Public comment sought for program guidance related to motorized road access on department-owned lands
MADISON - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources owns and maintains
thousands of miles of roads, and as a result of Wisconsin State Statute
23.116<https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/23/116/2>, will be
required to inventory and map all roads located on department property.
Each map will designate which roads are open to the public for the use of
motorized vehicles and will determine when each road is open or closed for
such use. To provide for public recreational access and management
activities conducted by department staff and in response to continued public
interest and feedback, the department will create a comprehensive road
inventory system for department roads.
The department is currently seeking feedback regarding general
considerations<http://dnr.wi.gov/news/input/documents/guidance/RoadGuidance.
pdf> that will be used to evaluate motorized road access - to provide
feedback, visit the department website, dnr.wi.gov<http://dnr.wi.gov/>, and
search keywords "proposed DNR program
guidance<http://dnr.wi.gov/news/input/Guidance.html>."
When program guidance has been approved, additional public input
opportunities will gather feedback for each property where motorized access
is evaluated. The public will play an important role in evaluating which
roads are open for motorized use.
In addition to feedback received from the public, a number of considerations
will be used to evaluate properties, including visitor requests for access,
operational feasibility, natural resource impacts based on anticipated level
of use, and economic benefits.
Upon completion, the department's Public Access Lands atlas
<http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/lands/pal/> will provide standardized property maps
with the following information:
* roads open for public motorized use;
* seasonality of open roads;
* planned development level of open roads; and
* types of motorized vehicles allowed on open roads.
Those interested in receiving email updates regarding the motorized access
planning project can sign up to receive email messages regarding property
info and other information. Visit dnr.wi.gov, select the email icon near the
bottom of the page for "subscribe for updates for DNR
topics<https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIDNR/subscriber/new>," then
follow the prompts and select "motorized road access planning," found within
the property master planning list.
For more information regarding motorized road access on department-owned
lands, search keywords "motorized road
access<http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/lands/MasterPlanning/RoadAccess.html>."