Forest North (Host: Brett Ross)

Episode 1 of Forest North Premiers on January 9th! Featuring Superior National Forest Supervisor Tom Hall, along with Interpretation and Education Specialist Steve Robertson. Forest North is created by the Ely Area Tourism Bureau, in Partnership with the U.S. Forest Service - Superior National Forest

On this premier episode, Superior National Forest Supervisor Tom Hall gives an overview of the multitude of roles played by members of the the USDA Forest Service – Superior National Forest team. Interpretation and Education Specialist Steve Robertsen talks hibernation and wintertime animal behavior on the National Forest.

On Episode 2 of Forest North, we hear from Maggie Whiting, Visitor Services Information Assistant with the Kawishiwi Ranger District, as she talks about the ins and outs of “Go-Live” day for Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness permits, which happens on January 31st. Steve Robertson is back to talk about how low snow cover impacts wildlife, and how our winged friends manage winter in the north woods.

Superior National Forest
Ely Tourism Bureau
Recreation.gov

rec.gov phone - 877-444-6777
Superior National Forest Permit Manager - 218-626-4314

February 13th, 2024 is the 125th birthday of the Superior National Forest. In honor of that, Forest Archeologist Lee Johnson joins us to talk forest history. Aaron Kania talks about the role of the District Ranger and gives some updates on the Kawishiwi Ranger District.


Episode Links:

Timeline of Superior National Forest History-Includes some the relevant legislative history
Superior National Forest - History & Culture (usda.gov)

 Arthur Carhart’s 1922 Recreation Plan for the Superior NF-Photos and summary
Superior National Forest - News & Events (usda.gov)

 BLM Government Land Office Survey/Patent Records-Search a Township and Range to see the original patent holders for lands in the Superior NF
Search - BLM GLO Records

 Evolution of the Superior NF-John Wesley White
fseprd532398.pdf (usda.gov)

Faces in the Wilderness 2019 Article on Culturally Modified Trees in the BWCAW & 2021 BWCAW Fire History Article
Faces in the Wilderness: a New Network of Crossdated Culturally-Modified Red Pine in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of Northern Minnesota, USA | Human Ecology (springer.com)

 Human augmentation of historical red pine fire regimes in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness - Kipfmueller - 2021 - Ecosphere - Wiley Online Library

Careers | US Forest Service (usda.gov)
USAJOBS - The Federal Government's official employment site
Agency Organization | US Forest Service (usda.gov)

Partnership Coordinator Emily Munter, along with Retired Forest Supervisor Jim Sanders and Northwoods Volunteer Connection Director Jo Swanson discuss the value of volunteerism on The Superior National Forest. Plus, Steve Robertson returns to share an update on his outreach efforts, the early sap run for maple trees and some skunk behavior that’s right on time.

Episode Links:

Volunteer in the Superior National Forest

volunteer.gov

Northwoods Volunteer Connection

 This week, Wilderness Operations Lead Megan McClanahan and East Zone Wilderness Specialist Dan Disch join us to talk all things camping on the Superior National Forest. Steve Robertsen also stops by to talk about some sure signs of spring in the Northland.

Episode Links:

Home - Leave No Trace - Leave No Trace (lnt.org) 

Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) - ID, MT, WY, WA (igbconline.org)

ax2239ad.aw (igbconline.org) - This is the approved list of bear resistant containers (updated 2/2024 from IGBC)

Superior National Forest - Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (usda.gov) Link to direct info on the BW including Rules and Regs as well as our trip planning guide.

Wilderness Connect - Great info for all things “Wilderness”

Forest service wilderness crews are a vital part of the management of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Tom Yankowiak from the LaCroix ranger district and Chris Maher from the Kawishiwi District manage those wilderness crews, and today they join us to talk about some of the nitty gritty of the job.

A podcast from the Superior National Forest in Northeastern Minnesota, Forest North is created by the Ely Tourism Bureau, in partnership with the USDA Forest  Service- Superior National Forest. Find out more about the Superior National Forest at FS.USDA.GOV/superior

Remember to subscribe, share and leave a review on  your favorite listening platform, and email your comments, questions or suggestions to tourism@ely.org

 The North Country Trail which will stretch 4,800 miles across eight states from North Dakota to Vermont and will traverse the superior national forest along the border route trail, through the wilderness on the Kekekabic Trail and a new section that will bring hikers directly to Ely. We're joined by Matt Davis, Regional Trail Coordinator for the North Country Trail Association, Eric Campbell, President of the Kekekabic Trail Club, and Carl Skustad, Kawishiwi Ranger District Recreation/Wilderness and Trails Manager on the superior national forest.

Steve Robertsen returns to talk spring bird migration, identification and banding on the forest.

Episode Links:

https://northcountrytrail.org/volunteer/ways-to-volunteer/
https://www.borderroutetrail.org/volunteer-opportunities
www.kek.org
www.nct.org

Administrative Operations Specialist Renee Frahm joins Forest North to talk about how to apply for a US Forest Service job and begin a career working on the forest.

Episode Links:

USAJOBS - The Federal Government's official employment site
Classification & Qualifications (opm.gov)
Classifying General Schedule Positions (opm.gov)
Superior National Forest Homepage

Nicole Selmer, Fire Prevention Specialist with the Kawishiwi Ranger District and Gloria Erickson, Fire Adapted Communities Project Manager with Dovetail Partners, talk about fire strategies on the Superior National Forest.

