11-28-2007, 12:10 AM
On Oct. 30, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Commissioner Mark Holsten approved forest classification and trail designation plans for state forest lands located in both Cook and Lake counties in northeastern Minnesota. These plans, which have come together over the past two years with the help of federal, tribal and county cooperators, will usher in a new set of vehicular use regulations both inside and outside of state forests in these counties.
In Cook County, more than 200 miles of inventoried routes were evaluated on more than 100,000 acres of state forest land. Under the final plan, the Pat Bayle State Forest, and all forest lands outside of its boundaries, will be reclassified as "limited" effective Sept. 1, 2008, making all routes "closed unless posted open" to vehicle use. State lands within the "managed" Grand Portage State Forest, on the other hand, will remain "open unless posted closed," except for the 1,500-acre Jackson Lake site in the east-central portion of the forest which will be "limited" in terms of motor vehicle use. More than 45 miles of motor and nonmotor trails were also designated as part of this plan.
In Lake County, the plan covers more than 220 miles of roads, trails and other inventoried routes located on more than 160,000 acres of state forest lands. Effective Sept. 1, 2008, portions of the Finland State Forest located within the boundaries of the Superior National Forest will be reclassified as "limited," similar to federal forest lands, along with scattered state lands located outside the state and federal forests in the northern part of Lake County. Lands located outside the federal forest boundary nearer the north shore will remain "managed," as are Lake County's forest lands. About 25 miles of trail were designated as part of the plan.
These plans represent the culmination of nearly two years of work. During that time all forest trails and roads were inventoried and mapped, environmental concerns were evaluated, and public comments were gathered. Modifications were made to both plans in response to concerns brought forward during the public review period.
"We were able to address many of the key public concerns and make some adjustments to designated routes to make sure that all users' interests were fairly represented in the final plans," said Brian McCann, DNR recreation planner. "As we move ahead to reclassify other forests, we will continue to involve the people most affected by these decisions."
The Cook and Lake county plans were developed by a team of local DNR staff working<br />
closely with county and tribal officials, and with the Superior National Forest's Gunflint and Tofte district offices. As a result of that cooperation, federal, state and county lands will be subject to essentially the same rules governing motorized use. That will make riding rules easier to understand, compliance more likely and enforcement much easier.
"The Lake County Board and the DNR have a great working relationship," said Lake County Land Commissioner Tom Martinson. "We share similar goals, objectives and basically the same land and trail management philosophy. It's important that vehicular use regulations be consistent between state and county forest lands in order to simplify operating rules for motorized recreationists. The DNR and county were able to agree on a shared management approach for the state and county lands especially in areas of mixed forest ownership."
The 2003 OHV Legislation mandating forest reclassification arose in response to the growing popularity of OHVs amid public concerns that unmanaged use on state lands would negatively impact natural resources and cause conflicts with nonmotorized recreation. By designating a system of managed trails, officials believe the potential for such problems will be much reduced.
Evaluation of all 58 state forests is expected to take until the end of 2008. Criteria used to decide where OHV use is appropriate include the potential for damage to vegetation, wildlife, wetlands and other sensitive natural resources; existing motorized use patterns within a forest; and the proximity of other motorized and nonmotorized recreational opportunities.
"These forest reclassifications are significant in themselves, but they're also important as an example of how this process is meant to function," said Craig Engwall, the DNR's Northeast Region director. "If we can engage in a constructive dialogue with local government and other interests, we'll succeed at managing our public lands in a consistent fashion that provides a range of recreational opportunities, while being good land stewards."
In Cook County, more than 200 miles of inventoried routes were evaluated on more than 100,000 acres of state forest land. Under the final plan, the Pat Bayle State Forest, and all forest lands outside of its boundaries, will be reclassified as "limited" effective Sept. 1, 2008, making all routes "closed unless posted open" to vehicle use. State lands within the "managed" Grand Portage State Forest, on the other hand, will remain "open unless posted closed," except for the 1,500-acre Jackson Lake site in the east-central portion of the forest which will be "limited" in terms of motor vehicle use. More than 45 miles of motor and nonmotor trails were also designated as part of this plan.
In Lake County, the plan covers more than 220 miles of roads, trails and other inventoried routes located on more than 160,000 acres of state forest lands. Effective Sept. 1, 2008, portions of the Finland State Forest located within the boundaries of the Superior National Forest will be reclassified as "limited," similar to federal forest lands, along with scattered state lands located outside the state and federal forests in the northern part of Lake County. Lands located outside the federal forest boundary nearer the north shore will remain "managed," as are Lake County's forest lands. About 25 miles of trail were designated as part of the plan.
These plans represent the culmination of nearly two years of work. During that time all forest trails and roads were inventoried and mapped, environmental concerns were evaluated, and public comments were gathered. Modifications were made to both plans in response to concerns brought forward during the public review period.
"We were able to address many of the key public concerns and make some adjustments to designated routes to make sure that all users' interests were fairly represented in the final plans," said Brian McCann, DNR recreation planner. "As we move ahead to reclassify other forests, we will continue to involve the people most affected by these decisions."
The Cook and Lake county plans were developed by a team of local DNR staff working<br />
closely with county and tribal officials, and with the Superior National Forest's Gunflint and Tofte district offices. As a result of that cooperation, federal, state and county lands will be subject to essentially the same rules governing motorized use. That will make riding rules easier to understand, compliance more likely and enforcement much easier.
"The Lake County Board and the DNR have a great working relationship," said Lake County Land Commissioner Tom Martinson. "We share similar goals, objectives and basically the same land and trail management philosophy. It's important that vehicular use regulations be consistent between state and county forest lands in order to simplify operating rules for motorized recreationists. The DNR and county were able to agree on a shared management approach for the state and county lands especially in areas of mixed forest ownership."
The 2003 OHV Legislation mandating forest reclassification arose in response to the growing popularity of OHVs amid public concerns that unmanaged use on state lands would negatively impact natural resources and cause conflicts with nonmotorized recreation. By designating a system of managed trails, officials believe the potential for such problems will be much reduced.
Evaluation of all 58 state forests is expected to take until the end of 2008. Criteria used to decide where OHV use is appropriate include the potential for damage to vegetation, wildlife, wetlands and other sensitive natural resources; existing motorized use patterns within a forest; and the proximity of other motorized and nonmotorized recreational opportunities.
"These forest reclassifications are significant in themselves, but they're also important as an example of how this process is meant to function," said Craig Engwall, the DNR's Northeast Region director. "If we can engage in a constructive dialogue with local government and other interests, we'll succeed at managing our public lands in a consistent fashion that provides a range of recreational opportunities, while being good land stewards."