March 18, 2005

Gene Merriam
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155

Dear Commissioner Merriam:

On behalf of the board and staff members of the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, I urge the DNR to classify five state forests within and adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) as “closed,” to prevent years of future conflict and controversy. These forests are Burntside, Lake Jeanette, Bear Island, Pat Bayle, and Grand Portage. Two other state forests entirely within the BWCAW, Isabella and Lake Insula, are slated to be “closed,” and the Friends appreciates that decision.

The Friends supports “closed” status for these state forests because of the risk of illegal entry by off-highway vehicles (OHVs) into the BWCAW. There is a long history of illegal motorized entry into the BWCAW, including from ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorboats. These incursions have degraded the area’s wilderness character, and on some occasions damaged the land.

To build or designate OHV trails near the BWCAW would heighten the chance of further illegal riding in the wilderness. In many cases, trail markers may not be visible to OHV riders, thereby increasing the opportunity for vehicles riding legally on the edge of the BWCAW to enter the wilderness.

To increase legal motorized travel near the BWCAW would also be a detriment to the wilderness. The engine of an OHV can echo far inside the Boundary Waters, sometimes for several miles. Noise disrupts the silence and solitude that visitors seek in the BWCAW and disturbs wildlife in the wilderness. Additional OHV traffic near the edge of the wilderness could aid the spread of non-native invasive species. The BWCAW is already struggling to combat infestations of purple loosestrife, spotted knapweed, and other non-native invasive species.

I hope you support these recommendations and forward them to members of the DNR’s OHV Policy Committee. I appreciate your consideration.

Sincerely,
Sean Wherley
Communications Director