HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand Conservation Committee - Minutes - 8/19/2016Bayfield County Land & Water Conservation Department
615 2nd Ave. East; PO Box 126
Washburn, WI 54891
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Our Mission: To assist the public in protecting, enhancing, and restoring the natural resources of Bayfield County
MINUTES
August 19, 2016 (to be approved)
Present: Bill Bussey, chair; Fred Strand, vice chair; Dennis Pocernich; Larry Fickbohm; Peter
Tetzner, Citizen Rep.
Staff: Ben Dufford; Travis Tulowitzky; Arianna Austin; Andrew Teal; Adam Haecker
Absent:Becky Anderson, FSA Rep.
Attendance:Mike Mlynarek, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Jason Fischbach, UW Extension
1)Call to order: Meeting was called to order at 9:03 am
2)Approval of Minutes (May 13, 2016) MOTION: – Strand/Pocernich - carried.
3)Public Comment: NONE
4)Agency Staff / Partners Reports:
a.NRCS Update - Emergency Watershed Protection sites, visited several with some qualifying.
b.USFWS Update - Mike Mlynarek is working with NRCS on storm-related projects, working with a
youth crew on storm clean-up. Cherryville/Town Hall Roads in Barksdale project to begin this fall.
c.WDNR Update - None.
d.BRWA Update - Working on two culvert projects in the Town of Lincoln, with FEMA and
Watershed funds following the July storms.
e.4-Four County Wildlife Damage Update - Dave Schultz submitted an update, included in packet
f.Others - None
5)Discussion / Possible Action: Recommend approval of FY2016 Budget Adjustments /
Amendments as presented, and move to full county board for approval - MOTION to approve:
Strand/Fickbohm - carried.
6)Discussion / Possible Action: Draft County-wide Manure Storage Ordinance - Jason noted that
the committee may want to wait until the South Fish Creek Ordinance is finalized. Fred asked to
which farmers and number of animals the ordinance applies, and suggested an animal unit
threshold. Bill wanted to clarify that farmers, who wish to build a new pit or expand an existing pit,
would be required to have a nutrient management plan (NMP). Jason noted that other county
ordinances include new and expanding barnyards. Pete and Bill asked for permit costs. Ben noted
that other northern counties cost $500. Travis mentioned that when working with farmers on cost-
share projects, they would need permits and a NMP already. Larry noted the importance of stockpile
storage and distance from streams and lakes. Bill had some technical edit suggestions. Travis asked
about abandoned pits, prospective or retroactive requirements. Bill is reluctant to include retroactive
cases. Ben noted that if the ordinance applied retroactive, that the county would need to have
funding available. Jason asked about the definition of abandonment and potential gray area of
determining potential threat to ground water. Bill noted revisions to not require a NMP for those
abandoning pits. Fred noted that the intent of the Largescale Livestock Committee is to apply to only
prospective cases. Bill suggested bringing the draft back to the next meeting after changes have
been made and further research has been done.
7)Discussion / Possible Action: Include additional budget items in FY2017 - Dennis noted that
capital funds might not be the best fit for these items. Bill suggested budgeting as operating
expenses.
a.Farm Succession Program
b.Field Edge Monitoring - Fred asked if the cost-share needs to occur during the first year or
could be spread over three years, reducing the capital budget for 2017 from $27,000 to $10,000.
Dennis was concerned about the initial grant funding sources, leading to a contingency in the
budget for the matching funds. Fields would provide runoff data, Pete suggested not only doing
fields, but to include one in a forest to compare values. Jason noted that monitoring can lead to
optimization of growing, and not just targeting wrong-doings.
c.Barnyard Runoff Control Projects
d.Well Abandonments
8)Discussion / Possible Action: Approval of 2017 LWCD and WDP Budget Proposals - Fred
moved to recommend the budget, the additional items listed above to be included as either operating
or capital. MOTION to recommend: Strand/Fickbohm - carried.
Our Mission: To assist the public in protecting, enhancing, and restoring the natural resources of Bayfield County
9)2016 Grant Updates: Ben and Matt Hudson have been working with a landowner on a bluff
stabilization. Extension request has been submitted by Northland College to the EPA to continue
work in 2017. Christine Ostern from Douglas County would like to partner on a groundwater study.
10)2016 Project Updates: Included in staff reports.
11)LWCD Staff Reports:
a.Andy Teal, AIS Coordinator - reviewed, on file.
b.Adam Haecker, NCWMA Coordinator - reviewed, on file.
c.Arianna Austin, Clerk I - reviewed, on file.
d.Travis Tulowitzky, Conservation Technician - reviewed, on file.
e.Ben Dufford, County Conservationist - reviewed, on file.
12)Other business as authorized by law:Determine date for the fall tour,including a brief meeting at
9 am,followed by a half-day tour,with lunch at the conclusion.Date set for October 14,2016.Tour
tentatively to include asphalt barnyard, roofed barnyard, agricultural projects and culverts.
13)Next meeting date: tentatively scheduled for October 14, 9-10 am.
14)Adjourn: Meeting adjourned at 10:53 am.
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