WAUPACA COUNTY
LAND & WATER CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
March 5th, 2015
Courthouse, Waupaca
Chair Federwitz called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.
Present: Patricia Craig, Bob Ellis, DuWayne Federwitz, Lee Much, Don Peterson and Walter Strebe. (Dick Rohan was excused)
Also Present: Brian Haase, Roger Holman, Ryan Brown, & Dave Heidemann.
Federwitz gave the open meeting statement.
Motion by Much, seconded by Peterson to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Motion by Craig, seconded by Peterson to approve the February 2, 2015 minutes. Motion carried.
Federwitz opened the meeting for public comment. There was none.
Heidemann reported the ARC/PLC base re-allocation and yield update deadline has been extended to March 31, while the election of ARC or PLC deadline remains March 31. The CRP Soil Rented Rate (SRR) for cropland in Waupaca County currently ranges from $66 to $132 per acre, based on the productivity of the soil, with SRR reviews for 2015 occurring by April 23 and a sign-up after that date. FSA will have a booth at the Land & Water Conference in Appleton staffed from Waupaca and Outagamie County.
Heidemann and Haase reported for NRCS. Some EQIP project categories (honey bee and forestry) are starting to receive funds while local EQIP cropland and pasture applications are still waiting for the funding status. NRCS anticipates a honey bee and cover crop sign-up for 2015, just waiting for details. The CSP sign-up is still open for 2015. NRCS has received 12 CSP applications to date.
Haase reported that he and McFarlane attended a meeting in Oshkosh sponsored by DNR that showcased a variety of new computer models for estimating nonpoint source pollution from rural landscapes. Several of these will be used by staff in the future for a variety of purposes including grant writing and possibly phosphorous trading. Haase also reported on attending the Fox-Wolf Alliance Watershed Conference in Oshkosh. The theme of the conference was phosphorous trading and adaptive management and how they could affect the funding, budgets and workloads for municipal treatment facilities and county land conservation departments. Haase stated that he believes that we are within about two years of several new opportunities for funding of nonpoint source work within the county. The LWCC needs to become as prepared as possible to take advantage of these future opportunities.
Haase proposed to the committee that all nutrient management cost share contracts, regardless of total cost, should be registered on the appropriate parcels with the Register of Deeds to assist with future compliance and notification to new landowners. Currently DATCP only requires registration of contracts over $14,000. Since nutrient management contracts must be followed in perpetuity after all contractual payments are made, regardless of land ownership, per ATCP 50 and NR 151 registration would be a helpful tool.
Motion by Much, seconded by Ellis, to have it be the policy of the Committee and Department to register all nutrient management contracts in the future. Motion carried.
Holman discussed transferring the 2008 van to Planning and Zoning without any payment. Holman noted this policy has been followed in the past and Finance Director Heidi Dombrowski is recommending the policy for future vehicles and other equipment.
Motion by Much, seconded by Craig to transfer the 2008 van to Planning and Zoning. Motion carried.
Haase explained that he and Planning/Zoning Director Ryan Brown had recently discussed moving mitigation work for shoreland zoning to from Planning & Zoning to Land & Water. Brown explained that his Department doesn’t have the time or expertise to design, monitor or provide construction oversight of the mitigation projects. Brown stated that after meeting with LWC staff, the recommendation is to use Dan McFarlane who is well versed in riparian issues, GIS and technical design. Haase stated that McFarlane’s position would have to go to full time, but the increase in hours may be partially covered by permit fees charged by Planning and Zoning. Brown explained the current and proposed the fee structure. Discussion followed with the Committee agreeing this is a good idea and asking Brown and Haase to put together a proposal for review by the Planning & Zoning Committee and LWCC at a future joint meeting. The Committee also requested a fee proposal that would involve a percentage fee or sliding scale fee based on a project size or dollar amount.
Haase reported Charlie Fox is looking to change his easement so future landowners must control invasive species. Haase stated the current easement defers this to a required management plan and it is not necessary to change the wording of the easement.
Motion by Peterson, seconded by Much, to contact Charlie Fox and explain why the easement doesn’t need to be changed to address his concerns regarding invasive species. Motion carried.
Haase and Holman reviewed the proposed 2014-2015 non-lapsing fund list.
Motion by Craig, seconded by Much to recommend the carry-over of the non-lapsing 2014 funds for 2015. Motion carried.
Haase handed out and reviewed the “Targeted Runoff Management (TRM) Grant Application” resolution. Haase stated that recent DNR guidance requested the resolution be updated each time the LWCC Chair changes. Furthermore DNR has a new resolution format. The current resolution is 5 years old.
Motion by Peterson, seconded by Ellis to recommend the adoption of the TRM Grant application resolution. Motion carried.
There were no LWRM/TRM contracts for Committee approval
Haase reported on the WLWCA county and area level speaking contests and thanked all those that judged. Haase also reported that nutrient management plan request letters have been mailed out to all required producers. Haase thanked Lee Much for assisting in creation of two Waupaca baskets for silent auction at the upcoming WLWCA Conference.
There were no Management Team updates.
The next meeting was set for April 2.
Motion by Peterson, seconded by Ellis to adjourn. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 2:40 p.m.
Submitted by,
Roger G. Holman
Recording Secretary