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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water Conservation-Resource & Education Committee 02-03-98FROM: Art Jensen, Chairman COMMITTEE TITLE: Land & Water Conservation/Resource & Education Committee DATE: February 3, 1998 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 - Kinnickinnic River Streambank Work - New Richmond Dam Water Level NRCS FSA RC&D West Central Area Education Activities Farmland Preservation Environmental Stewardship Priority Watershed Projects - Kinnickinnic - South Fork of Hay River - Pilot Project/Conservation Credit St. Croix Lakes Cluster Glen Hills Watershed - Flood Plain Study Wildlife Damage Program Baldwin Ag Building Update EQIP Plan Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area 1997 Conservation Awards Dinner Discuss proposed Lower St. Croix River District Zoning Amendment NEW BUSINESS: 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: January 21, 1998 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA/NOTICE BOARD COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS * ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS/CHANGES Convened: 9:00 a.m. Adjourned: 11:25 a.m. ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION/RESOURCE & EDUCATION COMMITTEE Agricultural Center, Baldwin, WI February 3, 1998 Members Present: Leon Berenschot, Jim Cody, Vern Dull, Art Jensen, Ron Raymond Members Absent: Chris Bethke (excused) Staff Present: County Conservationist -Charles Christenson, Technician -Bob Heise, Farmland Preservation Technician -David Sander, Kinnickinnic Project Manager -Tim Popple, Lakes Cluster Project Manager -Pete Kling, South Fork/Kinnickinnic Project Technician -Kyle Kulow, Secretary -Arlene Lier Others Present: Don Siler-NRCS, Dick Gade-FSA, Marty Engel, Brian Spangler-DNR, Roger Swanson-UW-EXT, Dan Koich-DNR-Eau Claire, Ted Mackmiller Meeting called to order by Chairman Art Jensen. Raymond made motion to adopt agenda. Berenschot seconded. Carried. Berenschot made motion to approve January 6, 1998 meeting minutes with an amendment under DNR to read: "Molly Hoffman (Air Management) is on a one year leave of absence." Seconded by Dull. Carried. Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, 1998 at 9:00 a.m. DNR Marty Engel (Fisheries Biologist) reported: Kinnickinnic River Streambank Work - Plan to apply for a permit to do in June (downstream of J.J. Charlie Andrea). Will be working with Forester Nelson and Andrea. Leaving selective type of wood. Want to make sure everybody is aware of what is being done. It is in planning stage right now. Chairman Jensen stated that they should go ahead with the plan but keep LWCC informed. Bank stabilization - Go through channels. Raymond stated that committee will support activities, but keep all informed because there still is some resistance to watershed projects. Engel stated: Should have been doing brush for several years to control box elder. Will try to do brushing every year in future. Want sunlight to come in to keep grass vegetation on stream bank. This will keep the area in a more stable state. Wildlife Management Final totals on deer season may be out by early March. LWCC will be invited to upcoming meetings on deer quotas. Inquired about meeting space at new ag building. Was informed to contact UW-EX office for scheduling. Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area - No report. New Richmond Dam Water Level - Dan Koich-DNR at Eau Claire attended meeting to answer questions on the New Richmond dam water levels. He gave history of the water levels. Water levels held at 88.26 and 89.96. In 1971 Doughboy transferred ownership to city of New Richmond. Water levels 89 and 89.75 referred to bench marks established on dam. Another bench mark was established but they were not tied to originals. May have used wrong bench mark when they built new dam. Was discovered when dam was finished, not during planning stages. When they started refilling the dam this last summer, water level was two feet lower than what it was before the dam was taken out. City contacted Gary Lepak and Koich on what to do to bring water levels up. Have to weld a flange on top of new gates to raise the water level. Hope City will come back and get permit. The City questioned water levels which were higher than they should have been. Plan to get request to alter water level in 1998. There would be a public notice for public to comment on proposal. Outcome of public notice will determine if there has to be a public hearing. It is easier to make a decision with an independent hearing. Can lake shore owners build new structures? Permit applications will be considered. Ninety percent of people meet standards for docks. NRCS Siler reported that notices were received on the 16th CRP sign-up; 268 were approved out of 370 - 72% acceptance. There is one request for the WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program). EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentive Plan) - Three year contracting period approved for watersheds: Kinnickinnic ($60,000, $70,000, and $70,000) and South Fork ($30,000, $40,000, and $41,000). FSA Gade reported: Time has been spent unpacking and getting settled. Expressed his appreciation for getting the ag