Lake Puckaway
Protection and Rehabilitation District Meeting
December 15, 2015 1:30
PM
Marquette Village Hall
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Malsack at 1:33
PM.
1. Call
to Order Certification of Open Meeting Notice
The Certification of the Open Meeting Law was met, with
it being posted on the District’s website, north shore kiosk, Mecan Town Hall and other areas around the lake.
District Commissioners in attendance were: Phil Malsack (chairman), Clayton Masters
(Treasurer), Paul Gettelman (Secretary), Gene Weber and Dave Richter, Roger Swanke, Rich
Pergande
Guests: 4 guests ; WDNR:
Derek Kavanaugh, Green Lake County; Rose
and Ray Miller, Tim Hoyman, Dan Cibulka,
Daryl Christenson, Sumner Mattison.
District Members in attendance: Randy Schmidt,
2. Secretary’s
Minutes:
The minutes from
the Aug. 5, 2015 meeting were reviewed.
Motion by Comm.
Richter 2nd by Comm. Weber to accept the minutes as published on the web
page. Motion carried.
3. Treasurers
Report:
A motion was made
by Commissioner Pergande and 2nd by Commissioner Richter to accept
the Treasurers Report from Jan. 1, 2015 thru Dec. 12, 2015 as presented. 2nd Motion passed.
4. District member’s input: NONE AT THIS TIME
I. OLD BUSINESS:
A. Tim Hoyman & Dan Cibulka—Onterra, Current status of Lake Management Plan: Tim and Dan shared 3 handouts: Lake Puckaway Management Planning Project update; Lake Puckaway Management Plan project phase II; Lake Puckaway Management Planning Project Anonymous Stakeholder Survey. (copies of these are attached to these minutes)
B. Daryl Christianson—Endangered
species report and Tern Nesting Project
Somnor Matteson:
Daryl noted that this is the 31st year that Somner and himself have been working with the terns on Lake
Puckaway. He gave a summary of the 30 yr span. This year
there was the largest number of Forster Terns nesting here that they ever
had. In fact it was the largest colony
in the state. There were over 150 pairs
nesting. The biggest issue for the
nesting birds is the fluctuating water levels.
The other tern they have monitored is the Black Tern. There are several colonies in the Puckaway
area. They weren’t monitored in 2015 as
they are very sensitive to any intrusions around their nesting area. The next tern that is monitored is the Common
Tern. It is the most endangered tern in
the state. There is
only a couple of colonies in the state. The
Tern Rafts that the District has established have been used by the Common
Terns. The chicks have been banded. Some of the birds that have hatched in
August are some of the latest birds to hatch and survive. Common Terns that
nested on Lake Butte des Morts had their nests and
chick destroyed last year. It is felt
that some of those terns moved to Puckaway to establish a larger colony
here. The ones that went back to Butte
des Morts didn’t establish a nest. They noted that 54 Common Terns were fledged
on the district barges. Daryl thanked
the district for supporting the Common Tern nesting project and noted that it
is getting much attention statewide and nationally and even internationally. The other tern that uses the lake is the
Caspian Tern. These terns use the lake
to feed their young. They mostly nest by
Lake Michigan. The terns feed mostly on
Gizzard shad, Milwaukee minnows, and some small fish. They were able to monitor the diet from
viewing the remains of the shad/minnows that were left on the barge. It was noted that these terns winter in the
southern tip of Argentina. Also the
birds travel to the east coast and down over gulf and then to Argentina, but
they return via the Mississippi River.
They return to the exact same location year after year. Daryl noted that the other birds like
cormorant, herons, egrets and the like don’t nest on the rafts or barge that we
have. Comm. Gettelman brought up the
concern of what is being considered with Pancake Island. It was noted that the Island is extremely
valuable to the forester tern and egrets and is very unique and it is kind of
one of a kind in central WI. They noted
that it is privately owned and there may be some things that can be done. Comm. Gettelman noted as one of the owners of
the Island that all the owners are willing to do anything to promote the
continued nesting of the forester terns.
He also noted that Ducks Unlimited and the Fish and Wildlife Service
have been involved with seeing what can be done with the island to preserve it and
halt the erosion of it. The district was presented with a picture/plaque by Sumnor Matteson, Conservation Biologist for WDNR. The picture/plaque stated: “Bureau of National Heritage Conservation;
Special Recognition Award is presented to Lake Puckaway
Protection and Rehabilitation District in recognition of outstanding
conservation and management of the Common Tern on Lake Puckaway.” Signed by Tricia Knoot,
Director dated
12/2015. (This was added after being omitted at the
original meeting. It was noted in the
April 20, 2016 meeting)
C. Commercial
Fishing report for 2015: No one
representing the commercial fishermen was in attendance. Comm. Gettelman gave a brief summary on what
he had found out in talking with them.
They had taken 50,000 lbs of carp on one pull
and then a week or so ago they took 20,000 lbs of
buffalo and shipped them out live. It
was noted that there was an altercation at the boat landing in Marquette and
the County Sherriff dept. was called. It
is unknown if they are going to return this year and that their DNR permit
expires at the end of the year.
D. Princeton
Dam Status: There was no new
information regarding the Princeton Dam Status, thus it is assumed that
everything is running on time.
E. Any other old business: Apuckawa launch
dredging. Comm
Masters contacted Dave Patrosick and wanted to know
about Dredging the Apuckawa
landing. He asked what he wanted and Comm Masters indicated that he thought it should be, he wanted it 18’ wide by 75’ long by 18”. That would be material removed. It is roughly 14 or 1500 $. The permit is $300 Comm. Masters was asking for the LPPRD
to put a $1,000 towards the project. Pat
Kilby of Marquette County indicated that they county
would put in $1,000. Motion by Comm.
Masters to approve a $1,000 expenditure for the Apuckawa
park and landing on the North Shore of Lake
Puckaway. Comm. Malsack 2nd
the motion. Motion passed. Comm. Masters noted that Pat Kilby is thinking of digging the launch out and having it
face south west. At the end of the
county lot line they would go out with a breakwater. It was noted that if the project would go in
it would be around $10,000 for the county and the Lake District. This would be done in 2018 when the lake is
drawn down for the Dam reconstruction.
(NOTHING WAS ACTED ON THIS INFORMATION.
IT WAS BROUGHT UP AFTER THE INITIAL MOTION TO SPEND THE $1,000.)
F. More
old business: Comm. Masters noted that
we will need a new heater at the Hatchery.
We installed the heater last year and didn’t have it plugged in. We need a smaller heater. It is on sale at $599 but with the 11%
discount when that comes up would be cheaper.
Comm Pergande noted that waders are needed and
he suggested that the district purchase waders for himself and Randy
Schmidt. Comm Weber made a
motion that we are allowed to spend up to $1500 for the hatchery operation, Comm Swanke 2nd Motion Passed
6. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Commercial Fishing Contract for 2016 and
beyond: We don’t know who is going to get the
contract. It was suggested that any form
of weight slips that the fisherman have when shipping the carp out be shared
with the LPPRD within a couple of days.
It was also noted that the commercial fisherman have to give weight
slips to the DNR within 48 hours.
B. Any other new business--NONE
7. ADJOURN
Motion by Commissioner Richter to
adjourn and 2nd by Commissioner Masters. Motion passed . Meeting
adjourned at 3:33 PM
Respectfully Submitted,
Paul Gettelman