Forest service to have lottery for Black River Harbor dock spaces

By CHARITY SMITH

[email protected]

Ironwood - Black River Harbor docking permits will be issued via a lottery system this year, according to an announcement from the Ottawa National Forest Service. The Harbor offers one of the area's few access points to Lake Superior.

According to Lisa Klaus, public and administrative affairs officer for the U.S. Forest Service, the demand for the permits has been ever increasing over the years. Klaus said the forest service continuously recieves more requests than there are permits available. She said that in years past, the permits have been granted on a first come first serve basis, but because of the increased demand, she said the lottery is the most "equitable and transparent" solution, as it gives a chance to all who apply to get a permit.

"We have experienced an increase in the requests for docking permits," said District Ranger Trevor Hahka in a press release. "In order to ensure that permits are offered in an equitable and transparent manner, we will issue permits via a lottery system."

The lottery for 20 dock slips for various watercraft sizes and draft capacity, will be conducted with the assistance of the Ironwood Chamber of Commerce. The drawing will held during the chamber's board meeting on April 12. Alternates for each boat size class will also be drawn in case a successful applicant decides they do not want/need their dock slip. Winners of the lottery will be notified by mail.

The forest service has been working on a large scale improvement project for the Black River Harbor dock since 2020. During the first stage for the improvement process the forest service replaced 168 feet of existing docks located west of the boat launch and installed a steelpile and sheeting dock system that is capped with a concrete deck. The wooden retaining wall situated next to the dock was replaced, along with power pedestals and light poles. New guard rails along the dock and boat ramp were also installed for safety.

"We are making major improvements every year," said Klaus. "One section of dock was completed and we're working on more sections of dock. We did a large area (of dock) near the boat landing and provided some stabilization of the hillside and worked on the water system in previous years. Work will continue on the construction projects."

Klaus said that this season they are planning to continue to do work on face boards and planks on the south side of the dock. She said they will also be building a footbridge near the launch to allow visitors to access the day use area and paving the Black River campground, with funding they received from the Great American Outdoors Act. The bill, which was signed into law on Aug. 4, 2020 is "to establish, fund, and provide for the use of amounts in a National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to address the maintenance backlog of the National Park Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service, and the Bureau of Indian Education, and to provide permanent, dedicated funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and for other purposes."

Klaus said the construction will commence as soon as the weight limit regulations are lifted and weather permits. The forest service anticipates opening the facilities by Memorial Day, she said. The forest website is the best place to go to for updates on the status of the construction, Klaus said.

Those interested in being a part of this lottery will need to complete an application and mail/ bring it to the Ironwood Chamber of Commerce, Attention: Black River Harbor Lottery Entry, P.O. Box 45, Ironwood, MI 49938. Applications must be received in hard copy.

Applications will be accepted until close of business on April 11.

A copy of the application permit and additional information is available online at: fs.usda.gov/

main/ottawa/passes-permits/recreation.

For more information on docking permits, please contact Teresa Maday at 715-413-1798 or via e-mail at [email protected].