In Rm. 140/141 of the DNR Milwaukee Service Center Building, 2300 N Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Milwaukee. Agents of the applicant will describe project and then public will be given a chance to comment on project as well as get questions answered. For information contact Sharon Gayan at (414) 263-8707.
May 22 – A contested case hearing in the matter of the petition for review of the issuance of WPDES Permit No. WI-0028835-08-0 issued to the Village of Roberts, St. Croix County, Wisconsin will commence at 12:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers Room of the Hudson City Hall, 505 Third St., Hudson. It will continue, if necessary, on May 23-24, 2007 at the same location. For information contact the State of Wisconsin Division of Hearings and Appeals at (608) 266-7709.
May 22 - A public hearing on a preliminary approval by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources of a request from Wisconsin Public Service Corporation to revise air pollution control permit for its Weston Plant, 2501 Morrison Avenue, Rothschild, Wisconsin, which was issued on Oct. 19, 2004 will be held at 1 p.m. at the Rib Mountain Town Hall, 3700 N. Mountain Road, Wausau. Wisconsin Public Service Corporation requested that the Air Pollution Control Permit No. 03-RV-248-R2 be revised to correct a conversion error that occurred when calculating lead emissions from natural gas fired equipment. DNR staff analyzed this material and has preliminarily determined that the project should meet applicable criteria for permit approval as stated in §§ 285.63 and 285.64, Wis. Stats. and should, therefore, be approved. This preliminary approval does not constitute approval from the Air Management Program or other DNR sections which may also require review. This information is available for review on the air permit page of the DNR Web site at [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/aw/air/permits/APM_toc.htm] and is available for public inspection at the Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Air Management, Seventh Floor, 101 South Webster Street, Madison, WI 53707. Written comments from the public regarding the proposed permit revisions. May be submitted through May 22 to Jeffrey Hanson, Wisconsin DNR Bureau of Air Management, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921. For more information contact Jeffrey Hanson at (608) 266-6876.
May 30 - A contested case hearing in the matter of the application of Flambeau Mining Company for issuance of a Certificate of Completion of Reclamation of the Flambeau Mine near Ladysmith in Rusk County will commence 9 a.m. in the County Board Room of the Rusk County Courthouse, 311 Miner Avenue, Ladysmith. The hearing will continue on May 31 – June 1, and June 4, if necessary, at the same location. All witnesses who have filed testimony shall be present at the contested case hearing and made available for cross-examination unless all parties stipulate that such a witness need not be present. Rebuttal witnesses will be allowed if appropriate. For information contact the Division of Hearings and Appeals at (608) 266-7709
Meetings
May 15 – Sheboygan County Construction & Demolition Waste Reduce, Reuse & Recycle meeting, 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Plymouth Service Center, 1155 Pilgrim Road, Plymouth. The meeting will feature - Roger Cavanaugh of Cavanaugh's Carriage, Neenah who will update recreation, education and rental facility owners, contractors & area residents on how a multi-million dollar recreational facility was created using recycled buildings & materials. Cavanaugh's Carriages - Recreational Facility is set on a 140 acre farm with woods, open fields and pastures. There are ponds within their acres, which ducks and geese fly into. Many on-site trails lead through the farm and are open year round for hay rides, sleigh rides, hiking and educational nature and environmental programs. For more information contact Christine F. Lilek, DNR, at (920) 892-8756, ext 3027.
May 17 - The state Natural Resources Board will meet via conference call originating at 3 p.m. from Room 613 of the State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 S. Webster St., Madison to consider expanding key emergency rules aimed at preventing viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS, from spreading to new waters beyond Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, the Mississippi River and their tributaries and the Lake Winnebago System. For information contact Laurie J. Ross, Natural Resources Board Executive Staff Assistant at (608) 267-7420.
May 17 - The DNR Private Water Advisory Council will meet at 9 a.m. in Room G09 of the State Natural Resources Building, 101 S. Webster St., Madison 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 contact Dorie Turpin at (608) 266-0162.
May 21 – The Mid-Kettle Moraine Partners Group consisting of individuals representing governments, private nonprofit conservation agencies and others interested n the Mid-Kettle Moraine will meet at 9 a.m. at the Richfield Town Hall, 4128 Hubertus Road, Hubertus. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss activities related to sharing the Partners Group's vision with local governments and others, continue to discuss increased contacts with local governments and others and to share information on members activities. A tour of a Town of Richfield park will be part of the meeting. For information contact Paulette Harder at (414) 263-8525.
May 22-23 – The state Natural Resources Board will meet at the 29 Pines Hotel, 5872 33rd Avenue, Eau Claire. For information contact Laurie J. Ross, Natural Resources Board Executive Staff Assistant at (608) 267-7420.
May 23 – Wisconsin Council on Forestry advisory committee for a Wisconsin Forestry Sustainability Framework will meet from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory, One Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison. The forest sustainability advisory committee to the Wisconsin Council on Forestry will meet for the purpose of developing recommendations to the Council on criteria for measuring forest sustainability in Wisconsin. The subcommittee will be selecting criteria in seven broad categories including: biological biodiversity; forest production; forest health; soil and water; global carbon; socioeconomic benefits; and legal and institutional criteria. Public input will be heard after Committee discussions of each criterion and at the end of the day or the public may provide comment to the advisory committee online at
http://council.wisconsinforestry.org/framework/. For information contact Robert Manwell at (608) 264-9248.
May 24 – The DNR wolf science committee will meet from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Wausau Gander Mountain, 1560 County Trunk Highway XX in Mosinee. The agenda includes discussion of: depredation control guidelines and concerns and consideration of modifications from the wolf stakeholders; current wolf count and implications for proactive controls; updates on depredation management; and updates on lawsuits. For information contact Adrian Wydeven at (715) 762-1363
May 30-31 - The DNR Silviculture Team will meet at 10 a.m. at the Silviculture Specialist Team Meeting, Cabin On Conners Lake, W1115 County Highway W, Phillips (May 30) and Normal Building 104 S. Eyder Ave., Winter, (May 31), regarding chapters and issues pertinent to the Silviculture Handbook, including Oak & Central Hardwoods chapters, MFL plans & WISFIRS, Beech Bark Disease, team progress/ work plan, and other issues. A field trip will look at management on the Flambeau State Forest. For more information, contact Brooke Ludwig at (715) 839-3766.
May 31 – The DNR Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest ATV Stakeholders group [http://dnr.wi.gov/master_planning/nhal/NHAL-atvstakeholder.htm] 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.
May 31 – The Milwaukee River Revitalization Council will meet from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center at 1111 E. Brown Deer Rd., Milwaukee. Agenda includes: Milwaukee River Workgroup Presentation, Shoreland Protection Ordinance Developments on the Milwaukee River, Report from River Revitalization Foundation, Stewardship Funding Report, Kinnickinnic River Update - one of 10 most threatened rivers in the U.S, Green Building Opportunities, Council vacancy suggestion, and Outing scheduling. For more information, contact Belle Bergner at (414) 263-8635.
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/
