Land Conservation & Forest Management Committee - Regular Meeting — Agenda Packet

Chippewa County Land Conservation & Forest Management Committee Regular Meeting September 16, 2026 Chippewa County Courthouse, Room 302 12:00 PM Charles Bomar, Chair District 12 Matthew Peterson, Vice-Chair District 10 District 1 James Flater District 9 Joel Seidlitz District 20 Nina Eisold District 16 Rocky Kempe Citizen Rep Ken Schmitt Page 1 of 53 Chippewa County Land Conservation & Forest Management Committee Regular Meeting September 16, 2026 Chippewa County Courthouse, Room 302 12:00 PM 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Members of the Public Wishing to Be Heard (Comments will be limited to 5 minutes per speaker.) 4. Consent Agenda (Unless separation of an item is requested, all items will be adopted under one motion.) 1. Approve the Agenda 2. Approve the Minutes - July 15, 2026 3. Schedule Next Meeting Date - October 21, 2026 5. Reports 1. Chippewa County Annual Well Testing Update Presentation - Cayla Cavey, UW-Stevens Point 6. Business Items 1. Elect an LCFM Committee Member to Sit on the WI Land and Water (WLW) West Central Area Association Board - Lynda Schweikert 2. Deadline for 2026 Wildlife Crop Damage Assessment in Chippewa County - Nicole Luoma, MRP-APHIS 3. 2026 Commodity Price Approvals - Nicole Luoma - MRP-APHIS 4. Horse Trail Extension to Rock Lake - Matt Hansen 7. Agenda Items for Future Consideration 8. Adjourn Chippewa County shall attempt to provide reasonable special accommodations to the public for access to its public meetings, provided reasonable notice of special need is given. If special accommodations for a meeting are desired, contact the County Clerk’s Office at 715-726- 7980. Members of the Chippewa County Board of Supervisors who are not members of this committee are entitled to attend this meeting. It is possible that the attendance of one or more such nonmember Supervisors may create a quorum of some other county board committee, board or commission. Such a quorum is unintended and the nonmember Supervisors are not meeting for the purpose of exercising the responsibility, authority, power, or duties of any other committee, board or commission. Published: September 10, 2026 Page 2 of 53 Page 3 of 53 Page 4 of 53 Page 5 of 53 Page 6 of 53 Page 7 of 53 Statement of Explanation Chippewa County Annual Well Testing Update Presentation - Cayla Cavey, UW-Stevens Point 1 Cayla Cavey, Groundwater Education Specialist with UW-Extension in the College of 2 Natural Resources at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, will review past groundwater 3 sampling events and provide an update on current contracted studies. Page 8 of 53 Chippewa County Well Water Monitoring Program: Seven rounds of well water monitoring success Through Extension, all Wisconsin people can access University resources and engage in lifelong learning, wherever they live and work. The Center is a partnership between the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension. Page 9 of 53 Looking ahead Results overview Groundwater basics Project review Today’s presentation 2 Page 10 of 53 Project history Project review Foundation Extensive private well testing history: 1985 (715 wells) 2007 (800 wells) 2016 (744 wells) • UW-Stevens Point & UW-Madison Division of Extension’s Center for Watershed Science and Education collaboration Development July 2019: Collaboration with UW-Stevens Point & UW-Madison Division of Extension’s Center for Watershed Science and Education to test a subset of Chippewa County private wells as part of a long-term monitoring network. Facilitation Extension Chippewa County Chippewa County Chippewa County Health Department Chippewa County Land Conservation and Forest Management Goals 1. To understand changes to well water quality over time 2. To effectively target management (data- driven decisions) 3. To focus public health outreach efforts related to groundwater and private well owners 3 Page 11 of 53 5.1 6.5 0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0 14.0 10/1/25 10/1/26 10/1/27 9/30/28 9/30/29 Increasing…or? Groundwater quality trend data Project review 4 Page 12 of 53 Testing the same wells over multiple years 5.1 6.5 5.5 6 5.9 0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0 14.0 10/1/25 10/1/26 10/1/27 9/30/28 9/30/29 Staying the same? Minimum of 5 years to represent a trend More years = more information Groundwater quality trend data Project review 5 Page 13 of 53 • Testing the same wells over multiple years • Wells representative of diverse geology and land use • Known well construction information • The same wells are sampled every year Groundwater quality trend data Project review • Where is groundwater quality changing? How is it changing? • How many wells? • Why is groundwater quality changing? 