Action letter from Sue Drum: Time to Stop ATV trails
Time to Stop ATV Trails in the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest
This is a call to action for Vilas County Citizens and all Wisconsin residents who value the health of the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest. As the largest of the 7 state forests with 222,000 acres, the NHAL represents the last of the forest blocks in Wisconsin large enough to truly protect and preserve habitat for northern wildlife.
It appears that the majority of the 16 Stakeholders assembled to find suitable ATV trail sites and routes are in favor of ATVs in our state forest, as are Dennis Leith and Bob Dall. The Natural Resources Board will receive the proposed ATV trail sites that the Stakeholders agree on by consensus, and will vote on this proposal at their May or June meeting. When the trail proposal is scheduled, I will let you know.
The important point is that the Natural Resource Board members make the final decision on whether or not ATV trails are placed in our NHAL State Forest.
I am convinced that an ATV trail or trails can only be stopped if enough people come to the aid of this valuable public resource, and recognize the value of maintaining the integrity of the forest ecosystem, as well as its scenic and esthetic qualities.
Let Vilas County, still undamaged by ATVs become the “control” in the ATV experiment, where the “control” serves as the unaltered base against which change, caused by ATV trails, can be measured. As ATV trails grow in the surrounding northern counties, let the NHAL remain an example of an intact, undamaged forest.
Here is my suggested plan of action.
Please feel free to comment and add your own improvements.
1. We must bury the Natural Resource Board (NRB) in letters of opposition. Write at least one, strong letter, expressing your personal thoughts and e-mail it to Laurie Ross, Executive Staff Assistant at NRB. Write boldly on your letter, “Please forward to all the NRB members.” Laurie will distribute your letter to all members. Of course you may also slow mail your letter to Laurie Ross or to individual NRB members.
LaurieRoss@wisconsin.gov or Laurie Ross, Executive Staff Assistant, PO Box 7921, Madison WI 53707-7921, phone: 608 – 267-7420
Attached is a list of other key people to include in your “TO:” and another group to
“CC”.
I’m afraid it will take at least 1000 letters to make an impact. We, the non-motorized users concerned about preserving our wild resources, are the majority. Can you try to activate a crisis network to move others to action before it is too late?
2. I have updated our Northwoods Citizens for Responsible Stewardship (NCRS) web site, which was established during the referendum campaign in 2003-2004. http://www.ncrs.info now has a new category, NHAL State Forest Stakeholders – 2007. You will find the following information on our web site:
a. List of key people to contact by e-mail, as I have attached to this e-mail.
b. The ATV Directive from the Master Plan
c. DNR Criteria that Stakeholders should consider when siting an ATV trail
d. 4 maps of the proposed trails and routes- Iron Cty, Loop with bridge over the lower Manitowish River, southern and northern half of the Lake Tomahawk to Sayner Trail, and the current proposal to extend the Sayner trail from Sayner to Star Lake area and end on Hiway K at the boundary of the NHAL
e. Northern Rivers Initiative – their high ranking of the Manitowish river from Rest Lake dam to the Turtle Flambeau Flowage, sent to me by Tom Aatila, Upper Chippewa Basin Watershed Supervisor, Park Falls.
f. Lower Manitowish River – judged Exceptional River by DNR scientists
g. An accurate documentation of ATV trail miles in Wisconsin, county by county. I find 8,507 year around miles of trails and routes. In 2003 the Wisconsin Department of Tourism recorded only 5,555 miles of state-funded trails.
h. Statistics you may find useful
i. Several letters of opposition sent to Dennis Leith and Bob Dall and testimony presented at the State Trails Policy Committee chaired by Roger Breske. This includes letters by John Bates and many NCRS members.
I will post updated maps and actions as they occur. Pass our website, http.//www.ncrs.info, (ncrs.info) to everyone you can.
