Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest's Draft EIS

[Ed A. Stevens]

http://www.ashlandwi.com/placed/inde...89&refer_url=-


Forest Service seeks comment on management plan
By CLAUDIA CURRAN
The Daily Press
Last Updated: Tuesday, May 20th, 2003 09:16:35 AM


U.S. Forest Service timber management practices and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) regulations on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (CNNF) are slated for changes likely to occur by the end of 2003.

The changes, among many others, would come if Forest Service officials adopt a revision of the CNNF's current forest management plan, which was approved 17
years ago.

"It's really more of a refinement of the old plan," said Sally
Hess-Samuelson, CNNF planner.

More timber management zoning and attention to overall forest species composition is included in the proposed revision, Hess-Samuelson said.

Of eight proposals in a draft environmental impact statement of the revision, the Forest Service's preferred alternative shifts timber emphasis from early successional and even-aged northern hardwood tree species, such as aspen, oak and pine, to a more uneven-aged mix of hardwoods and aspen.

Such a change would leave about 29 percent of forest upland with aspen trees after 10 years, comparable to current CNNF practices. One hundred years from now, though, the situation may change: the proposal estimates 20 percent of forest upland
would contain aspen in contrast to about 24 percent were current forest practices followed.

This possibility is of concern to the Ruffed Grouse Society.

In his testimony before a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in 2000, Daniel Dessecker, a senior wildlife biologist with the Ruffed Grouse Society, described the impact of switching from even-aged to
more uneven-aged timber management practices in eastern national forests.

"Unless these habitats are replaced through the thoughtful
implementation of even-age forest management practices, viable populations of ruffed grouse and other wildlife dependent upon young forest habitats will become increasingly imperiled," Dessecker wrote.

However, if the Forest Service manages timber solely for game species such as ruffed grouse or deer, it would do so at the exclusion of other species, said Jim Meeker, associate professor of natural resources and biology at Northland College
and a member of Conservation Biologists of the Upper Great Lakes (CBUGL).

"The big problem is, we don't manage on a large enough scale," Meeker said. Without large-scale management over the next 100 years, Meeker predicts a decrease in native interior forest plant populations, including plants such as orchids and trilliums, and a decrease in conifer species such as cedar, hemlock and white
pine.

Meeker's preferred CNNF plan alternative would allow for larger blocks of interior forest where select timber cuts would be made when logged and less aspen would grow.

"It's a matter of stepping back and managing the forest differently," Meeker said.

If the Forest Service adopts its proposed alternative little change
would be seen in the Washburn Ranger District as the bulk of trees in the district are conifers, not hardwoods, according to District Ranger Chris Worth.

But in the Great Divide District, Barry Paulson, district ranger, said
long-term changes with the proposal include a higher level of emphasis on northern hardwood management and a decrease in aspen cover.

"I suspect a lot of folks over a 5, 10, or 50-year period won't see
changes that are very dramatic," he said.

Unless the Forest Service changes its forest plan policy, the revised plan will be reviewed by the agency in 10-15 years, when adjustments could again be made, he added.



ATV regulations

Proposed CNNF plan changes would significantly alter the forest's ATV
regulations.

"The change in proposed ATV policy would be pretty broad sweeping," said
Worth.

Under current regulations, ATV riders can hop on their machines and ride
on trails,
connectors between trails and routes, or roads.

Other than where signs prohibit off-road travel, ATV riders are also
currently able to
go off-trail and off-road.

Proposed changes to ATV policy would restrict travel to trails and roads
and only
allow ventures off-road "if a sign says you can be there,"
Hess-Samuelson said.
More trails would be available on the Chequamegon from between September
1 to
December 15, up to 50 miles of connectors could be established on both
the
Chequamegon and Nicolet forests, and up to 35 miles of a loop trail
could be built
on the Nicolet.

The CNNF's past liberal ATV policy has resulted in resource damage, said
Worth,
who said the proposed changes are beneficial and "warranted for the
protection of
resources."

Motivating the agency's proposed changes was resource damage.

Dr. Thomas Rooney of the Department of Botany at University of
Wisconsin-Madison recently completed a study about off-road vehicles
(ORVs) and
non-native plants. The study was conducted in the CNNF and is scheduled
for
presentation at a Natural Areas Association meeting in September.

After collecting mud and seeds from ORVs, Rooney modeled dispersal
patterns and
showed that the probable spread of exotic, or non-native plant species
increases
with ORV travel.

"Eliminating ORVs from natural areas is the most effective strategy for
stopping the
introduction of exotics," reads Rooney's abstract.

In addition, "over time, with many, many users, the action of the tires
tends to dig into
the soil," creating ditches, ravines and requiring rehabilitation,
Hess-Samuelson
said.

Jim Nemec, president of the Chequamegon ATV Club, is concerned with the
Forest
Service's proposal and the implications it may have on the area's
recreation-based
economy.

"I'd like to see them keep the roads open," Nemec said. "I would like to
see them
leave the policy so that the forest is open to ATVs unless areas are
posted closed."

Even within the ATV community, though, opinions vary.

Vernon Moore, a member of the Price County ATV Trails Association and
Northwoods Range Rovers ATV club, blames a minority of ATV users for
causing
resource damage and agrees with the Forest Service limiting ATV travel
to trails.

"It doesn't bother me that they're requiring us to go on trails," Moore
said. "In fact,
they should."

However, his agreement with the agency's plan partners with the
development of
continuous ATV trails in Price County and an increase in the number of
trail
connectors.

"I would like to see more mileage," Moore said. "Enough to get the job
done-whatever that is."



••••••



Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest's Draft Environmental Impact
Statement and
summary is available on the forest's website:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/cnnf/. Copies of
the proposed forest plan revision are also available from: Forest Plan
Revision,
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, 68 S. Stevens St., Rhinelander, WI
54501;
by e-mail at r9_cheni_lmp@fs.fed.us; by phone in Rhinelander at (715)
362-1300 or
in Park Falls at (715) 762-2461; or in person between 8 a.m. and 4:30
p.m. at forest
service offices at 68 S. Stevens St., Rhinelander, WI and 1170 Fourth
Avenue
South, Park Falls, WI. However you make your revision request, please
specify
whether you'd like a CD or a hard copy of the document.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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