2022 - Summer CNR Newsletter

Wisconsin Forestry Center Secures Largest State Grant in UW-Stevens Point History

Addressing a need for skilled workers in the forestry industry, the Wisconsin Forestry Center at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point received a state grant of up to $8 million. This Workforce Innovation Grant will support education and create a pipeline to forestry careers for the next generation.

Gov. Tony Evers announced the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. grant at UW-Stevens Point on Tuesday, June 21. It will fund a Forest Industry Workforce Recruitment and Development Initiative, led by the Wisconsin Forestry Center of the College of Natural Resources in collaboration with industry, education, and economic development partners across the state.

“As the largest undergraduate forestry program in the nation, the College of Natural Resources has a long history of leading and supporting our natural resources and forestry partners,” said Brian Sloss, dean of the college at UW-Stevens Point. “We do all we can to provide the traditional four-year skilled professional, but our state industry needs more. This program is our direct response to that need.”

Based on surveys and industry reports, employers in all aspects of forestry have an urgent need for skilled workers, particularly entry-level workers. The logging and forest products sector is among the top 10 employers in 31 counties in Wisconsin and No. 1 in 10 counties.

Sloss.(Continued

Governor Tony Evers visited the UW-Stevens Point campus to share the news of the grant award. left (Jessica Tomaszewski, Les Werner, Chancellor Thomas Gibson, Governor Evers, Secretary Missy Hughes, Haley Frater, and CNR Dean Brian

“This grant will address a critical and pressing issue within Wisconsin’s forest industry,” said Les Werner, forestry professor and director of the Wisconsin Forestry Center at UW-Stevens ThePoint.lead

author of the grant proposal, Werner, said this innovative approach focuses on people, partners, and pathways.

The grant will support post-high school training programs available through regional training hubs that will lead to stable, well-paying jobs. FORward mobile units featuring sawmill and timber harvesting simulators, a portable sawmill, and kiln and forestry tools will be used statewide for public outreach, K-12 education, and professional development. The state’s only startto-finish wood products training center will include a state-of-theart sawmill complex and mill simulator.

Each program will prepare participants for the workforce or provide credit toward additional training. Certificates will be credit-eligible at Nicolet College, Northcentral Technical College, and UW-Stevens Point. Pathways to this ongoing professional development help advance careers, Werner noted.

“A pathway to living wage jobs and futures that provide for their families and our state, this is the purpose of our program and the shared vision of our diverse array of partners,” Sloss said.

The Workforce Innovation Grants will provide additional training resources to Wisconsin’s forest product industries, said Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes. “By targeting both workers who need help getting back into the job market or developing their skills and young people just starting their careers, we’re building a workforce that will meet our immediate and long-term needs.”

“There is no one-size-fits-all in workforce development,” Evers said. “We’re working to build the workforce of tomorrow and address our state’s long-standing workforce challenges by investing in retaining and recruiting our talented workers, ensuring our kids have skills and apprenticeship opportunities and reducing barriers to Wisconsinites who want to join our workforce.”

Clint Hischke, a Menominee Indian High School science teacher, told the group about two of his students who attended a “science of tree-felling” workshop at Treehaven. They learned forestry skills, built confidence and grew socially and emotionally through the experience, the UW-Stevens Point alumnus said.

UW-Stevens Point Chancellor Tom Gibson, Sloss and Werner thanked partners who will be involved in implementing this initiative. In addition to the educational partners mentioned, they are:

Wisconsin Forestry Center Secures Largest State Grant in UWSP History (con’t) American Transmission Company Board of Commissioners of Cleereman Industries Lakes Timber Professionals Grow North Kretz Lumber Co., Inc. Tribal Milwaukee Tool New North Ponsse North America Tigerton Lumber Co. University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension Wisconsin Chapter of the Society of American Foresters Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources example of mechanized forest operations simulator.

For more information, visit www.uwsp.edu/wfc.

UW-Stevens Point, Milwaukee Tool Partner to Equip CNR Students

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is partnering with Milwaukee Tool to drive safer and more productive natural resource management practices. Through the partnership, students in the College of Natural Resources (CNR) will receive access to worldclass tools, equipment, and training.

