JOINT MEETING

LAKE PUCKAWAY PROTECTION AND REHABILITATION DISTRICT

COMMISSIONERS AND ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Demonstration Room Green Lake County Courthouse

January 14, 2010 1:30 PM

 

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Malsack, at 1:35 PM.

 

 The certification of the open meeting law was met.

 

District Commissioners in attendance were Phil Malsack (Chairman); Clayton Masters, Treasurer; Randy Schmidt, Dave Ferge, Howard Sell; and Paul Gettelman, Secretary Excussed,  Rodger Swanke

 

Guests:  Derek Kavanaugh, Green Lake Co. Land Conservation Dept; Mark Sesing, WDNR, Dave Bartz Fish Biologist, WDNR; Ron Bruch, Fisheries Team Supervisor

 

 

Secretary's Report:  A motion by Comm. Schmidt and 2nd by Comm. Ferge, to accept the 10/26/09 minutes as emailed to commissioners and posted on the web page.  Motion Passed.   

 

Treasurer’s Report: The treasurer’s report was handed out for Jan 1– December 31, 2009.   A motion by Comm. Gettelman and 2nd by Comm. Ferge to accept the Treasurer’s report as reviewed and submitted.  Motion Passed.   Comm. Gettelman made a motion to transfer unused performance bonus funds from the 2009 carp removal to the Dam Fund. 2nd by Comm. Ferge Motion Passed

 

 District Members Attending/Input:     Deb Flagel; Les Whitefoot, Brian Zimmermann

 

New Business

 

a.      Discussion with Ron Bruch and Dave Bartz WDNR:  Commercial fishing in the future; As of now there are no state commercial fishing contracts being issued statewide.  This is due to the fish kill on Lake Puckaway.  The DNR is looking into the procedure for issuing permits/contracts for commercial fishing.  The administrators for the DNR are asking why they are in the business of issuing commercial fishing contracts for rough fish.  They say that they don’t know any of the dynamics of the rough fish (carp) and what impact they have on any lake.  Ron says that they would like to establish a grant to look into the effect of the carp on Puckaway.  The DNR has tools to do some studies to look into the effects of carp in the lake.  Past and possible new tactics for carp removal practice were discussed amongst the folks present.  The DNR will look at how contracts for commercial fisherman will be issued.; Ron noted that there was No VHS found in any of the fish;  Spring Fish Survey, Dave said that they are planning on doing a netting data study and possible go into the river and do shocking study. Lake Puckaway and Green Lake will probably be put on an annual walleye survey.  There will be a full survey for all fish in the next few years. They are planning on gathering walleye eggs when they do their walleye survey in the spring.  They would like to have the public attend when they are doing the fyke netting this spring.    They (WDNR) would like to run a seine this fall to check on the status of all the fish that they catch.     Chairman Malsack read a letter from Phil Anastasi that suggests having the Lake District ask that fisherman reduce the bag limit of walleye to 3, and the size limit to 15” to 20” with a max. limit of 20 on Lake Puckaway”.  (See the complete letter attached to the minutes). (no official action will be taken by the board at this time until we get the results of the fyke netting this spring)  Fish Tagging; Ron told us of a tagging method that tracks the fish.  The units cost approx. $1000 each and the tags cost $300 per tag.  If they were able to get the units they would put one on the east end of the lake and one on the west end to monitor if any walleye would leave the lake. They would do just walleye’s first.  Ron thought that he could get 2 units if we could purchase the tags.   Comm. Schmidt moved to purchase 20 tags for walleye monitoring 2nd by Comm. Gettelman.  Motion Passed:  (Comm. Ferge noted that the Lake Puckaway Improvement Association would probably purchase one of the monitors @ $1,000)    Walleye Wagon: The DNR will be looking into having some DNR hatchery staff to help with our walleye wagon this spring. Dave brought a draft cooperative agreement with the DNR and the Dept of Ag fish farm application which costs $37.50 that we need to complete for the Walleye Wagon.  As of this date we have not decided where to have the Walleye Wagon located (north or south side of the lake).  This all depends on the availability of water and volunteers to help staff the walleye wagon.

  1. AMC and Mark Sesing WDNR review goals (AMC meeting part):, New MOU Mark Sesing noted that the Department made a new draft that would of the  show the success of the EPS and who does the evaluation.  This would be done in conjunction with the Adaptive Management Committee (see the Draft MOU attached with these minutes), Mark gave a summary of how we would develop a method to evaluate the success of any water level modification.  This process would go for about 5 years and we would have to monitor the test sites at the control site and the Lake twice a year. Concern was noted in regard to funding.  IV 4 of the MOU added one more line that will state “Methodology and funding will be agreed upon by the DNR and the LPPRD prior to EPS implantation”.   Lake Grants available, Mark gave a summary of how and what we need to do to go for a protection Grant and the various items that would be put into the grant were discussed.     

 

 

Old Business

 

a.      Update on Walleye Wagon Construction: Mick gave us a summary (hand out) of what he has spent thus far.(expense sheet added to minutes) Comm. Gettelman made a motion to have 2 signs 18” x 48” made for the walleye wagon 2nd by Comm. Ferge.  Motion Passed (The signs will say something like Lake Puckaway Mobil fish Hatcher—Sponsors: Lake Puckaway Protection and Rehabilitation District and Lake Puckaway Improvement Association.)  Mick shared a photo of a 250 gallon water tank that we could use for the back up source of water in the event that there is a power failure. 

b.      Set Annual meeting date and location:  June 5, 2010 at the Marquette Village Hall

c.      Any other old business: Comm. Ferge noted that the Lake Puckaway improvement Association is donating $1500 towards the Walleye wagon.  They will also donate $250 toward the in-kind grant money that needs to be generated by some where other than the Grant itself.     Comm. Gettelman noted that the Cormorant application was sent in along with the annual report. (copy enclosed with mintues)

 

 

Comm. Schmidt moved to adjourn the meeting.  2nd by Comm.  Masters.  Motion Passed.  The meeting was adjourned at 5:15 PM

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Paul Gettelman, Secretary

 

Documents to accompany the minutes in the official record:

Treasurer’s Report [1-1-09 through 12-31-09]

Draft MOU from DNR

Letter from Phi Anastasi  

Expense sheet for Walleye Wagon

Cormorant Summary and Application

 

 

[As with all minutes, these are in draft form until approved at the next LPPRD meeting.]