ATV Stakeholder's group meeting notes-August
SUSTAINABLE ATV TRAIL STAKEHOLDERS GROUP MEETING – Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Notes taken by Sue Drum, Northwoods Citizens for Responsible Stewardship
Dennis Leith introduced Steve Petersen, the new NHAL State Forest Superintendent.
We introduced ourselves and the only new member was Tom Thompson from the Iron County Board, Mercer. Now all three county boards are represented, Vilas by Ron Debruyne, Oneida by Matt Matteson, and Iron.
Bill Klase our facilitator reminded us that our goal is to find an appropriate and sustainable ATV trail site in the NHAL. Sustainable is defined as: a. ecologically sustainable – minimal ecologic impact b. physically sustainable – the trail retains its shape throughout time without abrupt change due to human or natural forces c. social/economic – accepted and supported by affected parties
We reviewed the trail developed by Mike Musiedlak, Vilas County Alliance of ATV Clubs Inc. The trail began in Lake Tomahawk and followed a snowmobile trail N.E. around Hasbrook Lake then past Sweeny Lake, heading East along Cty. J right of way to pick up the snowmobile trail near Buffalo Lake and ziz-zag its way into Vilas County to Hiway 70, with a short eastern spur along Hiway 70 to approach the Shell Gas Station. The trail continues north of Hiway 70 on a snowmobile trail squeezing between Bittersweet Lake wilderness management area and a native community management area where native red and white pine are cultivated. Eventually the trail ends at Hiway N to the west of Sayner at the bike trail and parking lot near South Plum Lake. Mike produced photographs that showed the trail is presently a 2-track clearing that can accommodate a truck or car.
As Mike attempted to extend the trail north, south or east we quickly accepted the fact that bicycle trails, including the Razorback Ridges mountain bike and cross country ski trails, many campgrounds, lakes and semi-remote areas precluded ATV trails.
We were reminded that trail criteria demanded not only sustainability but also that our trail should connect to a regional network of ATV trails.
John Bilogan, Cty. Forest Association, Rhinelander, thought we should stretch the meaning of “connecting” to include the 19.77-mile, stand alone trail from Lake Tomahawk to Sayner. He said that the Wisconsin County Forest Association wants the state to develop ATV trails on their property to take the heat off county forests for more trails when they already have too many. If people don’t think 20 miles of trail is enough, Bilogan said, then we should get rid of the 10 miles of stand alone trail in Oneida County near the Willow Flowage. Ron Debruyne pointed out that when you count the routes he could enjoy an entire day riding the 20+ miles of trails and routes. He thinks 20 miles is plenty long.
Ken Anderson thinks we should use existing snowmobile trails since that land is already disturbed and forest fragmentation would not occur for new trails. ( I think ATV’s are not snowmobiles. ATVs enter the forest at the critical spring, summer, season when plants and animals are waking up from winter, eating and reproducing. ATVs are far more damaging to native communities than snowmobiles. Hikers use snowmobile trails in the spring and summer as do some mountain bikers, all quiet, low impact uses. )
We decided to set aside the Lake Tomahawk to Sayner route and return to the route we started in the Northwest corner that linked to Mercer trails in Iron County. The only one who objected was Mike and Randy Harden who wanted to make sure we could still work on the north/south, east/west route. Mike said he would have to drive an hour to reach Mercer and he wanted an ATV trail near his home. ( I think that people who live in the northwoods accept the fact that they will do a lot of driving. We gladly drive an hour or more to launch our canoe into scenic waters.)
Sulo Wainio who usually arrives at the stakeholder meeting, even though he is not a stakeholder, before 10:00 a.m. to talk to DNR personnel and ATV advocates, jumped up from the public spectator section and pointed out the land behind his Thirty Point Bar on Cty. W. He wants us to locate an ATV trail there using the many logging roads and a snowmobile route. The strategy of the ATV advocates seems to be to locate a trail anywhere in the NHAL State Forest in order to get their toe in the door. Once a trail is developed and legal then they will push for expansion. This strategy has worked in the past.
Dennis Leith said we should try to connect with Iron County trails and Tom Thompson from Iron County, said Mercer would like to expand their trails. Presently the Mercer/Hurley area has over 200 miles of trails and routes.
Dennis Leith had arranged for Randy Hoffman, endangered resource specialist from Madison, to speak to us after lunch. Here are some points Randy emphasized.
