Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Weekly Digest Bulletin

Upriver Lakes Sturgeon Spearing Application Deadline Aug. 1

The DNR reminds sturgeon spearers that the application deadline for an Upriver Lakes sturgeon spearing license is Aug. 1. / Photo Credit: Muche Family, Muche Family Photo

OSHKOSH, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds sturgeon spearers that the deadline to apply for an Upriver Lakes sturgeon spearing tag is Aug. 1.

Only 500 license holders will be selected from these applications to spear a sturgeon from lakes Poygan, Winneconne or Butte des Morts due to a higher success rate on the Upriver Lakes. There is a 62% average success rate on Upriver Lakes compared to 9% average on Lake Winnebago.

License holders must apply for a license or purchase a preference point for the Upriver Lakes spear fishery. Spearing licenses are then issued through a drawing where priority is granted to applicants with the most preference points. Those not selected earn a preference point towards future drawings.

The sturgeon spearing tradition on Lake Winnebago, Lake Poygan, Lake Winneconne, and Lake Butte des Morts will begin on Feb. 12, 2022, and run for a maximum of 16 days or until any of the predetermined harvest caps are reached.

The public can purchase resident and nonresident licenses online using the DNR’s Go Wild license portal or at any license sales location. All license holders must be a minimum of 12 years old or turning 12 years old between Nov. 1, 2021, and the last day of the 2022 spearing season.

An unlimited number of licenses are available for the Lake Winnebago spear fishery and can be purchased until Oct. 31, 2021. Applicants authorized for an Upriver Lakes license cannot purchase a license for Lake Winnebago.

Visit the DNR webpage to learn more about the sturgeon spearing season and the Winnebago System and Upriver Lakes fisheries.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 20, 2021
Contact: Christine Haag, DNR Remediation And Redevelopment Program Director Christine.Haag@wisconsin.gov or 608-422-1148

DNR Seeking Public Input On PFAS Contamination In Marinette, Peshtigo And Surrounding Communities

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is holding online listening sessions on Wednesday, July 21, to seek public input on PFAS contamination in the city of Marinette, the town of Peshtigo and surrounding communities. These listening sessions are the 15th in a series of public input opportunities hosted by the DNR for area residents. 

The listening sessions will include routine updates from the DNR and the Department of Health Services (DHS) regarding the status of the PFAS investigations in the community.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of human-made chemicals used for decades in numerous products, including non-stick cookware, fast food wrappers, stain-resistant sprays and certain types of firefighting foam.

These contaminants have made their way into the environment through spills of PFAS-containing chemicals, discharges of PFAS-containing wastewater to treatment plants and certain types of firefighting foams.

Addressing PFAS contamination in the environment is part of Gov. Tony Evers' statewide initiative to ensure Wisconsinites have access to clean, safe drinking water. In 2019, the governor signed Executive Order #40 to address the issue of PFAS across the state.

Additional information on PFAS is available on the Wisconsin DHS website and the Wisconsin DNR website.

Listening Sessions On PFAS Contamination In Marinette & Peshtigo

WHEN: Wednesday, July 21, 2021, noon-2 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m.

WHO:

• Christine Haag – DNR Remediation and Redevelopment Program Director
• Bridget Kelly – DNR Remediation and Redevelopment Program PFAS Team Leader
• Alyssa Sellwood – DNR Remediation and Redevelopment Program Project Manager
• Kyle Burton – DNR Drinking Water and Groundwater Field Operations Director
• Brita Kilburg-Basnyat – DHS Toxicologist

WHERE: Join via Zoom here. Join by phone: 312-626-6799; Meeting ID: 826 6979 2625

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 22, 2021
Contact: Kristin Hart, DNR Air Permit Section Chief  
kristin.hart@wisconsin.gov or 608-287-6061

DNR And EPA To Host Air Permit Public Engagement Webinar

Learn How To Participate In The Air Permit Process

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is holding a Public Engagement Webinar to teach the public how to participate in the air permit approval process. The two-part webinar will be held via Zoom on the afternoons of Sept. 14 and 15, 2021, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Webinar participants will learn about opportunities to engage in environmental issues in their neighborhood or city. Specifically, participants will learn about permit applications or renewals, the stages of environmental rule development and how to play an active role in air permits issued in their area. The information provided during the webinar will assist the public with making effective comments at the various public input stages. It will also highlight other opportunities for public input for DNR rules and permits.

“Air pollution regulations can seem intimidating,” said Kristin Hart, DNR Air Permitting Section Chief. “The drafters of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments viewed public participation as a central part of the permitting process. The goal of this webinar is to demystify the permitting process and help citizens and neighborhood groups understand their role in it.”

