Boaters could face lower speed zones and campers could be asked to pay to reserve camping spots under changes being proposed for the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway as part of a new management plan.

Park Service officials are seeking public feedback on the proposed changes as part of the creation of a comprehensive river management plan that will guide the future of the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers. Four public meetings — one in Minnesota and three in Wisconsin — to gather input are planned next week.

“This river management plan will shape future Park Service decisions regarding resource management, visitor experiences and preservation efforts,” said St. Croix National Scenic Riverway Superintendent Craig Hansen. “Stakeholder, tribal, partner and public engagement is essential to the success of the plan and future management of the Riverway.”

Speed zones

Lower speed zones along several stretches of the river, including a no-wake zone within 100 feet of shore, the shores of islands and of swimmers on the Lower St. Croix River are being considered from the Xcel Energy dam at Taylors Falls south to the Boom Site.

Currently, the Riverway maintains only a portion from the Apple River south to the Boom Site as “slow, no-wake,” which means operation of a motorboat at the slowest possible speed necessary to maintain steerage.

Extending the Lower St. Croix’s no-wake zone would reduce safety hazards, protect the shoreline from erosion and set clear expectations for boaters, said Nate Toering, director of communications and education for the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. Clear boating guidelines would make it easier for boaters to understand and follow regulations, he said.

While there are no proposals for restrictions on horsepower or motorized travel in the Lower St. Croix, officials are considering them for the Upper St. Croix River — north of Riverside Landing, Toering said. He noted that the rise in larger, more powerful motorboats in the Upper St. Croix is concerning as they “can put extra stress on sensitive environments and create safety risks for nonmotorized users in the river’s narrower, quieter stretches.”

The following changes to boat speeds and horsepower limits are being proposed:

Namekagon River (excluding flowages): No-wake zones, horsepower limits, and/or restrictions on motorized travel.
Upper St. Croix (Riverside to Gordon): No-wake zones, horsepower limits, and/or restrictions on motorized travel.
Lower St. Croix River (within 100 feet of shoreline from Taylors Falls to Arcola Sand Bars): No-wake zones.

Camping reservations

The National Park Service also is considering implementing a reservation system and associated fees for all Park Service-owned and managed sites in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway via www.recreation.gov. The reservation system would help campers secure spots, support campsite maintenance and educate visitors on park rules, Park Service officials say.

Camping in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway has become an issue with visitors reporting difficulty securing campsites along the river, Toering said. Campers reported “not having as good of a time related to camping as a result of overcrowding,” he said. “There were too many people and too few areas.”

There also are concerns about visitors not following established camping regulations, contributing to overcrowding and negatively affecting the environment and overall visitor experience, he said.

The National Park Service is considering designated camping “zones” for visitors to choose from. Visitors with a reservation for a camping zone would be able to select a campsite in the zone upon arrival; camping zones would allow for freedom and spontaneity to choose a site while ensuring sites are used effectively and fairly, Park Service officials say.

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Implementing a fee-and-reservation system would improve accessibility and would ensure better managed campsites, “ensuring they are clean, safe, and well-maintained,” Park Service officials said. The system “could also serve as an opportunity to educate visitors about the importance of preserving the natural environment and respecting park rules,” according to the Park Service.

“If certain campsites are being used much more than other ones, then we can turn around and focus some of our management on them more aggressively,” Toering said. “Maybe we send maintenance teams out there more or maybe we have our staff just check on the status of them more because we know that they’re being more frequently used within (a) zone. Whichever ones are most heavily used can get a little bit more eyes on them.”

Canoe, kayak and tube rentals

The Park Service also is seeking feedback from the public about the large crowds of people who come to use the river, including those who rent canoes, kayaks and innertubes.

“There are worries that the large crowds, accommodated by current usage levels, strain the Riverway’s infrastructure, resources, and visitor experience to an extent that cannot be sustained in the long term,” according to Park Service officials.

The proposed management strategies under consideration:

Keep current operations, but evaluate new commercial services and expand areas of use for existing commercial services.
Explore options at boat landings to separate commercial and non-commercial use when feasible to improve visitor experience and safety.

The comprehensive river management plan is designed “to help guide management decisions over a long period of time,” Toering said. “We’re trying to set ourselves and future park managers up for success by figuring out these things now and creating a plan that helps move it forward so that the visitor experience is beneficial regardless of which section you’re in.

“If you’re in a busy location, we still want you to be able to find a campsite and not feel like you’re fighting an uphill battle to have a good time in the park. It’s a big balance between recreation and visitor uses in the park, but also making sure that we’re protecting this amazing resource in our backyard.”

Park Service officials plan next spring to release the draft comprehensive management plan and associated National Environmental Policy Act compliance document; the public will have another opportunity to comment on the future of the Riverway at that time, Toering said.

St. Croix National Scenic Riverway input meetings

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The National Park Service is holding a series of public meetings to gather input on a proposed river management plan for the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway:

1-3 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources office in Spooner, Wis.
5-7 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Holiday Inn Express in Hayward, Wis.
1:30-3:30 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Stillwater Public Library
5-7 p.m. Nov. 21 at the St. Croix Falls, Wis., Visitor Center

Comments also can be submitted online through Dec. 31 at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/sacnriverplan or by mail to St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (Attn: Superintendent), 401 N. Hamilton St., St. Croix Falls, WI 54024.