“All ethics so far evolved rest upon a single premise: that the individual is a member of a community of interdependent parts. The land ethic simply enlarges the boundaries of the community to include soils, waters, plants and animals, or collectively the land.” Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac
Copper-Nickel Mining
Copper mining proposed at the headwaters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area threatens the world-class fishing and hunting opportunities that the BWCA provides and the booming outdoor recreation economy that it supports.
Copper-Nickel Mining, like the project that Twin Metals has proposed upstream from the Boundary Waters, carries a very high risk for acid mine drainage (AMD) and has a long track record of mass fish kill-offs. This project would be tapping into significant amounts of sulfide-bearing ore. Increased sulfide causes mercury to bioaccumulate in plants and animals.
Of particular concern to anglers is the increased mercury levels being tested in popular game fish for human consumption, such as walleye, pike, and lake trout.
Mercury builds in baitfish, which are eaten in large quantities by predatory fish, which are then eaten by loons, eagles, bears, otters, etc, and mercury makes its way through the entire food chain. Because the Rainy River Watershed flows north, it would threaten not only the Boundary Waters fishery, but also countless other incredible places like Lake of the Woods, which is considered one of the premier fishing destinations in the world.
Stewardship & Habitat Initiative
For the better part of a decade, Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters has worked diligently at the Minnesota State Capitol, Washington DC, and all over the country advocating for Boundary Waters protections, something we are enormously proud of. While this will remain one of the pillars we continue to operate under, we’ve decided there is a significant enough need in the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota to get involved in “boots on the ground” stewardship projects that help improve the region’s outdoor experiences.
In 2024, SFBW adopted the Pine Island Wildlife Management Area (WMA) on Lake Vermilion. This was the first project of Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters’ Stewardship and Habitat Initiative, a program that we are excited to implement across multiple spheres in and around the Boundary Waters in partnership with agencies, conservation organizations, and outdoor industry leaders.
SFBW was one of several organizations that received funding support from the Superior National Forest Recreation Advisory Committee. With that funding, we plan to execute hitches into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to improve, repair, and restore backcountry campsites and portages.
Aquatic Invasive Species
Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters supports efforts that protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and its surrounding watersheds for generations of outdoor enthusiasts. Presently, one of the most significant threats to this region’s pristine ecosystem are Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). For two years, we have worked with the Boundary Waters Aquatic Invasive Species Coalition (ABC) and the U.S. Forest Service-led Boundary Waters Collaborative to better understand this threat and how we can use our passion for habitat preservation and stewardship.
Because this region is so interconnected, the introduction of AIS into one water body often results in its spread to neighboring lakes and rivers. This means that prevention, through education, is one of our greatest tools. While the rest of Minnesota has seen large-scale infestations of various AIS, the Boundary Waters region has remained relatively insulated. New introductions have been limited, but increased recreation on border lakes, a warmer climate, and misinformation regarding AIS all remain significant threats.
Due to significant cutbacks at the state and federal levels, funding for and the actual implementation of AIS prevention have largely fallen to grassroots organizations like Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters and to citizen-led efforts.
Minnesota Moose
Northeastern Minnesota is home to the last stronghold of moose in the state. The region’s population of this animal has been in decline since 2006. That year an estimated 8,800 moose still roamed across Lake, Cook, and St. Louis counties. More recently, the moose population has stabilized. Hunting for moose ended in 2012, and the latest estimate places the region’s moose population at 4700.
History shows the distribution and abundance of moose and other members of the cervid family have undergone dramatic shifts in this corner of the state since European settlement. From ticks to brain parasites, moose face a grim future if we do not step in to defend this iconic species.
Through science-based, collaborative efforts with state and local wildlife management agencies, Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters works to address habitat issues for moose in Minnesota, intending to preserve and restore habitat and increase the Moose population. Through locally-led conservation initiatives, we aim to increase moose population numbers to a sustainable population for multi-purpose use.
Our ultimate goal for the future of our moose in Minnesota is to reach a point where the population is healthy, stable, and growing. So that one day, we may bring back to Minnesota one of North America’s most iconic big-game backcountry hunts.
Chronic Wasting Disease
Chronic Wasting Disease is one of the most significant threats to deer populations and wildlife conservation that we have encountered over the last century. As many states have learned, preventing the spread of this always-fatal cervid disease is a daunting task. Once located, early detection and rapid response are critical for long-term management. Although new cases have been found in areas of the state thought free of the disease, Minnesota is currently well-positioned to combat CWD and keep infection rates low. To maintain this offensive position, those who interact with wild and captive deer must act with the utmost care for the wild deer population.
SFBW understands the value of protecting Minnesota’s deer hunting heritage and wild deer herds from the spread of CWD. Deer hunting is a deep-rooted tradition amongst Minnesotans. Nearly 500,000 deer hunting licenses are purchased across the state each year, and deer hunting alone generates $500 million annually in total economic activity for the state, reflecting how crucial deer hunting is to Minnesota’s outdoor economy.
SFBW is a member of the MN CWD Coalition with a diverse group of hunting and conservation organizations and also works directly with the MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to combat the disease.