A draft master plan for a Department of Natural Resources managed property located 10 miles west of Rhinelander is ready for public review.

The primary objectives of the Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area Master Plan includes early-successional forest habitats and protection of lake, stream, and wetland communities.

A public meeting will take place July 23 in Harshaw.

The department has received a request from a local ATV club to route a connector trail across a portion of the Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area, and is recommending that the trail be included in the draft master plan based on a 2014 trail feasibility study.

The draft plan describes proposed land management strategies, recreational opportunities, and boundary modifications for the property.

Highlights of proposed management include:

• Continued emphasis on management of early-successional upland and lowland forest types, including aspen, birch, oak, and alder.
• Protection and management of wetland and aquatic resources, including ephemeral ponds, conifer wetlands, and emergent vegetation around lakes and streams.
• Management of some stands of red and white pine and oak for older age classes.
• Continued emphasis on traditional outdoor recreational activities such as hunting and trapping.
• Modifications to existing project boundaries, including 2,568 acres of expansions, 768 acres of which are already in Department ownership.
• Continued collaborations with conservation organizations, local governments, and private landowners on shared stewardship, management, and recreation goals.

A public meeting will be held on Thursday, July 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Northwoods Community Elementary School, 9086 County Highway K, Harshaw. An open house with informational displays available and staff present for one-on-one questions and discussion will run from 6-6:45 p.m., followed by a formal presentation providing an overview of the draft plan from 6:45 – 7 p.m. A question-and-answer period will take place from 7 to 7:15p.m., and finally, an additional open house and one-on-one questions and discussion until 8 p.m.

The proposed actions are not anticipated to result in significant adverse environmental effects. The Department has made a preliminary determination that an environmental impact statement will not be required.

The Draft Master Plan and Environmental Assessment, along with maps and other background information, will be available for viewing at the public meeting. They can also be viewed online at: dnr.wi.gov, keyword search “master planning,” and then click on the link for “Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area master plan.”

The Draft Master Plan and Environmental Assessment will also be available for review at the DNR Rhinelander Service Center, Lac du Flambeau Library, and Tomahawk Public Library.

Comments or questions about these documents will be accepted through Friday, August 7, and can be offered at the public meeting, online through the master planning page of the DNR website, or submitted to: Jeremy Holtz by mail at 107 Sutliff Ave., Rhinelander, WI 54501, by phone at 715-365-8999, or by email at [email protected]; or Yoyi Steele by mail at WM/6, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921, by phone at 608-266-8169, or by email at [email protected] .