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Home My WebLink About01-07-97 Land & Water Conservation - Resource & Ed CommitteeST. CROIX COUNTY NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING TO: FROM: Robert Boche, Chairman St. Croix County Board Art Jensen, COMMITTEE TITLE: Chairman Land Conservation/Resource & Education Committee DATE: January 7, 1997 TIME: 9:00 a.m. LOCATION: Ag Center, Baldwin CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Reports: DNR NRCS FSA RC&D West Central Area Education Activities Farmland Preservation Compliance Environmental Stewardship Priority Watershed Projects Kinnickinnic - South Fork of Hay River St. Croix Lakes Cluster Glen Hills Watershed - Flood Plain Study Wildlife Damage Program Baldwin Ag Building Issue Woodville Recreational Trail WLCA Annual Conference Report 1996 Conservation Awards Dinner NEW BUSINESS: Farmland Preservation Applications Subdivision Review - 11:00 a.m. Vouchers ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: 11 ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not. necessarily SUBMITTED BY: Charles Christenson DATE: December 16, 1996 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE COUNTY CLERK * ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS/CHANGES presented in this order) NEWS MEDIA/NOTICE BOARD COMMITTEE MEMBERS Convened: 9:05 a.m. Adjourned: 11:30 a.m. ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND CONSERVATION/RESOURCE & EDUCATION COMMITTEE Agricultural Center, Baldwin, WI January 7, 1997 Members Present: Leon Berenschot, Chris Bethke, Jim Cody, Vernon Dull, Art Jensen, Ron Raymond Members Absent: None Staff Present: County Conservationist -Charles Christenson, Technician -Bob Heise, Farmland Preservation Technician -David Sander, Lakes Cluster Project Manager -Pete Kling, Kinnickinnic Project Manager-Tim.Popple, Secretary -Arlene Lier Others Present: Dick Gade-FSA, Marty Engel -Kathy Nelson-DNR, Roger. Swanson-UW-Extension-River Falls, Frank Ivy Meeting called to order by Chairman Art Jensen. Bethke made motion to adopt agenda. Dull seconded. Carried. Berenschot made motion to approve December 3, 1996 meeting minutes. Raymond seconded. Carried. Bethke reported on the health condition of Bob Boche, County Board Chair, who has been hospitalized. Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 4, 1997 at 9:00 a.m. DNR Marty Engel (Fisheries Biologist) reported: He was informed by the Board of Adjustment to report on brushing along Kinnickinnic River. Will improve condition of banks (erosion). Used chain saws to cut boxelder. Sunlight will allow the banks to heal. Will remove log jams to prevent erosion. Plan to work on Larry Pottin this year. Board of Adjustment gave them authority to cut during these winter months. People do not understand concept of brushing. He can furnish educational material - what is regular maintenance and what is major new project which will still go to Board of Adjustment. Master plan on Kinnickinnic River is revised about once every ten years. Issue such as brushing will be addressed. Revision will look at how it fits into the Kinni Watershed Project. Kathy Nelson (Forester) reported: Managed Forest Law applications are beginning to come in. Applications are due January 31 for entry beginning January 1, 1998. Reminder that bear application deadline is January 17. Information is available on how long it takes for a kill permit in the different zones. Nelson reported that she talked with Tom Nelson -Zoning Department on woodland management along the riverway. Raymond commented that it is his opinion that riverway rules take precedence over forestry rules (management). Need help in coordinating programs. Raymond asked Nelson to help sort out riverway rules and forestry rules. What is DNR's authority? May need legislative action to resolve issues. There should be no cutting allowed, shoreline to bluffline, as far as Board of Adjustment is concerned. National Park Service, DNR, and Zoning should get together on this.. NRCS December activity reports were handed out. FSA Gade reported that the ag building issue will be discussed at 1:00 p.m. during the Ag & Extension Committee meeting. He is now supervisor of entire Farm Service Agency staff as of January 1, which includes the Farm Credit Team (former FmHA activities excluding housing). Balance of (FmHA) staff are now with Rural Development. Are now processing January payments for the AMTA (Agricultural Marketing Transition Act) program. Loan activity has been heavy for commodity (corn, barley, wheat, soybeans) - 6.5% interest, 9 month payback or deliver to government - money for operating loans. Dairy refund program - Payments can be received, if milk production from current (1996) year is less than previous (1995) year. CRP - Most asked question is, what is future of CRP? There are 609 contracts due to expire the end of September 1997. No definite decision yet on whether they can be extended or will be terminated. Secretary of Agriculture indicated it would continue, sign up sometime end of spring or summer. Rules are not out yet. Appears if you have a contract, will have to re -bid to get land back in program. Will be given maximum rate/acre that they will be allowed to bid on soil type. About one-half of contracts will come out in 1997. Feel most of them want to stay in program, most contracts are in $55.00-65.00 range. RC&D Berenschot reported on the annual convention he attended on December 11 and 12 at Wisconsin Rapids. Became educated in what the abbreviations RC&D stand for. State Commerce, Forward Wisconsin, and Economic Development Administration representatives from several counties attended, trying to enhance farming for their county. Possible funding from federal(partially), county, and private sources. WEST CENTRAL AREA No meeting, therefore no report. EDUCATION ACTIVITIES Sander reported that planning is being done for 1997 conservation camp. FARMLAND PRESERVATION COMPLIANCE Sander reported that he will use a new program for doing the zoning certificates for exclusive ag towns. ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP Refer to the DNR report from Marty Engel and Kathy Nelson. PRIORITY WATERSHED PROJECTS Christenson reported that two of three local assistance agreements have been approved. Kinnickinnic Local Assistance Grant has been approved in amount of $99,000. Requested amount was reduced for temporary help. Grant approved for South Fork in amount of $50,000. Lakes Cluster grant has been tentatively set at $55,000, however not received yet. Raymond made motion to approve LCC Chair signature on Kinnickinnic and South Fork grant amendments. Berenschot seconded. Carried. Kinnickinnic - Popple reported: Larry Swaim attended meeting on December 12 and took group through process of developing a mission statement. What does group want Kinni to look like 20 years from now. Slogan is basically about protection, cold water ecosystem. One sentence of statement is the purpose. Want 13-member group structure (chairman, minute taker, etc.) by end of month. Working with Paul Kivlin on nutrient management project by end of month. Kulow and Dreischmeier are working on WINHUSLE data. Working with Regional Planning on special project - Twin Lakes area, Roberts. South Fork of Hay River - Drafting final plan to be presented to the Citizens Advisory Committee. Lakes Cluster Project - Kling reported: Perch Lake seeTown has approved an erosion control project in 1997. Bass Lake - Group is in process of drafting a 25 year management plan. John Eiring stated this plan should build on watershed program - what we have started. Boat landing was started this fall and will be completed early next year. Problem with shoreline filling. No wake ordinance - Helping by giving them information so they can make own decision on this. Pine Lake - Meeting with a number of landowners. Will do a shoreline habitat project - Working with landowner, to establish trees and shrubs planting to restore shoreline. Also doing demonstrations on Bass and Squaw. John Vrieze will increase dairy operation to 400-500 cows. Has a nutrient management plan already which if followed, should have minor effect on lake. Squaw Lake - Looking at infiltration project in the drainage north of lake to slow flow during high water event. With heavy snow cover, aerators may not handle the oxygen deficiency this winter. Lake Project Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for January 16. Couple chapters of plan are done. Plan should be finalized in spring. Jensen inquired about Bass Lake pumping. Some landowners want out which will increase cost for other landowners. Management group to address issue. Kling represents St. Croix. GLEN HILLS WATERSHED Flood Plain Study - Christenson reported having contact with NRCS- Madison and Eau Claire, to obtain low flight photography countywide. County's share of cost will be $7,500 and NRCS share will be $18,000. Priority watershed funds to be used for part of the cost. Money to be transferred from watershed account to revenue account. Will be used to pay costs once NRCS has completed project. Will get one set of hard copy photos. This product can then be digitized and used for flood plain study and various other projects within the county. Public hearing on flood plain zoning is scheduled for January 15 at Glenwood City Community Center. WILDLIFE DAMAGE PROGRAM Sander reported: Kulow has been working on claims which may total $5,600 to nursery crop owner and two other growers. WOODVILLE RECREATIONAL TRAIL Heise reported that request was made to use trail for horses. Parks Director Joe Grant is to discuss with Greg Timmerman, Corporation Counsel. Trail is being maintained for snowmobile use as in the past. WLCA ANNUAL CONFERENCE Christenson reported: The big issue is reduction of nonpoint program/DATCP funds. Money will be tight. State Representative Duwayne Johnsrud had been scheduled to attend the conference but cancelled due to weather. Attended breakout session (Wildlife Damage). From landowners' standpointIF system is cumbersome regarding paperwork for hunter's permits. Commented that the awards ceremony was held at the air museum, which was very unique. Bethke reported: Farmland Preservation breakout session - New rules will be in effect in 1998 to protect soil and water. Contracts may run for 5 years instead of 10 years for tax credits. Berenschot reported: Calendars were produced from winning posters. Program teaches young people about soil and water conservation. Forty calendars were purchased for distribution to County Board and contest participants. Looked at watershed program and identified 300 watersheds in the state and problems that come up. Cody reported: Funding - conservation. Groups such against this idea. Move was on to divert lottery credit to as Wisconsin Towns and Farm Bureau were FARMLAND PRESERVATION APPLICATIONS No applications were presented. 1996 CONSERVATION AWARDS DINNER Lier reported that the dinner is planned for January 23 at the Coachman Supper Club, Baldwin. SUBDIVISION REVIEW Heise presented information on subdivisions: Rocky Ridge Estates (,Russell Peterson- Town of Somerset) - Sensitive areas - Initial review determined a number of items that need additional information. No action. Will have to come back to LCC. North Bass Lake Estates - Good job as far as erosion control is concerned. County has authority (included in zoning ordinance) to require erosion control plan for each lot. Concern because of sensitive site - suggest doing road in phases. Berenschot made motion to approve with recommended conditions. Bethke seconded. Carried. VOUCHERS Reviewed vouchers. Several vouchers were discussed: #261(Glen Hills County Park-$4,729.90 - Annual maintenance work) #269(Eagle Point-$1,470.00 - Training for 3 staff on Auto Cad plus needed software) #270(SOKKIA Measuring Systems-$8,210.00 - Survey equipment for watershed projects) #271(Star Embroidery-$2,024.00 - Promotional items) #272(UW-River Falls-$10,000 - Nutrient management project) #273(West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission- $5,500.00 - Twin Lakes study) #285(St. Croix County Highway Dept.-$16,632.62 - Signs for watershed projects) Christenson explained each voucher. Bethke made motion to approve vouchers as presented. Berenschot seconded. Carried. MISCELLANEOUS Berenschot questioned LCC on reported acquisition of land (along a railroad) in Town of Glenwood by a manufacturing company. Sale cannot be prevented since the town has not adopted county zoning. Bethke made motion to adjourn meeting at 11:30 a.m. Raymond seconded. Carried. Vernon Dull Secretary By Arlene Lier