The Wisconsin DNR is in the process of updating its 20-year-old Walleye Management Plan.
WXPR reported this when public comment opened back in September. Since then, the DNR has done 7 of the 13 regional meetings and gotten more than 1,600 comments through the online form.
DNR Senior Fisheries Biologist Max Wolter is the co-leader of the DNR’s walleye management team. He says the feedback the DNR has gotten so far has been very helpful.
“One of the themes so far that I’ve been really pleased with is people want to lead with the science. They want to see decision making that’s based on what the science says is good for walleye and that also includes where you get the most bang for your buck in terms of where we stock fish, where we do habitat projects and use science to kind of prioritize the work that we’re doing,” said Wolter.
The DNR’s next regional meeting is January 12th at 6:30.
It’s open to anyone who is interested in how walleye should be managed in Price, Oneida, or Vilas Counties. Because it’s being held virtually people do need to pre-register for the meeting.
You can send an email to max.wolter@wisconsin.gov to sign up.
Wolter said the regional meetings give the DNR an opportunity to understand local issues that don’t always get the attention on a statewide scale.
“It’s really been good for just sharing that local knowledge and having people give us kind of boots on the ground reports on what they’re seeing and where we can kind of focus our efforts,” said Wolter.
The meeting is expected to last two hours.
If you’re unable to attend, there’s also an online form you can fill out to give your feedback.
