Assess Conditions, Obtain Burn Permits to Help Prevent Wildfires

APRIL 2016
VOLUME 43
NUMBER 4
Assess Conditions, Obtain Burn Permits to
Help Prevent Wildfires
W
OODRUFF, Wis. -- Fire season is upon us and weather
conditions are shaping up to result in increased wildfire
activity.
During the past week, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reported 23 wildfires. As a result, fire control officials urge
those planning to burn in the outdoors this spring to assess the weather and obtain proper burn permits prior to lighting any fire.
“Fire season arrives shortly after the snow-cover disappears. It
doesn’t take more than a couple of days for things to dry out and for
the fire danger quickly elevate, especially this time of year,” said Catherine Koele, DNR wildfire prevention specialist.
Weather is the single most important factor influencing how fires
start and spread. Temperature, wind, humidity and precipitation are
the key weather components that determine the daily fire danger.
Wildfires can happen just about any time of the year, but history has
shown that spring brings Wisconsin’s highest fire occurrence.
Throughout the spring, the DNR monitors the weather and fuel
conditions daily. This influences the fire danger, most often communicated on Smokey Bear fire danger adjective level signs. Fire danger
signs levels range from Low to Extreme.
“The signs describe the potential for a fire to start and spread and
the intensity at which a fire will burn in the wildland,” said Koele.
“Our hope is that the public will take note of these signs, check our
website or hotline and adapt their behavior and act responsibly.”
“With the warmer weather, people are outside doing clean-up
around their yards, collecting limbs, brush and other yard debris and
opting for burning as a means of disposal. The best way to prevent a
wildfire is to get a burning permit and follow the rules,” Koele said.
Research has shown that more than 75 percent of all debris-burning caused wildfires in Wisconsin are caused by people who failed to
obtain a proper burning permit. The remainder of those debris-caused
fires resulted from those who had a permit, but neglected to follow the
rules outlined on the permit. Anyone found responsible for causing a
wildfire is liable for all suppression costs and potentially any damages.
Obtaining a DNR burning permit is easy, fast and free and more
information can be found at DNR.wi.gov by searching “burning permit.” For the average customer, it takes less than two minutes to go
online and apply. It’s good for the calendar year and the permit can be
instantly emailed to the customer’s inbox.
In DNR Protection Areas, permit holders are authorized to burn
vegetative materials, such as leaves, brush and pine needles. Permits
are designed so that burning is done safely with minimal wildfire risk.
Some areas of the state are not regulated by the DNR, so it’s important to check with local municipal or fire department officials for any
ordinances or other burning restrictions.
Burning debris should always be the last alternative. Always consider alternatives such as composting, recycling or leaving leaf and
woody debris in the woods for wildlife habitat. Not only can burning
cause a wildfire, it also adds pollutants to the air.
Burning trash in Wisconsin is illegal. It is also illegal to burn recyclable materials such as glass, plastic, metal containers and clean
paper, as well as agricultural and horticultural plastics such as silage
film, haylage bags, bale wrap, woven tarps and nursery pots and trays.
If these materials cannot be recycled, they should go to a landfill.
Customers can obtain DNR permits online by calling 1-888-WISBURN from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. They may also visit their local
ranger station or emergency fire warden to receive permits. Once an
individual has a burning permit, he or she must call or go online after
11 a.m. on the day of the planned burn to check daily fire restrictions
to hear the legal burning hours and size limitations or if burning has
been suspended for the day.
“There are only about a dozen or so days out of the year when we
recommend holding off or restrict outdoor burning. The key is identifying those critical days and holding off until conditions improve,”
said Koele. “A good rule of thumb to follow is to wait until things are
green and lush or ideally, hold off until next winter when the ground
is snow-covered.”
For more information on burning permits and the current fire danger in Wisconsin, visit the DNR website and search keyword “fire.”
2016 Spring Hearings
Department of Natural Resources &
Conservation Congress
April 11, 2016 – 7:00pm
Locations on Page 4
2
WISCONSERVATION
* * * OFFICERS * * *
President George Borchert, 7420 US Hwy 45, Oshkosh, WI 54902, (920) 688-3122. Email:
[email protected]
First Vice President Bill Tollard, 4630 Friedrich Ave., Omro, WI 54963, (920) 379-3429.
Email: [email protected]
Second Vice President Gary Dieck, E2326 Crandall, Wonewoc, WI 53968, (608) 464-3290.
Email: [email protected]
Secretary Jack Nissen, 1811 W. Ottawa Ave., Dousman, WI 53118, (262) 370-8154. Email:
[email protected]
Treasurer Dave Verhage, 2610 Lanaeh Lane, Plover, WI 54467, (715) 344-3497. Email:
[email protected]
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / LEGISLATION
George Meyer, 201 Randolph Dr., Madison, WI 53717, (608) 516-5545. Email: georgemeyer@
tds.net
BUSINESS MANAGER
Kim Lang, 1540 W. James Street, Suite 500, Columbus, WI 53925, (920) 623-9975. Email:
[email protected]
Wisconservation
WISCONSERVATION (USPS 108-190 ISSN 0164-3649) is published monthly for $25 per year by
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paid at Columbus, WI and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: WISCONSERVATION, 1540 W. James Street, Suite 500, Columbus, WI 53925. All communications regarding advertising, editorial, circulation and Wisconsin Wildlife Federation matters should be sent to 1540 W. James Street,
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WISCONSERVATION EDITOR
Daniel A. Gries
Phone: (920) 725-4092
Fax: (920) 725-1013
[email protected]
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Ralph Fritsch
(715) 850-2456
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DISTRICT 1
Ken Lundberg, Lake Nebagamon, WI, (715) 374-3404.
Pat Quaintance, Bayfield, WI, (715) 779-5104.
DISTRICT 2
Laurie Groskopf, Tomahawk, WI, (715) 453-6301.
Walt Camp, St. Germain, WI, (715) 891-2156.
Nick Schertz, Tomahawk, WI, (715) 966-6116.
DISTRICT 3
Jim Swanson, Menomonie, WI, (715) 232-8266.
John Tully, Cameron, WI, (715) 859-6775.
Dean Borofka, Rice Lake, WI, (715) 234-6303.
DISTRICT 4
Delbert Dietzler, Rudolph, WI, (715) 421-2591.
Dave Verhage, Plover, WI, (715) 344-3497.
Dieter Golla, Milladore, WI, (715) 457-2139.
DISTRICT 5
George Borchert, Oshkosh, WI, (920) 688-3122.
Dan Gries, Menasha, WI, (920) 725-4092.
Kevin Marquette, Shawano, WI, (715) 851-4175.
DISTRICT 6
John Wetzel, Holmen, WI, (608) 526-4238.
Andy Chikowski, Taylor, WI, (715) 538-3392.
Michelle Graf, LaCrosse, WI, (608) 791-9204.
DISTRICT 7
Dave Chingway, Watertown, WI, (920) 261-0379.
Kevyn Quamme, Sun Prairie, WI, (608) 209-3842.
Mike Meyer, Watertown, WI, (920) 342-9439.
DISTRICT 8
Kris Kavelaris, West Bend, WI, (262) 719-9969.
Greg Kronschnabel, Dousman, WI, (262) 965-3057.
Steve Vogt, Oconomowoc, WI, (262) 370-1593.
DISTRICT 9
Rick Lazarczyk, West Allis, WI, (414) 321-5750.
Janet McLaughlin, Menomonee Falls, WI, (262) 252-4810.
Gordon Merz, Pewaukee, WI, (262) 695-0060.
