Friends of the Black River Forest, the grassroots group opposing the use of publicly-owned Kohler Andrae State Park land and road infrastructure as part of the Kohler golf course plan in Sheboygan, reports Wednesday night that the DNR oversight board declined at its meeting today to allow some state parks management plans to be amended en masse.
And it shows that grassroots organizing and strong, informed advocacy can pay off.
More, later.
The state Department of Natural Resources Board declined to grant the agency blanket approval to change pre-1996 State Park master plans. Natural Resources Board members said they would consider changing state parks’ master plans on a park-by-park basis.Thank you to Claudia Bricks, FBRF spokesperson, for her comments along with Sarah Geers, Midwest Environment Advocates. Karl Heil, former Blue Mound Park superintendent, also gave powerful commentary. You can listen to the Request for Approval to change pre 1996 State Park master plans and comments beginning at 4:41 here:
dnrmedia.wi.gov/main/Catalog/Full/9da0bb432fd448a69d86756192a62f1721
PLEASE CONTINUE TO SIGN AND SHARE OUR PETITION OBJECTING TO THE SELLING OFF OF KOHLER ANDRAE PARK FOR KOHLER'S PRIVATE PROFIT
change.org/p/wisconsin-department-of-natural-resources-the-wisconsin-dnr-must-deny-kohler-company-the-use-of-public-state-lands-for-their-private-profit-the-role-of-the-wdnr-is-to-protect-the-environment-not-work-for-developersThis is a good development, as it slows speedy changes to Kohler Andrae State Park operations in favor of one private party.
And it shows that grassroots organizing and strong, informed advocacy can pay off.
More, later.
Why do I feel this is because of Walker’s poll numbers. Someone needs to do an open records request on communications between the DNR and Walker’s Office. Call me cynical. The Cons rarely allow the public to sway their absolute power grabs.
ReplyDeleteReally appreciate that this blog is staying on top of this issue; the draft EIS makes it clear that the proposed golf course would largely destroy this valuable migratory bird stopover site and associated wetlands, jeopardize water quality in the area, negatively impact an important state park, and yet the DNR has OK'd a wetlands permit
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carl: I did include some information from the environmental impact statement about the loss of migratory bird habitat, in a related post, here. https://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com/2018/01/you-cant-see-forest-when-chainsawing.html
ReplyDelete