HOME Video of Comments to Board
Chair Forsman and Commissioners,
The Cloquet Valley State Forest stretches roughly from Cotton to Brimson, down to Barrs Lake and back across to Island Lake. The majority of the land in the forest belongs to the state of Minnesota and, the county is steward of that land. Commissioners of this board are pushing for a Managed Classification for the forest, they want to maintain a “managed” classification where all trails are open unless posted closed while superimposing a system of “grant in aid” sustainable trails on that forest. While the sustainable trails sound acceptable, the overall “managed” classification is a misnomer which does little by way of management, allowing vehicle traffic on the forest floor on any trail that is not signed as closed, taking no responsibility for monitoring, maintenance or enforcement. This negates any value sustainable Grant in Aid Trails might have in protecting the forest by opening nearly every nook and cranny of the forest possible to off road vehicles.
The plan was created by the DNR and presented to the people, their feedback has been obtained. The people have spoken clearly that they prefer a Limited Classification in which off road vehicles stay on trails designed for them, with hunting and trapping exceptions, thus protecting the forest while permitting access. Of those few who wrote in support of the so called “managed” classification there were only 46 total letters of which just 40 were from St. Louis County or nearby.
The powerful support of the limited classification was firmly stated by 5 townships in or adjoining the forest, representing about 1977 citizens requesting a limited classification after their town boards passed resolutions to that effect, the overwhelming majority of letters sent to the DNR regarding the plan were in support of the Limited Classification, with 378 letters coming from Minnesotans in support of the Limited classification for these lands. Fully 147 individual and heartfelt letters were from St. Louis County residents asking you to please protect the lands of this forest with a Limited classification. Of these 147 letters there were letters from local scientists, educators, photographers, biologists, teachers and leaders and every day folks like me. The written feedback is what I deliver to you today.
How then has a plan for a managed forest come to rest on the DNR Commissioner’s desk? The County board has quietly worked to put the “managed” classification in place. At a workshop about 2 years ago, where votes cannot legally be taken, this board improperly but unofficially took a “nose count” and without notice to or a hearing of the people of the county and without giving commissioners a chance to study the issue or get constituent feedback, the “managed” classification was given the go ahead for the CVSF and the managed advocates on the board began their push.
The DNR, faced with pressure for a “managed” classification from this board drafted a plan for a managed forest not withstanding their initial intent to make the CVSF a limited forest.
Dave Wager, under contract for the international certifying agency Forest Sustainability Council stated his understanding that St. Louis County told the DNR that the “limited plan” was a non starter, and that he attended some of the CVSF planning meetings and those present told him “the county says it has to be classified managed so that’s what its going to be”
After the plan was drafted by the DNR, this board finally voted to send the plan to the public for feedback is before you now, and you need to review and discuss it. And then in order for you to correct this situation this board must vote on whether the CVSF should be a limited or managed forest and advise the commissioner of the DNR and the voters of this county of your position. I respectfully request that you act now on this matter.