Wolf Basin Partnership List of Issues 10/26/99

"What emerging issues, concerns and opportunities should the Wolf Basin Partnership address over the next 12 months?"

1. Land Use Planning and Implementation (due to new roads coming in and cities sprawling out)
2. Need to be able to identify priority areas within the Basin
3. Level of recreational use on our waterways - how do we manage?
4. Recruit more hunting and fishing members to workgroup and get going
5. Government should protect riparian areas via regulation (and regulations should be developed on what people can/cannot do)
6. Have a discussion on Bald Eagles and their removal from the Endangered Species List
7. Improve accessibility of land use information to people (ie. on the web)
8. Need to do a resource inventory and a resource management plan
9. Fragmentation of land; leave large tracts large
10. Benefits of wetlands and water quality. Should do an education project to heighten awareness of their benefits.
11. Trumpeter swan awareness within Basin to improve identification by hunters
12. Look into Large farm operations (CAFOs - Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) potentially entering the Basin and comment on any proposal.
13. Have Wolf Basin Partnership endorse land acquisition in Basin (whether by DNR or other groups)
14. Need to educate people on the benefits of Ecosystem Services
15. [Prepare a] State of the Basin report and [clarify] GMU responsibility for integrated ecosystem management
16. Create Classification system for rivers and accompanying ordinances and regulations
17. Address Mukwa area and Hwy X construction for walleye spawning and for public access on Wolf River
18. Wave action impact on silt deposition (in the river)
19. Take a position on Crandon Mine
20. Address water levels, controls on White Lake in Weyauwega
21. Develop a "water school" for community leaders in Basin
22. Implement pollutant trading pilot and document effects on discharges, education piece; market based incentives for pollution control
23. Land use planning for undeveloped areas not on rivers or lakes (ie. woodlots) to control exurban sprawl
24. Conduct a study to determine seasonal and spatial variation in water quality and sources of pollution across the Basin, (part of a TMDL development)
25. Increase the diversity of user groups in the partnership
26. Protect wood turtle (Clemys species) in riparian systems. (Endangered species that needs clean water - good indicator species)
27. Examine federal and state regulations of cranberry operations for Wolf Basin prior to future establishment of industry
28. Look at "Sustainability" of development issues within Basin.
29. Research and comment upon general permit program for Winnebago Pool pilot water permitting (piers, wharves, seawalls and pile clusters), per WI AB755 of 1997.
30. Fox Locks - keep them closed (because of exotic species concerns)
31. Dam removal issues
32. The goal of resource management by watersheds is in danger of being lost to management by county due to changes in the Nonpoint program
33. Offer woodlot management training for small, private, non-industrial woodlot owners. Incorporate aesthetic, environmental and wildlife factors.
34. Offer constructive criticism to DNR on its citizen participation processes related to water and land decision making. Make Wolf River basin a model for expanded citizen participation in DNR decision making.
35. The exotic weed Eurasian milfoil is spreading through the waterways of our state, crowding out all other native plant life. Promote and support action that will help Prevent this spread in the Wolf River Basin.
36. Review outdoor recreation facilities in Basin - do we need more open space/parks/non-hunting areas for outdoor recreation activities such as hiking, mountain biking , horseback riding?
37. Increase education efforts to private land owners on good stewardship of their property. Sound forestry, wildlife management practices. Ownership has some responsibility with it for good stewardship to occur (similar to the shoreline work done this year - just more efforts upland).
38. Watershed losses in basin, impact on base flows (better water management and uses - its not an inexhaustible resource)
39. Farm and Agriculture lands - banked for future needs
40. Loss of habitat in near shore area
41. Shoreland restoration
42. Nonmetallic mining reclamation by counties (mandated by state)
43. Need for training
44. Conduct a strong riparian owner education effort to show them the importance of proper land and shoreland management.
45. Clarify the trespassing law to the people in words all can understand -such as the public does not have a right of way along banks of streams or rivers. All land belong to private ownership unless it it marked public land or is in forest crop, farm deer damage or other program making it open to the public.
46. Recognize that agriculture provides food for wildlife as well as cover. Farms well managed provide the greatest abundance of wildlife species.