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Vision and Goals Meeting for Brule River State Forest October 17

BRULE Wis. --The public will have an opportunity during an upcoming meeting to help determine how the famed Brule River State Forest should be managed over the next 15 years. The Department of Natural Resources, with public assistance, is updating the master plan for the forest and the riverway in Douglas County.

Master plans guide management decisions DNR staff make for specific properties over a set period of time. According to Jim Rau, manager of the Brule River State Forest, the revised plan will guide decisions over the next 15 years may involve changes from the management goals and objectives in the current plan.

Rau said the revision is intended to provide a clear statement on the desired future conditions of the forest. The plan also provides area citizens and visitors with a clear understanding of future management actions and gives the department a sound basis for long-term forest and riverway operations, maintenance, and capitol improvement budget requests.

"Unlike public hearings where the public reacts to proposals," Rau said, "the upcoming meeting will be a working session where we will ask the public to help develop a vision for the forest and goals for managing the property."

The Brule River State Forest consists of 52,000 acres of uplands and lowlands and envelops the Brule River from headwaters to the mouth. Facilities include two campgrounds, hiking, nature, snowmobile, and cross country ski trails, and a lamprey barrier. The river is nationally known for its trout fishing opportunities and a number of past presidents have fished the river for brown and brook trout. The river is also a popular canoeing and kayaking destination.

The public meeting will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17, 1998 at the Northwestern Middle School near Maple, Wisconsin. Registration will start at 9 a.m. with the working session beginning at 10 a.m. and running until 4 p.m. Lunch and breaks will be provided. Persons desiring to attend the meeting should contact: Jim Rau, Brule River State Forest, 6250 S. Ranger Road, Brule, WI. 54820 (715) 372-5678 or at rauj@dnr.state.wi.us.

Results of the meeting will be provided to all people on the Brule River State Forest master planning list.

"Everyone involved with the master planning process will be provided time to comment on the drafts from the working sessions," Rau said.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Rau (715) 372-5678