Public Comment Opportunity

Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine

April 12, 2017 By Donna VanBuecken Leave a Comment

I expect most everyone I know holds a subscription to the Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine. It’s my husband’s and my favorite environmental magazine. I’ve referenced articles from it a number of times in my posts in this blog. It is a money-maker for the State of Wisconsin. But, the Governor wants to discontinue publishing the magazine because they feel “the DNR can reach more people through social media.”

I try not to get involved with politics publicly; it’s one of my peach crate subjects that tends to make me crotchety. But I don’t buy that argument. One has to develop the same information used in the magazine to reach “people through social media.” The difference is the printing which is being paid for by subscribers — Oh, that’s right. The magazine makes money!

The real reason is the current administration’s minimizing science and education at WDNR and elsewhere.

Unfortunately, even if magazine subscribers convinced the powers-that-be to continue the magazine, it might not be the same. According to former Editor Natasha Kassulke, WDNR “executives began vetting content after a story on climate change ran in 2013…. they spiked a story…on the endangered American pine marten because it included a map showing…an area near Lake Superior…slated for a contentious iron mine project….they also killed a story…on how mammals will cope with climate change, telling her the terms ‘climate change’ and ‘global warming’ were forbidden.” (Quotes taken from Chicago Tribune.)

Governor Walker has included the elimination of the Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine in his budget which is now being reviewed by State Congressmen. If you feel as I do that continuing to print this magazine is worthwhile, but only if it continues in its previous scientific and educational format, be sure to let your Congressmen know.

Go to Wisconsin State Legislature to find your legislators and let them know how you feel about the demise of the Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine. Do it right now.

Wisconsin Conservation Hearings – 2017

March 24, 2017 By Donna VanBuecken Leave a Comment

The 2017 WDNR spring wildlife and fisheries proposed rules hearing and annual Conservation Congress meetings are scheduled for Monday, April 10th at 7:00PM in each of Wisconsin’s 72 counties.

This is an opportunity for state residents to provide input to WDNR, NRB* and the Conservation Congress on proposed rule changes and advisory questions relating to fish and wildlife management in Wisconsin.

It is also an opportunity to run for a seat on the Conservation Congress and to elect Conservation Congress delegates from their county. Lastly, it is an opportunity to bring new conservation issues to the attention of the Conservation Congress through the citizen resolution process.

There are many questions in this year’s Spring Hearing Questionnaire which concern me, but these are the ones that relate specifically to biodiversity and native plants:

63. Imposing a moratorium on issuing stormwater or air permits related to frac sand mining and processing pending analysis of recent Strategic Analysis of Industrial Sand Mining.

64. Encouraging local governments to remove milkweed from local noxious weed ordinances and to plant and maintain quality milkweed plots.

66. Supporting WDNR’s continued efforts to address 75 issues in the WPDES permit program, i.e., compliance to the EPA’s Clean Water Act.

67. Supporting efforts to work with Wisconsin Legislature to take actions needed to address the remaining issues in the WPDES permit program, i.e., compliance to the EPA’s Clean Water Act.

68. Repealing Act 1, the iron mining law from 2013.

69. Supporting legislation giving WDNR authority to suspend applications for CAFOs until all studies by affected government bodies have been completed.

71. Supporting legislation to authorize suspension of a CAFO which has caused impact or impairment to area wetlands or surface waters?

72. Supporting opposition to the Enbridge Pipeline expansion.

76. Supporting legislation to appropriate GPR funding to help manage the Wisconsin state park system.

78. Supporting legislation to continue funding the Stewardship Fund at adequate levels.

82. Supporting legislation to change Stewardship Fund from a borrowing-based program to a cash-based program.

If you wish to comment on any of the questions or any of the others in the 2017 Conservation Congress Questionnaire, e-mail Scott Loomans or phone 608-267-2452.

Here are the documents relative to these hearings:

If you are interested in getting involved with the Conservation Congress or have a specific question about the Conservation Congress, contact Conservation Congress Liaison Kari Lee-Zimmermann

*Natural Resources Board

The results of the 2017 Spring Hearings will be available on-line as soon as they are compile; search for “Spring Hearings.”

S.J. Res 18 rescinds Fair Chase

March 22, 2017 By Donna VanBuecken 3 Comments

Special Note: Last year Congress introduced S.J. Res 18 giving non-subsistence hunters in Alaska’s national parks the right to hunt wolf pups at their den site and to spot bears and their cubs from helicopters in order to shoot them upon landing. The House passed it on 2-16-17 and the Senate on 3-21-17, both without amendment. This bill is unethical and immoral, besides advocating poor sportsmanship. What happened to “Fair Chase”? If you wish to contact President Trump before he signs this into law, here’s how Tweet Donald Trump or E-mail Donald Trump.

See Aldo Leopold Weekend/Week

Native Plant Ordinances

March 9, 2017 By Donna VanBuecken Leave a Comment

I received a request from Bryan Lenz this week about native plant ordinances that include municipalities in their native landscaping guidelines. So often, communities will pass an ordinance allowing native landscaping or even requiring it for subdivisions and land development, but do not take the extra step to include themselves in the ordinance. Very often they specifically exclude the community and public lands.

Bryan is revising Bird City‘s criteria and he’s looking for some examples of ordinances where the municipality follows landscaping practices that promote not only sustainability, but also wildlife. Feel free to contact Bryan directly.

I have already suggested to Bryan that he consider the federal guidelines on the use of native landscaping.

Federal Guidelines

On February 3, 1999, President Clinton signed Executive Order 13112 which calls on Executive Branch agencies to work to prevent and control the introduction and spread of invasive species and to “provide for restoration of native species and habitat conditions in ecosystems that have been invaded….”

On June 20, 2014 President Obama signed a Memorandum for Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies Creating a Federal Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators which included “developing affordable seed mixes, including native pollinator-friendly plants…for restoration and reclamation projects….” and pollinator-friendly best management practices for federal lands.

On March 4, 2015 the 114th Congress passed H.R. 1284 Saving America’s Pollinators Act of 2015.

Bird City USA

Bird Cities (and Towns) are located in Wisconsin, Indiana and Minnesota and they are currently working with folks hoping to start programs in Iowa and Texas. Pennsylvania has a similar Bird Town Pennsylvania program as well. keep your fingers crossed! as Bryan progresses toward making Bird City a national program.