Supported by a $1 million tool and equipment endowment through 2030, this partnership will create first-ever opportunities for forestry and natural resource management students, offsetting costs to the students and university. A key component will be ongoing support from Milwaukee Tool in the form of the latest innovations in battery-powered outdoor power equipment, power tools, and hand tools.

These tools will be used in various CNR courses throughout the academic year, and the company will service and repair tools as needed. Among the tools are pruning saws, chainsaws, blowers, sprayers and various measuring tools. Milwaukee® will also provide training resources to ensure students safely operate tools.

“We are excited to partner with Milwaukee Tool, a world-class leader in sustainable tool technology,” Chancellor Thomas Gibson said at an event announcing the endowment on August 24, at Schmeeckle Reserve. “Their generous support is a tremendous benefit for our students.”

As part of this relationship, CNR students will be among the first to use new technology and products as Milwaukee® launches them into the marketplace.

In addition, each CNR student will receive a personal protective equipment pack, including a high-visibility vest, hard hat, magnetic rechargeable head lamp, safety glasses and banded ear plugs, valued at $177. These PPE packs will be distributed to students during their summer field experience at Treehaven field station, a six-week, hands-on field techniques course that is a key component of CNR programs. About 300 students participate in the summer field experience each year.

“This partnership is a transformational moment in the college’s rich history,” said CNR Dean Brian Sloss.“Our collaboration will help our students, industry and field partners as we continue providing innovative, high-quality experiential education. This is an exciting moment for all as we are partnering with a true innovator and leader in the outdoor tool and equipment space.”

Milwaukee Tool is a global leader in battery-powered technology and understands what it takes to combine batteries, motors, and electronics to deliver disruptive innovation. Their extensive background in battery-powered technology allows them to drive the development of high-performance, sustainable solutions for landscape maintenance and forestry professionals. The company is one of the largest manufacturers and employers in the state.

“We are fortunate to have such an influential forestry partner in our home state,” said Rick Gray, executive vice president of Milwaukee Tool. “As we continue to invest in outdoor power equipment solutions, this partnership will provide us with regular user feedback that will help us deliver on the demands of forestry and conservation professionals in a constantly changing work

“Milwaukeeenvironment.”Tool is equipping CNR for the fall 2022 semester and will continue to provide new professional equipment and curriculum resources for years to come,” Gray said.

UW-Stevens Point students had an opportunity use Milwaukee Tools for trail maintenance at Schmeeckle Reserve.

Jim and Katie Krause CNR Student Research Symposium

The 23rd annual Jim and Katie Krause CNR Student Research Symposium took place on April 8, 2022. CNR students showcased their research findings through poster and oral presentations under the watchful eye of faculty, staff and other community volunteers, who served as judges.

The symposium is planned and organized by a steering committee made up of students with faculty and staff members assisting as needed.

Faculty mentors play an essential role in guiding students through the process in a spirited and educational fashion which expands beyond the traditional bricks and mortar of the classroom.

Visit for more details.

Highest Honors - Oral Presentations

Honorable Mentions - Oral Presentations

Kayla Reed

Hal Edwards, Calvin Filer, and Jared Horvath

Brilyn Brecka and Andrew Greenawalt (not pictured) Methods for Using Light-level Geolocation Data to Examine Breeding Behaviors of Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) in Central Wisconsin

Mark Cook

Texture Based Modeling Approach to Predict Soil Organic Matter with Portable X-Ray SpectroscopyFluorescence

Madisen Hartlaub, Parker Kreie, Shelby Sterken, Molly Moder, Abby Mueller, Nicole Luoma, and Kaylee Woelfel

Population Estimate and Effects of Environmental Variables on Trap Success of Urban Eastern Gray Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) in Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Initial Insights on the Thermal Ecology of Lake Whitefish in Northwestern Lake Michigan

Brook Trout Spawning Site Selection in the Little Plover River, Wisconsin

Alayna Corbisier, Jessica Bjornson, Harrison Stasik, Tristan Stanton, Stephen Van Horne, and Ben Shutt Roundworm Prevalence in Bobcats (Lynx rufus) Harvested in Southern Wisconsin

