The DNR and consultants are asking for public input as they move forward with the planning process for the Powell Marsh State Wildlife Area.
The area is in western Vilas county and is bounded on three sides by the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest and the Lac du Flambeau Chippewa tribal lands. Meetings are being held in two weeks in Manitowish Waters. The DNR's property planning section chief Diane Brusoe says the charette process is a multi-day design workshop designed to capture public input...
".....the information that is coming out of of the charette will be a portion of some of the management options that will be considered for the master planning process. This is an extra step in our master planning process...."
Powell Marsh is primarily an open peatland with several small flowages and small lakes. It encompasses a portion of a 20,000 acre wetland complex mostly owned and managed by the Lac du Flambeau Reservation. About 12,000 acres of the tribally owned lands have leatherleaf bog habitat similar to the wildlife area. While lakes are abundant in the region, large, open peatlands are rare across northern Wisconsin. A UW-Oshkosh consultant is involved in setting up the meetings.
Three public meetings will be held at the Manitowish Waters Town Hall on May 23, 25, and 27. The public is also invited to observe additional small workgroup planning sessions Tuesday through Friday that week also at the Manitowish Waters town hall. Results from the design process will be presented in time to the state Natural Resources Board. Pre-registration is asked.
A link ishere.
