Draft master plan for the Green Bay wildlife, fisheries and natural areas available for public input

PESHTIGO, Wis. - Protection of aquatic resources and habitats - including northern pike and sturgeon spawning areas - and high-quality and rare natural communities are among the objectives of a draft plan for the management and use of the Green Bay Planning group, a collection of Department of Natural Resources properties scattered along the west shore of Green Bay.

The public will have an opportunity to review and comment on the Green Bay Planning Group Draft Master Plan and Environmental Assessment at an upcoming public meeting scheduled for January 29 in Oconto.

The draft plan describes proposed future land management strategies, recreational opportunities, and boundary modifications for the properties, which include wildlife areas, fisheries area and State Natural Areas. The following properties are covered by the planning process: the 11 units of the Green Bay West Shore Wildlife Area - Charles Pond, Little Tail, Long Tail, Oconto Marsh, Peats Lake, Pecor Point, Pensaukee, Peshtigo Harbor, Rush Point, Sensiba and Tibbett-Suamico; the Badger Gift Lands, a 757-acre parcel adjacent to and north of the Peshtigo Harbor Unit of the Green Bay West Shore Wildlife Area that was given to the DNR as part of a 2002 consent decree with the Fort James Operating Company as part of the Natural Resources Damage Assessment for the Fox River; Bloch Oxbow State Natural Area; and other scattered wildlife and fisheries lands.

Highlights of proposed management include:

• Continued emphasis on management of coastal wetlands, including emergent marsh, sedge meadow, bottomland and swamp hardwoods, shrub swamps and riverine habitats.
• Protection and management of aquatic resources and habitats, including northern pike and sturgeon spawning areas, and game and non-game fisheries.
• Protection and management of high-quality and regionally rare natural communities such as southern sedge meadow, floodplain forest, northern dry mesic forest, Great Lakes barrens and oak woodlands that harbor rare species.
• Continued emphasis on traditional outdoor recreational activities such as hunting, fishing and trapping.
• Improvements to an existing shooting range.
• Identification and development of additional opportunities for shore fishing, accessible hunting, wildlife viewing, hiking, paddling and cross-country skiing.
• Modifications to existing project boundaries including 335 acres of boundary contractions and 2,891 acres of expansions, 980 acres of which are already in DNR ownership.
• Continued collaborations with private landowners, local governments and conservation organizations on shared stewardship, management and recreation goals.

The DNR also has received a request from a local snowmobile club to route a connector trail from the Marinette County snowmobile trail network across a portion of the Peshtigo Harbor Unit in order to access Green Bay and is seeking public comment on this proposal.

A public meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 29 from 6-8 p.m. at the Oconto High School auditorium, 1717 Superior Avenue, Oconto.

The meeting agenda is as follows: open house with informational displays available and staff present for one-on-one questions and discussion, 6-6:45 p.m.; formal presentation providing an overview of the draft plan, 6:45-7 p.m.; formal question-and-answer period 7-7:15 p.m.; additional open house and one-on-one questions and discussion, 7:15-8 p.m.

The proposed action is not anticipated to result in significant adverse environmental effects. The DNR has made a preliminary determination that an environmental impact statement will not be required.

The Draft Master Plan and Environmental Assessment, along with maps and other background information, will be available for viewing at the public meeting. They can also be viewed online by searching the DNR website dnr.wi.gov, for keywords "Green Bay master plan."

The Draft Master Plan and Environmental Assessment will also be available for review at the DNR Green Bay Service Center, DNR Peshtigo Service Center and at the Peshtigo Public Library, Farnsworth Public Library in Oconto and Brown County Library, Weyers-Hilliard Branch, in Green Bay.

Comments or questions about these documents can be offered at the public meeting, online through the master planning page of the DNR website or submitted to: John Huff by mail at 101 N. Ogden Road, Suite A, Peshtigo, WI 54157, by phone at 715-582-5047, or by email at john.huff@wisconsin.gov; or Yoyi Steele by mail at 101 S. Webster Street, WM/6, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921, by phone at 608-266-8169, or by email at yoyi.steele@wisconsin.gov

The public may submit comments through February 28, 2014.