April 2016
ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS
Craig Challoner, Omro, WI
Bob Chojnowski, Plover, WI
Jim Huhn, Watertown, WI
Roxanne Taylor, Plymouth, WI
Pat Ramirez, Waldo, WI
Jacob Marty, Monticello, WI
Bill Tollard, Omro, WI
Andy Lewandowski, Muskego, WI
Carolyn Brown, Milton, WI
Richard Baudhuin, Sturgeon Bay, WI
Cody Kamrowski, Stevens Point, WI
Dakota Johnson, North Freedom, WI
Connie Kadubek, Gleason, WI
Kirsten Gullett, DePere, WI
Justin Mueller, Kewaunee, WI
Chris Leighty, Cottage Grove, WI
James Hansen, Mora, MN
Tara Buehler, Medford, WI
HONORARY DIRECTORS
Art Jorgenson
Catherine Koss, Land O’ Lakes, WI
Vern Mangless
Jim Mense, Menomonie, WI
Ray Rheinschmidt
J. L. Schneider
Betty Schneider-Borchert, Oshkosh, WI
Art Seidel, Brookfield, WI
Al Kube, Cochrane, WI
Joe Zanter, Sparta, WI
Bucky Kilishek, Menasha, WI
Martha Kilishek, Menasha, WI
Mary Cassidy, Plainfield, WI
Ken Zettlemeier, Waukesha, WI
HONORARY VICE PRESIDENTS
Joseph A. Gruber, Campbellsport, WI
Dr. Dan Trainer, UW-Stevens Point
Les Voigt
PAST PRESIDENTS
John Wagner
Chuck Matyska, Cecil, WI
Jack Nissen, Dousman, WI
Lil Pipping, Elkhart Lake, WI
Corky Meyer, Kewaskum, WI
Jerry Knuth, Plover, WI
James Weishan, Cambria, WI
Martha Kilishek, Menasha, WI
Russell Hitz, Wheeler, WI
Jim Baldock, West Bend, WI
Ralph Fritsch, Townsend, WI
Robert Miller, Sparta, WI
Doug Olson, Viroqua, WI
Doug Johnson, Hartford, WI
James Wareing, Sussex, WI
Leo Roethe
Bill Buckley
Dick Hemp
Bob Lachmund
Jerry Laudon
Ron Piskula
Harold Spencer
Les Woerpel
Dog
Education
Endangered Resources
Environment
Forestry and Parks
Great Lakes
Inland Fisheries
Membership
Nominating
Scholarship
Shooting Range
Waterfowl
Wildlife
Wisconservation
American Wild Turkey Hunting Dog Association
Jon Freis, Maribel, WI, 920-776-1272
Challenge The Outdoors, Inc.
Larry Laehn, Milton, WI, 920-540-9927
Izaak Walton League, Bill Cook Chapter
Ronald Macdonald, Stevens Point, WI, 715-344-0054
Sturgeon for Tomorrow, North Chapter
Wayne Hoelzel, Menasha, WI, 920-725-1206
Trout Unlimited, Aldo Leopold Chapter
Michael Barniskis, Beaver Dam, WI, 920-356-0081
Trout Unlimited, Green Bay Chapter
Paul Kruse, Green Bay, WI, 920-494-4220
Walleyes for Tomorrow, Inc.
Michael Arrowood, Oakfield, WI, 920-922-0905
WI Association of Field Trial Clubs
Billy Ploucher, Appleton, WI, 920-257-4816
WI Association of Sporting Dogs
Robbie Brooks, Cascade, WI, 920-602-1439
WI Association of Beagle Clubs
Jerry Knuth, Stevens Point, WI, 715-340-5414
WI Coon Hunters Association
Dennis Roehrborn, Plymouth, WI, 920-467-3845
WI Council of Sportfishing Organizations
John Durben, Cecil, WI, 715-745-2248
WI Deer Hunters Association
Mark Toso, Roberts, WI, 715-781-4887
WI Deer Hunters Inc.
Dennis Hoffman, Neshkoro, WI, 920-293-4098
WI Federation of Great Lake Sport Fishing Clubs
Mark Hasenberg, Kenosha, WI, 262-652-9503
WI Hunter Ed Instructor Association
Norb Moes, Green Bay, WI, 920-434-1999
WI Muzzleloaders Association
Carolyn Brown, Milton, WI, 608-868-2514
WI Sharp Tailed Grouse Society
Jim Evrard, Grantsburg, WI, 715-463-2446
WI Taxidermist Association
Bucky/Martha Kilishek, Menasha, WI, 920-734-8774
WI Trappers Association
Scott McAuley, Wisconsin Rapids, WI, 608-354-2725
WI Woodland Owners Association
Dale Zaug, Tigerton, WI, 715-754-5774
Wild Ones Natural Landscapers LTD.
Donna VanBuecken, Neenah, WI, 920-730-3981
Wildlife Society, WI Chapter
Pat Kaiser, Lodi, WI, 608-592-7974
Wings Over WI
Burt Bushke, Mayville, WI, 920-387-5198
WI Chapter American Fisheries Society
Thomas Slawski, New Berlin, WI
WI Division – Izaak Walton League of America
George Guyant, Amherst Junction, WI, 715-824-4205
WI Trapshooting Association
Bruce Stitely, Tomahawk, WI, 715-453-5271
WI Waterfowl Association
Pat Smith, Janesville, WI, 608-774-1157
DISTRICT 10
Gary Dieck, Wonewoc, WI, (608) 415-9417.
Tim Novy, Wonewoc, WI, (608) 963-8322.
Jeff Johnson, North Freedom, WI, (608) 434-3896.
DISTRICT 11
Norb Moes, Green Bay, WI, (920) 434-1999.
Keith Pamperin, Green Bay, WI, (920) 494-3990.
Clarence Plansky, Two Rivers, WI, (920) 629-8718.
DISTRICT 12
Bob Ellingson, Lakewood, WI, (715) 276-7129.
Mike “Oscar” Stueck, Crivitz, WI, (920) 323-9230.
N.W.F. REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Jason Dinsmore, 199 Kristin Drive NW, Rochester,
MN 55901. Office: (507) 206-3732. Cell: (517) 2048962. Email: [email protected].
WISCONSIN WILDLIFE FEDERATION COMMITTEE CHAIRS
COMMITTEE
Annual Meeting
Awards
Banquet
Bylaws
Calendar
Conservation Leadership Corps
STATE AFFILIATES
DIRECTORS/REPRESENTATIVES
CHAIRPERSON
Dave Verhage
Lil Pipping
Janet McLaughlin
Betty Borchert
Lil Pipping
Lil Pipping
Emma Keese
Andy Lewandowski
Jim Huhn
Larry Laehn
Jim Swanson
Jerry Knuth
Keith Pamperin
Gordy Merz
OPEN
Jerry Knuth
Betty Borchert
Bill Tollard
John Wetzel
Ralph Fritsch
Dan Gries
PHONE
715-344-3497
920-876-4312
262-252-4810
920-688-3122
920-876-4312
920-876-4312
206-375-2626
262-527-1988
EMAIL
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
920-540-9927
715-232-8266
715-344-0017
920-494-3990
262-695-0060
[email protected]
715-344-0017
920-688-3122
920-379-3429
608-526-4238
715-850-2456
920-725-4092
[email protected]
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[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
OFFICE PHONE:
800-897-4161 - Toll Free
WEB PAGE
ADDRESS:
www.wiwf.org
OFFICE
ADDRESS:
1540 W. James St.
Suite 500
Columbus, WI 53925
3
WISCONSERVATION
President’s Report
April 2016
M
y first year as President
has gone by and I truly
enjoyed the experience
that I have gained by representing
the Federation with the Legislature
and the DNR and meeting the many
people in the Wildlife Federation
and other groups in the conservation community. There have been
many fine accomplishments by the
Federation in the past year. Several
new clubs have joined the Federation. Our educational programs have
gone very well including the third
year of the Conservation Leadership Corps training program. We
have also been very active in the
Legislature, taking positions on over
forty separate pieces of legislation.
We had many successes, working
with other conservation groups, in
passing several good conservation
bills, stopping some poor conservation bills and at least getting some
of the worst provisions out of other
poor conservation bills as they went
through the Legislature. Our Board
had a very successful field trip and
seminar studying the impact of frac
sand mining on the natural resources of Western Wisconsin. In addition,
the WWF Calendar Raffle and our
Banquets had record years financially. This all would not have happened without the dedication and
generosity of our affiliate clubs, our
individual members, our volunteer
banquet committees, our voluntary
calendar sales people, our excellent
Board of Directors, our various Committee Chairs and members, our Officers, our talented Wisconservation
Editor, our Business Manager and
our Executive Director. A sincere
thank you to all of you! I look
forward to working with all of you
again next year.
Now on to turkey hunting and
walleye fishing!
George Borchert
2016 CLC Class #3
Resolution Research Activity
April 2016
Executive Director Activity
Adopted Conservation Legislation--Part 1
by George Meyer, Executive Director
A
s you know by reading the Wisconservation, the Wildlife Federation works on between forty
and fifty legislative bills every legislative system. We try to keep you informed
through our Legislative Summary on the
status of those bills but due to space consideration do not go into great detail on
each bill. Another reason is that those
bills often get amended or defeated during the legislative session. Now however,
since the Legislature has adjourned, it is
our intent over the next few months to go
into more detail on the bills that passed,
both good or bad for conservation, and
some of the key bills that did not pass
but are likely to come back in the next
legislative session starting next year.
