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Meetings set on Brule River State Forest master plan

BRULE, Wis. -- Two public forums to gather information from the public on revisions to the master plan for the Brule River State Forest will be held in December.

An open house forum on recreation and wildlife issue will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 2, and a panel and small group discussion on water resources and socio-economics Issue will be held from 6 to 9 p.m., on Thursday, Dec. 16.

The purpose of the forums is to allow a sharing of information about various topics and lay the groundwork for the development of a range of master plan alternatives. Each DNR property has a master plan that establishes goals and objectives for the property and identifies how the property will be managed and developed.

The Brule River State Forest is located in northwestern Wisconsin and covers more than 40,000 acres of state managed land in eastern Douglas County. The property was established in 1907 to protect the Bois Brule River, one of the most scenic and historic rivers in the upper mid-west.

Comments received from the public at the Issue Forums, will become part of the public record and will be considered in the development of a range of draft master plan alternatives.

At the Dec. 2 forum on recreation and wildlife, a number of stations will be set up around the meeting room where participants will be able to circulate and informally discuss and share their ideas with experts and other participants on the following topics:

• Non- Motorized Land Recreation, including; hiking, nordic skiing, fishing trails, mountain biking, sightseeing, nature / wildlife viewing, and historic / environmental education.
• Motorized Recreation and Road Access, including; ATV access, ORV access, snowmobile trails, roads and disabled access.
• Boating, including; canoeing, kayaking, lake boating, launch and landing facilities and disabled access.
• Fishing, including; types of fishing, types of fish, and seasonal fishing patterns.
• Hunting and Trapping, including; types of non-game wildlife, types of game wildlife, types of hunting and trapping and disabled access for wildlife viewing, hunting and trapping.
• Camping, including; group sites, individual sites, primitive sites, capacity / demand, and disabled accessible sites.

At the Dec. 16 forum, a panel of DNR specialists will make brief presentations on various aspects of the water resources and socio-economics of the forest, including:

• DNR's management of the water resources within the state forest.
• The value of the Brule River State Forest to the local and regional economies, as the result of recreational use, forestry and other factors.
• The social value of the Brule River State Forest to the local and regional community.

The public will then have the opportunity to ask questions, discuss the topics and offer comments. Following the panel and small group discussions, the DNR staff will be available to talk with guests individually to answer questions and listen to comments and suggestions. Guests may also provide their suggestions and comments, by writing them on flip charts for each of the topics.

Members of the public who are not able to attend either of these forums may submit written comments on these or other topics to: Jim Rau, superintendent, Brule River State Forest, 6250 S. Ranger Road, Brule, WI 54820-0125 or by FAX to (715) 372-4836

No RSVP required to attend the forums and refreshments will be provided.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Rau - (715) 372-5678 ext. 105