Goal Statement from Northwoods Citizens for Responsible Stewardship

NORTHWOODS CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP
P.O. Box 31 Presque Isle, Wi 54557

Goal Statement For NCRS: One Quiet County

By referendum in February, 2004, 63% of Vilas County residents voted against opening ATV trails on county lands. We also oppose the ATV “Experimental Loop” trail in the Vilas County portion of the NHAL State Forest. We realize that this 225,000-acre state forest is under stress from a rapidly growing user population, where each person feels that they have a right to use the land to suit themselves. We may all have the right to use public land, but if this fragile, wild environment is to remain healthy, no one can be given the right to degrade these lands. To include ATV trails in The Master Plan, we feel unbalances user rights by introducing a highly destructive form of recreation. Therefore our members would like to reserve one county, Vilas, for the preservation of silent sports, nature appreciation, and the intelligent care of all vital ecosystems on public lands.

We wish to promote healthy, outdoor experiences by concentrating on three important areas:

1. Environmental Health – preserve the fragile environment of many lakes, wetlands and bogs and the animal life within by eliminating All Terrain Vehicles from trails on public land because they are too powerful, too fast, too noisy, too destructive to be allowed access to natural areas.

2. Human Health – people need a serene area to escape the fast paced, motorized world, therefore allow one county, Vilas, to promote healthy outdoor exercise, in addition to clean air, clean water and natural sounds.

3. Economic Health - 87% of public land users prefer non-motorized activity. ATV riders account for only 13% of the users. Vilas County currently leads all other northern counties in total tourist dollars spent – without ATVs. Why not court the 87% to improve the economy? Why gamble that increasing ATV use may decrease tourism?

Before building more trails, may we suggest that the DNR study the current 5,000 miles of ATV trails in Wisconsin and answer the important questions:
1. Are these trails overcrowded? If not, why do we need more trails?
2. What are the cumulative effects of ATV trails on the natural resource? This investigation must extend to areas adjacent to ATV trails since designated trails are a failed experiment at containment.
Public hearing, May 5th, 6-8 p.m., Boulder Junction Community Center

Sue Drum, SecretaryNorthwoods Citizens for Responsible Stewardship www.ncrs.info

quietnorth's note: I will post a link to an online petition on Monday for those who oppose the ATV trail in the Northern Highland/American Legion forest.