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Angie TornesRivers and TrailsNational Park Service

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History of L. Superior’s Water History of L. Superior’s Water TrailsTrails

Native American UseNative American Use Fur TradersFur Traders LoggersLoggers Commercial FishingCommercial Fishing Mail RoutesMail Routes Recreation: kayaking and small craftRecreation: kayaking and small craft Inland Sea Society Proposal: 1991Inland Sea Society Proposal: 1991 Rivers & Trails workshop: 1992 Rivers & Trails workshop: 1992

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Minnesota: “North Shore” Minnesota: “North Shore”

Advocated initially by sea kayaking Advocated initially by sea kayaking enthusiasts, environmentalistsenthusiasts, environmentalists

Established by Minnesota Legislature in Established by Minnesota Legislature in 1993; 20% of one MDNR’s staff time1993; 20% of one MDNR’s staff time

cooperative effort of MDNR, outfitting cooperative effort of MDNR, outfitting stores, outfitters, kayakers, and NPS stores, outfitters, kayakers, and NPS

pilot project of 20 mi. in 1994; expanded to pilot project of 20 mi. in 1994; expanded to 43 mi. in 1998; now extends from Duluth to 43 mi. in 1998; now extends from Duluth to Canadian Border: 150 miCanadian Border: 150 mi

Lake Superior Water Trail of MN Lake Superior Water Trail of MN

Development and maintenance: joint Development and maintenance: joint effort between MDNR and L. Superior effort between MDNR and L. Superior Water Trail Association of MN (LSWTA)Water Trail Association of MN (LSWTA)

LSWTA had active membership, monthly LSWTA had active membership, monthly meetings/clean-ups/outings; newslettermeetings/clean-ups/outings; newsletter

links: possible combined planning and links: possible combined planning and management with hiking & biking trailsmanagement with hiking & biking trails

focused on stewardship and safetyfocused on stewardship and safety

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Wisconsin: Bayfield Peninsula/ Wisconsin: Bayfield Peninsula/ Apostle Islands Water TrailApostle Islands Water Trail

Initial L. Superior water trail initiated by Initial L. Superior water trail initiated by Inland Sea Society in 1991Inland Sea Society in 1991

NPS formed committee for Bayfield NPS formed committee for Bayfield Peninsula/Apostle Islands project 1997: 90 Peninsula/Apostle Islands project 1997: 90 miles, completed in 2000miles, completed in 2000

partnership: NPS (2), WDNR, ISS, UW partnership: NPS (2), WDNR, ISS, UW Extension, Sea Grant, Ashland College, Extension, Sea Grant, Ashland College, Ojibway Tribe, realtor, WDNROjibway Tribe, realtor, WDNR

Funding: WI Coastal Mgm’t Prog., tourismFunding: WI Coastal Mgm’t Prog., tourism

Entire WI ShorelineEntire WI Shoreline

Expansion Project: MN-MI, 163 mi.; Expansion Project: MN-MI, 163 mi.; includes Bayfield updateincludes Bayfield update

Focus on stewardship of shorelineFocus on stewardship of shoreline NPS formed committee in 2006, end ’09NPS formed committee in 2006, end ’09 Funding WI CMP, NPS CCS, ISSFunding WI CMP, NPS CCS, ISS Partnership: NPS (3), Reg. Plan Com., Partnership: NPS (3), Reg. Plan Com.,

UW Sea Grant, Ojibway Tribe, WDNR, UW Sea Grant, Ojibway Tribe, WDNR, ISSISSBoth projects’ sites mangaged by ownerBoth projects’ sites mangaged by owner

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Michigan: Keweenaw Water Michigan: Keweenaw Water Trail Trail

NPS R&T formed and coordinated NPS R&T formed and coordinated partnership and project developmentpartnership and project development

partnership included outfitters, kayakers, partnership included outfitters, kayakers, local gov’ts, university, NPS, MDNR, local gov’ts, university, NPS, MDNR, tourism association, Scoutstourism association, Scouts

demonstration project: 47 mi completed in demonstration project: 47 mi completed in 1996.; entire peninsula: 147 mi.; 1996.; entire peninsula: 147 mi.; completed in 1999completed in 1999

Keweenaw Water TrailKeweenaw Water Trail

Keweenaw Water Trail Association Keweenaw Water Trail Association completed trail around peninsula; hosted completed trail around peninsula; hosted kayak training and work parties kayak training and work parties

small “membership” base; newsletter; no small “membership” base; newsletter; no expansion plans originally, but didexpansion plans originally, but did

linkages: TNC; Keweenaw Nat’l Hist. Parklinkages: TNC; Keweenaw Nat’l Hist. Park strong recreational + historical focus, strong recreational + historical focus,

particularly copper extractionparticularly copper extraction Sites managed individually by ownerSites managed individually by owner

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Other + Future Lake Superior Other + Future Lake Superior Water Trail ProjectsWater Trail Projects

Hiawatha WT – 120 mi along the UP, Big Hiawatha WT – 120 mi along the UP, Big Bay to Grand Marias (central UP): doneBay to Grand Marias (central UP): done

To finish entire MI UP shoreline: half the To finish entire MI UP shoreline: half the shoreline distance in 3 segmentsshoreline distance in 3 segments

= Completion of the entire U.S. shoreline!= Completion of the entire U.S. shoreline!

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Successful Traits Successful Traits

ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORTORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT Strong partnership w/ roles & tasks definedStrong partnership w/ roles & tasks defined Paid staff (housed w/ NGO, agency, RPC) to Paid staff (housed w/ NGO, agency, RPC) to

coordinate planning, implementation, and trail coordinate planning, implementation, and trail managementmanagement

Map/brochure distribution + website supportMap/brochure distribution + website support

PHYSICAL SUPPORTPHYSICAL SUPPORT Safe and legal access, facilities, parkingSafe and legal access, facilities, parking Places of interest to visit and explorePlaces of interest to visit and explore Places to rent boats and learn safetyPlaces to rent boats and learn safety

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