Arrowhead ACMU

(Grand Marais) The Arrowhead Coalition for Multiple Use (ACMU), a group formed in December 2005 which states that its mission is to promote multiple use of forest lands in the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota has elected board members and identified several issues that it is concerned about, such as US Forest Service land sales and an all-terrain vehicle trail system.

At a Monday, March 6, 2006 meeting at the Grand Portage Lodge, the group elected the following board members: President – Curtis Gagnon of Grand Portage; Vice-President Frank Rabold of Grand Marais; Secretary Annie Hess of Grand Marais; Treasurer Leroy Pratt of Grand Marais; and Member-at-large Ron Carlson of Hovland.

ACMU was formed at a meeting in Grand Marais in December 2005 among representatives from area snowmobile and sports clubs who gathered to discuss a controversial US Forest Service snowmobile trail reroute in Hovland, a rural township in northeastern Minnesota.

Although the initial meeting was to speak out for a particular US Forest Service alternative for that snowmobile trail, attendees agreed there were many matters of mutual interest that the group wanted to be involved with. At that first meeting, Gagnon said, “We plan to be a positive group. We are not opposed to anything. We believe the forest should be open for all—hikers, bikers, skiers, snow-shoers, snowmobilers, ATVers, anglers, motor boaters, canoeists, kayakers, and horseback riders. There is a place for all."

At the latest ACMU meeting, the group agreed to voice opposition to a US Forest Service plan to make national forest service lands available for sale to provide funding to extend the Secure Rural Schools Act (SRS). ACMU said it understands that the reason these lands are being considered for sale is because there is no longer adequate revenue from federal timber sales to fund rural schools. However, ACMU does not agree that selling off public lands is a reasonable solution.

ACMU is particularly concerned about the Superior National Forest lands included in the proposal—2,622 acres. The lands meet the criteria to be auctioned off under this proposal because they are “isolated” and “difficult to manage.” ACMU states that for that very reason these properties should be valued and kept in the national forest land system.

ACMU asks the US Forest Service to remove these lands from the proposed SRS sale, to leave these lands under public ownership to be enjoyed by the public for hiking, ATVing, dog mushing, deer hunting, berry picking, wildlife watching, and picnicking.

ACMU urges the US Forest Service instead to better manage timber production, for the health of our national forests and to allow adequate funding for rural schools.

ACMU also formalized its position on all-terrain vehicle (ATV) use in the Arrowhead, encouraging the US Forest Service, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and local governments to work to develop an adequate ATV trail system for the growing numbers of ATVers in the state. ACMU studied the DNR report entitled All-Terrain Vehicle Use on the North Shore State Trail: A Feasibility Study, the DNR 2004 Outdoor Recreation Participation Survey and the University of Minnesota study All-terrain Vehicles in Minnesota: Economic Impact and Consumer Profile. After careful study of these reports, ACMU noted that ATVing is increasing across the state and the region, including the North Shore. ATV riders have the funding to construct, monitor, and maintain ATV trails and are willing to invest even more, if needed. ATVers are ordinary people who like to get out in the woods with friends and family, just like other forest users. For those reasons, ACMU encouraged all governmental units to take a proactive stance and work toward providing safe, environmentally sound, and enjoyable ATV trails.

ACMU board members pledged to continue to work toward continued multiple use of public lands in the Arrowhead Region. Anyone interested in learning more about the Arrowhead Coalition for Multiple Use is encouraged to attend the next meeting, Monday, May 1 at the Howl’n Wolf Saloon dining room in Grand Marais at 6 p.m. For more information on the Arrowhead Coalition for Multiple Use, call Curtis Gagnon (218) 475-2486; or Ron Carlson (218) 475-9913; or e-mail ArrowCoalition@yahoo.com.