Conflicting sounds in natural recreation areas—An historical Minnesota perspective

Abstract

Minnesota has long seen battles between conflicting activities in natural recreation areas. Snowmobiles were first introduced in the 1960 by two Minnesota firms. By the 1970s physical and noise impacts had increased and a state committee to address trail uses and conflicts was established. In the same time period, a large scale environmental impact study on effects of copper-nickel mining on the BWCAW and national forest was initiated. A noise model was developed by Moorhead State staff that compared mining noise with natural noise levels. This issue rested until 2007 when exploration drilling started 24/7 in the Superior Nation Forest and near the BWCAW. Extensive monitoring and modeling efforts were undertaken by the companies and the Forest Service and limits established on acceptable noise levels. The snowmobile noise problem has not gone away with periodic controversy and assessment. To the south, the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (NPS) and the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS) have both addressed potential noise intrusion from adjacent sand and gravel mining activities. Of course, the BWCAW was the center of long term disputes over noise, with motors now limited to only a few lakes and low altitude aircraft flights prohibited.