Natural Resources Board remains neutral on ATV trails in the NH-AL
ATV trails need not mar the Northern Highland-American Legion (NH-AL) State Forest.
It is true the NH-AL Sustainable ATV Trail Stakeholders Group has proposed 60 miles of ATV trail in Wisconsin’s largest state forest after a year of exploring the possibilities. A majority of the stakeholders was intent on providing access to ATV’ers
But the Natural Resources Board (NRB), which will make the final decision sometime this winter, did not direct the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to map out ATV trails no matter the cost to the forest’s ecosystem or nonmotorized visitors.
In an attempt to clear up a “misunderstanding in some people’s minds as to the nature of the instructions” the NRB gave the DNR back in 2005, well before the stakeholders group was established, a letter has been sent to the group’s chairman.
“Apparently, some people feel that the board (NRB) expressed a desire that there be ATV trail development in the Forest and instructed the department (DNR) to report back with plans for one or more routes. I feel that it is important to clarify this question before ATV options are presented to the public,” wrote NRB Secretary John Welter on Aug. 22.
“In fact no desire or instruction on ATV use was expressed.”
Welter emphasized that the NRB remains neutral on the question of ATVs in the NH-AL State Forest. Once the DNR “presents the findings of the stakeholders, along with its own recommendations,” he wrote, “we will consider alternative proposals, the environmental impacts, the impacts on residents and other forest users, and the costs. We may decide to adopt the proposals that have emerged from the stakeholders process in their entirety, or to adopt a portion of the proposals, or to decline to permit ATV trail development.”
The stakeholders’ will soon make their desires known. Silent sports enthusiasts can and must make their case against an ATV incursion to DNR officials at the upcoming public meetings and by writing to NRB members.
Public information meetings on the stakeholders group’s ATV trail proposal will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Mon., Sept. 17, at the Best Western Midway Hotel, Wausau
Tues., Sept. 18, at the St. Germain Community Center, St. Germain
Wed., Sept. 19, at the Manitowish Waters Community Center, Manitowish Waters