June 8, 2012

New Natural Resource Measures in Place

Wisconsin is a state bursting with natural beauty.  With its 15,000 named lakes, 44,000 miles of streams and rivers, rolling hills, forests, glacier trails, and an abundance of greenery, the beauty of our state surrounds us wherever we go.  This past session, the Legislature advanced a number of natural resources bills, which both protect those resources and enhance the rights of sportsmen and women across the state. 

In my role as Chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee during the 2011-12 session, I was involved in several such bills, including legislation to change the makeup of the Natural Resources Board, another to allow the use of a crossbow for fishing of rough fish, voluntary donations for habitat management and protection, groundwater quality protection, and a comprehensive sporting heritage bill to create incentives for hunter retention and recruitment in Wisconsin.

Assembly Bill 104 changes the membership of the Natural Resources Board to ensure both agricultural and sportsmen’s interests are represented.  Under prior law, the members of the Board were not required to have any experience or background in natural resources issues.  Since the Board makes decisions which impact agricultural interests, as well as hunting, fishing, trapping, it makes sense some Board members have specific qualifications for each of those activities.  AB 104 does so and was signed into law as 2011 Wisconsin Act 149. 

Assembly Bill 377 allows the use of a crossbow for fishing of rough fish, and updates the statutory definition of rough fish to include Asian Carp.  It is currently legal to use both a bow and arrow and a spear gun for rough fish; this bill adds crossbows for this type of fishing.  While anyone would be allowed to use a crossbow, the bill would be a benefit to an angler with a physical disability that may prevent him or her from using a bow and arrow.  AB 377 was signed into law as 2011 Wisconsin Act 180. 

Retaining and recruiting sportsmen and women is vital to the long-term success of Wisconsin’s hunting heritage.  The Legislature recognized that through the adoption of a bill with the goal of promoting the sport and creating incentives to bring new hunters in.  Assembly Bill 311 reduces fees for a variety of outdoor activities for new hunters, anglers, or trappers, establishes new permits for disabled outdoor enthusiasts, and creates a Sporting Heritage Council to discuss natural resources issues and make recommendations to the Governor and Legislature of additional ideas and incentives.  The bill was signed into law as 2011 Wisconsin Act 168. 

Senate Bill 441 allows the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to accept small voluntary contributions when fees are charged for hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses, snowmobile licenses, all-terrain vehicle and boat registrations, and state park vehicle admission receipts. Those contributions to the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin will be used for an endowment program supporting habitat management activities on land owned or managed by the state.  SB 441 was signed into law as 2011 Wisconsin Act 148. 

In addition to those sporting bills, I co-authored Senate Bill 156 to establish licensing requirements for drillers of heat exchange drill holes and provide the DNR the authority to regulate drill holes used for geothermal heat exchange.  The bill builds on the 2005 Groundwater Quality Protection law I authored, and ensures geothermal well drilling is done by qualified individuals.  SB 156 was signed into law as 2011 Wisconsin Act 150.

An additional environmental protection bill, Senate Bill 557, has the goal of providing cleaner water to Wisconsin residents.  SB 557 enhances water quality standards, gives local units of government flexibility in maintaining pollution standards, and saves taxpayers money by reducing the need for overly expensive facility upgrades for point source pollution.  SB 557 is an expansion of a successful pilot program dating back to the late 1990s and will help to improve water quality in Wisconsin by ensuring the fastest and most cost-effective methods are used to reduce water pollution.  SB 557 was signed into law as 2011 Wisconsin Act 151.

Summer is a great opportunity to take advantage of all the natural beauty Wisconsin has to offer.  Both the Department of Natural Resources and Department of Tourism provide a variety of information on their Web sites if you and your family are considering getting out there.  Simply go to dnr.wi.gov or www.travelwisconsin.com and see what awaits you this summer in Wisconsin’s great outdoors!

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Sen. Kedzie can be reached in Madison at P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882 or by calling toll-free 1 (800) 578-1457.  He may be reached in the district at (262) 742-2025 or on-line at www.senatorkedzie.com