U.S. Forest Service - Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest

RECYCLING EVENT: Students and staff with the USDA FS Blackwell Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center will host a Recycling Event on Friday, August 16, 2024, 1-5 p.m. at the Laona Town Hall, 5146 Linden St., Hwy. 8, Laona, WI 54541.

FREE items to recycle:

Computer Towers
Laptops
Cell Phones
Servers
Wire and Cabling
Keyboards/Mouse
Microwave Ovens
Dehumidifiers/AC units
Refrigerators
Copiers/Printers/Fax Machines
Phone Systems
DVD/VCR
Stereos/CD Players
Rechargeable Batteries
Washers Dryers & Stoves
Household Appliances Big & Small
ANYTHING Metal

Items recycled for a fee:

Computer Monitors: $10
TVs: $15
Flat Panel TVs: $15
TVs over 30”: $30
Console TVs: $30

Smokey Bear 80th birthday celebrations continue! Several communities have hosted events. Here are more upcoming opportunities to say "Happy 80th Birthday!" to Smokey Bear: https://tinyurl.com/yzh4sed3 Photo: Dave Melancon

Moths are just as important as pollinators as butterflies, but they don't always receive the credit they are due because they work the "night shift" after dark, which means they are not as visible. Learn more about moths during National Moth Week!

Moths Aflutter in Honor of National Moth Week Imagine wandering through your favorite botanic garden in the early evening and catching a glimpse of the moon reflected off of something lime green that moves from flower to flower while closer to the ground the yellow glow of fireflies help illuminate the night. It’s enough to make you feel like...

The Wanoka Lake Campground in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest will be closed starting July 19, 2024, to conduct site improvements.

The Wanoka Lake Campground is a popular campground on the Washburn Ranger District. Improvements will be made to site drainage and the campground access roads (FR243, 243A, and 243B), boat launch access, and overflow parking area will be repaved. Solar electrical service and a wastewater holding tank will be added to the host site. FR243 will remain open during the repaving process.

Find alternative campgrounds in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/cnnf/recreation/camping-cabins/?recid=27717&actid=29

Thanks so much to the dedicated crew, Forest Road 118c/Trail 101 in Price County (the Flambeau Trail) is back open. The trail was closed so that an aquatic organism passage could be replaced. This important project will help increase and improve habitat for aquatic species while enhancing the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest experience for everyone. Have you visited the area? Here is information about this very popular trail: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/cnnf/recreation/ohv/recarea/?recid=27815&actid=93. 📸s: Jim Mineau

TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE: A section of Forest Road (FR) 199 will be closed from Morgan Creek Bridge south for approximately one-quarter mile south from July 15, 2024 until approximately August 12, 2024. The closure is for construction. Access Morgan Falls/St. Peter’s Dome from the north via Ashland/Bayfield Road FR 199.

"We call it a globally imperiled landscape," said Bayfield County Forester Mike Amman. "The Moquah Barrens is not a forest, it's a unique landscape. We're fighting hard for the last of what's left."

The barrens provide essential habitat for 150-200 species, and the landscape is scarce.

This Discover Wisconsin video highlights the incredible barrens of Wisconsin and what USDA FS and partners are doing to help preserve this diminishing ecosystem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?.v=fIewkv1sqJI.

Learn about the USDA Forest Service management plan for this very special place: https://tinyurl.com/yj8rmmc2.

Bayfield County Government Bayfield County Tourism Bayfield County Forestry & Parks

Wisconsin’s Barrens of the Northwest Sands The unique barrens of the Northwest Sands is unlike anything else in the state. However, this is what a lot of Wisconsin used to look like! Mike Amman, a Bay...

