Murphy Flowage Recreation Area Development

Abstract

Rusk County owns over 88,000 acres of mostly forested land. Currently, there are three public campgrounds with 60 campsites. One campground is designed for primitive camping. The other two offer electricity but have nonmodem facilities. Three day use areas having picnic areas, boat landings and playgrounds, are also maintained by the county. There are no designated bike trails horse trails, or A TV trails within the County forest. Murphy Flowage is located in the north west comer of Rusk County in the Blue Hills. In 1970, after heavy rains dropped more than IO inches of rain in the Blue Hills, a series of dams on Hemlock Creek gave way. In 1994, a new dam was constructed on roughly the same site, thus recreating Murphy Flowage This construction however, eliminated most of the previous campground and day use area. After the construction of the dam, the only recreational facilities offered in th Murphy Flowage Area were a portion of uncertified Ice Age Trail and a boat landing on the flowage itself. The purpose of this study was to determine what outdoor recreation facilities would best serve the public, increase recreational opportunities and possibly provide economic growth through an increase in tourism. The product of this project was a detailed plan for facilities to be developed in Murphy Flowage Recreation Area.