DNR news releases for Feb. 9, 2012

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources header

MINNESOTA DNR NEWS #9                                     FEBRUARY 9, 2012
All releases are available in the DNR's website newsroom at www.mndnr.gov/news.

IN THIS ISSUE
DNR seeking comments on Anoka Sand Plain Subsection Forest Resource Management Plan
Open house set for Feb. 16 to discuss suggestions for improving forest trails in Pine County
Open houses scheduled to discuss northern pike special regulations

DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: Robert Pulford, forest planner, DNR Division of Forestry, 218-833-8704.

DNR seeking comments on Anoka Sand Plain
Subsection Forest Resource Management Plan

A draft of the Anoka Sand Plain Subsection Forest Resource Management Plan (ASP SFRMP) is now open for public comment until 4:30 p.m., March 8, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The plan consists of two primary products. The public review document outlines the planning process, forest vegetation management goals and directions, and implementation strategies and stand selection criteria used to identify the forest stands to be site-visited by foresters and possibly treated over the next 10-year period, 2013 through 2022. The 10-Year Stand Examination List includes 268 stands totaling 3,883 acres that are being considered for site visits and possible treatment over the next 10 years.

"The focus of the public review is to seek comments on the process and criteria used to select specific forest stands for site visit and possible treatments," said Robert Pulford, a forest planner with the DNR Division of Forestry. "We also are looking for comments about the specific stands included on the stand exam list."

In addition to the ASP SFRMP, a management plan has been prepared specifically for the Sand Dunes State Forest located in Sherburne County. The focus of the operational plan for management of the Sand Dunes State Forest is to guide vegetation management within the Sand Dunes State Forest and is a part of the broader ASP SFRMP.

Stands on the list have received a preliminary prescription (i.e., harvest, thin, site visit to determine management or re-inventory) based on the directions as stated in the draft
ASP SFRMP. Once the stands are site-visited and evaluated, final treatment will be assigned. Based on past experience, not all stands identified for site visits result in a timber sale and harvest.

The Anoka Sand Plain SFRMP public review document, 10-Year Stand Exam List, and operational plan for Management of the Sand Dunes State Forest are available online at: www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/subsection/anoka/index.html. Paper copies (235 pages) may be requested from the DNR at the address below.

Comments on the public review document or individual forest stands placed on the Ten-Year Stand Exam List may be submitted to: Robert Pulford, DNR Division of Forestry, 1601 Minnesota Drive, Brainerd, MN 56401; phone: 218-833-8704; fax: 218-833-8668; or email: robert.pulford@state.mn.us.

All written comments received will be considered with responses prepared. Comments and responses will be included in the final Anoka Sand Plain SFRMP scheduled for adoption by the DNR in April.

The Anoka Sand Plain is an ecological subsection in central Minnesota that includes approximately 42,000 acres of state forest timberlands (lands capable of producing timber) administered by the DNR divisions of Forestry and Fish and Wildlife. This subsection covers all or parts of 12 counties: Crow Wing, Morrison, Stearns, Benton, Wright, Sherburne, Mille Lacs, Isanti, Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Hennepin. However, the majority of lands subject to this SFRMP are located in Morrison, Sherburne, Anoka, Isanti and Chisago counties.

The draft ASP SFRMP takes into consideration a broad range of factors that affect forest management including: increasing forest health and productivity, managing vegetation for rare species and habitat, balancing timber age classes over time, identifying stands to be managed as older forest to accommodate diverse wildlife and ecological resources, and limiting impacts to cultural, visual and water resources – all balanced to provide sustainable forest resources. Sustainable forest management is the underlying goal of the SFRMP planning process.

The DNR prepares management plans consistent with ecological subsection boundaries to ensure that ecological characteristics are considered as forestry management is implemented. The ASP SFRMP is one of 10 ecological subsections in the state for which the DNR has prepared a subsection plan.
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DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                    FEBRUARY 9, 2012
Media contacts: Patricia Arndt, Parks & Trails Division communications and outreach manager, 651-259-5578; Amy Barrett, Parks & Trails Division information officer, 651-259-5582.

Open house set for Feb. 16 to discuss
suggestions for improving forest trails in Pine County

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host an open house from
6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, to hear public suggestions for improving the motorized and
non-motorized recreational trail system in the Chengwatana, Nemadji, General Andrews and St. Croix state forests in Pine County. The open house will be at Rutledge Community Center, 7369 Highway 61, Rutledge (about 90 minutes north of the Twin Cities).

