Straight Lake State Park and Wildlife Area Master Plan AUGUST 2009 WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Bureau of Parks and Recreation / Bureau of Wildlife Management Straight Lake State Park and Wildlife Area Master Plan APPROVED AUGUST, 2009 NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD CHRISTINE L. THOMAS – CHAIR JONATHAN P. ELA – VICE CHAIR JOHN W. WELTER – SECRETARY DAVID CLAUSEN PRESTON D. COLE GARY E. RHODE JANE WILEY 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 request. 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-839-2010 Printed on Recycled Paper Straight Lake State Park and Wildlife Area Master Plan (August 2009) 1 MASTER PLANNING TEAM SPONSORS Tom Hauge .............................................................Director, Bureau of Wildlife Dan Schuller ...........................................................Director, Bureau of Parks Bill Smith ................................................................Northern Regional Land Leader Rebecca Schroeder..................................................Section Chief, Bureau of Endangered Resources PROCESS TEAM Ken Brokaw ............................................................Team Leader, Bureau of Facilities and Lands Jeff Prey..................................................................Bureau of Parks and Recreation Randy Hoffman.......................................................Bureau of Endangered Resources Michelle Carlisle......................................................Bureau of Wildlife–Property Manager Kurt Dreger .............................................................Bureau of Parks and Recreation–Property Manager Tim Miller ...............................................................Bureau of Parks and Recreation Regional Leader Paul Kooiker............................................................Bureau of Wildlife–Property Manager / Public Contact TECHNICAL TEAM Paul Heimstead.......................................................Forest Management Specialist Kevin Morgan .........................................................Wildlife Specialist Jesse Ashton ...........................................................Conservation Warden Julie Fox..................................................................Education / Nature Interpretation Specialist Ryan Magana..........................................................Conservation Biology Specialist Colleen Matula .......................................................Forest Ecology Specialist Rhonda Kenyon.......................................................Real Estate Specialist Kathy Bartilson........................................................Storm Water / Ware Quality Specialist Heath Benike ..........................................................Fishery Specialist Brigit Brown............................................................Trails Specialist Drew Hanson..........................................................Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation Representative CONSULTANTS Tom Watkins ...........................................................Master Plan Quality Control Consultant Mark Dudzik ...........................................................Cultural Resources / Archeology Consultant Bill Gantz................................................................Environmental Document Consultant Andy Janicki............................................................Accessibility Consultant Ann Runyard...........................................................GIS Mapping Consultant Mike Lutz................................................................Legal Compliance / Tribal Law Consultant Jim Bishop, Jr. .........................................................Public Information Officer ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The Master Planning Team thanks the many private citizens, local officials, and organiza- tions who assisted in the creation of this plan by attending meetings and/or submitting written or verbal comments. It is apparent that the public greatly values Straight Lake State Park and Wildlife Area for its beautiful natural resources and recreational opportunities. 2 Straight Lake State Park and Wildlife Area Master Plan (August 2009) Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................ 5 Location and Access .............................................................................................................................................. 5 State Park Management, Development, and Use .................................................................................................... 5 Wildlife Area Management, Development, and Use ................................................................................................ 5 State Natural Areas................................................................................................................................................ 5 Environmental Assessment..................................................................................................................................... 5 The Public Involvement Process.............................................................................................................................. 5 CHAPTER 2 Management, Development, and Use ........................................................................................................ 7 Vision Statement – Straight Lake State Park and Wildlife Area................................................................................ 7 Goals – Straight Lake State Park and Wildlife Area................................................................................................. 7 Section One: Straight Lake State Park .......................................................................................................... 8 Property Designation and Authority ............................................................................................................... 8 Land Management Classifications and Vegetation Management .................................................................... 8 Recreation Management ............................................................................................................................... 8 Trails..................................................................................................................................................... 9 Camping............................................................................................................................................... 10 Day Use ................................................................................................................................................ 10 Boat Access........................................................................................................................................... 10 Other Supporting Park Developments .................................................................................................... 11 Interpretation / Education Program................................................................................................................ 11 Hunting......................................................................................................................................................... 12 Fisheries Management .................................................................................................................................. 12 Rainbow Lake ....................................................................................................................................... 12 Straight Lake......................................................................................................................................... 12 Straight River ........................................................................................................................................ 12 Vegetation Management............................................................................................................................... 12 Rainbow Lake Recreation Management Area......................................................................................... 12 Tunnel Channel Woods State Natural Area............................................................................................. 13 Straight Lake and River Management Area ............................................................................................ 14 Straight Lake Tamarack Fen State Natural Area ...................................................................................... 15 Upper Straight River Management Area................................................................................................. 15 Section Two: Straight Lake Wildlife Area ...................................................................................................... 16 Property Designation and Authority ............................................................................................................... 16 Land Management Classifications and Vegetation Management .................................................................... 16 Wildlife Management Goals .........................................................................................................................