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 Apostle Islands update |
| Author | Discussion |
| MDuchek |
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  Lifetime Units: 51  Madison, WI Posts: 955  | Went to the Apostle Islands "Open House" in Madison last night. They mentioned that efforts to publicize the event had appeared to be unsuccessful and turnout looked kind of low while I was there. I'd also note that having it on campus is problematic due to the lack of available parking there. I also frankly think they maybe should have held it in Milwaukee instead, frankly. But oh well. (They also had several meetings in the area up there, as well as one in the Twin Cities area). Anyway, got to talk to some of the staff and a guy from Friends of the Apostle Islands. They (FAI) apparently pay for the toilet paper in the park (of all things) and are currently working on a wave monitoring device of some sort after some people died a while back due to seas that looked OK but turned out to be choppy. FAI also is selling prints of a pretty cool photo taken at Outer Island of the lighthouse and the milky way. He said they had the shutter open about 4 minutes to get the shot. The lighthouse was on but because it rotates and the light is focused out and not down it did not "bleed" too much into the shot. They also went in for a little bit with a flashlight into one of the rooms to light that up, which created the illusion that someone (i.e., the lighthouse keeper) was home. Here is the photo, which is on sale for $500 for prints as a fundraiser. [ image disabled ] http://www.friendsoftheapostleislands.org/ Anyway, highlights of the preferred alternative include: - Cheaper and expanded access to the islands themselves - Restoration of more lighthouses - Possible opening of a little resort on Sand Island. Currently someone lives there under a life estate. The NPS owns the property but when he dies they get it. - A new visitors center on the mainland (currently they rent space in the Old Courthouse, which is a little ways from the actual shore) - Other possible new facilities It's also the "environmentally preferred" alternative, although this is misleading. It does not mean that it has the least impact on the environment, but rather means it's considered the best use on balance. Apparently the preferred alternative has gotten some good reaction, though some have expressed concern about moving the camp sites on Stockton Island. The other alternatives include doing nothing (more of a baseline), focusing more on water-based and mailnand recreation (thumbs down for me), and what seems like a more modest version of the preferred alternative, though I still can't really tell what that alternative really has to offer. Anyway, please comment if you've been there, even if it's just a few warm words. One of the staff said a lot of people who to comment seem to so because they *don't* like something. Even if you have just some general words to say, you should comment. Link to the plan: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/showFile.cfm?projectId=10903&docType=public&MIMEType=application%252Fpdf&filename=APIS%5FDraftGMPWildernessManPlan%20EIS%5FJuly09%2Epdf&clientFilename=APIS%5FDraftGMPWildernessManPlan%20EIS%5FJuly09%2Epdf Link to comment: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?parkID=115&projectID=10903&documentId=29061 | ||
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| BruceandLetty |
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 Lifetime Units: 392  Alpharetta, GA and Port Bruce, Ontario Posts: 1868 | Nice report Mike! Thanks much. This is a park we know we will returning to so very interesting to see the ideas for future plans. Bruce | ||
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| JDG |
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 Lifetime Units: 270  Takoma Park, MD Posts: 2487 | Yes, thank you also for posting this. It is very interesting to be able to summarize the Park Planning process, and give our Members an opportunity to participate... JDG | ||
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