The DNR invites the public to stop by during the open house to review maps of existing and proposed trails, discuss the DNR proposals, and present their own recommendations for changes to the trail system and trail management.

In 2005 and 2006, the DNR completed classification and trail designation plans for the Chengwatana, Nemadji, General Andrews and St. Croix state forests. It classified all four forests as "limited" with respect to motor vehicle use, which means off-highway vehicles (OHVs) –
including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), off-highway motorcycles (OHMs) and off-road vehicles (ORVs) – may only use trails specifically signed for the specific use. Motor vehicles (including all OHVs and highway-licensed vehicles) are allowed on all forest roads, unless the road is posted closed to a specific use. During specific seasons, licensed hunters may use ATVs off-trail for hunting and retrieving big game, constructing deer stands and trapping.

To improve trail sustainability and enhance user experiences, the DNR is considering adding new trails and trail connections, changing allowable trail uses, designating areas where motor vehicle use is restricted during trapping and fall hunting seasons, and closing unsustainable trails.

The DNR will use the comments received at the open house to develop a draft proposal for trail improvements. The DNR will also accept written suggestions through 4:30 p.m. Monday, March 19. Written comments may be submitted to Rebecca Wooden, OHV planner, DNR Parks and Trails, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4039 or rebecca.wooden@state.mn.us.
Before the draft proposal is finalized, the DNR will hold another public meeting and provide a 60-day comment opportunity.

For more information about the trail planning process or the open house, visit www.mndnr.gov (www.dnr.state.mn.us/input/mgmtplans/ohv/designation/index.html) or call the Division of Parks and Trails at 218-999-7945 (Grand Rapids office) or 651-259-5584 (central office).
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DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                   FEBRUARY 9, 2012
Media contact: Pete Takash, information officer, DNR Fish and Wildlife Division, 651-259-5187.

Open houses scheduled to discuss northern pike special regulations

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invites the public to visit a DNR area fisheries office Friday, Feb. 17, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to provide comments and learn more about why the northern pike special regulations were dropped on a permanent basis on 15 lakes.

The DNR dropped 15 lakes with northern pike special regulations on Nov. 1, 2011. This action was necessitated by a change in state law that restricted the DNR to no more than 100 northern pike special or experimental regulation lakes. The 15 lakes that were dropped were lakes where fisheries biologists felt the regulation was least likely to achieve its management goal, or smaller lakes connected to larger lakes that also had a special northern pike regulation. Emergency rule was used to drop special regulations on these lakes. In order to drop these regulations permanently, the DNR is required to solicit additional public comment.

Open houses are scheduled at the following locations:

CENTRAL REGION

  • Long and Crooked lakes (Stearns County), Montrose Area Fisheries headquarters,
    7372 State Highway 25 SW, Montrose, MN 55363; 763-675-3301.
  • Ogechie Lake (Mille Lacs County) and Little Sauk Lake (Todd County), Little Falls Area Fisheries headquarters, 16543 Haven Road, Little Falls, MN 56345; 320-616-2450.

NORTHWEST REGION

  • Cotton and Big Floyd lakes (Becker County), Detroit Lakes Area Fisheries headquarters, 14583 County Highway 19, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501; 218-846-8340.
  • Lake Louise (Cass County), Walker Area Fisheries headquarters, 7316 State Highway 371 NW, Walker, MN 56484; 218-547-1683.
  • Lake Latoka (Douglas County), Glenwood Area Fisheries headquarters, 23070 North Lakeshore Drive, Glenwood, MN 56334; 320-634-4573.
  • Campbell Lake (Beltrami County), Bemidji Area Fisheries headquarters, 2114 Bemidji Ave., Bemidji, MN 56601; 218-308-2330.

NORTHEAST REGION

  • Caribou Lake (St. Louis County), Duluth Area Fisheries headquarters, 5351 North Shore Drive, Duluth, MN 55804; 218-525-0853.
  • North Branch Kawishiwi (Lake County), Tower Area Fisheries headquarters, 650 Highway 169, Tower, MN 56470; 218-753-2580.
  • Scrapper, Rice, Unnamed (#31-0881), Haskell lakes (Itasca County), Grand Rapids Area Fisheries headquarters, 1201 East Highway 2, Grand Rapids, MN 56744; 218-327-4430.

Those unable to attend an open house may submit written comments or comments by phone to appropriate area office. All comments must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 17. Public comments will also be accepted during an open house Feb. 22, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the DNR central office, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul.
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