Hi everyone,
This is a brief synopsis of the Natural Resource board meeting in Tomahawk at Treehaven, Oct. 26, 2005.
When the agenda came to the approval of the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest Master Plan, 17 people had signed-up ahead of time to speak. Each was given 4 minutes. Six spoke against ATV authorization ( Sue Drum, Mark Haag, Don Erickson, June Schmaal, Jerry Woolpy, and Norm Poulton); four spoke in favor of ATV trails ( Randy Hardin- WATVA, Bill Schuman- Blue Ribbon Coalition, Sulo Wainio- Alliance of Vilas County ATV Clubs
with 500 members, and President of Northwoods ATV Club from Boulder Junction); Four spoke for expansion of public land as a wall against development and forest fragmentation; one man wanted more bike trails because biking was good for our health; one man wanted a larger timber harvest because mills were closing; one man wanted to protect feral cats and pigs???
Dennis Leath and Tim Mulhern talked about the features in the 15 year plan. They made it clear that they would choose the members of the stakeholders group to consider ATV trails.
A board member asked how they could come back in 18 months with recommendations for ATV trails if they hadn't been able to find a suitable site in 9 years.
Dennis said he wanted to get all other parts of the Master Plan approved while he conducted stakeholder meetings on ATV trails. The 18 months is sort of a space holder for ATVs. The time limit for ATV consideration is flexible, and 18 months is only one goal. Does this sound like the door is never completely closed to ATVs?
The Board asked Dennis if they could refuse to consider ATVs at all. Dennis said that ATVs were so popular they should revisit the issue. Also state law instructs the DNR to encourage and support ATV trails. Despite opposition from Vilas County, Dennis said they would not rule out siting a trial in Vilas.
Randy Harden was oozing with cooperation. He liked stakeholders groups; he liked to work with everyone. He touted the Ice Age Trail "Memo of Understanding" as a step forward. He mentioned he was on the Governor's State Trails Council and was always in favor of sustainable trails.
The lady board member asked why we should produce more ATV trails for more people to violate. Randy's answer was unclear but he mentioned that more trails would disperse ATV numbers which would lead to less damage. (who's he kidding)
The lady board member said deer poaching was essentially stopped when poachers were fined $2000 and their rifles confiscated. She favored fining rogue ATV riders $2000 and confiscation their vehicle. Randy had no comment.
A gentleman who was a director on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands spoke in support of the forest expansion, emphasizing again that the NRB must act quickly before the few remaining large blocks of land were sold to developers. It is necessary to link the NH-AL to the Ottowas Nat. Forest in the U.P. to provide a corridor for wildlife and preserve the diverse ecosystems of the northwoods.
A board member asked the speaker to describe his feelings toward ATVs on BCPL forest lands. With "off the cuff" sincerity and obvious experience, he delivered some very stong statements. He said he would proceed very cautiously with ATV trails as they had experienced serious problems with ATVs on BCPL lands. He said riders were difficult to control and enforcement was hampered by the inability to ID machine and rider. He suggested large license plate numbers that could be read from both front and back.
The NRB quickly voted to accept the NH-AL State Forest 15 year Master Plan as presented. The Plan goes to the legislature for final approval.
The next step will be a stakeholders group that will search for a suitable site for an ATV trail, applying the new DNR guidelines for siting, building and maintenance. Of course I have asked Dennis to include me.
Sue Drum
11384 CTH B
Presque Isle, 54557
715-686-2655
drumsa@centurytel.net
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