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2024 BWCA Wilderness Ranger & Partner Completed Work

Release Date: January 10, 2025
Contact Information: Joy VanDrie-Public Affairs Program Manager    jooy.vandrie@usda.gov

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) Rangers and partners complete work every year; some work can only be done during the winter, while some is completed once the water opens up for transit. With the upcoming BWCAW quota permit season opening the Superior National Forest, BWCA Wilderness Rangers and partners share the completed work for this past 2024 season. BWCAW user fees collected through the Recreation Enhancement Act support these on-the-ground efforts.

Visitor Contacts

USDA Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers and Wilderness Rangers spend a significant amount of time interacting with the visiting public. In 2024, thousands of visitors were contacted by Forest Service crews in the BWCAW. While most conversations with the visiting public center around providing travel tips and reinforcing Leave No Trace principles, occasionally law enforcement actions are necessary. In 2024, Wilderness Rangers recorded a total of 150 law enforcement actions, of which approximately one quarter resulted in violation notices (tickets). Wilderness Rangers observed far too much resource damage caused by visitors to the BWCAW during their interactions, which is only a fraction of the nearly 150,000 annual visitors. The following are common BWCAW violations reported by Wilderness Rangers during 2024:

  • Burning of trash, specifically plastic bottles
  • Cutting live vegetation
  • Leaving campfires unattended
  • Using oversized motors on motorized lakes
  • Illegally using motors on Lac LaCroix
  • Operating battery chainsaws
  • Causing tree damage from hammocks
  • Finding soap and soap residue left in the water
  • Finding wipes, feminine products, and diapers in latrines

Forest Order 09-09-24-02: BWCAW Bear Aware Food Storage Order

The Superior National Forest implemented Forest Order 09-09-24-02: BWCAW Bear Aware Food Storage Order, also known as the “Food Storage Order” during 2024. The order was enacted to help prevent human and bear encounters from occurring within the Wilderness. No violation notices were issued for the Food Storage Order in 2024. Instead, education surrounding how to better store food for future BWCAW trips was emphasized. Overall, Wilderness Rangers reported very good compliance with the new regulation. While tree damage related to hanging food packs was observed, it was not a significant increase compared to what has occurred in past years.

Most notable was the dramatic decline in bear and human interactions reported in 2024. The previous four years averaged 40-50 reports of human and bear interactions. In 2024 there were less than ten despite the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reporting record high bear/human encounters elsewhere in the state. Several factors can influence the number of bear and human encounters, and it is too soon to say how much the Food Storage Order played a part in the decline. The Superior NF will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the Food Storage Order, as well as any unintended consequences that may result. Meanwhile, visitors can continue to do their part to prevent human and bear interactions by following the protocols outlined in the Superior National Forest’s Food Storage Order.

Campsite and Portage Maintenance

With nearly 2,000 designated campsites and over 170 miles of portages, a large percentage of a Wilderness Ranger’s time is spent maintaining infrastructure within the BWCAW. The following bullet points outline routine maintenance accomplishments during 2024. It should be noted that depending on the management standards and level of use for each campsite, some sites may not be visited at all in a season while others may be maintained multiple times. Some campsites experience very high use and require multiple maintenance trips to address resource damage caused by visitors. The 1964 Wilderness Act prohibits the use of motorized and mechanized equipment. Thus, all maintenance in the BWCAW is completed using traditional hand tools’:

  • Campsites maintained – 1,888
  • Hazard trees felled – 585
  • Latrines dug (by hand) – 160
  • Fire grates reset or replaced – 24
  • Trees bucked (cut)– 514

Like campsites, certain BWCAW routes receive more use than others. As a result, some portages may be maintained multiple times throughout the season, while others are visited less frequently. The following items are routine maintenance performed on portages within the BWCAW in 2024, all by ‘hand tools’:

  • Portages cleared (miles) – 197
  • Portages brushed (miles) – 57
  • Trees cleared – 1,052
  • Water bars cleaned – 285
  • Water bars installed - 2

2024 Monitoring Initiatives & Surveys Completed

The Superior National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) outlines standards for campsite and social conditions within the BWCAW. In addition, the BWCAW is recognized as a Dark Sky Sanctuary by the Dark Sky International organization. Annual sampling is required to maintain Dark Sky Sanctuary status .Targets are established yearly for social conditions, physical resources, and Dark Sky monitoring objectives based on the number staff available and other competing priorities. The following items are 2024 monitoring accomplishments:

  • Limits of Acceptable Change (campsite conditions) - 339
  • Encounter monitoring (social conditions) - 60
  • Dark Sky monitoring - 6

In total, 405 monitoring surveys were completed, each requiring field staff to review these areas on-site, noting all variances in conditions based on specific survey characteristics for each one completed.

