A People of the North Woods
By Elanne Palcich
This is the time of year when the North Woods around us displays its show of color and diversity. We live on the southernmost edge of what is called the Boreal Forest. The key trees of this area are balsam, spruce, and birch. Intermixed species include aspen, jack pine, red and white pine, cedar, and maple.
The boreal forest is circumboreal—that is, it extends all the way around the world at similar latitudes. Our own boreal forest borders the upper Great Lakes. It was the first forest type to appear after the last glaciers receded. The glaciers also left behind the web of lakes and connecting waterways and wetlands that are hallmarks of the ecosystem.
The climate that sustains the boreal forest in our area also includes transitional hardwood species such as the sugar maple. In the fall, the reds and yellows of the deciduous trees create a color collage among the evergreens. The understory of the forest joins in the color spree. Shrubs such as alder, hazel, red osier dogwood, and mountain ash add to the show.
Fall is also the time of change in the wildlife world. Migratory birds start to flock before starting their journeys south. Other animals and amphibians prepare for hibernation. Small mammals store up caches of seeds for the winter. The hare and the weasel replace their brown summer jackets with white winter coats. The deer and the wolf start wearing thicker coverings.
By choosing to live here, we become a people of the North Woods. Archaeologists have dated Paleo-Indian occupation of this land to 10,000 years ago. We ourselves are part of a succession. We, too, adapt to the seasons and the climate of the Boreal Forest. We seek better ways to keep the cold from seeping into our houses, and better clothing to enable us to spend more time in the great outdoors. We are a people of bio-diversity, allowing ourselves to learn new things. The ability to adapt to change creates resilience.
Many of us are observing signs of climate change around us. I walk the piece of land that has been part of my family for the past 55 years, and I use my land as a benchmark. Certain species are becoming more common—white pine, basswood, oak. The birch might be weakened by another infestation of tent caterpillars, which are fueled by the large tracts of aspen grown as pulpwood. Drier seasons and road salt put stress on the spruce and red pine along the roadways. Deer proliferate when winters are milder and when large areas of logged land are given to aspen growth. The increase in deer population leads to more cases of Lyme disease.
Everything is interconnected. We are connected to the land we live on—the land that provides food, water, shelter, and habitat.
By choosing to live here, we have taken on ownership and responsibility for this land—for the wildlife it sustains, for the trees that supply our oxygen and the wetlands that sequester our carbon, for the beauty that surrounds us. Not many communities have the opportunity to be surrounded by the sheer expanse of beauty that is ours.
We live within the context of the Boreal Forest. The autumn reminds us that we have a place within this dance of life. We have chosen this land—or the land has chosen us. This land gives us our definition: we are a people of the North Woods.
Avian Migration Study
Annie Bracey is conducting an avian migration study and scavenger
removal experiment and needs to acquire ~ 200 dead birds! She is looking
for any small to medium sized birds that have been recently killed and
that are not terribly mangled. Any birds found from now until the end of
September can be dropped off at UMD in Life Science room 335. If unable
to drop off there you can contact Annie Bracey at brace005@d.umn.edu
<mailto:brace005@d.umn.edu> or call 218-726-8587 to have them picked up. Thank you!
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The DNR OHV Plan for CVSF
Welcome Hunters!
There are many areas of the Cloquet Valley State Forest for traditional hunting.
The CVSF is outlined in green below and lies just north of Duluth.
Hunter Walking Trails
Click below for detailed jpg to find places to hunt on foot
Traditional Hunting Areas for Footed Hunters
Only a few areas of the Cloquet Valley State Forest have been designated for traditional forest use and are shown above encircled in orange, as natural areas for hunting and fishing. Not all of the areas are public lands, so be sure to check to avoid trespass. Hunters leave their trucks and motorcycles and atvs outside these areas and hunt in the traditional way our parents and their parents did, on foot. These areas are quieter and wildlife experience more natural habitat conditions with less risk of fire and contamination with invasive species. Most fires in Minnesota are caused by humans.
