Advocacy Alert-Comments sought on Ashwabay Block timber harvest in Bayfield County
Submit comments by Thursday March 9 at noon
Bayfield County is looking for your input regarding timber harvests in the Ashwabay Block.
The Forestry and Parks Committee has created a two month period for review and comment before they approve 2023 timber sale plans at their April meeting. If you have any formal comments that you would like shared with the Forestry and Parks Committee, there is an ONLINE COMMENT FORM on the County webpage. Comments can also be presented during the public comment period at the beginning of every Forestry and Parks Committee meeting. The next meeting is March 13th at 6 pm in the Bayfield County Courthouse.
The proposed harvest will be the first of 5 planned timber sales in the Ashwabay block between 2023 and 2035 Logging activity at Ashwabay is expected to begin in July and continue into November. Trails impacted by the 2023 logging include the ski trails of “The Buzz” and “DeerPath” and the mountain bike trails “Dirt Lip”, “Diesel Bear”, and “Magic Carpet”. Documents related to the 2023 logging plans can be found on the Bayfield County website using THIS LINK.
A group of local residents who are concerned about the impact on the trails has summarized
information about the long term plans for logging at Ashwabay as well as requested changes that preserve mature forests around the ski and bike trails. You can find information on THEIR WEBSITE.