RIB MOUNTAIN STATE PARK MASTER PLAN REVISION AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Parks and Recreation December, 2005 PR-665 This plan was approved by the Natural Resources Board in December, 2005 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Board Gerald M. O'Brien, Chair Howard D. Poulson, Vice-Chair Jonathan P. Ela, Secretary Herbert F. Behnke Christine L. Thomas John W. Welter Stephen D. Willett Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707-7921 This publication is available in alternative format (large print, Braille, audio tape, etc.) upon re- quest. Please call 608-266-2181 for more information. You can also view this document on the Web at: http://www.dnr.wi.gov/master_planning/ PUB-PR-665 RIB MOUNTAIN STATE PARK- MASTER PLANNING TEAM DIRECTORY Master Plan Guidance Team William Morrissey.............................. WDNR- Bureau of Parks and Recreation, Director Peter Biermeier..................................WDNR- Bureau of Parks and Recreation, Section Chief, External Relations and Planning Kathryn Fitzgerald............................. WDNR- Bureau of Facilities and Lands, Section Chief, Land Management Timothy Miller.................................... WDNR- Bureau of Parks and Recreation, Regional Program Director Daniel Schuller.................................. WDNR- Bureau of Facilities and Lands, Northern Region Land Leader (acting) Master Plan Core Team Master Plan Public Contact & Park Manager............................... William Bursaw, WDNR- Bureau of Parks and Recreation - Rib Mountain State Park Park Supervisor................................. Dawn Bishop, WDNR- Bureau of Parks and Recreation Rib Mountain State Park Superintendent Core Team Leader............................ Kenneth Brokaw, WDNR- Bureau of Facilities and Lands Regional Planner / Landscape Architect- Northern Region Core / Guidance Team Liaison.......... Timothy Miller, WDNR- Bureau of Parks and Recreation, Regional Program Director Master Plan Expanded Team Environmental Analysis Specialist..... Tom Lovejoy, WDNR- Bureau of Integrated Science Services, Environmental Analysis and Review Team Supervisor Law Enforcement Specialist.............. Randal Falstad, WDNR- Bureau of Law Enforcement- Warden Supervisor Real Estate Specialist .......................Jeff Pennucci, WDNR- Bureau of Facilities and Lands, Northern Region Land Agent Community Ecology Specialist.......... Eric Epstein, WDNR- Bureau of Endangered Resources- Community Ecologist Watershed Specialist........................ Keith Patrick, WDNR- Watershed Management- Water Regulations & Zoning Specialist Education Specialist.......................... Sherry Klosiewski, WDNR- Bureau of Parks and Recreation, Natural Resources Educator Forestry / Fire Control Specialist....... Shirley Bargander, WDNR- Division of Forestry- Regional Team Supervisor Wildlife Specialist.............................. Richard Weide, WDNR- Bureau of Wildlife Management, Wildlife Biologist December 2005 i Master Plan Consultants Public Involvement Consultant.......... David Daniels, WDNR- Bureau of Facilities and Lands- Program and Planning Analyst Park Planning Consultant.................. Jeff Prey, WDNR- Bureau of Parks and Recreation, Program and Planning Analyst Master Plan Coordination.................. Tom Watkins, WDNR- Bureau of Facilities and Lands- Property Planning Specialist Legal Consultant............................... Atty. Michael Lutz, WDNR Bureau of Legal Services, Section Chief Biological Inventory Consultants....... Drew Feldkirchner & Andrew Clark, WDNR- TNC G.I.S. Mapping Consultants...............Joanne Tooley & Dan Egan, GEO Services Madison State Natural Area Consultant........... Randolph Hoffman, WDNR- Bureau of Endangered Resources- Conservation Biologist West Central Region Liaison............. Michael Ries, WDNR- Bureau of Facilities and Lands, Regional Planner / Landscape Architect- West Central Region Civil Engineering Consultant............. Nathan Benoy, WDNR- Bureau of Facilities and Lands, Natural Resource Engineer, Northern Region Historical / Archeological................... Victoria Dirst, WDNR- Bureau of Facilities and Lands, Archeologist LAWCON Grant Consultant.............. Leslie Gauberti, WDNR- - Bureau of Community Financial Assistance- Stewardship & LWCF Program Manager Disabled Accessibility Consultant..... Dorthy Kreiger, WDNR- Madison Acknowledgment The Rib Mountain State Park Master Plan Team thanks the many private citizens, local officials, and organizations who assisted in the creation of this plan by attending meetings, or submitting written or verbal comments. It has been apparent from the very beginning of the planning process that the public greatly values Rib Mountain State Park as an enrichment of the quality of life in North Central Wisconsin. December 2005 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Part One- The Master Plan CHAPTER ONE- INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW Forward................................................................................................................... 1 Overview of the Park................................................................................................ 1 Summary of Management, Development, and Use................................................ 5 Table 1-1 Summary of Park Facilities................................................................ 6 Summary of the Public Involvement Process.......................................................... 8 Summary of Environmental Assessment................................................................. 8 CHAPTER TWO- THE PLAN Property Description................................................................................................ 9 Introduction.............................................................................................................. 9 Vision Statement...................................................................................................... 10 Management Goals.................................................................................................. 10 Land Management Classifications........................................................................... 11 Table 2-1: NR 44 Classifications for Management Zones....................................... 11 Management, Development, and Use for Each of the Management Zones............ 12 Scenic Recreation Zone – Management...................................................... 12 Active Recreation Zone – Management........................................................18 Natural Recreation Zone – Management......................................................18 Rib Mountain Talus Forest- State Natural Area –Management……………. 20 ECB Communications Tower- Special Management Zone.......................... 21 Marathon County Communications Tower- Special Management Zone...... 22 Property-Wide Management Policies................................................................. 23 Property Operations and Administration............................................................ 24 Table 2-2 Recommended Phases for the Development of Facilities........................26 Deer Management................................................................................................... 27 Real Estate Management........................................................................................ 27 Real Estate Acquisition Policy.......................................................................... 27 Existing Project Boundary.................................................................................. 28 Park Project Boundary Changes....................................................................... 28 Recent Park Land Acquisitions /Transactions.................................................... 29 Existing Leased Areas....................................................................................... 30 CHAPTER THREE- SUPPORTING AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION Regional Analysis ................................................................................................... 31 Physical and Biological Resources.......................................................................... 31 Cultural Resources, Recreational Facilities and Uses............................................. 33 Table 3-1 Summary of Existing Facilities..................................................... 38 Findings and Conclusions of the Regional Analysis................................................ 39 December 2005 iii Part Two- The Environmental Assessment EA- CHAPTER ONE- GENERAL INFORMATION General Information................................................................................................. 43 Parties Contacted Regarding the Master Plan and EA............................................ 44 Introduction.............................................................................................................. 45 Compliance with the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act (WEPA).........................46 EA- CHAPTER TWO- AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT Physical Characteristics........................................................................................... 47 Biological Environment............................................................................................ 47 Rare, Threatened or Endangered Species.............................................................. 47 Land Use.................................................................................................................. 48 Cultural