GRAND RAPIDS — The U.S. Forest Service research lab in Grand Rapids will remain open following changes to the agency’s large-scale reorganization plans originally announced last March.
In a news release Thursday, Sept. 3, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service announced it completed a national review of regional offices and labs and determined it would retain 61 offices nationwide.
Of those retained offices, 41 were told back in March they would be closing. This includes the research lab in Grand Rapids, which is located on the Minnesota North College-Itasca campus.
The 65-year-old office produced world renowned research on forests and water, including pioneering developments in peatland usage and the concept of ecological forestry.
The Forest Service site in Ely is also on the list of those retained. The Kawishiwi Experimental Forest there, along with other experimental forests, were already not part of the closures.
A request for comment from the Forest Service was not returned by late Thursday afternoon. A full list of the retentions and cuts is available at the Forest Service website.
Twenty-three offices are still slated to close. As part of the agency-wide reorganization — which includes moving the headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City — the Forest Service will consolidate leadership of its research division.
According to the Forest Service, the cuts were made based on occupancy, use, cost and the ability of impacted staff to commute to other offices.
“For too long, the Forest Service has carried the burden of underutilized space and buildings that sit partially vacant — square footage that drains resources without advancing the agency’s work,” stated Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Vaden in the release. “This review gives us a path to put more of those dollars to work, supporting our employees, our mission and the American people.”
Current and retired researchers told KAXE this spring that closing the Grand Rapids facility would be tragic, raising concerns about research being centralized at the state’s other facility in St. Paul, far from the ecosystems being studied.
The research office has sat on the Minnesota North College-Itasca campus since its inception and shares a building with the U.S. Geological Survey. About 10 Forest Service employees work out of the office, and some university researchers also work out of the space.
The building is owned by the federal government on land leased from the University of Minnesota. The U said this spring there is no cost to the lease. It was first signed in 1959 and renewed in 2009 for 49 years.
-
The Itasca County Sheriff's Office determined the bomb threat at the mine was not credible. Now, they've turned the investigation to the threat itself, which is a felony. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXERight after the back-to-school traffic rush on Sept. 8, 2026, MnDOT crews will implement a detour while rebuilding the north side of the Highway 71 intersection. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEForest Service officials continue to reopen additional sites and recreation areas impacted by wildfire in July 2026. -
Contributed/Fairview Health ServicesThe organization states the name change reflects the relationship between Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital and Fairview Health Services. -
Contributed/Corey Anderson/MinnPostAs Minnesota fights the Trump administration in court, local election officials say mail-in ballots have not been controversial. -
Contributed/Minnesota Department of Natural ResourcesThe Twig Area Trail Riders’ proposed trail system would include over 500 miles of new and existing trail segments. -
Contributed/Abstrakt Xxcellence Studios via PexelsThe U.S. Postal Service rushed electronic tools to comply with a policy placing restrictions on mail-in voting, according to an whistleblower complaint published Tuesday. -
Kari Hedlund/KAXEThe KAXE Music Team talks their favorite music from August 2026, and as always, they get way off track in the best way. -
Contributed/Lorie ShaullDuring the Phenology Report for the week of Sept. 1, 2026, Staff Phenologist John Latimer anticipates the many happenings of early fall. -
Plus: Wildfire-affected areas in and around the Boundary Waters continue to reopen; lake associations are seeing impacts from new boating laws; and Grand Itasca Clinic is changing its name.
