ARCHIVEs: 2023 MEETING AGENDA

The following agenda is from the 2023 Meeting which has passed. ​

2023 MAFWA Directors' Meeting photos courtesy of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Sunday, June 25, 2023 Collaborating for Success in the Midwest
2:00pm - 6:00pm (CT) Lodge Kohler, Lobby	*Conference Registration Desk Open
4:30pm - 6:00pm (CT) Lodge Kohler - Cumulus Room	MAFWA Executive Committee Meeting
6:30pm - 8:30pm (CT) Lodge Kohler - Leaps and Bounds Cafe	*Welcome to Wisconsin Reception Sponsored by Brandt Information Services Remarks by Matt Mitchell
8:30pm - 11:00pm (CT) Lodge Kohler, Room #101	*Hospitality Room Sponsored by National Shooting Sports Foundation
Monday, June 26, 2023
7:00am - 4:00pm (CT)	*Conference Registration Desk Open
7:00am - 8:00am (CT)	*Breakfast Buffet Sponsored by Archery Trade Association Remarks by Dan Forster
8:00am - 8:30am (CT)	*Honor Guard and Welcome to Wisconsin MAFWA & AMFGLEO; WI FWP Administrator Diane Brusoe & WI Chief Warden Casey Krueger; WDNR Office of the Secretary Welcome Video; Remarks from Oneida Nation Chair Tehassi Hill
8:30am - 9:30am (CT)	*Collaborating to Restore Green Bay Ecosystem – Success in the Midwest WIDNR Green Bay Program Coordinator Brie Kupsky, USACE Project Manager Patrick Kennedy (IL), USFWS Fox River NRDA Coordinator Betsy Galbraith (WI), Ducks Unlimited Manager of Conservation Programs Brian Glenzinski (WI), UW-Green Bay Director of Freshwater Strategy Emily Tyner (WI) A theme-setting presentation that highlights our successful collaboration to recover the Green Bay fishery, waterbirds, wetlands, and water quality. This project required significant interagency cooperation. Other Great Lakes region projects may be addressed as well. A deep dive into the system/systems that were restored, the processes we used, and additional opportunities.
9:30am - 10:15am (CT)	Federal Partners Session U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — Chuck Traxler, Region 3, Acting Director U.S. Forest Service — Steve Kuennen, Region 9, Renewable Resource Director USDA/APHIS-Wildlife Services — Keith Wehner, Eastern Region Director U.S. Geological Survey — JC Nelson, Midcontinent Region Science Coordinator
10:15am - 10:30am (CT)	*Refreshment Break Sponsored by The Wildlife Society
10:30am - 12:00pm (CT)	State Hot Topics Session Each Director will describe a recent agency challenge and response as a teaching moment.
12:00pm - 1:30pm (CT)	*MAFWA/AMFGLEO Awards Luncheon Sponsored by Sovereign Sportsman Solutions Remarks by Chris Willard Presented by: MAFWA Awards Committee - Kendra Wecker, Chair Wildlife Biologist of the Year Fisheries Biologist of the Year Spirit of the Shack Excellence in Conservation Sagamore Award President’s Award Presented by: Casey Krueger, AMFGLEO President Law Enforcement Officers of the Year
1:30pm - 2:15pm (CT)	Federally Listed Species – Bats & Pollinators Species Management Section Manager Owen Boyle, Bat HCP Coordinator Heather Kaarakka Innovative approaches to species monitoring through citizen science projects and importance of monitoring to species listing; impacts, actions, opportunities for collaboration.
2:15pm - 3:00pm (CT)	*Wisconsin’s Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation (R3) Programs R3 Team Supervisor Bob Nack (WI) and Outdoor Skills Trainer Kayla Sasse (WI) Wisconsin has a strong heritage of hunting, angling, trapping and shooting sports. DNR staff will provide an update on efforts and accomplishments that promote these outdoor activities in Wisconsin, as well as insights on how similar efforts can be incorporated at other agencies across the Midwest.
3:00pm - 3:15pm (CT)	*Refreshment Break Sponsored by DJ Case and Associates
3:15pm - 4:00pm (CT)	AFWA Report Presented by Ron Regan, AFWA Executive Director; Curt Melcher, AFWA President and Oregon Director
4:00pm - 4:30pm (CT)	*Director & AMFGLEO Group Photo
4:30pm - 6:30pm (CT)	*Special Excursions Read their descriptions. Pre-registration and additional fee required.
6:30pm - 8:00pm (CT)	*Dinner Event Sponsored by Ducks Unlimited and Canadian NAWMP Partners Remarks by Jamie Rader and Stephen Carlyle
8:00pm - 11:00pm (CT) Lodge Kohler, Room #101	*Hospitality Room Sponsored by Airgun Sporting Association
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
7:00am - 4:00pm (CT)	*Conference Registration Desk Open
7:00am - 8:00am (CT)	*Breakfast Buffet Sponsored by National Wild Turkey Federation Remarks by Clayton Lenk
8:00am - 9:00am (CT)	*Illegal Trade of Aquatic Species Lt. Robert Stroess, Administrator, Commercial Fish and Aquatic Species in Trade Enforcement Program, WI DNR Discussion of increased efforts in recent years to investigate aquatic invasive species, deploying strategic tactics to proactively protect waterways. One of these tactics includes focused work in identifying aquatic invasive species within illegal trade and consumer distribution.