6 Page 14 of 53 7 Project review Project timeline 2019 155 samples 2020 164 samples 2021 151 samples 2022 292 samples 2023 229 samples 2024 189 samples 2025 175 samples 2026 Year 8 2027 Year 9 Project extended another two years by the Chippewa County Board Page 15 of 53 Tests performed Project review • Useful for understanding land-use impacts on groundwater Nitrate/chloride • Overall water quality, combination of both land- use, rocks, and soils Conductivity • Help us understand how rocks and soils impact groundwater Total hardness, alkalinity, pH 8 Page 16 of 53 • Interactive tool for viewing project results • View changes in groundwater quality over time • Individual wells and municipalities Water Quality: • Nitrate-Nitrogen • Alkalinity • Chloride • Conductivity • pH • Total Hardness http://68.183.123.75/wisconsinwater/County-Apps/Chippewa/ Chippewa County water quality dashboard Project review Page 17 of 53 Land use and well construction: • Percent Row Crops • Percent Dairy Rotation • Percent Hay/Pasture • Percent All Agriculture • Soil Drainage Rank • Casing Below Water Table Chippewa County water quality dashboard Project review Page 18 of 53 Groundwater and Chippewa County Today’s presentation 11 Page 19 of 53 What is groundwater? Geologic materials: Gravel Sand Silt Clay Rocks of varying types United States Geological Survey Water that exists underground and fills the spaces (pores and fractures) in underground materials 12 Groundwater and Chippewa County Page 20 of 53 Chippewa County water table elevation 13 Groundwater and Chippewa County https://wgnhs.wisc.edu/catalog/publication/000408/resource/m096/view/57d98ce7-a181-4201-bb33-ffec5fcf30ed Page 21 of 53 Geologic formations that store and transmit groundwater Aquifer properties determine how quickly groundwater flows, how much water an aquifer can hold and how easily groundwater can become contaminated. Some aquifers may also contain naturally occurring elements that make water unsafe. United States Geological Survey 14 What is an aquifer? Groundwater and Chippewa County Page 22 of 53 Diagrams courtesy of WGNHS 15 Wisconsin aquifers Groundwater and Chippewa County Eastern Dolomite Only present in eastern WI Characteristic cracks and fractures Sand and gravel Youngest Deposited by melting glaciers Present at or near the surface More vulnerable to contamination Varies in depth and distribution Sandstone and Dolomite Not present in north central WI Primary groundwater source for much of WI Crystalline bedrock Oldest “Foundation” of the entire state Does not store or transmit water well Page 23 of 53 Chippewa County bedrock 16 Groundwater and Chippewa County https://wi.water.usgs.gov/gwcomp/find/chippewa/susceptibility.html https://home.wgnhs.wisc.edu/water/ wisconsin-aquifers/understanding- porosity-density/ Page 24 of 53 Chippewa County depth to bedrock 17 Groundwater and Chippewa County https://wi.water.usgs.gov/gwcomp/find/chippewa/susceptibility.html Page 25 of 53 Green – Sandstone Light Blue – Unconsolidated Purple – Unknown 18 Uppermost bedrock unit Groundwater and Chippewa County http://68.183.123.75/wisconsinwater/County-Apps/Chippewa/ Page 26 of 53 19 Soil drainage Groundwater and Chippewa County http://68.183.123.75/wisconsinwater/County-Apps/Chippewa/ Page 27 of 53 20 Soil drainage within 500-meter radius of well Groundwater and Chippewa County Page 28 of 53 21 Percent agricultural land cover within 500-meter radius Groundwater and Chippewa County http://68.183.123.75/wisconsinwater/County-Apps/Chippewa/ Page 29 of 53 Results overview Today’s presentation 22 Page 30 of 53 Sources • Agricultural fertilizer • Animal waste or other bio-solids • Septic systems • Lawn fertilizer Health effects • Infants less than 6 months • Methemoglobinemia (blue baby disease) • Women who are or may become pregnant • Possible links to birth defects and miscarriages (humans and livestock) • Everyone • Thyroid disease • Increased risk of certain types of cancers Greater than 10 mg/L: Exceeds state and federal limits for drinking water Between 2 and 10 mg/L: Some human impact present Less than 2 mg/L: Transitional Less than 0.2 mg/L: Natural 23 Nitrate-nitrogen Project results Page 31 of 53 24 Nitrate-nitrogen results Project results 2025 Nitrate-N (mg/L) Average 6.3 Median 5.2 Minimum <0.1 Maximum 28.0 Greater than 10 26% Less than 2 26% N 174 Page 32 of 53 25 Nitrate-nitrogen results Project results 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Nitrate-N (mg/L) Average 4.8 4.8 4.8 6.2 5.9 6.1 6.3 Median 4.0 3.4 3.2 5.0 4.8 5.1 5.2 Minimum <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 Maximum 21.1 19.2 19 28.8 22.5 25.1 28.0 Greater than 10 16% 17% 13% 23% 18% 23% 26% Less than 2 34% 40% 38% 28% 27% 28% 26% N 155 164 151 292 229 189 174 Page 33 of 53 26 Nitrate-nitrogen results Project results Page 34 of 53 Sources Fertilizers / Septic Systems / Road Salt Less than 10 mg/l considered “natural” in much of WI Greater than 10 mg/l may indicate human impact Greater than 250 mg/l No direct effects on health Salty taste Exceeds recommended level 27 Chloride Project results Page 35 of 53 28 Chloride Project results 2025 Chloride (mg/L) Average 22.0 Median 13.7 Minimum 0.5 Maximum 159 Greater than 100 3% Less than 10 37% N 174 Page 36 of 53 29 Chloride Project results 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Chloride (mg/L) Average 25.4 23.5 24.5 24.3 23.9 20.7 22.0 Median 13.0 12.3 12.7 14.4 13.6 13.7 13.7 Minimum 0.9 0.5 0.9 0.5 0.9 0.7 0.5 Maximum 266 206 219 366 279 146 159 Greater than 100 4% 5% 5% 4% 5% 2% 3% Less than 10 40% 43% 43% 38% 37% 34% 37% N 155 164 151 292 229 189 174 Page 37 of 53 30 Chloride Project results Page 38 of 53 31 Developing a model from the data 𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝟑𝟑 − 𝐍𝐍 = 𝐆𝐆𝐆𝐆𝐆𝐆𝐆𝐆𝐆𝐆 ∗ 𝐱𝐱 + 𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂 ∗ 𝐱𝐱 + 𝐃𝐃𝐆𝐆𝐆𝐆𝐆𝐆𝐃𝐃 ∗ 𝐱𝐱 + 𝐏𝐏𝐏𝐏𝐏𝐏𝐆𝐆𝐏𝐏𝐏𝐏 ∗ 𝐱𝐱 + 𝐇𝐇𝐆𝐆𝐃𝐃 ∗ 𝐱𝐱 + 𝐃𝐃𝐆𝐆𝐆𝐆𝐆𝐆𝐆𝐆𝐆𝐆𝐃𝐃𝐃𝐃 𝐑𝐑𝐆𝐆𝐆𝐆𝐑𝐑 ∗ 𝐱𝐱 +𝐛𝐛 Apply model to larger areas Project results Page 39 of 53 32 Nitrate and chloride risk models Project results Page 40 of 53 33 Nitrate-nitrogen trends Project results Increasing 16% Decreasing 4% No change 80% Page 41 of 53 34 Chloride trends Project results Increasing 22% Decreasing 2% No change 76% Page 42 of 53 Looking ahead 35 Page 43 of 53 36 Looking ahead Two additional years (2026 and 2027) of well testing Effectively target management Focus public health outreach efforts related to groundwater and private well owners Prioritize and encourage testing efforts in predicted hot spots Looking ahead Page 44 of 53 Contact Info: Cayla Cavey 800 Reserve St. Stevens Point, WI 54481 715-346-2229 ccavey@uwsp.edu www.uwsp.edu/cnr/watersheds Thank you! Page 45 of 53 Statement of Explanation Elect an LCFM Committee Member to Sit on the WI Land and Water (WLW) West Central Area Association Board - Lynda Schweikert 1 The West Central Area Land & Water Conservation Association shall be governed by two 2 appointed officers by each member county following April County Board elections and 3 reorganization, and prior to the Area Reorgnizational Meeting. For each member county, the 4 Land Conservation Committee shall appoint one committee member and the conservation 5 department shall appoint one staff person to serve. The per diem and mileage for the 6 Wisconsin Land & Water meetings will come out of the County Board budget. Page 46 of 53 Statement of Explanation Deadline for 2026 Wildlife Crop Damage Assessment in Chippewa County - Nicole Luoma, MRP-APHIS 1 Wisconsin has a program that assists farmers when wildlife damages their agricultural 2 crops. The Wildlife Damage Abatement and Claims Program (WDACP) provides damage 3 prevention assistance and partial compensation to farmers when wild deer, elk, bear, geese and 4 turkeys damage their agricultural crops. Each year the County agrees to establish a date when 5 90% of the crops have been harvested in the county. 