Here are some of the bills that passed:
2015 Wisconsin Act 249 authorizes
a person to possess or use a handheld
flashlight or a battery-operated light
designed to be attached to clothing or a
part of the body or mounted to a firearm
at the point of kill while hunting on foot
for raccoons, foxes, coyotes, or other unprotected animals during the open season for the animals hunted. The Act also
removes wolves from the list of animals
that may be hunted while using such a
light. This bill simply catches up with
new technology. Previously handheld
flashlights were allowed, this bill just
expands that to flashlights attached to
clothing or firearms. In addition, the bill
deletes wolves from the list of animals
where flashlights at the point of kill are
allowed. This is just a cleanup provision
since past bills removed wolves from the
list of animals allowed to be hunted at
night.
State law generally prohibits the sale,
purchase, barter, or trade of wild animals
(or their parts) unless an exception applies. 2015 Wisconsin Act 248 adds the
following to the other exceptions to this
general prohibition: 1. lawfully taken
feathers of a grouse, partridge, pheasant,
quail, or wild turkey: 2. naturally shed
feathers of a partridge, pheasant, quail,
or wild turkey; naturally shed feathers of a grouse of a species not listed
as endangered or threatened and not a
sharp-tailed grouse; and naturally shed
feathers of a sharp-tailed grouse collected from an area where there is an open
season for hunting sharp-tailed grouse.
2015 Wisconsin Act 225 authorizes a mentor to kill an animal shot and
wounded by a youth or other mentee
that they are accompanying. This authorization only applies if the animal was
wounded while the mentor and mentee
were lawfully hunting together and the
youth mentee, after learning the animal is wounded, requests the mentor to
kill the animal and the mentor uses the
same type of weapon to kill the animal
that was used by the mentee during the
hunt. Under this law, any animal killed
under this authorization is treated as being killed by the mentee, not the mentor,
for the purposes of applying bag, possession and size limits.
Key Issues at Conservation Congress
Spring Hearings
O
(Seated) L-R - Kristen Schmidt, Coach Erin O’Brien, Jake Wotnoske. (Standing) Gary Dieck-WWF 2nd V.P., Brenna Witek & Jordon Jensen.TOPIC: Wetland Mitigation
W.W.F.
Business Membership
Silver
Steve’s Southside Citgo, Watertown
Paul R. Sommers, DDS, SC, Watertown
Bronze
Best Sound Service, Watertown
Keck Furniture, Watertown
Dave’s Turf and Marine,
Watertown
Theder Home Services and
Construction, Watertown
Support Businesses That
Support Conservation
nly in Wisconsin do sportsmen
and women have an actual vote
on future hunting, fishing and
trapping regulations. In addition, only
in Wisconsin can you initiate a regulation change by proposing a regulation as
an individual----check the Conservation
Congress page of the DNR website for
the format to use. Check the time and location for the CC Spring Hearing in your
county on page 4 of this paper.
Some of the issues in store at this
year’s hearings include: 1. should portable tree stands and blinds be allowed
overnight on DNR lands north of Highway 64? 2. should there be consistent
season end dates for fall turkey, pheas-
ant, gray (Hungarian) partridge, fisher
trapping, and archery deer hunting?
3. should current anterless permits for
youth, active duty military personnel
and youth be eliminated in bucks’ only
counties? 4. should lead be banned from
all hunting ammunition and fishing
tackle? and 5. should the “artificial-only”
stream restriction be eliminated from
the regular season trout regulations?
These and other questions on the
Spring Hearing Questionnaire should
get your juices flowing. Remember the
famous say: “The world is run by those
that show up!” See you at the Spring
Hearings.
APPLICATION FOR WWF YOUTH IN THE
OUTDOORS PROGRAM GRANT
FORWARD: The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation has established an annual
$2500 grant program to support local organizations in creating and/or
operating local youth focused outdoor-skill events. The Federation will give
grants of up to $250 to local organizations sponsoring such an event.
The Education Committee has the responsibility for reviewing and
approving such grants. At least two components of these events must
involve skills used in hunting, fishing, or trapping, but a wide range of other
outdoor knowledge related programs are encouraged. If a program involves
only one of the three primary skills, it could qualify if it is supported by an
expanded program of instruction. This would include multiple experiences to
support the primary skill. The applicant would be responsible for providing
that information so the Education Committee can properly evaluate it. The
Education Committee will give preference to WWF affiliated clubs in the
issuing of grants.
Please obtain an Application Form from:
Jim Huhn, WWF Educ. Com.
1607 Neenah Street
Watertown, WI 53094
[email protected]
920.918.2378
WISCONSERVATION
4
2016 Spring Hearing Locations
Spring Hearings and Wisconsin Conservation Congress County Meetings
Monday, April 11, 2016, 7:00 p.m.
Adams
Adams County Courthouse, County Board Room, 400 Main Street, Friendship, WI 53934
Ashland
Ashland High School, Auditorium, 1900 Beaser Avenue, Ashland, WI 54806
Barron
Barron County Government Center, 330 E LaSalle Avenue, Barron, WI 54812
Bayfield
Drummond High School, Auditorium, 52440 Eastern Avenue, Drummond, WI 54832
Brown
Northeast Wisconsin Tech. College, Lecture Hall SC132, 2740 W Mason Street, Green Bay, WI 54307
Buffalo
Alma High School, S1618 State Road 35, Alma, WI 54610
Burnett
Burnett County Government Center, Room 165, 7410 County Highway K, Siren, WI 54872
Calumet
Calumet County Courthouse, Room B025, 206 Court Street, Chilton, WI 53014
Chippewa
Chippewa Falls Middle School, Cafeteria via Door #1, 750 Tropicana Blvd, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
Clark
Greenwood High School, Cafetorium, 306 W Central Avenue, Greenwood, WI 54437
Columbia
Portage High School, Auditorium, 301 E Collins Street, Portage, WI 53901
Crawford
Prairie du Chien High School, Auditorium, 800 E Crawford Street, Prairie du Chien, WI 53821
Dane
Waunakee H.S., Performing Arts Center via Door #1, 301 Community Drive, Waunakee, WI 53597
Dodge
Horicon Marsh Education & Visitor Center, Auditorium, N7725 State Highway 28, Horicon, WI 53032
Door
Sturgeon Bay High School, Commons, 1230 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
Douglas
Superior High School, Cafeteria, 2600 Catlin Avenue, Superior, WI 54880
Dunn
Dunn County Fish and Game Club, 1600 Pine Avenue, Menomonie, WI 54751
Eau Claire
CVTC Business Ed Center, Casper Room 103, 620 W Clairemont Avenue, Eau Claire, WI 54701
Florence
Florence Natural Resources Center, 5631 Forestry Drive, Florence, WI 54121
Fond du Lac
Theisen Middle School, Auditorium, 525 E Pioneer Road, Fond du Lac, WI 54935
Forest
Crandon High School, 9750 U.S. Hwy 8, Crandon, WI 54520
Grant
Lancaster High School, Hillary Auditorium, 806 E Elm Street, Lancaster, WI 53813
Green
Monroe Middle School, Enter via North-side Door, 1510 13th Street, Monroe, WI 53566
Green Lake
Green Lake High School, Multi-purpose Room, 612 Mill Street, Green Lake, WI 54941
Iowa
Dodgeville High School, Gymnasium, 912 W Chapel Street, Dodgeville, WI 53533
Iron
Mercer Community Center, 2648 W Margaret Street, Mercer, WI 54547
Jackson
Black River Falls Middle School, LGI Room, 1202 Pierce Street, Black River Falls, WI 54615
Jefferson
Jefferson County Fair Park, Activity Center, 503 N Jackson Avenue, Jefferson, WI 53549