Jobs Bills Significantly Weakens Laws Protecting Wisconsin’s Lakes and Streams

Poynette: Today, the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation announced that it had completed its legal review of SS SB 24 and SS AB 24 that have been introduced as “Job Bills” in the Special Session of the Legislature. The review shows that the bills will significantly weaken Wisconsin laws protecting its lakes and streams and make it virtually impossible for Wisconsin citizens to have meaningful input into DNR decisions that affect their waterways. The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, representing the interests of over 170 hunting, fishing and trapping groups, opposes the bills because of the damage that will happen to fish and wildlife habitat critically important to sportsmen and women.

Specifically, in its study of the bill the Federation found that the bills:

------Substantially remove Wisconsin Citizen’s ability to protect their lakes and streams

------Significantly weaken environmental regulations protecting fish and wildlife habitat

------Violate the Constitution-based Public Trust Doctrine protecting navigable waters

------Weaken environmental standards that apply to metallic mining in Wisconsin

The Federation has detailed these findings in the attached fact sheet.

“Whether you are a hunter, angler or trapper, Wisconsin’s lakes and streams are critically important habitat for the fish and wildlife that are the backbone for hunting, fishing and trapping in Wisconsin,” stated Chuck Matyska (Cecil), President of the Federation. “Allowing these lakes and streams to be damaged is contrary to the interest of every sportsman and woman in this state.”

“The Legislature is working hard to increase the recruitment and retention of young hunters, anglers and trappers in Wisconsin, but without quality fish and wildlife habitat, the important heritage of hunting, fishing and trapping will be lost forever,” indicated Betty Borchert, Chair of the Federation’s Environment Committee. “Ultimately, the loss of this habitat will hurt the economy and in fact cost Wisconsin jobs.

The Federation is the state’s largest hunting, fishing and trapping organization and is dedicated to conservation education and the advancement of sound conservation policy on behalf of hunters, anglers and trappers.

“Fish Sticks” to benefit fish in Bayfield County

BAYFIELD –Call it the piscatorial Field of Dreams.

Mere months after felled trees were dragged across the ice on Upper Eau Claire Lake as part of a grassroots partnership to restore fish habitat in the near-shore areas on this lake, hundreds of fish are using the trees.

Underwater photos taken earlier taken this month show a young muskellunge swimming past two tree trunks on the lakebed, a school of panfish darting through branches, and the dark stripe of bluntnose minnows.

“These trees are a piece of the fishery habitat puzzle that has been missing for quite a while and I am excited by the early indications of success,” says Scott Toshner, the Department of Natural Resources fish biologist working on the project. “Hopefully, we can get enough waterfront landowners involved so that we will see positive benefits to the lakes fishery as a whole.”

This year, the Eau Claire Lakes Property Owners Association and the Eau Claire Conservation Club are working with Toshner to find willing property owners to let them place more trees in the shallow water in front of their property on Upper, Middle and Lower Eau Claire lakes.

They learned recently that their “Fish Sticks” project will receive $15,000 in federal funding through the Glacial Lakes Habitat Restoration Partnership. “It’s a great opportunity to be able to expand the project,” Toshner says.

The Eau Claire Chain project grew out of an earlier project on Bony Lake, another lake in the same chain, where property owners in 2007 launched one of the largest shoreland habitat restoration efforts in Wisconsin.

The next year, the Eau Claire Conservation Club got involved on Upper Eau Claire Lake, and 2009 saw a continued effort on Bony, Middle Eau Claire and Upper Eau Claire lakes by the club, the property owners and the DNR.

To date, 395 trees have been placed in Bony Lake, where there were only 89 pieces to begin with. Upper Eau Claire has added 98 trees and Middle Eau Claire, 49 trees.

“These trees are very important habitat because they provide refuge, forage, cover and spawning areas for pretty much every fish in the lake for at least part of their life cycles,” Toshner says. “The turtles, ducks, kingfisher, otter, mink, beaver and other wildlife are using it at the same time.”

For this year’s Eau Claire chain lakes project, the property owners association mailed out to its members a brochure the group helped Toshner develop. Members have also been talking the project up. So far, a handful of property owners have stepped forward, and Toshner expects that to increase.

