CANOECOUNTRY.COM
BECOMES MAJOR SPONSOR AND CONTRIBUTOR
TO THE QIMUKSIIT 2001 ONLINE CLASSROOM DOG SLEDDING EXPEDITION
CANOECOUNTRY.COM
ADOPTS NORTH SHORE HWY 61 ROAD
CLEAN-UP PROJECT IN CASCADE RIVER STATE PARK
BOUNDARY
WATERS JULY 4TH STORM INFORMATION
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED TO CLEAR THE BWCA HIKING TRAILS
AFTER MAJOR WIND
STORM ON 07.04.99
P R E S S R E L E A S E
PRAIRIE AND TROUT LAKE PORTAGES
DECISION
WOODLAND CARIBOU REINTRODUCTION PLAN MOVING FORWARD
P R E S S R E L E A S E
PRAIRIE AND TROUT LAKE PORTAGES
CHANGES ANNOUNCED IN BWCA WILDERNESS RESERVATION SYSTEM
1997 BWCA WILDERNESS VISITOR FIGURES RELEASED
BE A WILDERNESS MAINTENANCE VOLUNTEER
Other Online
News Sources
CanoeCountry.com
Adopts North Shore HWY 61 road clean-up project in Cascade River State
Park.
 |
In
an ongoing effort to support our community in northeastern
Minnesota, CanoeCountry.com has adopted a 2 mile stretch of North
Shore HWY 61 in Cascade River State Park. We are now looking for
volunteers to help for approximately 2-3 hours on a Saturday in
Early April, 2001. All participants will receive a free bag lunch, after assisting with the roadside clean-up.
Our area of responsibility is a stretch of road that starts from
the Cascade River State Park rest stop and 2 miles towards Duluth.
Please e-mail chad@canoecountry.com
or call 218-370-1029 for further info or to sign up. Must be 18 or
older to participate. |
Web
site for
in depth
July 4th storm information:
www.ra.dnr.state.mn.us
PRAIRIE AND TROUT LAKE PORTAGE DECISION
Jim Sanders, Forest Supervisor
of the Superior National Forest, has issued a decision amending the Forest Plan to allow
the Forest Service to consider either motorized or non-motorized portage operation at
Prairie and Trout portages in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). This
amendment will bring the Forest Plan into compliance with the 1998 Transportation Act. The
environmental assessment that discloses the effects of this decision is available to the
public.
A portage service, located at the portage, would transport watercraft, associated motors,
and camping gear across Prairie and Trout Portages, either with or without the assistance
of the clients. The service would also provide a means of transporting people with
disabilities across the portage. This would be a non-exclusive service and those not
wishing to use the service could cross the portages on their own.
Until 1992, both portages were operated by a motorized portage operation. In 1992, the 8th
Circuit Court of Appeals, in interpreting a provision of the 1978 BWCAW Act, issued a
ruling that closed the portages to motorized use. The 1998 Transportation Act amended this
provision and allows the Forest Service to consider both motorized and non-motorized
portage operation proposals at Prairie and Trout Portages.
Since 1993, there has been a non-motorized portage operation at Prairie. The permit for
this operation expires April of 1999. Non-motorized assistance with the use of sled dogs
was authorized at Trout Portage in 1994 and 1995. There is currently no portage service
operating at Trout Portage.
The Environmental Assessment for Prairie and Trout Portages was mailed December 16, 1998
to people who have expressed interest. The Forest Service received over 200 comments.
Three common issues were identified in nearly all of the comments. These issues were
whether or not to amend the Forest Plan, allow motors, and/or allow commercial services at
Prairie and Trout Portages. The Forest Supervisor reviewed the comments and considered the
public information and opinions in making his decision.
In order to have either a non-motorized or motorized portage operation for the coming
season, the Superior National Forest solicited bids for a portage service at either Trout
or Prairie Portage. There was interest shown for both portages. All interest was for
operating the portages with motorized means. An analysis on whether or not to issue
contracts will begin soon and decisions are expected by spring of 1999.
For more information contact Mark Van Every (218) 626-4300 or Sue Duffy at (218) 365-7600.
WOODLAND
CARIBOU REINTRODUCTION PLAN MOVING FORWARD
Woodland caribou once roamed
much of northeastern Minnesota and southern Ontario including what is now the BWCA
Wilderness and Quetico Provincial Park. Their demise came in the late 1800's and early
1900's resulting from habitat destruction from logging, over-hunting, and a devastating
parasite carried by the white tail deer. Today, there are no known woodland caribou living
in the area.
