Oneida County Clean Waters Action

Hark the Trumpet Lichen!

JoAnne Lund's Oneida County Clean Water Minute

There are many unseen worlds beneath our feet in the woodlands. Common on the forest floor is the Trumpet Lichen. These graceful goblets grow on the soil or rotting wood in full or partial sun. Spores form within the elegant “trumpet”. This lichen and its relatives rely on raindrops landing inside the trumpet structure to disperse their spores and, if successful, create more lichens. Pebbled Pixie Cup is a related lichen with a similar form.

Lichens are more a lifestyle than an organism, the result of a cooperative venture between fungi and algae. The algae produce food in the form of sugars through photosynthesis. The fungi “house” the algae and provide water and nutrients. Lichens are known as extremophiles. They survive in the most hostile environments on earth and even in space! Extreme temperatures, excessive radiation and near absence of water doesn’t trouble them. The longest living lichen known is over 9000 years old!

The humble lichen is a keystone species, an organism that’s vital to the health and well-being of the entire ecosystem where it resides. They serve as a food source and provide habitat for many animals such as deer, moose, rodents, and insects. They provide nesting material for birds and protect trees and rocks from extreme elements such as rain, wind, and snow.

Lichens also serve as bioindicators for air quality. Absorbing certain levels of pollutants such as Sulphur and heavy metals from the air can be deadly to them. So if there are a lot of lichens in the woods near you be happy! You live in a healthy, thriving environment, and the lichens are improving the air you breathe just by being there.

JoAnne Lund is an ecologist and naturalist living in Oneida County. She thrives on kayaking, back-country skiing and nature photography.

History of County Mining Zoning Changes

It's Incumbent upon Towns and residents to take back critical protections on mining.

By Eric Rempala January 30th, 2025- A short history lesson on how towns lost local control and critical protections and why it's important to take them back.

What happened in 2018

In 2018 Karl Fate sniffed out the loss of towns critical protections in Oneida County's 2018 adoption of their current Mining Ordinance. Karl expressed his concerns in a June 2018 OCCWA article, excerpt below.

"On June 19, the Oneida County Board decided to preemptively allow sulfide mines in areas of our county zoned 1-A Forestry and General Use, so that a mining company could avoid having to ask for a rezone the area. This effectively removes a critical protection from the towns and from all of us who pay taxes here.

This had been pushed by some supervisors since 2012, as a way to retaliate against the Town of Lynne, and to force a mine on them. Although this maneuver was designed to facilitate a mine at Lynne, it could potentially impact any zoned town in the county, some having large portions zoned 1-A Forestry and General Use.
This Resolution came from the P&D Committee, which does not have a single member who is a strong advocate for our water. In fact, several committee members have been pushing a mine at Lynne for many years. It is clear that this process was used by this committee to push the agendas of the committee members onto the full Board of Supervisors.
Perhaps the most disgusting aspect of this debacle is that the supervisors disingenuously played innocent, as if they had no choice in voting for something that the people did not want. Yes, gentlemen, you did have a choice, and you decided to vote against local control, the towns, the taxpayers, and against protecting our water resources."

One of the protections lost was the ability of towns to review mining proposals and decide whether to approve or not approve zoning changes to permit a mine. Before the new ordinance, mining was only allowed in District 8 Manufacturing and Industrial which accounts for only a fraction of the county's land. To permit mining a town would have to work with the county to rezone potential mine sites to District 8. The ability to be a part of the zoning/permitting process was stripped away from towns with the County's 2018 Mining Ordinance zoning changes.

What's happening now

In the February 5th Oneida County P&D Committee Public Hearing the County will be codifying the 2018 Mining Ordinances zoning changes into the Zoning & Shoreland Protection Ordinance six years after the fact. To be clear the zoning changes went into effect in 2018. The county is just now updating the shoreland Protection Ordinance to reflect those changes. In the Public Hearing agenda 2.5.25-NPH.pdf one of changes to District 1A Forestry will be as follows.

District 1A Forestry

Permitted Use

ADD: Metallic Mineral exploration and non-ferrous metallic mineral mining pursuant to Section 9.60

Note: non-ferrous metallic mineral mining is Metallic Sulfide Mining

Due to current District 10 General Use zoning language (below) you can see that adding mining as a permitted use to 1A Forestry in turn makes mining a permitted use in District 10 General Use.

District 10 General Use

B. Permitted Uses / Administrative Review Uses / Conditional Uses All the same provisions applying to permitted uses, administrative review uses and conditional uses (but not special conditional uses) in the following districts - Forestry, Single Family, Multiple Family, Residential and Farming, Recreational, Business (B-1), Business (B-2), and Manufacturing and Industrial also apply to the General Use District and are incorporated herein by reference. District 10 General Use from Chapter 9 – Zoning & Shoreland Protection Ordinance

What do these zoning changes look like?

Well, by using County Zoning Maps and guesstimating the percentage of towns' land that consists of 1A Forestry and General Use combined I came up with these numbers. In other words, what (estimated) percentage of town land is mining now permitted due to 2018 Mining Ordinance changes.

Cassian 25%, Crescent 90%, Hazelhurst 60%, Lake Tomahawk 15%, Little Rice 85%, Lynne 90%, Minocqua 75%, Newbold 80%, Nokomis 100%, Pelican 95%, Piehl 10%,

Pine Lake 40%, Schoepke 98%, Stella 40%, Three Lakes 55%, Woodruff 70%, Woodboro 90%.

Since the towns of Enterprise, Monico, and Sugar Camp are not zoned, it's understood that mining is allowed on 100% of their land.

To be sure, in this case a bigger number is not better. Congratulations Piehl, you are the winner!

To get a picture of how much of your town's land that mining is permitted on you can find County zoning Maps at Index of /ZoningMap and make your own guesstimate.

As an example, we have included a photocopy of Crescents Map at the top of this article, all of the gray area on the map is General Use zoned.

Transparency in the process?

Former Supervisor Sorenson in 2018 from WXPR article Sorenson Gets More Open Access To Mining Rule Rewrite | WXPR stated.

"....the change to the mining code, the potential possibilities of mining in Oneida county are going to be an extremely passionate item for large groups of people in the county. It's vitally important from the very start of this process that we operate in an environment so the people know what we are doing. To run this process behind a closed door is the worst idea we could ever have...."

I could not agree more. Was the process transparent? Did the towns understand at the time, and do they understand now the critical protections they lost?

Why were these changes made?

Well, the County stated that the changes were made due to the state's adoption of then District 12 Senator Tom Tiffany's 2017 ACT 134. ACT 134 eliminated the wildly popular and protective "Prove it First" law. It's not clear why Oneida County believed that they had to permit mining in an estimated 70% of their land to comply with ACT 134. In fact, many counties across the state made no changes at all. The John Muir Chapter of the Sierra Club stated.

"Oneida County chose to rewrite its formerly protective mining ordinance after 2017 Act 134 was passed that eroded state protections and under pressure by mining proponents including Senator Tom Tiffany to limit their ordinance. Sen. Tiffany and other proponents argued that local governments such as Oneida could not have local controls on mining that were more protective than state law and threatened that the legislature might pass further limits on local control.

The John Muir Chapter worked with local Oneida County residents, the Protect The Willow group and the River Alliance of Wisconsin to oppose the rewritten ordinance on the grounds that local governments can enact limited protections that are greater than state law. Despite this effort, the Oneida County Board approved the new ordinance that limited their ability to enact additional protections."

Can the Mining Ordinance be changed back?

The better question may be, can the towns and residents be a part of a discussion with the county on changes to the Mining Ordinance/Zoning and Shoreland Protection Ordinance? There is no doubt that enough public input given to the county should initiate a discussion involving the interested parties and their concerns. There is no reason that the county cannot entertain ideas on at least reexamining the zoning changes.

As a matter of fact, at the latest county Bruh Ha on mining in August Mining issue on Oneida County board agenda draws crowd - Tomahawk Leader Chairman Holewinski stated his interest in getting the will of the current board on pursuing a mine in Lynne. So, the question becomes, why wouldn't this be a good time to "get the will of the current board" on mining zoning?

Holewinski quote from Tomahawk Leader article on what he discussed at a meeting in Madison with a mining company.

“We discussed the history of the Lynne deposit, other deposits in northern Wisconsin, our mining ordinance and the resolution I was taking to the county board in August,” Holewinski said, adding that he wanted to “get the will of the current board” before any formal discussion about the Lynne deposit would move forward."

The resolution that County Chairman Holewinski speaks of in the quote was defeated 13 to 6. It's important to note Chairman Holewinski is also the chairman of the town of Sugar Camp. As mentioned previously, the town of Sugar Camp along with Enterprise and Monico are unzoned towns. Choosing to not have zoning is their choice. The fact of the matter though, is that choice is very different than the other 17 towns of Oneida County.

So, is it a case of the tail wagging the dog? Perhaps, but I tend to think that County Chairman is a powerful position and anyone that accepts that position will have a strong influence in policy. After all, the County Chairman appoints all county committee members. That includes the members of the powerful P&D Committee. It is incumbent upon the supervisors of the 17 zoned towns to represent their constituents' interests above all else.

Supervisor whether county or town is a thankless job, and I have a great respect for those who accept that responsibility.

Best way to voice your opinion on mining zoning?

Call or email your County Supervisor, their contact info can be found at County Board – Oneida County, WI Note: It's a little tricky, to find their email you must click on their name.

Call or email the P&D committee members at Planning & Development – Oneida County, WI Click on names for contact info.

Lastly, you may email the County Clerk County Clerk – Oneida County, WI and request your email be forwarded to the P&D Committee.

Don't forget to include your name and address as well as any properties you own in Oneida County.

Clean Water Updates

Current issues updated as necessary to keep our Clean Water supporters informed.

Posted 1/28/24- P&D to wrap up Comprehensive Plan language and forward to towns for 60-day review period.

As reported on numerous occasions, the County's P&D Committee has been working on writing a new Comprehensive Plan for close to two years. Many concerning changes have been made, which OCCWA has drawn attention to. According to the Committee in their last meeting on January 22, the final draft of the Comp Plan will go to the towns for review within a few weeks. The towns will have 60 days to review and provide input and share any concerns. What that 60-day review period means, is don't expect a Public Hearing until at least April.

When the public hearing does occur, it will offer one final chance for public comment on the proposed language. Yes, you will get 3 minutes to voice concerns/comments on this vast document. Unless of course, your name is Great Lakes Timber Professionals who received 4 hours of consideration.

Comments made at public hearing may or may not adopted by the committee. We understand that wading through all of the plan is more than one person may be willing do. That being said once we at OCCWA get the final product we will try to convey our most pressing concerns to our followers. It would be at this point we would recommend the public giving input. If you cannot attend the Public Hearing in person, please consider sending email comments to the committee. Remember, email input will be documented in the hearing. You may express concern to your County Supervisor by phone but that will not be documented unless the Supervisor chooses to share it during the meeting.

Once the public hearing is done and all final consideration for changes are incorporated, the new Comprehensive Plan will be brought to the County Board for approval. Please stay tuned and we will do our level best to keep residents posted here in our Clean Water Updates.

