In January 2009, Senator Bob Jauch
announced his goal of adding the Brunsweiler River in Ashland County to
the Wild Rivers list, and naming it “The Martin Hanson Wild River”
in honor of Wisconsin’s long-time conservationist.
The State Wild River legislation was passed over 40 years ago, the intent
of the program is to “preserve some rivers in a free flowing condition
and to protect them from development.” The program was developed
to afford the people of Wisconsin an opportunity to enjoy natural streams,
to attract out-of-state visitors and assure the well-being of the tourist
industry. Currently, there are three Wild Rivers in Wisconsin: the Pike,
Pine and Popple Rivers. The last time a river received the designation
was in 1965.
The Brunsweiler River is an excellent candidate, as it provides a remote
location for river recreation, with little development on its banks in
the segment proposed for designation. The Brunsweiler segment includes
more than a 10-mile stretch of river within the Chequamegon National Forest.
The Brunsweiler was added to the state’s list of Outstanding Resource
Waters in November, 2006. Because the proposed wild river segment of the
Brunsweiler River is within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, and
it touches very few private parcels, the designation is expected to have
little impact on current management of the river and little impact on
private landowners.
There is considerable grassroots support for this initiative. This proposal
was one of the top initiatives voted on by local conservation organizations
at an August 14, 2008 meeting of the League of Conservation Voters in
Ashland and Bayfield Counties. In order to be designated as state Wild
River, a bill would have to be passed by both houses of the Legislature
and signed by the Governor.
Click on the links below to learn more about the Brunsweiler Wild River
Proposal.
Latest News
February
25, 2009 press release Brunsweiler River Legislation Honoring Martin Hanson
Approved By Bipartisan Vote in Assembly and Senate
February 11, 2009 press release by Sen. Jauch and Rep. Sherman
Announcement
January
5, 2009 press release by Sen. Jauch and Rep. Sherman.
Resolutions of Support
December
11, 2006 resolution by Town of Marengo and Letter of Support from the
Wild Rivers Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Senate Bill
A
copy of the Senate Bill as of 2/9/2009
Legislative Briefing
What
wild designation would mean for the Brunsweiler River
Bill Analysis
Impacts
of designation
Other
Map
(large file)
A
tribute to Martin Hanson
The
Totagetic Wild River Proposal
 All
links on this page are acrobat pdf files. For more information, or to
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