The meeting convened at 9:00 a.m. at the Jordan Park shelter in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
Partners present: Ann Whipp Jack Zimmerman, Bill Peterson, Rebecca Power, Mark Burmesch, Linda Stoll, George Rogers, Dan Trainer, Kerrie Wheeler, Greg Lowe, Mark Klish, Bill Ebert, Ron Pitek, Terry Charles, Tom Jerow, Arvid Haugen, Dean Kaatz, Sally Freckman, and Tom Lochner.

Darin Harris moderated the meeting.
Darin, Arvid Haugen, and Tom Jerow gave introductions. Tom introduced Ann Whipp, the new LTE who will be working with the CWBP. Ann handed out the partnership notebooks and explained the contents. Any suggestions, corrections, or materials the partners may have for the notebooks can be shared with Ann for future inclusion.
The partners were asked to give a brief introduction and a suggestion that would assist the partnership efforts. They were as follows:

Terry-Find an approach to renew ourselves after the projects have been started.
Ron-Keep the Plover River project going.
Bill-Take on projects large enough in scope for the partnership.
Mark-Consider the 14 mile creek.
Greg-Follow through on projects but don’t forget new ones.
Kerrie-Keep together in the long term.
Dan-Communication/coordination and focus is important.
George-Keep meeting! Need more cooperation from landowners.
Linda-Keep an eye on the big picture!
Mark B.-Law enforcement; have more than one person doing the project.
Tom-Teamwork; keep focused on the natural resources.
Ann-Ask questions.
Jack-Keep meetings interesting.
Bill P.-Maintain support on community.
Rebecca-Keep pushing for "on the ground" projects for partnerships. Thanks to Ann for keeping partners together.
Sally-Good resource inventory is necessary; consider cultural interviews.
Dean-Keep enthusiasm up!
Arvid-Remember not to get bogged down in process; landowner contacts.
Tom L. –Be careful to maintain support of private landowners.

PROJECT UPDATES:
PLOVER RIVER: 
George showed slides from the photo shoot that was done along the Plover River. These slides represent a baseline assessment of current conditions. One meeting has been held with landowners and another is scheduled for November 2. Landowners have been asked what their vision for the watershed includes and methods to preserve the area have been discussed. The response at these meetings has been favorable. Trout Unlimited has provided leadership for these efforts.
UWSP has developed a class to put together a plan, list of materials, and assist with a shoreline stabilization project located in the Camp Fletcher area. Other groups that have offered assistance for the project include the Boy Scouts, DNR, Izaak Walton League, the City and the County.
Bob Freckman has completed about one third of the endangered species survey.
PROJECT NEEDS:
· A plan for the Portage County portion of the river is necessary. Linda Stoll is developing a green space plan that will complement this effort. 
· Portage County needs to coordinate these efforts with Marathon County. 
· Water quality data is needed. 
· Information regarding inputs from tributaries, etc., is needed.

YELLOW RIVER
PROJECT UPDATE: Rebecca showed slides from the photo shoot that was done to provide a baseline assessment of the area. The slides will also be used for educational purposes.
A grant has been received for Karner Blue butterfly and Massassauga snake protection and education. Landowners have been contacted and several nonbinding "contracts" have been signed to assist with preservation of species and watershed.
A grant proposal for aquatic invertebrates and red shouldered hawks has been submitted.
A citizen’s advisory board is in the works.

PROJECT NEEDS:
· A basic plant and animal inventory. 
· People for the citizens’ advisory board. 
· Water quality information. 
· Natural heritage information. 
· Coordinate effort with Wood County. 
· Dollars to purchase land and/or conservation easements. 
· Work to coordinate efforts to get water quantity and manipulation efforts underway. 
· People contacts for mowing and burning.

BARRIER ISLANDS
PROJECT UPDATE:
The barrier island concept does not fit the current permit program. Consolidated Paper has provided a schematic for our reference, which is in your notebooks in the project selection section. The next steps for the project are to create a plan, talk to locals such as the lake association, to write letters of support, to identify local sponsors for the project, and to identify other businesses who can support the project.
PROJECT NEEDS:
· People to lobby for special legislation with the local legislators. 
· Funding for the project.

LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLANS
PROJECT UPDATE:
There have been three meetings with area counties. They are each in different stages of planning. Portage and Wood Counties are sharing ideas currently. In the future, the plans can be used to focus resources on common issues and concerns.
Bill Ebert has offered his assistance.

PROJECT NEEDS:
· Baseline data and information on water quality standards. 
· Monitoring and evaluation support. 
· Updates on the planning process from the counties that include any resource/data needs and other noteworthy issues. 
· Counties need to prioritize objectives and time frames so that common projects can be seen.

PARTNERING ON PROJECTS
The partners were asked to write down ideas, resources, and contacts that they could contribute to the needs of each of the projects and attach them to the chart board. This information is attached to these minutes.

