CHIPPEWA COUNTY

LAND AND WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN (DEC 2001)

Executive Summary

In Wisconsin, Counties have been assigned statutory authority to plan and implement conservation programs to meet local needs.  Recent changes in State law requires each county to develop a County Land and Water Plan.  This plan has been developed to meet those requirements and to serve as a guide for local conservation efforts, administered by County, State, and Federal agencies.

This plan was developed using prescribed procedures for public participation, and is based upon recommendations of a citizens advisory group representing local agricultural and environmental interests.

A review of resource conditions has shown that current trends in rural development, production agriculture, and public recreation are placing an increasing demand on the natural resource base.  

This plan summarizes the existing condition of land and water resources in Chippewa County and outlines land use and conservation issues of primary concern.   It also describes, in detail, how the County will direct its programs to address these issues.

This plan clarifies how the County will work with local municipalities to plan and manage development.  It proposes a process to be used to develop a County comprehensive plan and establishes a schedule for updating the Chippewa County Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance. 

This plan clarifies how the County will manage nonpoint source water pollution from agricultural and non-agricultural sources.  To do so, it will begin to implement State nonpoint pollution and runoff standards established in WI Administrative Rule NR151. 

In agricultural areas, public funds and personnel, historically targeted to priority watershed areas, will be reallocated county-wide to implement a Voluntary Farm Evaluation and Certification Program.  This program will be used to systematically introduce and explain the NR151 agricultural nonpoint performance standards.  Participation in the farm evaluation process will be a prerequisite and eligibility requirement for the allocation of technical services or State cost-share funds administered by the County. 

The voluntary certification effort will be augmented by a regulatory program which will be administered and enforced by the Department of Natural Resources.  This option will be used in select circumstances where a new or expanding facility does not comply with State or local permit requirements, or where runoff pollution from an existing operation has significant impact on surface water or groundwater.  Farms subject to direct regulation by Chippewa County will be limited to livestock operations that are installing or altering manure storage facilities, subject to jurisdiction under the Chippewa County Animal Waste Storage Ordinance.

The roles and responsibilities of the County and State agencies, under the Voluntary Farm Evaluation Program, State and local permitting, and compliance enforcement,  have been outlined in a free-standing Memorandum of Understanding (M.O.U.).  This agreement is included as an appendix to the plan and will be used to systematically implement and assure compliance with the agricultural nonpoint performance standards.

In urbanizing areas, the County will work with municipalities to control stormwater runoff and nonpoint pollution from new developments.  The County will work with the Department of Natural Resources and urbanizing towns in the Chippewa Falls urban area to develop a joint stormwater management program under the State’s NR216 stormwater planning and permitting process.  In developing this stormwater management plan, relationships between stormwater runoff and groundwater recharge will be considered in the interest of groundwater protection.

To control runoff from new developments outside this urban area, the County will review construction site erosion control and stormwater management plans produced by developers under NR216 and NR151. 

With regard to the ongoing management of public lands, the County will complete a biotic inventory of plant species in the Chippewa County Forest.  The forest will be managed for timber production, resource protection, and public use using management techniques to be defined in the County Forest Management Plan. 

The County will work with town officials, State and Federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations to expand the public land base for future recreational needs.   This will be accomplished by purchasing select parcels from willing sellers in designated management areas.

Efforts to directly manage the public land base will be augmented by efforts to purchase voluntary conservation easements on select parcels adjacent to public holdings for the purpose of public access and resource protection.

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