He meets with interested property owners, explains more of the process to them, and if they still want to continue, works with them to sign an agreement that they will not remove down trees from their property and will keep the ones placed in their shallow water. In late summer and early fall, Toshner will meet with the property owners again to mark where they want the complexes of two to eight trees to go. In winter, heavy equipment operators place the trees on the ice in the proper spots. The conservation club helps with the logistics of getting the trees harvested and to the proper site on the ice.

“The volunteer effort on this project is quite simply what makes this go,” Toshner says.

Wisconsin project gets federal funding for fish habitat

Partnerships’ progress puts them in funding line

MADISON – The first of what’s hoped to become a steady stream of federal money to restore fish habitat is helping expand a grassroots effort on Bayfield County’s Eau Claire Chain of Lakes.

The $15,000 in federal funding will enable the “Fish Sticks” project partners – the Eau Claire Conservation Club, the Eau Claire Property Owners Association, Bayfield Land and Water Conservation Department and the Department of Natural Resources -- to expand their work with willing landowners to place trees from upland sources in shallow water in front of their properties. The trees will provide important spawning habitat for fish, insects for them, and hiding places in areas where much of this critical habitat had previously been removed.

“This is great news,” says Mike Staggs, fisheries director for the Department of Natural Resources. “We’ve got a project funded and the promise of more.”

Hoping to emulate the success of a long-running partnership to benefit waterfowl and hunters that restores open water wetlands, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies has recently launched their North American Fish Habitat Action Plan [fishhabitat.org] (exit DNR).

“The idea is to bring together people at the local and regional levels who want to help improve fish and aquatic habitat,” Staggs says. While government agencies are often important players in the partnerships, the local interest is critical.

Partnerships of public and private entities can apply to a National Fish Habitat Board for formal recognition, which allows them to get in the short line for federal funding from a variety of sources. As of March 2009, there were 10 formally recognized partnerships [www.fishhabitat.org (exit DNR).

So far, Wisconsin is part of two formally recognized partnerships, and part of three more “candidate” partnerships now working toward formal federal recognition, Staggs says.

• The Eau Claire Chain Lakes “Fish Sticks” project is a project under the Glacial Lakes Habitat Restoration Partnership [www.midwestglaciallakes.org] (exit DNR) that was formally recognized earlier this year. The $15,000 in stimulus money going to that project is the first federal money the partnership has received.
• The Midwest Driftless Area Restoration project has been formally recognized as a partnership and has successfully secured more than $1 million in federal funding in recent years, most of it through the federal Natural Resource Conservation Service. [fishhabitat.org] (exit DNR).
• States, tribes, federal agencies and non governmental agencies in the Great Lakes region are working now toward submitting later this summer an application for federal recognition of the Great Lakes Basin Fish Habitat Partnership [fishhabitat.org] (pdf; exit DNR). President Obama has identified $1.5 million in the $475 million Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in his proposed 2010 budget to go to the partnership as seed money for that group.
• Wisconsin is participating in the Fishers and Farmers [fishhabitat.org] (pdf; exit DNR) effort, a partnership to work with landowners to add value to farms while restoring aquatic habitat, both on site and downstream on the Mississippi River. Approved projects are led by landowners, with flexible cost-share funding and technical support provided by conservation partners.
• Wisconsin recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to participate in a developing national reservoir habitat partnership. Many aging reservoirs (sometimes called “flowages” in Wisconsin) need habitat improvement and Wisconsin hopes to secure additional federal funding through this partnership, which is seeking recognition later this year.

Staggs serves on the steering team for the Glacial Lakes Habitat Restoration and Reservoir partnerships and longtime DNR fisheries management staff are assigned to focus on each of the partnerships.

Grand River Marsh Wildlife Area Marsh Experiencing a Partial Drawdown

Target: One foot below normal summer level this year will help wildlife.

BERLIN – The Department of Natural Resources will be lowering the water level of the Grand River Marsh Wildlife area in Green Lake for most of this summer as part of routine wildlife and wetland system management activities. This technique is commonly used by wetland managers to rejuvenate the ecological health and quality of the marsh. This year, the water level in the main impoundment at the Grand River Marsh Wildlife Area in Green Lake and Marquette Counties will be lowered about 1 foot below the normal summer level this year.

