DULUTH, Minn. — Summer is heating up and you may be tempted to take to the local beaches. Before you jump in the water, it’s important to know if any beach advisories are in place. Lake Superior had a recent series of beach advisories. On July 20th, no water contact advisories were placed on Bluebird Landing Beach, Minnesota Point Harborside…
DULUTH, Minn. – Perch Lake is located on Duluth’s south side, between New Duluth and Fond du Lac. The 25-acre body of water used to be a bigger part of the St. Louis River estuary until human intervention occurred. “It used to have a really nice connection to the St. Louis River before Highway 23 and the railroad went in,” says…
DULUTH, Minn. — Teacher and environmentalist April Hepokoski stopped by the morning show Wednesday to talk about ways we can all reduce, reuse and recycle in our daily lives. Hepokoski started Zero Waste Duluth on social media and is also a contributor to “Zero Waste Kids,” a book designed to help young people think smarter about trash. For more on…
CARLTON, Minn. – June 11 was the latest “free park day” for all 75 of Minnesota’s parks and recreational areas. It also coincided with “national get outdoors day”, to promote the benefits of being outside in nature. Fox 21’s Owen Zagrabelny caught up with several people enjoying Jay Cooke State Park. Categories: Environment, News – Latest News, Video
DULUTH, Minn. – A community event was held today in support of pollinators and helping to increase their numbers in the northland. The Duluth Monarch Buddies hosted a marketplace at First United Methodist Church in Duluth. Several booths offered information and plants for sale that will help attract butterflies and other species that help pollinate them. The group was formed in…
DULUTH, Minn. — Volunteers began planting on superior street this morning, for the 19th annual “dig in for the downtown waterfront,” tradition. Each year, the event is put on by Duluth’s Greater Downtown Council. Kristi stokes, the Downtown Council President, said that the planting event is a way for community members to be a part of beautifying the area. If…
INT’L FALLS/KABETOGAMA, MINN. –“Mother nature has not been kind to us this year so far at all. So every week it’s like it could come up another foot, every week it could come up another foot, and it has.” Northern Minnesota residents who border Canada continue to battle historic flooding. It has devastated the area and hindered the beginning of…
INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn.- On Saturday Governor Tim Walz and U.S. senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith got a first-hand look at the damage historic flooding has caused in International Falls. The lawmakers toured the Emergency Operations Center, sandbagging sites, and various areas of flood damage. Back in April the governor authorized the national guard to support emergency flood operations in…
Photo: Michael Reid, Mallard Island Board Treasurer. KOOCHICHING COUNTY, Minn.- The historic flooding of the Rainy River Basin near International Falls is soaking and filling buildings on Mallard Island, one of the 5 review islands used for wildlife research, education, and advocacy in Rainy Lake. According to posts on the Mallard Island Facebook Page, volunteers have been working the past…
UPDATE: DULUTH, Minn.- The City of Duluth spokesperson announced that as of 5:21 p.m., Duluth City crews and a contractor restored power to the water pump station that serves the City of Proctor. Water service to Proctor residents has resumed normal operations. DULUTH, Minn.- Crews from the City of Duluth are on-scene at the Water Pump Station that serves the…
Photo: Hibbing Police Department Facebook Page HIBBING, Minn.- Officials with the Hibbing Police Department plan to take a volunteer team Thursday to the Kabetogama area, as the floodwaters continue to claim more homes. According to the National Weather Service, the flooding in the Rainy River Basin is historic, and already exceeded the records set in 2014. It could break all-time…
INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn.- The Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office asked that International Falls residents prepare to evacuate, as historic flooding of Rainy Lake forced the closure of County Road 135 and Town Road 225 Friday. According to an alert from the Minnesota Integrated Alert and Warning System or IPAWS shared on the Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page, County Road 135 closed at…
DULUTH, Minn. – Some homeowners on Park Point are getting buried in fine sand and silt, and some are even losing their yards to inches of the super fine particles. The problem is a result of the beach nourishment project from last year that built back multiple feet of beach by using dredging leftovers from the harbor. The city calls…
KOOCHICHING COUNTY, Minn. — Although the rivers in Duluth don’t seem to be too affected, just two and a half hours north, they’re experiencing what they’re calling historic flooding, and they expect it to get much worse. Residents of Rainy Lake up by the Canadian border and near International Falls, have not seen water levels like this since 2014, and…
SCANLON, Minn. – Weeks of heavy rainfall after the snowmelt have sent the St. Louis River on a wild ride, including in Scanlon. “It’s the highest we’ve seen in 10 years, 2012 obviously — the 500-year flood was the highest,” explained Aaron Hanson, co-owner of River Inn Bar & Grill, which sits along the river. During the 2012 flood, Hanson…
DULUTH, Minn. – Clean up of the former U.S. Steel Duluth Works site is getting a boost in funding. $113 million from the federal infrastructure bill passed last year will go towards the complete restoration of Spirit Lake, Munger Landing, and Scanlon Reservation. A key part of the project through next year is the dredging and removal of 406-thousand cubic yards…