Juneau
Olson Middle School, Auditorium, 508 Grayside Avenue, Mauston, WI 53948
Kenosha
Bristol School District #1, Gymnasium, 20121 83rd Street, Bristol, WI 53104
Kewaunee
Kewaunee High School, Little Theater, 911 3rd Street, Kewaunee, WI 54216
La Crosse
Onalaska High School, Performing Arts Center, 700 Hilltopper Place, Onalaska, WI 54650
Lafayette
Darlington Elementary School, Large Group Room, 11630 Center Hill Road, Darlington, WI 53530
Langlade
Antigo High School, Volm Theatre, 1900 Tenth Avenue, Antigo, WI 54409
Lincoln
Merrill High School, Auditorium, 1201 N Sales Street, Merrill, WI 54452
Manitowoc
UW Manitowoc, 705 Viebahn Street, Manitowoc, WI 54220
Marathon
DC Everest Middle School, Auditorium, 9302 Schofield Avenue, Weston, WI 54476
Marinette
Wausaukee High School, Auditorium, N11941 Highway 141, Wausaukee, WI 54177
Marquette
Montello High School, Community Room, 222 Forest Lane, Montello, WI 53949
Menominee
Menominee County Courthouse, W3269 Courthouse Lane, Keshena, WI 54135
Milwaukee
Greenfield High School, Performing Arts Center, 4800 S 60th Street, Greenfield, WI 53220
Monroe
Meadowview Middle School, Cafetorium, 1225 N Water Street, Sparta, WI 54656
Oconto
Suring High School, Cafeteria, 411 E Algoma Street, Suring, WI 54174
Oneida
James Williams Middle School, 915 Acacia Lane, Rhinelander, WI 54501
Outagamie
Appleton North High School, Auditorium, 5000 North Ballard Road, Appleton, WI 54913
Ozaukee
Webster Transitional School, Commons, W75 N624 Wauwatosa Road, Cedarburg, WI 53012
Pepin
Pepin County Government Center, 740 7th Avenue West, Durand, WI 54736
Pierce
Ellsworth High School, Cafeteria, 323 Hillcrest Street, Ellsworth, WI 54011
Polk
Unity High School, Auditorium, 1908 State Hwy 46, Balsam Lake, WI 54810
Portage
Ben Franklin Junior High, Auditorium, 2000 Polk Street, Stevens Point, WI 54481
Price
Price County Courthouse, Room 101, 126 Cherry Street, Phillips, WI 54555
Racine
Union Grove High School, Auditorium, 3433 S Colony Avenue, Union Grove, WI 53182
Richland
Richland County Courthouse, Courtroom, 181 W Seminary Street, Richland Center, WI 53581
Rock
Blackhawk Technical College, LL North Commons 1400B, 6004 S Cty Road G, Janesville, WI 53546
Rusk
Ladysmith High School, Auditorium, 1700 Edgewood Avenue East, Ladysmith, WI 54848
Saint Croix
Saint Croix Central High School, Commons, 1751 Broadway Street, Hammond, WI 54015
Sauk
UW Baraboo - Sauk County, Giese Lecture Hall A4, 1006 Connie Road, Baraboo, WI 53913
Sawyer
Winter High School, Auditorium, 6585 W Grove Street, Winter, WI 54896
Shawano
Shawano Middle School, Room LGI, 1050 S Union Street, Shawano, WI 54166
Sheboygan
Plymouth High School, Auditorium, 125 Highland Avenue, Plymouth, WI 53073
Taylor
Taylor County Fairgrounds, Multipurpose Building, Hwy 64/Hwy 13, Medford, WI 54451
Trempealeau
Arcadia High School, Commons, 756 Raider Drive, Arcadia, WI 54612
Vernon
Viroqua High School, Commons, 100 Blackhawk Drive, Viroqua, WI 54665
Vilas
Saint Germain Elementary School, 8234 Hwy 70 West, Saint Germain, WI 54558
Walworth
Delavan-Darien High School, Large Meeting Room, 150 Cummings Street, Delavan, WI 53115
Washburn
Spooner High School, Auditorium, 801 County Highway A, Spooner, WI 54801
Washington
Washington County Fair Park, 3000 Pleasant Valley Road, West Bend, WI 53095
Waukesha
Waukesha Co. Tech. College, Richard Anderson Center, 800 Main Street, Pewaukee, WI 53072
Waupaca
Waupaca High School, Auditorium, E2325 King Road, Waupaca, WI 54981
Waushara
Waushara County Courthouse, Board Room 265, 209 S Saint Marie Street, Wautoma, WI 54982
Winnebago
Webster Stanley Middle School, Auditorium, 915 Hazel Street, Oshkosh, WI 54901
Wood
Pittsville School District Admin. Building, Auditorium, 5459 Elementary Ave, Pittsville, WI 54466
April 2016
5
WISCONSERVATION
April 2016
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation
Affiliate Clubs & Organizations
Abbotsford Sportsmen’s Club
Abbotsford
Almond Rod and Gun Club
Almond
American Legion Giles Luce Post #364
Winneconne
American Wild Turkey Hunting Dog
Assoc
Ashland/Bayfield County Sportsmen
Association of Conservation Clubs of
Trempealeau County
Augusta Area Sportsmens Club
Badger Dachshund Club Inc
Badger Fishermen’s League
Menomonee Falls
Badger State Hunting Retriever Club
Helenville
Bangor Rod & Gun Club
Beaver Dam Conservationists Inc
Beaver Dam
Beloit Rifle Club, Inc.
Beloit
Berlin Conservation Club
Berlin
Big 4+ Sportsmen’s Club
Big Oaks Hunting Club Inc
Richmond, IL
Bill Cook Chapter IWLA
Stevens Point
Bloomer Rod & Gun Club
Bloomer
Boscobel Sportsmens Club
Breed Sportsman Club
Suring
Brice Prairie Conservation Association
Brill Area Sportsmen’s Club, Inc.
Rice Lake
Brown County Conservation Alliance
Green Bay
Brown County Sportsmen’s Club
Green Bay
Brule River Sportsmens Club
Buck Lake Sportsmans Club
Chetek
Butte Des Morts Conservation Club
Calumet Co Conservation Alliance
Carter Creek Sportsmen’s Club
Cascade Sportsman Club
Cascade
Cataract Sportsman Club
Cataract
Central St. Croix Rod & Gun Club
Central WI Gun Collectors Assoc Inc
Central WI Shoot to Retrieve
Central Wisconsin Sportsmen’s Club
Marshfield
Challenge The Outdoors Inc
Chaseburg Rod N Gun Club
Chaseburg
Chippewa Rod & Gun Club
Chippewa Falls
Chippewa Valley Outdoor Resource
Alliance - Chippewa Falls
Colfax Sportsmen’s Club
Colfax
Columbia County Sporting Alliance
Pardeeville
Columbus Sportsman’s Assoc Inc
Columbus
Coon Valley Conservation Club
Crystal Lake Sportsmen Club
Dane County Conservation League
Madison
Daniel Boone Conservation League Inc
Hubertus
De Pere Sportsman’s Club
De Pere
Delton Sportsmen Club
Lake Delton
Dodge County Sporting Conserv Alliance
Mayville
Dog Federation of Wisconsin
West Bend
Door County Fish Farm & Game Club
Door County Rod & Gun Club Inc
Sturgeon Bay
Douglas County Fish & Game League
Superior
Dousman Gun Club
Dunn Co Fish & Game
Durand Sportsmans Club
Durand
Eau Claire Rod & Gun Club
Eau Claire
Ettrick Rod & Gun Club, Inc
Farmers & Sportsmen’s Club
Sheboygan
Field & Stream Sportsmens Club
Fin N Feather Sportsmans Club
Dousman
Forest County Assoc of Lakes Inc
Pickerel
Fort Atkinson Wisconservation Club
Fort Atkinson
Four Lakes Metal Detector Club
Madison
Friends of MEEC
Friends of Poynette Game Farm
Poynette
Friends of the Brule
Friends of the St. Croix Wetland
Management District, New Richmond
GB Area Great Lakes Sport Fishermen
Green Bay
Grant County Outdoor Sport Alliance
Great Lakes Sport Fisherman
Foundation, LLC – Milwaukee
Great Lakes Sport Fishermen Ozaukee
Chapter
Green Bay Duck Hunters Assoc
Grellton Conservation Club
Johnson Creek
Hancock Sportsmen’s Club
Hartford Conservation & Gun Club
Hartford
Hayward Rod & Gun Club
Stone Lake
Hmong American Sportsmen Club
Sheboygan
Hope Rod & Gun Club
McFarland
Hudson Rod and Gun Club
Izaak Walton League Bill Cook Chapter
Jefferson Sportsmen’s Club
Johnsonville Rod and Gun
Plymouth
Kids and Mentors Outdoors
Necedah
Koenig’s Conservation Club
Sheboygan
Lake Poygan Sportsmen’s Club
Larsen
Lakeview Rod & Gun Club
Land O’ Lakes Fish and Game Club
Land O’ Lakes
LaValle Sportsman’s Club
Lincoln County Sports Club
Merrill
Lincoln Youth Turkey Hunters
Little Wolf River Houndsmens Club
Madison Area Dachshund Club
Manitowoc Cty Coon Hunters
Manitowoc Cty Fish & Game Protective
Assoc - Manitowoc
Manitowoc Gun Club
Manitowoc
Maribel Sportsman’s Club
Maribel
Mayville Gun Club
Mayville
Midstate Metal Detector Club
Plainfield
Mill Creek Education & Gun Club
Milladore
Milwaukee Casting Club
Milwaukee Police Officers Conservation-
Sportsman Club
Mishicot Sportsmen’s Club
Mishicot
Monches Fish & Game Club
Mosinee Sportsmens Alliance
Muskies, Inc.
