Sept. 29, 2010 |(7) Comments

In the world of conservation law enforcement, wardens have been called the "thin gray line" of protection.

It's a reference to their uniform color, of course. It also gives an indication of the size of the Wisconsin force that stands for public safety and the state's natural resources, and against violators.

Quantitatively, though, it's generous - "dotted line" would be more appropriate.

Over the last 15 years, Wisconsin has routinely fielded among the smallest warden staffs per number of licensed hunters and anglers in the nation. In 2010, it's one warden for every 11,982 hunters and anglers.

The number would be worse, but for the first time in three years Wisconsin is adding a warden class. Ten recruits were hired this summer and last week successfully completed their 13-week law enforcement academy training at Fort McCoy.

They are slated to complete the other phases of training in coming months and be placed in vacant warden slots next July. Counting the 10 recruits, the state's warden force numbers 179. There are 27 vacancies.

For reference, Indiana has more than twice as many wardens per hunter and angler (one for 4,977) than the Badger State.

In a 2010 survey of the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs, Wisconsin placed last of the 20 states that responded. In a similar survey in 1998, Wisconsin was 49th of 50.

Such low numbers surely have an impact on the staff's ability to perform its duties, said Eric Nuse, one of the nation's leading experts on conservation law enforcement.

"When you've got those kind of staffing levels, the wardens pretty much end up answering complaints," said Nuse, a Vermont game warden for 32 years and former executive director of the International Hunters Education Association.

Nuse said that while most citizens don't break laws, for the other segment of the population it's important to have the "deterrent effect" of an adequate number of wardens in the field.

"The person who breaks the law gets away with it more often, or perhaps all the time," said Nuse, who now heads Orion - The Hunters' Institute in Johnson, Vt. "And if you have too small a staff you lose touch with the people in your area. The landowners, farmers, hunters and anglers that you want to develop personal relationships with over time. That's critical to performing your job."

Wisconsin wardens have "made do" in recent years of tight or reduced budgets, including leaving positions open and instituting cost-saving measures such as Internet-based meetings and using motorcycles on certain assignments to reduce fuel expenses.

But while their staff has been reduced through attrition and canceled recruit classes, their jobs have expanded. The "popple cop" of old has more responsibilities than ever: hazardous waste, drunken boaters, invasive species and full support to local law enforcement agencies, for example.

"I know they've been working harder than ever and doing good things," said Ray Smith of Balsam Lake, chairman of the Endangered Resources and Law Enforcement Committee of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress. "But we definitely need more wardens."

The "thin gray line" reference has another tangent: 23% of the Wisconsin warden force is eligible for retirement in the next two years.

Wardens are arguably the most public of all DNR employees. In most communities around the state, the public knows where they live.

Proper enforcement of our natural resource laws also is crucial to maintaining the high quality of life we like to tout in Wisconsin.

When 13 Milwaukee-area anglers were cited earlier this year for overbagging panfish - 2,238 fish over their limits - on the Chippewa Flowage, many state residents were incensed.

The arrests came after anonymous tips to the DNR. How many other cases of poaching are occurring? How many wardens are enough?

Getting to the budgeted number - 206 - would be a start.

North Lake public boat launch: The Department of Natural Resources will hold a public hearing Thursday on a proposed public boat launch at North Lake in Waukesha County.

The hearing will be from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Richard T. Anderson Education Center, Room C-51, Waukesha County Technical College, 800 Main St., Pewaukee. The purpose of the hearing is to solicit public comments and provide an overview of the proposed development of the W.C. (Whitey) Kraus public access site on the northwest side of North Lake.

North Lake, a 437-acre water body in the Town of Merton and Village of Chenequa, is the largest lake in Waukesha County without adequate public access, according to the DNR. The W.C. (Whitey) Kraus public access site is located at W323 N7453 Reddelien Road. The department purchased the access site in 2005 to provide year-round public access for boating and recreation. Plans for the public access development include: reconstructing the existing access road; installing a boat ramp and accessible boarding dock; providing parking for 16 vehicles with trailers, two car-only parking stalls, portable restroom and trash bin enclosure; and landscaping and stormwater controls to manage site runoff.

In addition to learning details of the proposed improvements, the public will have an opportunity to provide oral and written comments for the hearing record.

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