BLACK RIVER FALLS (Press Release) – A proposed change to the master plan for the Black River
State Forest would eliminate an underused horse camp site and designated horse
trails and convert the horse camp into a reservable, outdoor, group camp site.
The group camp site would be open from mid-April through the
nine-day gun deer season.
The proposal is due to extremely low use levels at the horse
camp, the availability of other horse facilities within one hour of the state
forest, and increasing demand for group camping options within the state forest
and park system.
Currently, there are 31 group camp sites managed by the
state Department of Natural Resources statewide and they are heavily used.
Use of the horse camp has declined 80 percent during the
past six years. Total usage the past two years has average 37 camp site
rental nights annually. This is the equivalent of one average summer
weekend at the traditional East Fork Campground, located nearby.
The Black River State Forest currently has one group camp
site with a cabin that is rented every weekend of the year and every day of the
week in the summer.
The new group camp would offer 6 to 8 gravel spurs where
visitors could park camping units, a common area where additional tents could
be pitched, a large communal fire ring, a well and a vault toilet building
constructed in 2009. In the future a volleyball court and horseshoes could
be added.
The proposal can be viewed in its entirety at http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/stateforests/blackriver/amendment.html
Individuals wishing to comment on this proposal can do so at
this web address or by emailing Peter Bakken, state forest superintendent,
at peter.bakken@wisconsin.gov
The comment period runs through Nov. 30.
For more information contact Peter Bakken at 715-284-1406.
