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DOUGLAS COUNTY FOREST ACCESS MANAGEMENT PLAN CHAPTER 7 Conditions, Objectives, and Potential Projects Pertaining to All Areas of the Forest Section Page 7.0 Conditions, Objectives, and Potential Projects Pertaining to All Areas of the 7.1 Conditions for All 735.1.1 County Forest Road 735.1.2 Recreational Trail 735.1.3 Cross-County Ski Trail System 735.1.4 General Forest Access Road System 7.2 Objectives for All Areas 7.3 Potential Projects for All Areas 7 - 1 7 - 1 7 - 2 7 - 3 7 - 3 7 - 3 7 - 4 7 - 5 ---PAGE BREAK--- CHAPTER 7 CONDITIONS, OBJECTIVES, AND POTENTIAL PROJECTS PERTAINING TO ALL AREAS OF THE FOREST 7.0 CONDITIONS, OBJECTIVES, AND POTENTIAL PROJECTS PERTAINING TO ALL AREAS OF THE FOREST 7.1 Conditions for All Areas All recreation on the Douglas County Forest, including forest access, is regulated by County Land Recreation Ordinance 7.2. Foot travel is permitted on all areas of the Forest. It is suggested that individuals wear blaze orange during open firearms hunting seasons. No cross-country motorized travel is allowed at any time on the Forest, including for game retrieval or trail connecting purposes. It is prohibited to construct, alter, re-route, or otherwise change existing roads or trails on the Forest without the permission of the Director of Forestry and Natural Resources or his or her designee. The use of illegally constructed trails by all persons is prohibited at all times. No person shall operate any unapproved motorized vehicle on a snowmobile, ATV, or cross- country ski trail once grooming activities on these trails have commenced. All vehicles not officially licensed or registered by the State of Wisconsin as a highway or recreational vehicle (including dirt bikes, larger utility vehicles, etc.) are prohibited on the Forest unless written permission has been obtained from the DCFD. Permission will be granted only for special events, vehicles whose primary purpose is utility line work, and authorized persons performing work on the County Forest. Equestrian, mountain bike, dogsled, cross-country ski, ski-joring, and snowshoe travel are permitted on all roads and trails throughout the Forest unless posted and/or closed to a particular use. It is suggested that individuals wear blaze orange during open firearms hunting seasons. No cross-country equestrian or mountain bike travel is allowed at any time on the Forest. It is prohibited to damage, manipulate, or otherwise circumvent a sign, gate, rock, berm, or other device placed by Douglas County or its agent for the purpose of signing a road and/or blocking a closed road. (10) All official signs and road blockage devices will be installed by DCFD personnel or their agents. (11) An access permit is required to use County forest property to gain access to other land ownership, utility access, or remove timber from non-County owned land. Fees may be assessed in connection with access requests. ---PAGE BREAK--- ACCESS MANAGEMENT PLAN (12) Authorized persons performing official work may receive permission from the Director of Forestry and Natural Resources or designee to use a HV and/or OHV on closed roads and areas. (13) Persons with disabilities can apply for a disability access permit with the DCFD for HV and/or OHV access to specific closed roads or trails. (14) It is prohibited to block in any manner a forest access road or trail which obstructs access by others. (15) HV, OHV, equestrian, or mountain bike traffic on open roads or trails into or through any unfrozen lake, stream, or wetland is prohibited unless WDNR-authorized crossing structures are in place. Any activity that results in the destruction of natural growth, erosion, rutting, or damage to a lakebed, or that has the potential to cause other environmental degradation or damage is prohibited. (16) No organized events shall be permitted (races, hiking, derbies, etc.) on the Forest without approval of the Director of Forestry and Natural Resources or the Forest, Parks, and Recreation Committee. (17) Sponsors of an authorized event will accept liability for all trail, road and related damage that might occur as a result of the event. Trails and roads may be inspected by the DCFD before and after sponsored events and an inspection fee may be assessed. (18) No person shall operate a motorized vehicle with studded tires on the County forest property unless authorized by the Director of Forestry and Natural Resources or the Forest, Parks, and Recreation Committee. (19) Where access is limited, ingress or egress to or from private land on County forest property is prohibited unless an access permit is granted by the DCFD. (20) Apart from other provisions of the Access Management Plan or County Ordinance 7.2, the Director of Forestry and Natural Resources or designee may permit motorized use on any open or closed road or trail so that authorized persons can conduct official duties. (21) Notwithstanding other provisions of the Access Management Plan or County Ordinance 7.2, the Director of Forestry and Natural Resources or designee may close any road or area within the Forest to protect it from damage caused by any activity. 7.1.1 County Forest Road System All Douglas County Forest Roads not designated as part of the snowmobile and winter ATV trail network may be closed temporarily during the spring break-up season. Roads will be inspected on a case-by-case basis and closed/reopened by sign notification as conditions warrant. All Douglas County Forest Roads designated as part of the snowmobile and winter ATV trail network are closed to HV use annually from December 15 to April 30 and closed annually to OHV use from the official winter trail closing date to April 30. 7 - 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- CHAPTER 7: CONDITIONS, OBJECTIVES, AND POTENTIAL PROJECTS PERTAINING TO ALL AREAS OF THE FOREST All Douglas County Forest Roads designated as part of the winter cross-country ski trail network are closed to both HV and OHV use annually from December 15 to April 30. All Douglas County Forest Roads receiving road maintenance will be evaluated for permitted motorized use on a case-by-case basis. Most of these roads will be closed to both HV and OHV use during active maintenance operations. 7.1.2 Recreational Trail System All County trails designated as part of the snowmobile and winter ATV trail network are closed to HV use year round and open to OHV use only when the winter trial network is officially open or as otherwise signed. All County trails designated as part of both the snowmobile and winter ATV trail and summer ATV trail networks are closed to HV use year round and are closed to OHV use from the official winter trail closing date to the official summer trail opening date. 7.1.3 Cross-Country Ski Trail System All County trails designated as part of the winter cross-country ski trail network are closed to HV use annually from December 15 to April 30 and closed to all OHV use year round. 