Judges rule on South Fowl wilderness boundaries
On March 6, 2009, the US State Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit, issued a decision on a boundary dispute regarding the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), clearing one hurdle for supporters of a 2 ½-mile snowmobile trail reroute between McFarland and South Fowl Lakes in Hovland. However, the question of whether or not sound from snowmobiles on the trail negatively impacts the wilderness is still to be determined.
US Forest Service plans to construct the South Fowl Snowmobile access were halted in August 2006 by a lawsuit filed by plaintiffs Sierra Club, North Star Chapter; Wilderness Watch; and Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness. Among other complaints, the plaintiffs alleged that the proposed snowmobile trail brought snowmobiles onto a wilderness lake, arguing that North and South Fowl Lakes were actually in the BWCAW. Judge John R. Tunheim first heard arguments in the case in December 2006.
A link to this page will be included with your message.
E-mail addresses supplied to this service will be used only to send the requested link.