For the past 10 years, a group of concerned conservationists, scientists, and governmental
officials (including the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness) have studied the
possibility of reintroducing woodland caribou to parts of the BWCA Wilderness and Quetico
Provincial Park. Field studies show that a portion of this area has the favorable habitat,
nearly no white tail deer, and low wolf numbers and therefore is well suited for
reintroduction of the species. In fact, a 500 square mile area near Little Saganaga Lake
in the BWCA Wilderness has been selected as a favored release area.
The effort to reintroduce the woodland caribou to the area got a major jump start this
month when the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) agreed to be the lead
governmental agency coordinating the effort. FWS cooperation has been viewed as critical
to the process since the agency usually leads federal efforts to reintroduce endangered or
extirpated species into former native ranges.
The plan to bring these animals back to the BWCA Wilderness is ambitious. It calls for
moving and releasing approximately 75 animals from a heard in Ontario's Slate Islands to
an area of the BWCA Wilderness to the proposed release area north and west of Little
Saganaga Lake. This general area has been found to have conditions favorable habitat
conditions for woodland caribou.
The North Central Caribou Corporation (NCCC), a private corporation, coordinated the
planning, scientific studies, and will now raise money for the reintroduction effort. It
estimates that the cost of the reintroduction will be around $1.5 million for everything
from capturing and moving animals to monitoring the animals. Movement of animals will not
occur until at least the year 2000 or later, according to Paul Burke, a FWS Biologist.
Woodland caribou depend on mature boreal forest conditions like those found in large
portions of the BWCA Wilderness. These conditions once were found across northern
Minnesota until the late 1800's when logging eliminated nearly all of the prime habitat
for the species. The aspen-birch forests that followed logging created prime conditions
for the white tailed deer, which carries a brain worm parasite which is easily transmitted
to and has detrimental effects on both the woodland caribou and moose. The parasite is
fatal for the caribou and can cause problems for moose. Wolf predation will also be a
factor in the survival of the reintroduced caribou; however, estimates on the effect of
wolves on the species are varied.
The reintroduced woodland caribou will likely receive a "experimental" species
designation from FWS under the Endangered Species Act, a lower level of protection often
given to animals reintroduced into former parts of their range.
The FWS will begin to seek out governmental, private, and non-profit organization to
support and help with the reintroduction efforts. The Friends of the Boundary Waters
Wilderness Executive Director, Kevin Proescholdt, who has been working with the NCCC
during the past 10 years on this project, expects the Friends to continue being involved
with the project and to share some of the reintroduction work.
PRAIRIE AND TROUT LAKE PORTAGES MAY BE MOTORIZED
AGAIN
December 16, 1998
Recent Congressional
legislation has resulted in the need to consider motorized portage operations at Prairie
and Trout Portages within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. As the next step in
implementing this legislation, the Forest Service is proposing to amend the Forest Plan to
add the option of motorized portage operations at Prairie and Trout Portages in the BWCAW.
This would result in the Forest Service authorizing either motorized or non-motorized
portage operations. The Superior National Forest is asking for public comment on an
Environmental Assessment that discloses the effects of the proposed amendment. The 30-day
public comment period begins December 16, 1998.
A portage service, located at the portage, would transport watercraft, associated motors,
and camping gear across Prairie and Trout Portages, either with or without the assistance
of the clients. The service would also provide a means of transporting people with
disabilities across the portage. This would be a nonexclusive service and those not
wishing to use the service could cross the portages on their own. Up until 1992, both
portages were operated by a motorized portage operation. In 1992, the 8th Circuit Court,
in interpreting a provision of the 1978 BWCAW Act, issued a ruling that closed the
portages to motorized use. The 1998 Transportation Bill amended this provision and directs
the Forest Service to consider both motorized and non-motorized portage operation
proposals at Prairie and Trout Portages.
Since 1993, there has been a non-motorized operation at Prairie. The permit for this
operation expires April of 1999. Non-motorized assistance with the use of sled dogs was
authorized at Trout Portage in 1994 and 1995. There is currently no portage service
operating at Trout Portage.
The Environmental Assessment will be mailed to people who have expressed interest.
Comments would be most helpful if received by January 15, 1999. Comments and concerns will
be incorporated, addressed, and considered part of the analysis prior to a decision. The
Superior National Forest has also recently solicited for bidders interested in operating a
portage service at either Trout or Prairie Portage. There was interest shown for both
portages. All interest was for operating the portages with motorized means. Following a
decision by the Forest Supervisor on the proposed Plan amendment, the proposals will be
specifically analyzed. Decisions are expected by spring of 1999.
For more information contact Mark Van Every (218) 626-4300 or Sue Duffy at (218) 365-7600.
Comments on the environmental analysis should be sent to the:
Forest Supervisor, Superior
National Forest, 8901 Grand Ave. Pl., Duluth, MN 55808 - Attn: Portages EA.
