HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand Conservation - Resource & Education Committee 08-06-1996Convened: 8:39 a.m.
Adjourned: 11:55 a.m.
ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND CONSERVATION/RESOURCE & EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Agricultural Center, Baldwin, WI
August 6, 1996
Members Present: Chris Bethke, Jim Cody, Tom Dorsey, Vernon Dull, Art
Jensen, Ron Raymond
Members absent: None
Staff Present: County Conservationist -Charles Christenson, Technician -
Bob Heise, Farmland Preservation Technician -David Sander, Kinnickinnic
Project Manager -Tim Popple, Lakes Cluster Project Manager -Peter Kling,
Secretary -Arlene Lier
Others Present: Don Siler-NRCS, Harvey Halvorsen-DNR, Mike Kinney -South
Fork Hay River Project Manager
Meeting called to order by Chairman Tom Dorsey.
Jensen made motion to adopt agenda. Dull seconded. Carried.
Bethke made motion to approve July 2, 1996 meeting minutes. Raymond
seconded. Carried.
Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 3, 1996 at 8:30 a.m.
DNR
Harvey Halvorsen (Private Lands Biologist) attended the meeting.
Prairie grass seeding has been done on a total of 571 acres (311 private
and 260 public). The goal is to get habitat on the landscape. Land has
to be kept in prairie grass seeding for 10 years under this program, 5
years if in ACP.
Wetland Program - Have 5 basins in already.
Fisheries - Manager Marty Engel reports:
1) Kinnickinnic River Watershed fishery survey is about finished. Still
doing stream shocking.
2) Squaw Lake Comprehensive fishery survey near completion. Will report
to Lake District this month.
3) Submitted permit for Bass Lake Landing in cooperation with LCD.
4) Will evaluate condition of Pine Lake fishery this fall. Will consider
opening it up next May.
Forestry - Forester Kathy Nelson reports:
Results of May 30, 1996 survival counts for tree planting projects
completed in 1995 planting season indicate 10 of 22 fields were
successful after one try (45%), 12 of 22 will need replanting to get 500
trees per acre (54%).
Replanted planting projects - 10 fields - 7 of 10 were successes (70%), 3
of 10 will need additional planting to get 500 trees per acre (30%).
NRCS (FORMERLY SCSI
Siler handed out and discussed July activity report. There continues to
be activity for emergency haying and grazing of CRP land.
Also mentioned that well abandonment cost sharing is again on ACP docket.
FSA (FORMERLY ASCS)
Cody reported that sign up for the new program was extended from July 12
until end of July. Over 100,000 acres signed up to date.
RC&D
Jensen reported that he is a member of the program committee. There is
now a program to encourage landowners to contact foresters when selling
timber.
WEST CENTRAL AREA
Fall Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for August 20. Posters
will be judged that day. LCD staff person directed to attend as Dull
has county board meeting on same date.
Christenson handed out material he received at WLCA training session on
July 26.
EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
Sander reported that staff had booths at County Fair and Lakes Fair.
Staff will participate in the Land Improvement Contractors of America
(LICA) Conservation Show scheduled August 6 and 7 on the Doug Hill,
Terry Sands, and Jerry Carufel farms.
FARMLAND PRESERVATION COMPLIANCE
Sander reported that he is still working with Lenertz farms. Some of
the land does not have a farm plan.
PRIORITY WATERSHED PROJECTS
Kinnickinnic - Popple reported on the second planning meeting. Not
good attendance due to daytime meeting. Handed out schedule of meeting
times set up to meet with all town boards. City of Prescott has not
decided yet whether they want to be in the watershed. At least one LCC
member will attend each of the town meetings.
Personnel gave approval to hire LTE, if needed. May use student from
UW-River Falls for data input and field survey. Working on equipment
and vehicle lease.
Discussed scholarship for attending conference in Vermont through Kinni
Land Trust. Reviewed agenda. Decided not to apply for the
scholarship.
South Fork of Hay River
Conservation Credit - Mike Kinney -Project Manager explained draft of
program proposal. Proposed program changes are being discussed with
DNR-Madison. Explained the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). Seeking
new guidance on critical sites. Dunn County wants to maintain as a
voluntary program. State rules state that after 3 years, if landowner
does not participate, will have to make changes and at a reduced cost
share. Patterned Dunn proposal after Pepin County. It would be an
incentive program (not credit program). Sediment is No. 1 issue in the
watershed. Nutrient management and conservation plans - would need
both for good care of land. Incentive would get farmers more involved
with nutrient management. Proposed payment $6.00 per acre. How much
sediment is being delivered to stream from farm? There are 230 farms
with cattle. Many questions still be addressed such as: What do you
do with access manure? How should expansion be considered? Waste
management barnyard issue - off farm yard. 100% reduction -
confinement or go out of business. Will be back to update LCC.
