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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water 09-04-01 k , ST. CROIX COUNTY NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING TO: Tom Dorsey, Chairman St. Croix County Board FROM: Art Jensen, Chairman COMMITTEE TITLE: Land & Water Conservation/Resource & Education Committee DATE: September 4, 2001 TIME: 9:00 a.m. LOCATION: Ag Center, Baldwin CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: October 2, 2001 ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES NEW BUSINESS: Proposed ATCP-50 Rules CREP(Conservition Reserve Enhancement Program) DATCP funding to counties LESA(Land Evaluation and Site Assessment) Subdivision Review - 10:00 a.m. Vouchers UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Staff Reports: Education Activity - Speaking Contest - Conservation Awards results Priority Watershed Projects Glen Hills Watershed - Relocation update - Structure #8 Ag Issues Cedar Creek Flume Homestead Park 2002 Budget DNR - Oakridge Lake, Town of Stanton, Sections 8 & 9 Crossing on county property Resource Management Plan - Policy* Agency Reports: FSA NRCS DNR RC&D West Central Area ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order) SUBMITTED BY: Rgbert Heise DATE: August 21, 2001; amended August 31, 2001 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA/NOTICE BOARD COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS * ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS/CHANGES UNOFFICIAL Convened: 9:00 a.m. Adjourned: 11:40 a.m. ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION/RESOURCE & EDUCATION COMMITTEE Agricultural Service & Education Center, Baldwin, WI September 4, 2001 Members Present: Leon Berenschot, Chris Bethke, Lois Burri, Jim Cody, Art Jensen, Ron Raymond Members Absent: None Staff Present: County Conservationist-Bob Heise; Land Specialists-Pete Kling, Tim Popple; Secretary- Arlene Lier Others Present: Steve Pernsteiner-NRCS, Linda Paul-FSA, Kris Belling, Kathy Nelson, Chad Gottbeheut- DNR Meeting called to order by Chairman Art Jensen. Cody made motion to adopt agenda. Raymond seconded. Carried. Berenschot made motion to approve August 7, 2001 meeting minutes. Seconded by Burn. Carried. Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 2, 2001 at 9:00 a.m. PROPOSED ATCP-50 #ULES Heise informed committee of the process and the change that had taken place in the nonpoint pollution program since the enactment of Act 27. DNR presented their second round of public hearings on their proposed rules this past spring. DATCP held their second round of public hearings on the ATCP-50 during the week of August 27 - 30. Heise and Popple attended public hearing in Menomonie on Tuesday, August 28. Heise handed out letter opposing the ATCP-50 rules. Discussion. Motion by Raymond, seconded by Berenschot, to approve the letter as written. Heise asked that each committee member sign the letter to be submitted for written comments to the DATCP. Committee requested that copies of this letter be sent to Wisconsin Counties Association and the Secretary of Agriculture. CREP (CONSERVATIQN RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM) Pernsteiner explained whAt practices are available and what land is eligible for the soon to be released Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program(CREP). There appears to be some interest in CREP buffers and a couple people have expressed an interest in permanent easements. Heise informed the committee that CREP is additional workload to the department without any additional funding from the state to offset the department's costs. The department will re-assign workload commitments to meet program expectations. Discussion. Committee requested Heise to discuss retaining County held easements under the CREP with Corporation Counsel. Raymond warned the department to stay within their realm of expertise. DATCP FUNDING TO COUNTIES Heise handed out a survey from DATCP requesting counties to assess three different funding formulas on how DATCP may allocate future funding to counties. Discussion. LWCC approved the survey for Chair Jensen's signature. LESA (LAND EVALU4TION AND SITE ASSESSMENT Heise presented to the committee that there is a need to re-evaluate the LESA soil categories identified in the comprehensive plan. Heise informed the committee that the soils categories outlined in the Comprehensive plan were approved under one parameter, the number of bushels of corn produced per acre. There are a number of other parameters that should be considered when using LESA as a planning tool. Heise informed the committee that a work group is to be formed to reevaluate the soil categories. OAKRIDGE LAKE, TOWN OF STANTON Kris Belling presented information regarding the placing of a culvert on county owned property for access purpose. There is debris ip the water channel. Berenschot made motion to allow the DNR to put culvert in based on written agreement, required permits, and at no cost to the county. Bethke seconded. Carried. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN - POLICY Heise informed the committee that staff has received a request to have a well abandoned by a commercial establishment located within a municipality. The establishment requested cost share money received through our Resource Management Plan to offset their abandonment costs. The municipality has ordinances in effect that require wells to be properly abandoned within their municipal boundaries. Discussion. Motion by Raymond, seconded by Bethke, that cost sharing of well abandonment shall not be approved within the municipalities unless it is identified in the department's nonpoint pollution watershed plan. BUDGET REVIEW Wednesday, September 26, at 1:00 p.m. the Land Conservation and the Extension Committee are to meet with Finance to review department budgets. EDUCATION ACTIVITY Tree Sales Program - Heise reported that the department's tree sales program will begin at the end of September and will end November 2. Initially, 20,000 trees and shrubs are for sale. Department's expectations are to exceed the initial allotment. Speaking Contest - The West Central Area will be holding a fall speaking contest on Tuesday, October 23, at the Ramada Inn in Eau Claire. SUBDIVISION REVIEW Kling presented: Rolling Oaks 2 (In the SW1/4 of the SW1/4 of Section 18, T31N-Rl8W, Town of Star Prairie, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) - Re-plat of 