Goat Island in the Missouri National Recreation River will eventually be opened to camping and hunting/NPS file
Not every unit of the National Park System can brag about adding an island to its landscape, but Missouri National Recreational River can. And it's no small island, either; Goat Island runs about 800 acres.
The island in the Missouri River was given to the National Park Service to manage back in 2016. Since then, park staff has been working with the State of Nebraska, State of South Dakota, Nebraska's Cedar County, and South Dakota's Clay County on a management plan, which has just been approved.
“Goat Island is a special place in its own right and we are proud to have it included as a component of the MNRR and National Park System,” said MNRR Superintendent Rick Clark. “The NPS will continue to work closely with our partners and the community as a whole and in joint stewardship to ensure this resource remains available to all visitors.”
The NPS conducted a 37-day public scoping period for the management plan and environmental assessment, from March 4 through April 10 of this year. After completion of the public comment period, the NPS reviewed 171 comments and worked with state, federal, and tribal partners to develop the selected action and prepare the plan.
Under the final plan, the Park Service will allow hunting and trapping on the island, though deer and turkey hunting would be restricted to archery, while waterfowl hunting would be allowed with firearms per the laws and regulations of the state hunting license and the NPS regulations.
There also are plans to establish two backcountry primitive campgrounds, and to allow backcountry camping outside of the hunting seasons.
More details of the management plan can be found at this page.
“The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission appreciates the process allowing the free flow of ideas for the Goat Island Management Plan to maintain traditional opportunities and provide new opportunities for the public,” said Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Director Jim Douglas.
“South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks is pleased to have participated in the process of shaping the vision for recreational opportunities on Goat Island,” said Kelly Hepler, Department Secretary for South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP). “The National Park Service will be a great partner in managing this unique island complex for the public, offering new opportunities while maintaining a balance of traditional uses.”
Goat Island (also known as Jake’s Island) is located in the channel of the Missouri River near Vermillion, South Dakota, and within the congressionally authorized boundary of the MNRR, a unit of the National Park Service and a part of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. It supports a variety of wildlife within its forest of cottonwood and Eastern red cedar.
The island lays in a wild stretch of the “Mighty Mo” that mostly resembles what the river was like before dams and during the time when Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery voyaged up and down the river in 1804 and 1806. The plan is expected to be implemented over a five- to 10-year period with development of a trail and campsites targeted to begin in 2020.
Comments
This sounds good to me. I'd like to visit Goat Island some day.
I wonder how many of the 171 comments that the NPS reviewed actually wanted something done on Goat Island? Typical case of wasteful government spending. I spoke with superintendent Clark at a meeting about Goat island this spring and it was very apparent to me that he had little interest in what the public wanted. There's already camping spots less than a mile in both directions from Goat Island so what's the point on disturbing this beautiful natural island by putting camping spots. Congratulatilns Mr. Clark you're able to put a feather in your political hat by doing something the majority of the public who use goat island didn't want at all!!