We’re revisiting our most viewed topics of 2024! These include stories on forever chemicals in Lake Superior, continued efforts to protect wilderness, full phone coverage in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), and a peak Northern Lights season. Quetico Superior Wilderness News remains committed to its mission of supporting the protection of the Minnesota-Ontario border region, Superior National Forest, and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, along with Quetico Provincial Park, Voyageurs National Park, La Verendrye Provincial Park, Isle Royale National Park, and Lake Superior.
1 | PFAS are raining down on Lake Superior
PFAS or Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances are raining down on Lake Superior, contaminating its waters. A recent study published in Environmental Science and Technology reveals that rain has played a large role in spreading PFAS into all five Great Lakes. Commonly found in household products such as cleaners or personal care products, the chemicals resist breaking down in the environment. For this reason, agencies at the state level are implementing stronger controls, clean-up guidelines, and monitoring measures. Read more here.
2 | Advocacy group purchases land near the BWCAW
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. The environmental organization purchased the land for conservation and public use. Chris Knopf, Executive Director of Friends, told the Ely Echo, “We see this as expanding the Boundary Waters. By preserving this property, we are essentially enlarging the wilderness and making more land available for public use and enjoyment.” Read more here.
3 | Northern Lights set to peak in 2024
According to NASA scientists, 2024 is shaping up to be a super season for the aurora borealis in Minnesota and Ontario, better known as the northern lights. Because of major disturbances from solar storms, experts say that the season could experience peak displays through mid-2025. The current cycle we’re in, known as solar maximum, means that people all over northern Minnesota may see the northern lights. Read more here.
4 | No longer “off the grid” – phone satellite coverage coming to BWCA
Full smartphone satellite coverage may be coming to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) sooner than you think. Early this year, SpaceX launched the first set of direct-to-cell phone satellites. The FCC granted the company temporary permission to connect phones in pockets of the US. However, the company expects it to become permanent and worldwide. This means that wilderness areas like the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) could have coverage later this year. Users would no longer be “off the grid” and would have the same level of connectivity that they experience daily. Search and rescue responders expect to benefit from the service. Read more here.
It is our vision that the news reported here serves to educate, inform, and inspire those who are committed to the protection and preservation of this extraordinary region. Please check out current and past articles that are included in the News section of this website.
Additionally, we invite you to support these important efforts through the Quetico Superior Foundation grant program. This program funds organizations like Wilderness Inquiry, the Heart of the Continent Partnership, The Trust for Public Land, Friends of the Boundary Waters, and Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness.