Outdoor News & Announcements

2023 State Park Vehicle Admission Sticker Design Announced
Brooke Salomone of Brookfield East High School is the winner of the 2023 Wisconsin State Park vehicle admission sticker design contest! Salomone's design features a compass with different recreational themes of Wisconsin’s state park system.

The winning design will be printed on state park and forest annual vehicle admission stickers and will be displayed on more than 300,000 vehicles. Salomone will receive an engraved plaque and a 2023 annual vehicle admission sticker. Salomone’s design was selected from more than 250 entries in the annual sticker contest.

The 2023 stickers will go on sale in December and provide access to more than 60 state park, forest and recreation area properties across Wisconsin. Sales from admission stickers operationally fund your Wisconsin state parks.  

Wisconsin State Fair Ends This Sunday
The Wisconsin State Fair closes for 2022 on Sunday, Aug. 14, so there's still time to visit the DNR at Exploratory Park! Share your favorite places to visit at the Parks booth or answer some park system trivia, get your hands in the sand at the sensory stations, see Wisconsin fish species at the Fisheries exhibit or pick up a copy of the Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine. Or chat with one of the DNR's staff to learn about Wisconsin parks, wildlife, fishing, boating safety and much more.

Road Construction Begins Next Week At Peninsula State Park
Starting Aug. 15, some Peninsula State Park roads will be re-paved. This includes Shore Road from the Fish Creek entrance to the intersection of Bluff Road (2.7 miles) and Shore Road from the Peninsula Golf Course/Ephraim entrance to the intersection of Bluff Road (2.5 miles).

On Aug. 15, contractor Northeast Asphalt will set up staging areas and signage, and on Aug. 22, 90-100 trees will be removed. On Aug. 29, construction will begin on culvert replacements with asphalt milling, grading, paving and striping to follow the weeks after. Construction is anticipated to be conducted weekly from Monday through Thursday and last through late fall. Roads will be in varying conditions through the stages of construction seven days a week, with most of the active construction Monday through Thursday.

Visitors to the park with campsite reservations will be notified via email of construction. All park visitors should prepare for backups and delays during the construction period. No impacts are expected for camping, biking and other activities at the park. 

_{Photo Credit: Brooke Salomone}

An Architectural Star At Mirror Lake State Park

Nestled in the pines overlooking Mirror Lake is a tiny cottage with a sizeable and storied past.

The Seth Peterson Cottage is one of the last homes designed by famed Wisconsin architect Frank Lloyd Wright and the now-restored cottage is celebrating 30 years of being open to the public this year. You can find it right in Mirror Lake State Park and you can stay there, too. But if you're just up for a visit, the cottage hosts open houses the second Sunday of each month from 1-4 p.m., no reservations required. Admission is $5; children 12 and under and conservancy members are free.

Learn more about the Seth Peterson Cottage in the summer issue of Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine.

^{Photo Credit: Andrew Pielage}

Spotlight On: Totogatic Wild River

The Totogatic Wild River includes nearly 70 miles of the Totogatic River from the outlet of Totogatic Lake in Bayfield County, through Sawyer, Washburn and Douglas counties to its mouth at the Namekagon River in Burnett County.

In 1965, the Wisconsin “Wild Rivers” designation was established by the legislature to “afford the people of the state an opportunity to enjoy natural streams.” Section 30.26 of the statutes further states that “it is in the interest of the state to preserve some rivers in a free-flowing condition and to protect them from development.”

The Totogatic Wild River, designated in 2009, provides rich habitat for diverse aquatic and terrestrial species, has excellent water quality and beautiful scenery, and offers great fishing, paddling, hunting and wildlife watching opportunities.

In addition to its Wild River designation, the Totogatic is also an Outstanding Resource Water, a state classification given to only 1% of Wisconsin's rivers and streams. The Pine Barrens and Northern Dry Forest around the river are equally rare and uncommon in Wisconsin today.

For the paddler looking to escape the noise of daily life, the Totogatic provides an excellent reprieve, as there is very little development on the river banks. In summer, it is a wonderful place to cool down and recharge. In the fall, enjoy a foliage rainbow of colors.

If you visit, tread lightly at any point of access, as the shoreline along the river is fragile and erodible, and river water levels are variable. At some points along the river, paddlers may need to walk their boats until water levels return. Always remember to let someone know your plan before you go and establish your route ahead of time.

What's In A Name?

The name "Totogatic" comes from the Ojibwa word "Totogan" meaning "place of floating bogs" or "boggy river" (according to "Romance of Wisconsin Place Names," Heartland Press, 1988). Plat books, maps and tour books show a couple of spellings for the river and its namesake flowages. "Totagatic" and "Totogatic" are used interchangeably in these reference materials (sometimes both are used on the same page). Pronunciation is varied among several versions including Tuh-TO-ga-tec, To-TA-ga-tec, To-to-GAT-ic, To-TA-tec and TO-ga-tec, according to long-time local residents. Each of these spellings and pronunciations seems to have a strongly defended local following, and devotees of one will consider the use of the others as incorrect.

While visiting the Totogatic River in northwestern Wisconsin, you can also visit other state properties, including:

• Totagatic Highlands Hemlocks State Natural Area
• Totogatic Wildlife Area
• Totagatic Lake Wildlife Area
• Wild Rivers State Trail

Visit the Totogatic Wild River webpage to learn more or check out this 5-minute PBS Wisconsin piece on the Totogatic.

_{Photo Credit: Dave E., FishFearMe}

Upcoming Events

Head to the DNR Events Calendar to find more nature programs and events. Watch for upcoming public meetings and hearings on our Hearings & Meetings Calendar.

_{Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR}