HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand Conservation Committee - Minutes - 2/23/2024
Our Mission: To assist the public in protecting, enhancing, and restoring the natural resources of Bayfield County
Bayfield County Land & Water Conservation Department
615 2nd Ave. East; PO Box 126
Washburn, WI 54891
___________________________________________________________________________________
Phone: (715) 373-6167 Website: www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov
MINUTES
February 23rd, 2024 (to be approved)
Present: Charly Ray-Chairperson; Marty Milanowski-Vice-chairperson; Larry Fickbohm-Co
Board Supervisor; Fred Strand-Co Board of Supervisor (via TEAMS); Greg Tetzner-
FSA Rep; Todd Norwood-Soil Conservationist-NRCS office in Ashland; Matt Bolen-
Ag Technician/Wildlife Damage Program Coordinator/Specialist; Ben Dufford-Co.
Conservationist; Travis Tulowitzky-Cons.Tech.; Andrew Teal-AIS Coord.; Ramona
Shackleford-NCWMA Coordinator; Ethan Rossing- USDA-APHIS-WS; Seth
Zesiger-USDA-APHIS-WS; Ellen Lafans-Bayfield Co Lakes Forum Board member;
Jim Bakken-Citizen member/Bayfield Co Lakes Forum-Cable; Sue Rosa-Citizen
member/Cable; and Melissa Kraft-LWCD Assistant.
Absent: Representative of-NRCS; Representative of-USFWS; Representative of WDNR;
Pete Tetzner-Citizen Rep.
1) The meeting was called to order by Charly Ray-Chairperson, at 9:00 a.m.
2) Introductions: Introductions not needed.
3) Discussion on Approval of Minutes from October 13th, 2023 meeting:
MOTION: Approval of Minutes (October 13th, 2023) –Motion by, Marty Milanowski, 2nd by Larry
Fickbohm – motion carried.
4) Public Comment: Charly asked if there was anyone who would like to address the committee;
hearing none, Charly closed public comment.
5) Agency Staff/Partners Reports:
a. NRCS Update: Todd Norwood introduced himself as the Soil Conservationist with
NRCS in the Ashland office. He mentioned the District Conservationist, Michael Blunt,
would like to be here however, was not able to attend as he has been tied up with a lot
of deadlines.
Todd said he doesn’t have a lot of updates today, but that he will try and make it to
more of these meetings. He noted that their contracts will be ready by April 5th so they
will know what projects will be funded as there is a lot of funding within NRCS. There
are a few NRCS will partner with Bayfield Co LWCD on. The deadline to sign up on
EQUIP is May 17th and obligation or contract date for that is July 26th and likely will be
more funding periods with the amount of funding they have. Also mentioned there is a
lot of forestry practices and management plans upcoming and funding. With the
additional funding they got through the IRA legislation there was quite a bit of climate
smart agriculture and forestry practices that qualified for climate smart and got funded.
b. USFWS Update: Discussions on culvert job in Grandview (18-mi Creek culvert).
Discussions with Ted Koehler on possibly applying for more funding. The stream is a
priority for a lot of agencies. The 12 foot diameter culvert structure they are looking at
is around 150-200K estimated. Typically, construction is twice what the structure is so
they are going back and forth on how and if they can do something at that site with Fish
and Wildlife. The estimates they have gotten to replace the current pipe are between
500-700K.
Our Mission: To assist the public in protecting, enhancing, and restoring the natural resources of Bayfield County
c. WDNR Update: Eddie Shea-WI DNR Wildlife Biologist, provided a written update as he
was not able to attend today. The Northern District Wildlife Supervisor position is
vacant. Expected to fill within the next 6 months. He has been out of wildlife surveys
however, the lack of snow has limited tracking opportunities with carnivore track
surveys. He has two otter surveys in Bayfield Co-one on the Flag River and the other
on the Sioux. He has helped with two bear collaring efforts in Bayfield Co as well as
checked on two dens for bear status and whether cubs or yearlings were present. This
is part of a DNR research project assessing bear survival and reproduction. Eddie has
been on three elk collaring events, two of which have been in Bayfield Co. Regarding
habitat projects he recently contracted a buckthorn treatment project on a portion of
South Shore Lake Superior Fisheries Area property scheduled to have a timber sale
next year. Other similar buckthorn treatments have been conducted on state lands in
the county unrelated to timber sales. This type of work will continue in the summer and
fall. The Bayfield County Deer Advisory Council (CDAC) is scheduled for April 23rd in
County Board Rm., in Washburn. Spring hearing is scheduled for April 8th, meeting
location TBD.
d. Others: None.
