LEGEND LAKE FORESTRY AND THE MANAGED FOREST LAW
The forested lands of the Legend Lake development have been included in State forestry plans since 1970. In 1985 the Legislature combined several conservation programs into the current Managed Forest Law. Upon the expiration of our original plan under the Woodland Tax Law in 1991 the Legend Lake Property Owner's Association entered the forested lands into the new program, the Managed Forest Law, for a period of 25 years.
In return for keeping current with a management plan written by a WDNR forester, the County tax levy is substantially reduced. At harvest time a yield tax is assessed on the timber removed. Prior to harvest a cutting permit is submitted to the WDNR showing the areas to be harvested and what is to be removed. Our Consulting forester is a professional who surveys the areas to mark trees to be cut, contacts the loggers, oversees their operations and payments, and makes out the report of timber cut to the DNR. The plan was designed to keep our forest healthy by harvesting areas to promote growth of trees best suited for that particular area and to encourage the growth of the younger trees. in most cases, aesthetic concerns was more important than income.
Certain restrictions can, and are, placed on the lands included in the plan. Areas can be closed to all activity. Other areas can be used by Members in Good Standing for hiking, cross country skiing, and other non-invasive activities. MOTORIZED VEHICLES ARE PROHIBITED IN ALL THE FORESTED AREAS AND BEACH CLUBS. Enforcement must involve individual Association members through reporting violations to the proper law enforcement offices and documenting the acts with cameras and written descriptions. Members should also keep their personal ATV', snowmobiles, trail bikes, and other motorized vehicles, as well as any guest vehicles, out of the forests. Continued violation of this restriction could lead to the involuntary revocation of the Managed Forest Law Contract.
Failure to follow the requirements and restrictions of the Managed Forest Law Contract can be very expensive. If the contract is voided the Association would be responsible for the total amount of the taxes that would have been collected from the beginning of the contract. There can be an additional charge based on the estimated value of the timber on the property. This would have an extremely adverse effect on the dues to be collected to cover the loss.
It would certainly be advantageous to prevent any violations to the Managed Forest Law that could lead to its termination. The Board of Directors keeps track of the harvesting and related issues but it is up to all of us to keep the other restriction in force. KEEP MOTORIZED VEHICLES OUT OF THE FOREST!!!
Misc:
Lake Cam:
Property Owner Association:
Protection & Rehabilitation District:
Menominee County Taxpayers Association:
The use of motorized vehicles is OPTIONAL and MAY be allowed by the property owner. Futher, participating in this program REQUIRES the public accessible lands are open for a varitey of activities including hunting. Notice I said "public", not "members in good standing".
Obligations
Are the Forest Tax Lands "open" for public access?
Some of the land under forest tax laws is open for public access. Each law has different public access provisions.
All Forest Crop Law (FCL) lands are open to the public for hunting and fishing. For any other uses, landowner permission is required.
Under the Managed Forest Law (MFL), landowners have the right to keep some lands closed to public access. Lands that remain open to public access are available for hunting, fishing, cross-country skiing, hiking and sightseeing. The law is specific about these permitted activities. Some activities not permitted under the law include motorized vehicles, permanent tree stands, picking berries or mushrooms, and trapping. The landowner may allow these activities but without permission you may be violating trespass laws.
Keep in mind, these are private lands. You should always respect the landowner's rights and wishes. Use good hunter ethics. Hunters don't have to obtain permission to use "open" tax law lands but should be courteous and considerate of the landowner. By building a relationship with the property owner chances are you'll enjoy your hunting experience. In many cases open lands are a part of a larger property. Landowners may prefer to direct hunters safely across their property to "open" lands.
"The use of motorized vehicles is OPTIONAL and MAY be allowed..."
Thanks for the info! From what I hear, it was the old entrenched LLPOA board members that were preventing the development of a multi-use trail system around the lake - using the excuse that it wasn't legal on forestry land. Hopefully with the younger board things will change...
I'd really like to see a multi-use trail system developed on the association land, one that could be used for hiking, bicycling, and ATVing. In Winter, cross country skiing and Snowmobiles. Isaacson, the developer of the lake project had intended to develop this type of recreation system.