NEXT STEPS/FOLLOW-UP
Informational and educational material for the public. This information should include communication from the partnership to promote what we are and what we do.
Identify funds, staff, and equipment that is available within the Partnership.
A Basin Educator position is possible for the basin-perhaps by Feb. 2000. Phone calls to the Forestry Dept. can be made in support of the position.
Solicit new ideas from the general public.
Project teams should be formed within the Partnership to put together a plan that includes project management information, a list of potential outside help. Partners were asked to sign up for a specific project. The committees are as follows:
Plover River: *Dan Trainer, *George Rogers, Dean Klish, Arvid Haugen, Ron Pitek, Rebecca Power, Terry Charles, Tom Jerow, Linda Stoll, Ann Whipp
Yellow River: Arvid Haugen, Tom Jerow, Ann Whipp, Tom Lochner, Bill Peterson, Kerrie Wheeler, Greg Lowe, *Rebecca Power
Barrier Islands: Mark Klish, Kerrie Wheeler, Greg Lowe, Tom Jerow, Ann Whipp, *Mark Anderson, *Dick Hilliker
Land & Water Resource Management Plans: Bill Peterson, *Tom Jerow, Ann Whipp, Mark Klish, Sally Freckman, *Bill Ebert, Kerrie Wheeler, Greg Lowe
Those members not in attendance should feel free to contact the project champions (indicated by the *) to add your name to a project committee.

Next meetings: Wednesday, January 19, 2000 at Schmeekle Reserve 
Wednesday, April 12, 2000 sponsored by the US Fish & Wildlife Service

EVALUATION
What about informational and educational materials?
Communication/newsletter to include calendar of events, historical information, and partnership updates to be published every 6 weeks by DNR. Submit information to Ann Whipp by November 1.
What about slides from the photo shoot? Can copies be made to share among the group?
Don’t meet at the same location twice!
Adjournment at 11:45p.m.
Lunch was served followed by an optional tour of a small power plant renovation and the Plover River project site (Camp Fletcher).

LAND AND WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLANS
· George Kraft and Byron Shaw from UWSP are resource contacts for water quality information.
· Coordinate water quality data collection (Tom Jerow).
· Information assistance (Ann Whipp).

BARRIER ISLANDS
· I propose a "general" legislation rather than "specific" but tie approval authority per site into local approval by Land & Water Conservation Department. Set practice guidelines to avoid misuse of a general legislation.
· Gather support of local private organizations for lobbying purposes. Provide information on similar "barrier island" projects on other rivers. What are the costs for large-scale construction? Need to address these concerns.
· Create a computer simulation of the islands to show interested parties what they would accomplish.
· Information assistance-Ann Whipp
· Adams County LCD willing to assist in obtaining permits.
· The Juneau County LCD would be willing to help support the permitting needed to get the Barrier Island project started. Example, information and education.

YELLOW RIVER
· Plant/animal inventory-UWSP grad project or Jerry Storke’s summer intern or propose a project to Golden Sands RC & D Wildlife Committee to seek funding. 
· People on Advisory Committee-tap into Jerry Storkes focus groups.
· Water Quality Data-propose a project to RC & D Water Resources Committee.
· Funding to purchase land-check with Central Wisconsin Land Trust (c/o Jo Ellen Seiser).
· We may be able to coordinate I & E efforts regarding the release of the rattlesnake and the need for its protection-Kerrie Wheeler, Juneau Cty LCD
· Funding for land purchase-suggest contact with local chapters of Whitetails Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, & Quality Deer Management. Local wardens can provide contact names for these clubs.
· Get Hardwood Range as a partner; may help you and help their public relations efforts.
· Help from foresters & wildlife biologists to work with landowners on management plans of forested areas.-Arvid, DNR
· If Yellow River dams are licensed by FERC and have recently been relicensed, ecosystem inventories may be available if environmental impact studies were done.
· Contact me for names for citizen advisory board. Would provide assistance on water quality data-Tom Lochner
· DNR personnel to offer advice on accomplishing burns and to issue permits. Personnel to do Karner Blue surveys, etc. Personnel to make landowner contacts.-Arvid, DNR
· Information assistance-Ann Whipp
· NHI contacts and conduit to access information form DNR-Arvid & Tom
· Provide additional water quality data within what DNR has already planned (for collection).-Tom Jerow, DNR
· Support efforts for citizens to collect water quality data-Tom Jerow

PLOVER RIVER
· Contact landowners that have identified water quality problems.-Dean K.
· NHI contacts and conduit to access information from DNR-Arvid, Tom
· Money may be needed for conservation easements. Some local funds are available, but we need support from this group for matching money; for example, the Stewardship Fund.
· Herb Hintz needs to appreciate the greater picture than just trout.
· Help from foresters and wildlife biologists to work on landowner management plans, etc.-Arvid, DNR
· Support efforts for citizens, (University?) to collect water quality data.
· Information assistance-Ann Whipp
· Know of potential small dollar source for project-Ann Whipp
· Provide additional water quality data within what DNR already has planned.
· Find a local sponsor(s) like Walmart, Copps, etc. to promote and fund.
· Hatley Sawmill may be the source of pollution.
· Water quality assessment is needed to find out where any pollution might be coming from and see if there are any solutions to the problem
· Water quality data—RC & D has a part-time employee who could do an initial literature search or propose a project to RC & D water resources committee for funding to do an inventory.
· Loading to watershed-land use maps and good estimates of off-site contaminant loading will give you a place to start or propose a project to RC & D Water Resources Committee.