The maps of proposed ATV trails use existing forest service roads (Lake Tomahawk route), town roads, snowmobile trails and logging roads. Very little of the proposed trails will need to be new. Forest service roads and town roads already allow street licensed vehicles like motorcycles, trucks and cars. These roads, especially forest service roads are poorly maintained and presently used mostly by hunters. Therefore traffic is light. ATVs will be a spring, summer, fall motorized addition. Damage to the forest and disturbance of the non-motorized users will be directly proportional to the level of ATV traffic. Let’s draw the line, in favor of forest health, by not adding ATVs!
I believe it is possible to site ATV trails on public land without impacting non-motorized users or damaging the natural resource. The DNR has developed ATV trail design standards that promote sustainable trail construction and maintenance. All new ATV trails, since 2004, must comply with these standards if they are to receive state funds. This important DNR step 1 needs to be followed by step 2. The DNR, using their own State Trails Council, should develop a comprehensive, statewide ATV trail plan. This plan would accurately account for all existing ATV trails and routes and try to provide appropriate and sustainable links. Therefore perhaps 5 to 10 miles of new trail might connect two 50 mile sections effectively producing over 100+ miles of new trail with very little loss of public land. Also a cost effective way to increase trail mileage.
The DNR also needs a reliable traffic count for existing ATV trails so they can anticipate future traffic levels and additional trail requests. It is wrong to force trails into a valuable and sensitive resource like NHAL without first developing a statewide plan that could present suitable alternate ATV trail sites.
Gaylord Nelson, a man with vision wrote these words:
“The bottom line comes to this – in the next few decades when total recreation visits to the public lands expand to one and one-half billion or more and the off-road vehicular mix expands by a factor of 4 or more then, sad to say, our rare heritage of natural lands could become history. The only way to save these special lands is to change the current management practices dramatically – and soon. This will mean significantly reducing all activities that degrade the land or water, impact on critical habitats, or intrude upon the tranquility and enjoyment of these lands. No other nation has undertaken to set aside such a large and magnificent portion of its landscape as a commons. If a significant slice of natural America is to be preserved for this and future generations, it must be here on these lands. There is no other place.”
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
Let me know if I can be of help.
Sue Drum
NCRS, Secretary
11384 CTH B
Presque Isle, WI
715-686-2655
drumsa@centurytel.net
This is a call to action for Vilas County Citizens and all Wisconsin residents who value the health of the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest. As the largest of the 7 state forests with 222,000 acres, the NHAL represents the last of the forest blocks in Wisconsin large enough to truly protect and preserve habitat for northern wildlife.
It appears that the majority of the 16 Stakeholders assembled to find suitable ATV trail sites and routes are in favor of ATVs in our state forest, as are Dennis Leith and Bob Dall. The Natural Resources Board will receive the proposed ATV trail sites that the Stakeholders agree on by consensus, and will vote on this proposal at their May or June meeting. When the trail proposal is scheduled, I will let you know.
The important point is that the Natural Resource Board members make the final decision on whether or not ATV trails are placed in our NHAL State Forest.
I am convinced that an ATV trail or trails can only be stopped if enough people come to the aid of this valuable public resource, and recognize the value of maintaining the integrity of the forest ecosystem, as well as its scenic and esthetic qualities.
Let Vilas County, still undamaged by ATVs become the “control” in the ATV experiment, where the “control” serves as the unaltered base against which change, caused by ATV trails, can be measured. As ATV trails grow in the surrounding northern counties, let the NHAL remain an example of an intact, undamaged forest.
Here is my suggested plan of action.
Please feel free to comment and add your own improvements.
1. We must bury the Natural Resource Board (NRB) in letters of opposition. Write at least one, strong letter, expressing your personal thoughts and e-mail it to Laurie Ross, Executive Staff Assistant at NRB. Write boldly on your letter, “Please forward to all the NRB members.” Laurie will distribute your letter to all members. Of course you may also slow mail your letter to Laurie Ross or to individual NRB members.
LaurieRoss@wisconsin.gov or Laurie Ross, Executive Staff Assistant, PO Box 7921, Madison WI 53707-7921, phone: 608 – 267-7420
Attached is a list of other key people to include in your “TO:” and another group to
“CC”.
