A land swap bill that would swap 86,000 acres of state lands inside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness for federal land on the edge of the Superior National Forest has passed the U.S. House of Representatives.
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New Fires Burn in the Boundary Waters
Not long after the Forest Service contained the Cummings Lake Fire, new fires cropped up adjacent to and in the northern parts of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The Parley …
Cummings Lake Fire an Example of New Forest Service Fire Fighting Policy
Lake and area closures have been lifted in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, though fire restrictions remain in place HERE. The suppression of the recent Cummings Lake Fire has prompted …
Boundary Waters Fires are Out, Closures Remain in Effect
The Cummings Lake Fire about 12 miles northwest of Ely, MN and the Wooden Leg Fire about 22 miles northeast of the town are officially out. According to an article in …
Spot Fires Prompt Forest Service to Close Some Lakes in BWCAW
Fire crews have made progress containing the Cummings Lake Fire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Located about 12 miles northwest of Ely, MN, recent Forest Service estimates place the fire at 60 percent contained.
Wildfire Burns Near Ely
Fire crews are battling a fire near Ely, MN. The fire was reported on Sunday afternoon and is burning on a peninsula between the west end of Cummings and the northeast side of Otter Lake. Current estimates place the fire at about 20 acres in size.
Saving the Pow Wow Trail
The Forest Service is considering closing the 30-mile Pow Wow Trail through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, but one group of hikers is hoping to prevent that.
EPA Might Step in on Haze Control
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may step in and require stricter regulations for reducing taconite plant plant emissions than plans proposed by Minnesota and Michigan.
Cell Tower Ruling Stands, Construction Could Begin This Week
The Minnesota Supreme Court announced last week that it will not review a Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling allowing the construction of a 450-foot cell phone tower on Fall Lake, just outside of Ely, MN.
Trust for Public Land: Protecting Gaul Island
How a collaborative effort is transferring private land to public stewardship. By Alissa Johnson In the summer of 2010, the Trust for Public Land (TPL) received an inquiry from the Listening …
Mining in Minnesota: Ely’s Steve Piragis Offers His Take on Keeping Wilderness Pristine
As northwoods mining takes center stage on the economic and environmental stages, a long time land use debate is resurfacing among neighbors who make Ely, MN their home. Steve Piragis, owner of Piragis Northwoods Company, is no stranger to that debate. He and his wife have run their shop and guide service since 1979.
Environmental Groups Challenge Wilderness Haze Plan
Environmental groups are challenging Minnesota’s plan to reduce haze in places like the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyageurs National Park.
Working Together to Protect Wilderness
The Summer 2012 Issue of Wilderness News is in the mail and now online. The theme is Working Together to Protect Wilderness — check out a few highlights below. What’s …
Proposed Legislation Could Undermine the Wilderness Act and the Protection of Wilderness
On the surface, two proposed pieces of legislation appear unrelated to wilderness protection. The Sportsmen’s Heritage Act seeks “to protect and enhance opportunities for recreational hunting, fishing and shooting.” The National …
News Update: BWCAW Land Swap Bill to be Considered by House
Last spring, representative Chip Cravaack introduced federal legislation to exchange 86,000 acres of state lands embedded inside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness for an equal amount of federal land outside the wilderness.
Volunteer at Voyageurs National Park
This September, get an inside look at Minnesota’s only National Park and help park rangers complete important conservation projects. Voyageur’s National Park is hosting its 2012 Volunteer Rendezvous on September 7 and 8, and nature lovers of all ages are invited to sign up for one or both days.
Feds Temporarily Douse Fire Policy
In a temporary change in wildland firefighting policy, the U.S. Forest Service announced recently that it would now attempt to suppress all wilderness fires in an effort to conserve resources.
Voyageurs’ Eagle Nesting Areas Re-Opened
Four developed campsites and one undeveloped area in Voyageurs National Park that were off-limits due to bald eagles nesting have been re-opened, the Park announced recently.
DNR Commissioner Talks Wolf Hunting
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Landwehr recently explained some of the rationale behind Minnesota’s first regulated wolf hunt.
Lake Vermilion State Park Open House Set
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will hold an open house Friday to gather public input on development plans for Lake Vermilion State Park.