RHINELANDER, Wis. (AP) — Cuts are being made at some recreation areas in the 1.5 million-acre Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in northern and northwest Wisconsin. Reductions in services are coming next week to 11 percent of sites in the forest. U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Hilary Markin says some sites will see reduced services, while others will be “hard closures” with gates shuttered. Markin says affected sites don’t typically see much use and cost a lot to maintain. The beach at the Green Lake picnic area near the town of Mountain will be closed, and the gates at Mountain Fire Tower are locked. Area officials worry cuts could affect tourism. Three Wisconsin lawmakers want the state to take control of the forest and harvest trees to raise money, but Markin says there’s no mechanism for Wisconsin to take over.