TEMPORARY TRAIL CLOSURE: Sections of Forest Road (FR) 118 Trail 101 (Flambeau Trail) in Price County will be closed to all traffic from July 15, 2024 until July 19, 2024 so that one culvert can be replaced to accommodate aquatic organism passage. FR 118c/Trail 101 will be closed between Cedar Rapids Road and approximately .3 miles east of Wintergreen Lake Road. This section of trail is located in the Park Falls Ranger District of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

Detour route is from the intersection of FR118/Trail 101 and Clubhouse Rd south to Forest Road (FR) 513 to FR118h/Trail 121 to Forest Road 138 near Sailor Lake west on Forest Road 118/Trail 102 to north on FR118/Trail 103 to FR549w to FR549e east of Wintergreen Lake Road.

A map of the restricted area is provided for clarity. USDA Forest Service Motor Vehicle Use Maps are available online for visitors to reference to identify alternative routes. The maps are located online here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/cnnf/maps-pubs. While the section of road is temporarily closed, USDA Forest Service officials encourage travelers to bring along a paper map or other navigational resource, and plan for extra time that might be needed.

More INFO: https://tinyurl.com/4etk2y48

Invasive plant management is painstaking work! Thanks to Justin Bournoville for providing these photos of team members pulling garlic mustard in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Justin's photos reinforce that dedication is required to make a difference in the environment!

The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest just released its 2024 plan for minimizing the impact of non-native invasive plant species (NNIPS) in the forest. Annual updates to the plan are part of the forest’s commitment to keeping the public informed of its work while responding promptly to new invasive plant discoveries.

In 2023, resource specialists identified 143 new invasive plant sites across 264 acres. In response to continued threats from NNIPS, the CNNF conducted 721 treatments at 566 different sites (3,783 acres) during the 2023 field season.

“Due to their shade tolerance and ability to alter natural communities, garlic mustard and common buckthorn are a priority for inventory and control on the forest,” Bournoville said. “While monitoring has shown treatments are effective and paying off, we regularly see new infestations of these priority species popping up. Unfortunately, the more and harder we look, the more we find.”

You can help!

🌿 Limit the movement of firewood.

🌿 Stay on designated trails.

🌿 Clean recreational vehicles, trailers and boats before and after each use.

🌿 Brush clothing, gear and pets after a day outdoors can help remove seeds and plants parts, which should be disposed of as garbage.

CNNF "New Invaders" Newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/yypc7bjv.

It's National Forest Week!

Be sure to visit our friends at the National Forest Foundation and enter the photo contest here: https://www.nationalforests.org/

Water is perhaps the single most important resource our National Forests and Grasslands provide.

More than 3,000 communities, serving millions of Americans, get their drinking water from watersheds contained within national forests and grasslands.

The role our national forests and grasslands play a key role in providing water and supporting community health and economic opportunities from major cities like Atlanta, Denver, Seattle and Los Angeles to small towns that border forest boundaries.

From our watershed-focused Treasured Landscapes campaign sites like the Pike National Forest in Colorado, the Deschutes National Forest in Oregon and the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests in Utah to our multi-year partnership with Coca-Cola that is putting water back in rivers, streams and wetlands, we’ve realized significant and meaningful watershed benefits to forests and communities through our initiatives.

Since 2001, we have catalyzed more than $13 million in watershed stewardship and restoration through more than 450 individual investments. These investments include both direct on-the-ground restoration work, and investments that increase the capacity of those doing conservation work. We have leveraged our $13 million investment (private and federal funds) into conservation impacts exceeding $58 million. Selected cumulative watershed accomplishments include:

5,117 Miles of stream surveyed and restored
330 Road crossings or culverts repaired or installed
2,084 Acres of wetland or riparian area restored
195 Miles of road restored/decommissioned

📸: Tony Dynek

We are excited for Forest Fest! We are honored and pleased to be involved in this very special program at the Trees For Tomorrow campus in Eagle River, Wisconsin on July 27, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

These photos are from Forest Fest a few years back. Do you know what the tools in these photos are and why they are important? The “relaskop” is used to measure distances and tree heights so trees can be marked for timber sale. The other tool is called a “D-tape measurer.” It’s sometimes also called a “loggers tape measurer.”