Highest Honors - Poster Presentations

Ryan Michalesko

Analyzing Location Suitability and Land Conversion of LargeScale Solar Sites in Wisconsin

Mark Cook Texture Based Modeling Approach to Predict Soil Organic Matter with Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Michael Kluz Impacts of Climate Change on Wisconsin County Forestry Planning and PracticesManagement

Elizabeth Belmont Effects of Adjacent Land Use on Nitrate Levels in a Wisconsin Stream

Brady Roberts, Catrina Johnson, Ava Weisbeck, and Zach Cason (not pictured)

Occupancy Modeling and Detection Probability of Ruffed Grouse Auditory Surveys in Northern Wisconsin

Carter Freymiller, Aiden Gehrke, Nicole Luoma, Cole Suckow*, and Sophie Reid* (*not pictured)

The Influence of Lunar Phases on Autumn Capture Probabilities of Northern Saw-Whet Owls (Aegolius acadicus) Recorded at Sandhill Wildlife Area

Cecelia Giesen, Will Watry, Sam Andres, Alayna Reynolds, Amber Smith, Abby Mueller, and Hayden Walkush Post-Release Movement and Behavior of Rehabilitated Orphan Black Bears in Northern Wisconsin

Honorable Mentions - Poster Presentations

Rachael Valeria, Selina Walters, and Logan Cutler

Riparian Habitat Effects on Macroinvertebrate Drift and Brook Trout Diets in the Little Plover River, Wisconsin

Elizabeth VanDomelen, Roiya Meyer, Nicole Wagner, Gina Magro, and Kao Lee Thao

The Correlation of Parasites Between Ducks and Snails Collected from Mead Wildlife Area

Tess Bigalke, Katie Stough, and Amber Smith

Capture Probability of Female and Male Southern Flying Squirrels in Schmeeckle Reserve

Brady Roberts, Catrina Johnson, Ava Weisbeck, and Zach Cason

Preliminary Study of Ruffed Grouse Survival in Northern Wisconsin

Selina Walters and Rachael Valeria

Effects of Riparian Habitat Type on Macroinvertebrate Drift in the Little Plover River, Wisconsin

Nicole Wagner, Gina Magro, and Kao Lee Thao

Parasite Communities in Populations of Greater and Lesser Scaup in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Jeffrey Edwards

Nest-site Selection of Blue-Winged Teal (Spatula discors) in Agriculturally Dominant Landscapes of Southeast Wisconsin

Brenden Elwer

Post Stocking Analysis of Extended Growth Fingerling Walleye (Sander vitreus) in Northern Wisconsin Lakes

Celia Puleo

Can the Nix Pro Camera Predict SOM with the Munsell Color System using the RGB Color Space in Wisconsin’s Agricultural Wet and Dry Soils

Grace Eide

Comparison of Nitrogen and Trace Organic Compounds in Two Headwater Streams

Theodore Rickman

The Effectiveness of Various Types of Deer Browse Protection Methods on Quercus rubra Seedling

Xander Lamping

Models to Predict Abundance and Resiliency of Wild Steelhead Populations in Fish Creek, Idaho

Amanda Krieg

Impact of Land Fragmentation on Buckthorn Abundance and Occurrence in Wisconsin Forests

Noah Andexler

The Effects of Variable Food Intake on the Development of Gyrfalcon Nestlings

Wisconsin Waterfowl Productivity Project

It’s no secret that many ducks breed in Wisconsin every summer, with some common species being mallards, wood ducks, blue-winged teal, and ring-necked ducks. In 2020, Wisconsin adopted a new Waterfowl Habitat Conservation Strategy that ranked Wisconsin watersheds in terms of their importance to these four duck species, among other things, intending to guide conservation and restoration efforts across the state. The backbone of this strategy is a model relying on multiple data sets and expert opinions.

Toward the end of spring 2022, five undergraduate students from the Kennedy Grohne Waterfowl and Wetlands Lab at UW-Stevens Point started working on a project to collect waterfowl productivity data across Wisconsin to validate the above strategy. The crew is flying drones outfitted with thermal and visual spectrum cameras to count the number of breeding duck pairs, duck nests, and broods with ducklings they see at 20 sites across

ThisWisconsin.technology, particularly the thermal cameras, has worked great for the surveys because they allow the crews to key in on “heat signatures” to detect better individuals that can be difficult to see otherwise.

