In the course of a few days early next month, citizens in Minnesota and Wisconsin will have the opportunity to show support for St. Croix River stewardship, and other critical issues connected to clean water and healthy habitat.
See below for details on the 85th annual spring hearings for the Wisconsin Conservation Congress scattered all over the state, and the second annual Minnesota Water Action Day in St. Paul.
Wisconsin Conservation Congress public hearings
Via the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
On Monday, April 8, there will be 72 public hearings, one in each county starting at 7:00 p.m. where individuals interested in natural resources management have an opportunity to provide their input and testimony to the Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) on proposed rule changes and advisory questions relating to fish and wildlife managemen in Wisconsin.
Monday, April 8,
Locations in all 72 counties (see below for local list)
Advisory question topics include:
- Stream setbacks for agriculture fields
- Duck hunting bag limits
- Restored funding for public lands
- Invasive species management
- Trapping rules for otters and beaver
- Bass fishing season and regulations
- An extended muskie fishing season
- Banning lead ammunition — a source of lead poisoning for more than 130 species of birds and wildlife, (Editor’s Note: including the St. Croix River’s trumpeter swans).
County residents have the option to run for a seat on the Conservation Congress and to elect delegates from their county to represent their county views regarding natural resources on the Conservation Congress.
The Wisconsin Conservation Congress is the only statutory body in the state where citizens elect delegates to advise the Natural Resources Board and the Department of Natural Resources on how to responsibly manage Wisconsin’s natural resources for present and future generations. The Congress accomplishes this through open, impartial, broad-ranged actions.
Also, individuals have the opportunity to bring forth new conservation issues of a statewide nature to the attention of the Conservation Congress through the citizen resolution process.
St. Croix River region locations
- Barron County
- Barron County Government Center, 335 E. Monroe Avenue, Barron, WI 54812
- Bayfield County
- Drummond High School, 52440 Eastern Ave, Drummond, WI 54832
- Burnett County
- Burnett County Government Center, 7410 County Highway K, Siren, WI 54872
- Douglas County
- Solon Springs School, 8993 E Baldwin Ave, Solon Springs, WI 54873
- Pierce County
- Ellsworth High School, Library (Main Entrance), 323 W Hillcrest Street, Ellsworth, WI 54011
- Polk County
- Polk Unity High School, 1908 State Highway 46, Balsam Lake, WI 54810
- Sawyer County
- Hayward High School, Auditorium, 10320 N Greenwood Lane, Hayward, WI 54843
- St. Croix County
- Saint Croix Central High School, Commons, 1751 Broadway Street, Hammond, WI 54015
Online option
For the first time ever, the Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Conservation Congress will be providing an opportunity for the public to weigh-in on the Spring Hearing questions through an online option. The election of WCC delegates and input on citizen introduced resolutions will remain unchanged and will require in-person participation.
Individuals who are unable to attend a Spring Hearing in person can provide input through the online version. This input will be compiled and considered with the overall input but will be separate from the county-specific (in-person) input.
The online input option will be provided through a link that will be posted on this page and will go live at 7:00 p.m. on April 8. The online version will remain open for three days (72 hours).
Individuals in attendance at the Spring Hearings can choose to fill out the paper input form the night of the hearing or take a random verifiable number that can be submitted through the online system. The random verifiable number will allow an individual’s input to be tallied along with the input provided by in-person attendees in the county in which they attended.
Minnesota Water Action Day 2019
Via the Water Action Day coalition:
Wednesday, April 10
Minnesota State Capitol & Christ Lutheran Church
105 University Ave W., St. Paul, MN 55103
Join us for the Third Annual Water Action Day, Minnesota’s day to let our lawmakers know we care about our water!
This event will include a free breakfast followed by briefings from experts on policy goals and trainings on how to influence your legislators.
Throughout the day, participants can attend group meetings with their legislators, participate in a youth summit, attend important hearings on our bills, and join in the #ProtectOurWater rally in the Capitol Rotunda.
Other activities include free breakfast and lunch, lobbying training, policy briefings, meetings with legislators, and happy hour at a nearby brewery.
Come for all or part of the day!
Busses are available to bring Minnesotans from around the state, including from Austin, Houston, Montevideo, Bemidji, and Duluth.