Episode Links:

Minnesota Fire Adapted Communities: 
https://minnesotafac.org/index.php 

Minnesota DNR Firewise Program
 
Wildland Fire Ready, Set, Go

Woodland Stewardship Plans (DNR)

Find Your DNR Regional Forester

Find your Soil and Water Conservation District

UofM Guidebook to Woodland Stewardship 

Tools for Living with Fire Event Registration

Liz Anderson from Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Matt Santo from the 1854 Treaty Authority join Forest North to talk about Aquatic Invasive Species in our area waters and how to help stop their spread. Steve Robertsen returns to talk about the arrival of summer on the Superior National Forest and some of the new baby critters making their appearance in the Northwoods.

Time Stamps:
(1:27) Liz Anderson and Matt Santo
(36:00) Steve Robertson

Show Notes:
Lake County AIS Program
Project page for the spiny waterflea research
Project page for the rusty crayfish and wild rice research
Minnesota DNR’s AIS homepage
1854 Treaty Authority website

Jamie Chopp, West Zone Fuels Planner on the LaCroix District, and Kawishiwi District Engine Captain and Wildland Firefighter Luke Macho talk about the logistics on the ground and in support of wild land firefighting.

Episode Links:

National Situation Report – Fires across the Nation
Fire Weather Forecast – Briefing info for daily preperation
Minnesota indexes – tell us how likely a fire will start/grow
Incident Information System
Crew Video – Used for end of season

• Can read the 1964 Wilderness Act, or the 1978 Boundary Waters Act
• Can learn more about wilderness character
• Lists all 800+ wilderness areas in the country and how to go about recreating within them
  
  

Jon Benson, Assistant Recreation Program Manager for the Superior National Forest talks about the MobilizeGreen Youth Conservation partnership, along with Fatihah Muhammad and May Crews, two recent MobilizeGreen interns.

Wildlife Biologist Cheron Ferland joins Forest North to talk about studying the American Goshawk, one of our larger birds of prey here in the Northwoods.

Time Stamps:

(1:17) Mobilize Green
(32:27) Cheron Ferland and The American Goshawk


Show Notes:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goshawk/overview

Accipiter gentilis : Northern Goshawk | Rare Species Guide | Minnesota DNR
(state.mn.us)

On this episode, we’re discussing the Student Conservation Association, the largest provider of hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and young adults. 

Today we talk about the SCA partnership with the superior National Forest, as we’re joined by Amina Kovacevich, Forest Technician on the LaCroix district. She joins remotely along with SCA administrative intern Kylie Tatarka. Sitting down in studio, Greg Heidi, West Zone Archaeologist, and SCA archaeology intern Daniella Elliott. We also hear briefly from my yellow lab Angus as he chimes in during a particularly intense nap.

Show Notes:

Student Conservation Association

Superior National Forest News

National Forest Jobs

Steve Robertsen, Interpretation and Education Specialist, returns to Forest North talk about the transition to Autumn on the Superior National Forest: birds going south, squirrels going nuts and just why the trees end their season of leaves with such a stunning display of colors.

Show Notes:

US Forest Service Soil Scientists Randy Kolka, Jeff Kroll and Dave Morley stop by to talk about their research into how increasing wildfires, and their severity, effect critical peatland ecosystems on the National Forest.

Show Notes:

Drone footage and story from WDIO - https://www.wdio.com/front-page/top-stories/discovering-the-impact-of-wildfire-on-peatlands/

SPRUCE climate project -> https://mnspruce.ornl.gov/

Nancy Schultz, George Lokken and Jeremy Pischke, with Friends of the Flathorn-Gegoka Ski Trails, drop in to talk about the history and evolution of the oldest ski trail system on the Superior National Forest.

Show Notes:

Flathorn-Gegoka Ski Trails
The Great Minnesota Ski Pass

Steve Robertsen drops by to talk about the slow transition to Autumn in the Northwoods, and what a changing climate can mean for the flora and fauna on the Superior National Forest.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/superior

Jeremy Collard and Stefan Nelson from the Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society talk about the society's mission to promote forest stewardship and improve habitat for these popular game birds, along with the whole diversity of Forest wildlife.


Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society Website

Teddy Mullins is a 24 year veteran Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer. He currently serves as Patrol Captain on the Chippewa and Superior National Forests in Minnesota.

Show Notes:

National Forest Law Enforcement Tipline
Superior National Forest Regulations

Erik Redix, Ojibwe Language Coordinator with the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa joins this episode, along with Superior National Forest Archeologist Lee Johnson who returns to Forest North, to talk about the Ojibwe language, or Ojibwemowin, and some of the original place names in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Superior National Forest and the North Shore of Lake Superior.


Show Notes:

Ojibwe People's Dictionary | the Ojibwe People's Dictionary

https://www.nps.gov/grpo/learn/historyculture/north-shore-place-names.htm

https://openrivers.lib.umn.edu/article/rivers-north-shore-ojibwe-dialects/

Anishinaabe Bizindamoo Makak | WTIP

Dan Ryan is a Wildlife Biologist on the Laurentian District of the Superior National Forest, and Taylor Brannock is a Biological Science Technician on the Kawishiwi District. They join this episode to talk about tracking and researching that iconic and elusive Northwoods cat, the Canada lynx.

Show Notes:

Annual Lynx Monitoring Report

Draft Lynx Recovery Plan

Report Lynx sightings

The Fernberg Project press release

Carl Layman, is a Silviclturist on the Laurentian Ranger District of the Superior National Forest. We talk about the challenges and rewards of managing a forest, and how silviculture helps shape the landscapes we love.

Integrated Vegetation Management

Forest Service Silviculture