HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand Conservation Committee - Minutes - 5/31/2024
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
May 31st, 2024 (to be approved)
Present: Marty Milanowski-Vice-chairperson; Larry Fickbohm-Co Board Supervisor; Fred
Strand-Co Board of Supervisor; Pete Tetzner-Citizen Rep (9:06 am); Greg Tetzner-
FSA Rep (9:06 am); Todd Norwood-Soil Conservationist-NRCS office in Ashland
(9:06) Matt Bolen-Ag Technician; Ben Dufford-Co. Conservationist; Travis
Tulowitzky-Consv.Tech.; Andrew Teal-LMPN Coord./Surface Water Consv.
Specialist; Ramona Shackleford-NCWMA Coordinator; Ethan Rossing- USDA-
APHIS-WS; Seth Zesiger-USDA-APHIS-WS; and Melissa Kraft-LWCD Assistant.
Absent: Charly Ray-Co Board Supervisor; Representative of-NRCS; Representative of-
USFWS; Representative of WDNR
1) The meeting was called to order by Marty Milanowski-Vice-Chairperson, at 9:00 a.m. It was
noted that at the moment we do not have a quorum so will move to non-action item discussion until
a quorum is present. At 9:06 am quorum present.
2) Introductions: Introductions not needed.
9:06 am quorum present.
3) ACTION-Election of Officers -LCC Chair and LCC Vice Chair discussion. Charly Ray gave
notice he doesn’t want to be the LCC Chair any longer.
MOTION: Nomination open for Chairperson, –Motion by Fred Strand to nominate Marty
Milanowski, 2nd by Larry Fickbohm – motion carried.
MOTION: Nomination open for Vice-Chairperson, Motion by Fred Strand to nominate Larry
Fickbohm, 2nd by Greg Tetzner – motion carried.
4) Discussion on Approval of Minutes from February 23rd, 2024 meeting:
MOTION: Approval of Minutes (February 23rd, 2024) –Motion by Larry Fickbohm, 2nd by Fred
Strand – motion carried.
5) Public Comment: Marty asked if there was any public who would like to address the
committee; hearing none, he closed public comment.
6) Agency Staff/Partners Reports:
a. NRCS Update: Todd Norwood introduced himself as the Soil Conservationist with
NRCS in the Ashland office. The state is divided into different areas and ours is the
Grouse Country Local working group that focuses on the Northwest part of the state. A
meeting is held for stakeholders and landowners to give comments on what they think
are the priority resource concerns/priority practices for the area. That helps NRCS
decide how they will set up the ranking for these practices and what practices will be
priority within the state which get a higher funding rate. He brought the bulletin if
anyone would like to see it. He noted the name of their local group doesn’t have
anything to do with grouse restoration they just have the names to distinguish the
groups in WI. The meeting is scheduled at the Barron County Government Center
Auditorium on June 25th from 10am until noon, if anyone is interested in attending.
Our Mission: To assist the public in protecting, enhancing, and restoring the natural resources of Bayfield County
Otherwise, you could submit comments to Todd’s office or send to Ben to forward on to
him. Right now state priority resource concern categories are field sediment nutrient,
pathogen loss, wind and water erosion, soil quality limitations, creative plant condition
and concentrated erosion. And there are ten state high priority practices that were
identified. If anyone is interested in reading more he has the information.
Todd also discussed updates on three manure pit closures in Bayfield County that they
are working on. Two of which should be mostly or completely funded through NRCS,
however, the third closure doesn’t qualify for funding due to the barn being underground
so he is not sure if it will go through this year and they may have to postpone it until
next year in hopes to find additional money. Ben said he will try and look for possible
DATCP funds for the third manure pit. The barn is no longer there which doesn’t make
it an under barn pit and in the NRCS standards for funding it states that the barn is
existing. He also noted that there is no fill material onsite so it raises the cost of the
project as it would require fill being trucked in which adds approximately $20,000.
b. USFWS Update: Ben gave a brief update. Ted will help fund a couple smaller culvert
projects; one on Range Rd. that’s a branch of Whittlsey Creek. Also, Ted informed him
there is $11,000 funding available for habit projects for example installing logs or
mounds for netting birds in wetland projects.
c. WDNR Update: Eddie Shea, DNR biologist, was unable to attend.
d. Others: None.
7) Discussion/Possible Action: LCC Committee member needed to sit on the NW Area WI
Land & Water Committee. Discussion of electing interested member. Larry Fickbohm noted
interest.
MOTION: Fred Strand nominates Larry Fickbohm, 2nd by Pete Tetzner to sit on LCC NW
Area WI Land & Water Committee. – motion carried.