6 7 According to WI State Statute NR 12.37 Wildlife damage claims. (1)(c) Row and forage crops 8 remaining unharvested after 90% of these crops have been harvested in the county are not in 9 compliance with normal agricultural practices, as required by: 10 s.29.889(6)(dm) , Stats. Compliance with normal agricultural practices. In order to be eligible 11 for wildlife damage claim payments, a person seeking wildlife damage claim payments shall 12 have managed the seeding, crops, orchard trees, nursery stock, apiaries or livestock for which the 13 person is seeking the claim payments in accordance with normal agricultural practices. 14 15 Page 47 of 53 Wildlife Damage Abatement and Claims Program Deadline for Wildlife Crop Damage Assessments Announced In ______________ County Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 12.37(b)(c) and Wisconsin State Statute 29.889 (6) (dm) ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƚŚĞƉĂƌĂŵĞƚĞƌƐĨŽƌƐĞƚƚŝŶŐƚŚĞĚĞĂĚůŝŶĞĨŽƌǁŝůĚůŝĨĞĐƌŽƉĚĂŵĂŐĞĂƐƐĞƐƐŵĞŶƚƐ͕ĂŶĚstate the following: • Row and forage crops remaining unharvested after 90% of these crops have been harvested in the county are not eligible for wildlife damage claims. • Overwintered row crops are not eligible for wildlife damage claims. ĂƐĞĚŽŶƚŚĞĂďŽǀĞŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƚŝŽŶ,ĂŶĚ in keeping with tŝƐĐŽŶƐŝŶĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƚŝǀĞŽĚĞĂŶĚ^ƚĂƚĞ ^ƚĂƚƵƚĞ, ŝƚŝƐ proposed ƚŚĂƚ____________________, 20___ is ƚŚĞ last day that wildlife crop damage assessments can be requested for the 20___cropping year under Wisconsin's Wildlife Damage Abatement and Claims Program. Justification for proposed date:____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ 1. _______________County is declaring the proposed date as the last day that wildlife crop damage assessments can be requested for the current cropping year. OR 2. If different than the proposed date, __________County is declaring___________, 20___ as the last day that wildlife crop damage assessments can be requested for the........................................................................................................................................................................................ current cropping year under Wisconsin's Wildlife Damage Abatement and Claims Program. Justification for different date:_________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Signature: ___________________________________ Title:_______________________ Date:_________________ Publication of the ninety percent date is not required by rule, but it is in the best interest of the county to publish an announcement in a local paper or include it in public committee minutes so an enrollee can’t make the case that they weren’t notified. The county can determine how they want to set the date ;ƚŚĞĐŽƵŶƚLJŵĂLJĐŽŶƐƵůƚǁŝƚŚƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů&^ĂŶĚhtdžƚĞŶƐŝŽŶŽĨĨŝĐĞƐĨŽƌĂƐƐŝƐƚĂŶĐĞŝŶŵĂŬŝŶŐƚŚĞ ϵϬƉĞƌĐĞŶƚĚĞƚĞƌŵŝŶĂƚŝŽŶ͕ŝĨĚĞƐŝƌĞĚͿand it can be set by damage program staff or committee. 1. Projected or actual 90% harvest date:____________________ 2. First day of winter:____________________ Select One Chippewa Unavailable 12/21/2026 December 20th 26 26 Not enough information is available at this time to project the 90% harvest date. Therefore, December 20th is the proposed date, since it's the last day of fall. Chippewa Chippewa 26 Page 48 of 53 Statement of Explanation 2026 Commodity Price Approvals - Nicole Luoma - MRP-APHIS 1 Wisconsin has a program that assists farmers when wildlife damages their agricultural 2 crops. The Wildlife Damage Abatement and Claims Program (WDACP) provides damage 3 prevention assistance and partial compensation to farmers when wild deer, elk, bear, geese 4 and turkeys damage their agricultural crops. Each year the County agrees to establish crop 5 prices in accordance with the WDACP Technical Manual or approve prices as recommended by 6 APHIS-WS. 7 8 The county committee that oversees the damage program has the authority to establish crop 9 prices annually for crops that wildlife damage appraisals have been submitted. Often the 10 county damage specialist will prepare a preliminary crop price list available for the committee 11 to consider. The basic premise for crop pricing is to obtain the most accurate value for the crop 12 throughout the year that it was damaged. This price is generally obtained by averaging 13 quarterly values. 