The Hiawatha National Forest has many popular winter recreation spots, and one of the most popular is the Eben Ice Caves in the Rock River Canyon Wilderness.
With the combination of increased visibility and unpredictable winter weather, the area has seen an increase in visitation and damage in recent years.
U.S. Forest Service staff have come together to respond to these changes by initiating a sustainable recreation strategy with the goal of protecting natural and cultural resources while providing high-quality outdoor recreation experiences.
“The Rock River Canyon Wilderness is a special place, and it’s easy to understand why it became so popular,” said Wilderness Specialist, Andrew Rogers. “We want to be thoughtful in our approach to managing recreation opportunities while balancing the stipulations laid out in the Wilderness Act of 1964. I look forward to hearing from the public about why this place is important to them.”
The public is invited to learn about this process and provide feedback during two meetings in September:
- September 11, 2024, from 5-7 PM
Rock River Township Library/Townhall
E3667 State Hwy M-94, Chatham, MI 49816
*Please note that this location can accommodate a larger number of people.
- September 12, 2024, from 5-7 PM
Alger Parks and Recreation
413 Maple St. Unit 1, Munising, MI 49862
Individuals unable to attend the meetings in person can watch the presentations live on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/HiawathaNF.
For this planning effort, the team welcomes input through December 31, 2024, using the following methods:
- Electronically: Submit your comments online at https://forms.office.com/g/zNfPa6h3My
- Send an email to SM.FS.hiawathanf@usda.gov and add the Subject Line: Comment for Rock River Canyon Wilderness/Eben Ice Caves
- Mail letter with your comments to: Hiawatha National Forest ATTN: Rock River Canyon Wilderness, 820 Rains Drive, Gladstone, MI 49837
- Drop off a letter in person to any Hiawatha National Forest District Office.
Feedback from these meetings and comments will be used to guide the development of management strategies in the Eben Ice Caves area. This is a strategic planning process and is not environmental planning or decision-making as established under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Implementation actions and changes to management identified through this process may require NEPA review and opportunities for public comment at a later date.
For up-to-date information, please visit the News and Events page on the Hiawatha National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/hiawatha/news-events.
Visit us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/HiawathaNF
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