A public information meeting is set for July 12 on a DNR proposal for a public landing on state owned land on Mercer Lake about five miles west of Woodruff. Currently there's private resort access to the lake. Public access includes a carry-in location at the Mercer Creek culvert and undeveloped pathways across state land.
Fisheries biologist John Kubisiak says the state owns 54 acres on the lake and they've put together a draft plan to put in a public boat ramp...
".....before we get too far down the road to having finalized plans for necessary permits and all those things, we want to get that out for public review and get input from people around the lake and also anyone else interested in public access...."
Kubisiak says the DNR has standards for minimum public access...
".....for a 257 acre lake like Mercer, the access standard would be a launch capable of launching a trailer boat and 9 to 17 car-trailer parking spaces. So we're in that approximately a dozen parking spaces on this draft design and concrete ramp...."
The meeting is from 9:30 to noon on Saturday, July 12 at the Woodruff town hall. The meeting is an open house format with brief presentations at 10 and 11 a.m. Anyone interested can also meet at the DNR Mercer Lake property for an informal site tour. Comments will also accepted beginning July 12 through the DNR website or by emailing johnF1Kubisiak@wisconsin.gov
