WDNR Citizen input sessions will look at defining access to Stewardship lands
A new stewardship access rule is the subject of three public input sessions scheduled for early April. Hosted by the Natural Resources Board Stewardship subcommittee and the Department of Natural Resources, the meetings will be held April 1 in Waukesha, April 3 in Eau Claire and April 8 in Green Bay.
The passage of the state budget last fall included the reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund. “Governor Jim Doyle made a commitment to future generations in his successful drive to increase the amount of the Stewardship Fund from $60 million to $86 million each year for ten years beginning in 2011,” DNR Secretary Matt Frank said.
The Stewardship reauthorization includes a provision requiring that lands purchased with Stewardship funds be open to five nature-based outdoor activities: hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, cross-country skiing, and any other nature-based outdoor activity as designated by rule by the DNR. The legislature provided for limited exceptions if the Natural Resources Board determines it is necessary to prohibit one or more of the activities to protect public safety, to protect a unique animal or plant community, or to accommodate other usership patterns. This requirement does not apply to state park properties.
The Department will work with the public and a citizen advisory group to help identify criteria to determine under what circumstances these five primary nature-based outdoor activities may be restricted or prohibited, and to define “usership” patterns.
“We want this process to be thoughtful and thorough,” said Frank “We look forward to working with the public to help us formulate a rule to provide opportunities for a full range of recreational activities.”
Since its inception in 1990, the Stewardship Fund has been used by the Department to acquire 447,000 acres, and an additional 58,000 acres was acquired using Stewardship Grants by local governments and conservation organizations. More than 92 percent of this land is open to hunting and more than 98 percent is open to fishing, ensuring that future generations in Wisconsin will have a place to hunt and fish as well as hike, ski, view nature and camp.
The public input meetings begin at 6:00 p.m. and will be held:
April 1 Waukesha State Office Building, Room 151, 141 NW Barstow St., Waukesha
April 3 RCU Corporate Center, Eau Claire River Room, 200 Riverfront Terrace, Eau Claire
April 8 DNR Northeast Region Headquarters, Lake Michigan Community Conference Room, 2984 Shawano Ave, Green Bay
The Natural Resources Board Stewardship subcommittee is headed by John “Duke” Welter from Eau Claire, with members Jane Wiley from Wausau, and Preston Cole from Milwaukee.
After the public meetings, the Natural Resources Board and the DNR will assemble a citizens group to advise the Department on developing the proposed rules. The advisory group will include representatives of various recreational constituencies, local units of government and land trusts. All public comments received will be presented to the advisory council.
Information on the new stewardship access rule and related materials, as well as an on-line public comment form, will be available beginning April 1 on the DNR web site at
www.dnr.wi.gov .
In addition to input taken at the meetings and through the web site, written comments can be mailed to Laurie Ross, Natural Resources Board Liaison, PO Box 7921, Madison WI 53707-7921 telephone (608) 267-7420, email: Laurie.Ross@Wisconsin.gov The deadline for all written comments is Friday, April 18, 2008.