Learn more about the heritage and legacy of Wisconsin’s timber industry, and modern-day techniques and equipment through demonstrations, exhibits and hands-on activities. Programs that focus on sustainable management of our natural resources will include wood harvesting, wood products, wilderness, wildlife, water quality and recreation.

Forest Fest also features logging equipment demonstrations, exhibits, horse-drawn wagon rides, children’s activities, birds of prey, chainsaw carving, papermaking, logging history, great food and more!

We hope to see you!

INFO: https://tinyurl.com/3vy3b3f5

📸s: Veronica Hinke / USDA FS

It's National Forest Week!



We are proud to join our partner the National Forest Foundation to celebrate National Forest Week!

The National Forest Foundation, a Congressionally designated nonprofit organization, brings peoples together to restore and enhance 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands managed by the USDA Forest Service.

​​​​​​​The possibilities are endless: With 150,000 miles of trails to hike and 4,400 miles of rivers to float, our forests have so much to offer. This week is , so make sure to check out the miles of fun!

Hunters, hikers and those looking for a great place to go for walk are encouraged to check out the walking trails across the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The Forest manages these trails as linear wildlife openings, and they are kept clear for visitors to enjoy. For walking trail maps, click on the Ranger District you would like to explore. Find your trail here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/cnnf/maps-pubs

Share your photos, adventures, and appreciation for National Forests with the rest of the world using .

It's National Forest Week!

The spectacular 193 million acres of our country's National Forests and Grasslands stretch from Alaska’s snow-capped peaks to Florida’s lush longleaf pine forests. Red rock deserts, sprawling grasslands, hardwood forests, and fascinating history await you when you visit National Forests and Grasslands. They are places for rest, rejuvenation, and adventure that fill us with awe for the natural world.

The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest covers more than 1.5 million acres of Wisconsin's Northwoods. The USDA Forest Service manages the land for multiple uses including forestry, wildlife habitat, recreation, harvesting of forest products, fisheries, and wilderness and natural areas.

Managed by the USDA Forest Service, national forests and grasslands host 170 million visits every year.

Did you know 7 in 10 Americans are within a 2-hour drive of a National Forest or Grassland? You can find an area near you by clicking here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/

It's National Forest Week!

National Forest Week is the second week of July. National Forest Week™ is an annual celebration of the national forests and grasslands. The 2024 theme is “Forest are AWEsome.”

We are proud to join our partner National Forest Foundation to celebrate National Forest Week!

From July 8-14, the National Forest Foundation will receive submissions in the National Forest Week™ photo contest here: https://www.nationalforests.org/get-involved/national-forest-week-photo-contest

The Forest Service manages 193 million acres of national forests and grassland that offer stunning places vistas, majestic mountains and great expanses of land to explore.

Clear skies and a clear mind. Psychologists say that time spent outdoors improves mood and reduces stress.

You can find places to clear your mind in recreation areas are near you in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest by going here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/cnnf/recreation



📸: Smokey Bear and Deputy Forest Supervisor Sitka Pence in front of the Portal Sign for the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Photo by Veronica Hinke

Tomorrow will be the last day of the Wendelin Smokey Bear portraits exhibit at Pioneer Park Historical Complex in Rhinelander! For those who don't have an opportunity to stop by, we are sharing Dave Melancon's story and beautiful photos! Thank you, Dave!

Only YOU can prevent wildfires Smokey admires his likeness in one of the portraits on display at Pioneer Park Historical Complex. The portraits were created by USDA Forest Service artist Rudy Wendelin from 1977-1995. Community gathers to celebrate Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday For the Star Journal Photos by Dave Melancon

On Monday morning, the Wendelin Smokey Bear portraits will be shipped from here in Wisconsin to the National Forests in Florida for their next stop in the historic 80th birthday road show! There is still time to see the portraits through this weekend at the Pioneer Park Historical Complex!

