Apostle Islands lakeshore would become a national park and preserve

What does this do?

The bill renames Apostle Islands National Lakeshore as "Apostle Islands National Park and Preserve," dividing it into a national park section and a national preserve section with separate mapped boundaries, both managed together by the National Park Service. Hunting and trapping would generally be banned in the park section but remain allowed in the preserve section, while fishing rules stay unchanged throughout.

Who does it affect?

The change affects visitors, hunters, anglers, and tourists to the Apostle Islands, as well as Ojibwe and other tribes with treaty rights in the area.

Why does it matter?

The redesignation elevates the site's name recognition as a national park while creating a legal distinction between areas open and closed to hunting, and it preserves existing tribal treaty rights to hunt, fish, gather, or trap.

Where does it stand?