Ben noted that the next NW Area committee meeting is set for June 14th in Spooner, WI and he will
reach out to Larry before that about going with him.
8) Discussion/Possible Action: 2025 Budget requests/Budget discussion: Ben discussed
the need to replace one of our survey trucks that is 13 years old. Fred noted to put it in our
capital equipment line item.
9) Discussion/Possible Action: EcoFootprint Grant update, EPA Grant Update: Ben
briefly discussed the Cranberry River culvert project, and one other landowner has requested
to do a couple enhancements to an existing wetland. Cranberry River Fish Passage project
grant in the Town of Clover. This is a culvert project utilizing Enbridge’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.
10) Discussion/Possible Action: LWRM Plan Update 2024-Dufford: Lisa Trumble, LWRM
plan coordinator reached out to Ben to discuss a possible agreement to reschedule and extend
the expiration date of the current Bayfield Co Land and Water Resource Management plan. It
was noted DATCP is requesting this agreement to get our county on the same renewal
schedule as some other counties. Following successful completion of the 2024 five-year
review of the LWRM plan, DATCP will schedule Bayfield County for another five-year review in
2028 followed by a full plan revision in 2033. Should the need arise to complete a plan revision
prior to 2033 DATCP staff will work with the county to make any changes that are mutually
agreeable. To complete the schedule change process, DATCP requires confirmation that this
information was shared with this committee. The agreement needs to be signed and returned
to DATCP that it was shared with the committee.
Our Mission: To assist the public in protecting, enhancing, and restoring the natural resources of Bayfield County
MOTION: To approve the agreement with DATCP to reschedule and extend the expiration date of
the current Bayfield County Land and Water Resource Management Plan as presented– Motion
by Greg Tetzner, 2nd by Pete Tetzner – motion carried.
11) 2024 Project/Grant Updates: Nothing new that hasn’t been discussed already.
12) LWCD Staff Reports: Discussed and on file.
Andy: Update onfile. Discussed upcoming projects for LMPN and surface water work. Discussed
presentation recently given. Three invasive species ID day are set for this summer. Discussed
other upcoming events.
Ramona: Unable to attend meeting. Working on garlic mustard pulls recently. Four interns
scheduled to work this summer.
Matt Bolen: Unable to attend meeting. Ben noted that we do not have funding for Agriculture
work for Matt’s position. We had it in our budget request however, Co Admin. removed it from the
2024 budget.
Travis noted that Matt Bolen plans to host a pasture walk at the property of Dave Applegrin
sometime the end of July. He intends to have information on grazing and different practices
associated with grazing and likely discussion on Nutrient Management. Dave will give a
demonstration on hoof trimming. It will be in the evening on a weekday with speakers and food.
Melissa: Brief update given. Usual office duties and attended recent LEEP day for Drummond 7th
grade class helping with the in class shoreline restoration module and then attended the LEEP
field day at Tomahawk Lake park.
Travis: Brief update given. On April 16th a culvert field tour with Iron and Bayfield County. A
classroom session was held last December in Cable that was well attended for Town staff with
around 60 people from various townships, however the field tour on the 16th was less attended.
They started in Iron County with 4 sites near Upson and then went to Grandview and looked at
Jader Creek and 18-mile. This was part of the training committee that Travis sits on that helps do
different program for various trainings. Travis also helped organize a “lunch and learn” in Park
Falls for slope and soil stabilization for a product called Presto GEOWEB. Generic name is
GEOCELL. The cells can be filled with either cement, soil, or gravel and they can be stacked.
Can be used for a retaining wall, lay it flat for on a slope, or people could use them for walkways or
driveways. Our use would be more on a slope stabilization. You can vegetate the front of the cells
so it looks like a vegetated wall. It will be an interesting product to use on stream banks and
slopes. It’s made from high-density polyethylene (HDEP).
Discussed the great turn out for the LEEP day for Drummond 7th grade class that he presented for
on shoreline restoration.
Briefly discussed a seven foot diameter culvert issue on a brook trout stream with many issues
especially flooding issues. Several funding sources are being explored. DNR put together a pre-
proposal. Briefly discussed reviews for renewals for mining reclamations coming in for sand and
gravel.
Ben: Brief update given. June 11th is county picnic. Working on smaller designs. Meeting with
Mark weekly. A lot of culvert requests.
Next meeting date: August 23rd, 2024, at 9:00 AM. Meeting adjourned at 10:15 a.m.
Respectfully submitted by Melissa Kraft.
K:\LCC Meetings\Minutes\2024\05-31-24 Minutes LCC.doc