service center in place. Thanks to LWCC for the effort put forth. Staff is in process of notifying people who were and were not successful in getting into the CRP. Letters have to be sent out as there are no telephones or computers operating as yet. Pierce County had over 95% accepted. St. Croix was in top three in state. Do not have steep slopes as in other counties. Will have staff attend LWCC meetings to explain what responsibilities FSA has. Each agency has programs: Rural Development -housing program, FSA-ag loan is part of Farm Service Agency. Farm Service Agency has federal and county employees. Possibility of converting either types to county or civil service, so all are under same umbrella. RC&D Berenschot reported that he attended a full council meeting on January 7 at Jakes Supper Club, Menomonie. RC&D is attempting to make themselves more noticeable. Are looking at long term funding through fund raising, grants, etc. WEST CENTRAL AREA Swanson stated there is nothing scheduled until spring. EDUCATION ACTIVITIES Reports: Sander - No activities. Waiting to hear from Baldwin - Woodville High School on assisting Mr. Gillis's ag class. Popple - Ron Struss should be getting our education activities going on the Kinnickinnic Watershed. Not definite yet whether he will be the University Extension person assigned to the watershed basins (Chippewa or St. Croix). Kling - Reported on his participation in the Rural Leadership program tour and study of Southeast Asia. Will prepare slide show of his trip to be shown at the next LWCC meeting and intends to also make presentations to other groups. FAP14L.AND PRESERVATION Sander reported that he will be doing zoning certificates as soon as computer program is running. Will be using old server that we had first. Will buy time until we are on line. Main goal is to network through ISDN line. ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP Discussed the Stillwater bridge issue - Waiting for Judge's ruling now. PRIORITY WATERSHED PROJECTS Christenson reported that he, County Conservationist -Polk County (Jeff Timmons), and representatives from several other counties in the Mississippi River Basin, met with Congressman Ron Kind at Black River Falls on January 21. Will continue where Congressman Steve Gunderson left off on getting funding to protect the Mississippi River basin. Hope to establish a demo project to show Washington that something can be done. Committee will develop plan for Congressman Kind. Lakes Cluster - Kling reported on upper part of Squaw Lake. Kinnickinnic - Popple reported they are continuing to do inventory work on barnyards and streambank. EQIP - Have to set funding rates/practices for sign up this spring. Watershed budgets are tight, so have to depend on EQIP. Working on plan that will have to go to County Board for approval. Need more education before plan is prepared. Will need the approval of LWCC, Town Board, and last County Board. South Fork of Hay River - Kulow reported that Citizens Advisory Committee along with staff took conservation credit incentive plan to the State Land & Water Conservation Board in Madison on January 27. It was approved unanimously. Project will last 4 years. Anticipated sign-up to begin in early April. Project will be re-evaluated after 4 years to see if we are meeting project goals. We are assured of funding for 4 years. Will actively begin to install practices in summer. GLEN HILLS WATERSHED Flood Plain Study - Christenson reported that he has reviewed the proposal with Jack Colvard (Emergency Government Director) and John Krizek (Administrative Coordinator). Also reported that he has been working with Roger Humphrey (Humphrey Engineering) to determine elevations of home site below Structure #10. WILDLIFE DAMAGE PROGRAM Kulow reported on a claim for Glen Weis (temporary fence) on nursery outside of River Falls. Trees will come out within the next 3 years. Raymond made motion to approve $605 claim (after deductible) and send on before March 1. Berenschot seconded. Carried. Kulow and Sander will be attending a Wildlife Damage workshop in Stevens Point on March 17-19. Program will include review of recent legislative changes. BALDWIN AG BUILDING UPDATE Sander reported that an adjustment will be made to the federal agencies on the unusable space (heating system duct work which extends out from the wall). Less usable space means less rent to be paid. 1997 CONSERVATION AWARDS DINNER Lier reported the awards dinner is planned for February 17 at the Hammond Hotel. FARMLAND PRESERVATION APPLICATIONS No applications were presented. SUBDIVISION REVIEW Pine Curve Subdivision (Sec. 19 - Town of St. Joseph) - Reviewed storm water and erosion control plans. Cody made motion that LWCC recommends approval of Pine Curve subdivision. Seconded by Berenschot. Carried. Preserve Golf Club of Wisconsin (Sec. 30-31 - Town of St. Joseph) - Heise presented concept plans. VOUCHERS Reviewed vouchers. Berenschot made motion to approve vouchers. Seconded by Raymond. Carried. MISCELLANEOUS Berenschot reported talking with State Representative Joe Plouff on Legislative bills 574-647. Christenson suggested talking to Adam Payne-WLWCA also. Berenschot made motion to adjourn meeting at 11:25 a.m. Dull seconded. Carried. Vernon Dull, Secretary By Arlene Lier