Sheboygan Falls, WI
Nekoosa Conservation League
Nekoosa
North Bristol Sportsman’s
Sun Prairie
North WI Rod & Gun Club
Ashland
Northeastern WI Great Lakes Sport
Fishermen
Northern Wisconsin Houndsmen
Association
Northwest Rod & Gun Club
Boyceville
Oakland Conservation Club
Oconomowoc Sportsman’s Club Inc
Oconomowoc
Oconto Co Sports All
Oconto River Watershed Trout Unlimited
Gillett
Osseo Rod and Gun Club
Osseo
Outagamie Conservation Club
Hortonville
Outdoors Incorporated of New Holstein
Padus Gun Club
Palmyra Fish & Game Club
Palmyra
Pecatonica River Valley Coon Hunters
Pewaukee Lake Sportsman’s Club
Pewaukee
Polk County Sportsmens Club
Balsam Lake
Portage Rod & Gun Club
Portage
Prairie Rod and Gun Club
Prairie du Chien
Pumpkin Center Sportsmens Club
Juneau
Racine Co. Conservation League Inc.
Franksville
Racine County Line Rifle Club Inc
Oak Creek
Retreat Sportsmen’s Club, Inc.
DeSoto
Rhine-Plymouth Field & Stream Inc
Glenbeulah
Rice Lake Rod & Gun Club
Cameron
Richfield Sportsmens Club
Richfield
Ringtails Youth Crew
Edgerton
Rio Conservation Club
Pardeeville
Rock River Koshkonong Assoc
Rock River Rescue Foundation
Rolling Hills Sportsman’s Club
Salmon Unlimited of Wisconsin
Racine
Sauk County Sportsman’s Alliance
Sauk Prairie Trap & Skeet Club
Sauk Trail Conservation Club
Sayner-St. Germain Fish & Wildlife Club
St. Germain
Shadows On The Wolf, Inc.
Sheboygan Area Great Lakes Sport
Fishermen - Sheboygan
Sheboygan Co Conservation Assoc
Sheboygan
Shoto Conservation Club
Two Rivers
Silver Lake Sportsman’s Club
Silver Lake
Slinger Sportsman Club
Smerke’s Sportsmen’s Club
Sheboygan Falls
South Milwaukee 1400 Fishing & Hunting
Club - South Milwaukee
Southeastern Rod & Gun Club
East Troy
Southern Brown Conservation Club/
Izaak Walton League - Greenleaf
Southern Clark County Sportsman’s Club
Granton
Sparta Rod & Gun Club
Stan Plis Sportsmans League
Stanley Sportsmans Club & Foundation
Star Prairie Fish & Game Association
Sturgeon For Tomorrow North Chapter
Sugar River Coon Hunters
Suscha-Fale Sportsmen’s Club
The Wildlife Society - UWSP
Stevens Point
Three Seasons Treasure Hunters
Tomorrow River Valley Conservation Club
Trempealeau Sportsman’s Club
Triangle Sportsmens Club
Tri-County Sportswomen, LLC
Trout Unlimited Aldo Leopold
Trout Unlimited Green Bay Chapter
Green Bay
Twin City Rod & Gun Club
Neenah
Underhill Sportsmans Club
Gillett
Van Dyne Sportsmens Club
Van Dyne
Wales-Genesee Lions Sportsman Club
Wales
Walleyes For Tomorrow Inc
Fond du Lac
Watertown Archery Club
Watertown
Watertown Conservation Club
Waukesha County Conservation Alliance
Westgate Sportman Club
Eau Claire
West Bend Barton Sportsman Club
West Bend
WI Assoc of Field Trial Clubs
WI Assoc of Sporting Dogs
WI Association of Beagle Clubs
WI Coon Hunters Association
WI Council of Sportfishing Org
WI Deer Hunters Association
WI Deer Hunters Inc
WI Federation of Great Lake Sport
Fishing Clubs
WI Muzzleloaders Association
WI Sharp-Tailed Grouse Society
WI Taxidermist Assoc
WI Trappers Association
WI Woodland Owners Association
Stevens Point
Wilderness Sportsmen’s Club
Wisconsin Rapids
Wildlife Restoration Association, Inc.
Ladysmith
Willow Aces
Wilton Rod & Gun Club
Wilton
Winchester Gun Club
Franksville
Wings Over WI
Winnebago Conservation Club
Oshkosh
Winnebagoland Conservation All
Wisconsin Bowfishing Association
Wisconsin Division - Izaak Walton League
of America - Amherst Junction
Wisconsin Falconer’s Association
East Troy
Wisconsin House Outdoorsmen Club
Wisconsin Hunter Education Instructors
Association - Stevens Point
Wisconsin Trapshooting Association
Wisconsin Waterfowl Assoc
Wales
Yahara Fishing Club
6
WISCONSERVATION
DNR Ramping Up Efforts to Address
Kewaunee County Water Quality Issues
T
he Department of Natural Resources is ramping up its efforts
to work with stakeholder groups
to address ongoing water quality issues in
Kewaunee County.
In July 2015, the DNR - working in
concert with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - formed four work groups
comprised of local, state and federal stakeholders to study and make recommendations regarding water quality issues
that can be applied not only in Kewaunee
County, but in other sensitive areas of the
state. Comprising the work groups were
representatives from Kewaunee and Door
county land conservation offices, Midwest
Environmental Advocates and other environmental groups, farmers, private citizens, and various state and federal agencies, including the EPA and the Wisconsin
Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Protection (DATCP).
Recommendations from the work groups
have been made in recent weeks to the
DNR, the EPA and Kewaunee County officials. The last of those work groups is currently finalizing its recommendations for
consideration. More information about the
work groups is available by searching the
DNR website, dnr.wi.gov, for Groundwater
Collaboration Work Group.
“We’re looking forward to making science-based decisions and using the suggested best-management practices put
forth by the work groups to address these
issues facing Kewaunee County residents,”
DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp said. “We will
work in lockstep with all of these stakeholders - including Kewaunee County,
DATCP and the EPA - to bring about longterm solutions.”
DNR research focusing on
Kewaunee County
Over the past year, DNR has funded
research that will be used to guide the
agency’s response to the work group recommendations. That research includes a study
that resulted in the testing of 320 private
wells in Kewaunee County.
The study is being conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s Environmental Research and Innovation Center,
in conjunction with the U.S. Department
of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, the U.S. Geological Survey Wisconsin
Water Science Center, the Kewaunee County Land Conservation Department and the
UW-Stevens Point.
The two-year study will assess the extent and sources of groundwater contamination in Kewaunee County. It also will
assess the correlation of soil thickness and
well casing depth with the likelihood of
well contamination.
DNR is hiring an environmental enforcement specialist dedicated to monitoring water quality in Kewaunee and
surrounding counties and also filling
three positions in its Watershed Management Program to assist with oversight
of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, of which there are 16 in Kewaunee
County. CAFOs are farming operations of
1,000 or more animal units.
DNR encourages owners of private wells
to have their wells tested annually. More
information about well testing can be found
on the DNR website. For information about
whether people may qualify for financial
assistance with a contaminated well, see
“Grants for contaminated wells.”
Another tool to address water quality issues is a program administered by DATCP
that makes grants available for farmer-led
watershed initiatives to address soil and
water conservation issues throughout the
state. Funding for the program was included in the 2015-17 biennial budget approved
last year by the Wisconsin Legislature.
Spring Snowmelt and Rain Can
Contaminate Wells
Well owners encouraged to pay attention to their drinking water
A
s spring approaches, warming
temperatures, snow melt, residual frozen ground and rain can create conditions that may affect private wells
and drinking water.
“Now is the time of year for well owners
to watch for signs of flooding and note any
change in the color, smell or taste of their
drinking water,” said Liesa Lehmann, private water section chief with the Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources.
Owners who see flood waters very near
or over their wells should assume their water could be contaminated. Take the following steps:
• Stop drinking the water and find another safe source.
• Once the waters recede, make sure
the well is properly disinfected.
• Before drinking the water again, sample the well to assure the water is safe.
Flood waters and rain runoff may contain bacteria and other contaminants that
can affect water supplies and cause illness.
Wells located in pits, basements and low-
lying areas are especially susceptible to
contamination.
“Disinfection and sampling is best done
by a licensed well driller or pump installer,”
Lehmann said. “Any water supply system
that has been submerged by flood waters
should be pumped out once the floodwater
recedes, then thoroughly disinfected and
tested to determine that the water is safe.”
To ensure safe drinking water, well owners are encouraged to make sure they have
a properly constructed well and test it annually for bacteria. More information on
bacteriological contamination of drinking
water wells, along with lists of licensed well
drillers, pump installers and labs certified
to analyze water samples can be found by
searching the DNR website, dnr.wi.gov, for
keyword “wells.”
For individuals who receive drinking
water from a public water supply, these systems are designed and operated to keep out
contaminants. If you have concerns about
the safety of your community’s drinking
water, contact your public water supplier.