Categories: Environment, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News
Photo: St. Louis County, when they delivered supplies to the community Friday. KABETOGAMA, Minn.- Kabetogama Township is asking for volunteers to help with sandbagging to protect properties from the rising floodwaters in the Namakan Water Basin. Kabetogama is a small community bordering Lake Kabetogama on the southern boundary of Voyageurs National Park. It includes approximately 200 lakeshore properties, among them…
DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth Fire Officials rescued two paddleboarders who drifted off the shore of Park Point, due to a sudden wind change early Saturday afternoon. According to Assistant Fire Chief Brent Consie, crews responded to reports of two teens that had drifted about 100 yards offshore of Park Point near the Beach House. Firefighters launched Marine units to make their…
MADISON, Wis. – Douglas, Ashland, and Bayfield Counties are among those with very high fire danger Saturday, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, due to dry conditions and low moisture. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is asking the public to stay vigilant and avoid burning because of very high fire danger across most of Wisconsin. Winds will…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is warning visitors to the North Shore of hazardous conditions caused by recent storms and snow-melt, sharing images of washed-out trails across many state parks. According to the DNR, many tributaries to Lake Superior are breaching trails, roads, and bridges and have resulted in closures to portions of state parks and trails…
SOUTH RANGE, Wis. — The beautiful spring day Saturday had people taking advantage of the several state parks in the area. The recent ice melt made it the perfect time to stop by for some fishing walk the trails with family, or take pictures of the waterfall. “Into The Wild We Go” takes photographers on excursions to snap some shots…
Saturday’s high winds and dry conditions are posing dangers of wildfires in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. In Wisconsin, the state Department of Natural Resources has listed 52 counties in the “very high risk” category for fires, mostly in northern areas. Eight counties are listed as “high risk” and all other counties are at “moderate risk.” Officials said high winds, dry…
DULUTH, Minn. — We got an inside look at the new multimillion dollar building expansion of Duluth’s Hartley Nature Center. This $2.9 million dollar project was outlined in the 2014 Hartley Park Master Plan. It features new restrooms, community gathering centers, parking, and park-wide signage. The classrooms will also be upgraded to help nurture the educational component of their operations….
Categories: Environment, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Federal regulators are recommending that the Army Corps of Engineers decline to reissue a key permit for the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine. The Environmental Protection Agency says the project could raise levels of mercury and other pollutants downstream from the site in northeastern Minnesota. It’s just a recommendation, but Minnesota Public Radio reports it could…
DULUTH, Minn.- Young environmentalists over at UMD kept the conversation around climate change fresh today with the help of a unique friend. This larger-than-life owl puppet made by the Magic Smelt Puppet Troupe helped attract people to the Duluth Power Dialogue in the Kirby Student Center. “We wanted to find a way to bring art and performance into the environmental…
(FOX 9) – Minnesota’s ban on poultry events has been extended until June 1 amid the outbreak of bird flu in the state. The Minnesota Board of Animal Health last month enacted a temporary ban on poultry exhibitions, including swaps, fairs, and other events where live poultry and other birds are brought together, as part of its response to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)….
DULUTH, Minn. — Homegrown Duluth Pack is the oldest canvas and leather bag/pack maker in the USA, and the company is celebrating its 140th anniversary with a limited edition Legacy Pack. FOX 21’s Dan Hanger recently chatted with Duluth Pack CEO Tom Sega about the new product and the company’s long success. Click on the video for that conversation and…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A majority of respondents to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress’ spring survey say they support limiting the state’s wolf population to 350 animals. The congress is an influential group of sportspeople who advise the state Department of Natural Resources on policy. The congress holds a survey each spring asking respondents for their thoughts on a host of…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- The City of Superior held an event Saturday to make sure it all stays where it belongs in the landfill. Free Landfill Days are this Saturday and the next. Items accepted for free at the site on Moccasin Mike Road include around the house garbage, brush, 4 tires per household, and grass clippings and leaves. Mattresses and box…
DULUTH, Minn. — The Lester River Race happens during the spring thaw challenging expert paddlers from the Midwest to help kick start the white-water kayaking season. The date of this year’s race has been up in the air this past month with organizers waiting for perfectly thawed conditions. After the snow melts, it’s much easier to avoid rocks when flying…
DULUTH, Minn.- At Lester River Saturday morning, more than 50 lakewalk-lovers gathered once again to celebrate earth day picking up around 20 bags of trash along the lakewalk through Brighton Beach. Organizers with friends of the lakewalk said the weather’s nothing when it comes to taking care of the planet. “Right now it started to pour and people are still…
