The U.S. Forest Service is delaying its ban of alcohol on sections of three Michigan rivers so it can work with local communities to address concerns.

The Huron-Manistee National Forests announced last week it planned to prohibit alcohol in the National Wild and Scenic River sections of the AuSable, Manistee, and Pine rivers, but now that won’t happen until at least 2020, according to a news release.

“Individuals and businesses throughout northern Michigan have expressed strong interest in partnering with the Forest Service to address ongoing public safety and environmental issues on our National Wild and Scenic Rivers,” said Huron-Manistee National Forests Supervisor Leslie Auriemmo.

“We welcome a practical, community-driven solution to these challenges.”

The alcohol ban was intended to address persistent public safety issues and protect natural resources on the rivers, according to the U.S. Forest Service,.

But reaction to the decision was extremely mixed and largely negative from businesses that would be directly affected.

Gotts’ Lansing in Mio was particularly outspoken against the new policy, indicating they were caught completely off-guard by the decision. And they weren’t alone.

The policy, as it was written, would affect sections of Michigan river in the National Wild and Scenic River system, which accounts for 656.4 miles of Michigan river, or 1 percent of the state’s river miles.

The AuSable National Wild and Scenic River begins below Mio Pond and extends to the upper end of Alcona Pond. It makes up 23 miles of the 138-mile waterway that runs through Northern Michigan and enters Lake Huron.

The Manistee and Pine National Wild and Scenic Rivers are each 26 miles with the Manistee section running from Tippy Dam to the M-55 Bridge.

In its entirety, the Manistee River runs 190 miles through the southwestern Lower Peninsula before entering Lake Michigan in Manistee. Its tributary, the Pine River, is 53.6-miles long.

Instead of implementing the ban immediately, the Forest Service now says it will organize and chair a community working group consisting of small businesses, municipal officials, and private citizens from the National Wild and Scenic River corridors.

By May 2019, the working group will develop an action plan to restore public safety to those rivers.

The Forest Service will report regularly on the working group’s activities and will continue to promote responsible use of public waters, according to a news release.

During the upcoming summer recreation season which runs from May 24 to Sept. 2., the Forest Service will work with community partners to implement the action plan.

If the action plan does not improve conditions upon the National Wild and Scenic Rivers, the Forest Service would consider implementing the alcohol closure order in 2020.

“The Forest Service has a statutory obligation to protect the outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values of our National Wild and Scenic Rivers,” Auriemmo said.

“We look forward to working with our community partners to ensure a safe and sustainable recreational experience for all Americans who wish to visit our waterways.”

Interested parties may submit comments to Public Affairs Officer Nate Peeters by e-mail (r9_hmnf_website@fs.fed.us) or post (1755 S Mitchell Street, Cadillac, MI 49601).