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DOUGLAS COUNTY FOREST ACCESS MANAGEMENT PLAN CHAPTER 10 Education Section Page 10.0 Education 10.1 Objectives 10.2 Plan Availability 10.3 Douglas County Recreation Officer 10.4 Douglas County Forestry Department Staff 10.5 Local WDNR Staff 10.6 Organized User Groups 10 - 1 10 - 1 10 - 2 10 - 2 10 - 2 10 - 3 10 - 3 ---PAGE BREAK--- CHAPTER 10 EDUCATION 10.0 EDUCATION The primary purpose of the Access Management Plan is to increase public awareness of the land and natural resources in the Douglas County Forest and to reinforce the ethic of responsible use of the land and natural resources within the Forest by abiding by the rules and regulations presented in the Plan. This chapter discusses educational opportunities offered by the DCFD and cooperating recreational groups and public interest organizations. 10.1 Objectives The following objectives were developed to assist and direct the administrative and field educational implementation of the Access Management Plan: Development and production of recreational trail maps in the form of brochures depicting the snowmobile and winter ATV and summer ATV trail systems, County Forest roads, and general forest access roads and trails. The brochures should provide information on: ethical considerations surrounding social interactions between motorized and non-motorized users; responsible use, personal safety, and natural resources management. Brochures on the snowmobile and winter and summer ATV trail system will be made available to the public and distributed as widely as possible (County and WDNR offices, local businesses, County Visitors Center, and County website). Signs that indicate particular motorized recreational access restrictions on roads or trails will be strategically located throughout the County Forest. The signs will list restrictions on motorized recreational use on each road or trail by type of use and time period. Signs indicating that the County Forest is being managed in accordance with the Access Management Plan will be strategically located at primary entry points throughout the Forest. Recreational/public interest groups such as the Northwest Trails Association, Douglas County Fish & Game League, Friends of the Bird Sanctuary, Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association, Northwoods Harness Club and Wisconsin ATV Association may be asked to aid in imparting to the area users information about the Access Management Plan and on ethical considerations related to land/natural resource management. Field/district staff from the DCFD, WDNR, and the County Sheriff’s Department will continue to communicate with area users through personal contact. Staff from the DCFD and WDNR will continue to communicate to the County Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney’s Office the importance of their respective roles in implementing and ensuring the long-term success of the Access Management Plan. ---PAGE BREAK--- ACCESS MANAGEMENT PLAN 10.2 Plan Availability Copies of the finalized Access Management Plan will be available at the DCFD, County Clerk’s Office, WDNR Gordon Ranger Station, Superior Public Library, and Joan Salmen Memorial Branch of the Library, and posted on the County website. Updated trail maps and brochures also will be available at DCFD, WDNR offices, local businesses, and County Visitors Center, and on the County website. 10.3 Douglas County Recreation Officer Role The role of the Douglas County Recreation Officer is to assist in informing the general public about the Access Management Plan. Through patrols and individual contact, with users, the Recreation Officer will play a vital role in educating the public. DCFD staff will regularly coordinate with the Recreation Officer to maintain consistency in serving the public. The Recreation Officer also will play a primary role in the following areas: Contact citizens and users while on patrol; discuss the Access Management Plan, distribute trail maps, explain rules, and regulations, etc. Conduct ATV/snowmobile training classes; incorporate the Access Management Plan into the classes and emphasize the significance and importance of the Plan. Assist with educational workshops sponsored by the DCFD by providing information on access throughout the Forest. Provide assistance and public outreach to citizen and service groups such as sportsman’s, snowmobile, ATV, and wildlife clubs. Assist the DCFD in developing a recreational access ordinance and is preparing public service announcements, brochures, press releases, and other advertisements related to the Plan. Coordinate interagency patrol activities throughout the Forest as warranted. Educate and train other County law enforcement personnel on the elements of the Access Management Plan, applicable ordinances, and pertinent State laws. 10.4 Douglas County Forestry Department Staff Role The role of the DCFD staff is to assist in educating the general public on the provisions in the Access Management Plan. In many cases, the DCFD will be the first contact with users of regarding the plan. All staff members will be educated on the Plan and instructed to provide the public with consistent and timely information. Along with the published Access Management Plan, the DCFD staff and members of service clubs will use professional signing techniques to inform individuals of trail uses and potential hazards. Public service announcements and the County trails hotline and website may be used to inform the public of 10 - 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- CHAPTER 10: EDUCATION 10 - 3 trail openings and closings. The DCFD working with local WDNR personnel will investigate the possibility of setting up educational workshops, during which information pertaining to access issues, forest-management and timber harvesting would be provided to users and the general public. 10.5 Local WDNR Staff Role The role of local WDNR personnel, including WDNR Conservation Wardens, will be to assist the DCFD with all aspects of the Access Management Plan. WDNR staff will help identify needs and help provide technical and materials support in the delivery of information about the Plan, and assist in conducting educational workshops/presentations, and in preparing signage, displays, and advertisements. The WDNR will also play an important role with respect to citizen and user contacts throughout the County Forest. 10.6 Organized User Groups Role The DCFD along with organizations such as sportsman’s, snowmobile, ATV, cross-country ski, equestrian, and hiking clubs, e.g., Brule-St. Croix Chapter of the North Country Trail Association, recognize that it is necessary to educate both the general public and their own members concerning the value and importance of the Douglas County Forest. It is also important that these organizations help promote various education efforts, e.g., courses on ATV, boating, snowmobiling, and hunting safety. Such courses also educate the public and Forest users land ethics and the responsible use of natural resources. Public notification of events on County forest land will be the responsibility of the club hosting the event. The DCFD staff, which must be made aware of all events, will provide contact information regarding the event to interested parties.