Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006
As the ice around the islands begins to firm up, the National Park Service (NPS) reminds ice fishing enthusiasts that snowmobiles and off-road vehicles (ORVs) may once again be used on the ice ? for certain purposes - within the legal quarter-mile water boundary surrounding each of the islands of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, and near most of the park?s mainland unit. Snowmobiles or ORVs are permitted if they are used to provide access for ice fishing or other legal non-motorized activities. The new rule also allows the use of power ice augers and saws in the same areas. Recreational touring on the ice and all forms of snowmobile or ORV use on the islands themselves is still prohibited, as it has been for decades.
Recent lawsuits and court rulings involving the National Park Service (NPS) led to a rather confused situation regarding the use of snowmobiles and off-road vehicles on the frozen surfaces of Lake Superior during the past two winters. A special regulation had to be developed to legally authorize the use of these vehicles on the ice within the park boundary. That special regulation was approved April 1 of last year, just as the ice was beginning to break up.
?We?re pleased that we can once again authorize the use of snowmobiles and ORVs for gaining access to the ice around the islands,? said Apostle Islands National Lakeshore superintendent Bob Krumenaker. ?We worked very closely with winter users of the park to make this happen, and we?re grateful for the patience and support we received during the transition. It was a wonderful cooperative effort that really paid off, and we were able to accomplish the regulatory change much faster than anyone expected.?
Snowmobiles and ORVs are not allowed on the frozen surface of Lake Superior off the park?s mainland unit from its western boundary near Meyers Beach to Sand Point. This short stretch is heavily used by skiers and snowshoers who flock to the area when ice conditions permit the viewing of the increasingly popular ice caves. Everywhere else in the park, ice fishing is by far the most popular activity taking place during the winter months.
The NPS urges the public to exercise extreme caution when traveling on the frozen surface of Lake Superior. The ice is often rough and conditions can go from safe to dangerous without notice, particularly since the ice was so late in forming this year. ?We were beginning to believe there would not be any ice around the islands this winter, but recent cold weather has been helping the situation,? Krumenaker said. ?We can?t say the ice is necessarily safe at this point, but we wanted to get a reminder out as folks started venturing out towards the islands.?
Copies of the new regulation and maps showing where it applies are available at the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore website at www.nps.gov/apis/parkhq.htm under Management Documents. Questions about the regulation, or other park regulations, may be directed to the park?s Chief of Protection, Greg Zeman, at 715-779-3398, extension 201.
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