It passed!

The new DNR board passed the NHAL Forest Master Plan. Congratulations to Dennis Leith and his staff for the great job they did on the plan!

The ATV loop trail is out, no new trail is in, but there is a committee with an 18 month mandate to investigate a possible trail. Fortunately, some silent sports allies will be on the committee. It was the best we could have expected given the strong-arm from the legislature.

Even more importantly, the committee approved expansion of the forest above highway B to the Ottowa National Forest in Michigan.

Most of the public comment was opposed to the idea of an ATV trail.

I learned quite a bit from listening to the pro-ATV speakers. First of all, nearly all of them talked about wanting a "trail system". They did not support the loop trail. It was interesting that one of the speakers dismissed the Vilas County referendum, saying people were "confused" by wording that led them to believe there would be trails all over the county. On the other hand, at another point he said pretty clearly that he wanted a trail system.

But here is an interesting point he made-he said his side was ready to compromise, but our side wasn't. A fair point, perhaps. So, I am asking myself, under what circumstances WOULD I accept an ATV trail in the NHAL forest? What do you think? I will post some ideas in the next few days.