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Selection Process
To identify roadless areas citizen volunteers
conducted on-the-ground surveys of more than 120,000 acres of the
Superior National Forest. Volunteers were trained to identify the
characteristics of each unit, including but not limited to
boundaries; ecological conditions; unique natural features; roads
and other developments; and other human activity and impact.
Once the initial surveys were completed, a committee
of scientists, wilderness advocates, and conservation professionals
reviewed the inventory data and made recommendations. The
review committee looked for areas with opportunities for solitude or
wilderness recreation, high native species diversity, consolidated
federal ownership, and minimal roads or logging. The committee also
recommended areas which completed an existing canoe route or created
a new route.
In the end, 24 separate roadless areas, totaling nearly 90,000
acres, were identified and recommended for permanent protection.
Nineteen of these units directly abut the Boundary Waters Canoe
Area Wilderness (BWCAW), and five of the units are separate from the
BWCAW.
In some instances, a selected unit created a natural boundary, such
as a river or stream, rather than a political one. A few of the
units complete an existing canoe route or create a new one. Many of
the units provide opportunities for true wilderness experiences due
to their remote locations or rugged landscapes. And many of the
units protect wildlife and/or native species habitat.
Approximately two-thirds of the 24 units contain all or part of at
least one lake, and roughly one-half contain several lakes. All
units contain one or more streams. And one unit includes
highly-valued, patterned peatlands. Several units contain historical
features, including an old mine. And hiking is popular in many of
the units, including most notably on the nationally-recognized
Kekekabic Trail.
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© 2006 Friends of the Boundary Waters
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