Thank you for this story about the portraits!

Celebrate Smokey Bear's birthday in Rhinelander with historic Smokey illustrations The fete in the home of the hodag will include an exhibition of iconic illustrations by Rudy Wendelin, the creative force behind Smokey.

"Drink refreshing glacial spring water straight from the ground. Get lost on rustic tree-lined roads. Submerse yourself in the wilderness, or in a quiet lake. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest isn't just one thing, it's many things. And if you're in the Northwoods, the forest is never far away. Maybe its constant presence leads at least some of us to take it all for granted."

Sincere thanks for this story about some of the many magical destinations tucked away in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Which one is at the top of your bucket list?

More than trees: Seven special things about the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest The sprawling Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest offers something for everybody, from wilderness experiences to Friday fish fries.

Forest Service News Release

RHINELANDER, Wis., July 3, 2024 – Sections of Forest Road (FR) 2112 (Bonita Road) in Oconto County will be closed to vehicle traffic from July 8, 2024 until July 12, 2024 so that one culvert can be replaced to accommodate aquatic organism passage.

FR 2112 will be closed between Weso Creek Road and McComb Lake Road. This section of road is located in the Lakewood-Laona Ranger District of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

McComb Lake remains accessible. From the north, take County Road W to McComb Lake Road.

A map of the restricted area is provided for clarity. USDA Forest Service Motor Vehicle Use Maps are available online for visitors to reference to identify alternative routes. The maps are located online here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/cnnf/maps-pubs. While the section of road is temporarily closed, USDA Forest Service officials encourage travelers to bring along a paper map or other navigational resource, and plan for extra time that might be needed.

Exemptions to the prohibited motorized activity include any federal, state, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty and persons with a special use authorization or other USDA Forest Service authorization specifically exempting them from the effect of the closure.

For more information about the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, please visit the website at www.fs.usda.gov/CNNF.

In observance of Independence Day, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest offices will be closed on Thursday, July 4, 2024.
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Offices will re-open on Friday, July 5, 2024.
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Please remember that fireworks are always illegal on any Federal Public Lands.
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The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest team wishes each of you a safe, happy Independence Day!
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We would like to thank everyone who brought a dessert to the Opening Reception for the Wendelin Smokey Bear Portraits Exhibit at the Pioneer Park Historical Complex yesterday!

Amazing presentations and flavors abounded. And the judges from the Blackwell Job Corps in Laona had a hard (but tasty) time picking the top three. But they pushed through it to make the decision.

They were:
1st: Smokey Bear (log cake)
2nd: Blackberry Lemmon Cake
3rd: Vegan S'more Cupcakes
Honorable Mention: Campfire S'mores

Everyone was a winner in the end as all guests were able to enjoy the desserts while singing Happy Birthday to Smokey Bear!

Thank you to everyone in attendance last night at the Pioneer Park Historical Complex for the Opening Ceremony of the Wendelin Portraits of Smokey Bear!

There were over one hundred people that came to see the portraits and enjoy the dessert competition.

The Smokey Bear portraits will be on display at the Pioneer Park Historical Complex through Sunday, July 7, 2024. Remember that the Pioneer Park Historical Complex will be closed on Thursday in observance of Independence Day.

National is July 2, but we appreciate you every day! For the firefighters and support personnel who work long hours and then rise up and do it day after day, we thank you for your service and dedication for protecting our communities and precious natural resources.

Every year, wildfires burn millions of acres across the United States. Federal, state, local, military, contract, international firefighters and support staff respond to many different emergency events. These amazing individuals are the backbone of the wildland fire community. The men and women who work to save lives, property, infrastructure and precious natural and cultural resources every year, deserve incredible gratitude for their professional skills and efforts.