DULUTH, Minn.- Another environment-loving event over at the Depot Saturday provided some gardening guidance and also promoted support for the people of Ukraine. The St. Louis County Extension hosted their Spring Gardening Extravaganza at the depot for the first time. About 150 people showed up to check out displays and presentations on growing all types of fruits and warm-season veggies,…
County Road 65 is temporarily closed approximately 1.2 miles west of State Highway 73 due to a culvert washout. Repairs are expected to be done next week. ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn.- St. Louis County Public Works crews closed parts of several roads in the Northern part of the county, due to excessive rain and snowmelt Saturday. According to Public Works…
DULUTH, Minn. — In honor of Earth Day the communities beloved Lakewalk is getting a cleaning tomorrow morning. Volunteers with friends of the Lakewalk will be meeting on Saturday morning at 9:30 at the Lester River Bridge for the Lakewalk cleanup. The biggest issue is the trash that has built up through the last year, and through the winter so…
DULUTH, Minn. – AJ Axtell, environmental program coordinator at the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD), stopped by the 8 a.m. hour of FOX 21’s morning show to talk about ways to be better to the planet. Click the video for Axtell’s chat with Dan Hanger and Ken Slama, and see some information below. “Earth Day is an opportunity to…
DULUTH, Minn.- Thanks to upgraded jets, the pool in UMD’S Sports and Health Center can now better train kayakers, surfers, and swimmers in rough water conditions through their Rec Sports Outdoor Program (RSOP). The lap pool now has a “flow pump” system. It has one setting for swimmers to practice in smaller waves, another for surfers to work on maneuvers,…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The state Department of Natural Resources has restarted efforts to set standards for bacteria in groundwater after conservatives on the agency’s policy board killed the attempt in February. The Wisconsin State Journal reports that the board on Wednesday authorized a public hearing and comment period on a new rule-making process to set groundwater standards for E….
DULUTH, Minn. — If you enjoy using the parks and trail systems throughout Duluth, and maybe have a couple of ideas on what you would like to see improved, Duluth Parks and Rec is holding in person feedback sessions this week to hear your thoughts. Wednesday was the first of three community workshops to share feedback on Duluth parks and…
DULUTH, Minn. — When you throw out your food scraps, you might not realize the negative impact it can have on the environment, but there is a way to prevent that. The Western Lake Superior Sanitary District is reminding people to separate their leftover food scraps from their trash to drop off at various compost sites around town. When these…
-Minnesota North Shore With the spring weather returning to the Northland, some folks are eager to once again get out and enjoy the natural beauty of the North Shore. Rick Pelky, of Brainard, put it simply, “It’s just a nice, calming, relaxing place to come to. Beautiful.” From sunrise to sunset, the North Shore of Lake Superior boasts stunning rocky…
DULUTH, Minn. – Erickson Library at Lake Superior College played host to a wolf fair Tuesday. Representatives from the International Wolf Center, the Wildlife Science Center, Timber Wolf Alliance, Wildwoods, and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission provided information on the role wolves play in the Northland’s ecosystem. “We have a passion for wolves,” says Kath Rolfe, one of…
DULUTH, Minn.- A brush fire Sunday out in Gary New Duluth is a reminder, firefighters say, that we’re entering one of the seasons where grass and wildland fires are common. According to firefighters out at Station 10 in Gary, sparks from railway tracks off Becks Road, which is near Grand Avenue, likely started a brush fire that burned for about…
DULUTH, Minn. — Sunday evening over in West Duluth, Scouts of Troop 25 got together to continue working on their conservation service projects. Last spring the scouts visited the Sax-Zim Bog, and this spring, they’re building ways to give back and help preserve it. They’re building bird houses for the blue bird and kestrel population to provide a place for…
DULUTH, Minn.-UMD students in the engineers without borders group are on a mission to help provide clean water in Kenya, and on Friday they were looking for help from the community at hoops brewing in Canal Park. In 2020, a few students visited Nyansakia in Kenya, a village of about 2,000 people, to assess the village’s water needs. They found…
DULUTH, Minn. – Several of Duluth’s local and statehouse leaders are pushing for more action in Washington to combat climate change. Duluth Council Member Mike Mayou cites recent extreme weather events, from the flooding in 2012, to storms damaging the Lakewalk, to last year’s wildfires, as signs that action needs to be taken soon. “That’s when the climate crisis really hits…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota animal health officials are imposing a ban on all poultry sales and exhibitions through the month of April after the presence of bird flu was found in the state. The ban, which includes poultry community sales, swaps, fairs, exhibitions, and other events where birds are brought together, is effective Friday and lasts through May…
DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s efforts to combat climate change is getting a boost from the U.S. Department of Energy. The city was one of 22 locations selected to take part in the Communities LEAP pilot program. Federal officials will be working with the city to provide guidance on how they can reduce air pollution, increase energy resiliency, and lower energy costs…
Categories: Environment, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News, Weather in the News