Public Comment Period for
Preliminary Antlerless Harvest Quota
Recommendations Begins April 4th
WDNR Release 3/16
C
ounty Deer Advisory Councils
will release their preliminary
recommendations regarding antlerless harvest quotas, permit levels and
season structure for public review on April
4. These recommendations will help determine the 2016 Wisconsin deer hunting season structure.
A public comment period will run from
April 4-17, 2016. To review preliminary
recommendations and provide feedback,
hunters and those with an interest in deer
management can search the Department of
Natural Resources website, dnr.wi.gov, for
keyword “CDAC,” and click “Find” to search
for county information and access the public comment form.
Antlerless quotas influence the number of antlerless permits available for the
2016 deer hunting seasons. Quotas and
permit levels are tools CDACs will use to
help move the local deer herd toward their
2015-17 population objectives of “increase,”
“decrease” or “maintain.”
In 2016, based upon the Deer Management Zone and Deer Management Unit,
councils may have the option to recommend
a Holiday Hunt, antlerless-only hunts for
all deer seasons, number of Farmland Zone
antlerless permits given with each license,
and metro subunit-specific antlerless permits. For more information regarding management zones and management units,
search keyword “deer.”
Once the public comment period has
closed, meetings will resume in April and
councils will review public feedback before submitting final quota, permit and
season structure recommendations. Public
comments will continue to be accepted at
April meetings. To provide comments, contact a CDAC chair (contact information is
available on the CDAC web page) or submit feedback via email to [email protected].
April 2016
Steelhead Setting Up for Spring Run in Bois
Brule, other Lake Superior Tributaries
S
UPERIOR, Wis. - Anglers can
look forward to the possibility
of a good bite and a fair fight as
the spring steelhead run approaches on
the Bois Brule and other Lake Superior
tributaries.
Among the reasons to look forward to
the upcoming season? Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources biologists reported an increase in steelhead numbers
during the fall 2015 count and anticipate
better access to the water as much of the
snow has melted, said Paul Piszczek, a
DNR fisheries biologist in Superior.
“The fall 2015 run was the highest fall
return since 2010,” Piszczek said. “For
nearly nine consecutive weeks starting
in September, steelhead exhibited movements of 400 or more fish past the Brule
fishway. This is a marked improvement
over the past three of four fall seasons,
when steelhead counts exceeded 400 fish
for only two or three weeks.”
From July 1 through Dec. 31, 2015, a
total of 5,660 steelhead passed through
the fishway monitoring site, up from
3,036 the previous year. The steelhead
significantly outnumbered the 3,930
brown trout and 1,680 coho salmon observed then.
More than 60 percent of the steelhead
counted ranged from 20 to 25 inches long.
Another 25 percent exceeded 26 inches,
the legal minimum length to keep a fish
when the season opens this Saturday,
March 26.
Steelhead trout are members of the
family Salmonidae, which includes coho
and chinook salmon. Unlike salmon,
however, steelhead typically live six to
eight years and may spawn more than
once in their lifetime. They mature in
three to five years and after gaining size
while feeding in the open waters of the
Great Lakes, they return to their natal
streams to spawn.
Steelhead are a lake-run form of rainbow trout that undergo a physiological
conversion process to prepare for living in the lake. Once in Lake Superior,
steelhead gain access to more space and
forage than the trout that remain in the
Brule River. As a result, steelhead attain
larger sizes than the resident rainbow
trout that spend their entire lives in the
river.
Piszczek said the Bois Brule River
sports a two-season run of steelhead
each year from Lake Superior. Some fish
Kevin Grand, a DNR fisheries technician in Superior, handles a 20-plus inch
steelhead captured and released in the
Bois Brule River, Douglas County.
Paul Piszczek/WDNR Photo
return in late fall to overwinter in the
lower reaches of the river, while others
begin returning in late March. Spawning
typically occurs in April.
Although steelhead are not native to
Lake Superior - they were introduced in
the mid-1890s by state and federal agencies concerned about declining populations of native brook trout - they now
reproduce naturally and have established a self-sustaining population. With
the legal-size fish often exceeding eight
pounds, this world class fishery generates some 33,000 angler visits per year,
Piszczek said.
As a result, the prized fishery bears
close watching by DNR fisheries biologists who in recent years have focused
efforts on restoring spawning habitat,
increasing in-stream living space for the
fish and conducting fish surveys.
DNR monitors the adult steelhead
run by operating a video recording system at the Brule River sea lamprey barrier and fishway. Fish are counted during the fall and spring. The barrier was
installed in 1986 to keep lamprey from
spawning in preferred areas upstream
from the barrier.
In addition to the headcount, DNR is
planning an angler creel survey in fall
2016 to document fishing pressure and
fish harvest. Given the higher fish count
and other factors, Piszczek said he anticipates a good showing by anglers this
year.
“The higher fall steelhead count combined with the size of fish we are seeing
has many anglers anticipating some of
the better steelhead fishing we’ve seen
in several years,” Piszczek said.
New Fishing Line Recycling
Program Underway
M
ILWAUKEE – A new Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program is underway,
in Wisconsin to encourage anglers to
“reel in and recycle” their used fishing
line.
Recycling boxes are now in place at
nine Department of Natural Resources
service centers throughout the state.
These include Milwaukee, Waukesha,
Fitchburg, Ashland, Green Bay, Eau
Claire, La Crosse, Rhinelander, and Oshkosh. The Berkley Conservation Institute provides the postage-paid collection
boxes at no charge. Full boxes are mailed
back to the institute where the line will
be melted down into raw plastic pellets
to make new products like tackle boxes,
spools for fishing line, toys, and fishing
habitat structures.
Recycling monofilament fishing line
is important, according to state wildlife
officials, who way that when disposed of
improperly, the line can cause entanglement and ingestion issues for wildlife,
problems for swimmers and divers, boat
propellers and the environment. More information about two-year pilot recycling
Fishing line recycling boxes are now
available at nine DNR offices.
WDNR photo
program can be found by searching the
DNR website, dnr.wi.gov, for “recycling
monofilament fishing line.”
“Tell People You Read It In Wisconservation”!!!
7
WISCONSERVATION
Dredging in the St. Louis River Estuary –
From “Spoils” to Soils
by Marie Zhuikov, UW Sea Grant
Institute 2/16
N
ot long ago, the muck dredged
from the bottom of the DuluthSuperior Harbor had a bad
name. People referred to the navigational
channel material as dredged “spoils,” giving
the impression that it was somehow spoiled
and unfit for use. That might have been
true when the harbor was more polluted,
but now, the relatively clean sediment is in
demand as soil for restoration and building
projects.
Dredging has a long local history. Gene
Clark, Wisconsin Sea Grant’s coastal engineer, explained that dredging of the harbor
began in the late 1800s and early 1900s,
after storms demolished breakwaters built
offshore of Duluth. The more-protected
harbor was naturally shallow and needed
to be deepened to allow ship traffic.
This early dredging material was deposited in the harbor to form Hog and Barker’s
islands in Superior, Interstate Island on
the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota, and Herding Island in Duluth. In
the late 1970s, Erie Pier was constructed
for dredged material disposal on the Minnesota side of the river near the current
Bong Bridge. Today, between 100,000 and
125,000 cubic yards of material is dredged
annually from the harbor.
Designed to hold 10 years’-worth of material (1.1 million cubic yards), the facility,
managed by the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, is still in operation today due to
modifications that allow it to hold double
the amount of material (2.2 million cubic
yards). Erie Pier is nearly filled to capacity now, and has switched from operating as
a confined disposal facility to a processing
and reuse facility.
Erie Pier contains two grades of material: “coarse” and “fine.” The sandy coarse
material is in demand for projects like
beach replenishment on Park Point and for
construction. The second material – fine
silt and clay – has been used for several
demonstration projects such as mineland
reclamation on Minnesota’s Iron Range,
providing fill for the Northland Country
Club in Duluth and for turf restoration at
the city of Superior landfill.
These “fines” are more problematic for
use and were in less demand until they were
found good for growing plants and restoring habitat, Clark said. Thanks to federal
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding
and the efforts of many local groups, several aquatic habitat projects that could use
this fine material are planned.
The most recent restoration project
can be seen if a person drives on Highway
53 on the Minnesota side of the Blatnik
Bridge. The 21st Avenue West project, as
it’s known, is a pilot project that has saved
three years of material from being deposited in Erie Pier. Instead, it’s been deposited in the 21st Avenue West bay to form
several underwater islands and to fill parts
of a shipping channel no longer in use. The
Army Corps of Engineers and other project
partners are monitoring for any movement
of the material to ensure it won’t interfere
with shipping before additional material is
deposited to restore more aquatic habitat
in this and other harbor areas.