To track current P&D changes you can view the November 11th P&D changes at Oneida-GOPs-Summary-of-Changes-11.11.2024-1.pdf (note: Changes highlighted are only those made at the most recent meeting) Any future language changes will also be documented on this link. Feel free to share any concerns or suggestions with us through our Contact Us page Oneida County Clean Waters Action .

Posted January 21, 2024- Wisconsin DNR shares expanded 2024 spring-summer Stella PFAS test results on DNR/Stella webpage.

This past spring the DNR accomplished expanded testing in the Town of Stella. The expanded testing increased the test area by an additional half mile further than the already accomplished 2.5-mile radius bringing the total test area up 3 miles around the Starks epicenter. The updated mapping can be found on the DNR/Stella website PFAS Contamination in the Town of Stella | | Wisconsin DNR in the Private Well Sampling Tab.

A PDF version of the updated map can be found here- Map of Starks Area/Town of Stella - PFAS Sampling Results (as of 12/04/2024) (See photo at top right)

As you can see the only wells in the expanded area that tested greater than the Wisconsin Health Standards* for PFAS were located on or close to Snowden Lake. Additionally, the DNR offered private well sampling to a small subset of residents near Sunset Lake where two wells tested over Wisconsin Health Standards.

*Note: Red dots on the Town of Stella map represent private wells with PFAS concentration greater than the Department of Health Services recommended guideline of 20 nanograms per liter (ng/L). DHS is currently reconsidering their health recommendation given the Federal maximum contaminant level of 4 ng/L for PFOA and PFOS. There are currently 14 wells with PFAS concentrations between 20 and 4 ng/L in the Town of Stella.

At this time the DNR offered no opinion on the new results nor information of any more expanded testing. For those who wish to see the individual test results of all wells tested in the Stella area you can access those results at the DNR webpage- WDNR EM/RR BOTW

Posted January 24. 2025- Wisconsin Attorney General Kaul joins amicus brief defending nationwide PFAS drinking water standards.

An excerpt directly from the Wisconsin DOJ release Attorney General Kaul Joins Amicus Brief Defending Nationwide PFAS Forever Chemical Drinking Water Standards | Wisconsin Department of Justice states:

"MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul joined a coalition of 18 states filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit defending a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule establishing the first nationwide drinking water standards for certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl “PFAS” forever chemicals under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

“This EPA rule will protect people’s health by limiting PFAS in the water we drink,” said Attorney General Kaul. “This rule limiting these toxic chemicals in our drinking water should be upheld.”

The federal rule expands nationwide drinking water protections for four new PFAS and sets enforceable standards for six PFAS chemicals found in drinking water across the country: PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, GenX, PFNA, and PFBS. The rule sets regulations for each chemical individually, and as mixtures, recognizing appropriately that these threats cannot be addressed in isolation. Under the rule, public water systems across the United States are required to test and, if necessary, treat drinking water for these contaminants."

The case comes with EPA looking to curb the use of PFOA, PFOS as well as other forms of forever chemicals. The proposed EPA rules would give the federal government more power to regulate PFAS chemicals. A federal court last year ruled that the EPA overstepped its authority setting PFAS rules.

Does this sound similar to the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce lawsuit against the DNR going on in our state? Who knows where the Feds will wind up with PFAS rules with a new administration in place. It's something Wisconsin's residents should monitor considering our PFAS contamination.

Posted January 15, 2025- Science on Tap Minocqua to host DNR's drinking water specialist Mark Pauli with PFAS as the subject.

On February 6th, 6:30 pm Rocky Reef Brewing Company in Woodruff Home | Rocky Reef Brewing Company will be hosting Mark Pauli DNR drinking water specialist. Mark is based out of Rhinelander and has been quite involved in the Town of Stella's PFAS water testing. OCCWA has had the pleasure of communicating with Mark on previous occasions and commend both he and the DNR for their transparency and availability on this issue.

We think you will find the Science on Tap series SCIENCE ON TAP MINOCQUA - Home different from many other science-based lectures. There is less lecture and more public Q&A. This makes for a highly interactive and entertaining event. So come on out enjoy some craft brew, mingle with fellow locals and share a thought or two. If you cannot make it in person there will be a live stream option. Hope to see you there!

Posted January 10, 2024- New Zealand Mudsnail just one invasive species to watch for while trout fishing even in winter.

This from a recent DNR Facebook post.

"Catch and release trout season is now open on designated inland streams across the state, but trout might not be the only species in these cold waters.

If you're out targeting some early-season trout, be mindful of aquatic invasive species, like the New Zealand mudsnail, that might be lurking in the banks or stream bottoms of your favorite spots.

Help prevent the spread of these aquatic hitchhikers with a few easy steps before heading home or to your next fishing spot:

– Inspect fishing equipment for attached aquatic plants, animals or mud.

– Remove all attached plants or animals.

– Drain water from your waders and gear.

During the winter, freezing temperatures can also help control invasive species. Leaving your gear outside to freeze for more than 8 hours will kill most aquatic hitchhikers. Learn more about invasive species in Wisconsin: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Invasives "

What does a mudsnail look like? See photo at right, provided from WDNR.

For more info see WDNR link New Zealand mudsnail | (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) | Wisconsin DNR

Posted January 10, 1/10/2024- In PFAS news, we have a consequential WMC lawsuit to be monitored and a potential reintroduction of last years failed PFAS legislation.

In the latest PFAS news, the State Supreme Court will decide Wisconsin Manufactures and Commerce's (WMC) lawsuit to strip the DNR's authority to regulate PFAS and other hazardous substances under Wisconsin’s Spills Law. State Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments in WMC Toxic Pollution Case on Jan 14 | Midwest Environmental Advocates

If WMC is successful, expect Wisconsin taxpayer dollars to pay for PFAS remediation rather than responsible PFAS polluting industries.

**Update January 14: Encouraging (WMC) lawsuit news as State Supreme Court seems to have a working knowledge of issues at hand. See WPR coverage: Wisconsin Supreme Court justices question challenge to state authority in PFAS case - WPR

In other PFAS news, "Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Oconto, said he plans to reintroduce a bill to tackle PFAS contamination by the end of January." After failed attempts, Wisconsin lawmakers will try again to address PFAS - WPR Senator Wimberger's answer to releasing the states $120 million PFAS relief money that the legislature has stalled for almost 2 years is to reintroduce what failed last year? Great!

Unless there are substantial changes to the original language that both the Republican Party and Governor can agree on, we can expect the same result. No financial PFAS relief.

Posted 12/31/24- Governor selects newest DNR Secretary with political infighting expected to continue.

Governor Evers has selected Karen Hyun as the next secretary of the DNR. Mrs. Hyun's credentials are listed in WXPR's December 23 article Gov. Tony Evers appoints new DNR secretary after yearlong vacancy - WPR

The DNR and Evers appointees have been the targets of the legislature for quite some time now as described in an excerpt from CBS article Wisconsin Gov. Evers finally appoints new DNR secretary after year-long search - CBS Minnesota

" Republican lawmakers for years have treated the DNR with disdain, criticizing the agency for being too draconian in regulating pollution, buying too much land for preservation and delivering anemic deer hunts in the state's northern forests.

Tension has been running especially high between the GOP and the agency since Evers first took office in 2019.

Fred Prehn, a member of the DNR's policy board appointed by then-Republican Gov. Scott Walker refused to vacate his seat for more than a year after his term ended in May 2021, maintaining a 4-3 majority on the board for Republican appointees.

The Republican-controlled Senate voted to reject four of Evers' five appointees to the board in October 2023. Four Evers appointees currently serving on the board have yet to get a confirmation vote."

With four of five 2023 Evers NRB appointees not confirmed and considering the last DNR Secretary appointee was also not confirmed by the legislature for the entire ten months of his service, why would one expect anything different? Sadly, PFAS relief funding for residents continues to be stalled for the same political infighting.

Northwoods Land Trust to Lead Hike at Holmboe Forest

Land trust to showcase old-growth gem in free guided hike.

By Kathleen Cooper January 29, 2025- Hidden in plain sight in the city of Rhinelander is a 38-acre treasure of protected forestland, the Holmboe Conifer Forest State Natural Area. This area is recognized for its old-growth hemlock and pine forest characteristics and has been designated as a State Natural Area by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Holmboe has also been inducted into the Old-growth Forest Network which recognizes publicly accessible old-growth forests throughout the country. The property includes about one-third of a mile of undeveloped natural shoreline on the Pelican River.

Holmboe Conifer Forest is conveniently located in the City of Rhinelander behind the Riverview Hall facility at 903 Boyce Drive. For more detailed directions, you can type “Holmboe Conifer Forest Trailhead” into Google Maps. There is just under 1 mile of a looping natural surface hiking trail that leads to the Pelican River, with a small boardwalk and puncheons along the way to help cross the wetlands.

The Holmboe preserve is open year-round, and the trails are an easy hike for people of all ages and levels of fitness. I never tire of walking among the towering old hemlocks and breathing in the pine scented air. Even though it is located in the midst of the city, this natural area offers an oasis of peace and stillness that we seldom can enjoy in the midst of our busy days. Besides offering peace and tranquility to visitors who walk the trails, Holmboe Conifer Forest provides natural plant and animal habitat, helps to restore water quality, and its old growth trees provide carbon storage and other nature-based services that lessen the impacts of climate change.

We all have the opportunity to explore this hidden gem on February 20 from 1:00-2:30 pm. Frank Schroyer, NWLT Land Conservation Associate will be leading a guided snowshoe hike along the trail, stopping to point out the unique features of this nature preserve. The Northwoods Land Trust (NWLT) permanently conserves natural shorelands, woodlands and other natural resources to benefit present and future generations in Vilas, Oneida, Forest, Florence, Iron, Price and Langlade Counties. Visit www.northwoodslandtrust.org to learn more about NWLT's conservation services, protected lands, and future events. To register online for the hike, click on their News & Events tab, or contact the NWLT office at 715-479-2490 by Monday February 17. Space is limited.

OCCWA staff will be attending this hike. Hope to see you there!

Registration for the Holmboe hike can be found at: Snowshoe at Holmboe Conifer Forest – Northwoods Land Trust

Time for Public to Weigh in on Popular Program

Beckie Gaskill's Midwest Conservation checks in with just the facts on Knowles Nelson Program.

By Beckie Gaskill January 21, 2024- The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program has provided grants to nonprofits and local governments and has awarded hundreds of grants to fund any number of conservation land purchases as well as to fund recreational development across Wisconsin. Grants through this program have been used in a variety of ways including purchasing land, creating recreational trails, campground and boat launches. One of those land purchases recently, however, the Pelican River Easement, was threatened by a statute that mandated involvement of the state’s Joint Finance Committee in certain land purchased, but only in a particular part of the state, and only if that purchase required a certain amount of money.

In the case of the 56,000-acre acquisition in the Pelican Lake Forest, $4 million was needed, coupled with $11.4 million in Federal dollars. One member of the Joint Finance Committee 9JFC) moved to block that purchase. It was originally done anonymously, but eventually Senator Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk) came forward to say that she was the one who objected, stating that many of her constituents were against the acquisition and that it would take away from possible future tax rolls of the small Town of Monico, among other things.