6) Discussion/Possible Action: Wildlife Damage – 2023 Crop Damage Claim Prices: Matt
Bolen, 2023 Wildlife Damage Coordinator, discussed the handouts (on file) detailing wildlife
damage claims for approval and setting 2023 crop prices.
First claim discussed was a loss due to bear damage from a single bear. The claim is to replace
13 colonies of bees. Matt recommends setting a price for a package of bees for farmers to be
paid for wildlife damage claims in 2023 to be $135.00 per colony/package of bees. Matt noted
that the owner has a wildlife program damage fence and his hives are fenced in quite well and
has a permanent fence structure as well as a temporary electric fence. The damage was from a
single young bear determined by paw prints, that somehow got over and did the damage in a
single night. The claim for his loss would be $1,755.00 and the program has a $500.00 deductible
so he would be paid out in the amount of $1,255.00 for the hives he lost. If approved it’s not the
amount the county would pay, it gets sent to the DNR and they pay it directly, this committee sets
the price and approve the claim.
MOTION: To approve the recommended price of $135.00 per package of bees totaling $1,255.00
claim for bee hive bear damage . – Marty Milanowski / Greg Tetzner – motion carried.
Matt recommends setting a price for a bushel of soybeans for farmers to be paid for wildlife
damage claims in 2023 to be $13.62 per bushel. There was a single claim for soybeans in
Bayfield Co. To get $13.62 per bushel, Matt took a straight average using soybean prices from
USDA report, DATCP, and Sheldon Grain at the time that claimant would’ve been selling.
Matt discussed the damage that occurred on the 59 acre field. The claimant had objectives that
he was required to meet where he was issued shooting permits. Matt discussed in detail issues
surrounding the 45 day objective. The way the paperwork was filled out and submitted by the
claimant technically did not meet the 45 day objective and therefore the committee would have to
approve a special harvest waiver saying that he has good reason even though he did not meet it
that we would still like to process the claim as is.
MOTION: To approve the recommended price of soybean of $13.62 and approve the claim
totaling $9,250.06 claim for soybean for deer damage and also approve the special harvest waiver
request. – Larry Fickbohm / Marty Milanowski – motion carried.
Ben noted that Matt isn’t in the Wildlife Damage Coordinator role for 2024 as his position is now
full time as an Agriculture Technician for Ashland/Bayfield/Iron counties, but is closing out the
2023 year paperwork.
Our Mission: To assist the public in protecting, enhancing, and restoring the natural resources of Bayfield County
7) Discussion/Possible Action: Wildlife Damage Program Cooperative Service
Agreement between Bayfield Co, the WDNR, and USDA-APHIS-WS for Bayfield County
for a 5-year period -Rossing/Zesiger/Dufford: Two representatives are present today; Ethan
Rossing- USDA-APHIS-WS and Seth Zesiger-USDA-APHIS-WS. Ben discussed it was
decided at an Ashland County Land Conservation meeting that Matt Bolen’s position as Wildlife
Damage Coordinator would end and his position would be changed to full time Agriculture
Technician, therefore discussions began with USDA-APHIS representatives to proceed with
contracting with them for continuation of the program. Agreements were provided for review
and approval of the committee. The representatives discussed how their program works and
they answered questions. Basically they will assume the duties o their end that Matt had and
Bayfield County will still maintain supervision and administration of the program.
MOTION: To approve the Wildlife Damage Program Cooperative Service Agreement between
Bayfield Co, the WDNR, and USDA-APHIS-WS for Bayfield County for a 5-year period as
presented and to forward to the County Board of Supervisors– Motion by Marty Milanowski /2nd
by Larry Fickbohm – motion carried.
8) Discussion/Possible Action: Wildlife Damage Program Resolution-Zesiger/Dufford:
Wi Admin Code 12.32(1) requires a resolution on file that Bayfield County will participate in
Wildlife Damage and Abatement & Claims Program.
MOTION: To approve updating the Wildlife Damage Program Resolution and forward to the
County Board of Supervisors– Motion by Marty Milanowski /2nd by Greg Tetzner – motion
carried.
9) Discussion/Possible Action: 2024 Budget Amendment Resolution-Dufford: Cranberry
River Fish Passage project grant in the Town of Clover. This is a culvert project utilizing
Enbrdige’s ECO footprint grant program. We asked for $100,000.00 to put towards this project
and DNR will match the funds. We were awarded the funds therefore we need to add it to our
2024 budget.
