F. Forest Recreation Management

Transcription

1 F. Forest Recreation Management F.1) Park and Recreation Management F.1.A. Program Overview. The park and recreation program has been in existence since With ever increasing outdoor recreation demands coupled with the local commitment to achieve economic growth from tourism/recreation, Itasca County will need to strike an acceptable balance that includes the development, maintenance, safety concerns and promotion of an outdoor recreation program. All this needs to be accomplished while keeping resource protection at the forefront of long and short term recreational planning. A 10 year Itasca County Recreation Resources Plan was completed in 2002 and is available on the county website (at: then: County Offices, then: Land, then: Land Management Plan, then: III.C. Links to Related Resources ). The following list of goals currently guides the operations and maintenance of the park and recreation program: 1. To provide enjoyable and satisfying recreational experiences for both residents and visitors on lands, lakes and rivers throughout Itasca County. 2. To plan, develop and balance an efficient and effective park and recreation program to match the public needs and financial resources of the County. 3. To plan, manage and maintain Bass Lake Park and Gunn Park within available human and financial resources. 4. To identify and properly maintain a high-quality public water access program. 5. To plan, coordinate and maintain an extensive multiple-use trail system throughout the county. F.1.B. Park Commission. The Park Commission is made up of nine citizen volunteers from throughout the County. This citizen group is established to recommend comments to the County Board and to assist the department with gathering information for projects and policies. This group is valuable to the department whenever public comment is needed on various projects and policies regarding recreation. F.1.C. Community Coordination. Working together with clubs, businesses and other government agencies is essential to the success of any park and recreation program. The Land Department actively works together with the following groups to provide recreational opportunities throughout the county: *Park and Recreation Commission *Trails Task Force *Itasca County Snowmobile Alliance *Resorts *Lodging/Tourism *Mesabi Bike Trail Work Group *Itasca County Rail Authority *SL/Lake Counties RRA *Ski Clubs *Snowmobile Clubs *OHV Clubs *Lake Associations *Local Communities *Townships *USFS Chippewa National Forest *Department of Natural Resources *Soil and Water Conservation District *Other County & Government Departments F.1.D. Park System Summary. ICLD - LMP Section II.F., page 1 of 6

2 The County Park System is currently managing the sites listed below. A current maintenance plan allows the department to balance available staff and funding to complete our goal of providing an enjoyable and satisfying recreational experience for both residents and visitors within Itasca County. This balance is achieved through a variety of maintenance strategies according to individual site needs 1. County Cross-Country Ski Trails. The County Park System maintains and grooms five of the sixteen cross country ski trail systems offered within Itasca County. These trails are open to hiking during the summer months and several are open to hunting in the fall. a) Amen Lake Trail is located south of Amen Lake and west of Long Lake (off Co. Rd. 246). It is 4.5 miles in length and contains intermediate to advanced loops. b) Big Ridge Trail is located south of Swan Lake (off of Co. Rd. 560). The trail is 6 miles in length and includes three loops, each at a different skills level (beginner to advanced loops). c) Stoney Ridge Trail is located approximately 20 miles north of Nashwauk along Highway 65. Three loops are 5 miles in length and offer beginning and intermediate skiing. d) Wabana Trail is located 14 miles northeast of Grand Rapids (off of Co. Rd. 59). It is 6 miles in length and offers skiers five loops within a mixed forest and wildflower sanctuary north of Clearwater Lake. e) Alder Pond Trail is located 3 miles east of Grand Rapids (off of E. Range Line Rd). It is 6 miles in length and has beginner to intermediate loops traveling through young aspen and hardwood forest. A portion of the trail travels through private property through the use of a cooperative agreement. Please stay on the trail within this area. 2. County Public Water Accesses. The County Park System administers and maintains over 75 public water accesses for residents and visitor s boating and fishing pleasure. Public access sites are classified according to their development and accessibility to the water. Included are: a) Class 1: good roadways, the best quality sites, suited for most vehicle types and sizes of boats with concrete ramps; b) Class 2: graveled roadways with gravel ramps designed to handle up to a 16' fishing boat; and c) Class 3: minimally maintained roadways with a natural shoreline and are designed to be back-up-to or carry-in sites for small 12' to 14' boats. Camping is not permitted at public access sites unless designated by signage. The Itasca County Highway Map includes the locations of local, county, state, and federal public accesses. 3. County Snowmobile Trails. The County Land Department cooperates with twelve local snowmobile clubs, the County Land Department, the United States Forest Service, the Department of Natural Resources, corporate landowners, and other public and private property owners regarding the management and maintenance of the snowmobile trail system within Itasca County. The local snowmobile clubs acquire trail permits, work with private property owners, coordinate trail construction, conduct regular maintenance of the trails, place or replace trail signage, and groom the snowmobile trails every year. ICLD - LMP Section II.F., page 2 of 6

