Committee approves Hungry Bear Gravel Race and Recreational Trails Aid resolution; forestry staff report timber sales and rising fire danger

The Land, Water, Forest Resources Committee approved an event application for the annual Hungry Bear Gravel Race and passed the county’s annual Recreational Trails Aid resolution required to apply for snowmobile and ATV grant funds.

Event approval and trail use restrictions

The committee reviewed the Hungry Bear Gravel Race application; staff confirmed the organizer supplied insurance and a course map and that only a small portion of Sawyer County trails on the north end of the county would be used. Staff also noted the event application explicitly restricts use of ATV/UTV and snowmobile trails where appropriate; the committee approved the event. Motion to approve the event was made and seconded and recorded as carried.

Recreational Trails Aid resolution and grants

Committee members voted to approve the 2025 Recreational Trails Aid resolution that authorizes staff to apply for snowmobile and ATV grant funding; the committee noted this is an annual action that will also go to the County Board for final approval.

Forestry operations and timber sales

Forestry staff reported a busy spring: 12 active sales remain listed, sale value (sold and uncut) is just under $4,000,000, and March revenue was about $237,000 with a year-to-date total just over $650,000. Staff said 22 tracts totaling roughly 1,600 acres are being offered in the spring timber-sale prospectus with a bid opening scheduled for April 29 and formal approvals expected at the committee’s following meeting.

Seeley Trails proposal and trail maintenance

Staff reported continuing discussions with user groups about a Seeley Trails proposal and said a revised proposal will likely come to the May meeting. Jim Davidson, Sawyer County Snowmobile Alliance coordinator, reported grading and brushing work on trails and said he is working with the U.S. Forest Service on gate relocations to protect snow-only trails from unauthorized summer use.

DNR fire-season warning

A Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources representative told the committee that the region has been largely snow-free and is seeing declining humidities and higher temperatures, which are increasing fire risk. “The fire danger is rising as we get more drier humidities and higher temperatures,” the DNR representative said, and staff asked landowners and users to remain vigilant as the state moves into fire season.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to approve Hungry Bear Gravel Race event application: motion made and seconded; voice vote recorded as "Aye" — motion carried. - Motion to approve 2025 Recreational Trails Aid resolution to apply for snowmobile/ATV grants: motion made and seconded; voice vote recorded as "Aye" — resolution carries.