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The Kawishiwi Collaborative Fuels Reduction Project has been awarded $5 million in CWRRP funding. This project will restore forest health and reduce wildfire risk in overly dense forests with high wildfire risk in areas of limited access. The project includes reducing hazardous fuels through mechanical and prescribed fire treatments, creating strategic fuel breaks, improving access, and bolstering planning efforts.

September 10, 2024 – Cook County residents, community leaders, business owners, area agencies and organizations now have an opportunity to share how severe weather events impact their property and lives. There is also an opportunity to share their ideas on how to reduce local impacts in the future.

The number of small game hunters in Minnesota in 2023 increased slightly from 2022 and was 5% below the 10-year average. Overall, 230,283 small game licenses were sold for the 2023-24 hunting seasons, compared to the 10-year average of 242,688 small game licenses. But similar to the previous year, hunters who did pursue the top small game species (waterfowl, grouse, and pheasants) had similar or slightly better success rates compared to the 10-year averages, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ small game hunter mail survey.

We’re all seeing evidence of climate change, and our favorite places are feeling it too. In Minnesota, temperatures are increasing, and heavy rains are more common. Climate models indicate the trees in our forests will be stressed by more drought periods and more disturbances like wildfires, floods, and pest outbreaks.

The U.S. Forest Service reported a three—to five-acre fire on an island in Wood Lake, near Ely, on September 11.

The Superior National Forest will continue some road improvement projects and pause vegetation management work for the Tofte Spruce Budworm Risk Reduction Project work in the Tofte and Gunflint areas for the busy fall color season. Road improvement projects are needed to update the current transportation infrastructure to accommodate traffic patterns and vehicular use of these system roads into the future. Ellen Bogardus-Szymaniak, Tofte District Ranger says the ‘work impacting the area fall color high visitation areas will be paused.’

September 10, 2024 – Over the past year, local partners have worked together to review and amend the Lake Superior North Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan also known as a One Watershed One Plan (1W1P). The original plan was approved by the State of Minnesota and adopted by local governmental partners in 2017.