At that point, recreational enthusiasts as well as hunting and fishing organizations and individual stakeholders banned together in an attempt to see the state’s largest land acquisition go through to keep that land from being developed in perpetuity.

After this, the JFC’s involvement in any Knowles-Nelson was called into question. Last year, the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the law allowing JFC’s ability to anonymously veto a Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program project. The opinion was authored by Justice Rebecca Bradley, according to Gathering Waters, an alliance for land trusts that supports more than 40 land trusts statewide in Wisconsin. This caused some ire in the legislature and there is now a push to eliminate Knowles-Nelson funding. Gathering Waters opposes this elimination, as do other organizations and individuals in the state.

To learn more about Knowles-Nelson and to see an interactive map of the projects funded through the program, visit: https://knowlesnelson.org/an-interactive-map-of-knowles-nelson-grants/

For Wisconsin residents who may want to contact their legislators to show their support for Knowles-Nelson, simply click this link: Take Action – Knowles Nelson Stewardship

Midwest Conservation by Beckie Gaskill is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber at Midwest Conservation by Beckie Gaskill | Substack

OCCWA Commentary: To easily send a postcard to your legislator supporting the Knowles Nelson Program go to link Take Action – Send a Postcard to Your Legislator – Knowles Nelson Stewardship A few minutes of you time is all it takes!

To read Tom Wiensch's OCCWA article on local Knowles Nelson projects, see his October 10th post below on our Home Page.

New Wave Boat Study, Same Conclusion

Latest Wave Boat study from Connecticut reinforces setting higher end numbers on restrictions.

By Dan Butkus December 24, 2024- Many of us have been following the issue of the impacts of wake boats on our local lakes in Wisconsin. The impacts include powerful waves that can erode shoreline, stir up sediment, safety, and aquatic invasive species transfer. Several states have gone before Wisconsin in attempting to regulate the boats on inland lakes. There is outcry from lake users and pushback from wake boat owners and the boating industry. It’s a tug-of-war over whose data is “real”. But now there is one more study that supports the position that these boats have a large negative impact on lakes. The Lake Waramaug Inter-Local Commission published its report on November 15, 2024. The study was done by Terra Vigilis Environmental Services Group. It included surveys of area residents, a literature review, as well as their own testing and observations. Lake Waramaug is a 656-acre lake in the towns of Kent, Warren, and Washington in Litchfield County Connecticut.

There’s a lot to go through in the report. If you’d like to read the entire report, it can be found through this link: lake_waramaug_final_report.pdf . Several different wake boats and ski boats were used in their study on Lake Waramaug.

There are several key take-away’s from the report. First, they found that wake boats in wake mode (bow-up configuration at slow speeds), create waves at least twice as high as a water ski boat. These waves also have 4 times the wave energy as a ski boat. In order for a wake boat wave to dissipate to the same energy as a ski boat 100 ft from shore, the distance of the wake boat needs to be over 500 ft from shore. This confirms several studies including the University of Minnesota and Water Environment Consultants (WEC) performed on Lakes Rabun & Burton, Georgia, January 2021.

Secondly, the effects of the downward wash from the boat’s motor reaches down to at least 26 ft deep, roiling the water and re-suspending lakebed sediments. Additionally, the wakes created increase suspension of lake sediments near shore. Not only does settling out of re-suspended sediments cover aquatic plants robbing of them of sunlight, Terra Vigilis also noted increased levels of suspended phosphorous in Lake Waramaug, especially around the shoreline.

The following action items for Lake Waramaug Inter-Local Commission were developed by Terra Vigilis:

· “Develop and establish management procedures for large displacement wave action impacts on Lake Waramaug, CT”
· “Develop and establish management procedures to assure a 500-foot minimum distance from the near shore, other vessels and shore structures relative to Wake Board boats in surf mode on Lake Waramaug, CT”
· “Develop and establish management procedures to assure minimum depth areas to be designated and protected from sediment redistribution events from Wake Board boats in surf mode on Lake Waramaug, CT”
· “Develop and establish educational programs to address measured limits of public knowledge regarding safe boating practices for all vessel types and lake usage on Lake Waramaug, CT”
· “Develop and establish educational programs to address public awareness of large wave impacts to the surface and subsurface of Lake Waramaug, CT”
· “Additional study of sediment re-distribution and nutrient release”

Back here in Wisconsin, over 50 environmental and lake organizations as well as businesses that serve water sports have formed a coalition to promote reasonable regulation of wake boats in our state. The new study from Connecticut goes a long way in supporting what the coalition has proposed:

· Operate at least 700 ft from shore
· Operate at depths greater than 30 ft
· Minimize transport of aquatic invasive species (ballast tanks do not completely empty when moving from one lake to another)
· Retain local control for more restrictive regulations by towns/municipalities.

It is hoped that meaningful dialog can take place to provide a state-wide standard for operating wake boats so that their impact on the environment may be managed, and other users of our lakes can coexist with wake boats.

Future of Forests Considered

Given Wisconsin's Greenfire's latest report, what does the future hold for Oneida County's Forests?

By Tom Wiensch December 19, 2024, (Photo credit Len Hyke)- The history of forests and forestry in Wisconsin is long and storied. The tales from the big cutover of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which include mythical creatures and massive tragedies like the Peshtigo Fire, have left an indelible mark on Wisconsin Culture.

More recently, our forests have provided ecosystems and products that sustain traditional indigenous culture, habitat for animals, jobs, raw materials, and recreation. Importantly, our forests also protect our lakes and rivers, sequester carbon, and provide clean air.

Currently, about 46% of Wisconsin is forested. Of Wisconsin’s 72 counties, Oneida County is in the top tier at number 11 with 77% of the County being forested. Oneida County has a substantial county forest of 83,000 acres along with state and national forest lands. The County also contains much of the nearly 70,000-acre Pelican River Forest and other industrial forest land. Historically this has made Oneida County an important part of the forest products and recreation industries in Wisconsin.

As the world changes, though, the forests of Wisconsin and the industries they support are also changing. Recently, Wisconsin’s Green Fire (WGF) issued a report on the risks that Wisconsin’s forests are facing. The report is: Wisconsin’s Green Fire. (2024). Wisconsin forests at risk: engaging Wisconsinites in another century of forest conservation [White paper]. The report is available at: Opportunities Now 2024: Wisconsin Forests at Risk • Wisconsin’s Green Fire Also, you may register for a free December 15th, Wisconsin's Forests at Risk webinar hosted by WGF at: Meeting Registration - Zoom

WGF is a professionally staffed organization that was founded in 2017. Its mission is to “advance science-informed analysis and policy solutions that address Wisconsin’s greatest conservation challenges.” As part of that mission, WGF publishes issue papers in its “Opportunities Now” series that summarize science and background information concerning key conservation and environmental issues and makes policy recommendations that support conservation.

The “Forests at Risk” paper describes how ecological, economic, and social changes are affecting Wisconsin forests and are likely to change the ownership and management of the forests in ways that decrease the benefits that forests provide. The paper also makes recommendations and offers hope for the future.

Among the risks to forests and forestry cited by WGF are:

· The loss of tree species and other species. Example – The loss of ash species due to emerald ash borer.
· Over-browsing by deer changing the composition of forests. Examples – Restricted regeneration of white cedar.
· A decline in biodiversity and the condition of forest, caused in part by invasive species. Example – The domination of the understory in some forests by non-native buckthorn.
· Climate change. Examples – The change in forest species and shorter winter logging seasons.
· Changing forest age. Examples – Fewer young forests and very few old growth forests.
· Declining markets for forest products. Example – The decline of pulpwood markets caused in part by the decline in demand for writing paper.
· Landowner goals changing from forestry to development and other non-forestry uses. Example – The decline in forest product prices and increase reforestation costs leading landowners to divide and develop forest land.
· The development of carbon markets. Example – These markets represent a new use for forests, but the markets may not be as accessible to smaller landowners.
· Fragmentation and a decrease in size of private forests. Example – Land is cleared for development, decreasing continuity of forests, and making forests less suitable for certain species.

The “Forests at Risk” paper also offers ideas for actions things that can be done to address the risks our forests are facing. Examples include:

· Working to stop forest fragmentation.
· Preparing for invasive species by researching, monitoring, and keeping forests diverse.
· More strongly integrating the fields of forest management and wildlife management.
· Increasing the recruitment and training of loggers, and assuring their access to financing, insurance, and training certifications.
· Retaining and expanding programs which provide incentives to landowners to keep their lands forested.
· Using regional planning to optimize opportunities to achieve conservation of forests and ensure a supply of forest products.
These are only a few of the steps recommended by WGF. Additionally, other agencies, organizations and individuals have been working to address these issues. Examples:
· The creation of a seedbank which will include black ash seeds by the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) and the Lac Vieux Desert Nursery, as described in an article in the Winter 2024 – 2025 issue of “Mazina’igan: A Chronicle of the Lake Superior Chippewa” published by GLIFWC.
· The work being done by the River Alliance of Wisconsin to launch a Manoomin (wild rice) Stewards Project. Although perhaps not conventionally considered a forest plant, Manoomin is a native plant, culturally significant to Wisconsin’s Native American people, which occupies many lakes within Wisconsin forests.
· The purchase by the State of Wisconsin of a conservation easement on the nearly 70,000-acre Pelican River Forest.
· The efforts of Individuals like Joe and Mary Hovel and groups like the Northwoods Alliance in purchasing land to prevent forest fragmentation.

Finally, WGF calls for a statewide conversation involving all stakeholders, including local, county, state, federal and tribal leaders, conservation and industry organizations, and communities.

WGF is right; the conversation needs to involve all stakeholders. Also, it’s important that all stakeholders act responsibly to conserve the forests of Wisconsin.

In Oneida County, the County Planning and Development Committee is currently working on rewriting the County’s Comprehensive Plan. A re-write is done every ten years and addresses such things as land use. Comprehensive plans are very important, as they establish land use goals, and because state law requires that county ordinances comply with comprehensive plans.

In working on the re-write, the Committee has been accepting written and verbal public comments. Some have commented in favor of the protection of forests in Oneida County for logging, recreation, and the clean air and water that they provide. Others have asked that the plan limit the ability of landowners to conserve forests, restrict such forest recreation projects as bike trail development, and have called for mining in the forests.

It is critical that the leadership of Oneida County bear in mind the fact that logging and recreation are two keystones of our economy. The Comprehensive Plan must recognize these economic facts as well as the cultural and societal importance of forests in Oneida County. The plan should not attempt to restrict the rights of landowners to protect their forests and should recognize that the majority of Oneida County citizens do not wish to have forest land converted into mines. The history and future of Oneida County as a good place to live, work, and play is closely tied to its forests.

Will P&D See Forest for the Trees?

Pelican resident shares concern for P&D Committee's deviation from original values in Comp Plan.

By Ron Eckstein December 17, 2024-

To Members:

Oneida County Planning & Development Committee

Oneida County Conservation & UW-Extension Committee

Thank you for your service to Oneida County and for your important work updating the Oneida County Comprehensive Land Use Plan over the last year and a half.

The 2013 plan served the county well and in the past 12 years many new people and businesses moved into our area. What makes Oneida County an attractive place to live, and work is our way of life and our values. Those values include a commitment to our natural resources, clean water, abundant wildlife, recreation opportunities, and productive forests. We recommend Oneida County continue the 2013 policies that attracted those new people and businesses.

