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• Xcel Energy working with DNR to protect land in Dunn County

EAU CLAIRE - Officials from Xcel Energy and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced Monday that they are working on an agreement to actively manage more than 4,300 acres of Xcel Energy-owned property in Dunn County.

Xcel officials say that the discussions follow a recently completed property inspection which found several abuses of the area including permanent tree stands, structures, trash sites and areas of significant erosion caused by off-road vehicle use.

The property is located a couple of miles northeast of Durand in the Town of Peru.

The nearly contiguous block of land, acquired by the company during the 1960s and 1970s for a proposed nuclear power plant, includes approximately 3.2 miles of shoreline frontage along the east side of the Chippewa River.

The property is situated directly across the river from several parcels of land owned and managed by the DNR.

"The public is encouraged to use these lands for non-motorized, non-consumptive, recreational pursuits including walking, hiking, bike riding, hunting and skiing where allowed," said Kristen Karabensh, Xcel's real estate director.

Last fall, Xcel Energy contracted with Steigerwaldt Land Services of Tomahawk, Wis., to conduct detailed field inspections of the property.

Land surveyors, using a combination of aerial, GIS and on-land inspections, identified encroachments and uses that were not in accordance with Xcel's recreational use policy.

"The actions of some are degrading this resource for others and we believe it is prudent to better coordinate and manage this property for everyone's beneficial use," Karabensh said.

A total of 231 unauthorized uses were documented, including 96 permanent deer stands, 57 trash/dumping sites, 43 off-road vehicle access points, 17 off-road vehicle erosion areas and six permanent structures.

The most common type of permanent deer stand on the property is wooden stands nailed or bolted to trees.

The off-road vehicle access points include areas adjacent to roads used by all-terrain vehicles, motorbikes, three-wheelers, four-wheelers, 4x4s and pick-up trucks.

The off-road vehicle erosion sites include areas with rutting at least 3-feet deep and significant amounts of erosion.

"In the past few years, we have increased our efforts to better coordinate and manage all of our property throughout Wisconsin to ensure that it is being used in accordance with its allowed intent," Karabensh said.

Signs will be posted at dozens of access points surrounding the property and both the WDNR and Dunn County Sheriff's Office have the authority to enforce trespass violations.

In the coming weeks, Xcel Energy crews will remove all trash, debris, tree stands and other structures from the property that are in violation of the recreational use policy.

The public is encouraged to contact the DNR at 800.847.9367 or the Dunn County Sheriff's Office at 715.232.1348 if they suspect any violations of the policy.