The Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will once again offer their annual opportunity for the public to provide input on a variety of natural resource-related questions with an in-person opportunity April 8, 2024, at 6 p.m. (which will be over by the time you read this) but in case you miss the in-person meeting, you can vote online starting at noon April 10 to noon on April 13, 2024.
Respondents need only answer questions that pertain to their interests. Not all questions need to be answered. With the online option available starting on April 10 at noon, it is quick and easy for stakeholders to weigh in on these questions, as well as any other in which they may have a stake.
To vote, go the website listed below and follow the voting instructions. https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/about/wcc/springhearing
I had a chance to look at the questions that will be presented and I’ve included some that may be of interest to citizens of Forest County and the Northwoods:
2. Do you favor changing the statewide general open season for trout and salmon in inland streams, springs, and spring ponds to the first Saturday in April at 5 a.m. through October 15?
4. Do you favor allowing trolling with 3 “lines” (i.e., hook, bait, or lure) per angler on all inland waters of Wisconsin?
8. Do you support allowing hunters who quarter their deer in the field to leave non-edible parts at the site of harvest?
16. Do you support making it illegal to use submerged artificial light sources for the intent of attracting and schooling fish and other aquatic life in Wisconsin waters for the purposes of fishing?
22. Would you support banning the use of live scopes, and similar 360° imaging electronics in all Wisconsin waters?
24. Would you support a 10 panfish aggregate bag limit for panfish, but only 5 may be crappie for the DNR’s toolbox?
26. Would you support the Conservation Congress working with the state legislature to designate the monarch butterfly as the Wisconsin state butterfly?
29. Would you support eliminating lead, statewide, from firearm ammunition used for hunting by 2030?
31. Do you support the DNR and other conservation groups creating an awareness campaign focused on the adverse impact outdoor cats have on Wisconsin’s wild bird populations?
32. Would you support the WCC and legislature creating a new statute that prohibits the use of wake boat ballast systems on Wisconsin’s lakes and rivers?
33. Should the Legislature, the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Health develop and enact protective limitations on PFAS compounds for acute and chronic toxicity in surface water, wildlife health, groundwater, fish consumption, and human health?
42. Would you support regulations by DNR to require that all ballast systems used in boats shall have a reasonable practical means of inspecting the system to confirm that no water is retained in the system (tanks, piping, valves, etc.)?
43. Would you support the WCC and legislature modifying existing statutes to prohibit generation of intentionally magnified wakes for wake surfing through the use of ballast, design features, operational procedures or any other means on lakes smaller than 1500 acres and less than 20 feet deep and maintain a distance from shore and other lake users of 700 feet?
There are 49 total questions presented to the Congress this year. I’ve only listed a few of them. Once again, if you missed the County meeting on Monday, April 8th, you can vote online beginning at noon April 10 to noon on April 13, 2024. To vote, go the website listed below and follow the voting instructions. https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/about/wcc/springhearing
YOUR VOTE MATTERS
For more information contact Steve Kircher, County Conservationist-Land Information/GIS Director at 715-478-1387 or by e-mail at .