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Effigy Mounds Plans

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The above photo shows Fire Point Overlook during a ranger-guided hike before the railing was built. (Photos courtesy of Effigy Mounds National Monument)

This is the railing at Fire Point Overlook as it is today.

 

Public meetings will help decide the fate of 

boardwalks and other structures at Effigy Mounds

By Ted Pennekamp

 

The Cultural Landscape and Environmental Assessment Report was approved within the past month for Effigy Mounds National Monument and several public meetings are expected to be scheduled in September and October regarding a new, more specific planning effort to decide the fate of the boardwalks, some bridges and other infrastructure. 

Effigy Mounds National Monument Superintendent Jim Nepstad said that the General Management Plan for Effigy Mounds was finalized in 2013 and is the overall “vision for the park.” The General Management Plan created zones for the park including the developed zone, which has the parking lot, the visitor center and other main buildings of the park; the discovery zone which has more developed and wider trails with wood chips and interpretive panels, etc.; and the back country zone, which has narrower, primitive trails.

The Cultural Landscape Report and Environmental Assessment, which was recently approved following a series of public meetings, is geared toward the mounds themselves and covers topics such as how to handle vegetation on or near the mounds including trees, and what people see (what is the viewing experience of the mounds). 

The new planning effort with meetings to be scheduled, hopefully in September and October, will be scoping meetings to gain public input regarding specific structures, said Nepstad. 

“We might pose some questions and the public will be talking to us about alternatives for the boardwalks, some bridges and other infrastructure,” said Nepstad. “There are basically three general alternatives. Do we remove a structure entirely, do we keep it as is, or do we alter it in some way. It’s important to have these conservations before we propose anything. I like having informed decisions. What the public thinks does matter.”

Nepstad said that the boardwalks have gotten the most attention, but the meetings will not focus entirely on the boardwalks. Fire Point Overlook, for example, has wooden railings that give a bit of an obstructed view. Does the public want the railings removed, remain as they are, or be replaced with stronger metal railings? The railings were installed in 2005 and there is no good way to test the strength of the railings, said Nepstad, who noted that children climb on the railings and adults lean on them.

“It’s a pretty spectacular overlook, and there is a safety concern,” he said.

Of course, the cost of each alternative also needs to be part of the discussion, as well as what harm gets done archaeologically and environmentally by keeping, removing or altering any structure. 

Among the other structures to consider are two bridges on Hanging Rock Trail. Nepstad said that these bridges were originally rustic foot bridges. They were replaced in the early 2000s, however, with more solid bridges that park vehicles could use. Nepstad said that the current bridges don’t fit in as well aesthetically as the rustic bridges did. To replace the bridges would be a very expensive undertaking, however, and the park would need to find sources of funding.

Nepstad, who became superintendent in 2011, said he doesn’t agree with the way the boardwalks, the bridges and some other structures were done in the early 2000s. But, they do need to be discussed and dealt with.

“Is this the way we would do it today? No. But, they are there and they’re expensive to remove or replace. We need to decide if its worth the effort and expense,” he said. 

When it is decided when and where the public scoping meetings will be held, the public will be informed via press releases to area media. Information will also be on the Effigy Mounds website and Facebook page, said Nepstad.

Nepstad said there will be two rounds of public meetings. The first round will be the scoping meetings. The second round will be meetings at which a draft version of the plan and recommendations and analysis will be presented.  The second round of meetings will probably be done over the winter.

In addition to the public meetings, Nepstad said that people can give their opinions or ideas about possible trail realignment or the possible removal of structures via mail or email once the planning process has begun. The planning process will involve the public as well as state and tribal historic preservation partners.

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