Another project is the 40th Avenue
West bay, which when combined with the
future project at 21st Avenue West would
use more material than is currently in
Erie Pier, said Clark. He is a member of a
local Dredging Subcommittee (of the Harbor Technical Advisory Committee), which
looks at short- and long-term strategies for
handling and reusing the dredged material. Other members of the team include staff
from the Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Council, Minnesota Sea Grant, the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Duluth
and Superior port authorities, the Wisconsin and Minnesota departments of natural
resources, the Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency, engineering firms and the University of Minnesota Duluth. Their efforts resulted in a management plan for Erie Pier,
which was completed in 2007 and is being
updated.
“Everyone’s giving a sigh of relief,” Clark
said about the current demand for dredged
material. “But the worry about Erie Pier
filling up is still there. If something were
to happen and we couldn’t continue to use
the material for the restoration projects,
we’d only have three to five years left before Erie Pier fills up again and we might
have to spend millions of dollars to create a
new facility.”
Clark’s worries extend to an even longer
view, also. “What happens after the proposed restoration projects are completed?
The harbor will still be dredged every year
and we’re going to be asking the same question 10 years from now. We need to find other sustainable uses for the material and a
way to make using it fiscally feasible.”
Clark mentioned the possibility of using dredged material on land for brownfield redevelopment and restoration of the
U.S. Steel Superfund Site in Morgan Park.
The subcommittee is also looking at ways
to place dredged material in deep spots in
the harbor that perhaps don’t need to be
so deep – referred to as “open water placement.”
“We’ve bought some time for Erie Pier,”
Clark said. “If using the material for the
restoration projects works out, we’ve
bought a lot of time.”
With Help from Wisconsin's Hunters,
Sampling Results Provide Current
Snapshot of CWD in Wisconsin
M
ADISON – The Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources sampled more than
3,100 deer for chronic wasting disease
statewide in 2015. In all, 290 positive detections were made, primarily within the
endemic area in southern Wisconsin.
For 2015 sampling and prevalence
data and more information regarding
chronic wasting disease search the DNR
website, dnr.wi.gov, for keyword "CWD."
"Once again, hunter cooperation has
been outstanding. This year was our first
sampling year under the new electronic
deer registration system, and we used
this opportunity to try new collection
methods," said Tim Marien, DNR wildlife health biologist. "Although the total
number of deer tested decreased from
2014, that was not unexpected this first
year. We learned from the experience
and will continue to work closely with
hunters to make sample submission convenient and gather more samples."
The department has monitored trends
in chronic wasting disease distribution
and prevalence within Wisconsin since
its discovery in 2002.
According to Marien, prevalence continues to increase within the department's long-term monitoring area in
southwest Wisconsin, and remains higher in males than females and higher in
adults than yearlings.
Monitoring efforts also included ongoing surveillance within a 10-mile radius of each new CWD positive wild deer
found in 2012 in Juneau, Adams, and
Portage counties in central Wisconsin.
Since then, eight additional positives
were found in Adams and Portage counties
Surveillance was also conducted surrounding CWD-positive captive deer
facilities in Marathon and Eau Claire
counties, with no wild CWD deer detected.
Efforts in 2015-16 marked the fourth
year of CWD surveillance in Washburn
County, following the 2012 discovery of a
CWD-positive adult doe near Shell Lake
in northwest Wisconsin. Following recommendations from a local community
action team, local landowners and hunters helped the department sample more
than 2,000 deer in the area over the last
four years. No new positives have been
detected. Based on four years of sampling, all information has indicated the
disease is not widespread in the Washburn area, and may occur at a very low
prevalence rate.
"On behalf of our whole department,
I want to thank hunters for their continued role in providing samples and helping us monitor this disease within Wisconsin," said Tami Ryan, DNR wildlife
health section chief.
April 2016
Grizzly Bear Recovery an Endangered Species Act Success Story
Will Work to Ensure Plans Maintain
Healthy, Stable Grizzly Populations
by Miles Grant (USFWS) 3/16
T
he U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to declare
grizzly bears in and around
Yellowstone National Park as no longer
threatened by extinction and recovered
under the Endangered Species Act. An
estimated 717 grizzlies live in the Yellowstone ecosystem today, according
to the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study
Team. The National Wildlife Federation
hailed the delisting as a major conservation success story in the making but
urged a careful delisting process to make
sure grizzlies continue to thrive.
“The recovery of Yellowstone grizzlies
is a true American conservation success
story and the proposal to ‘delist’ is the
appropriate next step in the evolution of
their restoration. We took a population
of grizzlies that was heading down the
path toward extinction, turned it around
and now have a healthy, stable population of these magnificent creatures. It’s
time to examine transitioning from federal management of grizzly bears under
the Endangered Species Act to management by the states, just as other healthy
wildlife populations are managed,” said
Collin O’Mara, president and chief executive officer of the National Wildlife
Federation. “Before we take that next
step, we are committed to ensuring that
adequate measures are in place to ensure grizzlies endure for generations to
come. The National Wildlife Federation
will work with the states of Montana,
Wyoming and Idaho to ensure that the
final plans maintain a healthy and stable population of grizzlies in the Greater
Yellowstone Ecosystem.”
USFWS Photo
The National Wildlife Federation has
worked for decades to restore healthy
grizzly bear populations. Our program to
purchase grazing allotments from ranchers on National Forest lands surrounding Yellowstone Park has ended conflicts
between grizzlies and domestic livestock
on a million acres of land.
While grizzly bears once roamed
much of western North America, populations now range across Alaska, western
Canada, and the Northern Rocky Mountains including Yellowstone and Glacier
National Parks and in northwestern
Montana and extreme northern Idaho.
Grizzly bears can live to 30 years in
the wild. Males can weigh up to 1,700
pounds, while females can weigh up to
800 pounds. Grizzlies are omnivores,
eating fruits, berries, grasses, and roots,
along with fish like salmon, rodents, carrion, and hoofed animals like moose, elk,
caribou, and deer.
Farmers Encouraged to Check Wetland Rules
Before Digging Ditches or Placing Drain Tile
M
ADISON – Approximately
one-third of Wisconsin farms
depend upon constructed
drains to remove excess water and with
spring arriving, some farmers may be
considering projects that involve ditches
and drains.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources encourages farmers to
check wetland rules before proceeding
with projects such as constructing new
ditches or installing drain tile. These
projects may affect wetlands and may require permits before proceeding.
“Agriculture is a critical industry in
Wisconsin and farmers are looking to improve or expand the uses of their land,”
said David Hon, a water regulation and
zoning specialist. “We want to encourage
farmers to work with DNR staff and use
our convenient online resources to learn
more before implementing costly capital
improvements that may affect wetlands.”
In the past five years, DNR has seen
a large increase in the number of proposals for projects related to ditching and
drain tiling. Farmers considering these
and other major projects should contact
DNR ahead of time to learn if a permit
is needed.
Wetlands are a valuable natural resource and provide a variety of benefits
including flood protection; storm water
storage; water quality protection; natural scenic beauty; habitat for fish, aquatic life and wildlife; groundwater processes; and shoreline protection. For more
information, search the DNR website,
dnr.wi..gov, for “wetland disturbance” or
search the staff directory for your local
water regulation and zoning specialist.
Novice Hunters! Apply Today to Learn To
Hunt Bear this Summer
M
ADISON – People who want
to experience a real Wisconsin black bear hunt with
skilled mentors have until May 27 to
apply to participate in a Learn to Hunt
Bear program featuring classroom and
field instruction and capped with a genuine hunt.
Keith Warnke, Department of Natural
Resources hunting and shooting sports
coordinator, says the Learn to Hunt Bear
program represents an opportunity of a
lifetime for novice hunters of any age.
"Working in partnership with many
dedicated bear hunters and local conservation organizations, wardens and
wildlife managers, successful Learn to
Hunt Bear events have been held across
northern Wisconsin during the last several years," Warnke said. "The long-term
success rate of harvesting a bear through
the LTH program is around 50 percent."
Participation in the DNR Learn to
Hunt Bear program is limited. Applications will be evaluated and the winners
will be notified in mid-June. Documents
and applications for the Learn to Hunt
Bear program can be found by searching
the DNR website for "LTH."
The program is intended for people
who would not have any opportunity to
experience bear hunting without it. Who
can apply?
• Anyone who is age 10 and older
who has not participated in a Learn to
Hunt Bear event.
• Anyone who has not previously purchased a Class A or Class B bear license,
or applied for preference points.
However, Warnke says, applicants
with a connection to bear hunting
through family and friends will be given
lower priority in the selection process.