CHANGES ANNOUNCED IN BWCA WILDERNESS RESERVATION
SYSTEM
Changes for 1999
There are several changes you need to be aware of for the 1999 Boundary Waters
Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) permit season. The biggest change is a move to the National
Recreation Reservation Service for BWCAW reservations. This will result in a new phone
number, mailing address, and internet address. Applications for the 1999 season may be
submitted by Web Site, fax, or mail beginning November 15th, 1998 and will be processed by
lottery (regardless of order received) on January 15, 1999. Reservations received after
that date will be processed on a first come, first-served basis. Telephone reservations
and interactive Web Site reservations may be made beginning February 1, 1999. The
overnight user fee and permit reservation fee will remain the same.There will be three
major changes in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, starting January 1,1999:
Sea Gull Lake: (Entry
Points 54 and K)
As directed by the BWCAW Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-495), the motorized watercraft
area will be reduced on the wilderness portion of Seagull Lake, as of January 1, 1999. The
area generally east of Threemile Island will remain open to motors with a 10 horsepower
limit. The remaining wilderness portion of the lake will be paddle only. Outside of the
Wilderness, there are no motor size restrictions. Maps showing the restricted use areas
are available at Forest Service offices and will be posted at Seagull entry points.
Canoe and Alder Lakes:
(Entry Point N)
As directed by recent legislation, Canoe and Alder Lakes will become paddle only
lakes as of January 1,1999.
Liz, Swamp (Entry
Point 47) and Meeds (Entry Point 48):
To alleviate resource damage due to crowding problems at Caribou and Horseshoe
Lakes, adjustments on Poplar Lake entry points have been made. Anyone entering through
Lizz and Swamp Lakes should reserve Entry Point 47. Anyone entering through Meeds Lake
should reserve Entry Point 48. Previously 7 parties had the choice of entering at Lizz,
Swamp or Meeds Lakes. After improving the portage at Meeds, the Forest Service has split
the quota into 3 parties entering through Meeds Lake, and 4 parties entering either
through Swamp or Lizz Lakes. The Forest Service will monitor the effectiveness of this
change.
We encourage you to call the Forest Service at (218)626-4300 for more
information prior to submitting a reservation application.
Reservations can be made by mail, phone or Web Site:
BWCAW Reservation Center
P.O. Box 462
Ballston Spa, NY 12020
Phone: 877-550-6777 (toll free)
TDD: 877-TDD-NRRS (toll free)
FAX: 518-884-9951
Web Site: http://www.recreation.gov/wildernessAreaDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=72600&topTabIndex=Permits
1997 BWCA WILDERNESS VISITOR FIGURES RELEASED
The USFS has released its visitor use statistics for 1997 of the BWCA Wilderness.
The figures, compiled from BWCA Wilderness travel permits, show that 27,319 groups camped
overnight in the wilderness between May 1 and September 30, 1997. These figures do not
account for day use permits, which are calculated differently. The USFS estimates that
roughly an equal number of BWCAW groups are day use group which do not camp overnight, but
which add to overall visitor use. The overnight figure accounts for a 4% increase in the
number of overnight camping parties in 1997, and marks the largest number of groups since
the all-time high in 1993.
Quotas were reduced in the 1993 Management plan, which took effect beginning in the
1994 season. The 1997 level is therefore the highest visitation level since the new quotas
took effect. Overnight motor use has decreased slightly from 8% in 1994 to 6% in 1997.
Overnight motor use at the Trout Lake entry point rebounded somewhat in 1997, from 481
groups in 1996 to 522 in 1997. Overnight paddle parties also continued to increase at
Trout Lake from 52 in 1992 to 358 in 1997. This trend has occurred with the elimination of
the former commercial truck portage operation beginning with the 1993 season.
BE A WILDERNESS MAINTENANCE VOLUNTEER
A submission from Mike
Manlove, BWCA Wilderness Ranger: "Are you looking for something to do this summer or
want to help out on a week long trip that is fun yet challenging? Would you like to spend
your whole summer or part of your summer in remote areas, doing hard work, meeting
wilderness visitors, and learning new skills? If you are, then come to Ely, MN and paddle
in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness with one of our wilderness rangers. We, the
Kawishiwi Ranger District of the Superior National Forest, are looking for 15 volunteers
to go on 8 day trips to help maintain wilderness campsites and portages for the months of
June, July, and August (a commitment for the whole summer). We are also looking for
short-term volunteers that will be doing trail work both general maintenance and
reconstruction, working in remote areas in the BWCAW, in May and in August.
For more information or application forms, contact Mike Manlove at (218) 365-7600
or e-mail: Manlove_Michael/r9_superior@fs.fed.us
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