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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand Conservation-Resource & Education Committee 03-07-95sT. CROIX *AMENDED%' %'�%: TO: Robert Boche, Chairman St. Croix County Board FROM: Tom Dorsey, Chairman COMMITTEE TITLE: Land Conservation/Resource Education Committee DATE: March 7, 1995 TIME: 94 a.m. LOCATION: Ag Center, Baldwin CALL TO QRDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Reports: DNR NRCS CFSA RC&t3 West Central Area Education Activities Farmland Preservation Glen Hills Watershed Emergency Action Plans Signal Requirement Priority Watershed Projects South Fork of Hay River Lakes Project Squaw Lake Boat Landing Wildlife Damage Program Metro Unit Update Training Activities Compliance NEW BUSINESS: 1999 Priority watershed Selection Application# Farmland Preservation Applications Subdivision Review Vouchers ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT �+IEETING: A13JOL[RNMENT {Agenda not necessary-ly presented in this order) SUBMITTED BY: Charles Christenson DATE: February 21, 1995 Amended February 28, 1995 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA/NOTICE BOARD COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS * ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS/CHANGES TO: ST. CROIX COUNTY NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING Robert Boche, Chairman St. Croix County Board Tom Dorsey, COMMITTEE TITLE: Chairman Land Conservation/Resource & Education Committee DATE: March 7, 1995 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 CFSA RC&D West Central Area Education Activities Farmland Preservation Glen Hills Watershed Emergency Action Plans Signal Requirement Priority Watershed Projects South Fork of Hay River Lakes Project Squaw Lake Boat Landing Wildlife Damage Program Metro Unit Update Training Activities NEW BUSINESS: Compliance Farmland Preservation Applications Subdivision Review Vouchers ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order) SUBMITTED BY: Charles Christenson DATE: February 21, 1995 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE COUNTY CLERK * ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS/CHANGES NEWS MEDIA/NOTICE BOARD COMMITTEE MEMBERS Convened: 9:10 a.m. Adjourned: 11:55 a.m. ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND CONSERVATION/RESOURCE & EDUCATION COMMITTEE Agricultural Center, Baldwin, WI March 7, 1995 Members Present: Tom Dorsey, Vernon Dull, Ron Raymond, Kermit Thompson Members Absent: Chris Bethke, Talley Roquette (both excused) Staff Present: County Conservationist Charles Christenson, Technician Bob Heise, Technician David Sander, Secretary Arlene Lier Others Present: Don Siler - NRCS, Dick Gade - CFSA, Greg Rieck - DNR Meeting called to order by Chairman Tom Dorsey. Raymond made motion to adopt amended agenda. Dull seconded. Carried. Dull made motion to approve February 7, 1995 meeting minutes as handed out. Raymond seconded. Carried. Next meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 4, 1995 at 9:00 a.m. DNR Greg Rieck, Conservation Warden, reported for various DNR staff. Wildlife - Metro Unit Update: Following the most recent round of public input, the Regional Task Force voted to continue support of the initial proposal to create a metro unit in the part of Unit 60 lying west of Hwy 65. That proposal was forwarded to Madison where it, along with all the other unit boundary and over winter goal changes from around the state, were scheduled to go to the Natural Resources Board in late February. However, the DNR has now agreed to the request of a coalition of environmental groups to do an Environmental Analysis of all the proposals before forwarding them to the Board. This means there will be a delay before the metro unit can be implemented. uotas: There was a meeting with Congress and LCC representatives from 6 counties in the area to discuss deer quotas for 1995. Population levels have remained relatively stable (some small increases and decreases) despite what we thought were fairly heavy quotas. This means we need to increase quotas even more for 1995 so things don't get out of control. In general, we're looking at quotas that are 50% or so higher than 1994 quotas. Forestry - A timber bid opening was recently held in St. Croix County for landowners who have aspen, pine, spruce, and mixed hardwood sawlogs to harvest. Prices for timber continue to be high. Demand for timber is higher than 6 months ago. A lot of timber sales that could not be sold in the past have recently sold. A lot of the sales that were sold in the last timber bid opening were poor quality, over -mature and showing signs of rot and decay. The fact that these poor quality sales sold indicates that the demand is high for timber and that loggers are beginning to buy anything that is put on the market. A Woodland Owners' Workshop was held in Eau Claire on March 4. The topic was "Legal Aspects of Owning a Woodland." Approximately 215 people attended the workshop. Discussed control of beaver. Rieck suggested that Thompson contact trappers, one being Ron Roettger who may be interested in trapping beaver. Discussed bear numbers, their hibernation, and spring activities. NRCS (FORMERLY SCS] Siler handed out and discussed the February activity report. CFSA (FORMERLY ASCS� Gade reported that CFSA is selling catastrophic crop insurance. Have handled 150 applications so