06-20-2007, 04:10 PM
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking public comments on its draft forest classification and motor vehicle route designation plan for the Sturgeon River State Forest.
The agency is also seeking comments on allowing motorized use on a portion of the Taconite Trail. A public meeting will be on Tuesday, July 10, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 pm, at Ironworld Discovery Center, 801 Southwest Highway 169, Chisholm.
The DNR proposal was developed in cooperation with U.S. Forest Service and St. Louis County Land Department representatives in an effort to foster consistency across mixed public forest ownerships.
ROUTE DESIGNATIONS AND FOREST CLASSIFICATION
The plan makes recommendations for more than 180 miles of roads, trails and other inventoried routes on nearly 61,000 acres of state forest lands. Ultimately, the plan will determine where motorized vehicles, including cars, trucks and off-highway vehicles, will be allowed to operate on state lands within and adjacent to the Sturgeon River State Forest.
The proposal would classify as managed, state lands in and adjacent to the forest. This means routes are open to motorized use unless posted (signed) closed.
TACONITE TRAIL PLAN AMENDMENT
A second proposal would amend the Taconite Trail Master Plan to allow motorized use on 4.7 miles of the 163-mile state snowmobile trail (Ely to Grand Rapids). This would complete a nearly 24-mile motorized trail loop in the forest. This plan amendment must be approved separately from the forest classification and route designation process.
LIMITATIONS ON OFF-TRAIL AND NONDESIGNATED TRAIL USE
Within the Sturgeon River State Forest, three areas totaling just over 25,000 acres are proposed to receive special protections from vehicular use.
They were selected based on their high biodiversity rankings, the absence of major roads and/or trails, and their proximity to sensitive wildlife habitat, hydrologic features, or traditional nonmotorized recreational use areas. Limitations on off-trail and nondesignated trail use by motorized hunters and trappers (under state law) are proposed for state lands within each of these sites. County lands within these areas will be managed similarly.
PUBLIC REVIEW MEETING
The DNR invites interested persons to attend the July 10 public meeting at Ironworld. DNR, U.S. Forest Service and St. Louis County Land Department representatives will be available to answer questions regarding motorized access planning for public forest lands in the county. The DNR will also present its proposal and respond to questions and comments.
PLAN AND MAPS AVAILABLE
The forest classification and route designation proposals and the Taconite Trail amendment are available at www.findthetrails.com or at the DNR Tower Area Office, 650 Highway 169, Tower, Minn.
Written comments on both the forest classification proposal, and the plan to amend the Taconite State Trail Plan, will be accepted at the meeting public meeting or by sending to Brian McCann, DNR Trails & Waterways, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4052 by 4:30 p.m., Friday, July 20.
The agency is also seeking comments on allowing motorized use on a portion of the Taconite Trail. A public meeting will be on Tuesday, July 10, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 pm, at Ironworld Discovery Center, 801 Southwest Highway 169, Chisholm.
The DNR proposal was developed in cooperation with U.S. Forest Service and St. Louis County Land Department representatives in an effort to foster consistency across mixed public forest ownerships.
ROUTE DESIGNATIONS AND FOREST CLASSIFICATION
The plan makes recommendations for more than 180 miles of roads, trails and other inventoried routes on nearly 61,000 acres of state forest lands. Ultimately, the plan will determine where motorized vehicles, including cars, trucks and off-highway vehicles, will be allowed to operate on state lands within and adjacent to the Sturgeon River State Forest.
The proposal would classify as managed, state lands in and adjacent to the forest. This means routes are open to motorized use unless posted (signed) closed.
TACONITE TRAIL PLAN AMENDMENT
A second proposal would amend the Taconite Trail Master Plan to allow motorized use on 4.7 miles of the 163-mile state snowmobile trail (Ely to Grand Rapids). This would complete a nearly 24-mile motorized trail loop in the forest. This plan amendment must be approved separately from the forest classification and route designation process.
LIMITATIONS ON OFF-TRAIL AND NONDESIGNATED TRAIL USE
Within the Sturgeon River State Forest, three areas totaling just over 25,000 acres are proposed to receive special protections from vehicular use.
They were selected based on their high biodiversity rankings, the absence of major roads and/or trails, and their proximity to sensitive wildlife habitat, hydrologic features, or traditional nonmotorized recreational use areas. Limitations on off-trail and nondesignated trail use by motorized hunters and trappers (under state law) are proposed for state lands within each of these sites. County lands within these areas will be managed similarly.
PUBLIC REVIEW MEETING
The DNR invites interested persons to attend the July 10 public meeting at Ironworld. DNR, U.S. Forest Service and St. Louis County Land Department representatives will be available to answer questions regarding motorized access planning for public forest lands in the county. The DNR will also present its proposal and respond to questions and comments.
PLAN AND MAPS AVAILABLE
The forest classification and route designation proposals and the Taconite Trail amendment are available at www.findthetrails.com or at the DNR Tower Area Office, 650 Highway 169, Tower, Minn.
Written comments on both the forest classification proposal, and the plan to amend the Taconite State Trail Plan, will be accepted at the meeting public meeting or by sending to Brian McCann, DNR Trails & Waterways, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4052 by 4:30 p.m., Friday, July 20.