CRANE LAKE— An environmental assessment for a proposed 387-mile long ATV trail network in northern St. Louis County is up for public comment, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
The Voyageur Country ATV Club, based in Crane Lake, is proposing to designate the trail network for ATVs in order to connect several communities, including Kabetogama, Crane Lake, Buyck, Orr, and Cook.
The vast majority of the network— just over 300 miles— will consist of existing ATV trail. A total of 83 miles will consist of existing trails, most designed for snowmobiles, that are not currently open to ATVs. About 70 miles of trail in those areas will require improvements to reduce the impacts from ATV travel. A total of 2.54 miles of newly constructed trail will be included in the project.
“The use of new trail alignments was minimized, and the proposed routes have been chosen to avoid sensitive features (such as wetlands) to the greatest extent practicable,” notes the EAW that the DNR prepared for the project.
Trail construction would take place during the dry summer period or during winter outside of the usual snowmobile season for those portions of the trail co-located on snowmobile trails. Trail improvements will include adding fill to harden soft areas and the addition of culverts, boardwalks, or bridges at wetland or water crossings to prevent erosion.
Comments on the plan are being accepted through 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 16.
The EAW is available on the project page on the DNR website at www.dnr.state.mn.us/input/environmentalreview/voyageur-country-atv/index.html. A copy of the EAW may be requested by calling 651-259-5115.
Comments should be submitted to the attention of Cynthia Novak-Krebs, project manager, Environmental Policy and Review Unit, DNR Ecological and Water Resources Division, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4025. 
Comments may also be sent by email to environmentalrev.dnr@state.mn.us with “Voyageur ATV Project” in the subject line.