7.1.4 General Forest Access Road System Roads with no sign, berm, gate, or other blockage device are open to both HV and OHV motorized use. All travel must be confined to those portions of the road that can accommodate a licensed, 4- wheeled HV during the intended period of use. All general forest access roads that are closed to HV and OHV use on a permanent or temporary basis will be signed and/or blocked by a gate, berm, rocks, stumps or wood debris, or similar devices. All general forest access roads that are closed to HV use year round and annually open to OHV use from August 1 to March 14 will be signed accordingly and may have a road blockage device installed. All general forest access roads that lack a sign but have a gate, berm, rocks, stumps or wood debris or any other blockage device are closed to HV and OHV use year round. All general forest access roads being used for forest operations will be evaluated for motorized use allowances on a case-by-case basis. Most of these roads will be closed to both HV and OHV use. All general forest access roads open to HV and/or OHV use that are being used for unethical or illegal activity are subject to an immediate redesignation of their permitted use and/or a sign warning users of the consequences of continued illegal activities. 7 - 3 ---PAGE BREAK--- ACCESS MANAGEMENT PLAN 7.2 Objectives for All Areas Locate signs on designated roads and trails using the signage objectives presented in the Access Management Plan. At strategic locations throughout the Forest, locate 15 to 25 large informational signs that inform users of access and use restrictions. Evaluate the possibility of erecting large billboard type informational signs related to forest access along major State highways entering Douglas County. Designate all Douglas County Forest Roads by name with a wooden sign following the traditional standard of routing letters into the wood. The letters will be yellow against a brown background. The Douglas County Forest road system is open for all forest-management activities. Low, moderate, and high motorized recreational opportunity areas are offered and managed throughout the Forest. All efforts shall be made to take into consideration the needs of the diverse groups that use the Forest. Coordinate with different user groups to reduce or resolve conflicts between the groups. Continue coordinating with recreational user groups, clubs, and cooperators to maintain and/or enhance the summer and winter trails networks. (10) Promote and encourage annual voluntary clean-up efforts by individuals and different user groups. (11) Provide appropriate parking areas and turnarounds on roads on which motorized access is permitted. (12) Where appropriate and necessary, improve primary and secondary forest access roads to better sustain motorized use, and develop parking areas and turnarounds to disperse recreation pressure. (13) Rehabilitate unimproved lake and stream accesses to minimize littering, pollution, silting and shoreline damage. If damage continues or escalates consider closing these areas to public use. (14) The use of any road or trail on the County Forest must not result in pollution of surface water (lake and stream) as determined by the DCFD. (15) The use of any road or trail on the County Forest must not result in damage to riparian and/or wetland communities or cause shoreline erosion as determined by the DCFD. (16) Close all roads and trails that cannot sustain motorized use. (17) Redevelop County Land Recreation Ordinance 7.2 after reviewing input from law enforcement officials and impose additional penalties and increase fines for violations. 7 - 4 ---PAGE BREAK--- CHAPTER 7: CONDITIONS, OBJECTIVES, AND POTENTIAL PROJECTS PERTAINING TO ALL AREAS OF THE FOREST (18) Improve and increase Ordinance 7.2 enforcement efforts by coordinating more efficiently and effectively with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, Douglas County District Attorney’s office, and partnering agencies. (19) Identify locations where illegal access and/or use activities are occurring and notify the County Sheriff’s Department. (20) Coordinate with the County Sheriff’s Department and Recreation Officer in scheduling Deputy Enforcement Days. The DCFD would pay an additional deputy’s wages for time spent enforcing the ordinance on days when motorized recreational use is heaviest. (21) Schedule public awareness days throughout the year when DCFD staff would be responsible for contacting the general public concerning education and enforcement issues and thereby maintain a high level of authoritative presence throughout the Forest. (22) Encourage users who observe or are aware of violations to report them to the County Sheriff’s Department. (23) Purchase additional surveillance equipment for use in areas with repeat violations. (24) Reconfigure the DCFD’s telephone recreation hotline so that users can easily obtain current trail or park information. (25) Provide regular trail and access updates on the DCFD website. (26) Evaluate enhancements in and reductions to the Douglas County Forest Road network and catch up on overdue maintenance to the current network. (27) When feasible, budget for and obtain the services of independent contractors for road and trail construction and maintenance activities. 7.3 Potential Projects for All Areas Dedicate more time and effort toward public education through the use of media technology and direct user interaction with DCFD staff. Involve the Chamber of Commerce and local businesses in promoting awareness of local recreational opportunities. Considering hiring a second Recreational Officer. Encourage annual public education days in conjunction with additional enforcement efforts by DCFD staff. Expand the trail systems for both the snowmobile and winter ATV and summer ATV trail networks where feasible and appropriate. Develop a long-term plan for the Douglas County Forest Road network that includes identifying strategic locations and routes for road expansion through large contiguous blocks of the Forest. Future 7 - 5 ---PAGE BREAK--- ACCESS MANAGEMENT PLAN 7 - 6 forest-management may be directed toward using these routes where applicable and practical to reduce heavy vehicle traffic on township roadways (see Appendix - P for a map of proposed routes). Designate and maintain hunter walking trails within the ruffed grouse management areas. Attempt to secure permanent easements or purchase lands as necessary to ensure access to County Forest lands and/or trail use. The Forest, Land, and Parks Committee will consider additional recreational activities that do not compromise the protection of various resources on the County Forest or conflict with other uses.