Initial Public Input Period Set For Central Sand Hills Master Plan
Public Comment Accepted Through June 12, 2020
MADISON, Wis -- The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is developing a master plan for properties it manages in the Central Sand Hills region, which includes all of Marquette County and portions of Adams, Columbia, Dane, Green Lake, Portage, Sauk, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago counties.
The department manages almost 92,000 acres of land in the region in a series of parks, natural areas, fish and wildlife areas, and a variety of other types of properties including fish hatcheries, the Poynette Game Farm, water access sites, and parcels acquired under different statewide authorities.
Some of the more popular properties that will be part of this master plan include: Devil’s Lake and Hartman Creek state parks; fishery areas along the Mecan, Pine, White and Willow rivers; Grand River Marsh, Germania, Lawrence Creek and White River Marsh wildlife areas; Observatory Hill, Parfrey’s Glen, and Gibraltar Rock natural areas; and portions of the Ice Age Trail.
As a first step in the process, the department is seeking public perspectives, suggestions and ideas on:
- Current recreation uses and experiences at these properties;
- Regional recreation needs that the properties may be well-suited to provide;
- Current and future habitat management objectives and strategies; and
- Issues that the department should consider or evaluate in the planning process.
Given the need for social distancing at this time, the department will not host public open house meetings during this phase. Rather, the public can provide input in the following ways through the Central Sand Hills Central Sand Hills master plan page:
Online input form
Printable input form to provide comments on specific properties;
Printable input form to provide comments on general issues related to use and management of DNR properties in the region;
Email, write or call the lead planner
The public comment period for this first phase of the planning process has been extended to allow people extra time to review materials and provide input. The comment period will run through June 12, 2020.