The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites anyone with an interest in recreational forest trails and motorized use in the Huntersville and Lyons state forests in Wadena County to attend a public meeting on Feb. 20 to review a set of proposals that include changes to the trail systems. The meeting will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Menahga Public School, 216 Aspen Ave SE, Menahga, MN 56464.

Draft recommendations aim to improve trail sustainability and to enhance user experiences. Proposed changes include adding 14.3 miles of off-highway motorcycle, .9 miles of all-terrain vehicle/off-highway motorcycle and 4.3 miles of horse trail as well as re-designating 5.1 miles of unsustainable trail. The draft proposals reflect feedback gathered during an open house in October 2017.

The forests are classified as “limited” with respect to motor vehicle use, which means that OHVs may only use forest roads and trails that are posted open. The DNR does not propose changing the “limited” classification.

The DNR invites the public to visit the meeting to review maps of existing and proposed trails, discuss the DNR proposals, submit comments and suggest changes to the recommendations. The DNR will also accept written comments through 4:30 p.m. on March 13.

Comments received at the meeting and during the public comment period will be used to develop a final recommendation that will be submitted to the DNR commissioner for approval. Changes to state forest trail designations must be made by commissioner’s order and published in the State Register.

Written forest trails comments may be submitted by fax to: 651-297-1157, by email to foresttrailplanning.dnr@state.mn.us, or by mail to: Joe Unger, DNR Parks and Trails, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN  55155-4039.

For more information, call:

• The DNR Parks and Trails Parks and Trails Division central office in St. Paul, 651-259-5279.
• The Parks and Trails Division regional office in Bemidji, 218-308-2372.

Information is also available online at mndnr.gov.