Shocked with destruction at WI state park!! (Forest: for sale, amusement parks)

[JerichoHW]

I was looking up some Wisconsin state parks, thinking of any possible future trips I might want to take, when I came across something quite disturbing. It appears that Pottawatomie State Park at door county is literally chopping down acres of forest within the park to build a new campground. Here are links to the pictures I am referring too Tree Cut - Potawatomi State Park, WI - June 2008 - a set on Flickr, Stumps Examples - Potawatomi State Park - a set on Flickr

I am kind of shocked this is the type of thing I would expect at Illinois State Parks (No offense to my home state), is this type of thing common at Wisconsin State Parks?? I hope thats not the case because I absolutely adore Wisconsin and it would be a shame if natural beauty is being lost to campgrounds.

[susancruzs]

They are doing alot at Point Beach State Forest right now, too! I've seen log trucks leaving with loads of cut trees.

I go there alot as it is just a few miles from my house so I decided to stop at the office and ask. They said Point was due to have a cutting, not something they do every year but it is necessary. At first I thought they were making new sites, or adding new access roads as Point is one road in, one road out.

[Hntr]

Hartman Creek Park did the same thing too. I also stop at the office and asked. They said "thinning for better growth".



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[JerichoHW]

I am a little mad, I pay the out of state yearly rate for my sticker. I am shocked they were also cutting trees at Point Beach, as it is one of my favorite state parks. However at least they have better reason too at Hartman Creek & Point Beach. But what they did at Pottawatomie State park is disgusting, I have emailed in to the DNR a complaint, the destroyed acres of trees for an RV campground, despite the fact they have an abandoned campground within the park that could easily be converted.

[Bowie]

Originally Posted by JerichoHW

the destroyed acres of trees for an RV campground, despite the fact they have an abandoned campground within the park that could easily be converted.

RV camp sites bring in money, something parks need to find new sources of these days. But they also require utilities, since RV campers don't want to leave behind electricity and Internet access. Perhaps the other camping area didn't provide convenient access to those utilities?

[JoshB]

Wow, I never knew such a thing would happen in a state park. We have three state parks within half an hour of us, Devils Lake, Mirror Lake, and Rocky Arbor. All are heavily forested. I'd be in shock if something like that happen to one of the local places too! The for sale signs really make me wonder why the would put it up for sale?

As Bowie said state parks do need to find ways to bring in more money. It seems that state parks aren't as big of a family thing as they used to be. More and more families are doing theme parks instead of teaching their children about all these wonderful species that exist in a state park. I wonder if numbers of attendees each year has went down at all?

[JerichoHW]

Originally Posted by JoshB

Wow, I never knew such a thing would happen in a state park. We have three state parks within half an hour of us, Devils Lake, Mirror Lake, and Rocky Arbor. All are heavily forested. I'd be in shock if something like that happen to one of the local places too! The for sale signs really make me wonder why the would put it up for sale?

As Bowie said state parks do need to find ways to bring in more money. It seems that state parks aren't as big of a family thing as they used to be. More and more families are doing theme parks instead of teaching their children about all these wonderful species that exist in a state park. I wonder if numbers of attendees each year has went down at all?

Agreed Josh, it is quite a sad thing that people especially families are passing State Parks up for amusement parks, water parks etc. Apparently others are questioning the removal of trees at Wisconsin state parks, at Pottawatomie the Door County Environmental Council is, "currently challenging the DNR removal of a major portion of natural tree growth in Potawatomi State Park to construct a large group motor home camping facility. Alternative locations exist within the Park that already have been cleared. The funding for this project is to come in part from the Wisconsin State Stewardship Fund (hardly can be construed by anyone as stewardship). This project is already outdated with high fuel prices and the effect of large low-mileage vehicles on global warming." per this History of DCEC

At the hartmans creek state park pictured above, a found a press release on the trimming going on there: www.hartmancreekfriends.org/Friend's_minutes_11-12-08.doc

Overall I still don't know what to think, obviously the parks need money to keep running but they already charge entrance fees, and most of the parks have large camping facilities so I don't know if this is necessary.

[Geechie North]

If you remember the history of Pottawatomie Park (bought by state to be the site of a naval training facility. When Great Lakes (in Ill) beat them out, kept by state for value of timber alone), then this is not such a surprise.

Fact is the state parks, as the national ones, have conflicting missions (public recreation vs resource protection) that often result in situations like this.

Best bet is to call your state Rep and complain.

[susancruzs]

I thought for sure Point was making more room as it is a very busy park. In fact, on the day I rode through almost every spot had reserved sign for this weekend (too bad the weather isn't cooperating)!

I was amazed to see some dome tents in use, must be die hards because it is still a little chilly at night but then I'm not much of a camper. Got caught in a late May snow in Colorado and I felt like kissing the ground when we got off that mountain! My girlfriend and her husband lived there so I figured they knew what they were doing, NOT!!!

[Hntr]

Originally Posted by susancruzs

I thought for sure Point was making more room as it is a very busy park. In fact, on the day I rode through almost every spot had reserved sign for this weekend (too bad the weather isn't cooperating)!

I was amazed to see some dome tents in use, must be die hards because it is still a little chilly at night but then I'm not much of a camper. Got caught in a late May snow in Colorado and I felt like kissing the ground when we got off that mountain! My girlfriend and her husband lived there so I figured they knew what they were doing, NOT!!!

At Hartman Creek we have campers, usually tent campers, as soon as the snow melts. Granted not many, but every weekend there have been at least half a dozen tents set up. We camp there occassionally, tent, but not until July or early August.

LOL on kissing the ground in Colorado! My wife has felt the same way, but in the summer when we were doing those narrow mountain roads with those hundred foot drop offs just a few feet away.