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Via e-mail from jeff@MnRepsonsibleRec.org

October 24, 2007

Brian D. McCann, Recreation Planner
DNR, Trails & Waterways
Box 52, 500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155-4052
651/259-5627 or 1-888-MINNDNR
Facsimile 651/297-5475
brian.mccann@dnr.state.mn.us

Mr. McCann:

Thanks for the update (below) regarding ATVs in the Cloquet Valley State Forest.

Please provide some additional information for the group:

1. In your Final Team Recommendations you have been very specific in describing areas that a proposed "closed", but you do not say straight out how many miles of routes in the Cloquet Valley State Forest will remain open to ATVs, dirt-bike motorcycles and four-wheel drive trucks. It is MRR's understanding based on information from St. Louis County and DNR staff over the years that ~880 miles of routes would remain open. Learn more about this at: http://www.mnresponsiblerec.org/cloquetvalleystateforest.htm. Please state how many miles of routes you propose leaving open to ATVs, dirt-bike motorcycles and four-wheel drive trucks in the Cloquet Valley State Forest.

2. Regarding the areas you propose to "close" to ATVs, dirt-bike motorcycles and four-wheel drive trucks, what enforcement plan and budget do you have in place to actually implement the closures in this plan? MRR requested enforcement budget data and was told no enforcement budget for your plan exists. Please provide a copy of your current enforcement plan and budget for implementing your Final Team Recommendations.

3.  I find it impossible to tell where your motorized routes are in relation to my special places in the Cloquet Valley State Forest using the map you e-mailed me.  Can you please mail me a larger map.  My neighbors are interested too.  MRR, P.O. Box 111, Duluth, MN  55801

4. Regarding Forest Classification, in the third paragraph of page five of your Final Team Recommendations you state "St. Louis County Officials believe that public vehicular access can and should continue under a 'managed' scenario. It is my understanding that the St. Louis County Board of Commissioners have not made such a decision? I believe you have overlooked an essential step in local democracy. Please explain the basis for your misleading statement that an open and legal decision has been made by St. Louis County to classify the Cloquet Valley State Forest as “managed”, aka open.   Also, I just spoke to Commissioner Steve O’Neil and he was surprised to hear that you are making such statements.  Please be sure to contact Commissioner O’Neil about this.

5. In the same paragraph, you state your "proposal represents a substantial improvement over current (unmanaged) conditions". Please enumerate specific improvements.

6. Regarding "improvement", please provide your plan and budget for inventorying damage and repairing and restoring "closed" and otherwise damaged areas in the Cloquet Valley
State Forest? This past summer MRR, Friends of the Cloquet Valley State Forest and UMD Interns gathered photographic and GPS data in an attempt to begin inventorying the accumulating damage in the forest that requires remediation. Please share your current inventory of damage sites in the Cloquet Valley State Forest.

7. The 2003 Office of the Legislative Auditor's Evaluation Report of State-Funded Trails for Motorized Recreation made several specific recommendations for improved oversight of gas-tax funded routes for ATVs, dirt-bike motorcycles and four-wheel drive trucks. Please provide your oversight plan as to how the use of public funds for ATV routes in the Cloquet Valley State Forest will meet objectives and goals and be accounted for. Please include which of the auditor's recommendations your plan implements. Learn more about the legislative audit called for by MRR and legislators in 2002: http://www.mnresponsiblerec.org/library/reports/2003olaauditreduced.swf

8. How can your Final Team Recommendations go to DNR Commissioner Holstein in St. Paul without approval by the people and Board of Commissioners of St. Louis County? As a St. Louis County resident who has spent many years roaming and paddling in and caring for the Cloquet Valley State Forest, I am offended that you, your Team, and the DNR Commissioner in St. Paul would usurp the authority of the people and government of St. Louis County. It was always my understanding that the state would defer to the county. Now it appears to be a done deal without due process.

In your e-mail you state "The Team's final plan will go before Commissioner Holsten on Nov. 20, 2007 for final review and approval." Please explain what recourse citizens who oppose your ATV plan for the forest have between now the predicted Nov 20 final approval.

9. I recall your role in the Gilbert Off-highway Vehicle Park that was mandated in the night in St. Paul.  I have an audio recording of you shouting at me from the back of a Gilber hearing room in Gilbert for saying what generated ovations among locals to intimidated to speak up those days – that people don’t want their neighborhoods and forests turned into off-highway vehicle areas.   Please explain your role in the proposed ATV, dirt-bike motorcycle and four-wheel drive truck planning process for the Cloquet Valley State Forest.  Are you a proponent of motorized recreation?  Are you a member of any club or organization that promotes motorized recreation?   What in your background qualifies you to oversee a proposal of such enormous proportions and immence importance to the people of St. Louis County and their future generations?  

How is your position funded? What portion of your salary paid for with gas-tax funds dedicated to each of these machines? Please provide references to budgets, etc if possible.  To learn more about how the DNR takes $15 million in gas-tax funds annually go to: http://www.mnresponsiblerec.org/reformpublicfundingtoolkithome.htm   

10.  Who will implement the proposed DNR ATV plan for the Cloquet Valley State Forest?  Please provide a list of what local units of government and publicly funded clubs will be involved in implement the proposed plan.

Thank you in advance for your prompt reply to our inquiry.  Please “reply all”.

Jeff Brown

Executive Director

Minnesotans for Responsible Recreation

c.  St. Louis County Commissioners, MRR Members

Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2007 10:07:45 -0500
From: "Brian McCann" <Brian.McCann@dnr.state.mn.us>
To: Whom it may concern...
Cc: "Brian McCann" <Brian.McCann@dnr.state.mn.us>
Subject: Cloquet Valley State Forest - Data Request
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To Whom it May Concern:

The DNR's Cloquet Valley State Forest Planning Team has reviewed comments submitted during the public comment period which closed on June 29, 2007, and has since modified their original proposal as outlined in the attached briefing paper & summary tables. The planning maps have also been modified to reflect these changes (So. St. Louis Co. Map is attached). These changes have been reviewed DNR Regional Managers and are headed to St. Paul for added review by Central Office Staff.

The Team's final plan will go before Commissioner Holsten on Nov. 20, 2007 for final review and approval. Watch for an official public notice and announcements shortly thereafter. If approved on Nov. 20th, the Plan Effective Date will be Sept. 1, 2008.

Please note that these materials are still draft and subject to change. Please contact me with questions or FFI.

Brian D. McCann
Recreation Planner
DNR, Trails & Waterways
Box 52, 500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155-4052
651/259-5627 or 1-888-MINNDNR
Facsimile 651/297-5475
brian.mccann@dnr.state.mn.us

DNR Final Team Recommendations for ATV routes in the Cloquet Valley State Forest 10-10-07

DNR ATV Route Map of Cloquet Valley State Forest 10-2-07