To: Horicon Marsh Management Committee
Members
From: Andy Nelson, Area Wildlife Supervisor
Subject: June 03, 2003 Meeting Minutes
It was good to see such a nice crowd
on this fine summer’s evening.
As a result of our great attendance,
the June meeting produced some great
discussion and meaningful progress on
project planning. Here are the highlights:
WATER LEVELS
Main Pool is on its way down. Goal
is 74.0, we are now at 74.4. Removed
boards from I1 impoundment for summer
drawdown. A board failed at I2 impoundment,
as a result water is also down.
Bachhuber Dike:
We have installed a lot of rock (rip
rap) and improved the surface for walking
with gravel. The funds for this come
from a road grading project fund that
is about to expire, plus an additional
gift from the Bachhuber Foundation.
Total project costs are about $40,000.
Redhead Impoundment:
Project to upgrade for northern pike
rearing will happen later this summer.
Alto Dairy Status:
Compliance with phosphorous discharge
limits is underway. Need to be down
to 2 or 3 parts per million. This will
be down from old level of over 50 ppm.
New concern for locals is that plant
may be closed due to adverse economic
conditions.
Neighbor Relations & Water
Water levels are up adjacent to Dobberpuhl
and Miescke properties. Problem is caused
by poor drainage near Koch’s Island.
As a result, water impacts on/near neighbors
farmland. Andy is taking actions to
solve problems to satisfaction of neighbors.
State Budgets
Meetings today regarding layoffs; 5
in South Central Region, 115 in agency.
Unspecified further reductions; estimated
6 to 10 in wildlife, 11 wardens, 10-20
fisheries are possible due to rising
program costs and flat income. Bureau
of WM is forecasting a 70% field operation
budget reduction within the next 2 years.
Possible long term program changes
include: ending pheasant stocking and
lease program, ending private land wildlife
management services, suspending habitat
restoration, reducing wildlife education,
suspending water management on big marshes,
etc. Basically everything on the table
for cuts.
Fish & Wildlife Staff
Wendy Woyczik was introduced as the
new Horicon NWR Biologist. She hales
from Caladonia, MN with graduate degree.
Worked with USFWS Leopold Management
and DNR GHRA program. She will take
Diane Pentilla’s position at the
refuge.
Sean Papon is from Hartner, KS. Working
at Fox River Refuge. Master’s
in Missouri.
Marsh Master
WDNR may have less opportunity to borrow
this machine from USFWS for burning
due to administrative differences at
higher levels. As a result, Andy is
pursuing alternative means to safely
complete this work.
Grants Update
NAWCA grant is still pending. We fared
very well in the ranking process, scoring
a 70. This is one of the best scores
in the nation. The outcome of the application
will become known in late summer. If
approved, it will bring over $700,000
to Horicon.
Andy also applied for grant through
Migratory bird conservancy. This matching
grant would be used to complete the
cattail spray components of pothole
restoration. Grant outcome will be known
in mid-July. If approved, the grant
would bring up to $90,000. Concern for
budget and project funding from the
Committee generated idea of charging
for launch fees. Andy thinks may be
possible to install donation box. Mandatory
charge not possible.
Cattail Control:
Recap on Summer draw down, burn in mid
July consume most of cattails, regrow
within couple of weeks, third week of
August spray with Rodeo, bring water
up in the fall.
Andy warned that this project will
not be 100% effective because some areas
can’t get wet, etc. However, chances
of modest success are good. Budget is
$22,000 for project. With these funds
we can do about 335 acres. Goal is up
to 700 acres. Andy will attempt to creatively
supplement this budget as much as possible.
Project costs are $25/acre for chopper
and about $40 for herbicide.
To facilitate project planning and
site selection, Andy put on a slide
show using historic aerial photos to
illustrate where opening used to exist.
Through discussion, the group selected
4 areas totaling up to 700 acres as
suitable for treatment. These include
the central portion of the marsh between
Miescke bay and the Main Ditch, section
north of Burnett Ditch, bounded by old
River and Main Ditch, an 80 acre section
lying south of Malzahn’s Bay,
and the area west of Cotton Island out
to Stoney bay.
Much discussion surrounded selecting
spray area size. In the end we opted
for large blocks of 80 – 250 acres
to minimize the edge effect and have
a more dramatic impact. This concept
was unanimously endorsed amid a chorus
of “Burn it!” Our only caveat
is that we will buffer treatment zones
with live areas to prevent cattails
drifting and going down dam.
September is deadline for Stewardship
Grant applications. This is a matching
grant for up to $20,000. If anyone knows
of a private partner who would like
to double their money for a Marsh project,
please see Andy!
Finally, Andy mentioned a growing need
to address public use on the hiking
trail system and dikes. Specific concerns
include dogs and potential conflicts
between hunting and hikers. This will
be discussed more in coming months.
Future Meetings Schedule (Tentative)
July 8, 2003 Tuesday
August 12, 2003 Tuesday
September 9, 2003 Tuesday
October 1, 2003 Wednesday
Our next meeting will be on Tuesday
July 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the DNR Service
Center. Our agenda will include:
Management Updates
What is going on in other 2/3 of the
marsh? NWR updates
Clark Ditch habitat project possibilities
Quick’s Point and One Mile Timber
Sales
Fall Trapping Preview
Many Thanks to Cheryl Kakatsch for
taking these notes and bringing treats
to our meeting. Cheryl has also graciously
volunteered to bring treats in July.
Please consider taking a turn at providing
the hospitality at our August meeting!
I hope to see you and at least one
of your buddies on July 8!
Attendance (6/3/03)
Peter Ziegler Terry Vrana
Dennis Fruehauf Noel Nogalski
Cliff Bertling Stuart Wellnitz
R. Miescke Craig McKinney
Wayne Bandler Jim Reinhard
Norman Langlois Chuck Dodge
Andy Johnson Todd Cook
Cheryl Kakatsch Shawn Papon
Wendy Woyczik Diane Kitchen
Ken Byrne Pat Byrne
Gerald Voy Barbara M. Dutkiewicz
Russ Sobczyk Keith White
Ed Mieschke Dean Schaffer
Mark Kakatsch Andy Nelson
