An opportunity to defend the NH-AL comes before the State Trails Council
If you happen to find yourself enjoying the last blast of fall color while mountain biking, hiking or kayaking in the Bayfield, Wisconsin, area on Friday, Oct. 12, you’ll have a golden opportunity to make known your appreciation for the splendor and “silent sports” opportunities that exist in the state’s largest state forest.
The Northern Highland-American Legion (NH-AL) State Forest – threatened to be carved up with 60 miles of ATV trails – is on the agenda of the Wisconsin Governor’s State Trail Council (STC) meeting that day at the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Office in Bayfield.
The STC, this blogger has learned, will consider taking a stand against allowing ATVs in the NH-AL. If the STC does vote in favor of a resolution to that effect (the text of which follows), they should be applauded – really and heartily applauded by hikers, bikers, birders, paddlers and the like who are in the room when roll call is taken.
The nine-member STC advises the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on the planning, acquisition, development and management of trails in Wisconsin. Although the Natural Resources Board is a more powerful entity and the one which will ultimately decide the fate of the NH-AL, a vote by the STC in favor of keeping ATVs out of the state forest will likely be heard, loud and clear, by the NRB.
Summing up many of the reasons why the NH-AL should remain closed to ATVs, the text of the resolution, obtained by Silent Sports, is as follows:
Whereas, the Northern Highlands-American Legion State Forest (NH-AL) is the State’s largest State Forest and supports a great diversity of fauna, flora and human users;
Whereas, the NH-AL contains the greatest concentration of fresh water lakes in the world and is the headwaters of the Manitowish, Flambeau and Wisconsin rivers;
Whereas, the NH-AL was established in 1925 to protect the headwaters of these rivers;
Whereas, scientists have warned that off trail riding by ATVs would do irreparable damage to rare and sensitive ecosystems;
Whereas, a large portion of the public is in favor of maintaining the current recreational uses of the NH-AL State Forest;
Whereas, a recent Vilas County referendum resulted in a large majority of voters who are opposed to ATV trails on county land;
Whereas, there are numerous existing ATV recreational opportunities in county forests, state forests and national forests throughout northern Wisconsin;
And whereas, the Governor’s State Trails Council continues to support the concept of Motorized Recreation Areas where devotees of various motorized recreational activities may freely participate in their sports in a socially and environmentally responsible manner;
Therefore be it resolved, the Governor’s State Trails Council is opposed to the development of ATV trails in the NH-AL State Forest.
If you find this resolution as succinct and stirring a justification for saving the NH-AL as I do, drop a line to the members of the STC. Their email addresses are available at the STC site linked above.
And if you can, go to the meeting – again, its this Friday in Bayfield – to show your representatives on the council that they have your support.
– Joel Patenaude