Public comment sought on siting of Columbia C shooting range
FITCHBURG, Wis. – The public will have 30 days beginning March 17 to share their opinion on a final location for a new Columbia County public shooting range through a short online survey by searching for “shooting ranges” at the Department of Natural Resources webpage, dnr.wi.gov.
A public open house also is scheduled for April 3 at the Columbia County Law Enforcement Center, 411 E. Cook St., Portage, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. DNR staff and members of a citizen’s ad hoc committee formed to select sites will be available to hear comments and answer questions.
The shooting ranges webpage also offers background information on the Columbia County sites being considered and on public shooting ranges throughout the state.
“The master plan for state managed wildlife, fishery and natural areas in Columbia County identified a need for shooting opportunities in the county,” said Casey Krueger, DNR law enforcement supervisor for the area who is facilitating the selection process. “There is recreational shooting taking place at several locations on state owned land in the county right now but these areas do not have a designed shooting facility and present some safety concerns.”
A designed shooting range would feature protected shooting lines, dedicated parking and handicap access, earthen berms and other constructed features to prevent rounds from leaving the shooting area. A modern design would also minimize environmental impacts and control noise.
“DNR staff from wildlife and fisheries surveyed our DNR lands in the county and came up with a list of seven areas meeting the basic criteria for a range,” said Krueger. “We then formed an ad hoc citizens committee representing, county and town elected officials, business, Wisconsin Conservation Congress and conservation clubs to whittle the list down to two recommended sites and put those out for further public input.”
In addition to the survey and open house, a final site proposal will be reviewed by the Natural Resources Board. All comments received at this time will be shared with the board and the board also will hear additional comment when the proposal comes before them.