Floor Statement of Senator Carl Levin on the Beaver Basin Wilderness Act

Mr. President, today I am introducing with Senator Stabenow the Beaver Basin Wilderness Act, which would permanently protect 11,740 acres within the Pictured Rocks National Park located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula along the south shore of Lake Superior. Also known as the Beaver Basin area, this area comprises about 16% of the national lakeshore. The Wilderness designation would ensure that opportunities to appreciate and enjoy nature in a relatively undisturbed state at this national lakeshore are preserved for future generations.

The bill responds to many of the concerns expressed during the 5-year development of the General Management Plan for Pictured Rocks, which included a wilderness study, and involved extensive public involvement. Boats powered by electric motors would be allowed on Little Beaver and Beaver Lakes within the Wilderness area. All motor boats would be allowed to access the miles of the Lake Superior shoreline, as the wilderness area does not include the Lake Superior surface water. Also, the access road to Beaver Lakes and Little Beaver campground is not included in the wilderness area, so vehicles would still have access to this popular area. Importantly, the Wilderness designation would not change the fundamental way this land has been managed since 1981, ensuring continued public access, use, and enjoyment of this land.

It is critical that the highly valued, pristine natural features of the Beaver Basin area remain the treasure they are today. This area provides a unique and distinct landscape that highlights one of the most beautiful backdrops of the Great Lakes, and it is vital that we do all we can to protect it. Significantly, several miles of the North Country National Scenic Trail, also known as the Lakeshore Trail, run through this wilderness area. This bill would help preserve the serene quality of this segment of the trail, and protect the outstanding scenery along the shoreline. The wilderness designation will benefit current and future generations by protecting this natural and undisturbed landscape for the enjoyment of thousands of people in Michigan and across the nation.