Recently, staff from the Superior National Forest spread native wildflower seed in four different places in the Forest. These flowers will help to support existing butterfly habitat and encourage other pollinators like bees.
Two U.S. Forest Service research facilities in northern Minnesota will remain open after facing possible closure under the agency’s restructuring plan. Located in Grand Rapids and Ely, the stations conduct research on forest management, peatlands, carbon storage, and climate change.
Voyageurs National Park has a new superintendent. Minnesota’s only national park welcomes Jennifer Onufer, who will begin her new post this fall.
Invasive species tend to have names that make you cringe. Take spiny water flea, for example—a common invasive in Minnesota, including some Boundary Waters lakes. Now, a new invasive species—bloody red shrimp—has been found in the Lake Superior ecosystem, and its name suggests danger…
To create a more resilient, adaptable forest, The Nature Conservancy, in collaboration with state and federal partners, planted 3.2 million trees in northern Minnesota this year. It was the organization’s biggest planting season in the state. By 2030, the conservancy plans to plant 17 million trees in total.
The Superior National Forest has announced about 2,500 acres of fall prescribed burns, from the Gunflint and Tofte ranger districts to the Kawishiwi, LaCroix and Laurentian districts. The Forest Service says work will run through December as weather allows.
Minnesota Senator Grant Hauschild announced that Tettegouche State Park will receive $3.25 million for infrastructure upgrades. The money will help to replace a bridge and septic system. Tettegouche, located along the beautiful North Shore, is one of Minnesota’s most visited state parks.
Crews recently planted 800 dwarf bilberry plants at multiple sites in the Superior National Forest. This small, low-growing shrub produces berries that resemble blueberries. This important woodland species supports a population of rare butterflies…
Bringing your dog to the Boundary Waters? Dogs are a fairly common sight in the BWCAW. You may see them nestled in the middle of packs, or on a portage trail carrying a dog pack…
A few weeks after Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order halting nonferrous mineral leases near watersheds connected to the BWCAW, the Minnesota DNR issued a public notice canceling a Twin Metals mineral lease.
The Mesabi Trail is nearing completion as crews finish another section of Minnesota’s longest paved trail. Once complete, the trail will connect Grand Rapids and Ely with a continuous route.
Wildfire season in the Boundary Waters is easing, partly because of rain and cooler temperatures, with many fires becoming more contained. Throughout the season, numerous agencies and wildland firefighting crews from across the United States have helped manage the incident, which has affected communities and dominated much of the summer news. One of the tools they use, the Beaver plane, has been instrumental in getting crews into remote, rugged areas.
About 10 miles inland from Lake Superior, not far from the scenic North Shore, is the Finland State Forest. The 300,000-acre forest offers camping and hiking opportunities, as well as hunting, fishing, and other forest-industry-related activities. Part of the Western Great Lakes forests, this region is a transition zone between the boreal forest further north and the deciduous forests to the south.
On the same day Gov. Walz signed an executive order intended to block copper-nickel mining near the Boundary Waters, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it would move to rescind the federal rule that has kept new roads and timber harvest out of the Superior National Forest’s remaining roadless country since 2001.
A new section of the Kekekabic Hiking Trail is being built east of Ely. by volunteer crews. Eventually, the trail will reach Kawishiwi Falls, eliminating a road walk along Fernberg Road.
Starting June 8, the Cache Bay and Prairie Portage ranger stations are expected to implement a new telephone reporting system for paddlers entering Quetico Provincial Park in Canada. Visitors will be able to use the stations’ Wi-Fi to report their entry.
With rising temperatures and predictions of increasingly hot, dry summers, what does the future hold for the forest? We spoke with Minnesota ecologist and author Professor Lee E. Frelich about how climate change and future wildfires could reshape the forest.
Between August 1-9, everyone who visits the park is encouraged to document as many species as possible using the app iNaturalist. The goal of the project is to provide opportunities for the public to contribute to the scientific knowledge of the area, helping to inform park management and conservation efforts.
While many permits have been canceled due to ongoing wildfires in the BWCAW, there are still plenty of opportunities to explore areas outside the wilderness and nearby communities. Plan your northern MN adventure with our favorite alternatives to the Boundary Waters.
Officials representing multiple agencies, including the USFS-Superior National Forest, held a press conference Wednesday at the Kawishiwi Ranger Station in Ely. They provided updates and plans for the wildfires burning in the BWCAW and northeastern Minnesota.