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Minutes May 23, 2007 |
Back to Minute Index | Previous Page | home Polk County DD Kennedy Environmental Area Present River Alliance of Wisconsin (RAW), Denny Caneff highlighted RAW’s origin in the mid-1990s as a Rivers group with dam removal advocacy with strong backing from trout fishing interests. During these early years the feds were in the process of re -licensing hydro dams and thus providing RAW with the opportunity to weigh in on the process as an advocate for fish passage and more river friendly hydro operations. RAW continues to focus on dams but has grown to include political advocacy and local group support and more recently technical assistance on specific river issues (i.e. Riverway corridor efforts of the “Stewards of the Dells). With a 700K annual operating budget RAW is home to 9 full time staff including Gail Gilson-Pierce the N. Wisconsin representative operation out of the Eagle River area. A recent focus for the group includes Urban Rivers and the Wisconsin River (w/ assistance from Bob Martini formerly of WDNR). Projects with RAW involvement in the St. Croix Basin include a court settlement with WDNR regarding the St. Croix Falls – War Powers Authorized hydro Dam (out of court MOU signed with DNR and passed out at the meeting). RAW is also working with Wild River designation for the Totogatic and Upper St. Croix Rivers and a joint appeal on DNRs approval of the Enbridge Oil Pipeline EA. Wisconsin’s Working Lands Initiative, Denny Caneff explained the Dept. of Ag. origins of the initiative. The initiative began with the idea that citizens need to consider both the ecological and economic function of open lands (forest and ag.). The forestry aspects have lost some strength within the initiative and the primary focus remains with consideration for 1. Purchase of Development Rights (expensive but permanent) 2. Review of the farmland protection program and how it may relate to exclusive Ag. Zoning. 3. Agricultural Enterprise areas (yet-very broad undefined). The Gov. declined a funding package for the program in the budget in favor of a single conservation focus on renewal of the Stewardship Program. Tim Ritten agreed with the need to focus on open lands and noted that at current trends Polk County will have no ag. Lands left in 59 years. Kathy Bartilson suggests future strategy to combine open lands protection with TMDL pollutant trading. UPDATES Kathy Bartilson, WDNR provided a brief update on the recently introduced fish virus- VHS. The virus was just found in Lake Winnebago and the DNR board has imposed emergency rules for that region. Another invasive, the New Zealand mud snail was recently found in Lake Superior and likely to cause problems with the beds of our trout waters in the state. Tim Ritten, Polk County Land and Water Resources Department provided updates on water quality funded work taking place on a number of lakes within the county. The county’s storm water/erosion ordinance is a year old. Staffs are working with ag. producers to ensure good soil erosion practices on lands coming out of CRP. Turkey producers are reluctant to expand within the county because of the no-exemption rule in the county’s storm water/erosion control ordinance. With watershed projects closing the county could use dollars for staff to assist ag. producers. The Woodley Dam still remains a contention issue with various groups in the county that continue challenging restoration features and the proposed snowmobile bridge crossing. DNR approved permit to remove the dam, stabilize the banks and remove sediment 800 ft. upstream. The Apple River Assoc. appealed the permit citing aesthetic and other concerns. Dave Ferris, Burnett County Land and Water Conservation Dep’t. Highlighted a recent small manure spill within the county. The county has concerns with DATCP’s sole focus on nutrient mgt. planning with little regard for a holistic approach to on farm soil and water conservation. The LWCD is working with Round Lake on a planning grant to investigate algae problems on the lake. The county is moving forward with an animal waste ordinance focused on manure volume not animal units. The proposed “tiered” waste ordinance will kick in when the property accumulates 175 cubic feet of manure. The county is revisiting a possible Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program within the county. 20% of the sale of tax lands will help fund the program. The county hired and AIS coordinator for the summer and is also moving forward with a grant funded initiative to install remote camera at 5 boat landing to hopefully gain better compliance with the AIS law. Mike Prichard, St. Croix Conservation Collaborative is focused on land protection within the multi-state basin. Lots of energy and support from multiple partners is focused on exploring options for the National Park Service to acquire more lands along the river way. Brief group discussion expressed some concern with assessors not lowering taxes on lands with conservation agreements (easements). State law requires them to take these easements into account; however this does not me lower taxes properties with restrictive easements. Britta Lee mentioned that Gathering Waters hosted training for assessors a few years ago on this topic. Britta Lee, W. Wisconsin Land Trust mentioned the planned summer time dedication of the donated easements on Inch and Hildar Lakes-Bayfield County. Randy Ferrin, St. Croix Basin Water Resources Team provided a re-cap of the 8th Annual Protecting the St. Croix conference. 115 attended this year’s conference held at UW River Falls with Brad Pfaff of Rep. Ron Kind’s office providing a keynote address “Farm Bill Renewal Should Reward Stewardship.” Next meeting will be on Sept.
12th, 9am-Noon at the St. Croix National Park Service Headquarters in
St. Croix Falls. |