To be successful, the updated Comprehensive Plan must remain true to our values. Unfortunately, a comparison of the 2013 plan to the draft 2024 plan shows a dramatic move away from keeping our forests healthy, our wildlife abundant and our outdoor recreation diverse.

Of particular concern are recommendations from the Great Lakes Timber Professionals. We cannot understand why the timber professionals support fragmenting our forestland into small parcels. All research on forest management shows that forest management is not economically feasible on most small parcels in light of today’s large expensive logging equipment. In addition, landowners of small forest parcels are far less likely to conduct timber sales. Parcelization of larger blocks of forest result in fewer timber sales and the subsequent loss of forest productivity and wildlife habitat.

Another important concern is the recommendation to take away the property rights of private forest landowners. Some private landowners want to manage their land to promote sustainable forestry, wildlife habitat and maintain water quality. These landowners may choose to use private conservation easements or sell to a public agency.

The proposed changes are not in the public interest, do not represent our values and they degrade forest productivity, wildlife habitat, clean water, and our way of life. In addition, the recommendations appear to have been written by the American Stewards of Liberty, a Texas group.

Attached are research studies conducted by Wisconsin DNR’s Division of Forestry. Please read them to help understand the relationship between public land, private MFL land and the ability of towns and counties to provide vital services.

FR-833-Evaluating-the-Association-Between-Public-Access-Land-and-Local-Tax-Rates

FR-835-Timber-Sale-Impact-Estimate-for-the-Proposed-Pelican-River-Forest-Easement

FR-834-Economic-Impacts-of-Timberland-Conservation-Easement-Acquisition

Sincerely,

Ron & Jan Eckstein

Epidemiologist Seeks Grant to Test for Pfas

Free testing of Stella residents' blood for PFAS just one part of proposed study.

By Kathleen Cooper December 17, 2024-

In spite of the continued lack of interest in the health of Wisconsinites that have been impacted by PFAS by our state legislators (who have been withholding funds budgeted for PFAS mitigation for the past year and a half), OCCWA has good news that has nothing to do with our state government. Amy Schultz, a scientist at UW Department of Population Health Sciences and Epidemiology Senior Data Scientist, contacted OCCWA for introductions to the Oneida County Health Department and the people in Stella.

Dr. Schultz is in the process of writing a grant submission to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for a community-based research project to quantify human PFAS exposure and community-level risk for the residents of Stella. As previously stated on the OCCWA website, the Town of Stella was found to have the highest PFAS levels in their groundwater, and consequently in their private wells, of anywhere in Wisconsin. This study will consist of a community-based participatory research approach which will recruit interested Stella residents, who consent to have blood samples taken to detect PFAS levels in their bodies. Dr. Schultz has proposed setting up a 12-day phlebotomy clinic at a community site in Stella where residents will have blood drawn to test for PFAS levels, a test that would normally cost $400-$600. Residents who agree to have their blood tested (for free) will be paid $40. Individual results will be shared with the volunteer participants via mail, and aggregate results will be shared at the Stella Town Hall, in keeping with the privacy of the participants. After the blood tests are completed, 40 participants who had the highest PFAS blood levels will be offered an at-home visit where PFAS levels will be tested in their home environment. These at-home participants will be paid an additional $20.

The purpose of this study is to learn of human exposure to PFAS and PAP’s (which are newer chemicals intended to eventually replace PFAS), to learn of community level risks in Stella compared to the general population, to learn of PFAS in garden and outdoor soil and household dust, and to learn of additional ways to limit exposure.

Participation is optional, but the study is seeking 160 people to participate. These participants will receive updates regularly or as requested, of the findings and final report. Interested participants will be offered the opportunity to serve on the Stella Study’s Advisory Board, guaranteeing local involvement.

This study has limited scope and outreach, but once completed can open the way for additional studies, both locally and statewide, so that we can finally understand the scope of the problem of PFAS contamination, the health consequences of high blood PFAS levels, and possibly may persuade our state legislators to finally release the state funding that they have budgeted for PFAS testing/remediation. Perhaps they will even allocate more money in the next budget session! I know, I am a serial optimist, but I can dream, right?

Many thanks to Dr. Amy Schultz for her interest in and compassion for the rural residents of our state. Also thank you to our Oneida County Board of Health Committee for being proactive on this matter. Last but certainly not least, we at OCCWA would like to acknowledge committee member and Stella resident William (Casey) Crump for his valuable input and commitment to his community on this issue.

Link to Power Point presentation of study overview- https://uwmadison.box.com/shared/static/3jhvxsiev01zm8jp5niaolxhy73iedb2.pdf

Related OCCWA Q&A with Wisconsin DHS following May 1st Stella PFAS meeting

After the May 1st meeting presented by the Wisconsin DNR and Wisconsin DHS addressing the Stella PFAS contamination, OCCWA asked a few questions we felt were not addressed. The questions asked are directly related to the current proposed study. Those questions and answers are posted below.

Question- Does the DHS recommend residents of Stella to have their blood tested for PFAS?
- DHS Answer- DHS does not currently broadly recommend blood testing for PFAS. Blood PFAS levels do not give actionable data yet—for now, we can only compare levels to national averages, we cannot estimate risks for any specific health effects. If individuals are concerned, they can talk with their healthcare providers about whether blood testing would be appropriate—ATSDR has factsheets that address this for both residents and clinicians.
Question- Is there any financial assistance from the DHS or the State of Wisconsin for blood testing?
- DHS Answer- DHS does not have funding available to support blood testing at this time.
Question- Does the DHS recommend cancer screenings and what level of PFAS exposure warrants it?
- DHS Answer- DHS recommends that all Wisconsin residents follow recommended cancer screenings, regardless of PFAS exposure. At this point, DHS is not recommending additional screenings.
Question- Does the DHS or any federal agency plan on any historical medical comparisons of Stella residents to non PFAS contaminated communities.
- DHS Answer- There are not currently plans or resources to investigate a medical comparison. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has conducted some health and exposure studies nationwide and has information available on their website.
Question- Has the DHS studied AMA tracking of PFAS related illnesses in Oneida County and how they rank historically statewide?
- DHS Answer- DHS does not have the resources available to conduct an investigation into health impacts/illnesses at this time.

OCCWA Commentary: In three of the five DHS answers they reference " do not have the resources" (money) or "does not have funding available" (money). This in a state with a $4.6 billion budget surplus and a $1.9 billion rainy day fund. Oh, and by the way, for the last year and a half the legislature can't seem to find a way to release the measly $120 million dollars for PFAS relief for impacted citizens across the state. Though extremely grateful for any beneficial information garnered from the Stella proposed study, one has to ask, what are our legislators thinking?

MEA Protecting Communities Since 1999

Non-profit became necessary due to state eliminating the Office of Public Intervenor.

By Tom Wiensch November 30, 2024- There was a time when Wisconsin had a public agency tasked with taking legal action to protect Wisconsin’s Resources. When that time came to an end, Midwest Environmental Advocates stepped up to handle the job.

In 1967, Republican Governor Warren Knowles created the State Office of the Public Intervenor, which was overseen by the Wisconsin Attorney General and its own citizen advisory committee. Staffed with attorneys, the office legally intervened on behalf of the public on environmental issues in court cases, administrative hearings, and otherwise. The office also provided advice to citizens, agencies, and legislators. Over its history, the office worked to develop mining regulations, took legal action against DDT, successfully fought for access to lakes, called attention to serious potential issues with the proposed Crandon Mine, and more. Sadly, the Office of Public Intervenor was eliminated by the 1995-96 budget of Republican Governor Tommy Thompson.

The elimination of the Office of Public Intervenor left a large void. Despite much public support for revival of the office, Wisconsin government is still without such an office. Thankfully, Midwest Environmental Advocates (MEA), has worked hard to fill the void. MEA was founded in 1999 by Melissa Scanlan, then a far-sighted law student, and now a University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee professor, and Director of the Center for Water Policy.

MEA is a non-profit law center funded by grants and donations which works to protect the rights of people to healthy air, water, and land. Overseen by a board of directors, it employs a small staff, including attorneys. MEA’s work is three pronged, including legal action, policy advocacy, and community education. Since its inception, the organization has been deeply involved in some of the most important environmental issues in Wisconsin.

As part of its mission to provide community education, MEA has produced a series of written guides, podcasts, and webinars on such topics as CAFO’s, PFAS, mining regulations, public trust waters, pipeline regulations and more. These resources are available to anyone at no cost on the MEA website.

In the area of public policy, MEA has advocated for such things as water quality standards for PFAS, prevention of childhood lead poisoning in Milwaukee, a shutdown of the Enbridge Pipeline Number 5 (which currently runs through a water rich area on the tribal lands of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa), and much more.

MEA has been at the cutting edge of environmental litigation in Wisconsin. Currently, MEA attorneys are representing Citizens for a Clean Wausau, Clean Water Action Counsel of Northeast Wisconsin, River Alliance of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Environmental Health Network, and former Marinette Mayor Doug Oitzinger, in a case involving Wisconsin’s spill law. That case was filed by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, Inc. and Leather Rich, Inc., asking, among other things, for

“A declaration that Defendants’ (DNR) policy of regulating substances they refer to as emerging contaminants, including PFAS compounds, as Hazardous Substances in the RR and VPLE programs is an unlawfully adopted rule, and is invalid and unenforceable.”

MEA is opposing the legal relief that WMC and Leather Rich seek and is supporting the ability of the DNR to protect us from PFAS contamination, by preparing a friend of the court brief to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Recently, MEA successfully represented a group in Bayfield County in stopping a private company from establishing a water bottling operation within the Lake Superior watershed, a legal battle which took MEA from a local board of adjustment to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.

In May of 2020, MEA represented the Sierra Club – John Muir Chapter, Honor the Earth, League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, Superior Rivers Watershed Association, and 350 Madison in a request to intervene in a public interest determination concerning Enbridge Pipeline Number 5. Since then, MEA has worked hard at every stage of the matter, and its attorneys are currently in the process of reviewing 898 pages of the final environmental impact statement concerning the pipeline.

These are just a few of the projects that MEA has undertaken to protect Wisconsin’s air, land, and water. More information is available at the MEA website. Also, please remember that, unlike the Office of Public Intervenor, MEA is not publicly funded. Instead, it relies on grants and donations to fund its efforts to protect our resources. Donations can be made through its website – Midwest Environmental Advocates | Legal Services | Policy & Advocacy | Organizing | Wisconsin

Timber Group Gets Big Seat at P&D Meeting

Industry gets 4 hours to influence Comprehensive Plan while public gets 3 minutes.

By Eric Rempala October 24, 2024- The Oneida County Planning and Development (P&D) Committee continues to plow ahead with significant changes to the county's Comprehensive Plan, remember that the current actions are those of the P&D Committee only. The P&D Committee is comprised of five County Supervisors appointed by County Chairman Scott Holewinski.

P&D Committee Member Contacts:

When the P&D process is complete the public will have a chance to weigh in at a public hearing. After the Committe considers all public comment at the hearing, the finished product will be introduced to the County Board where a vote will be taken to approve or reject the newly proposed language. The public will get a final chance for comment before the vote at that County Board meeting. With all this in mind our staff at OCCWA has put together some things for our readers to consider.

