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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water Conservation-Resource & Education Committee 01-06-98AMENDED ST . OU'NTY NOTICE of COMM= MEETING TOO. Tom Dorsey, Chairman St. Croix County Board FROM: Art Jensen, Chairman COMMITTEE TITLE: Land & Water Conservation/Resource & Education Committee DATE: January b, 1998 TIDE: 9:00 a.m. LOCATION: Ag Center, Baldwin CALL TO ORDER ROLL ChLL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES UNFINISHED BUSINESS: ReRpItat DNR NRCS FSA RC&D west Central Area Education Activities Farmland Preservation Environmental Stewardship Priority Watershed Projects - Xinnickinnic South For]; of Hay River - Pilot Project/Conservation Credit - St. Croix Lakes Cluster Glen Dills Watershed - Flood Plain Study Wildlife Damage Program - Food Shelf Project Baldwin Ag Building Update BQIP Plan Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area wLWCA Annual Conference 1997 Conservation Awards Dinner Computer Equipment Order NEW BUSINESS: Discuss proposed Lover St. Croix River District Zoning Amendment Lake Mallalieu Planning Grant Application Farmland Preservation Applications Subdivision Review 11:00 a.m. vouchers ANMOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: AWOURNKENT (Agenda not necessarily SUBMITTED BY: Charles Christenson DATE: December 22, 1997 - Amended COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE COUNTY CLERK ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS/CHANGES presented in this order) December 30, 1997 NEWS MEDIA/NOTICE BOARD COMMITTEE HEMBRR.S Convened: 9:00 a.m. Adjourned: 11:30 a.m. ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION/RESOURCE & EDUCATION COMMITTEE Agricultural Center, Baldwin, WI January 6, 1998 Members Present: Leon Berenschot, Chris Bethke, Jim Cody, Vern Dull, Art Jensen, Ron Raymond Members Absent: None 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, Kathy Nelson-DNR, Cindy Sherman -Zoning Director, Steve McDonald -Lake Mallalieu Association Meeting called to order by Chairman Art Jensen. Berenschot made motion to adopt agenda. Dull seconded. Carried. Berenschot made motion to approve December 2, 1997 meeting minutes. Seconded by Raymond. Carried. Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 3, 1998 at 9:00 a.m. New Zoning Director Cindy Sherman was introduced to committee and staff . DNR Kathy Nelson (Forester) reported: Molly Hoffman (Air Management Engineer) is leaving the office. New employee Eunice Post (Water Regulation and Zoning Specialist - St. Croix, Pierce, Pepin, and Dunn Counties) replaces Dan Koich. She will handle all zoning, including St. Croix Riverway. Her Baldwin office days will be Monday, Thursday, and Friday; balance of time in Eau Claire. They plan to move into expanded office space in the same building later this winter. Wildlife Management No final total to date on deer season. Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area - Working on writing feasibility study. Cody inquired about the water level at New Richmond dam. (Bethke stated that someone with a 75-foot dock has all dry. land.) (Water is not coming back.) Nelson will talk with Fisheries Manager Marty Engel and Eunice Post -to get answers to questions. NRCS Siler handed out and discussed the December activity report. Staff spent time clarifying warm season grass plans from the 15th sign up. Also, corrections have been made to the rankings of some of the 16th sign up, to gain maximum points. FSA Gade reported: Sue Kaczmareck (Program Assistant) retired as of January 2, 1998. Dawn Christianson, formerly with Dunn County FSA, has been hired as a temporary employee until the full time vacancy is filled. Accepted bids on the 16th Conservation Reserve Program should be announced by the end of January. Hope to have better acceptance results than the 15th sign-up where only 50% was accepted. Production Flexibility Program - Landowners have choice of one-half payment in December and January, or one payment(all) in September. RC&D Berenschot reported that full council meeting will beheld on January 7 at Jakes Supper Club, Menomonie. WEST CENTRAL AREA No report. EDUCATION ACTIVITIES Reports: Sander - Will be assisting Mr. Gillis's Ag class (Baldwin - Woodville) with the groundwater model and septic system model. Popple - Participated in the ag science class (50 in group) at St. Croix Central High School. Kling - Will be (flying to Southeast Asia) participating in the Rural Leadership program where they will be touring and studying several areas. He will be returning to U.S. on February 1. FARMLAND PRESERVATION Sander reported that he will begin doing zoning certificates early in January, or as soon as computer program is running. DATCP will be doing a spot check of our county in 1998. Will look at our Farmland Preservation standards as guideline for plans. ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP Raymond mentioned that an application for rezonement has been submitted for rezonement of 160 acres (town of Pleasant Valley) from Exclusive Ag to Ag Residential. Jensen, who replaces Dorsey on the Planning, Zoning & Parks Committee, felt that it should be looked at by staff. Requested Heise to evaluate the land for residential development (1 acre minimum lot size). Land should be viewed from. Land & Water Conservation view. There are several large dairies nearby (Zwald, Heinbuch, and Schulte). Majority of land is woods, not cropland. (Our department gets its authority from Wisconsin state statutes.) Public hearing scheduled for January 7, 8:00 p.m., at Pleasant Valley town hall. Normally we rely on townships for policy on development in their town. It is an educational experience for us. Heise indicated that soil types (categorized as hydric) may be a limiting factor. Once land is rezoned, any control is limited. Town planning committee has already approved the rezonement. Berenschot made motion that Heise prepare a soils report and attend the hearing on January 6. Bethke seconded. Carried. PRIORITY WATERSHED PROJECTS Lakes Cluster - Kling reported that Bass Lake is still going down, now about 1 foot lower. Bergen's pond is also down. Perch Lake - Done with parking lot. Have to hire architect to prepare park plan. Would like county -wide input on plan. Squaw Lake - Still waiting for decision from Strohbeen on sale of some land for filtering. Looking at Crooked Lake/Pond in Polk County as a possible place to divert some runoff. Pine Lake - Vrieze Farms has to update management plan due to expansion plans (950 cows). Kinnickinnic - Popple reported monthly Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for January 8. Time will be devoted to surface water appraisal. Committee will review surface water goals. Groundwater sampling is done. Inventory work on barnyards and streambank continues. EQIP - Funding has been approved and sent to Washington. Kinnickinnic - about $200,000 and South Fork - $98,000. Does not appear Lakes will be funded. Have to set up Best Management Practices (BMP) and funding rates. Preview of rates and practices will also involve someone from the Steering Committee. Popple and Kling attended a "Grant Writing Workshop". Tech position - South Fork & Kinni - 10% cut in 1998 budget. Probably will not hire technician for South Fork. Could hire intern for summer 1998 from University. Will work with Ron Struss on putting together E & I - timeline for plan (June 1996 to June 1998) - WI Land & Water Board. Raymond suggested going to groups before going to full county board. Steering committee and LWCC should review plan together. Dan Simonson was involved in the original town meetings. Public should be sold on keeping Kinni clean for years to come. South Fork of Hay River With the County Board approval in December, the plan will now -go to Wisconsin Land & Water Conservation Board for approval on January 27. Implementation phase of project will include traditional cost share of 70%. Also incentive payments for anyone signing up for projects to develop and follow a soil & water conservation plan and a Nutrient Management Plan (590), will be eligible for the conservation incentive plan. Payment would be made to reduce phosphorus runoff from barnyards. Payment would be $50.00 to $90.00/pound reduction. Project will be reviewed after 4 years to determine if this type of program is cost effective. Bethke questioned if old manure pits are checked. County has an animal waste ordinance, however should be looked at to make it more effective. LWCC decided to take a look at it. GLEN HILLS WATERSHED Flood Plain Study - Christenson reported working with Jack Colvard- Emergency Government and Megan Galloway -Dam Safety Division-DNR, Madison. Colvard has been in contact with Galloway also concerning Emergency Action Plans. She has accepted our version which was prepared for Dams 4-5-6-10. She liked the idea of working with Emergency Government. She gave "okay" to go ahead. Detailed engineering studies of structures - felt not necessary. Whoever does the plan would likely want to do it onsite. Development of emergency operations study will be done within house. Jensen felt the plan should be finalized and presented to Finance. WILDLIFE DAMAGE PROGRAM Sander reported that approximately 200 pounds of ground meat was distributed to the area food shelves. Next year should be able to increase the ground meat to 1,000 pounds. Funds donated came from various organizations such as: 4-H, Homemakers, and Lions. This year $160 of $815 total collected was spent for processing. Funds will be maintained for future activity. LWCC directed staff to report to each donor who