3 These clubs, made up of local citizens, volunteer their time and talents to maintain a high quality system of snowmobile trails. Their dedication and work is greatly appreciated as residents and visitors to Itasca County enjoy snowmobile riding on these trails. There are eighteen snowmobile trails located on 515 miles through forest lands in Itasca County. Most of the snowmobile trails are groomed and maintained by local snowmobile clubs and the Department of Natural Resources through the Grant-In-Aid Trail Assistance Program. Itasca County serves as the trail sponsor for the Grant-In-Aid Trails, operating as the financial agent for Grant-In-Aid reimbursements and providing technical assistance to the clubs. 4. County Park System. The Itasca County Park System manages four county parks for resident and visitor enjoyment. a) Bass Lake County Park and Campground is a pristine park surrounding Bass Lake and encompasses 663 acres of mixed aspen, pine, and lowland conifer forests. The property was purchased in 1984 from Boise Cascade and is located 11 miles east of Effie off of Hwy. 1. There are 29 camping sites, picnic area and beach in the park with five as tent sites only. All sites offer a picnic table, fire grate, and tent pad and/or camper slot. All sites provide a lakeshore access and camping visitations are limited to fourteen days per camp unit. The park is interlaced with many multi-use trails within its 663-acre boundary. b) Gunn Park is a highly developed community park located north of Grand Rapids along Highway 38. It is located on the shores of Prairie Lake in Arbo Township with a fishing pier, picnic and pavilion area. Itasca Little League donated the park in 2003 and retained ownership of the baseball fields. Gunn Park encompasses 50 acres of open ground, pine, spruce, and aspen forests. c) Furlong Park is an 8-acre small park and carry-in access located on Loon Lake south of Marble on County Road. It was donated by the Furlong family in d) Boy Scout Triangle Park, is a small park located in southeast Grand Rapids along County Road County Dispersed Recreation Sites. The County Park System maintains twelve designated dispersed recreation sites located adjacent to public water accesses. The public may utilize these designated dispersed recreation sites for fishing, hunting, backpacking, and camping. Groups are limited to one vehicle or one tent per site and visitations are limited to fourteen days per site. All refuse and supplies must be carried out and most sites are provided with an outdoor latrine. All of the dispersed recreation campsites are located at existing public access sites and are signed accordingly. If a public access does not have a dispersed recreation site sign then no camping or overnight stays are allowed. 6. County Bicycle Trails. The County Park System provides for the management and maintenance of two bicycle trails in Itasca County. These trails provide routes for bicycle travel from Grand Rapids to Gunn Park or to the St. Louis County line. ICLD - LMP Section II.F., page 3 of 6