Amanda Griswold, a new graduate student, will lead a new field crew of undergraduate students in 2023. Amanda’s research will focus on comparing the metrics of waterfowl productivity to the rankings provided by the Conservation Strategy to see how well it predicts waterfowl habitat quality.

Ben Sedinger, the Kennedy-Grohne Endowed Chair in Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation, leads this project. Sedinger joined the UW-Stevens Point faculty in 2019. In addition to his teaching, he advises the UW-Stevens Point Student Chapter of Ducks Unlimited and the Wildlife Society Wood Duck Project.

(Photo Credit: Ben Sedinger)

Drones are used with thermal cameras to count breeding duck pairs, duck nests, and broods as part of a research project focused on Wisconsin waterfowl.

Megan Seidl and Jacob Tepsa, undergraduate students involved in the Wisconsin Waterfowl Productivity Project, prepare to deploy a drone. (Photo Credit: Ben Sedinger)

Hydrology Student Wins National Science Foundation Award

Hannah Lukasik is passionate about the environment, recycling, clean water, social justice, and “all things green.”

“Clean drinking water should be a right, so knowing what is in water is important,” said the senior majoring in fisheries and water resourceshydrology and Spanish at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

That passion helped Lukasik win a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Award. She will do graduate work in microplastics at the University of Nevada-Reno after completing her UW-Stevens Point studies this summer.

The National Science Foundation award recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in STEM disciplines who are pursuing research-based masters and doctoral degrees at accredited U.S. institutions. The five-year fellowship includes three years of financial support, including an annual stipend of $34,000 and an education allowance of $12,000 to the institution.

Lukasik is the first UW-Stevens Point student since 2017 to win this award. She will do a U.S.-Mexico cross-border research project on microplastics in aquatic systems to determine impacts on community and environmental health, working with Research Assistant Professor Monica Arienzo of UN-Reno.

“I want to help diverse communities have access to clean drinking water,” said Lukasik of Oak Creek, Wis. “This is like achieving my biggest goal right out of college.”

UW-Stevens Point prepared her well with coursework, research and field experience. Lukasik liked the campus and College of Natural Resources so much when she toured four years ago that she didn’t apply anywhere else. At orientation, she learned about the Water and Environmental Analysis Laboratory (WEAL), where she has worked the last four years. This CNR facility analyzes water samples from residents, schools and others across the state for a range of potential contaminants, including metals, nutrients and pesticides. Students also train to become water quality professionals by participating in research projects as part of courses in the Shelab.gained

tremendous experience in water quality analysis and research and also took on translating WEAL reference materials into Spanish, said Amy Nitka, her WEAL Organic Laboratory supervisor. “What makes Hannah an excellent researcher is that she not only analyzes the samples using advanced instrumentation techniques, but she is also skilled in GIS and statistical analysis, which she used to create the maps, tables, and figures for her evaluation of groundwater flow and lake contaminants.”

Lukasik has been involved in water quality testing for human waste, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, organic compounds, caffeine and artificial sweeteners. “It opened my eyes to what could be in our drinking water. So much of the country relies on well water,” she said. In one research project, she tested for artificial sweetener Acesulfame potassium in septic systems and lakes. It is used to predict human impact and the presence of phosphorus, which accelerates growth of algae and weeds that rob water bodies of oxygen needed for healthy aquatic systems. The sweetener was found in all 12 lakes in six counties studied.

“I love all my professors,” Lukasik said. Water chemistry, hydrology and hydrogeology were special interests. The six-week Treehaven field experience, in which nearly all CNR students participate, helped her develop personal and professional skills and solidify lasting friendships.

Several student organizations at UW-Stevens Point provided Lukasik with additional professional and research opportunities. The American Water Resources Association and Students for Wetland Awareness Management and Protection were among studentled groups whose work benefited local wetlands and lakes. The groups monitored the condition of Lake Joanis on campus, determined groundwater flow in a nearby wetland and conducted a baseline assessment of a wetland as it progressed from agricultural land to its native wetland form.