9:00am - 9:45am (CT)	Forever Chemicals: What you need to know about PFAS Dr. Sarah Balgooyen, pre-recorded video presentation followed by roundtable discussion Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of anthropogenic compounds that are now found in nearly every type of media in the environment: surface and groundwater, soil, air, plants, and animals. Many of these “forever chemicals” do not degrade naturally and will remain in our environment for the foreseeable future. This presentation overviews how PFAS move in the environment and how they impact fish and wildlife.
9:45am - 10:45am (CT)	One Health: Shifting the Paradigm toward an Ecosystem Approach Lindsey Long, Wildlife Veterinarian Wisconsin DNR, Chair MAFWA Wildlife Health Committee; Sara Parker Pauley, Director MO Department of Conservation; Bryan Richards, Emerging Disease Coordinator, USGS National Wildlife Health Center
10:45am - 11:00am (CT)	*Refreshment Break Sponsored by Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
11:00am - 12:00pm (CT)	Customer Engagement and Relevancy Roundtable WI FWP Administrator Diane Brusoe A recap of MAFWA and AFWA Relevancy priorities, followed by a roundtable discussion about relevancy actions states are currently taking.
12:00pm - 1:00pm (CT)	*Lunch Buffet Sponsored by Gordon-Darby Remarks by Mitch Strobl
1:00pm - 2:30pm (CT)	MAFWA Committee Reports Facilitator: Ollie Torgerson, MAFWA Executive Secretary Joint Private Lands, Public Lands, Wildlife Diversity and MLI Technical Committee report Private Land working group Public Land working group Deer and Wild Turkey group Furbearer group Wildlife Diversity Climate Change CITES Feral Swine CSS/HD committee AMFGLEO Fish & Wildlife Health R3 & Relevancy Ad Hoc CWD
2:30pm - 3:15pm (CT)	Interstate Collaboration to Improve Management of CWD Scott Hull, Dan Walsh, Bryan Richards, Jason Sumners Update on collaboration and future opportunities around the Midwest and nationally.
3:15pm - 3:30pm (CT)	*Refreshment Break Sponsored by Tyler Technologies
3:30pm - 4:30pm (CT)	*Collaborating to Restore Ecosystems: More opportunities in the Midwest MLI User Support and Engagement Coordinator Kate Parsons (OH), MLI Landscape Conservation Liaison Lorisa Smith, MICRA President and MN Fisheries Section Manager Brad Parsons (MN) A discussion of the anticipated Mississippi River and prairie habitat ventures, as well as the Midwest Landscape Initiative, and how these initiatives can be successful based on our experiences in the Green Bay region by anticipating future problems and emphasizing how jurisdictions can work together. The Mississippi Interstate Cooperative Resource Association (MICRA) is a 30-year-old partnership of 28 state fish and game agencies with fishery management jurisdiction in the Mississippi River Basin (Basin) whose mission is to improve the collaborative management of interjurisdictional fishery and aquatic resources in the Basin. The briefing will provide an overview of MICRA's initiative seeking the formation of a Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission, including draft Federal legislation.
4:30pm - 6:30pm (CT)	USFWS Leadership Session (invitation only)
4:30pm - 6:30pm (CT)	Special Excursions Read their descriptions. Pre-registration and additional fee required.
6:30pm - 8:00pm (CT)	*Dinner On Your Own
8:00pm - 11:00pm (CT) Lodge Kohler, Room #101	*Hospitality Room Sponsored by Pheasants Forever
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
7:00am - 11:00am (CT)	*Conference Registration Desk Open
7:00am - 8:00am (CT)	*Breakfast Buffet Sponsored by Bass Pro Shops Remarks by Bob Ziehmer
8:00am - 10:00am (CT)	MAFWA Business Meeting Amanda Wuestefeld, MAFWA President Call to Order and Roll Call Agenda Review Approval of 2022 Annual Meeting Minutes Treasurer’s Report – Roger Luebbert Audit Committee Report – Pete Hildreth (IA) Investments Committee Report – Brad Loveless (KS) Bylaws Committee Report – Sara Parker Pauley (MO) Resolutions Committee Report – Sara Parker Pauley (MO) Awards Committee Report – Kendra Wecker (OH) Executive Secretary’s Report – Ollie Torgerson R3 & Relevancy Coordinator Report – Keith Warnke Old Business Mid-America Monarch Strategy Approval – Lorisa Smith (MAFWA) National Wild Pheasant Plan Update – Scott Taylor (PF) Bowhunting Equipment Regulation Review – Dan Forster (ATA) Midwest Landscape Initiative – Sara Parker Pauley (MO)/Craig Czarnecki (FWS) MAFWA Contract Manager Position – Ollie Torgerson Midwest Fish & Wildlife Health Coordinator Position – Ollie Torgerson New Business 2023 Budget Approval – Roger Luebbert
10:00am - 10:15am (CT)	*Refreshment Break Sponsored by ASPIRA
10:15am - 12:00pm (CT)	MAFWA Business Meeting (CONTINUED) Closing Comments - President's Remarks Illinois Spotlight (2024)
12:00pm (CT)	Conference Adjourns

 

Special excursions

We’ve arranged for a number of excursions on Monday and Tuesday from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Pre-registration and an additional fee of $25 each will be required to participate. Sign-up will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis via the online registration form.


1. (MONDAY ONLY) Oneida Nation Tour
This two hour tour will encompass a bus trip with stops around the 65,400 acre reservation looking at wetland and stream restoration to combat non-point pollution, a visit to the farm to discuss food sovereignty, and much more. Bring your binoculars and good walking shoes.

Oneida Nation Tour Leaders:

• James (Jim) Snitgen – Water Resources Team Leader
• Anthony (Tony) Kuchma – Wetland Program Coordinator

2. Kayaking or Canoeing to Cat Island
This excursion is weather dependent. Just in case, please wear clothes that can get wet. No prior experience is required. Safety gear will be provided. There will be kayaks and canoes available for use. 

The Duck Creek Delta in Lower Green Bay was once dominated by hundreds of acres of submerged and emergent aquatic vegetation that supported a diverse and abundant fish and wildlife community. Development pressures impacted the delta throughout 19th and 20th Centuries, and it was dealt a significant blow in 1973 when the string of barriers island (Cat Island Chain) protecting the delta were washed away. The loss of the Cat Island Chain resulted in over 250 acres of lost beach and island habitat directly. In recent years a string of restoration projects conducted in partnership with a whole host of partners have begun to restore this important estuary and delta wetland habitat. On this tour we will take kayaks out onto the Duck Creek Delta and Lower Green Bay to see and hear from the experts about the ongoing restoration projects including the Cat Island Wave Barrier, wild rice restoration, emergent and submergent vegetation restoration and monitoring, and woody break wall development. 

3. (CANCELLED) Heritage Hill State Park Tour

4. Lambeau Field Classic and Green Tour 
Please Wear Walking Shoes. The Classic Stadium Tour lasts approximately is about a 1/2 mile worth of walking.  Classic Stadium Tours visit the following locations: Lambeau Field Atrium, premium seating areas, player's tunnel, and field level. The Green Tour portion of the tour will discuss the Packer’s Green Teamwork, redevelopment of the blighted area to the west of the stadium, and the unique treatment systems set up for maximum use of area while protecting environment.