Forest Service Shakeup Now Affecting Minnesota Offices

A recent announcement by the Trump administration reorganizing the U.S. Forest Service will close two offices here in Minnesota.

Two Minnesota Forest Service Offices Will Close

Our fair state might be known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but we're also lucky enough to be home to several vast areas of forest and woodland. If you've ever driven north of the North Shore, you've likely experienced these areas firsthand.

The North Star State is home to two national forests:

The Superior National Forest is located north of Duluth, and contains Minnesota's well-known, one-million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Here's how the U.S. Forest Service describes the forest:

Established in 1909, the three-million-acre Superior National Forest is the largest national forest east of the Mississippi River. The Forest is located at the southernmost edge of the boreal forest ecosystem in Minnesota and is home to thousands of clean lakes, rocky landscapes, iconic megafauna, colorful fall foliage, and a rich cultural history.

The Superior National Forest Supervisor's office is located in Duluth, with district offices located in Grand Marais, Ely, Cook, Aurora, Grand Rapids, and Tofte.

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Minnesota's other national forest, the Chippewa National Forest, is located in Minnesota's Arrowhead region near Cass Lake, Minnesota, and is described like this according to the U.S. Forest Service:

The Chippewa National Forest, located in the heart of northern Minnesota, was the first national forest established east of the Mississippi River in 1908. The Forest boundary encompasses about 1.6 million acres, with more than 660,000 acres managed by the Chippewa National Forest.

The Chippewa National Forest Supervisor’s office is located in Cass Lake, Minn., with district offices in Blackduck, Deer River, and Walker.

Ely and Grand Rapids Research Stations Set to Shut Down

According to a reorganization plan fact sheet from the USDA, the agency will be reorganizing the Forest Service and realigning its organizational structure to strengthen local leadership, streamline operations, and improve mission delivery, it said.

As a result, BringMeTheNews reports that two research stations in Minnesota will close as that plan is implemented. As part of the reorganization, the USDA says 57 research facilities across the country will be shut down-- including stations in Grand Rapids and Ely here in Minnesota.

Wisconsin Office Will Oversee Minnesota National Forests

MPR reports that the changes will be implemented over the next one to two years and that current employees will be reassigned to other stations. And, it said a U.S. Forest Service facility in St. Paul will not be closing as part of the new plan.

The Forest Service states that, in addition to relocating its national headquarters from Washington, D.C. to Salt Lake City, Utah, Minnesota's two national forests will be managed by an office in Madison, Wisconsin. That office will also oversee National Forests here in Minnesota, as well as facilities in Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Missouri.