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February 23, 1999

TIME:
9:00am - Noon
Tuesday, February 23, 1999

PLACE:
Schlitz Audubon Center
1111 E. Brown Deer Road
Bayside
Host: Buffy Cheek

AGENDA:

1. Welcome and Introductions
   Steve Seyfert, Citizen Co-Chair

2. Current Issues & Opportunities
   Steve Seyfert, Citizen Co-Chair

3. Review and Prioritize Partnership Goals
   Carolyn Johnson, UW-Extension

4. DNR Work Planning Initiatives
   Frank Trcka and Sharon Gayan, Department of Natural Resources

5. Draft Partnership Agreement Update
   Partnership Agreement Work Group: Dave Fowler, Sharon Gayan, Carolyn Johnson, Angie Tornes, and Bill Waldron

6. Public Relations/Education Strategy
   Carolyn Johnson, UW-Extension

7. Discuss Next Meeting Date, Place and Agenda
   Proposed time & place:
   Wednesday, April 14, 1999, 9 am to Noon
   UW-Sea Grant Institute
   600 East Greenfield Avenue
   Milwaukee
   Host: Jim Lubner

8. Public Comments
   
   

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February 23, 1999

Attendance:
Kenneth Albinger - Ozaukee County Farm Bureau
Bob Boucher - Friends of the Menomonee River
Elizabeth Cheek - Schlitz Audubon Center
David Fowler - Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
Sharon Gayan - Wis. Department of Natural Resources
Andy Holschbach - Ozaukee Co. Land Conservation Department
Carolyn Johnson - U.W. Extension
Jim Lubner - U.W. Sea Grant Institute
Dan Lynch-Natural Resources Conservation Service
Dick Osantowski - Federation of Environmental Technologists
David Schilling - Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
Steve Seyfert - Ozaukee - Washington Land Trust
Angie Tornes - National Park Service
Frank Trcka - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Claire Vanderslice - Wisconsin Conservation Congress
Don Voith - Mayor, City of Glendale

Absent:
Gary Buntrock - Wisconsin Wastewater Operators Association
Bill Hanbury - Greater Milwaukee Convention & Visitor Bureau
Jim Hess - Wisconsin Woodlands Owners Association
Peter McAvoy - 16th Street Community Health Center
Sheldon Myerchin - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Rod Pfeiffer - Wisconsin Well Water Association
Dan Stoffel - Washington County Land Conservation Committee/Farmer
Bill Waldron - Milwaukee County Department of Parks, Recreation & Culture

Guests:
Dale Katsma-Dept. of Natural Resources - Wildlife Biologist
John Lind-Citizen
Walter Schmitt-Citizen, Stormwater Interest

1. Welcome and Introductions
   Co-Chair Steve Seyfert welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked them for coming. He then introduced three new members of the partner team, Ken Albinger representing the Ozaukee County Farm Bureau, Dick Osantowski representing the Federation of Environmental Technologists and Bob Boucher representing the Friends of the Menomonee River.

2. Current Issues And Opportunities

   1. Milwaukee River North Branch Project
      Steve then introduced Dale Katsma, Wildlife Biologist for the Department of Natural Resources, to tell the partners about the Milwaukee River North Branch Project. This project is a major initiative by the Department to develop a feasibility study on the potential establishment of a land acquisition project on the North Branch of the Milwaukee River in Washington, Ozaukee and Sheboygan Counties. The approval to proceed with this feasibility study is contained in the Department's Five Year Land Acquisition Plan. The study is in its very early stages and there has been no discussion with local landowners or governmental officials. This will occur as the study proceeds. Both the Department's Land and Water Divisions are participating in the development of the study.

      The feasibility study contains an inventory of existing resources, a regional analysis of recreational opportunities and a cost estimate of implementing a land acquisition project in the study area. It will also identify any environmental problems. A major component of the study is the public input process. Several public meetings will be held to obtain input from local landowners and other citizens. Governmental officials of the three counties and four or five townships involved will be contacted for their input.