She is interested in working with diverse communities and is looking forward to using her Spanish in graduate school. She also worked with Indigenous farmers in Kenya this summer as she learned about permaculture and developing sustainable practices, part of a UW-Stevens Point field experience. “I love hearing other people’s stories,” she said. Lukasik is grateful for her family, friends and experiences through UW-Stevens Point. “My family really pushed me to be my best self and do my best. My friends here became family and challenged me in healthy ways.”

This article was written for the Point of U, UW-Stevens Point’s signature eNewsletter, highlighting the top news, strategic initiatives and success stories from our university as a whole. Visit Point of U to read more.

uwsp.edu/cnr

Hannah Lukasik, a UW-Stevens Point hydrology student, is the recipient of a National Science Foundation Award.

Alumni Highlights

Meta Reigel Brandt (M.S. Natural Resources ‘93) received the 2022 Harold “Bud” Jordahl Lifetime Achievement Award by Gathering Waters: Wisconsin’s Alliance for Land Trusts on June 10, 2022. Professionally and personally, Meta has spent over 35 years in environmental education. She worked at nature centers, taught within the UW-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources, served as administrative director for the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Educators, and was an active board member at several environmental organizations. Meta also conserved her family lands in Springstead, Wis. with a conservation easement, protecting 195 acres with shoreline access.

Andrew Koeser (B.S. Forestry – Urban Forestry ‘05) received the award for Excellence in Education from the Florida Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture at their annual meeting in June. This award is given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the education of the Florida Chapter members or to the sum knowledge of arboriculture. Koeser is an Associate Professor of Environmental Horiculture within the Center for Land Use Efficiency at the University of Florida.

Abby Krause (Forestry – Urban Forestry ‘17) was named the West Regional Urban Forestry Coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in April. Her previous work experience includes an internship through the Society of Municipal Arborists with the City of Eugene, Oregon and being volunteer coordinator for the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association. She has spent the last three and half years helping communities as the community and urban forestry outreach coordinator for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. She is also a Certified Arborist through the International Society of Arboriculture

Emily Zeddies (Resource Management – Natural Resource Planning ‘20) is the new zoning administrator for the town of Rome. She will oversee building, zoning, and conditional use permits, along with serving as the staff liaison for the Plan Commission and Board of Appeals. She is also pursuing a masters of public administration.

Alumnus Receives Highest Individual Honor in Natural Resource Management

Charles Wooley (B.S. Fisheries and Water Resources - Water Resources ‘78) was the recipient of the George Bird Grinnell Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to Natural Resource Conservation from the Wildlife Management Institute. This award, established in honor of the widely acknowledged “Father of American Conservation” – George Bird Grinnell – is natural resource management’s highest individual honor and was presented by the Wildlife Management Institute’s President, Steve Williams.

Wooley began his professional career in the late 1970’s as a Fish Biologist and Program Analyst for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in Ohio, Alaska, and Michigan before landing his first permanent job with the Service at the Panama City Fisheries Office in Florida. There, he conducted ground-breaking work on striped bass and sturgeon movement patterns and helped identify genetic differences between Gulf of Mexico striped bass and the Atlantic striped bass. This work would ultimately lead to him authoring 15 technical papers on the biology and life history of the striped bass, sturgeon, and ecosystem restoration. From 19911999, Wooley firmly established his reputation as a collaborator and staunch advocate of conservation partnership while serving as Field Supervisor at the Ecological Service Office in East Lansing, Michigan. There, he used his position and personal qualities to establish effective and action-oriented partnerships across diverse and often divisive groups.

Building upon his successes behind the scenes, Wooley went to the Twin Cities in 1999 as Assistant Regional Director for Ecological Services, then served as Deputy Regional Director before being appointed Regional Director in 2019. He continues to serve in this role.

Meta Reigel received the Harold “Bud” Jordahl Lifetime Achievement Award from Gathering Waters. (Photo Credit: Gathering Waters)

Andrew Koeser (left) was awarded the Excellence Education Award from the Florida Chapter of ISA. (Photo Credit: ISA)

Steve Williams (right), president of the Wildlife Management Institute, presents Charles Wooley (left) his award.