Applications can be found on the DNR
website, dnr.wi.gov, by searching for
"learn to hunt bear" and must be postmarked by May 27.
In 2005, the DNR began the Learn to
Hunt Bear program as another outreach
program for novice hunters. Other opportunities featured in the Learn to Hunt
program include turkey, deer, pheasant,
upland game and waterfowl.
8
WISCONSERVATION
Colfax Sportsmans Club 2016
Steel Challenge and Bowling Pin Open Match Schedule
Take Note!
Officers/Directors/Committee Chairs. Page 2
WWF Executive Director Message. Page 3
2016 Spring Hearing Locations. Page 4
WWF Affiliates. Page 5
2016 WWF BANQUET CALENDAR
DISTRICT
CONTACT
DATE
LOCATION
Dist. 3 North
(Osceola)
Brian Hobbs
715-294-3854
Sat. March 12, 2016
Crickets Bar & Grill
Amery, WI
District 4 East
(Plover)
Gary Fitzgerald
608-566-4828
Thurs. Sept. 8, 2016
Shooter’s
Plover, WI
District 4 West
(Neillsville)
Tom Dahlen
715-238-7814
Sat. April 2, 2016
Fannie’s Supper Club
Neillsville, WI
District 5
(Fox Valley)
Jerry Lingofski/Doug Gries Thurs. March 17, 2016 Darboy Club
920-841-8427/920-213-1730
Darboy, WI
District 6
(LaCrosse)
Michelle Graff
608-787-7637
Sat. Feb. 6, 2016
All Star Lanes
LaCrosse, WI
District 6
(Black River Falls)
Christine Schultz
715-299-4414
Sat. March 5, 2016
Castle Hill Supper Club
Merrill, WI
District 7
(Watertown)
Dave/Mary Chingway
920-253-5251
TBD
District 7
Ruth Ann Lee
(MacKenzie Banquet) 608-635-8105
TBD
District 8
(Waukesha)
Jack Nissen
262-370-8154
Fri. April 8, 2016
Olympia Resort
Oconomowoc, WI
District 9
(Milwaukee)
Janet McLaughlin
414-573-3634
Fri. March 11, 2016
Clarion Hotel
Milwaukee, WI
Statewide
Banquet
Wayne Thayer
608-754-4965
Sat. Feb. 13, 2016
Chula Vista
Wisconsin Dells, WI
March 2016
Calendar
Winners
$1000 Cash
Franchi Instinct Shotgun
Gander Mountain Card $100
Additional information at: http://www.colfaxsportsmensclub.com
Open to Public
April
May
June
July
August
September
23rd Saturday
21st Saturday
25th Saturday
23rd Saturday
27th Saturday
10th Saturday
Steel Challenge Match – 9:00am
Bowling Pin Match – 9:00am
Steel Challenge Match – 9:00am
Bowling Pin Match – 9:00am
Steel Challenge Match – 9:00am
Bowling Pin Match – 9:00am
Registration opens at 8:15am start at 9:00am for all matches rain or shine, club house with
covered firing points and concessions on site. Dress appropriate for weather.
Steel Challenge matches: 6 of 8 standard stages make up the steel tournament
Editor D. A. Gries
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
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18
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20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
April 2016
Allie Clauson, Prairie du Chien, WI
5082
Bob Burdorf, Weyerhaeuser, WI
55
Elmer Schill, DePere, WI
7424
5 hr fishing charter up to 6 people out of Port Washington Dave Jahimak, LaCrosse, WI
6307
Thompson Center Icon Rifle
Dean Minett, Wonewoc, WI
1641
Gander Mountain Card $100
Diane Muench, Greenville, WI
10534
$100 Cash
Chuck/Caroline Zorn Memorial, Kiel, WI 4911
CZ 104 12 Gauge o/u
Rich Dobrez, Grand Haven, MI
9489
3149
Gander Mountain Card $100
Rodney Rost, Edgerton, WI
$100 Cash
Kiesha Demetropoulos, Watertown, WI 1398
Browning A Bolt Rifle
Cliff Eckes, Marshfield, WI
6928
Gander Mountain Card $100
Diane & Chad Krysuo, Kewaskum, WI 3967
$100 Cash
Dale Maas, Watertown, WI
1335
Remington 770 SS 7mm mag w/Bushnell scope Tom Mack, Sparta, WI
7723
Gray Wolf Woolens Certificate
Bonnie Caird, Pittsville, WI
10949
10524
Gander Mountain Card $100
Tim Hunt, Sheboygan, WI
$100 Cash
Bonnie/Abby/Laura Rost, Little Suamico, WI 4760
Savage 93-17 Package
Craig Grebel, Beaver Dam, WI
1179
Gander Mountain Card $100
Greg & Lynn Reich, Plymouth, WI
4949
Day Long guided canoe trip on Lower Chippewa River Greg & Lynn Reich, Plymouth, WI
4949
Henry Golden Boy 22 Rifle
Randy Clausen, Amherst, WI
10085
Gander Mountain Card $100
Jen Haeselich, Sullivan, WI
1498
$100 Cash
Mike Vandermoss, Kewaunee, WI
8787
Weatherby Upland Pump Shotgun
Kim Simons, Kaukauna, WI
10514
Gander Mountain Card $100
Diane & Chad Krysuo, Kewaskum, WI 3967
$100 Cash
Jon Zastron, Watertown, WI
1319
Remington 770 Rifle Package
Zig Kusiak, Mosinee, WI
7315
Gander Mountain Card $100
Harvey Bowe, Random Lake, WI
649
$100 Cash
Ty Thayer, Janesville, WI
872
Stoeger 12 ga Pump 350
Larry Steltz, Okauchee, WI
4290
Gander Mountain Card $100
Alex Erik Eid, Whitehall, WI
8599
Rimfire rifle & pistol start from the low ready, center fire pistol
5 to go
starts from an external holster at waist level that covers the
Accelerator
trigger. Plan 200 rounds for the match. $20 entry fee, $10 club
Pendulum
members, $10 for juniors 17 and under. See steel challenge page
Roundabout
at the above website for full details and contact info.
Showdown
Smoke & Hope
Speed Option (optional stage)
Outer Limits (optional stage)
Bowling Pin matches: Double elimination blind seed head to head bowling pin and bowling
pin head shoot for centerfire pistol, rimfire rifle and pistol in 6 different divisions. All matches
start from the low ready position, 5 pins per table. $10 entry fee for each division you wish to
participate in, juniors 17 and under pay one entry fee for all. Pay out to 1st & 2nd place in
each division based on number of paying participants. Watch website for side matches.
Division 1
Division 2
Division 3
Division 4
Division 5
Division 6
Rimfire 22LR Rifle age 15 and under pin heads
Rimfire 22LR Rifle pin heads
Rimfire 22LR Pistol pin heads
Minor Center fire -­‐ 9mm, 38 special and below
Major Center fire – 38 super, 357, 40, 10mm, 45acp
Magnum Center fire – 41, 44, 45LC, 460
Location: Dunn County public range, Colfax WI. Located south of Colfax WI off State Hwy 40,
to 810th Ave. Address: E8498 810th Ave, Colfax WI 54730.
Required: Saftey Glasses, Hearing Protection all competitors and spectators. Contact for
additional info available from the Steel Challenge and Bowling Pin pages on website.
“Heads Up”
Marilyn Lindemann
Edition Size: Signed and Numbered 400
Image Size: 21” x 16.5”
Price: $25.00
Remarques are available for additional cost.
Shipping and Handling: $5.00
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation
2015 Print of the Year
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Growing up on a western Wisconsin dairy farm seems an unlikely place for an interest
in art to develop with so much to do, but develop it did. I started drawing horses and
people at a relatively young age and my parents encouraged this talent. Travel to Europe
and exposure to art & architecture garnered a continued pursuit and degree in art.
I’m intrigued by the colors, textures, and forms as they develop on canvas as well as
the feeling of being there. I’m on high alert when something catches my attention and
enjoy the WWF challenge of new topics each year. Excursions on foot or by canoe into
the wilderness have provided visual fodder for my paintings and has given me much
time to be aware of God’s gifts in the vastness of nature. What lies beyond the next
rise in the trail or bend in the river may be embedded in my memory only to emerge
on canvas.
Exhibited at Hardy Gallery in Ephraim, WI and various regional galleries. Current
studio artist at Xanadu Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ.
ORDER FORM 2015 “Heads Up”
Name _______________________________________________________________________
Address ______________________________________________________________________
City _________________________________________________________________________
State __________________________________ Zip __________________________________
Phone _______________________________________________________________________
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation
1540 W. James St., Suite 500
Columbus, WI 53925
(608) 635-2642
Make checks payable to Wisconsin Wildlife Federation
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