On Friday December 16th, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources sent out an email to notify the public that the Master Plan Amendment for Blue Mound State Park, which was approved in January 2016, is up for reconsideration during the January 25 2017 NRB meeting. Per the DNR, "department processes and technical content related to the amendment have been subject to legal challenges", and has apparently necessitated this.
Link to NRB agenda, including comment deadlinesThe NRB has arranged its agenda to first reconsider their original vote to approve the amendment (agenda item 2.B.9.A.) If this passes, they effectively negate that vote and put the amendment back on the table. Moving to agenda item 2.B.9.B., the board can then alter the amendment, or leave it as-is, and then vote on it again. In effect, they could remove the snowmobile route, make changes to the mountain bike specifications, or reject the amendment entirely.
Once again, we need to ask the mountain biking community to make its voice heard. Please take a few minutes from your busy holiday season and email or call the Board Liaison in support of the mountain bike trails at Blue Mound State Park. There's more information on how to do this below.
Karl Heil, Friends of BMSP advisor and former Blue Mound State Park Superintendent, wants you to know that you can support the mountain bike trails while opposing the snowmobile route. If the introduction of a motorized activity within the park concerns you, feel free to add that to your comments.
Here is a statement from Karl, and an
Action Alert (PDF) that you can read for details:
I would like to encourage your membership to voice their OPPOSITION to the needless construction of a snowmobile trail through the park, when there already exists a viable route (the road shoulder, which they have been using for the last several years) that will not cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars and cause irreparable harm to the natural resources of the park. As was true last year, they can voice their support of the Mountain Bike trails while being Opposed to the snowmobile trail.
Procedure to testify or submit written comments on items that are on the Board agenda(From the
NRB website):
When registering to testify, or submitting a written comment, please provide the following information to the Board Liaison:
1. Your name.
2. Name of organization(s) you represent (if none, state that you are "representing self").
3. Agenda item number (BMSP amendment is 2.B.9.) and whether you support or oppose it.
4. City of residence.
5. Phone number.
6. Email or mailing address, so the Board Liaison can confirm your registration to testify or reply to your written comment.
Email or call the Board Liaison to register to testify before the Board. Email or mail written comments to the Board Liaison.
Laurie J. Ross, Board Liaison
Office of the Secretary, Wisconsin DNR
Laurie.Ross@wisconsin.gov
608-267-7420
PO Box 7921
Madison WI 53707-7921
