Devil’s Lake Wish List? Speak Now…

The public still has time to comment on the Property Master Plan for the “Central Sand Hills Ecological Landscape” which covers much of our area’s popular natural attractions including Devil’s Lake State Park, Parfrey’s Glen, Pewit’s Nest and Gibraltar Rock natural areas as well as portions of the Ice Age Trail. You have until June 12, 2020. Read More | COMMENT NOW

What DO I GET?

The temptation with master planning is always trying to get something you want, usually at some expense to the resource. We tend to focus on how we can exploit, profit or at the very least get more access for our particular past time. Park fans might want more buildings, or picnic areas, bigger campgrounds, water slides, ATVs, whatever. Groups who profit within public lands want more access and often less regulation. Everyone wants… And those who “want” are usually organized and are have the ears of the folks in charge. This tends to mean, that the voice of conservation is lost, or at the very minimum, a sidenote. This is important to consider when you talk about often over-run locations like Devil’s Lake, Parfrey’s Glen, Pewit’s Nest, and other locations.

A Place for Nature?

Underlying the wishlists that permeate master planning is the fact that space is limited and within it are the forests, streams, lakes, ponds, plant life, and of course the animals who live there. Sadly, almost every single time humans make plans, nature will lose. Maybe just a little, but always slipping backward… More of the environment will be sacrificed, more animals will be pushed from their homes. Water quality will go down. Noise levels will go up. Light pollution will increase. There will be more garbage along the trails and more spray paint on the rocks. (And more dogs running loose…)

Why? Because the major concern of the organized voices is almost always about taking more, not taking less. Gaining access. Using more, not using less. It’s human nature. Ultimately, the health and survival of the nature that we profess to love becomes obscured and less of a priority when we want more trails and routes, more access, more parking, more amenities.

Know where you are, to know where you’re going…

Truth be told, we’re already overusing our local parks and natural areas. Everyone knows this, and I won’t belabor it here. And what’s more, I’m not sure we’re getting anything close to good numbers when it comes to accounting for the sheer volume of visitors or cars stacked up at Devil’s Lake or Parfrey’s Glen for that matter. I also don’t really think we have any clue what wildlife numbers look like within the park’s boundaries. Is there a sustainable population of fishers or beavers within the Devil’s Lake State Park borders? How are the softshell turtles doing? Is it wise to completely develop the lake’s shoreline and leave no safe access to the lake for wildlife? Is it ok to hold races on the lake during peak migration? I’ve asked to see any reports and studies regarding the park’s biotic inventory. I’m still waiting. The thing is, how do we plan for the future when we don’t know where we are? How does the public comment when they lack solid, digestible information? How can we simply talk about all the stuff we want and not talk about what the land can bear? I don’t see any organized local voice speaking up for balance here.

Educate

Some properties really need, I don’t know, some local group to keep the planning process at the forefront and advocate for balanced use as we plan for the future. This group could be offering ideas about sustainable growth and access while focusing on the long term health of the park they love. They could be actively educating the public and park users about current issues and proposed solutions throughout the master planning process. Like other organizations out there, they could be helping members and the general public understand the process, the long term impact, and the nuts and bolts of how their voices can be heard. Making sure public comments go beyond supporting a wish list. Education is as they say, “key”.

Lead with Care, Follow with Want

These amazing places; Devil’s Lake State Park, Parfrey’s Glen, Pewit’s Nest, Baxter’s Hollow, and so much of Sauk County will, if we care for them, always be great escapes and popular attractions for generations. When it comes to master planning, everyone’s advocacy should lead with a priority of keeping them healthy and improving quality, THEN following with our wish lists. Not the other way around.

Speak Now

Again, you have until June 12, 2020. Read More | COMMENT NOW

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