Beckie Gaskill
Recent Stories
Wisconsin Waterfowl Association holds town hall meeting
On Monday evening, Jan. 19, the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association invited Department of Natural Resources game bird ecologist Taylor Finger to a Zoom call looking at Mississippi Flyway changes and to take input on setting the 2026 season. He stated a public input form would be available in March and urged stakeholders to contribute their thoughts.
DNR briefs NRB on wake boat impacts, backs local control
Department of Natural Resources lakes and rivers section manager Michelle Nault brought forward a presentation on wake boat research to the Natural Resources Board at a regular meeting on Jan. 28. A cross-program work group completed the research. The research looked at wave characteristics, lake bottom impacts and the potential of wake boats to transport aquatic invasive species (AIS).
Tri-County Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault re-opens after short closure
According to Casey Wagner, the new executive director of the Tri-County Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, the council is once again open after a closure of over a month. The organization underwent a restaffing and restructuring period, but is now open and ready to help community members that are in need of resources.
Oneida County Biking and Walking Trails Council advocates to get people outdoors
The vision of the Oneida County Biking and Walking Trails Council is “a walk-able and bike-able Oneida County.” The 501(c)3 organization was created in 2004 through a merger of Oneida Trails and Oneida County Biking and Walking Trails. The mission, in part, is to education the public about health and the physical activity, safety and economic benefits of trails.
Stakeholders urged to back Knowles‑Nelson
Earlier this month Charlie Carlin from Gathering Waters spoke during a webinar with approximately 150 people in attendance regarding where the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund funding laid and what to expect as this legislative session winds down. In short, the future of funding for Knowles-Nelson is in question. Although the program would continue even if no decision was made, there would be no funding for grants to be given out for projects.
Oneida County L&WC committee questions state bid to add second dwellings
Oneida County conservationist Michele Sadauskas addressed the land and water conservation committee about a resolution being prepared in Vilas County regarding Assembly bill 449. She said Vilas County conservationist Al Wirt had put out an email regarding this bill, which brought it to her attention first. She said she felt Vilas County’s concerns would closely mirror Oneida County’s concerns in regard to this bill.
PFAS release and ecological responses to land-applied biosolid
The recent Great Lakes Virtual PFAS Summit featured a presentation entitled, “PFAS release and ecological responses to land-applied biosolids.” Dr. Weilan Zhang of the University at Albany in New York State said PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl) in biosolids must be removed or stabilized before land application to prevent PFAS pollution, which would then be potentially up taken by plants.
Oneida County land and water conservation department reveals new lake classification and protection tool
Over the last several years, the Oneida County land and water conservation department has worked with a team of stakeholders to create a lake classification system, a large undertaking for a county with over 1,100 lakes. Of those, 451 are names lakes, with the rest being small “pot hole” lakes of 50 acres or less.