A variety of instructors and speakers will lead participants through the process of finding, reviewing and responding to real permit documents. Some topics will provide opportunities for small group discussions and will include hands-on practice and examples. Other topics will focus on community organizing and forming effective relationships.

“The opportunity to provide public comments is a vital part of the air permitting process,” said John Mooney, Region 5 Air and Radiation Division Director. “EPA encourages people to use this training to gain a better understanding of how public comments and air permits work, and we appreciate the DNR’s efforts to promote community engagement.”

Register for the webinar opening on July 25, 2021 using the link here. Registration is limited to the first 250 participants. If printed materials or materials in an alternate format are needed, register by August 25, 2021. Additional information, including the full webinar agenda and the registration form, are available here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 23, 2021
Contact: DNR Office of Communications
DNRPress@wisconsin.gov

Wearing A Life Jacket Saves Lives

16 Fatalities Reported So Far This Year

Statistics show boaters who wear life jackets and take boater safety courses are most likely to stay safe on Wisconsin waters. / Photo Credit: National Safe Boating Council

MADISON, Wis. – It’s peak boating season, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds boaters that wearing a life jacket could save your life.

To date, 16 people have died in boating incidents so far this year in Wisconsin. Operator inexperience, inattention, recklessness and speeding are the four leading causes of tragic watercraft crashes, and the leading cause of death is drowning.

The majority of people who drown in boating accidents know how to swim but become incapacitated in the water such as being injured or unconscious, exhausted or weighed down by clothing.

“Wearing a life jacket is the easiest thing you can do to make sure that your next boating trip won’t be your last,” said Lt. Darren Kuhn, DNR Boating Law Administrator. “Make sure you and all other passengers are wearing it with the buckles fastened before you cast off.”

The department does not track all drownings – only those fatalities linked to the use of a recreational activity item, such as a boat, kayak or canoe. Boating incident reports to date for 2021 and previous years are available online here.

Statistics show boaters who wear life jackets and take boater safety courses are most likely to stay safe on Wisconsin waters. Always follow the basic safety tips below and enjoy Wisconsin's great lakes and rivers with family and friends.

WATER SAFETY TIPS

• Sign up now to take an online boater education course.
• Always wear a properly fitted life jacket that has a snug fit and is fastened when you're on or near the water.
• Enjoy the waters sober and know your limits. Alcohol blurs a person's judgment, reaction time and abilities.
• River shorelines and sandbars pose unseen dangers. Higher, fast-moving water can tax an individual's boating, paddling and swimming skills.

Be ready for the unexpected and always wear your life jacket. More boating safety tips are available on the DNR website.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 23, 2021
Contact: Nick Zouski, DNR Accessibility Coordinator
Nicholas.Zouski@wisconsin.gov or 608-381-0573

Outdoors For All: Explore The Outdoors With Adaptive
Equipment And All-Terrain Wheelchairs

Accessible Cabins Also Available

The public can now reach the top of the Eagle Tower at Peninsula State Park using the 100 tower stairs or the 850-foot fully accessible canopy walk shown here. Accessible equipment, like this reservable all-terrain wheelchair from Access Ability Wisconsin, make the outdoors an option for all. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is committed to providing exceptional outdoor recreation opportunities for people of all abilities. DNR adaptive equipment rentals and all-terrain wheelchair reservations through Access Ability Wisconsin (AAW) help ensure that everyone can make memories and learn new skills in Wisconsin's outdoors.

Wisconsinites have access to seasonal adaptive equipment at select state parks, including:

• Adaptive kayaks
• Beach wheelchairs
• Accessible beach mats
• Cross country sit-skis

Additionally, Access Ability Wisconsin provides reservable all-terrain wheelchairs (OWC) throughout the state that can be used for hunting, birding, fishing or exploring. Reserving a chair through AAW is easy and free by filling out a simple online form on AAW's website.

Picking up the OWC and trailer does require access to a vehicle that can tow more than 1,150 pounds. Reservations are recommended a week or two in advance for the best chance of securing one when needed. The OWC can be kept for up to two weeks, as long as no others are waiting to use the same chair. No special permits are required to use these devices on DNR lands.

Accessible Cabins And Permits

In addition to adaptive equipment, the DNR provides 10 accessible cabins at select state parks and forests, including eight large cabins and two smaller, rustic cabins. For those who would prefer to camp in a tent or RV, the DNR also offers accessible campsites at every state park and forest.

Also, hunters with certain physical disabilities are allowed special permits, such as shooting from a motor vehicle. Some Wisconsin residents with disabilities are also eligible for a discount on their annual fishing licenses. And, since the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), every fishing pier the DNR builds is accessible to people with disabilities.

Learn more about recreation options for individuals with disabilities and view adaptive equipment options at state properties on the DNR's website.