News Release

The Future of Goat Island in the Missouri National Recreational River

Goat Island of the Missouri National Recreational River.

NPS

News Release Date: September 10, 2019

Contact: Rick Clark, 605-665-0209 Ext 22

Yankton, S.D. – On August 16, 2019, the National Park Service (NPS) Acting Regional Director, Patricia Trap signed the decision record Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Goat Island Management Plan and Environmental Assessment. The approved FONSI allows the NPS to implement the management plan, as described in the selected action.

The purpose of this management plan is to guide future decisions on the management of the 800-acre island within the boundary of the Missouri National Recreational River (MNRR). This island was confirmed public land and assigned to the NPS for management in 2016. The selected action was prepared through collaborative discussions between the NPS, State of Nebraska, State of South Dakota, Cedar County (Nebraska), Clay County (South Dakota), and other cooperators.

“Goat Island is a special place in its own right and we are proud to have it included as a component of the MNRR and National Park System,” said MNRR Superintendent Rick Clark. “The NPS will continue to work closely with our partners and the community as a whole and in joint stewardship to ensure this resource remains available to all visitors.”

The NPS conducted a 37-day public scoping period for the management plan and environmental assessment, from March 4 through April 10, 2019. After completion of the public comment period, the NPS reviewed 171 comments and worked with state, federal, and tribal partners to develop the selected action and prepare the FONSI.

“The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission appreciates the process allowing the free flow of ideas for the Goat Island Management Plan to maintain traditional opportunities and provide new opportunities for the public,” said Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Director Jim Douglas.

“South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks is pleased to have participated in the process of shaping the vision for recreational opportunities on Goat Island,” said Kelly Hepler, Department Secretary for South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP). “The National Park Service will be a great partner in managing this unique island complex for the public, offering new opportunities while maintaining a balance of traditional uses.”

Goat Island (also known as Jake’s Island) is located in the channel of the Missouri River near Vermillion, South Dakota, and within the congressionally authorized boundary of the MNRR, a unit of the National Park Service and a part of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. It supports a variety of wildlife within its forest of cottonwood and Eastern red cedar. It lays in a wild stretch of the “Mighty Mo” that mostly resembles what the river was like before dams and during the time when Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery voyaged up and down the river in 1804 and 1806. The plan is expected to be implemented over a five to 10 year period with development of a trail and campsites targeted to begin in 2020.

The planning documents can be found at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectID=71840 Responses to the public comments on the EA can be found there in the Errata Sheet section of the FONSI.
 
- NPS -