14 15 General commodity crops such as corn, soybeans, oats, wheat, hay, etc. can be priced by 16 contacting local feed dealers, grain distribution centers, hay auctions, or feed mills. The price 17 set for these crops should be averaged between numerous sites, preferably all local. Price 18 trends near harvest can be a factor in setting the price. Organic crops are often at a high value; 19 research or documentation may be necessary to establish a price. 20 21 Specialty crops such as Christmas trees, nursery stock, apiaries, orchards, fruit farms etc. need 22 to have prices set by contacting several operations and averaging the prices. Page 49 of 53 Prepared by: USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services Page 1 of 1 ________ CROP PRICE PROPOSAL ________ _________________ COUNTY A B PRICE IF DIFFERENT CROP PRICE PROPOSED THAN PROPOSED _______ _________- $______/_______ $_________________ _______ _________- $______/_______ $_________________ _______ _________- $______/_______ $_________________ _______ _________- $______/_______ $_________________ _______ _________- $______/_______ $_________________ _______ _________- $______/_______ $_________________ _______ _________- $______/_______ $_________________ _______ _________- $______/_______ $_________________ _______ _________- $______/_______ $_________________ _______ _________- $______/_______ $_________________ _______ _________- $______/_______ $_________________ ____ ____________- $______/_______ $_________________ _______ _________- $______/_______ $_________________ ____ ____________- $______/_______ $_________________ _______ _________- $______/_______ $_________________ _______ _________- $______/_______ $_________________ _______ _________- $______/_______ $_________________ _______ _________- $______/_______ $_________________ _______ _________- $______/_______ $_________________ _______ _________- $______/_______ $_________________ _______ _____ county approves the prices as proposed (column A). _______ _____ county approves prices different than proposed (column B). Justification for different prices: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Si gnature: ___________________________ Date: _____________________ Tit le: ___________________________ Select One 2026 Chippewa Sweet Corn 7.99 dozen Alfalfa 157 ton Honey 15 pint Bee Hives 108 each Bee Colony 180 each Hay Bales 35 each Chippewa Chippewa Page 50 of 53 WI Agricultural Statistics Service Month Price/Ton July 2025 $131.00 August 2025 $120.00 September 2025 $117.00 October 2025 $131.00 November 2025 $142.00 December 2025 $153.00 January 2026 $143.00 February 2026 $147.00 March 2026 $142.00 April 2026 $145.00 May 2026 $150.00 June 2026 $153.00 Rhinelander District Sources Price/Ton NASS: $198.00 Equity (Reedsville Location): $155.00 Other Sources Price/Ton UW-Extension (Upper Midwest Report): $180.00 Hay and Forage Grower (Minnesota) $165.00 WI Yearly Avg.- $139.50 Regional & National Current Avg.- $174.50 Avg. Price- $157.00 Proposed Price (Drought Anticipated Price Increase)- $175.00 - Proposed county crop prices based on an average of the local markets nearest the county seat and Rhinelander District sources - Prices are averaged from all sources; most are a yearly average, some reflect fall prices only Alfalfa 2026 Chippewa County Crop Prices & Sources Page 51 of 53 Statement of Explanation Horse Trail Extension to Rock Lake - Matt Hansen 1 The owners of the Rock Lake Campground and the Chippewa Valley Trailriders are 2 requesting that the horse trail system, within the County Forest, be extended to the edge of the 3 County's ownership to allow for a connecting route from the County Forest to the campground. Page 52 of 53 154TH ST 150TH ST 226TH AV HICKORY RIDGE TRAIL 157TH ST ONEIL CRK TRAIL 225TH AV 153RD ST Legend Berg_Driveway Rock_Lake_Expansion 2021_horsetrail Forest Roads Berg Rock Lake Horse Trail Expansion Page 53 of 53