There are over 1500 miles trails and access roads, forest roads, minimum maintenance roads, roadside ditch trails and township roads and hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands open for those needing motorized assistance to hunt and info about those those can be found on the DNR website
If you need information contact the numbers below
Hunters on foot or those who use mobility devices all terrain vehicles to get around may inquire about specific details of interest to them.
Rich Staffon 879-0880 223 Area Wildlife Manger
Martha Minchak, 218 723-4768 224 Asst Area Wildlife Manager
Chris Balzer 879-0880 233 Asst. Area Wildlife Manger
Contact Rich for information or Martha for information about hunting in general and Chris for information about specific trails and areas in the region north of Duluth.
Enforcement Information
State Patrol : Duluth (218) 723-4885
K262 Duluth (W) Randy Hanzal 218-729-4995 St. Louis (W)
K263 Duluth (E) Kipp Duncan 218-525-2800 St. Louis (E)
Mobility Devices
Jade Templin at 651-259-5598 (toll-free - 800-657-3929) or jade.templin@dnr.state.mn.us
Info from MN DNR on Mobility Devices
*info from MICHIGAN on Mobility Devices
Driving Vehicles in the Forest
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ohv/index.html
Released
1/09 Unfortunately despite wide local public support to the contrary the St. Louis County Board pressed the DNR for the open unless closed option - the least restrictive system legal in Minnesota. Open unless closed creates serious environmental problems and human use conflicts. Except for a few areas the entire forest is "managed" or "open unless posed closed" creating a situation ripe for abuse by motorized recreation users intent on access by motorized vehicle to every nook and cranny of the entire forest. Only a few areas are either limited or closed and these amount to less than 5% of the total acres of the forest! Too bad St.Louis County refuses to follow Aitkin's lead and go with the limited option which can lead to well planned and maintained trail systems for all types of users including those who do and do not prefer motorized equipment to hunt and fish and enjoy the forest!
http://www.co.aitkin.mn.us/Departments/Land/recreation.html Aitkin County chose the "limited" classification and as such can make much more diverse choices.
MINING Non Ferrous Mining In NE Mn
A foregone conclusion ... Jobs Jobs Jobs?
A threat to our ecosystem and every lake river and stream in MN?
We are smack in this issue in the CVSF and we need to be better informed as a community. Inform yourself, inform your friends, do the analysis you need to do to be sure our state chooses wisely.
Our legislators Bakk and Dill and most of the "Range Coalition" are behind this mining project. You have to be the one to be informed and speak your mind.
You are a resident, a constituent and a person who drinks this water.
Only you can prevent Acid Mine Drainage.
This bill was put forth by legislators last session, with the strong support of the Minnesota Environmental Community. MEP member Friends of the Cloquet Valley State Forest supported those legislators' efforts. The legislation was not permitted to even get a hearing - it was blocked by the Range Deligation. It is unknown if any protection will be sought by any legislators in the coming session.
The range delegation controls many committees in the legislature due to their seniority. This is simply how the legislature works - senior members get to control committees.
Property Values and Water Quality
In a 2003 Study the correlation between water quality and lake property values was established in a study by two Bemidji State University professors. Prof. Patrick Welle and Prof. Charles Parson examined 1,205 properties sold between 1996 and 2001 on 37 lakes in six regions in northern Minnesota: Aitkin, Brainerd, Grand Rapids, Walker, Park Rapids and Bemidji. They found water clarity was the most significant factor in determining the purchase price in every region. Read the study : Welle Parson Study from BSU
Methyl Mercury impacts cognition and the impact of it's harm can can be calculated. Methyl Mercury is increased by Sulfuric Acid Drainage from Non - Ferrous Mining
To Join or help contact FriendsCVSF@gmail.com
FriendsCVSF@gmail.com
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