contributed. Kulow handled the damage claims investigations. There were a lot of program changes by state legislation during the last session. Land where a claim was processed must be open to public hunting without restriction. Training session on new legislation is scheduled for March. BALDWIN AG BUILDING UPDATE Gade: Carpet is being laid and starting to put in ceiling tile. Will be attending the weekly contractor's meeting on January 7. Subcontractors should be completed with the work by January 15. The holidays and deer hunting season slowed down the building process. The move is scheduled for January 29 and 30. Staff will report to new building on February 2, however these are tentative at best at this time. Problem of water coming through south wall has been noted as needing correction. Working with Doug Zwank-NRCS on LAN/WAN installation. Problem developed with number of quad plates to be installed. 1997 CONSERVATION AWARDS DINNER Lier reported the awards dinner is being planned for February. COMPUTER EQUIPMENT ORDER Christenson reported that 7 computers have been ordered for new building. Some are watershed project funded. WLWCA ANNUAL CONFERENCE Bethke reported on sessions: EOIP and MANURE STORAGE (Issue is who is going to handle enforcement. Educate ourselves as to how long farmer is going to be in business.) Christenson: Reported on session which centered around results of budgeting process this past year, from DATCP and DNR standpoint. Several (including Representative Harsdorf and Senator Clausing) from state legislature attended one evening. Program included showing appreciation for what they accomplished during the budget process this past year. It is now important to show progress on projects or the funds could diminish in the future. DISCUSSION PROPOSED LOWER ST. CROIX RIVER DISTRICT ZONING AMENDMENT Reviewed and discussed copy of proposed amendment with Zoning Director Sherman. This proposed amendment was the result of the problem noted in the Cudd site. Ordinance may have had some effect if it had been updated. Even when the DNR and federal agencies are involved, the County is the final governing body. Will visit this issue again at a future meeting. LAKE MALLALIEU PLANNING GRANT APPLICATION Steve McDonald, representing Lake Mallalieu Association, gave background of association. Organization activated this last summer, organized because of issues on lake, namely weeds, nitrates, silting, etc. Lake (269 acres) has approximately 100 homes. Owner of dam: City of Hudson, City of North Hudson, and the county. DNR suggested that association apply for lake planning grant. In order to get this grant, the association must write grant application. Will have a better chance of getting grant if all criteria is met such as letters of support from units of government. Grant dollars would be used for administrative costs of getting things written up: Survey by DNR, suggest draining dam (3-1/2 to 4 feet down) for couple of months in wintertime. Freeze would kill millfoil. Study will look at what lake is used for and develop long range plans on what can be done with the lake. Association wants letter of support for applying for the study grant. Jim Janke, who already works with the association, could help again by setting up surveys. Grant will be 3:1 matching funds with credit for those working on project, kind based on $5.00/hour. DNR survey done to see who is using the resources. Five DNR units would get involved in the survey. Berenschot made motion that LWCC supports the Lake Mallalieu "Lake Planning Grant Application" and Chair Jensen be authorized to sign the application. Bethke seconded. Discussion: Water conservation aspect, not water skiing. Motion carried. FARMLAND PRESERVATION APPLICATIONS No applications were presented. SUBDIVISION REVIEW Preserve Golf Club of Wisconsin - (Sec.30-31 - Town of St. Joseph) Presented concept. North Bass Lake Estates Subdivision (Sec. 11-12 - Town of Somerset) - Heise discussed concerns, insufficient road construction, and erosion control measures that had taken place on this development in fall. This is a very sensitive area. Developer will not be in the area until January 21. Zoning Director Sherman stated that no houses will be built until Zoning signs plat. Berenschot made motion that Heise draft a letter addressing our concerns be sent to the developer. Dull seconded. Carried. VOUCHERS Reviewed vouchers. Berenschot questioned #245 (Eagle Point) and #247 (Ford Credit). Christenson explained the software order and the advance payment of the Ford Contour lease. Berenschot made motion to approve vouchers. Seconded by Bethke. Carried. MISCELLANEOUS Lier presented the LWCD/NRCS meeting -training calendar for January. Bethke made motion to adjourn meeting at 11:30 a.m. Raymond seconded. Carried. Vernon Dull, Secretary By Arlene Lier