From Brook Waalen-Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters

Friends,

The Natural Resources Board (http://dnr.wi.gov/org/nrboard/) is scheduled to decide whether or not to direct the DNR to further explore the feasibility of an Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area (see attached). This doesn’t mean that any area will be approved it just means that the DNR is moving ahead slowly and making certain that it has the blessing of all the big players before it considers building a rather large (2,000 acres or larger) this facility.

I will provide comments on this proposal and will basically ask that the NRB and the DNR direct resources at fixing existing ATV problems before it spend millions on an extreme motorsport facility. My comments and a supplemental fact sheet are attached.

If anyone wants to show support (I know the motorsport community will bring a large contingent) for silent sports and the environment you may attend but it’s too late to sign up to speak. The NRB is meeting at River Falls at Rodili Commons at the University and the OHV Recreation Area should be on at about 9am.

Two weeks from now the Governor’s State Trails Council (http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/parks/trails/council/) takes up the same issue. I’ll be providing a 15 min presentation to that group on Friday, July 14 at 12:30. ATVers always have a show of force at these meetings while silent sport folks and nature lovers are conspicuously absent. That’s not a call to arms or a guilt trip but we need to ready ourselves to be a part of a public discourse that will determine the fate of our public lands and trails.

Brook Waalen

Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters
2596 State Road 35, Luck, Wisconsin 54853