The Gichi Onigaming Conservation Crew, part of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, upgrades infrastructure and preserves natural resources at Isle Royale National Park. They enhance the park experience for visitors through their trail projects.
Blue-green algae is spreading in BWCAW lakes. A $1.3 million grant will be used to study its impact. While visitors should assess their own risk, the researchers also provide tips to help limit exposure.
The Northern Lakes Scientific Advisory Panel reports that walleye in Crane Lake, gateway to Voyageurs National Park, contain four times more mercury than those in nearby unimpaired lakes. Upstream sulfate pollution from taconite mines may be to blame.
Legislation introduced in Congress would reinstate Twin Metals Minnesota’s federal mineral leases and reverse the 20-year mining moratorium near the BWCAW.
Federal, state, and local crews are actively cleaning up areas of environmental contamination on the Thomson Reservoir. This reservoir, which is part of the St. Louis River, plays a central role in a broader effort to repair historic industrial pollution that has long plagued the watershed and the largest river feeding into Lake Superior.
The USFS has proposed increasing BWCAW recreation fees. Members of the public weighed in at an open house at the Kawishiwi Ranger Station.
Local communities, Tribal Nations, state agencies, and multiple organizations have launched a partnership to develop a regional climate response plan in northern Minnesota. With a focus on climate issues, the newly formed Northland Climate Resilience Collective was funded through a grant from NOAA.
The Minnesota DNR is looking for public comment on the possibility of reducing walleye limits in the state. They attribute this to changes in environmental and ecological conditions, combined with advancements in fishing methods. If the bag limit changes, the walleye possession would decrease from six to four fish.
While the overall number of visitors has remained steady since the pandemic, the number of visitors increased between May 1 and September 30 last year. This was largely due to a rise in day-use (non-motorized) permit reservations. Off-season visits also grew, though summer continues to draw the most traffic.
For those who truly want to get off the beaten path, the BWCAW’s twelve Primitive Management Areas (PMAs) offer the most remote and untouched wilderness experience. Exploring these areas involves risk and demands strong outdoor skills with proper planning. Help may be hours or even days away, and local resources are limited.
June 11 Update: In a win for wilderness and conservation efforts, Congress is set to remove Section 80131 from the draft budget bill. This section would have directed officials to move forward with reinstating copper-nickel mining leases near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
After more than three decades of service, Superintendent Bob DeGross retired from Voyageurs National Park. He joined Minnesota’s only national park in 2016, inspired by early conservationists Sigurd Olson and Aldo Leopold. As he steps into retirement, he reflects on the challenges facing the National Park Service and emphasizes the vital role the park plays for both visitors and surrounding communities.
A lightning strike sparked a wildfire near the Horse River in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. This comes after an active wildfire season has scorched nearly 30,000 acres in the Superior National Forest this year. The Forest Service has issued a closure order for the route along the Dog Sled Portage and has encouraged visitors to avoid the area.
Crews are battling three wildfires in St. Louis County, Minnesota. The fires, which are burning in a mixed forest, are partially contained. Ground and air support, along with suppression efforts, will continue in the Superior National Forest until further notice. We will continue to share updates.
President Trump recently signed an executive order directing federal agencies to accelerate domestic mineral production in northern MN, including the proposed NorthMet mine. Advocacy groups criticize the effort, saying the current administration is ignoring science.
The Nature Conservancy is actively working to acquire 12,350 acres north of Two Harbors. It would be their largest land acquisition in over 20 years. This property lies near the Sand Lake/Seven Beavers Preserve and just north of the Finland State Forest. If it moves forward, it will connect with neighboring preserves, expanding a continuous ecosystem of protected forest and wetlands.
Wilderness Watch, an advocacy group for the National Wilderness Preservation System, recently filed another lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service—Superior National Forest—regarding towboat management in the BWCAW. In an ongoing dispute, they claim that the agency failed to enforce towboat rules and regulations in the wilderness.
Due to staffing shortages and budget cuts, two Superior National Forest ranger stations will not issue BWCAW permits this summer. If you’re planning a trip, be aware that you may need to adjust your pickup location.
Isle Royale National Park has updated its food storage regulations, following similar actions taken by remote areas across the country. All campers, backpackers, and boaters must now use an approved animal-resistant container. To further reduce human-wildlife conflicts, park staff are installing new bear lockers at select locations across the island.
The Superior National Forest (SNF) will conduct multiple prescribed burns across the forest over the next month. They play a key role in supporting a healthy ecosystem by reducing overgrown vegetation while helping to protect nearby communities from wildfires.