Plan For Northern Wisconsin’s Willow Flowage Would Allow Vehicles

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Board has approved a new masterplan for the Willow Flowage in northern Wisconsin that might allow more motorized vehicles.

The Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area covers about 30,000 acres in Oneida County. DNR officials had praised the area’s remoteness, but the newly-updated master plan opens about 10 miles of existing roads for more public vehicle access.

DNR Board member Greg Kazmierski said that’s a welcome change from the first plan 15 years ago.

“The biggest concern I heard was the closing of all the roads in the Willow Flowage,” Kazmierski said. “So, I’m really happy to see we’re opening some access up.”

The new Willow Flowage masterplan also gives up 380 acres for potential housing development. But the board partly offset that by adding 267 acres of state land just outside the flowage.