I’ve only recently discovered that the National Park Service is investigating restricting camping on my favorite section of the St. Croix River (PDF). Just to formally state my opinion and perhaps hear what some readers think, here’s the full text of my letter to the Park Service on the issue.
Jill,
I will not be able to attend tomorrow evening’s meeting regarding the proposed new camping regulations for the lower St. Croix River. Unfortunately, this is the first I have heard of the process of examining problems with camping in the waterway and the search for solutions to them. I reviewed documents on the Park Service Web site outlining the proposals and wish to voice my opinion.The St. Croix River is a very special place, I’m sure you’re well aware of that. The diversity of the scenery, the wildlife and the opportunities for recreation are truly impressive. Every time I paddle a canoe on its waters I am awed that such beauty and wildness exist so close to a major metropolitan area, and to my hometown of Stillwater. Part of what makes it such a special place is its accessibility to all citizens. It truly is the people’s land.
While the preservation of the natural environment, and the conservation of the riverway’s wildness, is extremely important, so is the freedom of all who visit it. To make camping on these public lands cumbersome and confusing through new regulations will discourage many people from visiting, unsure about the legality of camping or simply if they will be able to find a “designated campsite” for a night on the river. I believe this would destroy the spirit of the river and change for the worse the way that people think of it, which will result in a lack of feelings of ownership and consequent disrespect for the river. I am sure that a solution to garbage and erosion problems exists that is more creative and ultimately will be more effective than simply restricting camping.
Thank you to you and everyone who has surely invested a lot of time and thought in this process. I wish you luck and thank you for taking the time to consider my comments.
Sincerely,
My Name
My Address
St. Paul, MN
Don’t get me wrong for one second, I care about conservation tremendously. You can even call me an “environmentalist,” though most environmentalists refer to themselves as “conservationists” these days. I love the Boundary Waters with all its Leave No Trace regulations, the designated campsites, the entry permits. But o’ do I love the public lands of this nation, the National Forests open to all comers, and none more than my home forest: the St. Croix River National Scenic Riverway and truly, the fact that the doors of that river are always open is just as important as the quasi-pristine wilderness found within.
Update Feb. 2007
The Park Service has released a draft proposal for managing camping on this section of the river and I have begun a multi-part series on the issue:
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Bum, nice letter. I hope it gets read out loud at the meeting and helps them come up with, as you put it, a more creative solution than just banning camping. Seems a waste to me as well.