I’m afraid it will take at least 1000 letters to make an impact. We, the non-motorized users concerned about preserving our wild resources, are the majority. Can you try to activate a crisis network to move others to action before it is too late?
2. I have updated our Northwoods Citizens for Responsible Stewardship (NCRS) web site, which was established during the referendum campaign in 2003-2004. http://www.ncrs.info now has a new category, NHAL State Forest Stakeholders – 2007. You will find the following information on our web site:
a. List of key people to contact by e-mail, as I have attached to this e-mail.
b. The ATV Directive from the Master Plan
c. DNR Criteria that Stakeholders should consider when siting an ATV trail
d. 4 maps of the proposed trails and routes- Iron Cty, Loop with bridge over the lower Manitowish River, southern and northern half of the Lake Tomahawk to Sayner Trail, and the current proposal to extend the Sayner trail from Sayner to Star Lake area and end on Hiway K at the boundary of the NHAL
e. Northern Rivers Initiative – their high ranking of the Manitowish river from Rest Lake dam to the Turtle Flambeau Flowage, sent to me by Tom Aatila, Upper Chippewa Basin Watershed Supervisor, Park Falls.
f. Lower Manitowish River – judged Exceptional River by DNR scientists
g. An accurate documentation of ATV trail miles in Wisconsin, county by county. I find 8,507 year around miles of trails and routes. In 2003 the Wisconsin Department of Tourism recorded only 5,555 miles of state-funded trails.
h. Statistics you may find useful
i. Several letters of opposition sent to Dennis Leith and Bob Dall and testimony presented at the State Trails Policy Committee chaired by Roger Breske. This includes letters by John Bates and many NCRS members.
I will post updated maps and actions as they occur. Pass our website, http.//www.ncrs.info, (ncrs.info) to everyone you can.
The maps of proposed ATV trails use existing forest service roads (Lake Tomahawk route), town roads, snowmobile trails and logging roads. Very little of the proposed trails will need to be new. Forest service roads and town roads already allow street licensed vehicles like motorcycles, trucks and cars. These roads, especially forest service roads are poorly maintained and presently used mostly by hunters. Therefore traffic is light. ATVs will be a spring, summer, fall motorized addition. Damage to the forest and disturbance of the non-motorized users will be directly proportional to the level of ATV traffic. Let’s draw the line, in favor of forest health, by not adding ATVs!
I believe it is possible to site ATV trails on public land without impacting non-motorized users or damaging the natural resource. The DNR has developed ATV trail design standards that promote sustainable trail construction and maintenance. All new ATV trails, since 2004, must comply with these standards if they are to receive state funds. This important DNR step 1 needs to be followed by step 2. The DNR, using their own State Trails Council, should develop a comprehensive, statewide ATV trail plan. This plan would accurately account for all existing ATV trails and routes and try to provide appropriate and sustainable links. Therefore perhaps 5 to 10 miles of new trail might connect two 50 mile sections effectively producing over 100+ miles of new trail with very little loss of public land. Also a cost effective way to increase trail mileage.
The DNR also needs a reliable traffic count for existing ATV trails so they can anticipate future traffic levels and additional trail requests. It is wrong to force trails into a valuable and sensitive resource like NHAL without first developing a statewide plan that could present suitable alternate ATV trail sites.
Gaylord Nelson, a man with vision wrote these words:
“The bottom line comes to this – in the next few decades when total recreation visits to the public lands expand to one and one-half billion or more and the off-road vehicular mix expands by a factor of 4 or more then, sad to say, our rare heritage of natural lands could become history. The only way to save these special lands is to change the current management practices dramatically – and soon. This will mean significantly reducing all activities that degrade the land or water, impact on critical habitats, or intrude upon the tranquility and enjoyment of these lands. No other nation has undertaken to set aside such a large and magnificent portion of its landscape as a commons. If a significant slice of natural America is to be preserved for this and future generations, it must be here on these lands. There is no other place.”
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
Let me know if I can be of help.
Sue Drum
NCRS, Secretary
11384 CTH B
Presque Isle, WI
715-686-2655
drumsa@centurytel.net
posted by Mark Haag at 9:39 AM
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