Natural Resources Board Meeting October 26th:From Sue Drum

Hi Everyone,

I talked to Amy Lemberger, Executive Assistant for the Natural Resources Board, and she said the board will meet Wednesday, October 26th in Tomahawk at Treehaven. This is the meeting where the final master plan for the NH-AL State Forest is on the agenda.
There will be no public forum Oct. 25th. Instead please send written comments to Amy Lemberger using her e-mail address:
amy.lemberger@dnr.state.wi.us She will take written comments upto Oct. 21st and give them to the board.
Next week, about Oct. 12th, the agenda (with times) will be posted on the N.R. Board website: www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/nrboard/
Click on agenda.
The final master plan and environmental impact statement are available on the DNR website: www.dnr.state.wi.us
As you know, since Wisconsin State Statues still mandate that the DNR encourage and support an ATV trail system, the NH-AL planners are obligated to continue to look for suitable sites for ATV trails. Our protests have bought time. Now, where-ever the issue is discussed, those who fought the ATV trail must appear alongside ATV advocates to remind everyone that the NH-AL is too rare and priceless a resource to allow any unsustainable use.
Please take time to write, and encourage friends to write, the Natural Resource Board before Oct. 21st. Please be lavish in your praise for Dennis Leith and the DNR planning committee who listened to you plea and removed the ATV loop trail.
The final Master Plan for the NH-AL State Forest, offers 12 sustainable proposals that support forestry jobs and products for many generations, provide habitat critical to the survival of northwoods plants and animals, increase camping and wilderness experiences for those who value the peace and beauty of the forest, and creates more trails for silent sports enthusiasts.

Environmental activists tell me you don't get far being strident and totally against ATVs. So Northwoods Citizens For Responsible Stewardship (NCRS) is not against ATV recreation. There is a place for ATVs but not in our state forests and parks.
NCRS is for the environment. For sustaining habitats necessary for healthy ecosystems that give us clean air, clean water and a rare quality of life for residents and tourists. We are for using public lands as a wall against over-development. We prize the northwoods as the northwoods - a place where people can de-stress in peace and solitude and our children can experience the wonders of nature.

It is always good to close with a quote from John Bates. "Use of public lands must be restricted to those who have demonstrated stewardship over time, something the ATV community has, without hyperbole, utterly failed to do. There's no constitutional right to utilize public lands when the user will clearly have a significant negative impact."

Please, once again, write a letter! The ATV advocates will.

Sue Drum
715-686-2655
drumsa@centurytel.net