Biden administration proposes protecting old-growth federal forests
New management plans for all National Forests in the US seek to ensure mature and old-growth forests are maintained and even expanded.
Land and Resource Use
Fernberg Road plan for logging, burning to reduce wildfire risk
Forest Service seek to create firewall between the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and help protect private property.
Forest Service taking input on BWCA towboat limits
Agency kicks off review of commercial motor use with comment period on issues to consider.
How does a forest wildfire affect water quality?
New study says lakes near the 2021 Greenwood Fire saw significant and surprising impacts.
Forest Service rejects Lutsen ski area expansion
Superior National Forest upholds treaty rights and rejects request for new ski runs on public land.
Lutsen Mountains pauses expansion plans to confer with tribes
Company calls off plans to expand on public land so it can consult on treaty rights.
Plan to restrict ATVs on frozen lakes at Voyageurs National Park gets pushback
Strong opposition emerges against effort to prohibit motor vehicles on large swaths of ice.
Tribes and Forest Service announce co-stewardship of Superior National Forest
Historic move explains how Forest Service will respect treaty rights for northern Minnesota Ojibwe.
New plan for managing ice roads and off-road vehicles at Voyageurs National Park
The National Park Service releases plans to manage ice roads and put rules in place for use.
Boundary Waters receives ‘International Quiet Park’ designation
The BWCAW’s lack of human noise is recognized as increasingly important. This award honors the quietest places in the world.
Biochar forestry could reduce wildfire risk and capture carbon
Project studies potential of converting excess fuel for forest fires to useful material for several purposes.
What is the Boundary Waters worth? Counties and Forest Service disagree
Ongoing conflict focuses on financial value of wilderness and federal payments to compensate local governments for missed taxes.
Cook County approves request to ban wake boats on Caribou Lake
“Wake boats and wake surfing pose a threat to the lake by causing shoreline erosion, turbulent disruption of lake bottom sediment, increased risk of the introduction of aquatic invasion species…”
Northern Minnesota tribe buys back 28,000 acres of forest lands to help restore reservation
The Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, with reservations at Lake Vermilion, Nett Lake, and Deer Creek, purchased former timber company lands from national nonprofit The Conservation Fund.
Reports say Rainy River Watersheds healthy, public comments invited
Rainy River drainages are in good shape, and officials want to keep it that way.
Report: Minnesota’s water under threat, new policies need to protect lakes and rivers
The Minnesota Water Report looks at six major challenges to clean water in the state, including proposed copper-nickel mines, agricultural runoff, discharges from wastewater treatment facilities, water availability, wildlife habitat, and inadequate environmental rules and laws.
Ten years after Pagami Creek Fire, groups share lessons learned
In just a few days, it burned 93,000 acres of wilderness, and threatened the lives of Forest Service personnel and visitors. A series of events based in Ely covers forest management, the fire’s aftermath, and wildland firefighting.
Federal officials revoke key Twin Metals mining leases near Boundary Waters
Biden administration revokes Twin Metals mineral rights for proposed copper-nickel mine. Secretary Deb Haaland stated: “After a careful legal review, we found the leases were improperly renewed in violation of applicable statutes and regulations, and we are taking action to cancel them.”
“We badly need good fire” New film: Oshkigin Spirit of Fire
A new short film produced by the University of Minnesota and partners including tribal fire specialists, seeks to regenerate respect for the positive impacts of fire on northern Minnesota’s ecosystem. In …
Forest Service reducing Boundary Waters permits next year to combat crowding
Agency seeks to restore wilderness experience by cutting quotas on 24 entry points to address congestion, violations, and wilderness degradation.