(Photo credit: Wildlife Management Institute)

Alumni Become Lake Leaders

Sara Windjue, Leadership and Capacity Development Specialist, Extension Lakes

In 1998, Wisconsin began a program to develop committed and prepared citizens who could assume leadership roles in policy development, county-wide lake associations, municipal government, and officer positions in individual lake organizations throughout the State.

As it became known, the Lake Leaders Institute is led by our Extension Lakes program at UW-Stevens Point in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the statewide non-profit Wisconsin Lakes. The Institute is designed to assist in developing and enhancing citizen leaders’ technical and people skills while also creating networks to share experiences and encourage participants to learn from each other.

Since its inception, thirteen different crews and 300+ individuals have graduated from the Institute with the fourteenth crew nearing the finish line. Graduates benefit by connecting with those responsible for Wisconsin’s lake and water management and learning more about aquatic ecology, water law, and lake management.

Kirsten James (Fisheries and Water ResourcesHydrology ‘16), a graduate of the Lake Leaders Institute, said, “Meeting, engaging with, and learning from other individuals passionate about our waters was, and continues to be, incredibly inspiring. The importance of building powerful networks and nurturing relationships was an essential takeaway, and one I intend to prioritize and bring with me to lake organizations I support.”

Every other year, individuals from across Wisconsin are nominated to become the next crew of Lake Leaders. The core curriculum involves three seminars, each lasting two days. Lake and policy professionals teach the seminars at various field stations and camps located on or near bodies of water.

Each seminar has its focused content area and includes the following three areas:

• Society and Environment: Philosophy and Ethics of Lake Management

• Aquatic Ecology and Watershed Management: Impact of Lake Development

• Organizations, People, Politics, and the Social Science to Effect Change

The 13th crew of Lake Leaders graduated from the Wisconsin Lake Leaders Institute in 2021. The graduates included individuals from land trusts, water engineering companies, regional watershed organizations, lake associations and districts, statewide entities such as the Wisconsin Legislature and State Park System, and county land and water departments.

Four UW-Stevens Point alumni were among the Crew 13 graduates:

• Sarah (Hull) Snippen (Fisheries and Water Resources - Hydrology ‘14) is a research specialist within the Center for Watershed Science and Education at UW-Stevens Point.

• Kirsten James (Fisheries and Water Resources - Hydrology ‘16) is a civil engineer and water resource specialist with Hey and Associates Inc.

• Mike Lea (Forestry - Forest Management ‘91), the chair of the Lake Eau Claire Protection and Rehabilitation District.

• Molly McKay (Resource Management - Environmental Education and Interpretation, ‘09) is a park ranger for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Learn more by visiting Wisconsin Lake Leaders - Extension Lakes | UWSP or contact Sara Windjue at swindjue@uwsp.edu or 715-346-3212.

The newest Lake Leader Crew met for the first time in May to begin their journey.

Honoring Key Contributors and Our Own

The UW-Stevens Point CNR recognized alumni, faculty, and staff for their accomplishments at their annual CNR Celebration Evening on Friday, April 8, 2022, at SentryWorld in Stevens Point, Wis.

The CNR Outstanding Alumnus Award was given to Kent Van Horn, a 1987 wildlife graduate of UW-Stevens Point. Kent worked as a biologist in various positions from Alaska to Florida, making his way back to Wisconsin in 2001, where he worked for the WDNR for the next 20 years as a Wildlife Manager, Waterfowl Specialist, and ultimately Chief of Bird and Habitat Programs before his retirement in 2021.

Michael Demchik was named the CNR Conservation Leader (individual). Since arriving at UW-Stevens Point, Mike has been a force in conservation from both forestry and restoration perspectives at the state and national levels. He continually focuses on connecting the science to implementation, especially with the inclusion of new research on wildlife habitat management. Mike served on the WDNR Silviculture Guidance Team.

He is active with continuing education, offering online training, webinars, in-person training, and demonstration area development. He served on the Board of Directors for the Association for Temperate Agroforestry and as President of this international organization. He was the editor for the Temperate Agroforester. He is an active member of the Society for Ecological Restoration and has served as the advisor for the student chapter since 2005.