Visitor Caused Damage Restoration Project Work

Each season BWCA Wilderness crews attempt to restore damage to campsites and portages caused by human use. Because Wilderness work requires the use of nonmotorized or mechanized traditional tools, rehabilitation of campsites and portages is often a very slow and labor-intensive process. In 2024, the following rehab projects were accomplished:

  • Saganaga Lake Campsite #59 - shoreline stabilization
  • Seagull Lake Campsite #33 - shoreline stabilization
  • LaCroix – Iron Portage–boardwalk replacement
  • Oyster – Hustler Portage - 120 feet of turnpike installed
  • Lynx – Ruby Portage - 50 feet of tread rebuilt

Storm Recovery

A severe storm on June 18, 2024, dropped over eight inches of rain in some places and caused significant flooding in parts of the BWCAW. In addition, rain accompanied by high winds caused substantial forest blowdown, especially in the eastern part of the Wilderness. BWCAW crews spent weeks repairing damage to portages, entry point parking lots, and hiking trails. The following list highlights some of the major storm repair work completed in 2024.

  • Border Route Hiking Trail - five miles of blowdown cleared
  • Moose River North Portages - 360 feet of tread rebuilt
  • Moose River Portage - 100 feet of rip rap bank stabilization
  • Trout Lake Portage - 250 feet of portage reconstructed
  • Mudro Lake Entry Point - parking lot and access road repaired

Partnerships

Superior National Forest partners continue to play a critical role in achieving objectives in the BWCAW. These volunteers spend countless hours each year removing downed trees, nipping overgrown brush, planning and executing projects, applying for and administering grants, recruiting volunteers, and much more. The nearly 200 miles of hiking trails within the BWCAW are maintained entirely by partner organizations. The Superior National Forest is grateful for these organizations and their contributions:

In addition to the routine maintenance of Wilderness hiking trails, the following partners made significant contributions to the BWCAW in 2024:

Education, Engagement, Outreach, and Training

Superior NF field-going staff often engage with external partners and the public outside the Wilderness in a variety of ways, in addition to working in the BWCAW. These staff hold certifications to instruct courses in cross-cut saw use, backcountry travel, Limits of Acceptable Change, Leave No Trace camping techniques and much more. The following list highlights some of the education and outreach Wilderness staff provided to external partners and the public in 2024:

  • Minnesota North-Vermilion Community College Crosscut Saw Training
  • University of Minnesota, Park and Protected Area Management Field Studies Course; Limits of Acceptable Change Training
  • Northern Tier Boy Scout Base Staff Leave No Trace and BWCAW Permit Basics
  • Anoka-Hennepin School District 11 BWCAW Winter Camping Education Program
  • Urban Connections Leave No Trace and BWCAW Education
  • Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Cross-Cut Saw Certification
  • Gichi-Onigaming Conservation Corps Crosscut Saw Training and Water Safety
  • Wilderness Canoe Base Staff Leave No Trace and BWCAW Permit Basics

Summary

2024 was a highly productive year within the BWCAW despite staffing shortages and unexpected extreme weather events. The first priority for BWCAW field work is always to provide safe access to the infrastructure provided within the Wilderness. In lean years such as 2024, monitoring, rehabilitation, brushing of portages, and education/outreach objectives while strong, fell short of the need. The Wilderness staffing outlook for 2025 is expected to be even more strained than 2024. The public can do their part to protect the Wilderness by following BWCAW rules, regulations and Leave No Trace principles. For those that would like to give back to the Wilderness, consider volunteering through our partner organization, the Northwoods Volunteer Connection.

BWCAW quota permits will go live on January 29, at 9:00 am CT for May 1 – September 30, 2025, visitation on www.Recreation.gov – search BWCAW. Plan your trip now on your own or contact a BWCAW Cooperator/Guide/Outfitter today to get one started.

Leave No Trace of your visit to protect the natural integrity of this special place for wildlife and future generations: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/superior/learning/safety-ethics

For further information on 2025 BWCAW Quota Permit Season, see:

December 16, 2024-First 2025 BWCAW Press Release

January 7, 2025-Superior NF Ranger District Office Hours and Trout Lake Day Use Motor Info

Last updated January 10, 2025

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