The Oneida County Planning and Development Committee has been working on creating a new comprehensive plan for the County, a process which must be undertaken. Comprehensive plans are required under Wisconsin law, and must include a number of elements, among which are land use, agriculture and natural resources. Once a comprehensive plan is adopted, certain county ordinances, including general zoning and shoreland zoning must be consistent with the comprehensive plan. Because of that, comprehensive plans have effects on such things as mining and shoreland and other development, which in turn affect water quality.

In the process of creating its plan, the Committee has received comments from the public. The Great Lakes Timber Producers Association (GLTPA) provided comments. A document titled “GLTPA Oneida County Land Use Plan Comments”, signed by Henry Schienebeck, Executive Director of the Great Lakes Timber Professionals (GLTPA) was provided to Oneida County Planning and Zoning Director Karl Jennrich. Mr. Schienebeck also spoke about the plan at a recent P&D Committee meeting.

GLTPA, which is headquartered in Oneida County, has a website which contains statements that read:

“Our Mission Enhancing Multiple Use Forests for Future Generations”

and

“Provides proven leadership in the Lake States Forest products industry for over 70 years. GLTPA is a non-profit organization proud to represent members in Michigan and Wisconsin and is committed to leading Forest Products Industry in sustainable forest management.”

GLTPA’s comments to the comprehensive plan include recommendations of language that GLTPA believes should be included in the plan. Some of the language that GLTPA recommends including is:

1. COORDINATION
GLTPA RECOMMENDATION - “All land use planning processes, including on all federal and state land, and lands utilizing federal or state funding and including any and all guidance, executive, or other mandated actions, shall coordinate with the county and towns and work to resolve all planning conflicts to the satisfaction of the county and towns prior to finalizing plans or other actions.”
and
“Notification, consultation, and coordination with the county is required at the earliest time possible for any land planning and/or proposed action by state and/or federal agencies, or nonprofit organizations, or for any change in existing activities, newly permitted activities, or changes in regulations that may affect the economic basis of the county. Consultation and coordination with the county is necessary to determine the full scope of potential social and economic effects of proposed activities. The county considers that consultation and coordination must include all impacted towns on all forest management issues.”
QUESTIONS – Does GLTPA believe that the County has the legal authority to control how the State of Wisconsin and the United States manage their lands?

2. PRIVATE LAND SALES
GLTPA RECOMMENDATION - “Conversion of private property to public for nonprofit conservation purposes shall not be approved unless it is determined by the county that the long-term economic impact will be negligible.”
QUESTIONS – Does GLTPA believe that the County has the legal authority to prevent private landowners from selling or gifting their land to the State or other governmental units? Shouldn’t private landowners have the right to sell their land to any willing buyer that they choose?

3. SHORELAND ZONING
GLTPA RECOMMENDATION - “Shoreland restrictions can impair property rights and harm the local economy. All proposed shoreland policy shall be coordinated with the county and be consistent with the county comprehensive plan. County shoreland regulations cannot be more restrictive than state law and administrative code.”
QUESTIONS – Does the County have the legal authority to require “coordination”? What does limiting shoreland protection have to do with timber production?

4. CONSERVATION EASEMENTS
GLTPA RECOMMENDATION - “Oneida County discourages the use of the MFL program in conservation easements. The two programs are inconsistent or at odds in their duration. The MFL program contracts are 25 or 50 years whereas conservation easements are established into perpetuity. The MFL program provides a mechanism for leaving the program. Reducing the tax base in perpetuity is antithetical to the interests of county residents and gives up local control.”

and

“If there are new easements, require any new easements to sunset after 15 years. Allow renewal through an approved re-assessment of the easement’s compliance and compatibility with current conditions. Analyze all existing easements on public lands every 15 years for compliance and compatibility with current conditions, calling for extinguishment of the easement if it does not do so.”

and

“All new conservation easements must contain a buyback provision in the contract, allowing the landowner to make the property whole if they have been negatively impacted by the agreement.”
QUESTIONS – Why does GLTPA want the county to discourage all conservation easements on MFL land, when, in some cases, such as that of the Pelican River Forest Easement, conservation easements have been used to conserve land for forestry purposes? What authority does the County have to discourage or prohibit people from placing easements on their land? Shouldn’t private landowners have the right to place easements on their own land if they wish? Does the County have the legal authority to require private landowners to place length limits and buyback provisions in their private contracts? Why should county government intrude in private contracts in this way?

5. LAND LEASE LIMITATIONS
GLTPA RECOMMENDATION - “Define forested lands as agricultural lands for legal purposes and impose the constitutional requirement for agricultural lands that all leases of such land should be 15 years or less.”
QUESTIONS – Does the County have the legal authority to limit private landowner’s ability to lease their lands? Shouldn’t private landowners be allowed to choose the length of leases they enter into?

6. FLOODPLAIN MAPS
GLTPA RECOMMENDATION – “Coordinate with FEMA to update floodplain maps with new technology.” and “All floodplain maps shall be updated in coordination with the county.”
QUESTIONS - Does the County have the legal authority to control how a federal agency draws maps? What does this have to do with timber production?

7. MINING
GLTPA RECOMMENDATION – “Pursue metallic mining through the county’s non-metallic mining and metallic mining exploration, bulk sampling, and mining ordinance while complying with state laws and balancing any projects with the interests of county residents.”
QUESTIONS – What does this have to do with timber production? If anything, wouldn’t this have the potential to encourage land to be removed from timber production?

8. TRAILS
GLTPA RECOMMENDATION – “Prohibit any further land acquisition or conservation easements for trail projects. Lease agreements must not run for more than 15 years.” NOTE – GLTPA recommends that this language be added to language which reads as follows: “Encourage the development of a comprehensive County-wide trail plan that includes facilities for hikers, bikers, ATVs, and disabled and elderly individuals and a system that ties together attractions and natural and cultural resources throughout the county.”
QUESTIONS – Does the County have the legal authority to stop state or federal agencies, or private landowners from developing trails? What does preventing trail development have to do with timber production?

9. TRANSPORATION
GLTPA RECOMMENDATION – “Evaluate the scope and existence of the Northwoods Transit System by subjecting the enterprise to a cost benefit analysis. At times, the system has been heavily underused, and an updated study should guide whether it is to be continued, and, if so, at what level of subsidy, if any.”
QUESTIONS – What does this have to do with timber production?

10. ROAD PLANNING AND SAFETY, BIKE TRAILS, ETC.
GLTPA RECOMMENDATION - “ELIMINATE ALL OF THE ABOVE!”
NOTE – The part that GLTPA recommends being removed reads:
“Work with local governmental units to plan for a network of interconnected roads in planned development areas to control highway access, preserve rural character, and improve access to these areas. Space roadway access according to minimum standards to increase safety and preserve capacity. Support expanded bike accommodations on County Highways with resurfacing/reconstruction projects and additional off-road bike trails that use grant funding.”
QUESTIONS - Is GLTPA against road planning and safety, and bike trails? Why? What do these things have to do with timber management?

11. LAND DEVELOPMENT
GLTPA COMMENT – “defeats the goal to provide an adequate supply of developable land for the future. Such development may be desirable, depending on community needs, private landowner wishes, and the willingness and ability of developers to pay a fair share of infrastructure costs, which leads to the next policy: . . .”
NOTE – This suggestion is in response to language that reads “Discourage sprawling, low-density development where there is no existing infrastructure and service capacity.”
QUESTIONS - What does this have to do with timber production? Wouldn’t this type of development have the potential to remove timber lands from production?

Although not all of the examples above relate to water quality, they illustrate the breadth of GLTPA’s comments on the comprehensive plan.

At the recent P&D meeting that he attended, Mr. Schienbeck indicated that GLTPA has over 20 directors on its board, and that he worked with a committee to prepare these recommendations. He indicated that Senator Tom Tiffany, Lakeland Times writer Richard Moore, and Margaret Byfield of the Texas based group “American Stewards of Liberty” (ASL) were involved.

The ASL website speaks out against conservation easements and says that it trains local governments in a strategy called “coordination.” The ASL website also indicates that “ASL is the nation’s oldest property rights organization run by Americans steeped in the battle to protect this essential right.” The level of involvement of ASL in creating the GLTPA recommendations is unclear. It is clear, however, that by suggesting government restrictions on the sale, leasing, and other conveyance of private lands, GLTPA is suggesting that the County severely limit, rather than protect private property rights.

A bit over a decade ago, three towns in Oneida County sent “notices of coordination” to Oneida County instead of developing comprehensive plans. Ultimately, the Oneida County Corporation Counsel asked Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen to issue an attorney general’s opinion on the subject. One of the questions asked of Attorney General Van Hollen was:

“Does the use of the word “coordination” in various Wisconsin statutes dealing with municipal planning by itself impose affirmative duties upon certain municipalities that are in addition to any other affirmative obligations that are imposed under those statutes?”

Attorney General Van Hollen’s answer was, ultimately “No.” Tax dollars and time had been expended putting forth these “notices of coordination”, which Attorney General Van Hollen ultimately said had no legal effect.

The questions now are:

Why is GLTPA expending its resources advocating for governmental policies that, in some cases, have little or nothing to do with timber production?
Will Oneida County have its legal counsel offer opinions on whether it has the right to adopt GLTPA’s suggestions, including suggestions to restrict the land use of the state and federal government, private organizations, and private individuals in the ways that GLTPA suggests?
If Oneida County were to include “coordination in its comprehensive plan, would it have any more legal meaning than it did when the three towns sent notices of coordination in lieu of developing comprehensive plans?

Hopefully our elected county officials will adopt policies that are strongly grounded in the law, and that represent the wishes of the voters.

Note – The comments of GLTPA were too long (31 pages) to be included in this article in their entirety. Readers may be able to obtain copies of the written comments submitted by GLTPA from the Oneida County Planning and Zoning Department at Planning & Zoning – Oneida County, WI

Commercial Pathways bring Invasive Species

WDNR looks to educate industries while enforcing state restrictions to curb invasive species problem

By Beckie Gaskill November 20, 2024- This week I was fortunate enough to attend the Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference (UMISC) virtually. The topic of one of the sessions I attended was pathways by which invasive species find their way from place to place. Part of the focus, of course, was pets that were let loose, but the other part was commercial pathways by which invasives can spread.

The first presenter was Department of Natural Resources (DNR) warden Robert Stroess. He spoke about how Wisconsin attempts to keep illegal invasive species from coming into the state through trade routes, and the challenges with doing that.

Of course, as with AIS on our own lakes, it starts with education. Unfortunately, Stroess said, even after educating suppliers and in-state vendors such as pet stores about Wisconsin Administrative Code NR-40 listed species, over 80% of those businesses who were later checked again were still selling those same invasives.

Stroess said traditionally, the only AIS work wardens did have to do with things like weeds on trailers or getting boaters to empty their live wells of water. But most states are not dealing with these organisms in trade, until recently, Wisconsin was the same, he said.