Lakes Cluster Project - Kling reported that Bass Lake water level is
going down.
Had first meeting with DNR on results from inventory. Proved what we
believe was happening. Squaw Lake - 76% sediment is coming from crops,
60% Pine. Dan Koich (DNR-Eau Claire) is liaison between Bass and Squaw
Lakes. Have trouble identifying what to do with crop land - importance of
agronomist.
Schedule: 8/8 - Citizens Advisory Committee meeting on Bass Lake
8/10 - Farm/City Day - Booth in conjunction with LCD
9/21 - Demo - Tim Johnson farm
Lakes Fair held on July 20 at Cedar Lake - Fairly successful with 300-400
people in attendance. Heise and Sander assisted in setting up and taking
down displays.
Rush River Watershed Landowner Survey - Christenson stated that Pierce
County has done a landowner survey and response was good. Should St.
Croix do a survey similar to this? Decided to go ahead with the survey.
If an application is made, it will be done by Pierce County. Would be at
least 5 years before start up.
GLEN HILLS WATERSHED
Structure 1 - Heise mentioned the additional work that should be done on
Structure 1. Siler stated that Area Engineer Bob Henrich is the rep for
repair of Structure 1. Realistically, work will not begin until mid to
end of August. Bethke made motion that LCD proceed on work to make this
a dry structure. Raymond seconded. Carried.
Structure 2 - Heise showed slides of a home that was recently built in
the flood plain near structure 2. There currently is no flood plain
zoning in this area. We recently installed 3 alarm systems and now will
have to install another alarm system. Discussed need to go to Finance
for funds to do breach route study on all remaining Glen Hills dams.
Also discussed recommendation to Planning & Zoning Committee for selling
a moratorium on all construction down stream of Glen Hills dams. Jensen
made motion to request funds from Finance for breach route studies on
remaining structures. Seconded by Bethke. Carried.
WILDLIFE DAMAGE PROGRAM
Sander handed out copies of letter from DNR regarding Tom Dalton claim
payment in'amount of $1,188.68.
There has been activity with deer damage, one area being an orchard near
River Falls. Abatement to be used whenever possible.
STATUS BALDWIN AG BUILDING
Siler stated that Gade has not yet received a solicitation package from
the state office.
WOODVILLE RECREATIONAL TRAIL
Dorsey reported that County Board Supervisor Art Jacobson will be
attending the Finance Committee meeting to request $22,000 from
contingency fund.
MOUND DAM REMOVAL
Raymond reported that a public hearing was held on July 30. The Building
Commission will be discussing the issue at a future meeting. Bethke
questioned the maintenance of Mound Dam.
1997 PRELIMINARY BUDGET REVIEW
Budget review meeting scheduled for Monday, August 19, 9:00 a.m.
COUNTY FARM
Bethke stated that Hank Van Dyk sold some cattle but will continue
renting the barn for milking. Heise presented information on land rental
for St. Croix County. Why are county farm land rental agreements for
only 1 year term? Bethke invited him to attend meeting on August 13 to
present information to Health & Human Services Committee.
FARMLAND PRESERVATION APPLICATIONS
No applications were presented.
SUBDIVISION REVIEW
Heise presented information on subdivision:
Grass Range Subdivision (Town of Hudson) - Handed out a list of items
that he and the engineer had discussed that need to be resolved. Also
recommended that two shared driveways be installed by developer at time
of initial road construction. A H.W.L. elevation to be determined north
part of Lot 6. Jensen made motion recommending approval of the storm
water and erosion control plans as long as all conditions are met. Cody
seconded. Carried.
VOUCHERS
Reviewed vouchers. Dorsey questioned the vouchers #96-147 to Polk County
LCD (county's share of Lakes Fair costs) and #96-167 to Star Embroidery
(Lakes project caps and shirts). Raymond made motion to approve August
vouchers as presented. Bethke seconded. Carried.
MISCELLANEOUS
Christenson reported that a note of appreciation was received from the
University of Wisconsin Foundation for the $500 received for the Rural
Leadership Program Fund -Sponsor Program (Kling). Also mentioned that
$400 of the Bruce Anderson scholarship fund may be used for the Rural
Leadership Program.
Reported discussing the problem on cost -share signup (bioengineering
project) with Alice Clausing-State Senator. George Meyer-DNR Secretary
has received copy of letter explaining the sign-up problem.
Presented for LCC Chairman's signature:
1) 1996 Soil & Water Resource Management (SWRM) grant contract
2) South Fork Hay River Priority Watershed Project Nonpoint Source Grant
#SRH-56000-N-00
Motion by Dull to authorize LCC Chairman's signature on both agreements.
Bethke seconded. Carried.
Bethke made motion to adjourn meeting at 11:55 a.m. Raymond seconded.
Carried.
O9 a
Vernon Dull
Secretary
By Arlene Lier