Leader Staff
State officials are seeking public comment on interim forest management plans for eight state parks and natural wildlife areas, including Kroenke Lake in Shawano County.
The Department of Natural Resources acquired the 150-acre property in the town of Richmond from Irvin and Dorothy Kroenke in 2006. About 40 acres is open land and 110 acres are forested.
The long-term goal is to convert the agricultural acreage to forests, according to the DNR.
The plan would also address some problems on the property, including areas of oak that have deteriorated due to two-lined chestnut borers, and red pine plantings in severe decline due never being thinned. In addition, there are some black locust and possibly box-elder in portions of the uplands, according to the DNR.
The interim management plan is available for review and public comment through Feb. 13.
Other interim plans available for review include the Lost Creek Bog State Natural Area in Bayfield County, Nelson Dewey State Park in Grant County, Belmont Mount State Park in Lafayette County, Dunbar Barron State Natural Area in Marinette County, the Paul J. Olson State Wildlife Area in Portage and Wood counties, and the Melancthon Creek and Hansell Creek fishery areas in Richland County.
The interim plans will guide forest management on the properties until formal master plans are completed.
A complete list of properties and the interim plans for these properties, as well as directions on how to submit comments, can be found online on the DNR website, dnr.wi.gov, by searching keyword “IFMP.”
People can fill out an electronic survey to submit comments, or can download the form and mail it in. Comments, either electronic or written, are due by 4:30 p.m. Feb. 13.