Bayfield County Pushes Back on Apostle Islands National Park

The Bayfield County Board has voted to oppose a proposal by Congressman Tom Tiffany that would make the Apostle Islands a national park.

On Tuesday night, the county board voted to oppose the plan unanimously. According to a Northern News Now report, members of the board criticized both the proposal itself and the perceived lack of coordination with local governments before its introduction.

The county board members said the change to a national park would limit hunting opportunities and doesn’t address the county’s need to diversify its economy. They also criticized the lack of public feedback before the introduction of the proposal.

Congressman Tiffany introduced the Apostle Islands National Park and Preserve Act just over one month ago. When introduced, he said the move had been in progress for nearly a year and hoped it would open up new tourism opportunities for the region.

In response, Bayfield County residents expressed concern that the national park designation would overwhelm the area. According to a WPR report, Bayfield Mayor Ted Dougherty said the city is already at capacity between balancing tourism with housing demands. Other local officials also questioned the effects the proposal would have on the environment, tribal treaty rights, and infrastructure.

In a statement, Congressman Tiffany said his office has been in consultation with a number of local officials who support the legislation, and would continue to be open to public input. A spokesperson for Congressman Tiffany also said designating the Apostle Islands as a national park is one of the best ways to secure more federal funding for infrastructure improvements and conservation efforts.