Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat News
The Newsletter of the Great Lakes
Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund
Volume 9, Number 6 • November-December 2001
Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat NewsThe Newsletter of the Great Lakes
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Election Day 2001 the Duluth News Tribune released an article entitled “No Rare Species Found On Spirit Mountain”. The article and a news report on local TV station KBJR referenced a recent study done by local botanist Gary Walton and about 70 local volunteers concerned about the future of this local natural treasure. The study was funded by a generous grant from the Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund to the John McCabe (Duluth) Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America.
Unfortunately, it seems neither reporter actually bothered to read the Spirit Mountain Plant Survey Report, which clearly says in the introduction that 4 different rare species were discovered on the proposed golf course/hotel lodge site. In addition, 2 locations of endangered species were discovered bordering the site. The report also states that this plant survey only covered a sample portion of the proposed construction area, and even these partial findings clearly indicate the incredible biological diversity of this local old growth forest.
A Letter to the Editor discussing these gross inaccuracies was submitted to the News Tribune by the Environmental Association for Great Lakes Education. Although the letter was printed, no retraction was made.
Duluth media has been notorious for publishing slanted stories in regard to the proposed development in this critical area of the St. Louis River Watershed (the largest U.S. tributary to Lake Superior). The Duluth City Council will be voting in December on whether to approve work permits for the project.
According to the July/August 2001 Utne Reader, there won’t be enough fresh water to go around by the year 2025. As the Superior Wilderness Action Network notes, “This will be of particular concern in the Upper Great Lakes, since we have roughly a fifth of the world’s fresh water.” No wonder the bottling companies are moving into this region so quickly.
According to an international panel of scientists currently meeting at a world forum in Shiga China, “More than half of the world’s 5 million lakes are being dried up and polluted to the point of collapse” (emphasis added).
In late November 2001, Douglas County passed an ordinance that outlaws the sale of mercury thermometers. The mercury in a single thermometer is enough to contaminate an entire 20-acre lake. Duluth was the first city in North America to pass such an ordinance, thanks to revolutionary thinkers like Jamie Harvey. The State of Minnesota passed a similar statewide ordinance a few months back. This is great news!
Our next step is to seriously address the problem of coal burning power plants, which are currently spurting out record levels of mercury into our environment (80% of the electricity in northern Minnesota is from coal).
The Forest Service recently released its tentative plans to increase permits for motor boats on certain Boundary Waters lakes by 3 times. Many environmental groups and concerned citizens are opposing this idea, including the Friends of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, who believe permit quotas should remain at the current level. The Forest Service is accepting public comment, and a final decision won’t be made until January.
The National Park Service is evaluating the Apostle Islands for possible inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System. They’re taking public comments until January 15, 2002 and so far they’ve heard a lot from folks who don’t want that pristine area protected so devoutly. Opponents of the ruling want to be sure there’s motorized access to this wilderness area. You may submit your comments to APIS_Comments@nps.gov.
Last month the City of Duluth unveiled plans for developing the remainder of the Bayfront area near the Great Lakes Aquarium. While a task force looks to build a restaurant on the land, a local group of concerned citizens, calling themselves the “Bayfront Visions Group” (BVG) has put a lot of time and money into developing detailed plans that would mitigate the major problems inherent in the development proposed by the Mayor’s “Bayfront Task Force” (which, by the way, never held a public comment period on its plan, despite the fact that the City Council mandated this last January).
BVG has developed plans that would integrate the restaurant with a botanical conservatory and visitors’ center. The Bayfront Task Force’s plan converts a majority of the potentially scenic land into a massive parking lot. BVG’s plan has a subterranean parking garage—providing more parking than the City’s plan, and quietly out of view from Highway I-35. BVG advocates for conserving the remaining area as ecologically protected scenic “green space” with trees, shrubs, flowering plants, a park, and a pond for winter skating.
Considering this area is the first impression visitors receive as they begin to enter the heart of downtown Duluth, the pursuit towards a synergistic relationship between economics, environment, and aesthetics is of the utmost importance to all. The City Council is expected to make a decision on this issue by early 2002.
Craig Minowa
Environmental Association for
Great Lakes Education (EAGLE)
Serving as Hub for Minnesota
394 Lake Avenue South, #308
Duluth, MN 55802
(218)-726-1828 (phone and fax)
E-mail: craig@earthology.netcraig@earthology.net
Website: www.ecosource.tsc.org