DNR OUTDOOR REPORT OF 3-12-2019 PART 2

Black bear management plan open for public comment beginning March 25

Contact(s): Scott Walter, DNR large carnivore specialist, 608-279-5250

MADISON – Wisconsin wildlife officials will accept public input on a revision to Wisconsin’s black bear management plan beginning March 25.

A revised the plan to outline objectives and strategies to guide black bear management in the state from 2019-2029 will be available for comment beginning March 25.Photo credit: DNR

The Department of Natural Resources has revised the plan to outline objectives and strategies to guide black bear management in the state from 2019-2029. The plan will be available for public comment at dnr.wi.gov, keyword “bear” from March 25 through April 14.

DNR staff will present the plan at six informational sessions around the state. Each meeting will run from 7-9 p.m. – dates and locations are as follows:

• Monday, March 25, Waukesha – Room 101, Commons Building, UW Milwaukee-Waukesha, 1500 N University Dr.;
• Tuesday, March 26, Richland Center – Pippin Room, Melvill Hall, UW Platteville-Richland, 1200 Hwy. 14 West;
• Wednesday, March 27, Black River Falls – Great Room, Lunda Community Center, 405 Hwy 54 West;
• Monday, April 1, Rice Lake – 236 Ritzinger Hall, UW Eau Claire-Barron County, 1800 College Dr.;
• Tuesday, April 2, Wausau – Room 180 Main Building, UW Stevens Point- Wausau, 518 S Seventh Ave.;
• Wednesday, April 3, Woodruff – Woodruff Community Center, 1418 First Ave.

“There’s likely no wildlife species more emblematic of our northern forests,” noted Scott Walter, DNR Large Carnivore Specialist. “The management plan emphasizes the science-based approach to managing our state’s black bear population and will also address current issues such as range expansion into southern counties, agricultural damage, and hunting opportunity. Given the ecological importance of black bears and their direct relevance to so many people, we’re excited to get this plan into the hands of the public.”

To learn more about black bears in Wisconsin, search keyword “bear.”

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DNR reports 1.9 trillion gallons of water pumped in Wisconsin in 2017

Contact(s): Bob Smail (608) 267-4581; Adam Freihoefer (608) 267-7638

MADISON — Wisconsin cities, businesses, industries and agricultural operations were among the state’s largest users of water in 2017, pumping more than 1.9 trillion gallons of groundwater and surface water, according to a Department of Natural Resources report.

The state’s sixth annual water use report tallies how many gallons were pumped by municipal water systems, agricultural operations, utilities and other sources that have the capacity to pump more than 100,000 gallons of water a day from groundwater or from lakes or rivers.

Of the total groundwater and surface water use in 2017, 77 percent was for power generation, according to the report. Overall water use in Wisconsin was four percent higher in 2017 than in 2016 due to an increase in power generation and municipal water supply use.

Wisconsin’s water use reporting requirements are part of the Great Lakes Compact, a 10-year-old agreement between the Great Lakes states and Canadian provinces to collectively manage water quantity in the Great Lakes basin.

“One of the successes of the Compact has been the ability to track water withdrawals throughout Wisconsin and the Great Lakes Region, improving our understanding of water use across the region and its impact on the Great Lakes”, says Adam Freihoefer, DNR water use section chief. In 2017, Wisconsin achieved a 96 percent reporting rate from the 14,300 registered water withdrawal sources with 78 percent reporting online.

More information and the complete 2017 Water Use Report [PDF] can be found at dnr.wi.gov, search “water use.”