DNR releases Preferred Alternative for the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest

State officials are currently revising the master plan the 225,000-acre Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest in parts of Vilas, Oneida and Iron counties. Master plans guide land management, recreation, wild resources, and boundary expansion on state properties.

During the meeting the public can comment and provide any additional information to Department of Natural Resources staff about natural resource management described in the Preferred Alternative and proposed NHAL boundary expansion. Individuals unable to attend the open house or having questions and comments regarding the meeting, the master plan process and the Preferred Alternative may write or contact Dennis Leith, NHAL Forest Superintendent, 8770 Hwy. J, Woodruff, WI 54568 Email: dennis.leith@dnr.state.wi.us

The deadline for public comments on the Preferred Alternative is May 16, 2003. The Preferred Alternative is being made available to the public in mid April. People not on the regular master plan mailing list may order a copy of the document by calling 715/365-8993, email: dennis.leith@dnr.state.wi.u

Following are a set of highlights and preliminary lowlights regarding the “preferred alternative” that you can use for your own comments at the open house and via the mail. A more detailed set of comments will be available on the ECCOLA website late next week.

Highlights

1)       22% of the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest has been designated as  “focus” sites. These sites will be managed as old growth or will be natural areas.  Unfortunately, the preferred alternative doesn’t define old-growth. 15% of these areas would be upland sites.

2)       A small non-motorized area of about 2000 acres is proposed for the Bittersweet Lakes Area. The core of this area is a state natural area with four undeveloped lakes (Bittersweet, Prong, Smith, Oberlin) surrounded on three sides by mature pine and oak stands with hardwood inclusions.

3)       The Preferred alternative proposes to enlarge the boundaries of the forest in two locations. The southern boundary would be expanded along the Wisconsin River to include the ecologically vital Menninghof wild rice marsh and the McNaughton wetlands. The northern expansion would include most of the areas between the current northern border of the property and the Michigan State line with the exclusion of some of the more populated areas. These expansions give the DNR the opportunity to purchase lands from willing sellers when the opportunity arises.  Otherwise, the DNR can’t purchase lands unless they are located within the project boundary of their properties.

Lowlights

1)       The preferred alternative does virtually nothing to increase the amount of pine forest in the next 50% years (5% increase) An imperceptible gain of 1% of the forest will be allowed to succeed to pine forest per decade.

2)       The forest will continue to favor a highly fragmented crazy quilt of aspen.  Aspen will continue to be by far the more common timber type. (33% to 28% shift)

3)       The Preferred alternative allows an All-terrain vehicle trail in the northwest part of the forest near and adjacent for part of the proposed route to the only wilderness area on the NHAL (Manitowish River Wilderness). The ATV trail would be located in a remote area that is mostly wetland and would be very susceptible to the type of resource abuse commonly found neat ATV trails.

4)       The DNR proposes to expand campgrounds on nine lakes in the forest. (Buffalo, Carrol, Clear, Cunard, East Star, Firefly, Razorback, Upper Gresham, Buffalo Lake Northshore group campground) With undeveloped lakeshore disappearing rapidly on private lands, the DNR should not be disturbing lakeshore habitat with its own plans. If it must expand campgrounds, then they should be put back at least 150 feet from the water’s edge. The DNR should propose a no net loss of undeveloped lakeshore. Even if campgrounds don’t require buildings, they still impact wildlife habitat by building more roads, clearings, electrical hook-ups and boat landings.

5)       Many of the largest “wild” lakes under the current version of the Master Plan would no longer be managed as  “wild” lakes.  The main impact to the lakes is that they would lose their 400 no-cut buffer zone along the entire shoreline. These lakes and their sizes include: (Escanaba Lake 293 acres, Bass Lake, North 180 acres, Pallette Lake 173 acres, Nebish Lake 98 acres, Partridge Lake 234 acres and Sweeney Lake 187 acres)

6)       Of the 18 existing wilderness lakes (lakes with ¼ mile no cut buffer zone and no motors), 8 would continue to be wilderness lakes, 8 would become wild lakes and 3 would lose their protective buffer and be designated as electric-motor lakes.

7)       The DNR’s preferred alternative leaves no large lakes in the wild or wilderness category. The largest wild lake would be East Ellerson laker at 136 acres. The largest wilderness lake would be Devine Lake at 95 acres. While a lake must have very limited road access to qualify as a wild lake, the DNR should have proposed some road closures in order to keep some of the biggest current wild lakes in that protective designation.

8)       The Scientific Lakes area of Escanaba, Pallette, Nebish, Lost Canoe, and Spruce receive some protection under the current alternative in that about 1000 acres of land east of Escanaba Lake and between Escanaba and Lost Canoe would be passively managed. However, the areas south of Escanaba Lake and North of Nebish would be managed timber.  Most of the shoreline of Escanaba, and Lost Canoe Lake as well as all of Nebish would no longer have their existing 400 foot no-cut buffer zone. 

9)       Only 2 ½ % of the entire 225,000 acre property is proposed to be managed as a Type I  recreation area or Wilderness area. At least 5% of the property can and should be managed for remote solitude as a Type 1 recreation area. The Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest designated about 5% of the total national forest acreage in Wisconsin  as wilderness.