"Today, we recognize the dedication and outstanding work done by our firefighters and support personnel throughout the year." -Chief Randy Moore

https://wffoundation.org/ Wildland Firefighter Foundation
https://www.nifc.gov/nwffd

📸: Eric Britton

On June 3, 2024 the David R. Obey Northern Great Lakes Visitor closed to the public to have the parking lot resurfaced.

We are excited to share their post that they are reopening their doors tomorrow morning at 9:00a.m.!

There is FREE parking on the freshly completed lot!

Admission to the David R. Obey Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center is always FREE! (Hosted or sponsored programs at the center may require a registration fee.)

Celebrate the history and heritage of Lake Superior in their museum. Listen to spirited songs of voyageurs singing as they paddle their fur laden, 35-foot birch bark canoe across Lake Superior. Peek inside an 18th century fur trade post. Feel the pulsating rumble of an explosion in a deep-shaft iron mine. Their unique displays stage an overview of human cultures interacting with the land and natural resources of the Northern Great Lakes region, from the Ice Age to the present.

The David R. Obey Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center is located on County Highway G just off US Highway 2, two miles west of Ashland, Wisconsin, in and west of the roundabout intersection of Highways 2 and 13.

The David R. Obey Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center helps people connect with the history, culture, and natural resources of the Northern Great Lakes Region through customer-based information, services, and educational programs.

The David R. Obey Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center is operated through a unique federal, state, and local partnership.

Their partners include the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wisconsin Historical Society, UW-Madison Division of Extension, and the Friends of the Center Alliance Limited.

These federal, state, and local organizations align their missions to bring specialized services to our visitors and communities.

Come on down and see what you've been missing for the last month. You can find more information on their page: Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center or their website: https://nglvc.org/.

Federal permits and passes sold between 9:00am and 4:30pm. Find out what your local US Nation Forest has to offer you here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/cnnf/.

Today is National Zip Code Day!

Did you know that only one mascot ever has received his own zip code?
That mascot is our very own Smokey Bear!

So, if you feel like sending Smokey Bear a birthday card this year for his 80th birthday, you can send it to him at:
Smokey Bear
Washington, D.C. 20252

You can find our more information about Smokey Bear at his website: www.smokeybear.com

Also, please feel free to join us, the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources tomorrow at the Pioneer Park Historical Complex in Rhinelander, WI for the opening ceremony for the Wendelin Portraits of Smokey Bear. Event: https://fb.me/e/1yr3Kou2f

🖼: "Dear Smokey" (1989) Wendelin Painting of Smokey Bear reading his mail next to his mailbox while two cubs play on it.

UPDATE: BLACK LAKE CAMPGROUND --- Black Lake Recreation Area is on track to re-open on schedule on Monday, July 1, 2024. Thanks so much to John Lund / (USDA FS) for providing these photos that provide a sneak peek at the recent improvements to the area.

• Roads into the campground were widened to allow for better access.
• Culverts were replaced to help with excess water during heavy rains.
• Roads received new blacktop.
• A new holding tank was installed.
• A new gravel pad was installed.
• Some sites were improved and expanded.

Planning to experience the improvements first-hand? Information about the popular Black Lake Recreation Area is online, here: https://bit.ly/4eG91J8.

"Teamwork makes the DREAM work!" Thanks so very much to everyone who has been instrumental this morning in getting the Wendelin Smokey Bear portraits set up for the exhibition at Pioneer Park Historical Complex in Rhinelander! 19 historic Smokey Bear portraits arrived in Wisconsin yesterday from the USDA National Agricultural Library in Washington, DC! To celebrate Smokey Bear's 80th birthday and raise awareness of campfire safety, the portraits will be on display in Wisconsin for one week only next week. The show will be open to the public for a free display 7/2-7, 2024. We hope to see you! INFO: https://www.fs.usda.gov/cnnf. Thanks to Eric Britton for providing a sneak peek at the exhibition through these photos! Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources