January 8, 2004
Do nudists own Mazo Beach
AND the double-talking DNR?

In these pages, the reader will find just a few excerpts from some of the DNR documents procured by WCU through open records searches in 2000 and 2001. When did the people of Wisconsin agree to turn "the best beach" of the "Lower Wisconsin" over to naturist organizations? Why has the DNR allowed families to be "driven out" from Mazo Beach by nudists and forced to a beach "that is neither as nice or as large, and tends to be more dangerous"? Why do Claudette, Jim, Pat, Bob, Cheri, Timm, and their friends have so much power? How long will DNR officials continue to pander to and pimp for the powerful "naturist" lobby at the expense of Wisconsin taxpayers, children, and the rule of law? How much longer will nudists control state policy regarding Mazo Beach? When will that beautiful beach be returned to all the people of Wisconsin?

July 27, 1992 letter from Pat O'Brien of the Naturist Society to DNR official Dave Gjestson:

"Thanks for setting up the teleconference today for us to have a chance to discuss the Department of Natural Resources'[s] concerns at Mazo Beach. . . . Many of the users of that beach invited The Naturist Society/Naturist Action Committee to represent their interests with DNR. We have formed a special Wisconsin River Project within NAC to organize the various factions on the beach. Among those joining this effort formally so far is Badger Naturists and several additional groups. We look forward to meeting with you and others from the DNR in August."

Excerpted from Friends of Mazo Beach newsletter, September 4, 1993:

"Since National Nude Weekend in July, however, the 'spillover' area to the south (where they allowed us to go in the past on busy weekends when there was not enough room to fit all of us) has become our 'new traditional' beach. Communication with the DNR over the summer has led to discussions regarding what qualifies as 'traditional beach.'"

Letter to a concerned citizen from James R. Huntoon, DNR district director, October 1, 1993:

"The Mazomanie beach is a beautiful area that has been used by thousands of people over the many years the Department of Natural Resources has owned it. Our agency has always held that public property should be open to all to enjoy and no single group should have exclusive use. Public nudity is certainly an activity that could exclude other people from using an area. . . . I hope you will not lose faith in the DNR regarding this matter. We remain committed to preserving the use of public areas by all people, not just a single group."

Excerpted from a March 22, 1994 letter to DNR administrator John E. Fryatt from Edward G. Krueger, attorney on behalf of Friends of Mazo Beach (FOMB) and the Naturist Action Committee:

". . . let me express our appreciation for your willingness to meet with us last week and as well for the spirit of mutual cooperation in which the meeting was held. . . . I believe the following accurately summarizes the understandings exchanged at that meeting. . . . Neither FOMB nor other naturists are restricted to any portion of the beach. . . . Our understanding of this is that users, both clothed and unclothed, are no longer going to be 'informed' by local law enforcement that nudity is illegal . . . It was further agreed that any perceived need on the part of the DNR to deviate or alter these understandings would be communicated to our group by yourself, and not by local law enforcement."

March 16, 1998 e-mail from DNR regional warden Randy Stark to DNR official Richard Wojciak:

"Subject: Contact with Naturist Claudette Richards [A Friends of Mazo Beach coordinator and Naturist Action Committee board member]
"I called to talk to Jim Dickey and talked with Claudette as Jim was not home. I explained some of the problems and what we were trying to accomplish. Claudette was receptive to the ideas. Her and Jim will be in Paris from April 13-28. Dates they are available before leaving are 4/6, 4/9, and 4/10. Dates available in April after returning are 4/29, 4/30. During our conversation I bounced a few of the potential alternative[s] off her. She had the following comments . . . She has considerable resources available with respect to approaches used by other locales for managing clothing optional beaches."

Excerpted from Friends of Mazo Beach newsletter, June, 1998:

"Consultations with our FOMB attorney, meetings with regional DNR staff, and finally meetings between our representatives and attorney and the head DNR administrator, DNR attorney, and DNR Secretary (George Meyer) occurred in the spring of '94 . . . Our retained legal advisor drafted a letter to the DNR administrator in March of '94 substantiating the agreements that were reached in the meetings."

Naturist Action Committee in the Badger Naturists Guestbook, March 3, 1999:

"The DNR clearly intends to continue the long tradition of a clothing-optional beach at Mazo. In fact, many of the agency's ideas reflect recommendations for better management at Mazo from NAC, Friends of Mazo Beach and other Wisconsin Naturist organizations."

Correspondence/memorandum, State of Wisconsin, March 26, 1998 to DNR official Ruthe Badger from DNR wardens Wayne Schutte and Scott Theide:

"A tacit agreement was reached in the early years of LWSR (Lower Wisconsin State Riverway) between DNR and the naturists. Use of the beach by nude sunbathers would be allowed to continue with minimal restraint, so long as the naturists kept to a part of the beach separate from the general public. . . . Since 1993 the naturists have used the beach area which had been used by the general public, which has resulted in those families and other users abandoning the beach. . . . This is an unfortunate consequence of the previous agreement, the general public being effectively deprived of the use of a public recreation site. . . . The tolerance of public nudity and sexual activity has created and encouraged a perverse atmosphere that is even more offensive to thousands of visitors using the river adjacent to the beach."

DNR official Rick Wojciak, commenting on a Wisconsin Christians United protest at Mazo Beach (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, August 29, 1999). Interview also witnessed by WCU.

"Nudity is not illegal on state land and Mazo beach causes no more problems than other highly used recreational land, said Rick Wojciak, a DNR area manager."

Note: See next item.

January 30, 2001 correspondence/memorandum from DNR official Ruthe Badger to DNR Secretary George Meyer:

"Subject: Management Plan--Lower Wisconsin State Riverway, Mazomanie Unit
"Law Enforcement issues are a major management issue of this area. . . . Among the arrests, citations or referrals were: 18 for sexual misconduct (the only arrests for those offenses reported statewide for DNR in 1999) . . ."

November 5, 1999 e-mail from Gregory K. Matthews, DNR regional public affairs manager, to a concerned nudist:

"You're right that nudism is widely accepted in Europe, but I'm reminded of what a British history professor told my spouse and I several years ago while visiting Great Britain: 'your country was founded by Puritans, we threw them out.'. . . We have treated the naturists in a fair manner, much to the dismay of a vocal minority who want the beach closed. I believe most beach users will confirm this."

"Summary of Recreational Law Enforcement, Lower Wisconsin State Riverway, 1999":

"And the presence of the many persons at the [Mazo] beach in the nude did deter others from using it because they were uncomfortable with it themselves or because they did not want to take their families to that kind of environment. This area is a great beach. It is the best beach in the 93 miles of the Lower Wisconsin. Prior to the influx of the large numbers of nudists, it was used by families, and we still get inquiries from families about where to find a nice beach on the River. The only other we can recommend is Pecks Landing, and that is neither as nice or as large, and tends to be more dangerous. In any situation where an area is so dominated by one activity that all other activities are driven out or deprived of use, we limit that use so that all visitors have an equal opportunity to use the area."

April 24, 2000 letter from Ruthe Badger, DNR south central regional director, to Bob Morton, Naturist Action Committee chairman who has testified against enforcement of child pornography laws (NAC article "Success Story: Nebraska LB 837," 1999):

"Thank you for your letter date[d] February 19, 1999 regarding the Mazomanie Wildlife Area. . . . We applaud the efforts of the Friends of Mazomanie Beach, (FOMB), in helping to educate the general public . . . I hope you or your representatives will be able to attend our open house and discussion forum in Sauk City on Tuesday . . ."

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, August 25, 2000:

"Acting on orders from the governor's office, the Department of Natural Resources said Thursday it would pull the plug on a toll-free phone message that tells callers that nudity is legal at a Wisconsin River beach. Late in the day, Thompson chief of staff Bob Wood sent Meyer [DNR secretary] a letter that says: 'I am directing you to remove any messages which may be construed as supporting public nudity or other inappropriate behavior.'"

March 30, 2000 News-Sickle-Arrow article "Ovadal wrong when he says there's lots of cameras at the nude beach, say DNR officials":

"Sue Oshman, Fitchburg based DNR supervisor of the area including Mazomanie Beach, and Rick Wojciak, the DNR land team leader directly responsible for the beach, both said they had 'never seen anyone out there with a camera.'"

Note: WCU has pictures of nudists with still cameras and video cameras walking down the gravel drive to Mazo Beach, some with children in tow. See next item also.

"Mazo Beach Etiquette," Friends of Mazo Beach newsletter, June, 1998:

"Please do respect those who may not wish to have their picture taken."

June 25, 2001 e-mail from DNR attorney Michael Lutz to DNR official Ruthe Badger and Secretary Darrell Bazzell:

". . . I'll assume that you're not interested in attempting to enact a DNR property rule which bans nudity. . . . The DA has publicly stated that if we have a ban on nudity they would enforce it."

June 28, 2001 e-mail from DNR official Susan J. Oshman to a number of other DNR officials, including DNR attorney Michael Lutz (Subject: Report on Mazo protesters from naturist Claude Richards):

"The protesters seemed to have really gotten to her, as Claude's demeanor was quite a bit different yesterday as compared to Saturday. Coming from someone who generally does not seem to be bothered by much, and has weathered many a protest out there, I felt what she had to say was noteworthy, and told her we would be watching for the behaviors she described."

E-mail of unknown date from Cheri Carr, Friends of Mazo Beach, to DNR official Sue Oshman (Note: Claude Richards and Jim Dickey are Friends of Mazo Beach coordinators. Richards is also on the Naturist Action Committee board.):

"I met with you and Randy Stark last October along with Jim Dickey, Claude Richards, Timm Zumm, and Scott Fitzgerald to talk of concerns regarding the Mazo Unit of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway. We were told at that point one of you would be getting back to us regarding using the winter to evaluate/plan for next year and share ideas on how the internet sites may be able to be better used. . . . This brief message is to check in regarding the sharing of ideas and concerns. . . . Some rumors have been circulating of decisions having already been made regarding management plans for the summer. I have informed them that I cannot imagine that being the case based on what we have been told. . . . we are available most anytime at your convenience, however, this holiday weekend I will be gone, so please contact Jim, Claude or Timm for anything immediate."

Mazomanie resident, wife, and mother Selma Bennett at an October, 1999 DNR hearing on Mazo Beach (Wisconsin State Journal, October 28, 1999):

"The last time the family went to the beach was 12 years ago . . . 'Every hot summer night,' she said, 'I think about this, how we were chased out of there . . . I'm just sitting here wondering when we're going to get our river back.'"

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL WCU AT 608-328-4841.

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