He stressed that sustainable forest management provided a plan for the future that benefited both our children and us. Randy was proud of The Land Legacy Report, a DNR publication that “describes the special places in Wisconsin that will be critical to meet conservation and recreation needs for the next fifty years. Legacy Places are what make Wisconsin Wisconsin.”
Randy also mentioned the (Look up Crog report)CROG Report (Community Restoration and Old Growth) which determines the best areas to restore old growth forest characteristics. To date the Biotic Inventory Report has identified over 54,000 plant and animal species in Wisconsin but Randy feels they have just scratched the surface because they have not counted all the insects, fungi, and other hard to find species.
Randy said that researchers at the U. of WI are trying to protect biodiversity. No parts of the forest are pristine but there are many levels of disturbance. Areas with low levels of disturbance support high levels of biodiversity (especially wetlands) and the DNR preserves these areas as “native communities”. People need undisturbed areas to experience and enjoy natural beauty. Scientists need undisturbed areas to use as “ecological reference areas”. Long term monitoring of undisturbed areas allows scientists to understand which species belong in a natural community and by comparison, determine species lost from disturbed areas. We don’t know everything, Randy said. We don’t know how to restore a natural community without a “blueprint”. The forest plan for the NHAL tries to preserve many different areas like Semi-remote areas, Wilderness and Wild Lakes, Native Community with passive management, Wild Resource Management, Forest Production Management and Recreation Management .
A sustainable trail does not harm the resource!
I think the word “sustainability” is gaining in popularity, everywhere. It promises an enriched future by keeping our northwoods resources intact. Is it possible to insert a sustainable ATV trail into our forest? We’ll see.
The next Stakeholder meeting is scheduled for Friday, September 15th at 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Reulands Catering. I can not attend this meeting so Al Eschenbauch from Presque Isle, will take my place.
The field trip to look at the Iron Cty, trail has been put off until October 9th meeting. Phyllis Obrien form the Iron Cty, Chamber and Bill Schuman from Asso. of Wi. Snowmobile Clubs, know the area and will take a video of possible trail routes to help us settle on at least one solid proposal.
Sue Drum
11384 CTH B
Presque Isle, WI 54557
715-686-2655
HYPERLINK mailto:drumsa@centurytel.net drumsa@centurytel.net
Notes taken by Sue Drum, Northwoods Citizens for Responsible Stewardship
Dennis Leith introduced Steve Petersen, the new NHAL State Forest Superintendent.
We introduced ourselves and the only new member was Tom Thompson from the Iron County Board, Mercer. Now all three county boards are represented, Vilas by Ron Debruyne, Oneida by Matt Matteson, and Iron.
Bill Klase our facilitator reminded us that our goal is to find an appropriate and sustainable ATV trail site in the NHAL. Sustainable is defined as: a. ecologically sustainable – minimal ecologic impact b. physically sustainable – the trail retains its shape throughout time without abrupt change due to human or natural forces c. social/economic – accepted and supported by affected parties
We reviewed the trail developed by Mike Musiedlak, Vilas County Alliance of ATV Clubs Inc. The trail began in Lake Tomahawk and followed a snowmobile trail N.E. around Hasbrook Lake then past Sweeny Lake, heading East along Cty. J right of way to pick up the snowmobile trail near Buffalo Lake and ziz-zag its way into Vilas County to Hiway 70, with a short eastern spur along Hiway 70 to approach the Shell Gas Station. The trail continues north of Hiway 70 on a snowmobile trail squeezing between Bittersweet Lake wilderness management area and a native community management area where native red and white pine are cultivated. Eventually the trail ends at Hiway N to the west of Sayner at the bike trail and parking lot near South Plum Lake. Mike produced photographs that showed the trail is presently a 2-track clearing that can accommodate a truck or car.
As Mike attempted to extend the trail north, south or east we quickly accepted the fact that bicycle trails, including the Razorback Ridges mountain bike and cross country ski trails, many campgrounds, lakes and semi-remote areas precluded ATV trails.
We were reminded that trail criteria demanded not only sustainability but also that our trail should connect to a regional network of ATV trails.
