CONCLUSIONS

Neither the Pigeon River Country nor any other local area of state lands can satisfy all the needs and wants of the public to whom it belongs. To attempt to use it for all purposes would spoil it for many. The Department of Natural Resources recognizes a responsibility to satisfy all of the needs and wants of the public to the extent that it can be done in reasonable harmony and without serious damage to natural resources or the environment.

The Pigeon River Country is well suited to satisfy many different objectives and needs, but to do so it is necessary to deny or restrict certain activities or uses which conflict with or seriously affect the uses planned. Among those are some which can be equally well served on other nearby state forest lands. The nature of roads, trails, terrain and cover in these other areas, coupled with conflicting uses is the basis for recommending that development be undertaken on other state lands to satisfy demands for off-road vehicle use of all kinds.

Streams of the Pigeon River Country are not high-quality streams for canoeing, nor are they large enough to handle heavy demand for this use. Those who inquire here about canoeing waters will be told the limitations of the Pigeon and the Black, and advised of other streams more suited to the sport.

Of great concern to people of the area is the possibility that any development or improvement will lead to great additional numbers of people using it. Increases have already occurred, and more can be expected no matter what is done. This plan is intended to encourage only compatible and least damaging uses. To whatever extent it is possible to do so, development of similar potentials on other state lands at an early date will reduce the concentration of public attention in the Pigeon River Country.

A separate plan will be prepared dealing with development of oil and gas. The Department is now negotiating with major development leaseholders in the preparation of this plan. Every possible effort is being made to minimize the effects where oil and gas development may take place.

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File: COMcon.htm 11/27/2001