Arrowhead ACMU

In March 2007, four conservation groups issued a report titled Wilderness Between the Cracks, alleging a "troubling pattern of motor use in the eastern part of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW)." The report led to meetings with the US Forest Service (USFS) and ultimately, a collaboration between the federal agency, the Sierra Club, and the Cook County Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club. The Forest Service released a summary of the unique partnership, which monitored winter activity along the BWCAW in 2008. According to USFS Gunflint District Ranger Dennis Neitzke, the winter monitoring showed that snowmobile activity in the boundary waters region is not as widespread as purported in the 2007 report.

The report released on November 25, 2008 titled Summary Report of 2008 Winter Patrols/East Zone BWCAW explains that the USFS has employed wilderness rangers and worked with other law enforcement personnel for years to monitor activities within the BWCAW. The USFS report also suggested that work with the local snowmobile club and other groups to educate wilderness visitors had led to a drop in illegal use in recent years. Upon receipt of the  2007 Wilderness Between the Cracks report, the USFS noted, "infomation presented in the report was at odds with the observation of Forest Service Officials.

The Forest Service invited representatives from the four groups involved in creating and distributing the intitial report- the Izaak Walton League of America, Sierra Club North Star Chapter, Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness, and the Wilderness Watch- along with representatives from the Cook County Ridge Riders Snowmobilile Club, to "discuss the report and options for resolving the differing opinions."

The discussions led to an agreement that volunteers would help the Forest Service monitor the BWCAW. Of the four conservation groups, only the Sierra Club participated in the snowmobile monitoring project. A memorandum of inderstanding (MOU) was established between the Sierra Club and the Ridge Ridgers Snowmobile Club and the Forest Service. The MOU outlined the goal of monitoring entry points and recording use patterns. In the event of illegal motor incursions into the wilderness, law enforcement patrols could be assigned as needed. Eighteen entry points were selected to be monitored.

Ridge Rider Trail Administrator Shele Toftey, of Grand Marias, said, "The snowmobile club agreed to participate because we, like the conservation groups, do not support motorized violations of the Boundary Waters."

The Winter Patrol/East Zone BWCAW report summarizes 73 patrols by wilderness rangers; 10 patrols by other Law Enforcement officers; 40 patrols by the Cook County Snowmobile Club; and six patrols by the Sierra Club North Star Chapter. During those patrols, 12 incursions were noted by wilderness rangers; two by other law enforcement; five by the snowmobile club; and zero by the Sierra Club.

The report identifies two main areas of motor use violations on the BWCAW east zone- on Clearwater Lake and South Lake. Regarding Clearwater Lake, the report states, "it is difficult to understand how that person (or persons) was lost or did not understand what they were doing." Regarding South Lake, or the Height of Land Portage, there is a viable, alternative route along the border and tracks were seen on that trail. However, there were also tracks on the portage within the BWCAW.

The report adds that no incidents of live use were observed, so it is not known if the route was used by law enforcement officials, followed by public use. The report acknowledges that Border Patrol agents conduct routine patrols of the border, Since they are not permitted to carry firearms into Canada, when officers patrol the border by snowmobile they are required to stay on the U.S. side. Agreements are in place between the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Agriculture allowing this travel.

The report notes that some tracks were found within the wilderness, but said, ".. it was very clear, with the exception of Clearwater Lake, that motorized violations were not rampant."

In fact, the Forest Service report said legal use of snowmobiles were observed on a number of occasions. It said many times anglers legally parked their snowmobiles at entry points and proceeded into the wilderness by snowshoe or ski. These observations occurred on Moose Lake, Partridge Lake, and Daniels Spur Trail, Seagull and Saganaga Lakes.

Kevin Proescholdt of the Izaak Walton League said he felt the snowmobile monitoring program was very successful. He said, "I have nothing but respect for the Cook County Snowmobile Club for their role in the monitoring, I would hope that we could continue with more support from environmental and conservations groups."

The report concludes, "Our recommendations are to continue pursuing a partnership with local groups that includes disseminating information, educational opportunitites and wilderness monitoring. We have seen the benefits of cooperative efforts between various groups. Now there is recorded information regarding the benefits of education carried out by the snowmobile club."