In 2019, some may remember, a red swamp crayfish was reported in a pet shop. Also, a specialty grocery store was found to be selling three species of carp – big head, silver and grass carp. This is likely just the tip of the iceberg where AIS, and also Terrestrial Invasive Species (TIS), is concerned in trade routes.

While there was great outreach from the AIS education program to different industries about what they could and could not bring into the state, it was doing little in most cases.

“For those businesses that didn’t care,” he said. “It was just noise in the background.” With no connection between AIS outreach and education and the enforcement arm of the department, it was difficult, if not impossible, to know who had already received education on these issues and simply did not care to change their practices. Bait shops, specialty grocers, pet shops and even gardening suppliers, which can spread both TIS and AIS, can be part of the problem.

Even within enforcement itself, individuals were tackling single incidents, such as that red swamp crayfish, and treating them as such. However, that one incident was indicative of a much larger problem. And that was a problem Stroess said was not being delt with effectively at that time.

With that, a dedicated AIS enforcement staff was created. This is a consortium of different entities dedicated to those trade routes, including distributors. Even if a distributor had a disclaimer on their website that they would not ship certain species to Wisconsin, for instance, shipments were still being made.

In the years since those findings, there have been 35,000 individual specimens in trade that they know about that have come to Wisconsin. Estimating high, Stroess felt they might know about 10% of those species that are coming in through various trade industries.

“Nobody knows about it until you turn over those rocks,” he said. “That’s when the landslide starts.”

Third party markets make finding these sellers even more difficult. Pet shops, bait dealers and specialty grocery stores can all be places of interest, Stroess said. Coordinating between pieces of the department, rather than working in with a silo-mentality, is also key. AIS staff and law enforcement and others can document the places where they have done outreach. Then businesses could be held accountable for repeating this behavior.

Stroess said he would look for vendors and contact them to see if he could purchase AIS that was not allowed in the state.

“If they don’t sell it to them, great,” he said. However, if they did sell things to him that were not allowed, he could then build a case against that business. In many cases, it is an interstate cooperation that brings about federal charges against suppliers and sellers.

The Lacy Act of 1981, which was amended again in 2008, regulates “the importation, exportation, transportation, sale, receipt, acquisition, or purchase of any fish or wildlife or plant taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any law, treaty, or regulation of the United States or any Indian tribal law, or foreign law.”

LA Crawfish, Stroess said, was a big offender in the state. Most crayfish boils have been done with red swam crayfish from LA Crawfish. They can escape, or some of them may simply be released. After cracking down on LA Crawfish, they were eventually charged with 15 federal crimes and were ultimately convicted of 10. He assured those at the conference that Wisconsin was dedicating staff and time to this issue, and urged other states, provinces and countries to do the same.

Education and outreach can also be aimed at pet owners. Often, when pets get bigger than people expected them to, or kids are “bored” with a specialty pet, they get released into lakes, rivers, wetlands, or wherever a pet owner thinks they will get along well. It goes without saying that they are wrong – 100% of the time.

All of these avenues have the potential to change ecosystems in our lakes, rivers and wetlands.

All of these avenues have the potential to change ecosystems in our lakes, rivers and wetlands. As local lake lovers, we may not feel we have the power to change interstate, and sometimes international, trade routes. But we can use education and outreach to stop the “demand” side of this “supply and demand” cycle.

Educating our friends and neighbors and helping them learn that there are plants and animals they can still purchase online in many places that are harmful to our environment and potentially our lake ecosystems, can be one of those ways to bring about change. For the most part, people want to do the right thing. Often, however, they are not sure what that is. Outreach regarding the release of exotic pets can help keep AIS such as red swamp crayfish from our lakes and rivers. We can even talk with local pet shops and/or specialty grocery stores if we see a problem invasive in their establishment. While invasive species in commercial trade seems like a huge problem, and it is, that does not mean that we are powerless at the local level to help others understand the problems with invasive species of all kinds, and to help keep them out of the lakes and rivers we love.

Beckie Gaskill is a freelance outdoor and environmental writer as well as a content creator. She runs her own podcast as part of her media company FlaG (Fish Like a Girl) Media. She is a Master Naturalist and sits on the board of several different conservation organizations. She has also started her own digital magazine, The Wisconsin Conservationist. More information regarding that magazine can be found on her website: The Wisconsin Conservationist Magazine – All the news that is important to you (wordpress.com)

Exploring Bogs – Walking on Water, Literally

Local Land Trust provides exploration and education as part of conservation efforts.

By Troy Walters, Northwoods Land Trust Outreach and Monitoring Coordinator November 11, 2024- We are fortunate to live in an area that has some of the highest concentration of lakes in the world. One of the hidden wonders associated with some of these lakes is a unique plant community that has specialized adaptations to thrive in an acidic, low nutrient environment. Bogs are a type of wetland that is composed of a mat of plants and partially decomposed plants that form a surface that grows towards the lake center over time. These mats are solid enough to support animals and even people walking on them, albeit precariously and very bouncy and “sucky” at times.

At the Northwoods Land Trust (NWLT), we offer a number of outdoor programs each year that explore some of the protected properties we own, and occasionally, private conservation easement lands that the landowner is excited to share with others. One such program offered the past couple summers is a bog ecology and exploration opportunity on a property donated to NWLT in the town of Sugar Camp. Participants have the opportunity to walk to the lake edge and step onto this mat of floating vegetation and observe these unique plants up close.

Local expert Susan Knight has offered her expertise to guide participants through glacial history of the lake formation and subsequent plant growth. One of the key plants associated with bogs is sphagnum moss, a water laden plant that creates an acidic environment due to the chemical exchange in their cells. Leatherleaf, a native evergreen shrub, is another critical plant that aids in extending the bog mat lakeward by providing a network of roots where other plants can take hold. We observed several other plants like labrador tea, bog laurel, bog rosemary, and cranberry. There are even some carnivorous plants in a bog; pitcher plant, sundew, and bladderwort of which we observed the first two. Pitcher plants are just that, hollow pitchers that fill with water and contain digestive enzymes. When animals fall into the water, they get digested, and nutrients extracted for the plant. Sundew is a fairly small plant that has a sticky, sweet-smelling drop of liquid on the end of each tentacle. When an insect lands on the drop, it is immobilized, and the plant will close slowly around it. After digestion, the trap can be reset. Bladderworts have not been found at the particular bog we visit but are quite common and are most easily detected with their beautiful, above-ground flower (most common species is yellow). The actual insect-catching “bladder” with trap door is underwater and catches prey based on a pressure difference created by the plant itself. Seach online for some very cool videos that show this speedy trap door capture.

Visit the NWLT website at Northwoods Land Trust and search the news and events tab for future offerings. The newest upcoming program will be exploring lake ecology in winter, hosted and taught by Trees for Tomorrow’s professional naturalists.

Northwoods Land Trust permanently conserves natural shorelands, woodlands and other natural resources to benefit present and future generations in Vilas, Oneida, Forest, Florence, Iron, Price and Langlade Counties.

Forest Protectors Honored With Award

Joe and Mary Hovel receive recognition for a lifetime of conservation efforts.

By Tom Wiensch October 22, 2024- We’re excited to announce that Joe and Mary Hovel of Conover Wisconsin have been awarded the 2024 Land Legacy Award by Gathering Waters, an alliance for land trusts in Wisconsin. Joe and Mary earned this honor by working for decades to conserve land in Northern Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, and in Wisconsin’s Central Sands Region. Between them, they have accomplished as much as many conservation organizations do, advocating for healthy lands, undertaking the purchase and conservation of lands, building kiosks, writing articles and books on conservation, and more.

Their work began with educating the public about the risks of the pesticide Aldicarb when they lived in the central part of the State. Since moving to Conover, Wisconsin years ago, they’ve divided their time between operating a log home building business, raising a family, and working hard on some of the most important land conservation projects to happen in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.

Their work has included the creation of community forests, land legacy projects and the purchase and conservation of lands that ultimately became part of the Northern Highland – American Legion State Forest. Joe and Mary are humble people who have invested their time and money into preserving lands. At many points in their lives, they likely could have purchased lands, developed them, and greatly enriched themselves. Instead, they have repeatedly worked against land fragmentation and for the common good, moving from one project to another, and protecting lands that are valuable for wildlife habitat, sustainable timber production, and public recreation.

One example of their projects is the Wildcat Falls Community Forest in Upper Michigan. This project saved the land surrounding a beautiful waterfall from being fragmented and developed. Another example is the Upper Wisconsin Legacy Forest in Vilas County Wisconsin, through which flows the upper Wisconsin River. This land includes beautiful boreal forest and is home to spruce grouse – a threatened species in Wisconsin.

Mary and Joe have a passion for the forests and waters of the Northwoods. Their family has extensively paddled the rivers of the north, including some of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers. One of the projects they worked on – The Headwaters Cedar Community Forest in Vilas County, contains wetlands that filter water that flows into the National Wild and Scenic Ontonagon River. Some days Joe and Mary can be found cruising the backroads of Vilas County on their electric bikes, checking out the forests that they have worked to conserve. It’s impossible to study the conserved lands of Northern Vilas County without learning about the work that the Hovels have done.

Joe and Mary have both served in various roles as part of several organizations, including the Northwoods Alliance, a Northern Wisconsin Conservation group that they were instrumental in creating. Details of many of the projects they have worked so hard on can be found at the Northwoods Alliance website - https://www.northwoodalliance.org/ If you know Mary and Joe, or have a chance to meet them, thank them for all they have done to help ensure that the Northwoods will continue to have the beauty and wildness that it has today.

Editor's note: In recent years OCCWA has leaned heavily on Joe Hovel's expertise on sustainable forestry's value to clean watersheds. Joe's input on the recent Pelican River Forest Project being just one such example. Joe and Mary are truly unsung Northwoods heroes. Please join us in congratulating them on this well-deserved honor.

Neonics in the Northwoods

Lake Tom first in county to consider effects of neonicotinoid pesticides on Northwood ecosystem.

By Kathleen Cooper October 15, 2024- I know we are all worried about the upcoming election, the huge storms and wildfires ravaging our country, and wars around the globe, so I will give you something different to worry about neonicotinoids in our groundwater, otherwise known as neonics. You’re welcome, but don’t thank me, thank the EPA and our legislators for looking out for the interests of corporations and big agriculture rather than the health and well-being of the people, ecosystems, and our most precious resource, water.

Neonicotinoids are a class of water-soluble chemicals used to target insects by being absorbed through a plant’s roots, leaves, and fruit. These chemicals cause extensive environmental damage and pose a risk to human health. They are linked to birth defects and hormonal dysregulation, as well as food and water contamination. Children are at the greatest risk, mostly from eating nonorganic food. As a result, children are three times more likely to develop cancer than adults when exposed to these pesticides.

Aside from poisoning our children and ourselves, neonics are killing our pollinating insects, such as bees and butterflies. Birds and aquatic life are also affected. These chemicals are highly persistent and remain present in plant tissues long after applied. Research also shows neonicotinoids can persist in the soil several years after the last application, affecting plants that were not the original targets, and leaching through the soil into our groundwater and private wells. Since neonics remain active in the soil for years, rain or irrigation water can easily carry them long distances to contaminate new soil, plant life, and water supplies. Given neonic’s widespread use, the result has been vast ecosystem contamination, which we notice most often in water. A 2015 study by the US Geological Survey found neonic pollution in more than half of the streams it sampled nationwide. The state of Wisconsin estimates around 43% of 800,000 private wells tested positive for pesticides, and more than half of the pesticides detected aren’t regulated by the state or federal governments. Unfortunately, traditional chlorination treatment typically fails to remove them from tap water, and chlorination actually has the potential to combine with neonics to form even more toxic compounds in tap water.

