Historic photos celebrate centennial of Superior National Forest recreation plan
Forest Service notes anniversary of first major call to protect canoe country.
Wilderness Protection
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.
Report on 2021 Boundary Waters wildfire explains fire management options and benefits
The Fourtown Lake Fire was allowed to burn to some extent, helping restore a healthy forest and reducing firefighting resources needed.
Forest Service reports illegal trail markings on Boundary Waters wilderness hiking path
Vandals illegally blaze protected hiking trail in Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Forest Service asks for information about painted markings on wilderness path.
More wolves, fewer moose on Isle Royale
Annual reports reveal wolf reintroduction is part of reason for steep drop in moose.
New Yorker podcast documents sounds and experiences of Boundary Waters canoe trip
“I came here with my recorder hoping to capture what so envelops me here,” says Alex Kotlowitz about the BWCA. “The mournful wails of loons at night, the lakes telling stories, the skies shouting…”
Forest Service studies motorized towboat use in Boundary Waters wilderness
Federal officials are reviewing how shuttles affect crowding and solitude, while advocates say it’s ignoring limits.
Adventurer Emily Ford faced slush, wind, ice in 200-mile Boundary Waters crossing
Ford says she’d cross a thousand miles of wilderness to help more kids experience the outdoors, and her fundraising will make sure some do.
Film about running across Boundary Waters nominated for international award
“Boundary Waters Traverse” follows Alex Falconer on long-distance run to raise awareness for wilderness.
Lessons from the Wilderness: K-12 students learn from Isle Royale wolf reintroduction
New materials help teachers share challenges and hopes of restoring wolves to unique National Park in Lake Superior.
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.”
Mining ban near the Boundary Waters? The public is asked to weigh in.
Discussions will cover proposed plan to prohibit new mining activities in locations that threaten BWCAW, if successful, the prohibition would effectively block the proposed Twin Metals mine.
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.
Sigurd Olson’s wilderness retreat featured in new video
“I named this place Listening Point because only when one comes to listen, only when one is aware and still, can things be seen and heard.” Stunning new footage of Listening Point is narrated with the influential essay…
Feds consider mining ban upstream of Boundary Waters
Officials with the U.S. Forest Service have taken a decisive step toward long-term protection of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, resuming study, could lead to 20-year mining moratorium.
Minnesota DNR required to review mining issues
State agency will debate PolyMet tailings permit and evaluate overall regulations.
Tracking change in the path of the Pagami Creek Fire 10 years later
Ten years after the biggest wildfire in a century, the forest is full of life, and reminders of the Boundary Waters inferno.
Report: water quality “pristine” in Boundary Waters watersheds needs protection
New reports detail pristine waters of northeastern Minnesota, threats to the health, and strategies to protect them.
Boundary Waters permits will be issued in person starting mid-July
Forest Service will return to near normal permitting process as the public health threat passes.
New film covers Isle Royale wolf reintroduction
Wolves, moose, climate change on Isle Royale. New documentary shows how wolf decline is interwoven with ice and exploding moose population, and the debate over what people should do about it.