COOK — Last week, the Superior National Forest was awarded $10 million in Collaborative Wildfire Risk Reduction Program funds. The money will be split evenly between two projects to restore forest health and reduce wildfire risk in the LaCroix Ranger District based in Cook and the Kawishiwi Ranger District based in Ely.
The Superior National Forest projects are among 21 new projects awarded $100 million to expand work on the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to reduce the threat of wildfire in high-risk areas. The funding comes from the federal Inflation Reduction Act.
The LaCroix project will thin vegetation in critical corridors, create more fire management and planning units and maintain fire-dependent native Oak Blueberry plant communities through collaboration with the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa.
The Kawishiwi project will reduce hazardous fuels and bolster planning efforts in overly dense forests with high wildfire risk in areas of limited access.
Much of the work for both projects will be completed through collaboration with local Bands and by partners, including Dovetail Partners, The Nature Conservancy and Patriot Restoration Ops.
"The Superior National Forest has a long history of working in partnership with our communities, non-government organizations, local and state governments and tribal governments to mitigate wildfire risk and rehabilitate areas impacted by wildfire," said Superior National Forest Supervisor Tom Hall in a news release.
"We look forward to additional opportunities to partner with a broad range of stakeholders to do this essential work."
Funding for this environmental story was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).
