CONTACT: John Pohlman, 608-264-6263

MADISON – The public will have an opportunity to comment on draft changes to management plans for three properties in the Northwoods Region of Wisconsin at upcoming public meetings and through a comment period. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is proposing modifications to the property master plans in response to public requests.

The changes at two properties, the Upper Wolf River Fishery Area and the Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area, would enable the department to provide all-terrain vehicle and utility terrain vehicle access on designated trails across short stretches of these properties. These short connections on department property, both less than a half mile in length, would create linkages in larger regional trail networks. The department is also proposing to update the land management classifications and maps for these properties and to expand the protection along the Wolf River corridor.

The proposed changes for these two properties will be addressed through master plan amendments. The department anticipates presenting the proposed amendments to the Natural Resources Board at their meeting in Hayward on September 26.

The department also received requests to construct two parking areas at the Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area: a small handicap parking area near the dam and a multi-use parking area at the far south end of the property to serve snowmobilers, ATV/UTVs riders, and boaters. These small additions to the property will be addressed through a variance to the existing master plan. Department staff expect to decide on the proposed parking areas after the public input period.

The department is not undertaking a review of the entire range of management actions at these properties, but rather is focusing on potentially authorizing these specific changes to the existing master plans.

The public can learn more about and comment on the proposals at two open house meetings. Both meetings will run from 4 to 6 p.m. and will be held:

June 19, Springstead – Sherman Town Hall, 4094 State Highway 182

June 20, Antigo – Langlade County Fairgrounds, 1633 Neva Road

The public can review the draft amendments and variance along with a series of maps by searching the DNR website, dnr.wi.gov, for “property planning” and clicking on the link for “Northwoods Region.”