Brule River State Forest Master Plan Progress Report 4

• The Master Planning Process">
• The Draft Vision Statement and Goals
• Draft Vision Statement
• Draft Goal Statements
• Changes in WDNR Master Planning Team
• Tribal Consultation
• Next Public Meeting

We thought it might be helpful to briefly review the master planning process for the Brule River State Forest as it was described in the public involvement plan. We are currently finishing the Vision and Goals phase. This progress report will focus on the comments received on the draft vision and goal statements sent out in December for public review.

Research and Data Gathering

Issues Identification

Vision and Goals

Alternative Development

Write Master Plan and EIS

Public Review of Plan and EIS

Natural Resources Board Review and Approval

Implementation of the Master Plan

We would like to thank all of you for reviewing the draft vision statement and property goals for the Brule River State Forest, which were mailed to you in Progress Report # 3. Those of you who participated in our October 17th work group meeting laid an excellent foundation for the draft vision and goals. Thanks to all of you! Your insights, thoughtfulness, and hard work resulted in drafts that reflect the views of many.

All of your comments were very valuable in fine tuning the wording of the visions and goals. Of the 768 copies of Progress Report #3, we received 47 response post cards.

27 of the 47 responses indicated that; "The draft vision and goals included in this progress report are good enough to move on with the master planning process. Adjust according to comments I and others send in, then let's consider this a working draft and move on to the next phase of master planning for the Brule River State Forest."

7 of the 47 responses indicated that; "The draft vision and goals included in this progress report need more work. Please revise them and/or add to them based on the comments I and others send in. Then send the new version back out to us to consider."

8 of the 47 responses indicated that; "I would like to attend a meeting to discuss and develop these ideas further. Please schedule a public meeting to create the next version of a property vision and goals."

5 of the 47 responses did not check any of the boxes, but made comments.

A summary of those comments is included below to give you a flavor of what we heard. As requested by the bulk of the respondents, DNR staff considered and discussed each of the comments submitted, and revised the vision statement and property goals accordingly. The purpose of the vision statement and property goals is to serve as compass to guide us through the remainder of the master planning.

We found the comments on the vision statement and property goals fell into three general categories:

• Those that were directed toward terminology or sequence.
• Those that were too specific to be addressed in the vision and goals and really apply to objectives, which will be written as part of the alternatives.
• Those that made suggestions for modifying and clarifying the vision and goals.

The comments directed toward terminology or sequence included several questions regarding the meaning of terms. In order to reach a common understanding of key terms, the master planning team agreed to develop a glossary of terms. We will provide this glossary to you in our next progress report. Several of the suggestions regarding terminology were incorporated into the vision statement and property goals text. Other comments suggested placing the property goals in a different sequence of priority. As there is no intention to suggest priority by the sequence of the property goals, we feel discussing a sequence would unnecessarily delay the process at this time.

Some of the comments were editorial in nature, suggesting that the vision and goals be modified to give special emphasis to support a particular point of view. Others made specific comments regarding how the forest should be managed. The master planning team felt that these comments were too specific in their focus to be incorporated at this time. The vision statement and property goals are intended to be general and provide the skeletal framework for the next phase of master planning - the development of management alternatives. During this alternatives phase we will be adding specificity and detail.

These comments will remain part of the master plan public record and will be referred to in the development of management alternatives. A thorough description of the next phase, Alternative Development, will be included in Progress Report #5, which should follow in a couple of weeks.

Some of the comments proposed modifications to the vision and goals. These were discussed by the master planning team and several were added to the text. The team also modified portions of the text to improve the clarity or to respond to general comments. The resulting drafts are below. If you would like a copy of the previous draft vision and goals please refer to Progress Report #3 or contact us for a copy

The Brule River State Forest provides for the sustainability of a unique river system and biologically rich forest community. We manage, protect and restore its natural resources to promote ecological health and natural communities, to complement the larger ecosystem, and to recognize cultural and economic values. The state forest accommodates recreational activities consistent with the natural quality and wild settings found along the Bois Brule River. The Department of Natural Resources works with federal, state, tribal and local governments, neighboring industrial and private forest owners, and the citizens who enjoy and subsist on the resources of the Brule River State Forest.

1. Maintain and enhance the high water quality and natural flow of the Bois Brule River.
2. Provide an environment that emphasizes natural beauty and enhances a sense of solitude and quietness.
3. Maintain and enhance the quality of the fishery and fishing opportunities.
4. Maintain hunting opportunities on the forest.
5. Provide and accommodate a range of land and water based recreational opportunities while protecting the natural beauty and quiet experiences.
6. Use sustainable forestry practices to manage the forest resources for present and future generations.
7. Maintain and restore native ecological communities and habitats.
8. In consultation with tribal governments, provide for the availability of resources subject to the Chippewa off-reservation treaty rights.
9. Increase educational opportunities on the forest for all users.
10. Involve the public as partners in the planning and management of the forest.
11. Continue to purchase private land within the Brule River State Forest, as such land becomes available.

The revised draft vision statement and property goals, as presented in this progress report, will form an interim basis for our mutual work in the next phase of master planning. The revised draft vision and goals can be revisited and refined, as we proceed with the process. Tribal representatives have expressed concern that the vision and goal statements do not adequately protect tribal hunting, fishing, and gathering rights. DNR staff will be meeting with tribal representatives to discuss and resolve their concerns. Any further revisions to the vision statement and property goals will be included in the next progress report. For now we will continue to move forward in the master planning process. A full listing of the comments is available upon request. To receive a copy, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Ken Brokaw, DNR, 107 Sutliff Ave., Rhinelander, WI 54501. If you have any major concerns with the draft visions and goals, please advise us.

In December, the Brule River State Forest staff and the Master Planning Team bid a fond farewell to Chuck Zosel who happily retired from his many years of public service. His role as master planning team leader has been filled by Ken Brokaw, Landscape Architect for the Northern Region. Ken is new to the DNR, but joins us with 16 years of experience in planning for the improvement or management of public and private lands. His primary function will be to guide the master planning process. He joins the existing master planning staff, which includes:

Jim Rau, Brule River State Forest Property Manager. Jim will remain the contact person for questions, comments, or request regarding the Master Plan.

Jody Les, Master Planning Manager. Jody serves as the co-manager of the master planning process, ensuring compliance with master planning guidelines, and policies.

Mary Hamel, Public Involvement Counsel. Mary coordinates the public's involvement in the master planning process.

Kent Van Horn, Program Bureau Representative. Kent serves as a representative of the Bureau of Forestry, ensuring compliance with state forest policy and legal issues on a statewide level.

The position of Administrative Assistant is currently vacant, but is expected to be filled soon.

DNR Master Planning team members have been continuing to consult with tribal representatives on a government-to-government basis. Recent discussion in these meetings has centered upon the draft vision statement and property goals in relation to the off-reservation treaty rights. Tribal representatives have reviewed and provided comments on the draft vision statement and property goals. They have expressed their concern that they do not adequately protect tribal hunting, fishing, and gathering rights. DNR staff will be meeting with tribal representatives to discuss and hopefully resolve their concerns. Other discussions with the tribal representatives concerned the availability of plants which are used as medicine and in religious ceremonies. Recently, the DNR designated Roy Jacobson as lead spokesperson in these consultations with the tribal representatives.

The first in a series of public workshops is titled Forest Ecology and Management, and is scheduled for Saturday, June 12, 1999 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Maple Middle School cafeteria. Please mark your calendars. A meeting notice, agenda, and other details will be available soon.