far, expect 300-500 total. Deadline is March 15. If purchasing hay or forage insurance, it would go back to December for winter kill. Late application is allowed through end of April. If purchased after March 15, would not cover winter kill. Acreage reduction program is slow perhaps due to requirement of buying crop insurance. Red tape may result in lower sign up. Dairy refund program ends March 15. Farmers, who reduce milk production compared to previous years, can apply for refund. Received 220 applications so far. Have been notified that 1994 deficiency payments will be coming out shortly for those in last year's Feed Grain Program. A temporary employee has been hired. Also have been sharing a PIC (Private Industry Council) employee with LCD. CRP - There will be an opportunity for landowners to get out of program with no pay back. The dates for this were tentatively scheduled for February 27 through March 15, but it has been put on hold for now. This may still take effect at a later date. Money savings will be used to promote new sign up. RC&D Raymond reported on a recent meeting. Items covered were: Amalgamating former SCS engineers - Amount they can charge considering overhead expenses (Social Security, errors and omissions insurance, etc.). Lease is due on office space - Should they consider new space? WEST CENTRAL AREA No report. EDUCATION ACTIVITIES Sander reported that he made presentations for Tom Wells' class at New Richmond using the groundwater model. FARMLAND PRESERVATION COMPLIANCE Sander reported that most landowners who do not want to grow more hay and less corn, and are not changing tillage such as minimum or no till to keep in compliance, have voluntarily backed out of program. GLEN HILLS WATERSHED Emergency Action Plans - Christenson reported nothing new since last month. Another exercise will be conducted in March or April. Maps have to be adopted for flood plain zoning. He will work with Zoning on submitting the maps. Signal Requirement - LCC reviewed dam installation plan schedule which was prepared by Christenson. Meeting scheduled for March 13 to review the plans was cancelled. Will attempt to have all 4 dam signals in place by August. PRIORITY WATERSHED PROJECTS South Fork of Hay River - Christenson reported that Kyle Kulow has been working with Dunn County staff. He is set up to go on inventory this spring. Lakes Project - Reported that Personnel has prepared draft copy of job description for Project Manager. Waiting for comments from Ron Struss (UWEX) and Karen Voss (DNR). Position will begin approximately May 1. SQUAW LAKE BOAT LANDING Dorsey questioned Town of Star Prairie's purchasing land for park. Purpose is for turnaround area to improve parking situation. Heise has done the survey. Ramp and dock have been completed. Christenson will present plan to Waterways Commission for additional funding. TRAINING ACTIVITIES Christenson reported that he attended WLIA Conference on February March 3. Our ortho photography is some place between Washington and Madison NRCS. We are getting near seeing the end product. Soil digitizing will begin after that. Ken Lubich (NRCS State Soil Scientist) is the liaison on getting this accomplished. Attended several sessions on environmental issues. Gunderson, Heise, Lier, and Sander will be attending the WALCE Training Conference next week at Lakewoods Lodge, Cable. 1999 PRIORITY WATERSHED SELECTION APPLICATION Christenson stated that the county could submit an application now for a 1999 watershed selection. He suggested either Lower Apple or Lower Willow could be submitted. With the present work schedule, however, it might be better to delay and support Dunn County's Wilson Creek Project. Dunn County is proposing the Wilson Creek Watershed project which has approximately 15,000 acres in St. Croix County. Raymond made motion that letter be sent to Dunn County indicating LCC strongly recommends it as a proposed selection for a Priority Watershed Project. Thompson seconded. Carried. FARMLAND PRESERVATION APPLICATIONS No applications were presented. VOUCHERS Reviewed vouchers. Raymond made motion to approve the March vouchers as presented. Dull seconded. Carried. SUBDIVISION REVIEW Heise commented on subdivision plans for Meadow Ridge (Town of Somerset), Serenity (Town of Hammond), and First Addition to Tanney Ridge Subdivision. Perch Lake - Heise reported that Planning & Parks Committee is attempting to get funds for appraisal of Tom Seim's land to determine how much the land is worth. DNR has grant money available. $3,500 is needed from Finance for cost of appraisal. Raymond made motion to support Planning & Parks in asking for $3,500 from Finance to have the 67-acre Seim property appraised. Thompson seconded. Carried. WILDLIFE DAMAGE PROGRAM Sander reported that 1994 ended with two claims being submitted. METRO UNIT UPDATE Sander reported on March 6 meeting in Menomonie. He will contact people regarding the metro unit and the environmental analysis to see who is involved and the time element. Will report at April meeting. MISCELLANEOUS Discussion on problem with double scheduling of conference room on days when LCC and Ag Extension meet. RECD has also been scheduling their home loan meetings on those days. Gade will coordinate scheduling of conference room for first Tuesday of month. Dull made motion to adjourn meeting at 11:55 a.m. Carried. r Vernon Dull Secretary By Arlene Lier Raymond seconded.