The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will begin motorized access planning for six state forests in east-central Minnesota in late August and kick off the process with public open houses. The East Central Group of state forests, includes the DAR, Hill River, Land O’Lakes, Savanna, Snake River, and Waukenabo state forests, as well as scattered DNR forestry lands in Aitkin, Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Southern Cass, and Washington counties. The East Central Group is a cooperative planning effort among the DNR and Aitkin, Cass, and Pine counties. The DNR and cooperating agencies are co-hosting open houses so the public can review maps of inventoried access routes and comment on current and desired future public uses (motorized and non-motorized) of DNR-administered lands within the project area. The planning team will use the public comments to produce preliminary proposals for motorized use classifications and road and trail designations. County land managers are also seeking input for uses on county tax-forfeit lands. The goal of the coordinated planning effort is to create consistent access plans, which will best serve forest users. While the DNR and county land managers will ultimately develop their own forest road and trail plans for lands they manage, the agencies have formed this interagency working group to better coordinate plans. The open houses are scheduled for the following locations and times: Pillager School, 323 East Second St. So., Pillager, Aug. 21, 6-8:30 p.m.; Emily Community Hall, 21236 Second St., Emily, Aug. 22, 6- 8:30 p.m.; Mora High School, 400 East Maple Ave., Mora, Aug. 23, 6-8:30 p.m.; Hill City High School, 500 Ione Ave., Hill City, Aug. 28, 6-8:30 p.m.; and McGregor High School, 148 South Second Ave., Aug. 29, 6-8:30 p.m. Public comments will be shared among cooperating agencies, so interested parties need only submit comment once. Maps for the entire planning unit will be available at each meeting to facilitate convenient public participation in the process. DNR and its partners will consider the comments in development of proposed forest classifications and road/trail designations. For information, call Bill Johnson, at (651) 259-5643.
