Boundary Waters

Paddling BWCAW Tin Can Mike Lake

Where do they stand on protecting the BWCA?

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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.

Research to fight sulfate pollution in great lakes region

Remediating mercury and sulfur pollution in Upper Great Lakes

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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.

1964 Wilderness Act

60 years of the Wilderness Act and the BWCA

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September 3 marks the anniversary of The Wilderness Act of 1964, a landmark piece of legislation in American conservation history, which established a national policy to protect wilderness areas for future generations. The act included protections for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, which is not only the largest wilderness area east of the Rockies, but also the most widely used.

USFS to purchase 80,000 acres from the DNR within the BWCAW

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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.

How portage trails are maintained in the BWCAW

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Portage trails within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) are minimally maintained in keeping with the wilderness ethic. However, the USFS – Superior National Forest performs annual maintenance. This year’s heavy rains washed out parts of the portage trails and obliterated sections of roads leading to canoe entry points…

Some BWCAW entry points closed due to storm damage

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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.

Concept for new Ely Trailhead building and construction in progress

New hub in Ely for hiking and multi-use trail enthusiasts

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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.

Map of land protected near BWCA from mining interests

Advocacy group purchases land near the BWCAW

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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.

Foraging for wild berries in the BWCA

Foraging wild edibles in the Superior National Forest

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Berry-picking season has arrived! You can find all kinds of berries and mushrooms within the Superior National Forest and BWCAW. Foraging wild edibles is a highlight of summer adventures, connecting people to the land while adding flavor to camp meals.

Proposed amendments aim to overturn the 20-year mining ban

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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.

Old-growth white pine

Elder trees of the BWCA may not survive climate change

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The oldest known tree in Minnesota grows in the Boundary Waters, estimated to be over 1,000 years old and informally known as the “Legacy Cedar.” Although past logging practices obliterated numerous trees, remnants of these ancient giants still linger in isolated pockets within the wilderness. Forest managers now consider their vulnerability to warming climate conditions.

Everything you need to know about the new BWCA food storage order

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The USFS has updated the regulations concerning food storage in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Hanging items in a tree or using approved bear-resistant containers has been a part of the regulations and rules, and now violations can bring penalties. Learn how to hang a food pack from a tree and travel safely through bear habitat.

Nan Onkka: inspired by Lake Superior

Nan Onkka: inspired by Lake Superior and the Boundary Waters

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Grand Marais printmaker Nan Onkka finds inspiration in the northwoods: “The beauty, the rawness, the timelessness of the wilderness is so totally different from agricultural landscapes or urban recreational areas. I think everyone deserves the chance to experience that, and I hope that we are able to continue to protect the waters and the woods of these wild places.”

After the Greenwood Fire: reseeding the forest

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This spring, the USFS conducted aerial reseeding over hundreds of acres as part of ongoing efforts to restore a previously pristine area. The Greenwood Fire burned over 26,000 acres in the Superior National Forest (SNF) and earned the title of the most extreme wildfire event of 2021.