An 85-mile continuous all-terrain vehicle trail would be developed in Aitkin County under an agreement signed Tuesday between the county and state Department of Natural Resources.
"We thought long and hard before we put this proposal together,'' Aitkin County land commis-sioner Mark Jacobs said. "One of the thoughts is that if you have a designated system that is envi-ronmentally sound, you can move [ATVs] away from the unregulated lands.''
In 2003, the state legislature required the DNR to identify, design and develop a 70-mile continu-ous trail somewhere within the state.
St. Louis County, Roseau and Lake of the Woods counties, and Aitkin-Itasca counties submitted proposals to the DNR for development of the trail.
DNR officials say they selected the Aitkin-Itasca proposal because it offers land availability, readiness and a public involvement process.
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"It met the criteria and they were ready to get started,'' DNR off-highway program coordinator Ron Potter said. "Once it's built, we're hoping that some of the local [ATV] clubs will take it over as a grant-in-aid trail and maintain it.''
Aitkin County commissioners on a 5-0 vote Tuesday approved creation of the trail, Jacobs said.
A final design for the trail and an Environmental Assessment Worksheet need to be completed.
According to preliminary plans, the trail would connect with existing Aitkin-Itasca county trails to create an almost 500-mile trail system.
"They do have a rough idea where it would go,'' Potter said. "Basically, it runs off the Soo Line and Rabey Line [railroad] grades. It would give them a system of about 488 miles.''
Money for public and environment review and construction was approved by the 2003 legisla-ture, Potter said.
An alignment proposal is expected by May with construction to begin in 2008.
By tying into other trails, the route could someday facilitate ATV travel from Mille Lacs Lake to Grand Rapids, Jacobs said. The trail would also connect several small communities, boosting economies, he said.
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A broad-based oversight committee will be formed to help guide the project, Jacobs said.
"We know there will be some opposition to this,'' said Jacobs. "But it's naive to cover your eyes and say [ATV use] will go away. This trail can be advertised, signed and have trail heads. I think by doing this, it will take a lot of pressure off the public lands and onto these trails.''
The DNR is also in the midst of a process that reclassifies recreational trails within all 58 state forests.
LEE BLOOMQUIST can be reached weekdays at (800) 368-2506, (218) 744-2354 or by e-mail at leebloom@cpinternet.com .