John Bilogan, Cty. Forest Association, Rhinelander, thought we should stretch the meaning of “connecting” to include the 19.77-mile, stand alone trail from Lake Tomahawk to Sayner. He said that the Wisconsin County Forest Association wants the state to develop ATV trails on their property to take the heat off county forests for more trails when they already have too many. If people don’t think 20 miles of trail is enough, Bilogan said, then we should get rid of the 10 miles of stand alone trail in Oneida County near the Willow Flowage. Ron Debruyne pointed out that when you count the routes he could enjoy an entire day riding the 20+ miles of trails and routes. He thinks 20 miles is plenty long.
Ken Anderson thinks we should use existing snowmobile trails since that land is already disturbed and forest fragmentation would not occur for new trails. ( I think ATV’s are not snowmobiles. ATVs enter the forest at the critical spring, summer, season when plants and animals are waking up from winter, eating and reproducing. ATVs are far more damaging to native communities than snowmobiles. Hikers use snowmobile trails in the spring and summer as do some mountain bikers, all quiet, low impact uses. )
We decided to set aside the Lake Tomahawk to Sayner route and return to the route we started in the Northwest corner that linked to Mercer trails in Iron County. The only one who objected was Mike and Randy Harden who wanted to make sure we could still work on the north/south, east/west route. Mike said he would have to drive an hour to reach Mercer and he wanted an ATV trail near his home. ( I think that people who live in the northwoods accept the fact that they will do a lot of driving. We gladly drive an hour or more to launch our canoe into scenic waters.)
Sulo Wainio who usually arrives at the stakeholder meeting, even though he is not a stakeholder, before 10:00 a.m. to talk to DNR personnel and ATV advocates, jumped up from the public spectator section and pointed out the land behind his Thirty Point Bar on Cty. W. He wants us to locate an ATV trail there using the many logging roads and a snowmobile route. The strategy of the ATV advocates seems to be to locate a trail anywhere in the NHAL State Forest in order to get their toe in the door. Once a trail is developed and legal then they will push for expansion. This strategy has worked in the past.
Dennis Leith said we should try to connect with Iron County trails and Tom Thompson from Iron County, said Mercer would like to expand their trails. Presently the Mercer/Hurley area has over 200 miles of trails and routes.
Dennis Leith had arranged for Randy Hoffman, endangered resource specialist from Madison, to speak to us after lunch. Here are some points Randy emphasized.
He stressed that sustainable forest management provided a plan for the future that benefited both our children and us. Randy was proud of The Land Legacy Report, a DNR publication that “describes the special places in Wisconsin that will be critical to meet conservation and recreation needs for the next fifty years. Legacy Places are what make Wisconsin Wisconsin.”
Randy also mentioned the (Look up Crog report)CROG Report (Community Restoration and Old Growth) which determines the best areas to restore old growth forest characteristics. To date the Biotic Inventory Report has identified over 54,000 plant and animal species in Wisconsin but Randy feels they have just scratched the surface because they have not counted all the insects, fungi, and other hard to find species.
Randy said that researchers at the U. of WI are trying to protect biodiversity. No parts of the forest are pristine but there are many levels of disturbance. Areas with low levels of disturbance support high levels of biodiversity (especially wetlands) and the DNR preserves these areas as “native communities”. People need undisturbed areas to experience and enjoy natural beauty. Scientists need undisturbed areas to use as “ecological reference areas”. Long term monitoring of undisturbed areas allows scientists to understand which species belong in a natural community and by comparison, determine species lost from disturbed areas. We don’t know everything, Randy said. We don’t know how to restore a natural community without a “blueprint”. The forest plan for the NHAL tries to preserve many different areas like Semi-remote areas, Wilderness and Wild Lakes, Native Community with passive management, Wild Resource Management, Forest Production Management and Recreation Management .
A sustainable trail does not harm the resource!
I think the word “sustainability” is gaining in popularity, everywhere. It promises an enriched future by keeping our northwoods resources intact. Is it possible to insert a sustainable ATV trail into our forest? We’ll see.
The next Stakeholder meeting is scheduled for Friday, September 15th at 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Reulands Catering. I can not attend this meeting so Al Eschenbauch from Presque Isle, will take my place.
The field trip to look at the Iron Cty, trail has been put off until October 9th meeting. Phyllis Obrien form the Iron Cty, Chamber and Bill Schuman from Asso. of Wi. Snowmobile Clubs, know the area and will take a video of possible trail routes to help us settle on at least one solid proposal.
Sue Drum
11384 CTH B
Presque Isle, WI 54557
715-686-2655
HYPERLINK mailto:drumsa@centurytel.net drumsa@centurytel.net
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