Despite the threat to our environment, nothing has slowed the widespread application of these insecticides. Neonics are most often used “prophylactically,” or in other words, whether they are needed or not. So, the vast majority of neonic applications- covering hundreds of millions of acres- are treating pest problems that don’t exist. When they do, neonics can actually make those pest problems worse for farmers by killing off beneficial bugs and soil microbes that improve crop health, resiliency, and output. There is some good news regarding the problem of neonic contamination in our water and our food, however. The European Union has completely banned outdoor neonic use in an effort to protect pollinators, water, and the European people, and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec require a prescription before neonics can be used to coat crop seeds, which has drastically reduced their use. The bad news is that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which assesses the human health risks of pesticide ingredients and sets corresponding limits, is failing us. Industry influence has led to underregulating and even deregulation of many pesticides, including those that are banned in other countries. It is virtually left up to the states and civic minded individuals. There are now 11 states that have banned neonics for residential use. These states are California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Washington, and Vermont. This is a good first step for regulation of these poisons.

There is also good news locally. Lake Tomahawk is considering crafting an ordinance that would prohibit the use of commercial mosquito spray on lawns in Lake Tomahawk, and possibly other insecticides that contain neonics. Commercial mosquito sprays generally do not contain neonics but do contain pyrethroids and pyrethrins. These chemicals not only kill mosquitoes, but also kill insects beneficial to our survival and our ecosystem, such as pollinators and food sources for our birds, wildlife, and aquatic life. They are toxic to pets and humans as well, with our children being the most vulnerable. With so many households locally spraying their yards, the cumulative effect of these chemicals will lead to major contamination in our private wells and waterways. Lake Tomahawk is setting an excellent example of a town that is truly concerned about its citizens and its natural environment. We at OCCWA commend Lake Tom for their insight and encourage other towns and counties to explore this issue.

How to identify neonics? Here is a helpful link from Environment America How to avoid bee-killing pesticides (environmentamerica.org)

How can you create a perfect pollinator garden? Well, the Oneida County Land and Water Conservation Department (OCLW) has a guide here THE PERFECT POLLINATOR GARDEN - Oneida County Land and Water Conservation (oclw.org) Just one example of your county tax dollars devoted to conservation.

Knowles Nelson Program in Jeopardy?

JFC co-chair intimates' program may be in jeopardy after ruling on his committee's legal overreach.

By Tom Wiensch October 10, 2024-

Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program Facts and History

The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program (“KNP”) exists to allow Wisconsin to preserve natural areas and wildlife habitat, protect water quality and fisheries, and create opportunities for outdoor recreation. Created 35 years ago, the program was named after two notable Wisconsin conservationists: Warren Knowles (R) Governor of Wisconsin 1965-17, and Gaylord Nelson (D) U.S. Senator from Wisconsin 1964-81.

Sometimes thought of as a land acquisition fund, the KNP is much more than that, having been used to acquire lands and easements, but also to develop and support recreational infrastructure such as local parks, boat landings, campsites, beaches, and recreational trails.

KNP has helped fund dozens of projects in Oneida County, including:

The Minocqua boat landing
The Town of Sugar Camp Lion’s Park (Play equipment, basketball courts, bleachers etc.)
The Brandy Lake Beach in the Town of Arbor Vitae (Play equipment, wood fiber base, timbers & access pad)
Renovation of the City of Rhinelander Hodag Park Public Boat Landing
The Oneida County Perch Lake Park and Trails (Shelter, restroom & equipment storage)
Fredrick’s Public Boat Landing on the Wisconsin River near McNaughton
The Bearskin State Trail (Snowmobiling, biking, and walking) Aquisition
Minocqua-Kawaguesaga Lakes chemical treatment of invasive Eurasian water milfoil
Acquisition of land for the Northern Highland – American Legion State Forest
Road, parking lot, shelter, water system, toilet, and picnic area at the Town of Newbold Wooden Bridge Park
Lake Tomahawk Boat Launch restroom facilities
City of Rhinelander Boyce Drive Boat landing

An interactive map of KNP projects can be seen here - https://knowlesnelson.org/an-interactive-map-of-knowles-nelson-grants/

The KNP funds are budgeted by the Wisconsin Legislature, and it is currently funded through 2026. A few legislators have called into question whether it should be funded in the future. Among Wisconsin residents, though, KN is very popular. A 2023 survey paid for by The Nature Conservancy and conducted by the nationally recognized bipartisan research team of FM3 Research (D) and New Bridge Strategy (R) found that, although many residents did not know about the KNP, once they were informed about it, an overwhelming majority favored it. More detailed results of the survey can be viewed here - https://www.nature.org/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/documents/2023-Polling-on-Stew-Fund-Results-Press.pdf

The Increasing Veto of Stewardship Projects by Members of the Joint Finance Committee

For much of the history of the Fund, the small Joint Committee of Finance has played a large role in deciding which projects the fund should contribute money to. Under the statutes, any single member of that committee could anonymously stop funding for any project that had a cost of over $250,000 and, more recently that was located north of Highway 64.

In recent years, that Committee has been dominated by Republicans. The Committee currently has 16 members, 12 of whom are Republicans and 4 of whom are Democrats.

Recently, over a period of approximately four years, the Republican controlled Committee blocked 27 projects, or about 1/3 of those that were submitted for approval. In previous years, the anonymous “pocket veto” had been used more sparingly.

Examples of recent blocked projects include:

The Pelican River Forest Conservation Easement (2023.)
A Lake Superior boat launch in the City of Ashland (2024.)
The conservation of the Cedar Gorge along Lake Michigan in Ozaukee County (2022.)
A boardwalk rehabilitation project near the City of Appleton’s airport (2022.)
Acquisition of 93 acres of land in the Crex Meadows Wildlife Area (2021.)

The Pelican River Forest project would have involved the purchase of a conservation easement to ensure that the forest would be available for logging and open to public recreation, a sort of project that would almost certainly enjoyed bi-partisan support in the not-too-distant past. That project was ultimately completed using other funds.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court Strikes Down JFC Members Veto Power

In 2023, Governor Tony Evers brought a legal action concerning the pocket veto. The matter was heard by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and in 2024, the court ruled that the power of anonymous individual members of the Joint Finance Committee to veto Stewardship spending violated the Wisconsin Constitution. The court’s majority opinion was written by conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley, who wrote “Maintaining the separation of powers between the branches is essential for the preservation of liberty and a government accountable to the people . . .” The court ruled that, once the Legislature budgets money for the KNP, it is a duty of the executive, rather than the legislative branch to determine how that money is be spent. Under this ruling, the DNR (part of the executive branch), and its professional scientists and land managers, rather than individual members of the legislature will carry out the details of how KNP funds are spent.

DNR Budget Request

In September of 2024, the DNR made its budget request for the next two-year budget period. Out of a total agency budget request of 1.2 billion dollars, the DNR has requested $100 million per year for the KNP.

The Reaction of Born and Felzkowsi

Wisconsin Public Radio reported that, after the State Supreme Court handed down its opinion, Republican Representative Mark Born stated:

"It’s unfortunate that Governor Evers’ lawsuit removed all accountability (emphasis added) of the Stewardship program, which helped ensure local voices were heard and that taxpayer resources were spent wisely . . .” Born, who is the co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee also said, “The entire program is now in jeopardy.”

These comments are curious on two levels. First, there is still accountability for KNP expenditures. The Wisconsin Statutes place a number of restrictions on how Stewardship funds can be spent. Also, the DNR is charged with administering the program in accordance with the statutes. In addition, people, including those who live near where projects may take place have the ability to communicate their opinions to the DNR.

Second, it’s unclear why Mr. Born says that the entire KNP is in Jeopardy. There is nothing innate in the court’s ruling that puts the program in Jeopardy. One interpretation of Representative Born’s words could be that he and/or other members of the Republican controlled Wisconsin Legislature may wish to refuse to adequately fund the program now that individual members of the Joint Finance Committee can no longer anonymously veto stewardship projects.

In its report, Wisconsin Public Radio noted that, Republican State Senator Mary Felzkowski, speaking in response to the DNR’s budget Request, and noting that the DNR has been without a secretary for over a year said:

“The likelihood of an agency of this size, that creates so much frustration throughout the state, receiving big increases without an executive head taking accountability is, in my opinion, low . . .”

Ever's Response

Governor Evers has said that he is having a difficult time finding someone willing to act as the DNR Secretary, due to the Republican Held legislature having fired so many of his appointees. The last DNR secretary, Adam Payne served for ten months before resigning, without the legislature ever having confirmed his appointment. On March 12 of 2024, CBS News reported that the Legislature had fired eight more of Evers’ appointees, bringing the total fired by the Legislature since Evers took office in 2019 to 21. The CBS News report indicates that, among those fired were:

“. . . two Universities of Wisconsin regents who voted against a deal that limited campus diversity and four judicial watchdogs who wouldn't commit to punishing liberal state Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz.”

The Future of Public Lands, Parks, and Recreational Facilities

The extent to which the KNP will be funded in the future remains to be seen. In the meantime, there seems to be strong support for conservation and recreation as a whole, and the KNP specifically. For example, The Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s website currently contains an article that originally appeared in 2020, supporting KNP funding.

That piece, authored by its executive director included the following statements:

“Now more than ever, outdoor spaces are important to Wisconsinites.”
“But Knowles-Nelson does more than pay for land purchases. It funds trail building, campground development, trails signs, boat launches, and more. We have to take care of the land we have protected, and Stewardship helps us do that.”
“The K-N Stewardship program costs each Wisconsin resident about $15 / year. That’s a really good deal.
“We must be careful with state dollars, but Stewardship is a tiny fraction of Wisconsin’s debt, only 2%. The Stewardship program is an investment in Wisconsin’s future.”

The entire article can be viewed here - https://www.wisducks.org/things-to-know-about-the-knowles-nelson-stewardship-program/

The Congressional Sportsman’s Foundation also posted a piece in support of KNP funding on its website on October 7 of this year. That piece, titled “Key Public Land Acquisition Fund Faces Reauthorization in Wisconsin” indicates that the CSF, along with partners, conducted meetings in Madison with members of the Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus to stress the importance of the KNP. The CSF site may be viewed here: https://congressionalsportsmen.org/news/key-public-land-acquisition-fund-faces-reauthorization-in-wisconsin/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=bc42c3d2-5e45-484b-bba0-75be2842b4ad

Additionally, the following organizations have expressed support for or otherwise acknowledged the importance of the KNP:

The Wisconsin Bike Federation
Ice Age Trail Alliance
Wisconsin Green Fire
The Wisconsin Audubon Council and nine Wisconsin chapters
The Mississippi Valley Conservancy
Pheasants Forever
The Sierra Club
Driftless Area Land Conservancy
The Ruffed Grouse Society

Additionally, “Team Knowles-Nelson”, lists on its website a plethora of organizations as its partners or sponsoring partners. A sampling of those organizations includes:

Gathering Waters Conservancy
Ducks Unlimited
The Conservation Fund
The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology
American Trails
League of Wisconsin Municipalities
The Nature Conservancy
Rails to Trails Conservancy
Wisconsin Trout Unlimited
Wisconsin Counties Association
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation

These many organizations, along with a large majority of Wisconsin residents support the Knowles-Nelson program. The question is now, whether the Republican controlled state legislature will respect the will of the majority and adequately fund the program.