“The partial drawdown, or drying out, has several benefits that will provide long term habitat improvements to the marsh that many different species of wetland related wildlife will enjoy and utilize,” said Jim Holzwart, DNR Wildlife Biologist.

The lower water levels provide important habitat conditions that allow different species of plants to grow and re-colonize areas of the marsh that higher water has eliminated. Many of these plants provide critical food and cover for resident and migratory species of wildlife. In many cases these species depend on the lower water level to expose mud flats for the seeds to germinate and grow, and to prepare for both northward and southward migrations.

Holzwart added that by drawing down this marsh in late spring and early summer will also reduce the amount of shallow marsh that can be used by spawning carp. The spawning and feeding behavior of carp can be extremely detrimental to the health of any water body, and the lower water will prevent a large influx or hatch of young carp into the marsh.

The Grand River Marsh Wildlife area of Green Lake will be slowly re-filled, starting in late summer. With adequate rain fall, the marsh will have normal fall water levels for the waterfowl hunting season.

Critical habitat locations identified in Lake Noquebay

CRIVITZ - The Department of Natural Resources has identified locations of critical habitat in Lake Noquebay in Marinette County.

The identified locations are eligible for critical habitat designation and if approved, they will be given additional protection so that the health of the lake can be preserved. Critical habitat designation means that additional permit review and special permit conditions may apply to landowners who wish to alter the critical habitat sites through activities such as dredging, controlling aquatic plants, or establishing culverts, piers, and docks.

Areas of critical habitat play a vital role in protecting water quality, hunting, fishing, and natural beauty of Wisconsin’s lakes and streams. The Department has made a tentative determination that specific locations in Lake Noquebay contain fish and wildlife habitat, including specific sites necessary for breeding, nesting, nursery, and feeding; physical features that ensure protection of water quality; reaches of bank, shore or bed that are predominately natural in appearance (not man-made or artificial) or that screen man-made or artificial features; and navigational thoroughfares or areas traditionally used for navigation during recreational boating, angling, or enjoyment of scenic beauty.

Before the Department proceeds further toward a decision on the designation, an informational meeting 6:00 pm, June, 17, 2009 at Village of Crivitz Hall, 800 Henriette Ave. Crivitz, Wisconsin. The purpose of the meeting is to share and obtain information on these sites to ensure that they are properly classified. The public has the right to request a public hearing within 30 days of this notice to bring forth information in support or opposition to these areas.

For more information about the informational meeting on June 17, the critical habitat program, or to read a draft of the report go to: Critical Habitat Designations or contact Andrew Sabai, DNR Oshkosh Service Center, 625 E CTY RD Y STE 700, Oshkosh, WI, phone number 920-303-5442.

$950,000 destined for private land habitat management in Driftless Area

MADISON – Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary Matt Frank today announced the state has received a $559,602 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s State Wildlife Grant Program to enhance privately owned prairie and savanna habitat throughout the driftless area of Wisconsin in coming months along with $397,486 in state and private matching funds. Funds will be distributed through Wisconsin’s Landowner Incentive Program (LIP).

The federal dollars are part of nearly $9 million in State Wildlife Grant Competitive Program funds awarded to12 state wildlife agencies across the country to help imperiled mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, butterflies, dragonflies, and their habitats. State matching funds include $180,000 from the Stewardship Program and approximately $190,000 from conservation groups and the University of Wisconsin.

“The grant will help federal, state and nongovernmental organizations work with private landowners for successful species and habitat conservation in the driftless region,” Frank said. “It is great news that we are able to offer landowners financial and technical assistance to protect the future of these species and improve this important habitat.”

Species of greatest conservation need include those that are listed as either endangered or threatened, as well as some not yet listed but showing signs of decline. In many cases, habitat loss is a major factor for their decline. Efforts to prevent species from becoming endangered or threatened are less costly and help avoid regulation.

