April Silent Alarm

SILENT ALARM
BY MIKE MCFADZEN

 Wisconsin state bike trail flipped to motorized use by renegade county board

In what might be a battle for all state-owned trails, Polk County recently decided to allow ATV and snowmobiles on the popular Stower Seven Lakes State Trail. The Polk County Board move heightened tensions in nearby communities which rely on bikers, hikers and skiers for tourism. In addition, Burnett County approved motorized use on parts of the Gandy Dancer Trail without even notifying the Department of Natural Resources until after the fact.

As reported previously in Silent Sports, the Gander Dancer and Stower  Seven Lakes State Trails are examples of how co-managed state trails have become political footballs between county boards and  DNR management. Dozens of meetings over several years by county boards, committees, DNR and local communities appear to show that no state trail may be safe from local politics, and that county boards can flip state trails use based on local politics.

The crux of the issue is a DNR rule contained in Code 44. Interpretation varies, with some counties changing trail use without DNR approval, even though the trails are state-owned, and theoretically, cooperatively managed. These counties claim Code 44 allows them to change trail use and that the DNR only oversees the process. The DNR claims Polk County is in violation of the memorandum of understanding for the trail. As of press time for this article, the Polk County Board is generally ignoring the DNR.

Stower Seven Lakes Friends Group

The 14-mile Stower Seven Lakes Trail begins in Amery and passes through forests, wetlands and nearby picturesque lakes. Almost $600,000 in non-motorized trail funding was used to build the trail on a former rail grade. The trail was named to recognize the exceptional natural resources and recognize longtime public service and leadership demonstrated by Harvey and Marilyn Stower of Amery. Harvey Stower served in the Wisconsin legislature and as Mayor of Amery for many years, according to the DNR website.  The Stowers might be rolling in their graves if they knew what was happening to their namesake trail.

The Friends of Stower Seven Lakes Trails have helped maintain and manage the trail for many years, including cross-country ski trail grooming. Since 2010, the Friends Group have leveraged over 7,000 volunteer hours and over $90,000 in private donations and equipment for the trail. The Friends Group is vehemently opposed to motorized use on the trail and is considering legal action against Polk County.

Friend’s president Brook Waalen feels skiers won’t use the trail anymore.

“You can’t mix speed and noise and expect skiers to continue using the trail,” he said.

It’s especially ironic that there are several nearby snowmobile and ATV trails and almost no dedicated bike trails.

County officials shrug off the decision claiming dual use (snowmobile and skiing) will encourage more traffic. The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks (FWSP) is concerned about how state trails are managed.

“FWSP supports smart trail management,” FWSP President Bill Zager told Silent Sports.

In 2016, FWSP issued a policy statement on co-managed state trails which states, “FWSP supports DNR oversight to review and approve/disapprove or modify local government unit master plans for state trails.”

Snowmobile community weighs in

Recent turnover on the Polk County Board may have made this change possible according to state trails council snowmobile representative Doug Johnson, who supports the action.

Johnson told the Wisconsin State Journal in an interview, “It was hard to get the old board to move on anything. Now it’s a little more streamlined and some of the people on the board now are a little more knowledgeable than in the past (when members were) mostly farmers in their 60s, 70s or 80s.”

Some motorized enthusiasts agree with Polk and Burnett Counties, others are concerned that pushing snowmobile use will backfire, as there is a trend of decreasing snowmobile use, according to the Statewide Comprehensive Recreation Plan. Motorized interests have lobbied former Wisconsin Governor Walker to push for more ATV and snowmobile access.

As previously reported, former Polk County Board President William Johnson takes issue with current trail management.

“The DNR has let this trail use issue go on for almost 30 years, pitting neighbor against neighbor, family member against family member,” said Johnson.

Johnson reasons the DNR should be a leader for the state trail system and make the operating rules the same for all trails operating under the state trail pass system.

Johnson told Silent Sports, “The DNR co-management practices really don’t work anymore. Purchasing a state trail pass is a contract with the DNR to provide equal conditions and opportunities on the trails requiring a pass, anywhere in the state.”

The future of Wisconsin non-motorized state trails

The future of the Wisconsin state trail system hangs in the balance. It may take legal or legislative action to determine whether trails built with non-motorized monies for non-motorized use will continue, or if county partners can dictate whatever trail use they want, whenever they want with no consultation with DNR or trail-user groups. Until then, trail use may be subject to the whims of local politics.

“The battle for Wisconsin state trails has begun in northwest Wisconsin,” said Waalen. “If county boards can flip trail use here it can happen anywhere in the state.”

Are state trails and parks important to you? Here is what you can do …

• Contact legislators on the issue of co-managed state trails. Parks and trails are an economic engine bringing over $1 billion annually to nearby communities.
• Engage local officials and attend local government meetings.
• Contribute to The Friends of Stower Seven Lakes to help cover the legal fees. Send your donation to FS7LST Legal Defense Fund, PO Box 201, Amery, WI 54001.