      The study area contains three lakes, the North Branch of the Milwaukee River and five tributaries, two large lowland floodplain forests, a large variety of other wetlands some of which have been altered by draining over the years, 10-12 potential natural areas and a large amount of agricultural land. The official boundaries of the project will be established by the feasibility study and could increase or decrease from the estimated 10,000 acres currently included in the study boundary. Programs in the Water Division completed a large amount of work in the study area during the previous biennium including wetland typing, coldwater stream inventory, abandoned wells inventory, abandoned landfills inventory and wastewater inventory.

      The study area was selected as a potential project because of the existing high quality natural features of the area and its close proximity to the Milwaukee metropolitan area which is the most highly populated area of the state. The need for public recreational lands is great in southeast Wisconsin. This area of the state is lacking in large chunks of open land available for public recreation. In addition to the recreational benefits, establishment of a Department project here would provide many environmental benefits including wetland restoration opportunities, protection of the water quality of the Milwaukee River and flood control.

      Dan Lynch asked if the project were approved would there be potential for the acquisition of easement through the Wetland Reserve Program. Dale responded that there would be. Dale went on to indicate that land would only be purchased from willing sellers. Some land in the boundary that is established would never be purchased, in some areas only easements would be purchased and that partners such as land trusts, local municipalities or the counties could buy land in the boundary.

      Once the feasibility study is completed and if it receives the necessary approval from the Natural Resources Board for a land acquisition project, the timeframe for acquiring land in the boundary would be very long. In fact, in many of the Department's acquisition projects, much of the land remains in private ownership.

      A question was asked about the impact of a state land acquisition project on the local tax base. In response Dale indicated that there would be minimal impact on the tax base since the state pays property taxes on all the land it purchases.

   2. Ozaukee Washington Land Trust Update
      Steve Seyfert gave a brief update of projects the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust is involved with. These include:

      • Huiras Lake - Washington County - The Land Trust is pursuing the purchase of land on Huiras Lake in Washington County. This is an undeveloped area of high quality natural resources including wildlife and aquatic habitat.

      • West Bend River Walk - Washington County - The Land Trust is a partner in the extension of the West Bend River Walk

      • Ulao Creek Partnership - Ozaukee County - This is an effort to protect and restore this 16 square mile watershed. Development pressure is great. The president of the partnership is a unique landowner in that he has 50 acres in conservation easements along the creek, the Ulao Creek Partnership would like to restore the swamp to tamarack and cedar which were once the predominant species present.

      • Stormwater Management Plan - Village of Mequon/Town of Grafton - The land trust is a partner in the development of this plan. The area addressed is adjacent to I-43 and Highway 60.

3. Review And Prioritize Partnership Goals
   The Partner Team reviewed and prioritized the list of goals developed during our previous meetings. Each member voted for their top three goals giving their first choice three votes, second choice two votes and third choice one vote. Attached to the minutes is the resulting list of goals in order of priority. The number in parentheses at the end of each goal is the total number of votes it received.

4. DNR Work Planning Initiatives
   Sharon Gayan provided a summary of the Department's Water Program's work planning effort for the FY99-01 biennium. The Department work plans for a two-year period. The two specific items she touched on were the Integrated Planning Process and the Baseline Monitoring Effort.

   1. Integrated Planning Process
      This is the old 208 report. It has now evolved into a State of the Basin Report and contains elements for protection of groundwater, surface water and terrestrial resources. The development of the plan and the plan itself will undergo an intense public participation process including a public hearing. All the partners are invited to bring their recommended issues, new areas of study or target areas for action which they would like to see included in the plan. Ultimately this report should be a report of the partner team.

   2. Baseline Monitoring Effort
      Ten monitoring sites on the Milwaukee River will be selected for baseline monitoring. Big Cedar Lake in Washington County has been selected as the lake-monitoring site for the project. The Land Division programs will have input into the monitoring site selection. Input from the partner team is also welcome.

   3. Integrated Ecosystem Management Project
      The Land and Water Programs in the Region have selected a joint Integrated Ecosystem Management Project. This will be the removal of the Chair Factory Dam and restoration of the impoundment area. This dam is located in the Village of Grafton on the Milwaukee River.

