Tag Archives: dnr

Gov. Scott Walker and Republican lawmakers are relaxing environmental regulations including laws governing iron mining and building on wetlands. In Gov. Walker’s 2015–17 budget, released in February, he proposed eliminating a third of the Department of Natural Resource scientists and 60 percent of its environmental educator positions. The cuts were approved by the state legislature’s budget committee in May, and ... Read More »

On Oct. 25, the Department of Natural Resources’ board eliminated previously set guidelines for establishing elk hunting seasons in Wisconsin, in favor of less arbitrary rules and more flexibility. Prior to the change, elk herds in Wisconsin had to reach a specific population before harvesting permits could be issued. Additionally, permits would have had to have been issued for five ... Read More »

The recently passed 2017-2019 biennial budget for Wisconsin included a statutory change which eliminates the need for hunters to use deer and turkey carcass tags. “The main message is you do not need to validate and attach a carcass tag, you still need to carry proof that you have a tag, or license, or authorization to hunt deer where you ... Read More »

The Senate Bill 459 was introduced to Wisconsin State Legislators on Oct. 18, 2017. The bill was authored by Sen. Duey Stroebel who is also the chair of the Senate Committee on Government Operations, Technology and Consumer Protection where the bill is currently up for discussion. Other authors include Senators Craig, Nass and Kapenga. Michael Tapia, junior political science major, ... Read More »

The Public Service Commission has approved a $15 million grant for the construction of a bioenergy system in Brown County. The system will produce renewable natural gas from dairy-farm manure and other waste, reducing the need to spread raw manure and protecting supplies of groundwater and surface water in northeast Wisconsin, according to a news release. BC Organics’ bioenergy project ... Read More »

A University of Wisconsin-Madison veterinarian has advised hunters to get their harvested deer tested for Chronic Wasting Disease. Currently, Portage County has positive cases of CWD for both wild and captive habitats, increasing the need for hunters to be aware of the disease. While it is still in the peer-review process, a Canadian abstract study found that some primates have ... Read More »

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary, Cathy Stepp has accepted the position of deputy administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency. Cathy Stepp, a former Republican state senator, served as the DNR secretary since 2011 being the first woman to hold the position. Prior to that, she represented the state’s 21st Senate District as a Republican from 2003-2007. Stepp will be ... Read More »

There was a manure spill six miles south of Manitowoc  on Aug. 7 which went into Pine Creek, and Hochkammer Dairy is being held responsible. Kevin Erb, Conservation Professional Training Program Director for the University of Wisconsin-Extension, coordinates professional training in the areas of water quality and manure management, among others. Erb said, “Manure containers are generally made from steel ... Read More »

A bill is being discussed in Wisconsin legislature that would pave the way for new mining operations. Environmental activists oppose the bill. The bill was introduced by Sen. Tom Tiffany and Rep. Rob Hutton of Hazelhurst and Brookfield, respectively. If passed, it would remove a 20 year old moratorium on sulfide mining. Amber Meyer Smith, Director of Programs and Government ... Read More »

This July, 31 elk were released near Clam Lake, Wisconsin for the first time in more than 20 years. The recent elk release is part of an effort which began in 1995 to reestablish elk in the region. European settlement drove elk from the state in the 1800s through over-hunting and habitat loss. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources believes ... Read More »