February 23rd, 2004
The bi-monthly meeting of the LSRA Board of Directors was held in Rhinelander, Wisconsin on February 18th. Agenda items focused on a raffle update and status updates from the pending forest service lawsuits. Those updates follow. In addition Thomas Tiffany addressed the meeting. Tiffany is a candidate for the 12th District State Senate seat. He is opposing Sen. Breske. Unlike Breske, Tiffany is a strong supporter of multiple use of both State and National Forests. The BOD will invite additional candidates for other offices to address future meetings and in the future additional updates on political positions will hopefully be available in the future.
2004 Lake States Resource Alliance Raffle
Mark your calendars for March 17, 2004! On that day seven
lucky people will become prize winners in the 2004 Lake States Resource Alliance
annual fund raiser raffle. The annual raffle has become a major support for
the organization that uses the proceeds to advocate public access to our federal,
state and county lands. Covering Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois,
LSRA represents a broad array of individuals and organizations that rely on
public lands as a source of jobs, for recreational trail riding, for hunting,
fishing, and many other legitimate uses. LSRA has become a respected voice,
speaking out on issues of access, or acting as courtroom advocates in federal
land access issues.
This year’s grand prize winner will ride in style on a 2004 Arctic Cat T660
Turbocharged snowmobile. This state-of-the-art four stroke machine will carry
the winner in comfort on any trail in the country.
Second prize winner will ride a 2004 Arctic Cat 300 4x4 ATV. This fine machine
is also a new four stroke engine offering a neighbor friendly quiet ride.
Additional prizes include:
• 2004 Sledbed Aluminum 2 place snowmobile trailer
• A ladies fur trimmed leather coat
• A browning A-Bolt Medallion 7MM short magnum rifle
• A ladies gold Skagen Wrist Watch
• A Remington Model 870 Wing Master 020 gauge shotgun
LSRA was able to purchase this fine list of prizes through the cooperation
of companies and suppliers that support the work of this organization.
Tickets for this drawing are $5.00 each or are available in packets of 6 tickets
for $25.00. Tickets are available from:
Habitat Education Center v. Bosworth
The Habitat Education Center, David Zaber, and Richardo Jomarron filed a lawsuit challenging the Cayuga timber sale on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The plaintiffs claim that the Forest Service failed to consider the cumulative impacts of harvest, failed to adequately monitor harvest, and have not ensured the viability of Regional Forester sensitive species. In addition, they claim that this timber sale will limit alternatives the Forest Service may develop in the pending forest plan revision. The Lake States Resource Alliance, with the Ruffed Grouse Society and the Lake States Lumber Association, filed a Motion to Intervene on January 12, 2004. The Court has not yet ruled on the intervention. This Lawsuit has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelmann, a former Wisconsin legislator from Milwaukee.
This lawsuit affects the access via postponing creation of roads and trails on the Chequamegon side of the forest.
Habitat Education Center v. Bosworth
The Habitat Education Center, David Zaber, and Richardo Jomarron filed a lawsuit challenging the Howell timber sale on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The majority of the lawsuit alleges the same claims as the Cayuga lawsuit. But the plaintiffs also allege that the timber sale violates the Endangered Species Act because the Forest Service erroneously concluded that the sales would have no effect on the Canada Lynx. The Lake States Resource Alliance, with the Ruffed Grouse Society and the Lake States Lumber Association, filed a Motion to Intervene on February 12, 2004. The Court has not yet ruled on the intervention. This Lawsuit has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelmann, a former Wisconsin legislator from Milwaukee.
This lawsuit affects the access via postponing creation of roads and trails on the Nicolet side of the forest.
Northwoods Wilderness Recovery v United States Forest Service
This lawsuit was filed in the Western District of Michigan and will be heard in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Plaintiff challenges the action of the Ottawa National Forest in continuing to implement selection harvest in hardwood stands (management unit 2.1). The plaintiff bases the complaint on the Rolling Thunder timber sale which would exceed the forest plan acreage identified for hardwood selection harvest. The Lake States Resource Alliance, with the Lake States Lumber Association, filed a Motion to Intervene on February 4, 2004. Last week the United States Forest Service filed its Answer with the Court. The Court has not yet ruled on the Motion to Intervene.
This lawsuit closes the Ottawa National Forest to hardwood harvest and affects access via postponing creation of roads and trails in the Ottawa.
Wisconsin Forest Management Guidelines (FMG)
The State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has developed the Wisconsin Forest Management Guidelines. Copies of this document have been distributed to natural resource managers, educators and timber producers. This document was distributed at the December Governor’s Council on Forestry meeting. The FMG covers sustainable forest management principles that serve recreation, wildlife habitat improvement, endangered species protection, water quality, forest products and other objectives. To request a copy of this document contact the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources- Forestry Publications, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707.
The Next Meeting
The Board of Directors of the LSRA will hold its’ next meeting
on Wednesday March 17th at the Wisconsin Timber Producers building in Rhinelander.
The meeting runs from 9:30 AM to noon. Items on the agenda include the raffle
drawing.