WDNR Open House Meeting

Greetings to all TFF-TL POA Members,

We recently received notice (shown below) from WDNR about an “open house” type meeting on March 22, 2018 from 4-6 pm at the Manitowish Waters Town Hall.  The purpose of this meeting is to gather feedback regarding a potential new ATV trail inside the TFSWA project boundary.

We are encouraging all interested members to attend this meeting. If you can not attend, written comments can be sent to:

Mr. John Pohlman – LF/6
WI-DNR
PO Box 7921
Madison, WI  53707-7921
Email: John.Pohlman@wisconsin.gov 

 
Also, please note that in the WDNR email, the TFF-TL POA Board of Directors is very uncomfortable with language in the second paragraph that states “The proposed trail would move traffic from Popko Circle and relocate the ATV traffic to a new trail corridor consisting of a gravel town road, old logging road and a newly constructed trail.”    

To the best of our knowledge and understanding, the proposed ATV trail would be an addition to the ATV trail system and there are no plans to close Popko Circle to ATV traffic.  Please do not be mislead by the language used in the WDNR email.
 

WDNR EMAIL:
Date: 3/6/18 3:32 PM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Turtle Flambeau Flowage Master Plan Amendment public meeting

To those who may be interested in attending,

On MARCH 22nd the Department will be hosting an open house at the Manitowish Waters Town Hall from 4pm-6pm to get feedback from the public on the current amendment being brought forward regarding the Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area master plan:

“The purpose is to amend a 1995 property plan is to accommodate a proposed ATV trail that would be located on Iron County Forest lands, private land and Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area lands. The proposed trail would move ATV traffic from Popko Circle Road and relocate the ATV traffic to a new trail corridor consisting of a gravel town road, old logging toad and a newly constructed trail.”

Attached is a map of the location of the proposed ATV trail. The habitat consists of northern hardwood and northern mesic forests. To learn more, follow this link: https://wi-dnr.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=50b6b6c7cb7744d7bcbd766866918a5c.

Please feel free to forward this to other stakeholders or those who would be interested in attending.

Based on results from the 2014 Recreational Trail Survey done by the Association, the Board has taken a formal position to oppose development of any new ATV trails inside the TFSWA project boundary.  We continue to have the same opposition to this proposal. 

We have heard through the grapevine that this is a very important meeting to attend as it may not only guide WDNR thinking on this initiative but contribute to future decisions on the TFF relating to the mix of motorized versus non-motorized access.

Four (4) potential questions to ask are:

  1. What are the environmental risks along the proposed ATV Trail?  Erosion potential and soil types, risk to sensitive species, and spread of invasive species?    
  2. If, at some future point, private land used by the proposed trail changes hands and ATV access was revoked, what risks would there be to state lands? 
  3.  Does this trail really connect to a larger system or is a dead end ?  What would happen if Iron County revoked permission to allow ATV’s on Highway FF? 
  4. How is ATV use on this trail going to be monitored and rules enforced?  Will the Town of Mercer enforce rules on Town roads?  Will WDNR enforce rules on WDNR lands?  Will Iron County sheriff enforce rules on County land and highways? 

Thanks in advance for your attention to this important issue.  Should anyone have questions, please let us know. Contact info for all Board members is located here:   https://tfftl.org/about-us/board-of-directors/