5 lots from Rolling Oaks Subdivision. Recommended for approval. Berenschot made motion to recommend that the storm water and erosion control plans are acceptable and a letter be sent to the Planning & Development Committee. Bethke seconded. Carried. Deer Trail Estates First Addition (In part of the SE1/4 of the NW 1/4 and part of the SW 1/4 of the NW 1/a and part of the NW1/4 of the SW IA all in Section 3, T31N-R19W, Town of Somerset, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) - Approximately a 23 acre development, 7 lots total. Recommended for approval. Cody made motion to recommend that the storm water and erosion control plans are acceptable and a letter be sent to the Planning & Development Committee. Berenschot seconded. Carried. Pine Lake Subdivision (In part of government lot 2, part of government lot 3, and part of the SW1/4 of the NE 1/4 all in Section 1, T29N, RI 7W, Town of Hammond, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) - Approximately a 12 acre development, 5 lots total. Recommended for approval. Bethke made motion to recommend that the storm water and erosion control plans are acceptable and a letter be sent to the Planning & Development Committee. Cody seconded. Carried. VOUCHERS Reviewed vouchers. Motion by Berenschot, seconded by Bethke, to approve vouchers. Carried. PRIORITY WATERS11][1) PROJECTS Popple reported: Kinnickinnic - • Many school talks are beginning with classes back in session. • Provided tour for entry level DNR personnel. • Construction of practices on-going. Lakes Cluster - • One barnyard construction underway. • Continue to work Squaw Lake wetland project. South Fork of the Hgy River - • Project has been left in state budget for another 4 years. • Pollution incentive reduction program will continue this fall. GLEN HILLS WATEB§HED Heise reported that he wad premature to assure the committee at the last meeting that the Glen Hills dams faired well during the August 1, 2001 rain event. Heise handed out photos showing damage to the emergency spillway on structure 98. Committee recommended that the department meet with the Finance committee to commit funds to repair this damage. Heise will try to meet with Finance committee on Friday, September 7. AGRICULTURAL ISSUES -UPDATE Animal Waste Citizen Advisory Committee will be meeting on Thursday, September 27 at 8:00 p.m. at the Agricultural Center, Baldwin to review amendments to the ordinance. CEDAR CREEK FLUME Heise reported that he has received a preliminary cost estimate on the repair of the Cedar Creek flume. Design revisions will be required but should have little or no reflection on preliminary cost estimate. Cost estimate was revised into the county capital outlay plan. HOMESTEAD PARK Kling reported: We have revised phases 11 and III to stay within our budget and will re-bid this winter, and expect to complete construction on both phases in 2002: He will be giving a presentation to the County Board on September 18. Arrangements are being made for a tour of the site. FARM SERVICE AGElLCY CPT, Linda Paul reported: ♦ CRP(Conservation Reserve Program): Preparing for annual rental payments. Finishing up on cost-share payments for practices installed this summer. ♦ Crop Reporting: Compliance work is underway. Numerous requests from crop insurance agents for crop information for their insured clients. ♦ PFC(Production Flexibility Contracts): MLA(Market Loss Assistance) bonus payments were made. ♦ Commodity Loans: No loans disbursed to date. One oat loan pending. September interest rate 4.5 down from the August rate of 4.625%. ♦ 2001 LDP's(Loan Deficiency Payments): 16 applications for $21,028. Currently LDP'S available on barley, soybeans and SRW wheat. ♦ 2000 LDP's: Final numbers, 2,212 applications for $3,009,705. ♦ Facility Loans: Interest rate for September 4.875%, down from August rate of 5.125%. ♦ Farm Loan Program: Loan applications slow. NATURAL RESOURCgS CONSERVATION SERVICE Steve Pernsteiner reported: They have checked most of the 2001 CRP plantings. It appears to have been a good year for plantings. NRCS is currently conducting status reviews on compliance of conservation plans for highly erodible land. So far it looks like most people are following their conservation systems. DNR Forester Kathy Nelson reported: Bonus tags should go on gale September 10. We will not know what is left for sale until this Friday. $12.00 for resident, $20.00 non-resident. Available at any place that sells licenses. NAWCA(North American Wetlands Conservation Act) - DNR received grant money to restore wetlands as well as prairie grasslands in Pierce and St. Croix counties for the next two years. DNR has a list of interested landowners, so will not need to advertise. Tuesday, August 28, DNR Secretary Bazzell and Sheila Harsdorf visited St. Croix County to review progress on the WPHRA (Western Priirie Habitat Restoration Area). At the public forum later that evening, the Stillwater bridge was the main topic of discussion. We are in the process of dlosing on 214 acres of land in Stanton township for the WPHRA. We have acquired 592 acres so far (292 in St. Croix, 300 in Polk), and have received a donation of 100 acres of land, and development rights on 120 acres. There are additional appraisals underway and other interested landowners that responded to a recent mailing of the new WPHRA brochure. Introduced Chad Gottbehrut. Chad is a new DNR forester training at Baldwin for at least one year. He will then be placed in a permanent assignment to fill one of the vacancies statewide. • RC&D Heise reported that Stan Dingle, former NRCS engineer in Madison, has accepted the commitment to design the pipe separations on 5 of thi Glen Hills dams. The design work should be completed by the end of the year. Berenschot reported: • Prairie seeds will be available for the year 2002. • He will be attending the state RC&D convention on September 26 and 27 at Minocqua. • He has been acting as president due to Hartung's absence. WEST CENTRAL AREA Raymond reported that he attended the area meeting on August 15. Conservation award entries were judged. St. Croix County received the Wildlife Habitat Award (Leroy Olson) and Water Quality Leadership Award (Sam Warp). Heise informed the committee that there had been a change in the West Central Area fall business meeting. It has been rescheduled forlTuesday, October 23, at the Ramada Inn in Eau Claire. Chair Jensen adjourned the meeting at 11:40 a.m. Jim Cody Secretary