The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest has finalized its Recreation Facility Strategy and 5-year program of work for developed recreation areas.
The Forest made changes in the last few years to close underused areas and other changes. Spokesperson Hilary Markin says in the last three years, the Forest has been involved in public engagement to assess recreational offerings.
She says the final strategy is designed to have a sustainable recreation plan...
"...We recongized 193 developed recreation sites through this process and about 52 of those sites are going to remain as is. We're going to convert 23 of those to become general forest area and removing the infrastructure. 118 sites will have increased amenities some might have some minor changes to their operations and maintenance. Some of those amenities might be electrifying two parts of two different campgrounds...."
Markin says they will be upgrading hand pumps, putting in new toilets, fire rings, picnic tables and other improvements. Markin says the improvements will save money...
"...All the improvements we're making and all the de-commissionings and converting to general forest areas, we're anticipating a savings to our cost maintenance costs of about $300,000 per year, which is about a 25 percent reduction in our costs, so it's a very signIficant thing..."
Markin says in 2015 the Forest closed or reduced services at 11 percent of the recreation sites. She says this new plan brings the changes to a close and they're moving ahead with the new strategy.
More information is available on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest website.
