Fire on Lizard Lake- Update 2

The following information on the Lizard Lake fire was posted by the Forest Service this morning:

NEWS RELEASE
Superior National Forest
August 30, 2010, 8:00 am
Lizard Lake Fire - Gunflint Ranger District
Situation Update – Monday, August 30, 2010
The weather Sunday was a mirror image of conditions on Saturday. The winds were strong 10 to 15 miles per hour with gusts to 25 miles per hour, temperatures were warm, and relative humidity was low. Despite this, the fire perimeter remained relatively the same. The overall fire size increased about 6 acres and the total fire area is estimated at 51 acres. The fire is very patchy with islands of unburned vegetation interspersed within the burn. Large water dropping aircraft, CL215s worked the north and east perimeters of the fire again on Sunday and were very effective in containing the spread of the fire in those directions. Weather conditions for Monday are expected to be similar as to what the fire has experienced over the past several days but the relative humidity is expected to be a little higher and there is an increasing chance of precipitation on Monday and Tuesday. The fire did receive some moisture overnight about 0.17 inches, the relative humidity is about 97 percent and winds are light.
Water dropping aircraft will be used again on Monday to cool the northern and eastern perimeter of the fire in preparation for another day of hot, windy weather.
Nature and Cause of IncidentSmoke was spotted on 8/26/10 by USFS fire personnel traveling on the Gunflint Trail. The origin of the fire is believed to be a lightning strike from a thunderstorm 7 – 10 days ago.
Location – Size - Fuels
The fire is in the BWCAW approximately 1 ½ miles north of Long Island Lake; 1 mile south of Dawkins Lake. The size is estimated at 45 acres at this time. Fuels in the vicinity include lowland conifers, tamarack and white spruce.
The fire is not near canoe travel routes and is not a threat to visitor safety or structures. The closest portages are: the Rib Lake to Lower George Lake Portage which is approximately ¾ mile to the west; and the Lower George to Karl Lake Portage which is approximately 1.5 miles to the SW. There are no closures or restrictions in the BWCAW as a result of this fire and none are anticipated.
Management Strategy
Vegetation in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is part of a fire adapted ecosystem. This fire is being managed to allow fire to play its natural role in the wilderness.
Contact Information
For current conditions:
check the Superior National Forest (SNF) web site, www.fs.usda.gov/superior;
SNF Information on Boreal News at: www.boreal.org.;
or call the Gunflint Office at 218-387-1750.

Aw Wilderness- What Good are Wilderness Trails if they are Not Maintained?

An Op Ed article in yesterday’s New York Times by Ted Stroll, a San Jose, Californian lawyer, caught my eye.  Stroll argues in the article, “Aw Wilderness” that  “despite millions of people who have visited the country’s national parks, forests and wildernesses this summer, the Forest Service has become increasingly strict in its enforcement of the Wilderness Act. The result may be more pristine lands, but the agency’s zealous enforcement has also heightened safety risks and limited access to America’s wilderness areas.”

In the article Stroll reminds us of the death of skier in 1970 who became lost on the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness’ (BWCA) Kek Trail. As a result the Forest Service put up signage to help mark the trail but then removed their signs claiming their interpretation of the Wilderness and BWCA Acts prohibited signs in the BWCA. The result as Stroll reminds us- last year two experience hikers became lost on the same trail.

However while Stroll argues they became lost do to the lack of trail signs, I believe that in this case it was not only the lack of signage along the trail but also, and perhaps more importantly, due to the Forest Services’ failure to maintain the trail. Luckily the lost hikers were located but only after an extensive and, I might add, a very expensive search operation conducted by the Forest Service and local law enforcement.

Over the years maintenance of the trails within the BWCA has been sadly neglected. The Forest Service, who is charged with the responsibility, tells you they do not have the resources to get the job done. Current Forest Service interprets of Wilderness legislation prohibit the use of any power equipment for maintenance within Wilderness areas.  I would argue that, given the limited availability of Funds it is hard to understand how the Forest Service can come up with sufficient resources if all their wilderness maintenance must be done using only non-mechanical equipment.

A case in point- most of the 21 miles Banadad Ski Trail is located within the BWCA where maintenance most be done using hand tools and travel to remote work sites must be done on foot. As a result the cost/mile to maintain most of the Banadad is about $2000/mile. This cost if power equipment were allowed would easily be cut in half and the work could be done in November when no one is using the Boundary Waters.

To me it makes more sense to allow the use power equipment for maintenance within the wilderness areas i.e., BWCA, when appropriate, and where this use would reduce the maintenance cost. If such equipment were allowed the Forest Service could reduce their maintenance cost, and provide the public with safer and more usable trails.

 

Fire on Lizard Lake- 1/2 Mile South West of Banadad Trail

Smoke was spotted on Aug. 26 by United States Forest Service (USFS) fire personnel traveling on the Gunflint Trail. The origin of the fire is believed to be a lighting strike from a thunderstorm 7 to 10 days ago.

The fire is in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness approximately 1.5 miles north of Long Island Lake and 1 mile south of Dawkins Lake. The fire is less than a quarter acre in size and is currently smoldering on the ground with no open flames. Fuels in the vicinity include lowland conifers, tamarack and white spruce.

According to the USFS the fire is not near canoe travel routes and is not a threat to public safety or structures. The closest portages are Rib Lake to Lower George Lake which is approximately three-quarters of a mile to the west; and Lower George to Karl Lake Portage which is approximately 1.5 miles to the southwest.

The USFS says its current management strategy is to monitor the fire by air over the next several days. ShareThis