Session and Event Descriptions

Thursday, December 9
Opening Session, Keynote Address by NACD CEO Jeff Eisenberg
Welcome by WLWCA President Charles Wagner. A local post will present the color guard. Then WLWCA Executive Director Julian Zelazny will present the 2010 annual report and review proposed resolutions for adoption at the WLWCA business meeting. The session closes with the keynote address from Jeff Eisenberg, Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Conservation Districts.

Lunch Presentation
Robert “Ernie” Boszhardt recently retired from a 30-year career of public archaeology in Wisconsin and is the current President of the Wisconsin Archaeological Society. Ernie will summarize the 12,000+ years of state archaeological records, including examples from the Wisconsin Dells area.

Thursday Breakout Sessions

ü Adapting to Climate Change in Wisconsin – Strategies for Conservation Professionals: The Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) has identified future climate impacts and adaptation strategies for Wisconsin’s land and water resources. Statewide Extension Specialist David Liebl will discuss how natural resource managers can prepare to meet the challenges of our changing climate.
 

ü Communicating with Your Legislator: The Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters (WLCV) works with conservation-minded citizens and organizations to lobby for a coordinated legislative agenda of shared priorities. Jennifer Giegerich, WLCV’s capitol liaison, will help you learn how to use your knowledge and personal relationships to effectively communicate with state legislators.
 

ü LCC Orientation Session 1: Geared toward newer LCC supervisors, this session begins with an overview of WLWCA and its relationship with counties and partner agencies by Executive Director Julian Zelazny. DATCP’s Dennis Presser will then describe the statutory relationship between the department and counties as well as an overview of DATCP’s programs.
 

ü Proposed Revisions to NR151 and Implications for DNR and DATCP Programs: This session will review the changes being proposed to Chapter NR 151 that are relevant to agriculture. DNR’s John Pfender and DATCP’s Jim Vanden Brook will discuss how these changes are likely to affect DNR and DATCP programs at the state and local level.
 

ü USDA-NRCS Federal Cost-Share Forestry Programs: NRCS State Forester Gregory Rebman will discuss cost-share programs available for non-industrial private forest landowners.

The day continues with Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Board candidate speeches, then the area meetings and resolutions discussion.  Thursday's dinner banquet includes speeches from the winners of Wisconsin Conservation Awareness Speaking Contest and the WLWCA Conservation Awards ceremony.

Friday, December 10
Friday Breakout Sessions
ü Aquatic and Terrestrial Invasive Species Management in Wisconsin: Paul Skawinski, Regional Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator with Golden Sands RC&D, and Ted Ritter, Invasive Species Coordinator at Vilas County LWCD, will explore the common aquatic and terrestrial invasive species in Wisconsin and management efforts used to control them. Ted will also share his views on the role of LWCDs in coordinating multi-partner co-ops and bringing together resources. A few possible future species of concern will also be discussed.

ü LCC Orientation Session 2: This session will include presentations by Tyrone Larson of NRCS and Gordon Stevenson from DNR. Both will provide overviews of their agencies’ respective programs. This will be followed by Buffalo County Conservationist Julie Lindstrom who will discuss her county’s streambank protection work which is being done in cooperation with NRCS, DNR, and area conservation groups.

ü Staffing Grant Roundtable: Representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the Land and Water Conservation Board, WLWCA and WALCE will be present for a roundtable discussion on the status of the staffing allocation grant and legislative efforts to fully fund the staffing formula.

ü Urban Stormwater Management: Stormwater management planning in the coulee region presents many unique challenges for department staff. Developing an ordinance that effectively protects soil and water resources from storm water runoff requires innovative approaches and nontraditional techniques. Join Director Gregg Stangl and Conservation Specialist Mary Jo Webster from La Crosse County LCD to learn how La Crosse County developed a storm water management ordinance that goes beyond the urban epicenter to protect high-value natural resources where they occur.

The conference concludes with the business meeting and raffle drawing.

The 2010 WLWCA Annual Conference is YOUR conference and we need YOUR help to make it happen! Volunteer positions are still available for AV Assistants, Auction Assistants, Registration Assistants, Moderators and Raffle Ticket Sales. All volunteers receive a conference registration discount. Don’t miss this great opportunity to save money and show YOUR support for WLWCA!

Information from our 2009 conference: