Public Lands Day means fewer fees

UNDATED (WXPR) -- ­­­­The Chequamegon ­Nicolet National Forest and Ottawa National Forest will be noting National Public Lands Saturday with a fee­ free day and volunteer service projects to improve public lands.

Chequamegon ­Nicolet Forest spokesperson Hilary Markin details the day.  "The forest is having two volunteer work days. It's also a fee ­free day on National Public Lands days. Entrance fees are waived.”

Some fees will still apply at places like campgrounds.  "Public Lands Day is all about celebrating these beautiful places that we have that are open to our public to enjoy. It's also about keeping those places enjoyable for everyone and clean and free."

Volunteers can also celebrate America’s public lands with a trail maintenance project taking place at the Fifield Fire Lookout Tower where brush and vegetation will be removed from around the base of the tower.The Fifield Fire Lookout Tower is on the National Register of Historic Places. Volunteers will learn about the important role fire lookouts played in the past. That project is Saturday, September 27 beginning at 9:00 a.m. The other volunteer work day for the Chequamegon-Nicolet is in Ashland at the Great Lakes Visitor Center.

The Ottawa National Forest is hosting an event at Black River Harbor on Saturday, September 27. Volunteers will help control an infestation of the non­native invasive plant glossy buckthorn You can get more information by contacting your local national forest office find the Chequamegon ­Nicolet National Forest or Ottawa National Forest websites.