I attended the National Park Service (NPS) open house last night at William O’Brien State Park where they presented their Camping Management Plan for the Lower St Croix National Scenic Riverway. This camping management plan is for the Federally-administered section of the Lower St Croix Riverway which is the 27 miles from the hydroelectric dam at St Croix Falls/Taylors Falls down to the north city limits of Stillwater. The NPS manages camping on this section of river outside the State Parks through established “camping zones”. I only stayed for the formal presentation by the NPS and left early. It was obvious the crowd was not in agreement with the NPS Camping Management Plan and when I left the crowd was hijacking the NPS meeting agenda and I didn’t feel like sitting through a rancorous meeting that wasn’t going to accomplish much. I’m not sure the feedback from the general public will have much impact at this point. A NPS decision is expected sometime this spring (possibly as early as April) on the alternative course of action to be implemented. From the NPS presentation last night it looks like Camping Management Plan Alternative 3a is their preferred choice for implementation. Here are the highlights of that plan:
Camping Locations: Camping would be managed by establishing designated campsites and allowing camping in designated campsites only. Approximately 45 designated campsites, primarily along the main channel, would be established along the 27 miles of the Federally-administered zone. Here is how the campsites are distributed by river stretch:
Interstate Parks to Osceola: 5 Individual sites (plus existing 7 individual sites located at Eagles Nest Campsites). 1 Backwater campsite.
Osceola to Log House Landing: 5 Individual sites. 2 Group sites. 2 Backwater sites.
Log House Landing to Arcola Sandbar: 4 Individual sites.
Arcola Sandbar to north Stillwater: 22 Individual sites and 1 Backwater site.
Designated Backwater Campsites: 5 designated campsites would be established in the backwaters, these campsites would be signed, but would have no other facilities. Reservations would be necessary for backwater campsites. To be eligible to reserve a backwater campsite, persons must complete an awareness course.
Overnight Boat Tie-ups: Self–contained boats would be able to tie up anywhere on NPS land. However, there would be certain restrictions. No tie-ups would be allowed at designated campsites that are already occupied, a maximum of two boats could tie-up together, boat tie-ups must maintain a distance of 100 feet in all directions from other tie-ups and designated campsites, and no fires or picnic tables would be allowed. The most likely stretch of river for boat tie-ups is below Arcola sandbar.
Toilet and other facilities: All camping parties would be required to bring their own carry-in, carry-out toilets. Facilities at the designated campsites would include a sign and fire ring. Signs would be provided at the backwater campsites. No fire-ring would be provided and no fires would be allowed in the backwaters. Backwater campers would need to bring a camping stove for cooking purposes.
Group Size Limits: Group size limits would be established to allow for up to 8 people at the individual designated campsites. Group campsites would allow for 9 – 16 people. Larger groups would need to split up or make arrangement to camp in one of the State Parks. The 6 clustered individual sites already established at Eagle’s Nest (a NPS boat-in campground) would accommodate 8 per site or up to a total of 48 people.
In the designated backwater campsites, 6 people and 2 boats would be allowed per group.
Length-of-Stay: The length-of-stay at designated campsites on the main channel would be 3 consecutive nights and 30 nights for the season (from May 15 to Sept 15). Length-of-Stay in the backwater campsites would be 1 night and 12 nights for the season. The length-of-stay for overnight tie-ups would also be 3 consecutive nights in one location and 30 nights for the season (from May 15 to Sept 15).
Overnight Use Pass / Backwater Campsite Reservations: Designated campsites on the main channel would be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, all overnight users in the designated campsites and overnight boat tie-ups must possess an “overnight use pass”. The purpose of the pass would be to ensure that overnight users are informed about all related regulations. The pass would be available free-of-charge at the NPS Visitors Center in St Croix Falls. It may also be available via the mail and possibly through the Riverway website. Only one pass would be needed annually, but persons would need to be in possession of it whenever camping.
Camping in the designated backwater campsites would be by reservation only. To be eligible to reserve a backwater campsite, persons must complete an awareness course. Reservations for the limited number of backwater campsites (5) would be made through the NPS staff at the Riverway. A backwater campsite reservation would be required in advance of each backwater camping trip. There would be no charge.
Campers would post their overnight use pass or backwater campsite reservation in a location clearly visible from the water. Enforcement would be by spot checks by NPS ranger staff.
