The Ice Age National Scenic Trail Bifurcation

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National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Ice Age National Scenic Trail

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Ice Age NST Bifurcation

According to Webster’s Dictionary— Bifurcation means:

“To divide or separate into two different branches.”

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Ice Age NST Bifurcation

As cited in the National Trails System Act, “National Scenic Trails are…extended trails so located as to provide for maximum outdoor recreation potential and for the conservation and enjoyment of the nationally significant scenic, historic, natural or cultural qualities of the areas through which such trails may pass.”

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Ray Zillmer (19xx – 1960)

Avid Outdoorsman

Founder: Ice Age Park & Trail Foundation

Originator of idea that led to:

Ice Age National Scientific Reserve And Ice Age National Scenic Trail

1958: Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation Ice Age NST Bifurcation

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Ice Age NST Bifurcation 1950s- route identification

Milwaukee Journal, September 1958

Extinct Glacial Lake Wisconsin Shore segment—”From the Wisconsin river below the lower dells, through Columbia and Adams counties to the conjunction of Adams, Waushara, and Marquette Counties, thence northward in Waushara County west of Coloma, through Hancock, and east of Plainfield, to the Portage County line.”

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Ice Age NST Bifurcation

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A First Recognition of Wisconsin’s Ice Age Features as Nationally Significant

Ice Age National Scientific Reserve

 Congress authorized the creation of the Reserve in 1964 as joint project with the State of Wisconsin. Nine sites were identified and designated as Units of the Reserve. They included: Devils Lake, Northern Unit of the Kettle Moraine, Chippewa Moraine, Campbellsport Drumlins, Cross Plains, Mill Bluff, Interstate State Park, Sheboygan Marsh, Two Creeks Buried Forest

 Purpose: “to assure protection, preservation, and interpretation of the nationally significant values of Wisconsin continental glaciation, including moraines, eskers, kames, kettleholes, drumlins, swamps, lakes and other reminders of the Ice Age” (Public Law 88-655)

Ice Age NST Bifurcation-Reserves

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Ice Age NST Bifurcation-Chapter Maps

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Ice Age NST Bifurcation-Congressman Henry Reuss

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Second Recognition of Wisconsin’s Ice Age Features as Nationally Significant

Ice Age National Scenic Trail

 The Ice Age Trail was authorized as a component of the National Trails System by Congress in 1980

 “(10)The Ice Age National Scenic Trail, a trail of approximately 1,000 miles, extending from Door County, Wisconsin, to Interstate Park in Saint Croix County, Wisconsin, generally following the route described in “On the Trail of the Ice Age—A Hiker’s and Biker’s Guide to Wisconsin’s Ice Age National Scientific Reserve and Trail, by Henry S. Reuss, Member of Congress, dated 1980.” Comprehensive Management Plan

• Completed in 1983

• Mapped existing segments and presented only a generalized route in other areas Ice Age NST Bifurcation Comprehensive Plan

Comprehensive Management Plan, 1983—”In selecting rights of way for trail purposes, the Secretary shall obtain the advice and assistance of the States, local governments, private organizations, and landowners and land users concerned.”

• Formed basis for today’s Corridor Planning Process.

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Ice Age NST Bifurcation-Eastern Route

Aldo Leopold

John Muir’s Boyhood Home

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Ice Age NST Bifurcation Landowner Contacts

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Ice Age NST Bifurcation-Western Route

Glacial Lake Wisconsin- Stacks and Bluffs

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Ice Age NST Bifurcation “the solid and dotted …lines show our possible future route. The “new” routes would bring in the Mill Bluff Unit and take advantage of state lands, as well as show contrast of glaciated and unglaciated areas. If you look at a geological map, the moraine is quite scattered in this area so either or any would be appropriate for the Trail.”

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Ice Age NST Bifurcation

The minutes from an Ice Age National Scenic Trail Advisory Committee Meeting held on August 29, 1984, states that “the council approved a proposed re- location of the route for the Ice Age NST between Devils Lake State Park and Greenwood State Wildlife Refuge. The change will take the trail into the glacial Lake Wisconsin area.”

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A  During 1986, Henry Reuss wrote John Zillmer and said that he was helping a group with a “heritage trail that they have been building in Columbia and Marquette Counties. It would encompass historic memories of John Muir, Aldo Leopold, Father Marquette, Zona Gale, Frederick Jackson Turner and others. It would also display some fine scenery along glacial moraines; and spectacular wildlife, including the sandhill crane.”

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Ice Age NST Bifurcation

John wrote Henry back stating “the Ice Age Trail

itself does not follow the route outlined in your letter. The National Trails System Act and National Park Service’s Comprehensive Plan for Management and Use of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail both do, however provide for side trails.”

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Ice Age NST Bifurcation Side Trails The Comprehensive Management Plan for the Ice Age NST states that side trails provide access to: “significant scenic, historic, natural, cultural and recreational resources…within proximity of the main Ice Age NST route…. .Some might be simple spur trails, while others could be alternative routes which connect to the Ice Age Trail in two places.”

• Side trails are not certified as being part of the Ice Age Trail.

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Ice Age NST Bifurcation Senator Bruce Vento In February 1987-”Apparently sometime in 1985 the Midwest Regional office adopted a recommendation of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail Advisory Committee and made a significant change in the Trail’s route, shifting it from Columbia-Marquette Counties, which contain glacial moraines, 30 miles westward to Juneau County, which is without moraines. This change was apparently made without consultation with the Columbia-Marquette County Ice Age Trail people, or former Congressman Reuss, author of the Trail guide and legislation.”

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Ice Age NST Bifurcation Senator Bruce Vento “It seems clear that the National Park Service erred in excluding the Columbia-Marquette Counties trail segment from National Scenic Trail status. Fortunately, there seems at hand a reasonable solution. I understand that key individuals involved in the formation and administration of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail have no objection to National Park Service recognition of both the Columbia- Marquette and Juneau segments as components of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail between Sauk County and the Chaffee Creek fisheries area at the northern border of Marquette County. This could easily be accomplished under authority contained in Section 6 (Side Trail) of the National Trails System Act as well as the general authorities contained in that Act.” I would hope that the NPS moves expeditiously to implement this proposal…….”

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Ice Age NST Bifurcation NPS, Stanley Albright

“During preparation of the comprehensive management plan for the Ice Age NST, the staff and Directors of the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation and the Ice Age Trail Council (the principal volunteer organizations involved in the trail), recommended that the plan recognize a new route that would proceed northward from Devils Lake State Park. While it does depart from the terminal moraines, it adds diversity of glacial landforms to the trail route, taking users into the old lakebed of glacial Lake Wisconsin. The Ice Age NST Advisory Council, appointed by the Secretary of the Interior affirmed its support for this route at its August 29, 1984, meeting. “

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Ice Age NST Bifurcation NPS, Stanley Albright

“We agree with the course of action suggested in your letter…recognizing both the eastern route in Columbia and Marquette Counties and the western route in Juneau and Adams Counties as branches of the Ice Age NST. We propose to designate them the “Terminal Moraine Route” and “Glacial Lake Wisconsin Route,” respectively. We believe this solution will be acceptable to all involved parties.”

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Ice Age NST Bifurcation

Mirror Lake The Shack

Glacial Lake Devils Wisconsin Lake State Park Observatory Hill Questions/Comments? Ice Age National Scenic Trail National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A