EDGEWILD TRAIL Non Motorized Trail PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

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1 EDGEWILD TRAIL Non Motorized Trail PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PROJECT SESW, SWSE Section 15, NWNE, NENW, SWNE, SENE Section 22, Township 138, Range 27 (City of Fifty Lakes) Crow Wing County Land Services Department Bryan Pike - Natural Resource Manager Summary of Trail Proposal: Edgewild Resort owner, Peter Nelson, wishes to extend hiking trails that currently exist on the resort property to adjoining tax-forfeited property north and east of the resort. Mr. Nelson wishes to utilize existing forest trails and other existing paths and make connections from those trails to his resort property. Resort guests and the public (utilizing public access areas) will be allowed greater year round non-motorized trail opportunities which will include hiking, biking, birding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Scope of Project: The acreage of proposed trail use area is 103 acres. This includes the area encompassing the trail proposal from the northern and western most proposed trails south to Edgewild Lane and east to Kego Lake Road. The existing forest trails utilized in this project are 1.1 miles. Map #1 shows all existing forest trails in the area. There are 3 miles of forest trails that exist within and near the proposed trail development area, but 1.1 miles will be utilized and maintained under this proposal. Existing narrow forest pathways utilized in this project are 0.3 miles (pink on Map #1). These narrow forest pathways are visible trails (3-6 feet in width) that have been used by the public that lead from existing forest trails. These trails are used by hunters generally accessing a hunting stand or area. The proposed new trail construction is 0.7 miles (light blue on Map #1). The trail development plans are detailed below, but will require the removal of small diameter vegetation and light trail clearing. The total trail development using existing trails and others segments identified for development is 2.1 miles (light blue on Map #2). Project Area = 103 acres Existing Trails and Pathways = 1.4 miles New Trail Construction = 0.7 miles Total Trail Development = 2.1 miles Page 1

2 Summary of Trail Purpose and Intended Uses: Resort guests and the public (utilizing public access areas) will be allowed greater year round nonmotorized trail opportunities which will include hiking, biking, birding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Designated trail uses will be generally limited to non-motorized trail uses, with the exception of the northern most perimeter of forest trails (solid yellow trail on Map #3) being utilized by the general public for passenger vehicle or ATV travel from May through December. Other trails on the Edgewild Trail system will be posted as non-motorized trail segments, but will allow a person to use an all-terrain vehicle (hunting and trapping exemption) when: hunting big game or transporting or installing hunting stands during October, November, and December, when in possession of a valid big game hunting license; retrieving big game in September, when in possession of a valid big game hunting license; tending traps during an open trapping season for protected furbearers, when in possession of a valid trapping license. Public parking areas currently exist off Kego Lake Road (red dots on Map #3) and can be utilized by the public to access the trails. The north parking area will be the primary parking area with consideration given to the south parking area, if needed. The public is welcome to utilize the trails that originate on the public land and later cross onto the resort property as long as the private property is respected. Public hunting will continue to be allowed on the county managed public lands. Forest management objectives (i.e. harvests, thinning, timber stand improvement projects) will continue to be a resource priority. All trails will be identified for the intended uses to ensure users have a safe experience and the natural resources are protected. Junction trail maps to be provided by county staff and installed and maintained by resort owner. Mr. Nelson indicated the occasional need to take resort guests with physical disabilities on the trails using a golf cart. Proposed Trail Development Plan: Utilize existing forest trails (yellow trails on Map #1) and other existing pathways (pink trails on Map #1) and make connecting links and trail loops (light blue trails on Map #1) that will lead to and from the resort property. Flag location of trail development (light blue trail) with the assistance from Public Land Management staff prior to actual trail development. Construct non-motorized trails connecting the resort and existing forest trails to form trail loops north and east of Edgewild Resort. Light shaping of the trails to level the walking surface will be allowed, but must not adversely expose or cut the root systems of trees. Areas of exposed mineral soil will be shaped and seeded promptly with a grass and or/clover seed mixture following the completion of the trail work. Page 2

3 Existing forest trails may require shaping to remove depressions, water holes and minor rutting that are present on the forest trails. Overall trail width shall generally be narrow (not exceeding 10 feet wide on average) to accommodate maintenance and ski trail grooming equipment. Trees greater than 6 inches in diameter (DBH) shall not be removed, unless authorized. Trail development can proceed following County Board resolution supporting trail proposal. Proposed Trail Maintenance Plan: Mowing of vegetation and other maintenance on the identified routes (2.1 miles shown in light blue on map #2) will be allowed and performed by Edgewild Resort staff and volunteers. Pruning of branches and removal of fallen trees crossing trail route shall be permitted. Where erosion may occur as a result of maintenance or foot traffic, repairs must be made in a timely manner to repair and reduce future erosion potential. Motorized trail usage will generally be limited to motorized maintenance vehicles (i.e. tractor, mower, ATV, golf cart). The proposed trail maintenance plan schedule is identified below: Trail Maintenance Plan Schedule (ie. mowing, clearing, signage, blading etc.) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Clearing X X Mowing X X X Signage X X General Maintenance Trail Maps are found on pages 4-6 Page 3

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