MOTION: To approve the 2024 Budget Amendment Resolution as presented and to forward to
the County Board of Supervisors– Motion by Larry Fickbohm /2nd by Marty Milanowski –
motion carried.
10) Discussion/Possible Action: CWD 2023 prevention program report-Dufford: Ben
discussed the report, which is on file. Dumpsters were not as full as last year. Republic Services
cannot give us weights of the dumpsters anymore, however the dumpster at the DNR station in
Ashland did get a final weight that contained 2.5 tons. This year we will try and reach out to other
possible providers for dumpster services for prices, etc.
11) Discussion/Possible Action: Wake Boat Resolution and Discussion: Brief background
on this resolution is that Fred sent Ben a resolution that Sawyer County enacted in November
of 2023. Ben revised the resolution to a Bayfield County format for review and possible action
at this meeting as these issues have came up in Bayfield County and Fred believes would be
beneficial for Bayfield Co to have a similar resolution.
The draft resolution had been circulated to a few and Ben received feedback that there is
nothing in the draft including AIS issues with wake boats. Charly commented that the point of
the resolution is regulating the wake situations. Charly discussed the negative impact he has
noticed on wild rice as well.
Our Mission: To assist the public in protecting, enhancing, and restoring the natural resources of Bayfield County
Fred noted that wake boats can create very large waves and when used close to shorelines
can cause significate shoreline erosion and when used in shallow water can create damage to
lakeshore bottoms.
Charly pointed out that the resolution doesn’t call for Bayfield Co to take specific action but this
is really a resolution for local control so the action part of the resolution presented is asking the
State to allow local controls over these issues.
Travis noted he did a quick search and found the Town of Grandview passed an ordinance at
Diamond Lake stating no wake surfing.
MOTION: To approve the Wake Boat Resolution as presented and forward to the County Board
of Supervisors for further discussion and action– Motion by Fred Strand /2nd by Larry Fickbohm
– motion carried.
12) Discussion/Possible Action: Review/Modify/Update LWCD Fee Schedule: Discussion on
revising fee LWCD current fee schedule for residential shoreland mitigation and stormwater
management plan to a flat rate of $300 to be due at the completion of the plan and prior to
releasing plan to landowner. Currently, the fee schedule rate is $50/hr and we send the billing
statement out along with the completed plan. Occasionally, we have 2-3 landowners a year that
we have a hard time collecting payment from and it has taken up to a year sometimes to finally
get payment from them. Most landowners have paid within 1-3 months.
Ben noted that we will be attending BOA meetings in future when needed.
MOTION: To approve the Bayfield County Land & Water Conservation Dept. Fee
Schedule as presented and forward to the County Board of Supervisors– Motion by Marty
Milanowski /2nd by Greg Tetzner – motion carried.
13) 2024 Project/Grant Updates: Will be discussed during LWCD Staff Reports.
14) LWCD Staff Reports: Discussed and on file.
Andy: Report on file. Andy discussed his report in detail.
Ramona: Report on file. Ramona discussed her report in detail. Charly asked for more specifics
on garlic mustard funding and status in our area. Larry asked if there are many landowners that
don’t want to give permission for invasive plant removal. Knotweed permission is usually easy to
get from landowners but garlic mustard is a little harder.
Matt Bolen: Provided handout of his report to the committee and discussed his report in detail. He
also noted is new role is primarily Agricultural Technician focusing on Nutrient Management,
Farmland Preservation, and no till. He will no longer be doing the Wildlife Damage Program. Matt
asked that if anyone had any topics of interest for suggestions they may be interested in learing
more about as he intends to hold 4 field day presentations this year, example such as strip tilling or
anything to do with NM, etc.
Melissa: Report on file. Melissa discussed her report.
Travis: Report on file. Travis discussed his report.
Ben: Update on meetings, project designs, and culvert projects that he has been working on.
Briefly discussed possibly EPA grants. Charly encourages information to the towns that we can
Our Mission: To assist the public in protecting, enhancing, and restoring the natural resources of Bayfield County
help with culverts, invasive species, wildlife, projects etc. and possibly even to help with referrals
for them.
Next meeting date: May 10th, 2024, at 9:00 AM.
Meeting adjourned at 10:40 a.m.
Respectfully submitted by Melissa Kraft.
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