Thursday, Jul 27, 2006
The National Park Service has released a 23-page document outlining the major management issues facing the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, and initial options to address those issues. The public is being asked to provide comments on the issues and options by September 25, 2006. After that date, the planning team will carefully consider the information received as it begins working on a new general management plan and wilderness management plan for Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
“The general management plan that we develop over the next couple of years will set the direction for the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore for the next 15 to 20 years,” said park superintendent Bob Krumenaker. “There are critical issues and the park’s funding outlook is uncertain. We’ll need to set priorities for the future. Help us do that.”
Copies of the document, titled “Options for Future Management,” can be obtained on the Internet at www.nps.gov/apis/gmp.htm. A limited number of copies are also available at the park’s visitor centers in Bayfield, Little Sand Bay, or Stockton Island.
NPS staff will be hosting a series of open houses in local and regional communities to provide the public with opportunities to learn more about the planning process, ask questions, and provide input. Comments will also be accepted by regular mail and email. The meeting schedule is currently as follows:
Sat, Aug 5 In the park! Stockton Island Presque Isle Visitor Contact Station Apostle Islands NL 6:00pm-8:00pm
Mon, Aug 7 Red Cliff Red Cliff Bingo Hall 88705 Highway 13 Red Cliff, WI 2:00pm-4:00pm
Mon, Aug 7 Bayfield Apostle Islands NL Visitor Center 415 Washington Avenue Bayfield, WI 5:00pm-7:00pm
Tues, Aug 8 Odanah Chief Blackbird Center Conference Room C Odanah, WI 2:00pm-4:00pm
Tues, Aug 8 Ashland Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center Near junction of Highways 2 and 13 Ashland, WI 6:00pm-8:00pm
Wed, Aug 9 Madison Area REI - Madison 7483 West Towne Way Madison, WI 6:00pm-8:00pm
Thur, Aug 10 Twin Cities Area REI - Bloomington 750 West American Blvd Bloomington, MN 6:00pm-8:00pm
Fri, Aug 11 Duluth Area Gander Mountain 4275 Haines Road Hermantown, MN 4:00pm-6:00pm
The major issues that have been identified so far include: the future of the lightstations; the future of life estates and expired use and occupancy properties; appropriate management of the non-wilderness portions of the park; appropriate management of the wilderness area; appropriate management of the mainland unit; the future of the mainland NPS visitor centers; and the future of the NPS operational and administrative facilities on the mainland. The Options for Future Management document provides detailed information about each of these issues. “We hope to see a lot of informed people at these meetings, ready to engage the planning staff,” Krumenaker said. “We would appreciate any help we can get in spreading the word about this planning effort and these meetings. We want to make certain that anyone with an interest in this wonderful place will have an opportunity to share their vision with us.”
Questions about the planning process and the Options For Future Management document may be directed to Chief of Planning and Resource Management Jim Nepstad at 715-779-33398, extension 102, or at jim_nepstad@nps.gov.
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