The National Park Service is looking to develop a Frozen Lake Surface Access and Use Plan at Voyageurs National Park.
The document is to assist in the long-term management plan of the park’s ice roads and lake access in the winter.
The park has maintained ice roads on Rainy and Kabetogama lakes since 1979 but has not had a management plan other than for snowmobile use.
It says the plan will also align park activities with established regulations and policies while accommodating traditional access and activities where possible.
The proposed plan calls for establishing management use zones.
The Moderate Use Zone would cover areas where a moderate concentration of visitors participate in several activities.
This would include Kabetogama Lake and a portion of Rainy Lake, leading to the creation of 20-26 miles of ice roads, depending on weather and ice conditions each year.
Ice shelters would be permitted with some restrictions.
A Low Use Zone would cover all of Rainy Lake east of Cranberry Bay, Namakan Lake, Sand Point Lake, Mukooda Lake, and interior lakes associated with a designated snowmobile trail.
This area would have no ice road established and be limited to snowmobiles only.
Ice shelters would be permitted but can not be left un
They could be left for longer periods for commercial purposes with prior park approval.
There will be a series of public meetings next week to gather input.
- Tuesday, April 18: Kabetogama Community Building, 9707 Gamma Road, Kabetogama, MN
- Thursday, April 20: AmericInn by Wyndham 2500 Keenan Drive, International Falls, MN
There will also be a virtual meeting on Wednesday, April 19.
The meeting link is https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83447266503.
You can also call in on a listen-only mode by dialling +1 312-626-6799 Webinar ID: 834 4726 6503.