4 a) The Itasca Bike Trail is a 7 mile paved trail which stretches from the County Fairgrounds in Grand Rapids north to Gunn County Park. This is a multiple-use trail that includes hiking; bicycling, in-line skating, crosscountry skiing, and some ATV travel in designated areas. b) The Mesabi Bike Trail is a paved 132 mile long trail that will link over twenty communities across Minnesota s Iron Range. The trail will eventually traverse from Grand Rapids to Ely utilizing abandoned railways, logging and mining roads, along with existing community bike trails. It is a multiple-use trail that includes hiking, bicycling, in-line skating, cross-country skiing, and some snowmobile riding in designated areas. The alignment will emphasize the historic, scenic, environmental, and educational aspects of the region while connecting communities. F.2) Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Management F.2.A. Summary of OHV Management on County Lands. Itasca County Land Department (ICLD) has a goal of providing managed OHV recreational opportunities on ICLD administered lands. As of the last inventory, there are approximately 900 miles of forest roads and trails on ICLD lands. The majority of these are multi use trails that currently serve as access to timber and other resources. According to the Ordinance for the Management and Control of Motor Vehicles on County Owned or Managed Lands, these roads and trails are open to OHV use unless posted closed. Each District Forester determines, on a case by case basis, the allowable uses on a particular trail. Taken into consideration are: resource impacts, seasons of use, type of vehicle allowed, road or trail durability, and public and interdepartmental input. Of the 900 miles of trails, 800 are open to some kind of OHV use. Many of ICLD s roads are only usable under frozen conditions and are gated or blocked to OHVs to prevent damage during unfrozen conditions. Other roads are durable, all season roads and are only gated/closed during spring breakup to prevent damage. In between are the majority of ICLD s inventory of roads and trails. Most of these trails are open to ATV and OHM use and are closed to ORVs and Highway Vehicles to prevent damage to resources. Approximately 50 miles of trail are closed seasonally during the fall to provide undisturbed opportunities for small game hunters. These trails are gated and signed as to the uses allowed. State statute and DNR rules dictate much of OHV use within Minnesota, but ICLD strives to provide managed OHV recreational opportunities to the public while maintaining quality resource stewardship. F.2.B. Forest Road/Trail Inventory and Designation Process. Itasca County has worked cooperatively with the Minnesota DNR Trail Designation Committee to classify all established roads and trails on tax-forfeited lands throughout Itasca County. Currently the policy on trails within Itasca County is open unless posted closed. The primary goal of this process is to create designated routes for ATV s that can be mapped and encouraged for public use and to identify those areas in need of protection from potential ATV damage. ICLD - LMP Section II.F., page 4 of 6

5 The trail inventory and designation process has categorized trail features according to the appropriate level of use to which they would be best suited. Each road/trail is identified and placed into an environmental access category based on its environmental sensitivity rating. A low sensitivity rating indicates trails that are on good soils that would support regular use with minimum maintenance. A medium sensitivity rating indicates trails that are seasonally wet or on soils that would require more maintenance due to soil structure. A high sensitivity rating indicates trails which are mostly wet and are subject to significant damage from ATV use. Some trails have a history of being closed to protect areas already established as non-motorized (i.e. hunter walking trails). Itasca County has been working with the DNR in a statewide effort for ATV management. Within the forest classification and motor-route designation process, the DNR is currently conducting a forest-by-forest review of Minnesota State Forests with the primary goal of determining their appropriate classification with regard to Off- Highway Vehicle (OHV) use, and to evaluate overall motorized road and trail access to state forest lands. Other uses will also be evaluated, such as trail use for horseback riding, snowmobiling and mountain biking. This process will continue through The link to this process is: F.2.C. Designated Trail Development. ICLD has a policy in place that outlines OHV and snowmobile trail development and designation. ICLD is also guided by state statute and will act as the Responsible Governmental Unit as required. An identified need must be shown in order to start the process. A user group brings to the Land Department a proposal for a trail, or, a general outline of what their vision of the trail will be. ICLD staff then takes that idea and assesses the viability of the proposed trail. The viability of a trail is reflected in the ownership of the land the trail will cross, the ability to follow BMP s and environmental laws, and the Grant in Aid program guidelines. ICLD staff facilitates the trail development, coordinating the parties involved, making sure that the integrity of the process is maintained. Operating within those policies and laws, ICLD has partnered with Aitkin County, the DNR, and user groups to develop and maintain four high quality OHV trail systems. These trails either originate or are entirely within Itasca County. F.2.D. Itasca County procedure for addressing OHV damage. Damage caused by irresponsible OHV operation is a serious issue on public lands. The Forest Recreation Specialist (FRS) should be notified of the problem. The RFS will the work with other department staff, taking action to stop illegal riding. Signs will be placed closing the problem area to motorized use and/or rerouting if the situation warrants. Physical barriers including rocks, gates or other means may also be used to stop illegal traffic. ICLD works with law enforcement agencies and recreational clubs to keep trails open and to keep damage minimal. Any violation of the Itasca Counties Motor Vehicle Ordinance is a misdemeanor as defined by Minnesota Statute , Subdivision 3 and subject to 90 days in jail and/or a $1000 fine. F.2.D. Itasca County Policies. Link to the Itasca County index of policies: Link to the Motor Vehicles on Itasca County Lands Ordinance: y%20land.pdf ICLD - LMP Section II.F., page 5 of 6

6 Link to the Itasca County OHV Trail development Policy: Link to the Itasca County Road Closure Policy: Link to the Snowmobile Trail Development Policy: Link to State Statutes for OHVs and Wetlands, Rivers, and Lakes. ICLD - LMP Section II.F., page 6 of 6