[EDITOR'S ADVISORY: Additional regional contacts are available: South Central Wisconsin Recreation Warden Marty Stone, 608-778-2035 or martin.stone@wisconsin.gov; Northeast Wisconsin Recreation Warden Darren Kuhn, 920-615-6075 or darren.kuhn@wisconsin.gov, South Eastern Wisconsin Recreation Warden Jason Roberts, 262-903-9399 or jason.roberts@wisconsin.gov; West Central Wisconsin Recreation Warden Matt Groppi, 715-284-1421 or matthew.groppi@wisconsin.gov, Northern Wisconsin Recreation Warden Mark Little, 715-492-1047 or mark.little@wisconsin.gov.]

MADISON -- Boaters and paddlers enjoying Wisconsin's waters June 29-July 1 could see more state conservation wardens and local boat patrols on the water during the 10th annual national Operation Dry Water.

MADISON -- Thousands of Wisconsinites and visitors will take to the water this Fourth-of-July for the state's busiest boating holiday. During the tenth annual Landing Blitz, June 29-July 4, many boaters will be greeted at landings and access points by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources staff, volunteers and regional Aquatic Invasive Species partners sharing a simple but powerful message: YOU can protect lakes and rivers from aquatic invasive species.

MADISON - Information about the 2017 ruffed grouse harvest and 2018 spring drumming survey results, statement of scope approvals related to 1) marten protection closed areas, 2) chronic wasting disease, and 3) site-specific phosphorus water quality criteria, requests for approvals of master plans for the Southern Region Planning Group and Kettle Moraine Waters groups, and a request to initiate a planning process to establish recreational trail uses at Blue Mound State Park for trail are among the items the state Natural Resources Board will address when it meets June 27 in Madison.

HUDSON, Wis. - State and local officials will celebrate the groundbreaking for the reconstruction of Little Falls Dam on the Willow River within Willow River State Park at a ceremony at 1 p.m. on June 26. The public is welcome to attend.

Many properties across the north unaffected and remain open

SUPERIOR, Wis. - Heavy rains across northwestern Wisconsin last weekend and early this week have flooded some roads and caused washouts on some highways, roads, state parks, forests and trails. According to the National Weather Service the area has received 7 to 12 inches of rain from Friday through Monday.

MADISON - Recent heavy rains in many northern Wisconsin counties have affected private property owners and state properties.

DNR public comment period open through July 3

WOODRUFF, Wis. - The public will have an opportunity to comment on plans for expanded recreational opportunities in the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest through the designation of approximately 11 miles of all-terrain and utility vehicle routes on Department of Natural Resources roads in the forest. The roads proposed for ATV/UTV designation will contribute to the eventual completion of a north-south route through the forest, connecting communities and providing additional recreation opportunities.

Plant for pollinators and take other steps at home or on the farm to help them

[Editor's Note: Join us Wednesday, June 20, about 2:30 p.m., for a Facebook Live stream as DNR Conservation Biologist Amy Staffen highlights plants she's added to her yard to benefit pollinators. Catch this live stream via the Wisconsin DNR Facebook Page. Make sure you're notified when we go live by clicking the "Follow" button on our Facebook page. Or view the video at your leisure on our Facebook page under the "Live Videos" tab and in our feed.]

MADISON - Pollinators are critical for Wisconsin ecosystems and crops including cranberries, peppers and tomatoes, and Pollinator Week, June 18-24, highlights steps city and rural residents can take to help protect and increase pollinator habitat.

MADISON -- Summer is on its way and so is the latest issue of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine. The current edition focuses on everything that's great about summer in Wisconsin, starting with the cover story on a special songbird, the Kirtland's warbler. "A happy tune" tells about state conservation work with this endangered species, an innovative effort that uses Kirtland's song recordings to help draw the bird to areas of northern Wisconsin with optimal habitat.

MADISON -- The State Highway 22 Project may result in the "incidental taking" of a rare lizard and turtle under an authorization the Department of Natural Resources proposes to issue for the project. Incidental take refers to the unintentional loss of individual endangered or threatened animals or plants that does not put the overall population of the species at risk.