Deadline nears for Isle Royale Cultural Resources Management Plan comments

The deadline for comments on the draft Isle Royale National Park Cultural Resource Management Plan and Environmental Assessment is September 6. The purpose of the plan is to “develop a long-term comprehensive strategy for managing the non-wilderness cultural resources of the park.”

The plan, once completed, will provide guidance on how to handle the cultural resources on the remote Lake Superior island, namely the historical lighthouses, fishing operations and cottages on the remote Lake Superior island.

The draft document includes three potential actions, one, Alternative A is a “no-action alternative,” which means nothing would change on the island regarding the historic structures. Alternative C emphasizes research and stabilization of historic and cultural resources.

Alternative B, the National Park Service “preferred alternative,” is similar to Alternative C in that it provides for preservation of the historic structures and cultural resources. However, Alternative B would have the National Park Service develop partnerships to help preserve the historic properties to reflect the entire scope of human history on Isle Royale.

Click to see the draft Cultural Resource Management Plan and Environmental Assessment for yourself and/or to submit comments.

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence checked in with Isle Royale Chief of Interpretation and Cultural Resources Liz Valencia to learn about the plan.