Let's hope they do better
This forest land in eastern Lincoln County, Wisconsin, suffers from severe ATV damage. Similarly abused by ATV riders is the nearby Otter Run Trail
formerly a ski trail, it is now a state-funded, year-round ATV trail. Wisconsin DNR to scrutinize
ATV trail proposals
First application of new policy likely to keep
ATVs off rail-trail segment along Wolf River
By Joel Patenaude
As of last month, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has a new policy for determining when, if and how all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) will be allowed on state lands.
The policy, nearly three years in the making, is now part of the manual code that guides the DNR. The manual code now also includes design criteria for new ATV trails.
The policy applies to new ATV trails, not existing trails 900 miles of which are open to ATVs in the summer; 1,400 miles in winter on state land.
The new policy "really stiffens up the rules for siting and constructing ATV trails so they're done in a sustainable way," said Tim Miller, leader of the DNR's ATV Task Force which wrote the policy. "Of course everyone is still going to debate whether a trail is sustainable with ATVs on it."
Miller presented the draft policy to the Natural Resources Board on January 26. The policy now guides land managers on how to evaluate the appropriateness of ATV trails on particular properties.
The first practical use of the policy looks likely to prohibit ATVs on an 11-mile stretch of a state trail along the Wolf River in Langlade County.
After the DNR bought the old railroad grade a year ago, local ATV clubs formed and asked for access to the entire 24-mile corridor, which
runs from White Lake north over the Forest County line. But DNR and Langlade County forestry officials agreed the Wolf River section, from White Lake to Lilly, ought to be protected from ATV wear and tear.
Miller said ATV club leaders didn't necessarily disagree, especially after being assured they would have access to the trail from Lilly north. Two state-funded ATV trails in Langlade County 70 miles worth hook up with many more miles of legal ATV trails in Oneida and Lincoln counties.
"We're liberal in this county about where ATVs can go," said Steve Jackson, Langlade County Forestry administrator. "They want to run everywhere, but I'm really happy they won't."
Jackson said he worried that if allowed on this particular trail, some ATV riders would veer off, rip up the steep banks to the river, and run through the waterway. He said there are not enough DNR wardens or sheriff's deputies to patrol trails used by an increasing number of both
law-abiding and rogue ATV riders.
Jackson said the more than 25 e-mails and letters he received from hikers, bikers and paddlers further convinced him ATVs ought to be kept out of the area.
"The Wolf River, in itself, is such a resource," he said. "For the rafting, kayaking and canoeing there now, a big part of the attraction is the quietness."
For that reason, Jackson said he welcomes the DNR directive that the
trail segment be designated, in the county's master plan, for nonmotorized use only. He said he doesn't anticipate strong objections from the public or county supervisors when the issue is taken up later this month.
The DNR's decision, which will be part of the trail maintenance agreement, "takes the monkey off the county's back," Jackson said.
Miller said counties that agree to maintain state-owned rail-trails are
required to gauge public support before posting such trails open to ATV riders. The input could come through the process of writing or amending a county master plan, which the DNR will require as part of a memorandum of understanding.
Most ATV trails in Wisconsin an estimated 4,000 to 5,500 miles total are on county lands. But the DNR's new ATV policy may be applied to county-maintained trails that are owned by the state. These include the
abandoned railroad corridors bought by the DNR and converted into public trails.
"We don't have a lot of ATV trails on state land," Miller said.
According to the DNR Web site, more than 220 miles of ATVs trails can be found in the Brule River, Governor Knowles and Black River state forests combined. The 62-mile Tri-County Trail, from Brule to Superior, is also open to ATVs. And Miller said a 10-mile "experimental
ATV trail" is being developed in the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest.
ATV access to federal park land is also increasing. In the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, more than 280 miles of ATV trails exist on the Chequamegon side alone. An additional 185 miles may be developed on the Nicolet side, which was closed to ATVs until June 2004.
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