The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is seeking public input on proposed changes to the Public Forest Lands Handbook, which covers program guidance for all DNR and county land management procedures in addition to program management for the DNR’s Good Neighbor Authority process. The Public Forest Lands Handbook is updated every 2 years to incorporate and codify any approved policies and guidance that have occurred since the previous update. See a summary of proposed changes on this page. You can see the full handbook with proposed changes highlighted here. Submit comments by August 22, 2023 to Doug Brown,
Northern State Forests
Annual Property Implementation Plans Available
Each spring, Wisconsin State Forests develop Annual Property Implementation Plans (APIPs) and Monitoring Reports identifying the major scheduled and completed forest and habitat management treatments, recreation and infrastructure developments and other property management actions. You are invited to review the APIPs online and direct questions and comments regarding the plans to the respective property manager.
All planned treatments and developments in APIPs are approved and consistent with property master plans previously developed using public input. Annual Property Implementation Plans do not include routine maintenance or minor actions including mowing, building maintenance, inventory or field surveys.
DNR’s Newest Land Managers: Goats!
By Brenna DeNamur, Forest Health Outreach Specialist, Madison, Brenna.DeNamur@wisconsin.gov or (608) 335-0167
Don’t mind the bleating! Brule River State Forest (BRSF) staff recruited goats to manage forested areas overrun with invasive plants.
Annual State Forest Property Plans Available
Each spring, Wisconsin State Forests develop Annual Property Implementation Plans (APIPs) and Monitoring Reports identifying the major scheduled and completed forest and habitat management treatments, recreation and infrastructure developments and other property management actions.
These plans are shared with the public online for review, questions, and comment; fiscal year 2023 APIPs are now available on the DNR website.
All planned treatments and developments in the annual plans are approved and consistent with the property master plans developed with additional public input. Annual Property Implementation Plans do not include routine maintenance or minor actions including mowing, building maintenance, inventory or field surveys.
Comments on APIPs can be directed to the property manager.
Annual Property Implementation Plans
Each spring, state forests develop Annual Property Implementation Plans (APIPs) and Monitoring Reports identifying the major scheduled and completed forest and habitat management treatments, recreation and infrastructure development projects and other property management actions. These plans are shared with the public online and include scheduled treatments over the next three years. All planned treatments and developments are approved and consistent with the property master plans developed with additional public input. Annual Property Implementation Plans do not include routine maintenance or minor actions including mowing, building maintenance, inventory or field surveys. Comments on APIPs can be directed to the property manager.
Annual work plans available for state forests
Annual Property Implementation Plans now offer the ability to see planned management actions on state forests and other state-owned properties. The plans, including a searchable tool, can be found on the DNR website (dnr.wi.gov – keyword “APIP”).
State forests are governed by property master plans, which are developed with significant input from the public, but these plans cover long periods of time (up to 15 years) and do not describe annual activities.
Annual plans, developed by the forester, wildlife biologist, property manager, ecologist and others, identify the major work during the next year to implement the master plan for that property. These activities encompass a variety of forest and habitat management work, including timber sales, tree plantings, prescribed burns and invasive species control. In addition, plans are shared for recreation and infrastructure improvements, including trails, campgrounds, buildings, boat landings, roads or expanded parking. APIPs do not include routine maintenance or minor actions including mowing, building maintenance, inventory or field surveys.
If you are interested in planned work on one of our northern state forests (Black River, Peshtigo River, Governor Knowles, Northern Highland-American Legion, Flambeau River or Brule River State Forest), visit the Annual Property Implementation Plan webpage. Direct questions or comments to the state forest property managers listed in the plan.
NHAL plans posted for review
Tree planting and the timber sale plans for Wisconsin’s largest state forest – the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest – are available on the DNR website for public review. Please submit comments to Forestry Team Leader Tom Shockley (715-614-4443) by July 16, 2018.
Established in 1925 to protect the headwaters of the Wisconsin, Flambeau and Manitowish rivers, the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest occupies more than 232,000 acres in northern Wisconsin and has more than 900 lakes within its boundaries. The forest provides employment and economic support to rural and urban communities through the production of forest products, recreation and tourism.
Property Manager Craig Dalton (715-356-5211 ext. 258) reports these 2017 forest management accomplishments as highlighted in the notes from the annual property management meeting:
- Approximately 4000 acres of timber sales represented in 35 sales were offered for sale in FY16-17.
- Roughly 64,000 cords of pulpwood and 1.128 million board feet of saw logs were harvested off the property last year.
- Regular timber sale receipts totaled $3,654,455.93.
- A significant wind event in 2017 resulted in major salvage harvests totaling an additional $163,868.09 in stumpage revenue.
Your comments on the proposed new work plans are welcomed by July 16th.
No vehicle access to Lake Superior landing
If you are planning to spend time during these last summer weekends on Wisconsin’s northern-most state forest, be aware that the boat landing at the mouth of the Brule River is closed. High water levels and wave action of Lake Superior have eroded the road leading to the boat landing. This popular take-out point is still open for carry-in landings, but vehicles are not allowed to drive to the landing. The distance to carry a watercraft is about 100 yards.
Canoeing on the Brule River State Forest. (Rena Johnson photo / Courtesy National Association of State Foresters)
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Paddling the Bois Brule River has long been a popular activity on the Brule Rule State Forest and is not impacted by this closure.
State forest meetings scheduled for Nov 2 and 3
You are invited to attend open house meetings to review and comment on proposed changes to master plans for several northern forests and on a 15 year review of the Brule River State Forest master plan. The meetings are scheduled for November 2 in Woodruff and Black River Falls and November 3 in Brule and Winter. You may also review the documents, fill out surveys and submit comments online through the master planning pages for the properties. Comment deadline is November 21, 2016. Read more in this DNR news release.