Sue Kissinger received the CNR Outstanding Contributor Award for her contributions as an advisor, colleague, and friend of the College. For over ten years, she was the primary contact for donors, coordinated the CNR scholarship program, and participated in numerous CNR committees. In addition, Sue led several CNR international trips, including Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, and the European Environmental Studies Seminar. When Sue transitioned to the UW-Stevens Point Academic Career and Advising Center, she regularly provided career and resume presentations. She also sat with countless students, helping transform their resumes into flawless documents that landed them the job of their dreams.

Gregg Aiken received the Paper Industry Leadership Award. Neenah Inc. Aiken has an impressive history in the paper industry, including extensive service to the Paper Science and Chemical Engineering Foundation. A career of more than thirty years in the paper industry allowed Gregg to make connections with leaders across the country. These connections benefitted students through increased opportunities for internships and donations of equipment and time for curricular support. His leadership in the Foundation coincides with an extended period of growth in total contributions and endowments. In addition, throughout the last two years of Covid, he upheld the importance of recognizing the achievements of Paper Science and Engineering students by hosting virtual Scholarship Awards ceremonies.

Michael Demchik, UW-Stevens Point 2022 CNR Conservation Leader Award Recipient.

Kent VanHorn, UW-Stevens Point 2022 CNR Outstanding Alumnus Award Recipient is pictured with his wife Mia.

Sue Kissinger, 2022 CNR Outstanding Contributor Award.

Gregg Aiken (left), 2022 Paper Industry Leadership Award Recipient with Karyn Biasca, Chair of the Paper Science and Chemical Engineering Department.

University RecipientsAward

The following CNR faculty and staff members also received University Awards.

The Excellence in Teaching, Scholarship, and Service Award was given to Richard Hauer, urban and community forestry professor. He has been honored for teaching by his department, university, and UW System. His scholarship includes hundreds of publications, presentations, and textbooks. He also serves as a mentor for student research, a member of university committees, and a leader of professional committees. He recently won the Wisconsin Arborist Association’s 2022 Honorary Lifetime Award.

Becca Franzen, associate professor of environmental education, received the Excellence in Teaching Award. She is committed to creativity and creating community in her classroom and her advising.

The Academic Staff Spirit of Community Service Award was given to Haley Frater, Forestry Education Development Initiative program manager for the Wisconsin Forestry Center at UW-Stevens Point. Frater connects the university’s expertise and resources with the forestry industry and has created partnerships with state agencies and forestry companies. She has also been honored for her diversity and inclusivity efforts.

Learn more about all of the University award recipients here.

Melinda Vokoun

Paul Doruska

Michael Demchik

Megan Espe

Bryant Scharenbroch

Brenda Lackey

Ben Sedinger

Faculty, Staff, and Program Highlights

Dan Isermann, Unit Leader of the Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, was inducted into the American Fisheries Society’s (AFS) Fisheries Management Section’s Hall of Excellence! The recognition was established in 1992 to acknowledge fisheries management professionals who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of fisheries management. In addition, Dan was also named an AFS Fellow. This is awarded to AFS members who have made outstanding or meritorious contributions to the diversity of fields that are included in the American Fisheries Society. Contributions can include, but are not restricted to, efforts in leadership, research, teaching and mentoring, resource management and/or conservation, and outreach/interaction with the public.

SoilShop brought community members to campus to have their soil tested for five main components: texture, organic matter, pH, electrical conductivity, and lead. CNR students, led by Bryant Scharenbroch, assistant professor of soil and waste resources, assisted over 300 community members and processed 170 soil samples during the May event. Attendees learned ways to better their soil for gardening and other purposes and attended presentations from local specialists and UW-Stevens Point alumni.

Forty-three gallons of maple syrup were produced at Treehaven from approximately 100 trees on the property. One thousand six hundred gallons of sap were collected, and they had their highest tap yield to date, producing roughly 1/3 gallon of finished syrup per tap.

They have been making syrup for three years. A new filter press and steam bottler, funded with a donation from the Dorothy K. Vallier Foundation, allowed them to improve their bottling operation.

Our Central Wisconsin Environmental Station hosted an Earth Day BioBlitz. A bioblitz is an event focused on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time. Students, staff, and community members identified 56 different species, and 90 total observations were made and logged on iNaturalist.