“The driftless area of Wisconsin is largely under private ownership and contains unique habitat that supports a number of wildlife and plant species of great need,” Frank said. “The driftless area contains some of the best remaining remnants of oak savanna, prairies, forests and stream in the upper Midwest and provides habitat for unique plant and animal species.”

Available only for use on private lands within the target area, the nearly $250,000 in assistance grants are designed for projects benefitting animal species such as grassland birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Examples of likely projects include prescribed burns to rejuvenate prairie and savanna areas, removal of invasive brush such as honeysuckle and multi-flora rose and conservation easement purchases for areas supporting very rare species like the Hines emerald dragonfly.

Estimated at roughly 24,000 square miles, the driftless area consists of two ecologically important regions, the southwest savanna and western coulee and ridges.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Heidi Nelson - 608-267-0797

Lake property owners “turn back the clock” to protect clean water, habitat

BARNES, Wis. – Carol LeBreck and other property owners along Bony Lake in Bayfield County decided they needed to turn back the clock if future generations were to enjoy the lake’s clean water and wildlife as they have.

“We realized we were responsible for leaving a healthy lake legacy for our children and grandchildren, and the best way to do that was to partner with our neighbors and local government to remove unsightly riprap and other lake-unfriendly things, and to replace them with the native plants and trees that were here before us,” said LeBreck, a member of the Wisconsin Association of Lakes and Bayfield County Lakes Forum [www.bayfieldcountylakes.org] (eixt DNR) who spearheaded a project that’s one of the largest habitat restoration efforts in Wisconsin.

So LeBreck and other neighbors have spent the last few years giving this northern Wisconsin lake a makeover to appear 125 years younger, much like it did before logging and settlement substantially changed the landscape.

They’ve been removing rip-rap and old sheds and replacing them with native plants and trees that stabilize their shorelines and filter runoff before it enters the lake. They’ve selectively cut upland trees and transported them into the shallow water to create habitat for fish and other lake wildlife, and they’ve installed rain gardens, rain barrels and berms to soak up the rain and filter out pollutants before runoff enters their lake.

And the property owners committed their shorelines to conservation use in perpetuity on the deeds. “These conservation agreements assure the long-term investment of state grant dollars will provide habitat benefits for generations to come,” says Department of Natural Resources Lake and River Management Coordinator Pamela Toshner.

Project a “full team effort” launched in 2006

While shoreline restorations have historically been implemented on individual parcels, the concept of lakewide or whole-lake restoration work is relatively new. This project began a few years ago with a full team effort.

During summer 2006, lake property owners began meeting with the Bayfield County Land and Water Conservation Department, Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute, and DNR officials. The property owners wanted to protect the 191-acre lake from increasing water quality and habitat stressors such as development and recreational use.

LeBreck led the partner team and wrote a successful DNR Lake Protection Shoreland Restoration Grant that provided $100,000 over three years. There was an additional $45,000 in cash and in-kind matching funds available and dedicated for the project.

Working together, the team has completed six shoreline restorations and installed the rain gardens, berms, and rain barrels. They quintupled woody habitat, improving nursery and feeding areas for young fish and benefiting birds, turtles, frogs, and other wildlife. They also used the funding to educate the local community about the lake’s water quality, fishery, and historic conditions. Local and national media have picked up on the Bony Lake story with features in area newspapers, Cabin Life magazine, and outdoor television programs.

Like many waterways in northern Wisconsin, Bony Lake has excellent water quality. The Bony Lake project is a model for similar lakes where water quality protection and habitat restoration are the primary management goals.

“Project success is built upon citizens contributing their talents and skills to drive the effort and share their stories with neighbors and surrounding communities,” Toshner said. “Perhaps the greatest gauge of success is that we’re hearing from property owners along other lakes who want to follow the lead of the Bony Lake folks.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Toshner (715) 635-4073 and Carol LeBreck (715) 425-6904

McKenzie Creek Trout Habitat Restored, Clam River next

Frederic – Last summer Department of Natural Resources fisheries staff completed an extensive stream habitat restoration project on McKenzie Creek in north central Polk County east of Frederic. A similar project takes place on the Clam River this year.

