Canadian authorities have temporarily paused new and renewal applications for Remote Border Crossing Permits (RABC). This will impact visitors traveling between the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Quetico Provincial Park.
Winter enthusiasts and residents should prepare for a colder, snowier winter in northern Minnesota. NOAA recently released its forecast for 2025. Although dry conditions persist in the north, the expected forecast should benefit those who recreate in the BWCAW and beyond.
The Minnesota DNR and citizen groups have filed separate lawsuits against the Lake County Planning Commission, raising concerns about expanding Silver Rapids Resort near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW).
Marathon swimmers set a new distance relay record to highlight the impact of warming waters in Lake Superior. Over 24 hours, the athletes swam 46 miles without wetsuits. The documentary film, A Sea Change for Superior: The Warming of the World’s Largest Lake, captures what the effects of climate change mean for the ecosystems and communities that depend on it.
A private land acquisition has expanded Voyageurs National Park by 51 acres. The National Park Service and Voyageurs Conservancy partnered with the Ramsey family over the past year to secure permanent protection for the property. Located on an island in Rainy Lake, the park service sees this as a significant milestone in its ongoing mission to protect natural habitats and parklands for outdoor enjoyment.
Advocates for clean water warn that a mining project near Lake Superior could harm human health and the environment in the long term.
A third wildfire has started in the Superior National Forest. USFS crews discovered the Bogus Lake fire in northeastern Minnesota on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. The fire has burned approximately 45 acres and remains active. Firefighters from the Superior National Forest and MN DNR have responded with aircraft and personnel to assist with suppression efforts.
As the election approaches, we look to key politicians’ historical positions on mining and conservation, impacting places like the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). Environmental groups urge voters to support lawmakers who advocate for continued protection.
Since 2021, the USFS Northern Research Station’s Mercury Sulfur Initiative Working Group has been studying mercury and sulfur pollution in the Upper Great Lakes region. They will be hosting a webinar series on reducing these harmful chemicals in water and soil. Innovative research includes using trees, plants and microbes to remediate pollution.
Update: public comment period extended. State and federal agencies are collaborating to transfer 80,000 acres within the BWCAW to the federal government. “School Trust Lands” originally aimed to provide long-term revenue for Minnesota’s public schools, but wilderness protection measures have limited their ability to generate sufficient income. Groups see the move as a win both for wilderness and for public schools.
Heavy rainfall from severe thunderstorms caused extensive damage to roads and flooding within the Superior National Forest (SNF), including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). In response, the USFS – Superior National Forest has closed several entry points. As a result, individuals with BWCAW permits reserved through June 22, 2024, are being notified directly of the cancellation and refunded.
Over the past year, state, federal, and environmental groups have partnered to plant millions of trees in northern Minnesota. The Nature Conservancy reports that the state’s forests have decreased from 31.5 million acres to 18 million acres since the 1800s. They aim to reverse this trend by boosting forest resiliency and diversity while adapting to long-term climate change.
Project 2025, founded by a coalition of conservative organizations, urges the next Republican administration to overturn the 20-year ban on new mineral leasing near the BWCAW. Environmental advocates raise concerns about the risk of pollution and wilderness protection.
The Minnesota DNR, in collaboration with outside partners, recently acquired 25 acres in Cook County. The Icelandite Coastal Fen SNA safeguards rare species, vital wetlands, uncommon geological formations, and other significant elements of the state’s natural landscapes. The protected area is one of only two known fens along Lake Superior.
The Ely Economic Development Authority is constructing a new trailhead complex just west of Ely, Minnesota. The facility will serve as a trailhead hub for the Taconite Snowmobile Trail, Prospectors Loop ATV Trail, Mesabi Trail, and eventually, the North Country Scenic Trail.
Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness recently purchased 361 acres of land along the South Kawishiwi River. This scenic river borders the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and is considered one of America’s most endangered rivers.
There are growing concerns that loons will no longer summer in Minnesota as soon as 2080 due to the changing climate. Environmental and state organizations seek volunteers to help count loons.
Last week, Representative Pete Stauber attached five amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act. These aim to overturn the 20-year mining ban near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). While four of those amendments were defeated, one remains under review.
Recent incidents in the BWCAW have resurfaced a long debate about whether people should be required to wear personal flotation devices…
PFAS or Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances are raining down on Lake Superior, contaminating its waters. A recent study reveals that rain has played a large role in spreading PFAS into all five Great Lakes. Actions are being taken at the federal and state levels to remove these toxins.