Superior National Forest seeks public input as Fernberg Project progresses
The Superior National Forest is undergoing a proposed project, called the Fernberg Project, near Ely that entails vegetation management activities, prescribed burning, and harvesting of timber to reduce wildfire risk in the wildland urban interface (WUI) areas within and surrounding the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW).
The Fernberg Project includes mixed ownership encompassing approximately 175,000 acres. About 84,000 acres sit inside the BWCA, said Aaron Kania, the Kawishiwi District Ranger with the Superior National Forest.
Over the past few years, Superior National Forest officials have gathered data and initiated conversations with adjacent landowners, Lake County officials, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Tribal Chairs for the Bands of Lake Superior Chippewa, and other stakeholders about the proposed project.
“That coordination is really critical,” Kania said. “We had a really good consultation process to come up with even the planning area and then some of the activities inside the planning area.”
Approximately 26,000 acres of the identified 84,000 acres within the BWCA are intended for prescribed burning. Kania said it is mainly related to the buildup of hazardous fuels over the years due to fire exclusion and the growing impact of spruce budworm.
In addition to the outlined activities, the Superior National Forest will explore recreational resources relating to the North Country Trail and the Kekekabic Trail, which crosses through the BWCA. “There’s a proposal from the North Country Trail to connect the west side of the Kekekabic Trail towards Ely,” Kania said. “So we’ll be looking at analyzing a segment of the proposed North Country Trail.”
As part of the process of gathering and compiling data in an existing conditions report, the Superior National Forest and Kawishiwi Ranger District officials invite public participation and comments. The Kawishiwi Ranger District held the first open house on Dec. 7 to allow the public to share feedback and comments.
Approximately 75-80 people attended the in-person open house. Kania said, “We had a really good turnout for December in Ely.”
The Kawishiwi Ranger District is hosting a virtual open house on Dec. 19 from 4 to 6 p.m. to gather additional public comments from beyond Ely. The open house will include a presentation and discussions with fire personnel, forest management specialists, and recreation officials.
Find the link to the Dec. 19 virtual open house here.
Map of the proposed Fernberg Project:
WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with Aaron Kania, the Kawishiwi District Ranger with the Superior National Forest, about the proposed Fernberg Project and the upcoming Dec. 19 virtual open house. Audio from the interview is below.
Kalli Hawkins December 19, 2023
