by Ryan Olson
Gazette Writer
and The Associated Press
MARQUETTE — A federal appeals court on Friday upheld a lower court ruling that paves the way for adoption of a management plan for Isle Royale National Park.
U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Karen Nelson Moore ruled against the Isle Royale Boaters Association, which sued the National Park Service in 1999.
The group of park users claims the management plan, which includes removing some docks and altering trail access, would limit boater access to the Lake Superior park.
Specific actions and rules outlined in the plan are supported by federal law, Moore said for the three-judge appellate panel.
Isle Royale administrators lauded Moore’s decision.
‘‘It means that we can continue to implement the management plan as funding becomes available,’’ said Ranger Smitty Parratt, an Isle Royale spokesman.
Fred Bieti, the association’s chief operating officer, said he’s disappointed by the decision supporting the park service, which he said will hamper boaters’ access to camping shelters and interior trails.
“Many . . . will now be relegated to campgrounds on outlying islands,” he said. “We were hoping to preserve that access.”
Isle Royale is 60 miles from Copper Harbor. Visitors can camp in tents or boats. A lodge offers cabins and rooms at the east end of the 45-mile- long island.
The goal of the management plan is to ‘‘meet the diverse expectations and needs of Isle Royale visitors while emphasizing the natural quiet that is fundamental to wilderness experiences,’’ the park service has said.
To fulfill that goal, the park service planned to remove three docks from the main island, relocate one and add four others on nearby islands.
Boaters docked near campgrounds face restrictions on the use of noisy electricity generators. Televisions, radios tuned to commercial stations and ‘‘boom boxes’’ are also barred.
The park service’s management plan aims to “separate motorized and nonmotorized uses in some areas.”
Bieti said he agrees with separating uses, but says removing the docks giving boaters access to the interior trails is unfair and violates Congress’ intent when drafting the Isle Royale Wilderness Act of 1976. He said the plan reduces boaters’ access to the island by about 46 percent.
“We don’t have an objection to the separation of uses, but we feel to have all of our access degraded is not a fair and equitable way to achieve the goal,” he said.
The appeals court said the management plan was consistent with the law.