Q & A - Campground Fees and Length of Stay

Q. To which tribes does this exemption agreement apply?

A. This agreement applies to the Tribes of the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) and who have ratified the MOU. Specifically: Mille Lacs, St. Croix, Lac Courte Oreilles, Red Cliff, Bad River, Lac du Flambeau, Sokaogan Chippewa Community (Mole Lake), Lac Vieux Desert, Keweenaw Bay, and Bay Mills.

Q. Which campgrounds are included in this agreement?

A. The agreement covers campgrounds where a fee is charged for overnight camping within the ceded territory areas for the treaties of 1836, 1837, and 1842 (Chequamegon-Nicolet, Ottawa, Hiawatha and the northern portion of the Huron-Manistee National Forests). Campgrounds that are under current concessionaire permits from the Forest Service are excluded from the agreement until such time as the campground concessionaire contracts are out for new bid. At that time, the terms of the Fee Exemption Agreement will be included as part of the overall bid package.

Q. Will the agreement reduce the number of campsites available for non-tribal users?

A. The majority of campsites on the Chequamegon-Nicolet, Ottawa, Hiawatha, and Huron-Manistee National Forests are available on a first-come, first-served basis. This will not change. Reservations for campsites which are made through the Forest Service system will continue to be honored in the same manner that they always have. The Memorandum of Understanding provides for monitoring of the agreement and for annual meetings to address changes, refinement, and clarify needs that arise in the execution of the MOU. Additionally, the MOU provides for citizens and tribal members to comment on the implementation of the MOU prior to the annual meeting.

Q. Will the Forest Service do a separate public input process for the implementation of each part of the MOU?

A. No. The provisions of the MOU were the subject of a substantial public information and comment effort prior to final ratification by the Tribes. These public comments were jointly considered and incorporated into the comprehensive MOU at that time. Subsequently, the public comments have been reviewed, and considered in the discussions and development of the sugar bush management plans, and recreation fee exemption agreement and implementation plan. In the MOU, the Forest Service committed to accepting comments from interested citizens about the implementation of the MOU at any time and, prior to the annual meeting, the Forest Service will solicit public comments to consider at the annual meeting. The jointly approved minutes from the annual meeting will be made available for public review.

Q. Will all campers be subject to the same rules and regulations within the campsites?

A. All campground users are required to comply with the laws and regulations posted and in application for national forest campgrounds through federal code. Provisions of the Tribal - Forest Service MOU provide for enforcement of regulations by Forest Officers, Tribal Officers, and local and State law enforcement officers.