Forest Service plans gravel pit expansions and adapts to change in office hours

Ask anyone trying to build in Cook County, and they will tell you that access to materials in this part of the state is challenging.

One material that has proven challenging to get but which is vital to many of the county’s roads is gravel.

The high demand for gravel is one factor in the efforts to expand 13 gravel pits in the Superior National Forest. The discussion around expanding the pits began last Fall and is in an Environmental Assessment (EA) phase.

Superior National Forest Tofte District Ranger Ellen Bogardus-Szymaniak told WTIP that these gravel pits were identified for expansion because of their proximity to gravel projects. The current EA focuses on the 13 gravel pits to address current needs, but Bogardus-Szymaniak said other pits will also be looked at in the near future for expansion.

The gravel needs are being driven by the efforts to repair the roads damaged during the June floods and the regular road maintenance. Bogardus-Szymaniak said that the initial 13 pits should be able to cover the gravel needs for the next few years.

Bogardus-Szymaniak also talked about the fire risk at this point in the season. She explained that the fire risk increases after four or five days without rain. After ten days, a small fire can quickly escalate. She said that spruce budworm damage also contributed to fire danger as the increase in dead trees added more fuel for fires. Even though Bogardus-Szymaniak described the area as “not out of the woods, yet,” when it comes to fire, she also added that despite large fires elsewhere in the country, it seems unlikely that the North Shore will experience significant fires this year.

As the summer season wraps up, the Gunflint and Tofte Ranger Stations hours are shifting. Bogardus-Szymaniak said that the new hours for the stations are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Then, starting in October, the two ranger stations will switch to their usual Monday through Friday schedule for the Fall. In the meantime, if visitors need to pick up Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) camping permits on Mondays or Tuesdays, Bogardus-Szymaniak said individuals should visit can pick permits up in Duluth at Frost River, Duluth Pack, and the Superior National Forest Headquarters.

WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with Ellen Bogardus-Szymaniak to get an update on the Superior National Forest, including the proposed gravel pit expansion.

Kalli Hawkins August 26, 2024