Cady Sartini, assistant professor of wildlife, and UW-Stevens Point students working on the Wisconsin Black Bear Project were featured on WSAW Channel 7. The study began over 40 years ago and Sartini has helped incorporate more student involvement. Students learn about bear ecology, human-bear conflict, and den processing. See the article here.

In August, CNR Dean Brian Sloss hosted Senator Tammy Baldwin and local representatives for a tour of our Water and Environmental Analysis Lab and a roundtable discussion on Baldwin’s healthy water legislation.

Schmeeckle Reserve completed an accessible lake trail and fishing pier, improving access for visitors in wheelchairs and those with other mobility disabilities. Crushed granite was added to a one-mile loop around Lake Joanis, and the accessible fishing pier and canoe kayak launch was installed on the south side of the lake. Prime W.A.T.E.R. Anglers, a local nonprofit organization, constructed the pier’s metal framework, and Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve volunteers built and installed the wood decking, railings, and accessible ramp. A trail map and other details are available here.

The Tripping Point–Minimum Planting Widths for Small-Stature Trees in Dense Urban Developments was featured on the cover of Sustainability, an international, cross-disciplinary, scholarly, peer-reviewed and open access journal of environmental, cultural, economic, and social sustainability of human beings. It provides an advanced forum for studies related to sustainability and sustainable development, and is published semimonthly online by MDPI. Richard Hauer is the second author following Andrew Koeser, an alumnus of UW-Stevens Point.

Dan Isermann (right) was inducted into the AFS Fisheries Management Section’s Hall of Excellence and received an AFS Fellow Award.

Eli Anoszko, Treehaven Vallier Resident Ecologist, processes maple syrup for the third year in a row.

Senator Tammy Baldwin hosted a roundtable moderated by CNR Dean Brian Sloss on water quality issues.

In Memory

Milo Harpstead was born at home on September 28, 1930, in Lee Township near Wilmot, South Dakota. He attended a one-room school through 8th grade. After graduating from Wilmot High School in 1948, he worked as a section hand for the Twin City Rapid Transit, maintaining and replacing tracks for street cars. He then attended South Dakota State University (SDSU), majoring in Agriculture with an emphasis in Soil Science, graduating in 1953.

Milo was in the Army ROTC during college. Following graduation from SDSU, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry and deployed to Fort Benning, GA, and Fort Richardson near Anchorage, Alaska. In Alaska, he was assigned to teach infantry tactics to soldiers who handled the supply and maintenance of equipment. This began his teaching career.

Following his active duty in the military, Milo returned to SDSU, receiving a master’s degree in Agronomy in 1957, and began his Ph.D. program in Soil Science at the University of Minnesota. Milo started teaching Soil Science at UW-Stevens Point in 1961 and graduated with his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1962. He published the Soil Science Simplified textbook in 1980. He was a devoted educator and always enjoyed hearing from former students after his retirement in 1992.

He died unexpectedly on June 15, 2022, at Aurora Medical Center in Sheboygan, WI, with his family at his side at 91.

His legacy will live on through these students and the future students who will be able to utilize Milo Acres, a soil sciences field laboratory, on 22 acres of his land that he donated to the UWSP Foundation in 2020. More than 11,000 students have studied its varying soils for 60 years, collecting samples for experiments and using them for soil judging practice and Viewcompetition.Milo’sfull obituary.

Make a Difference

There are two significant ways you can help us continue to be one of the nation’s leading undergraduate natural resources programs.

Make a gift. With decreasing levels of state support, your financial gift can provide the college with the support it needs to continue to produce the excellent graduates for which we are known. Give online at www.uwsp.edu/givenow or if you would like to mail in a donation, please make checks payable to the “UWSP Foundation - CNR” and send to UW-Stevens Point Foundation, 2100 Main Street, Stevens Point, WI 54481.

Share your story. We love to hear from our alumni! Hearing what you have been up to since graduation builds pride among our faculty, staff, and students; helps us obtain grants and gifts from other sources; and makes a fun addition to our newsletter. Send your story to cnr@uwsp.edu.

Milo Harpstead