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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-05-97 Land & Water Conservation - Resource & Ed CommitteeX TO: FROM: ST. CROIX COUNTY NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING Robert Boche, Chairman St. Croix County Board Art Jensen, COMMITTEE TITLE: Chairman Land & Water Conservation/Resource & Education Committee DATE: gust 5, 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: mr R MR NRCS FSA RC&D West Central Area Education Activities Farmland Preservation Environmental Stewardship Priority Watershed Projects - Kinnickinnic South Fork of Hay River St. Croix Lakes Cluster Glen Hills Watershed - Flood Plain Study Baldwin ABuildinUpdate Conservation Farmer/Water Quality/Wildlife Awards g g NEW BUSINESS: Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area 1998 Budget Farmland Preservation Applications Subdivision Review - 11:00 a.m. Vouchers ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order) SUBMITTED BY: Charles Christenson DATE: July 22, 1997 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA/NOTICE BOARD COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS * ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS/CHANGES Convened: 9:00 a.m. Adjourned: 12:00 noon ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION/RESOURCE & EDUCATION COMMITTEE Agricultural Center, Baldwin, WI August 5, 1997 Members Present: Leon Berenschot, Art Jensen, Ron Raymond Members Absent: None Chris Bethke, Jim Cody, Vern Dull, Staff Present: County Conservationist -Charles Christenson, County Technician -Bob Heise, Lakes Cluster Project Manager -Pete Kling, Kinnickinnic Project Intern-LeeAnn Ross, Secretary -Arlene Lier Others Present: Don Siler-NRCS, Dick Gade-FSA, Kris Belling -Harvey Halvorsen-DNR, Kim Reaman-UW-EXT, Roger Swanson-UW-EXT, Roger Humphrey-ACA, Dick Grekoff Meeting called to order by Chairman Art Jensen. Bethke made motion to adopt agenda. Dull seconded. Carried. Berenschot made motion to approve July 1, 1997 meeting minutes. Seconded by Bethke. Carried. Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 2, 1997 at 9:00 a.m. DNR Harvey Halvorsen (Private Lands Wildlife Biologist) reported: Fish Management - Squaw Lake - Results of creel survey will be done by fall. DNR is currently conducting comprehensive fish survey on Willow River, occurs every 10 years. Wildlife Management - * Fall turkey deadline is August 10. * Zone T permits are available at the Baldwin DNR. (Temporarily out, however more are being printed in Madison - will be available toward end of August). These permits are free and hunters may pick up 2/day. Unit 61 is designated as Zone T this year. * Sharp tail grouse application deadline is August 10. Halverson (Private Lands Wildlife Biologist) motWorking with NRCS staff on site preparation requirements for warm season prairie grasses. Belling (Wildlife Biologist): DNR is proposing to establish a Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area in St. Croix and Polk Counties. The project is proposed to permanently protect 20,000 acres of grass lands and wetlands. The DNR is currently conducting a feasibility study of the project and soliciting public input. Raymond suggested giving information to town planning committees. LWCC requested more information on the proposed project. Berenschot asked for more information on the state grant which is available for development of wood products. His inquiry to be forwarded to Forester Nelson. NRCS Siler handed out and discussed July activity reports. CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) - Two group informational and planning meetings will be held. Fifty six appeals were dealt with. EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentive Program) - Reported on cost - share agreements which were approved for Lower Chippewa Basin and St. Croix Basin. Watershed staff participated in putting proposals together. Bethke (LWCC rep) and Cody (FSA Committee rep) commented on the program. FSA Sign up for new CRP may be in mid October. A lot of time is being spent on last CRP sign up. Ended up with 296 CRP contracts (approximately 12,000 acres). They are waiting for NRCS plans to be completed. It is hoped that NRCS will get signatures on plans during the two informational meetings. Compliance work is currently being done utilizing 1997 aerial slides. County voting list for FSA Committee election shows 31% women. Will try to increase percentage through newsletters, newspapers, etc. Berenschot reported that Coordinator Ed Weber has visited Logghe Trucking. Possibility of a DNR grant to develop new use for sawdust. They get 20-30 loads/day from Andersen Windows. Product is used for worm and turkey farms. Weber also met with David Crockett on growing hydroponic tomatoes. He plans to attend state association meeting at Superior, WI on September 29-30. WEST CENTRAL AREA Dull commented on the excellent summer tour. Discussed Jerome turkey operation, which was part of the tour. Swanson announced that the 1997 award entries will be selected at the August 20 Board of Directors meeting. The poster contest entries will also be judged that day. The fall speaking contest is scheduled for Wednesday, October 29. EDUCATION ACTIVITIES Christenson reported: Had booth at county fair. Will have booth at Farm/City Day on August 9 at Roberts. Heise will conduct the soil pit demo. Kling participated in a Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program seminar on health care in LaCrosse. FARMLAND PRESERVATION Christenson reported that there are no new applications. Sander has been working on compliance checks. ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP Raymond commented on exclusive ag land designation proposed by the Comprehensive Planning group. Christenson and Heise are very concerned. The LESA (Land Evaluation Site Assessment) system should be used as a management tool. The LESA program is more than "soils". Economic and social conditions are also to be considered. The Comprehensive Planning Commission seems to want to pave western Wisconsin, conflicting with agencies such as DNR who want to put in warm season grasses (Wildlife) and plant more trees (Forestry). Should talk with Dorsey. Proposed map reduces ag lands by approximately 100,000 acres. Jensen commented on the St. Croix River soil erosion control problem before Board of Adjustment. Big trees were removed. Judge ruled: House could be built but must be smaller. Conservation control plan is okay. Directed Heise to look into state statutes. Need to adopt resolution. PRIORITY WATERSHED PROJECTS Lakes Cluster - Kling reported that the shoreline workshop on July 2-3 was very successful. There is a lot of landowner support on restoring shorelines. Cost share will pay 70%. Working on drop inlet structure on Perch Lake. Work on boat landing/parking lot is nearing completion at Bass Lake. Will be making a presentation at Solon Springs to Upper St. Croix Watershed this week on shoreland protection. Bass Lake - Pipe delivered and pumping could start as early as October. Perch Lake - Raymond commented: Homeowners want to put more fill along 53rd Street. Christenson received letter from Ron Struss recognizing Kling on his participation in the shoreline workshop. Presented amendment to St. Croix Lakes Project grant agreement for shoreline habitat restoration. DNR is to do an evaluation of the practice. Berenschot made motion to approve amendment for Chairman Jensen's signature. Bethke seconded. Carriedo Kinnickinnic -Christenson reported that Popple and Kulow were attending a State Land & Water Board meeting in Eau Clai proposed. re. Discussion will include some priority watershed changes that are being LeeAnn Ross, intern through the University of River Falls, reported that well sampling (nitrates and atrazine) is completed on 170 wells. Results indicate 22% are over 10 parts per million on nitrates and 2% over on atrazine. Flood Plain Study - Christenson reported that we are waiting for photos from NRCS. September delivery? Should then be able to proceed with digitizing. BALDWIN AG BUILDING UPDATE Reaman updated the committee on revised plans for the interior of the building. The first estimate from Corporate Express was $143,000. With the following modifications, that estimate is now at $107,000. The modifications include the use of current bulletin display racks in Extension and storage cabinets in LWCD. In addition to moving existing items, task lights under overhead storage shelves have been eliminated, powered panels have been replaced with non -powered panels, the large classroom will have regular metal folding chairs rather than padded stackable chairs, a bookcase in each UWEX office has been eliminated. There are no drawers in the workspaces which is a concern for employees. The options for getting a set of drawers in a workspace is to reduce the amount of file space. Each employee will be asked to decide whether they want the files or a set of drawers. Gade commented that the last plan does not show enough parking spaces, 66-68 spaces rather than the 80 spaces in approved bid. Ayres & Associates have been contacted and they promised to remedy the parking shortage problem. As a result of the building completion date later than originally established, approval was granted by the County to store new office equipment and furniture for the USDA at the county library building in Hammond. Stated that meeting with ag building contractor is scheduled for August 6, 11:00 AM at the site. 1997 CONSERVATION FARMERfWATER OUALITY/WILDLIFE AWARDS Kling reported that application for Carol Benish is being prepared for Water Quality Award. Applications are also being worked on for Conservation Farmer (Jerry & Sandy Carufel) and Wildlife Habitat Award (Don & Cindy Keilen). 1998 BUDGET Scheduled budget development and approval meeting for Friday, August 15, 9:00 AM. SUBDIVISION REVIEW Windsor Heights (Sec. 32, Town of Hudson) - Reviewed storm water and erosion control plans. No action was taken at last meeting. It is a rural setting/urban type details with curb and gutter, storm sewers. All items have been resolved. Berenschot made motion that LWCC recommends approval of Windsor Heights subdivision. Bethke seconded. Carried. Pine Meadows (Fagerland) (Sec. 11, Town of Somerset) - Reviewed storm water and erosion control plans. All recommendations have been met. Filling and grading permit will be required because road construction is within 300 feet of navigable waters. Berenschot made motion that LWCC recommends approval of Pine Meadows subdivision with the stated condition. Dull seconded. Carried. Deer Run Estates (Sec. 5, Town of Somerset) - Reviewed storm water and erosion control plans. Soil test bore holes in Lot #6 may have to be relocated due to the proposed driveway location and proposed fill of gravel pit reconstruction. Bethke made motion that LWCC recommends approval of Deer Run Estates with the stated condition. Seconded by Berenschot. Carried. VOUCHERS Reviewed vouchers. Bethke questioned voucher #97-150 St. Croix Co. Highway Department (Bass Lake Project - $28,669.60). Christenson explained that it is for blacktopping and final seeding of parking lot/boat landing (DNR cost share grant). Bethke made motion to approve vouchers as presented. Cody seconded. Carried. MISCELLANEOUS Lier presented the LWCD/NRCS meeting/training calendar for August. Berenschot made motion to adjourn meeting at 12:00 noon. Jensen. Carried. Vernon Dull Secretary By Arlene Lier Seconded by