DNR Spring Hearings/Conservation Congress Annual County Meetings April 8

Manitowoc County Annual Fish and Wildlife Public Meeting April 8.

Wisconsin residents will be able to nominate and elect local representatives to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress and express support or non-support for a range of proposed rule changes and advisory questions on natural resources management issues at the DNR Spring Hearings and Conservation Congress’ Annual County Meetings held in every county of the state on Monday, April 8 starting at 7 p.m.

This year’s Spring Hearings will offer additional opportunity for the public to weigh in. The DNR and WCC will provide an online option for input for those people who aren’t able to attend a hearing in person or for those who’d rather provide input at the hearing using their smart phone. For security, and to ensure the integrity of the results, individuals will be required to sign in to use the online version, just as they do in person.

The online version of the Spring Hearing questionnaire will be posted on the Spring Hearing website (dnr.wi.gov search “spring hearings”). The input form will go live at 7:00 pm on April 8 and remain open until 7:00 pm on April 11.

The county meetings are held jointly with the Department of Natural Resources Spring Hearings. The Wisconsin Conservation Congress is a statutorily established advisory group to the state Natural Resources Board (NRB).

“The joint DNR and Conservation Congress annual meeting for Manitowoc County will be held at the UW Manitowoc, in Manitowoc,” said Larry Bonde, chair of the Manitowoc County delegation.

At the meeting, citizens will have the opportunity to comment and provide input on Congress proposals that could someday become the rules that regulate fishing, hunting, trapping and other outdoor recreation activities in Wisconsin. They may also submit resolutions addressing conservation needs or concerns they observe.

“Citizens have the opportunity to weigh in on natural resources issues that may affect them. The Congress asks these questions to gauge the public’s support, or lack thereof, on any given issue,” said Bonde.

Results of the public’s input on these proposals will be presented to the Natural Resources Board in May 2019. If there is support for a proposal, the advisory question could become a DNR rule change proposal in following years.

This year the Conservation Congress will seek public input on 39 advisory questions on a range of topics, some of which include:

a proposal to designate the hickory nut as the Wisconsin state nut;
a proposal to remove the 36-inch size limit on sturgeon during spearing season;
a proposal to require pheasant, grouse and quail hunters to wear blaze orange or pink;
Reduce the bag limit of walleye from 5 to 3 on the Lake Winnebago system;

“Conservation Congress advisory questions generally originate from citizens’ ideas.” said Larry Bonde, Chairman of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress. “If resolutions presented at the county level meetings are supported, the resolution is advanced to one of the Congress’ advisory committees and the District Leadership Council for consideration.

“Last year, there were over 300 resolutions submitted locally. Not all resolutions pass, but the ones that do have the potential to become a rule, policy or legislative change in the subsequent years,” Bonde said. “It is a true grassroots process that empowers the citizens of this state to shape natural resources policy.”

Anyone submitting resolutions must submit two copies of their resolution typed on 8-1/2 by 11-inch white paper. Resolution writing instructions and a template for writing a resolution are available online at http://dnr.wi.gov/About/WCC/springhearing.html

In addition to the Congress advisory questions, the county meeting is also reserved for the election of delegates to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress. To vote for Congress delegates, one must be 18 years old, provide identification along with proof of residency in the county, and attend the spring hearing in person.

“There will be two seats up for election, in Manitowoc County in 2019,” stated Bonde ” Any citizen of the county, who is a Wisconsin resident and is at least 18 years of age may be nominated to the Congress for a two or three-year term. Nominees must be willing to volunteer their time and represent their local citizens on natural resource issues.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Bonde, (920) 286 – 3327.

DNR Spring Hearings/Conservation Congress Annual County Meetings April 8