Updates from the Field: Pine Island WMA & What’s Next For SFBW

After a massively successful year of planning, preparation, and executing a huge volunteer day last August, we are excited to offer some updates on the Pine Island Wildlife Management Area on Lake Vermilion! Thank you to our incredible sponsor, the onX Access + Stewardship Initiative, the Minnesota DNR Tower Wildlife crew, the 50 volunteers who helped us pull this off, and everyone who had a hand in this project.

Access

Prior to our volunteer day, the Pine Island WMA was nearly inaccessible. Both boat landing areas were completely overgrown, there was no trail connecting the two sides, and visitors to the area were likely to accidentally trespass the neighboring private land without many clear, distinguishing boundaries and signs. 

Now, with some basic upkeep over the season – bucking downed trees, brushing some overgrowth, the trail connecting the north and south end of the unit is in great shape and all the signs are still up! Both SFBW staff and the DNR have been impressed with how well our work last August has held up with minimal maintenance required. 

The next big step for this unit will be installing a boat dock on the north landing! Through Minnesota’s “Get Out More” fund, the Tower DNR Wildlife team has secured funding for a dock that will make it even easier for people to hike, fish, and hunt on the unit. We’re hoping the dock will be installed spring or early summer of next year, 2026.

Habitat

During our volunteer event last year, with the help of 50 volunteers, we planted over 2000 white spruce and red oak trees. We planned to have to supplement many of those this spring due to grazing and harsh winter conditions, but were pleasantly surprised to see that turnover was extremely high! Both the oaks and spruce saplings are thriving on Pine Island. 

The unit appears to be holding healthy populations of a number of different species, including white-tailed deer, black bear, ruffed grouse, fox, and countless non-game birds. We will continue to monitor the site with trail cameras and on foot to see how wildlife in the area relates to the habitat work we’ve done. 

Looking Ahead

With a plan in place to install a dock next season, we’re excited to see the improvement of Pine Island continue to come to fruition. While that’s happening, we’re very excited about planning our next project! 

This summer, 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. This project is still in its early planning stages, but we hope to have more information in the coming months. This project will have volunteer opportunities associated with it, so keep an eye out if you’re interested in doing some important work, in the most amazing place, deep in the backcountry. 

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