Involving the Public in Master Planning

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is revising the master plan for the Brule River State Forest (BRSF). A property's master plan assesses a property's resources, its ecological capabilities and its capacity to accommodate recreational uses. It spells out how the property will be managed, used and developed; how it will look and what benefits it will provide into the future. The master planning process will include preparing both the plan and an environmental impact statement.

Throughout the master planning effort, the department intends to involve those interested in the BRSF. The agency intends to have the master plans address as many issues and needs as is practical. To achieve this, the public involvement process is designed to have multiple opportunities for dialogue and input. Through ongoing dialogue, the agency will try to find agreement and consensus among the interested parties. However, the agency, through its citizen policy-making Natural Resources Board (NRB), retains decision-making responsibility and authority, including making decisions on issues on which parties do not agree.

Public Involvement Purpose

• Provide ready and open access to the process.
• Provide opportunities for involvement throughout the process.
• Provide a range of ways to be involved, reflecting variations in abilities, locations and interests for involvement.
• Invite involvement by all affected and/or interested parties.
• Identify and discuss a full range of issues.
• Develop a broad vision, goals and objectives statement for the property that reflect the diverse expectations for the property.
• Identify and adequately evaluate a full range of alternatives. Have the public understand why alternatives are or are not selected.
• Develop plans that are consistent with state statutes and other laws, natural resource capabilities and financial and other constraints. Communicate and discuss these limits and guidelines as part of the public involvement process.
• Address conflicting values and interests, emphasizing shared objectives. Seek consensus on the management and use of the property, promote learning and understanding among interests, strive to build trust.

Public Involvement Techniques

• Direct Mail-The department will establish a mailing list to provide regular progress reports that will keep interested parties apprised of activity in the planning process, as well as any upcoming opportunities to be involved.
• Public Forums-The department will organize and hold a range of public meetings throughout the process. Techniques could include open houses, tours, facilitated working meetings, public hearings and others, as appropriate. Most meeting will be held in the region however some meetings will be held in other parts of the state.
• Work Group-Rather than a formally appointed standing advisory committee, a group of self-selecting active participants will work together throughout the process. These will be people who attend most meetings and roll up their sleeves to help work on various aspects of the plan.
• Existing Meetings and Opportunities-This includes department staff attending local and statewide clubs' and organizations' meetings and providing articles or notices to their newsletters and other mailings to groups interested in the planning process. Exhibits and displays will also be developed to use at varied locations.
• Web Page-The department will establish a Brule River Master Plan web page to provide additional avenues of sharing and receiving communications.
• Informational Materials-Written materials will be developed to give a general overview of the master planning process and property resources and use.
• Government to Government Consulting-Department staff will work directly with other governments including the tribes, counties and other state, local and federal governments.
• Natural Resources Board-The master planning staff will brief the Board throughout the planning effort.