---

The state is laying the groundwork for an updated 10 year Master Plan for a local wildlife management area.  The public had one opportunity to participate in discussions and review this week at the Forest Lake Carlos Avery headquarters and October 21 is the next opportunity to provide any input.  This is a webinar format and to join in you need to get details at the DNR website and look for the page all about the Carlos Avery Master Plan.

The actual window for when the state is accepting suggestions and concerns regarding the draft plan continues until November 1— but information meetings are done after October 21.

The WMA covers a large area in Anoka County and west of Forest Lake and there are 7,100 acres in Chisago County.  (See map.) The origins of the WMA were in the Crex Carpet Company, which harvested wire grass for weaving floor coverings until the final harvest in 1931.  The company land holdings went tax delinquent in 1933 and state officials saw the value in creating a sanctuary-research-fish and wildlife production and habitat area.

The draft master plan addresses existing conditions in “The Avery’ and future wide ranging issues.  There are sections on boundaries and access, staffing needs and enforcement, land use conflicts, how to protect the WMA from abutting properties and potential abuses.  (There are 527 parcels now that have a border with the WMA.)  The state plan looks at easements, utilities, encroachments, farm waste, unwanted animals being introduced as well as hunting, research and sanctuary areas.  Projections are made for future roads, parking, trails, culverts, signage, dikes and firebreaks and their upkeep.

---