“The goal of these projects are to improve habitat for large brown trout by increasing pool area and overhead cover” said Heath Benike, DNR fisheries biologist, “and this increases more trout per mile of stream for the benefit of the angler.”

The work involves adding bank cover structures and boulder clusters. Spawning areas are also enhanced including several miles of streambank brushing.

Anyone wanting to view the completed work on McKenzie creek should go east of Frederic on Polk County Highway W, then north on McKenzie Trail before crossing McKenzie Creek. Travel northward on McKenzie Trail for approximately a quarter of a mile and several gated access roads lead downhill to McKenzie Creek.

The projects are paid for courtesy of state trout stamp monies used only for habitat and spring pond improvements, Benike said. Such investments pay big dividends in angler recreation for years, he said.

MI Great Lakes Plan:

Executive Summary

The Great Lakes are integral to the past, present, and future economic vitality of Michigan and the region. The health of the people of Michigan, our economy, and our quality of life depends on clean water and productive land that is sustainable far into the future.

The Great Lakes represent one-fifth of the world’s fresh surface water and provide unparalleled recreational and economic opportunities to the 10 million people that call Michigan home. Studies show that the Great Lakes provide Michigan with 823,000 jobs that represent nearly 25 percent of Michigan’s payroll1. Additionally, Great Lakes tourism generates billions of dollars each year from those who spend leisure time around our lakes and streams.

Michigan’s water resources have been the catalyst for the economic development that moved us to international prominence. But those events have also left some communities with a legacy of pollution from contaminated sediments, invasive species, inadequate sewer systems, and uncontrolled development. These pressures put the lakes at risk – threatening our health and economic viability.

Michigan’s citizens want solutions to these challenges; solutions that protect our water and capitalize on unique opportunities for economic transformation.

To see the entire 82 page plan - Click Here

Lake Delton/Dell Creek carp removal

LAKE DELTON – The first step in restoring de-watered Lake Delton’s fishery will be taken here Wednesday (Dec. 3) when the Department of Natural Resources attempts to remove carp from the area’s remaining surface waters.

Rotenone, a naturally occurring fish toxicant registered with the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be used to kill invasive carp on the portion of Dell Creek flowing between Mirror Lake and Lake Delton and in a Coffer Dam Pool on the lakebed, said DNR fish biologist Tim Larson, Poynette.

Carp compete with native fish species, destroying aquatic habitat, roiling water and stirring up sediment, reducing water clarity.

Heavy rain last June caused a catastrophic breech of 267-acre Lake Delton at County Highway A and total dewatering into the nearby Wisconsin River. The Lake’s fishery was either flushed into the river or left stranded on the lakebed.

The Coffer Dam was built last August, forcing Dell Creek to exit the lakebed through the Lake Delton Dam and facilitate reconstructing County Highway A. Lake Delton was created by damming Dell Creek.

“This step (removing carp) will improve the future fishery of Lake Delton when it refills,” noted Andy Morton, Lower Wisconsin Basin Supervisor with DNR.

The dam on upstream Mirror Lake has been lowered by two feet, shutting off flow from the lake and reducing the volume of water remaining in Dell Creek. This will lower treatment cost because less chemical will be needed and with the reduced water areas the odds are increased towards achieving a total kill, according to Mr. Larson.

A screen has been inserted in place of the removed dam boards to prevent fish from Mirror Lake from being flushed downstream. Signs are posted in Mirror Lake State Park alerting visitors of the drawdown.

The $10,000 to $15,000 carp removal project is being funded by the Village of Lake Delton.

“The ideal situation for re-establishing Lake Delton’s fishery is to begin without any fish present and stock desirable species annually for several years until natural reproduction occurs in three to four years,” pointed out Mr. Larson.

Recommended stocking includes largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, bluegill, black crappie, channel catfish, fathead minnow, white sucker and golden shiner. All of these species were previously present in Lake Delton.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Public input session planned for water issues

The Sheboygan River Basin Partnership and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are hosting a public input session on the Restoration Goals (Delisting Targets) for the Sheboygan River and Harbor Area of Concern (AOC).

The input session is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 2, and will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Wombat Room on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan. (Full Story)

Source: Sheboygan Press