WTMJ Television Coverage Conservation program in jeopardy as DNR asks to triple funding (tmj4.com)

Oneida County Conservation Congress Funding in Jeopardy?

County Board to vote on continuing funding to local Conservation Congress delegates.

By Beckie Gaskill September 20, 2024- Recently, Oneida County Conservation Congress chair Ed Choinski approached the county land and water committee to discuss a reimbursement for Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) delegates from the county to attend the annual meeting of the Congress. This reimbursement, he said, had been ongoing for at least 40 years, but had stopped abruptly this year. There was some confusion regarding from where this expense reimbursement came out of the county, but, he said, the funding did come from the county somewhere. Both the department and the committee stated they understood the importance of the Conservation Congress and would look into how to get the reimbursement reinstated if possible.

But just what is the Wisconsin Conservation Congress and what does it do? The WCC is “the only statutory body in the state where citizens elect delegates to advise the Natural Resources Board (NRB) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on how to responsibly manage Wisconsin’s natural resources for present and future generations,” according to the DNR website. In recent years, many have become aware of the WCC spring hearings. These hearings are held in April every year and they give the public the opportunity to weigh in on proposed rule changes that have to do with a variety of different areas of the state’s natural resources.

This year there were questions regarding possible enhanced wake regulations, which drew a large number of lake lovers and healthy water supporters. The Congress is made up of volunteer citizens from each county who represent the interests of those in their home county, bringing those thoughts, opinions and ideas to the full Congress. The Congress, then, brings their recommendations to the Natural Resources Board on these matters.

The whole process of the spring hearings is unique to Wisconsin. It allows all of the stakeholders in the state weigh in on natural resources matters that are important to them. Much of the spring hearings content is directed at anglers, hunters and trappers, those people who pay license fees that allow the state to manage our natural resources for us all.

At the spring hearings, delegates to the Conservation Congress are elected by those in attendance in person in each county. While the spring hearings questionnaire can be filled out online, a measure that began during the pandemic, delegates, by statute, can only be elected by people attending the spring hearings in person. This not only gives the public a chance to weigh in on natural resources issues, but also to elect the people they believe will best represent the interests of citizens of the county.

Because all WCC delegates are strictly volunteers, they shoulder all of their own expenses of doing this important work, attending meetings, talking to NRB members and various other activities associated with their WCC work. As Choinski said, for the last 40 years, Oneida County has reimbursed WCC delegates from the county for their annual meeting expenses. That total amount per year comes to approximately $2,500. Other counties also reimburse their WCC delegates for their annual meeting expenses.

When Choinski approached the land and water committee earlier this year, county conservationist Michele Sadauskas said she fully understood the importance of the WCC and what the delegates did for the people of the county, but her department budget simply could not fund the reimbursement. The committee then voted to include those funds into the 2025 budget. Should that budget be approved by the full county board, delegates would once again be reimbursed for their expenses for that meeting, alleviating that financial burden from them. This will be an important move to keep the county’s delegates on the Conservation Congress and fighting for the wishes of citizens in the area of natural resources.

OCCWA Position

We at OCCWA support the funding of our local Conservation Congress delegates. This uniquely Wisconsin process where local residents can weigh in on environmental issues is part of the very fiber of our Northwood's lifestyle of Water, Woods, Wildlife, and Way of Life.

In 2024, 678 Oneida County Residents participated in the Conservation Congress with another 2749 online inputs from respondents that indicated they recreate in the county. To put these numbers into perspective, of all the counties in Wisconsin, only Dane County with a much higher population produced slightly higher participation numbers than Oneida County. No surprise to us at OCCWA.

See 2024 Statewide County results here 2024_StatewideResultsByCounty.pdf (wisconsin.gov)

Bayfield County Raises Ante on Wave Boats

Bayfield and Jefferson counties ask WCA to back 700ft/30ft restrictions on enhanced waves.

By Dan Butkus September 5, 2024-Two recent developments have happened back-to-back concerning enhanced wake regulations. First up we have Bayfield County proposing a resolution to be considered at the upcoming Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) Conference (September 22-24). Their resolution asks counties to back a state legislative standard of 700 ft from shore minimum and 30 ft depth minimum for operation of wake boats in wake mode, aka “bow-up”. In addition, Bayfield’s resolution supports local control for more restrictive local ordinances. Jefferson County’s Executive Committee, acting on behalf of the full Board, recently passed a motion in support of the Bayfield WCA Conference resolution, effectively casting a vote for the resolution.

Each member county of the WCA gets one vote on each resolution. The conference resolutions may be adopted, rejected, or frequently they are postponed indefinitely. Adopted resolutions from the Conference are used in WCA’s lobbying efforts in the coming year. Should Bayfield’s resolution succeed at the Conference later in September, it could be a huge boost for the effort to effectively regulate enhanced wakes.

The second bit of news came out on September 3rd. A press release announced the formation of a coalition of environmental groups that includes Wisconsin Lakes, Last Wilderness Alliance, Wisconsin Green Fire, Lakes at Stake, and Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. Earlier in May, this author addressed the Natural Resources Board (See photo) on behalf of these five organizations concerning devoting DNR staff resources to help Towns with local wake ordinances. The expressed purpose of the coalition is to protect Wisconsin’s waters from the devastating impact of enhanced wakes. They have proposed a policy independent of, but mirroring Bayfield’s WCA Conference resolution. The coalition goes further by identifying residual water in the wake boat ballast as violating Wisconsin’s statutes and administrative code regarding transport of aquatic invasive species. Ballast tanks cannot be completely emptied or decontaminated.
Several other groups have signed on to the original members’ proposal. They include Wisconsin Trout Unlimited, Walleyes for Tomorrow, Vilas County Lakes and Rivers Association, and the Yahara Fishing Club. More groups are looking over the proposal made by the coalition and are considering signing on in support of the policies. This marks a rare occasion where a number of environmental groups have come together in an effort to pressure the Wisconsin Legislature into action.

OCCWA Note: As you may recall Oneida County passed an enhanced wave resolution back in March with limits of 500ft from shore and 20 ft depth. Now Bayfield County leapfrogs those numbers with 7000ft/30ft. No disrespect to our County Board's efforts, they were proactive and protective while being one of the first counties to act in protecting our lakes. Below is an excerpt of our March 21st coverage on Oneida County's resolution.

" It took multiple meetings by both the County Board and the Conservation and UW Extension Committee to finally produce a resolution that the majority of the County Board could get behind, 13 ayes and 6 no. The end result was a Resolution on Enhanced Wake Regulations.

In the resolution the county asks for restricting enhanced wake creation closer than 500ft from shore and in depths less than 20ft. These limits are compromise between the most extreme protections and the woefully minimum numbers offered by Senator Felzkowski and Representative Swearengen's proposal of 200ft from shore and no depth restrictions.

The resolution also calls for the state to allow local governments to set their own limits above state minimums. This has become a necessary ask since most of the state legislation lately prohibits local entities to be more protective of their resources than state limits. Local control?"

Silent Sport Magazine article on Wakeboarding. For the local paddlers and there's a lot of us, Silent Sports Magazine does a fantastic job covering the enhanced wave issue. https://silentsportsmagazine.com/2024/01/02/silent-alarm-proposed-wakeboarding-bill-bad-for-paddling-fishing-and-invasive-species/

Opposition to Mining Stronger Than Ever

Protect the Willow sentiment still alive and well with old and new voices, "No still means No!"

By Kathleen Cooper August 22, 2024- I am so proud of my fellow citizens who, on very short notice, took the time from their busy lives to voice their opinions against mining in the Town of Lynne, and in Oneida County. 194 emails were sent to Tracy Hartman, the Oneida County Clerk, opposed to mining and the pro-mining resolution written by board chairman Scott Holewinski. During the August 20 County Board meeting, twenty-seven people spoke in person against mining. There were many more people in attendance who did not speak, but were there to show support against mining. We had only three days' notice to get the word out, and these concerned citizens, from all walks of life and all political persuasions, came together to oppose a threat to our way of life, our air, our land, and our water. I was so inspired by what I heard and what I saw. And our Oneida County Board did the right thing. In an unprecedented move, the board voted to defeat Holewinski’s resolution that would have begun to pave the way for mining in Lynne.

Every speaker had something unique to say. Kyle Kilbourn, a congressional candidate running against Tom Tiffany, took the time from his campaign to voice his opinion against mining in Oneida County, which is the opposite of Tiffany’s pro-mining stance. Eric Rempala spoke about what a sacrifice zone was, which seems like what the mining companies and Scott Holewinski want for our county. A man from Vilas County said sure, let's have mines in Oneida County, because the tourists will drive right through and spend their money in Vilas County. There were tribal citizens from the Lac du Flambeau tribe who reminded the board that this was ceded territory, and that the tribes would take any and all action, including legal action, against a mine in Oneida County. Another resident talked about the Flambeau Mine, which is said to be fully reclaimed, except for thirty-five acres that have been leaking toxic waste into the groundwater since 1997 (which means it is not reclaimed at all). An engineer spoke of the process of sulfide mining, and that there is no way to stop the leaching of sulfuric acid into the environment for perpetuity, with the taxpayers left to clean up the mess. Another woman said that it felt like deja vu to once again have to speak up against mining, especially after the 2018 referendum, that should have put the question to rest. Another mentioned that water-rich Oneida County is the fifth largest source of freshwater in the WORLD, so why are we talking about polluting it? Some people came with no intention to speak, but spoke anyway, without notes, their voices shaky with emotion, but their messages powerful, against mining.

Supervisor Steven Schrier spoke about the lack of transparency on the part of Scott Holewinski and Russ Fisher, who met with the junior mining company Green Light Metals at the Wisconsin Counties Association in Madison, without the consent of the county board, and said nothing about it until drawing up this resolution. Steven also mentioned that there are already ordinances in place for the procedures to follow for mining inquiries, so what is the purpose of this new resolution?

The basic message was “No means NO! We voted against mining in 2018, and we are telling you now! No mining in Oneida County!”

It was a victory for clean air, land, and water. The resolution was defeated by a vote of thirteen no and six ayes. However, it is not over. Certain county board members will stop at nothing, even going rogue, to impose their will on the people of Oneida County. Now that we know how powerful we are, and that we can assemble to fight the good fight at a moment’s notice, we need to be ready when the call comes to do it again. And again. For as long as it takes to finally put this issue to rest.

Many thanks to all of you who wrote emails, called their county board supervisors, showed up at the meeting, and spoke. We could never have defeated this resolution without you. We all came together for the common good, and I could not be prouder. Great job, Oneida County!

Welcome to Oneida County Clean Waters Action