(Photo: Travel Wisconsin)
Several state lawmakers are not pleased with a federal agency’s national forest management decisions.
State Senator Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst), State Representative Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander), and State Representative Jeff Mursau (R-Crivitz) are criticizing the U.S. Forest Service’s decision to reduce or eliminate about 11 percent of the forest recreational operations this year. The legislators say the feds should let Wisconsin manage the national forests, so that better timber harvest management can take place. They argue the move would more than pay for operating the valuable tourism features of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
“We understand the federal government, citing increasing operational costs and decreasing number of visitors, is having trouble managing the forest lands it owns. Wisconsin stands ready to assist the federal government in keeping the recreational facilities open and services available if they will allow it,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement.
The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest covers more than 1.5 million acres in Northern Wisconsin.
WSAU