      Frank Trcka then provided a brief summary of work planning priorities for Land Programs in the Southeast Region.

      Land Programs will work with Water Programs to provide baseline data for the Integrated Planning Process Sharon discussed including work on the Chair Factory Dam removal. Land will assist in the development of a restoration plan for the impoundment area once the dam is removed. Wildlife and Forestry staff will be involved in this.

      Projects that the Land Programs will be involved with in the Milwaukee River Basin over the next biennium include the following:

      Parks & Recreation

      • Development of the Lakeshore State Park Master Plan and implementation

      • Development and construction of the Henry Aaron State Park Trail

      • Landfill capping - Havenwoods

      • Lincoln Creek Flood Control Project Sedimentation Basin - Havenwoods

      Wildlife

      • Grassland & wetland restoration projects on public and private land funded through the North American Wetland Conservation Act

      • Development of the Milwaukee River North Branch Project feasibility study (discussed by Dale Katsma today)

      • Maintenance of State Wildlife Areas including in the basin including Jackson Marsh & Allenton Marsh

      • Species management activities including the establishment of antlerless deer quotas and turkey permit levels, registration station establishment and required species survey work

      Forestry

      • Pine thinnings on the Northern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest

      • Reforestation activities on the Northern Unit

      • Work with private landowners including Managed Forest Law and Wisconsin Forest Owner Grant Program participants

      A discussion of "Smart Growth" evolved from the Work planning discussion. To better understand what this is, a suggestion was made that we need to have a presentation to the partner team on this issue. Dave Fowler indicated that the International Joint Commission (IJC) will be meeting in Milwaukee from September 24 to 26. There is a session on watershed management that includes discussion of "smart growth". It would be good if some of the partners could go to that session.

      Claire Vanderslice brought up the issue of PCB contamination as it relates to the North Avenue Dam removal. She indicated that the "rug" had rolled up and PCB contaminated sediments were exposed. A lot of money has been spent to study PCBs but there has been no action. In response Sharon Gayan indicated that there was a problem with the liner that resulted from the August flood event but that it was being dealt with by the Department and City of Milwaukee.

5. Draft Partnership Agreement Update
   Carolyn Johnson asked for comments on the Draft Partnership Agreement. Claire Vanderslice indicated that the DNR should be specifically mentioned in the first paragraph of the agreement because it is the DNR's proposal as the result of reorganization. This precipitated a discussion of the role of the partnership. Sharon stressed that this group will work hand-in-hand with each partner to get things done. The group should not be dominated by one partner. All are equal. There is no danger of the DNR not performing its regulatory responsibilities as a result of the establishment of the partner team because one of the ground rules is that the partner team will not become involved in any regulatory decisions.

   Several minor wording changes were made. The revised version of the partnership agreement is attached. We will again look at the agreement at our next meeting in April.

6. Public Relations/Education Strategy
   Carolyn suggested that a sub team be established to look at the top four or five partnership goals as identified in the Review and Prioritize Partnership Goals Section above. This sub team would brainstorm educational initiatives that could be undertaken to assist in addressing these top goals.

   The following partners volunteered to work on this item with Carolyn:

   • Jim Lubner

   • Bob Boucher

   • Buffy Cheek

   • Dave Fowler

   • Walter Schmitt

   • Andy Holschbach

   Other people suggested as potential contributors to this effort, though not partner team members at this time, were the Riveredge Nature Center Education Director, someone from Hawley School and someone from Citizens for a Better Environment (Mary Beth Driscoll).

   Carolyn asked that all partner team members think about this and e-mail her any ideas which could assist in developing this educational initiative.

7. Discuss Next Meeting Date, Place and Agenda
   The next meeting will be on April 14, 1999 at the Great Lakes Research Center in Milwaukee starting at 9:00 AM. A map is included with the minutes to assist you in finding this site.

   Possible agenda items include the following:

   1. Smart Growth

   2. Integrated Planning

   3. PCB remediation

   4. A Land Trust Presentation

   5. Tour of the Great Lakes Facility

   6. Report on Partnership Development

   7. A discussion on the taking of a position on certain issues by the partner team

8. Public Comments
   There were no public comments.

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