NR 1.26(5)(5) Bids for services and payments to cooperating foresters. Cooperating foresters shall be compensated at the department’s choice of a rate per hour, acre or project established by bids. When a need for timber sale assistance is identified, the department shall issue a request for bids to cooperating foresters serving the area. Bids shall include labor, travel, equipment and any supplies such as marking paint not identified as being provided by the department that a contractor would need to do the work. Timber sale assistance contract awards shall be determined on price alone unless additional evaluation criteria such as specialized training or experience are included in the request for bids.

NR 1.26(6)(6) Method to allot timber sale revenue. As provided in s. 28.05, Stats., payments to cooperating foresters for timber harvesting and selling assistance on state-owned land shall be paid from an allocation of timber sale proceeds. The department of natural resources shall make periodic requests to the department of administration for allocations of funding to the cooperating foresters appropriation, s. 20.370 (2) (cy), Stats. The size of the requested allocation shall be based on outstanding purchase requisitions for the contracted timber harvest assistance. The appropriation shall be split-funded with the proportionate splits coming from the administrative function accounts where the timber sale revenues are deposited.

NR 1.27(1)(1) Purpose. The department may contract with private cooperating foresters and private contractors to assist the state in the regeneration of state forest lands to meet the annual allowable timber harvest established under s. 28.025, Stats.

NR 1.27(2)(2) Definition. “Cooperating forester” has the meaning given in s. NR 1.21 (2) (b).

NR 1.27(3)(3) Contracted tasks. Tasks included in contracts with cooperating foresters and private contractors for state lands regeneration services may include, site preparation, invasive species control, and tree planting on harvested lands. The department shall determine which of these services are appropriate to contract for on individual timber sales.

NR 1.27(4)(4) Department tasks. The department shall select areas to regenerate, determine regeneration systems to be applied, and define any additional procedures or precautions necessary to achieve objectives in approved master plans or other department policies. The department shall monitor the performance of cooperating foresters and private contractors contracting on state forest lands for quality of service and conformance to department standards.

NR 1.27(5)(5) Bids for services and payments to cooperating foresters and private contractors. Cooperating foresters and private contractors shall be compensated at the department’s choice of a rate per hour, acre or project established by bids for individual projects. When a need for regeneration project assistance is identified, the department shall issue a project-specific request for bids to cooperating foresters and private contractors that are experienced in the desired type of work. The department may establish pre-qualification lists of cooperating foresters and private contractors serving an area. Bids may include labor, travel, equipment and any supplies not identified as being provided by the department that a private contractor would need to do the work. As provided in s. 28.05 (3) (am), Stats., payments to cooperating foresters and private contractors for regeneration assistance on state-owned lands shall be paid from an appropriation of timber sale proceeds.

NR 1.29(1)(1) Footpaths. The Ice Age Trail and North Country Trail shall be managed primarily as footpaths for pedestrian use: walking, hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, and ungroomed cross-country skiing.

NR 1.29(2)(2) Purpose.

NR 1.29(2)(a)(a) The purpose of the Ice Age Trail is to provide premier hiking and backpacking experiences and to preserve and interpret Wisconsin’s glacial landscape and other natural and cultural resources in areas through which the trail passes.

NR 1.29(2)(b)(b) The purpose of the North Country Trail is to provide premier hiking and backpacking experiences as it meanders through a variety of northern landscapes, linking scenic, natural, historic, and cultural areas in seven states from New York to North Dakota.

NR 1.29(3)(3) Definitions. In this section:

NR 1.29(3)(b)(b) “Ice Age Trail” has the meaning given in s. 23.17 (2), Stats. When the Ice Age Trail is within a property other than a State Ice Age Trail Area, the Ice Age Trail for management purposes shall be the treadway, which is the trail tread and the land 25 feet adjacent to both sides of the trail tread.

NR 1.29(3)(d)(d) “State Ice Age Trail Areas” mean lands purchased by the department for the Ice Age Trail under the authority of s. 23.09 (2) (d) 10., Stats., except when purchased as part of another department project.

NR 1.29(4)(4) Dispersed Camping And Trail Construction. On State Ice Age Trail Areas and on lands purchased for the North Country Trail, construction of the Ice Age and North Country trails and dispersed camping areas are authorized prior to the approval of a master plan for the property as allowed by department criteria and approval processes.

NR 1.29(5)(5) Vehicles.

NR 1.29(5)(a)(a) Vehicles shall be prohibited on the Ice Age trail except as provided for in s. NR 45.14 (1), which shall also apply to this section, and except for snowmobiles where deemed appropriate by the secretary of the department of the interior and the managing authority responsible for the segment as permitted by 16 U.S.C. 1241.

NR 1.29(6)(6) State Ice Age Trail Areas — Purpose. Ice Age Trail Areas permanently protect lands to provide for segments of the Ice Age Trail; preserve Wisconsin’s glacial landscape features and other natural and cultural resources associated with the trail route; and, where possible, offer a primitive atmosphere of relative solitude and perceived remoteness where visitors may experience a quiet connection with nature. In suburban areas or other developed areas, and on smaller parcels of land, not all of the Ice Age Trail Area purposes may be realized; however, they shall be maximized to the degree practicable at the site.

NR 1.29(7)(7) State Ice Age Trail Areas — Recreational Use And Management.

NR 1.29(7)(a)(a) Objectives. The purpose of the Ice Age Trail as provided in sub. (2) (a), and further defined by the Ice Age Trail Vision Statement and Attributes, shall receive primary consideration in the master planning for State Ice Age Trail Areas. All uses included in sub. (1) and sub. (2) (a), and facilities that directly support these uses shall be allowed. Compatible, non-Ice Age Trail related objectives may be accommodated; however, they may be limited in scope of time and location to avoid interference with primary Ice Age Trail purpose.

NR 1.29 NoteNote: Note: The Vision Statement and Attributes is part of the Memorandum of Understanding between the National Park Service, Ice Age Trail Alliance (née Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation), and the department concerning the Ice Age Trail.