Attendance: Bob Hess, Dean Kaatz, Dave Erickson, Sally Freckman, Greg Lowe, Tim Victor, George Rogers, Dan Trainer, Tom Jerow, Bill Peterson, Rebecca Power, Nancy Bozek, Kim Grveles, Jack Zimmerman, Arvid Haugen, Tom Lochner, John DuPlissis

Welcome and Introductions Arvid Haugen welcomed the attendees and gave a brief presentation on the mission of the Sandhills Outdoor Skills Center. Tom Jerow reported that Ann Whipp has resigned her position with the DNR and has started her own private consulting firm. Ann will be sorely missed by the Partnership. We want to wish Ann the very best in her new endeavor. Group Description Statement: The Partnership discussed the three proposed group description statements and reached consensus on option number three with the recommendation that it be slightly amended as follows:

The purpose of this partnership is to bring diverse people and resources together to provide increased awareness of regionally important natural resource issues. The partnership facilitates and implements projects that promote ecologically, socially, and economically sustainable natural resource management. Presentation of the working group reports. Land Aesthetics Mary Maida has taken a new position with the City of Wausau and was not able to attend and give the working group report. Bill Ebert has agreed to chair this working group in the future. Those attending filled the partnership in on their meeting and the report. The partnership quickly reached a consensus that the working groups had made a good start at defining the issues and identifying opportunities for the partnership to address these issues. The partnership then worked to develop a list of stakeholders that should be included in the future meetings as the partnership begins to develop and implement new projects. This list includes-- Realtors Assn.

-- Developers

-- Builders Assn.

-- Contractors Assn.

County / Municipal
-- Zoning Dept.
-- Planning Dept.-- Drainage districts
--Wisconsin Valley Improvement Assn.

--State County / Municipal roads departments

--Landscaper / Arborist assn.

--Growers Assn.
-- Cranberry
-- Corn
-- Bean
-- Dairy
-- Potato
-- Vegetable

--Central Wisconsin Conservancy Trust

--Lakes / Rivers Assn.

 Surface and Groundwater Quality and Quantity Tom Jerow presented the report for this working group. He also passed around a series of amendments that Terry Charles had made to the report. Again discussion was lively and the partnership agreed that the working group had made a good start at defining the issues and identifying opportunities for the partnership to address these issues. The partnership then worked to develop a list of stakeholders that should be included in the future meetings as the partnership begins to develop and implement new projects. This list includes-- Consultants

--Lakes / Rivers Assn.

County / Municipal

-- Zoning Dept.
-- Planning Dept.

-- Drainage districts-- Health Dept.

--Pulp / Paper industry

--Wisconsin Valley Improvement Assn.

--Municipal water supply and wastewater treatment

--UWSP Groundwater Center

--Fisheries

-- DNR

-- Conservation / interest groups--Recreation / Tourism industry

--State County / Municipal roads departments

--Landscaper Assn.

Growers Assn.

-- Cranberry
-- Corn
-- Bean
-- Dairy-- Potato-- Vegetable

Terry Charles was unable to attend this meeting so Arvid Haugen filled the partnership in on their meeting and the report. Again discussion was lively and the partnership agreed that the working group had made a good start at defining the issues and identifying opportunities for the partnership to address these issues. The partnership then worked to develop a list of stakeholders that should be included in the future meetings as the partnership begins to develop and implement new projects. This list includes-- Private Consulting Foresters

Landowner Assn.-- Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association

-- Wisconsin Forest Productivity Council

Land Trusts

-- Central Wisconsin Conservancy Trust

-- The Nature Conservancy

Conservation group

-- WI Conservation Congress

-- Sierra Club-- Audubon

-- Prairie Enthusiasts

-- Wild Ones

-- WI Wetlands Assn.-- Mead / Sandhills Friends groups

County / Municipal

-- Zoning Dept.-- Planning Dept.-- Drainage districts-- Health Dept.

-- Weed Board

--Pulp / Paper industry

--Wisconsin Valley Improvement Assn.

--State County / Municipal roads departments

--Landscaper Assn.

Growers Assn.

-- Cranberry
-- Corn
-- Bean
-- Dairy
-- Potato-- Vegetable

 Action Items1. Please review the list of potential stakeholders and send any information on possible contacts to John D.2. John D. will develop a contact letter. Tom L. and Rebecca P. will help to edit the content of the letter. a. Letter should include asking what level they want to participate

b. Letter should emphasize that we are looking for their own individual perspective not that we expect them to speak for an entire group of people.

3. Working groups will divide the potential partner’s list and make a direct contact with each one. Future meetings March 21st

UWSP Schmeekle Reserve (see attached map)

Guest speaker, Ken Schrieber – Total Maximum Daily Loads May 16th Marathon County Land Conservation Department, Wausau Guest speaker, Connie Bodeen – Smart Growth