News
Mission:
To protect and promote the natural, recreational and historic resources of Voyageurs National Park.
Public Comments on Namakan Dam Project Due 2/26/10
Today, we urge you to take action and help prevent the construction of a hydroelectric dam at High Falls on the Namakan River. The proposed project stands to irreversibly impact not only the scenic landscape of this pristine region, but also the wildlife of Voyageurs National Park.
The Namakan River is a free-flowing wilderness corridor that connects Quetico Park in Ontario with Voyageurs National Park and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota. (See Figure 1, courtesy of the Quetico Foundation.) The Namakan is the last remaining waterway on the historic 19th-century voyageur route in eastern North America that has yet to be dammed.
Hydroelectric development (which includes blasting out ancient bedrock, altering the natural waterflow, and constructing power stations) will destroy the habitat of two threatened species: Lake Sturgeon and the Pygmy Snaketail Dragonfly. These species use the free-flowing Namakan River to reproduce. Any habitat loss and alteration will significantly impact their future in the Namakan ecosystem. Hydroelectric projects are the primary cause of the Lake Sturgeon’s decline. Learn more about this and other project concerns by clicking here.
Please take a moment to tell the Premier of Ontario and the project’s proponent that the hydroelectric projects on the Namakan River are unacceptable. CLICK HERE to comment now; a sample letter is inserted for you to use or alter. The Namakan River’s most valuable “use” is to preserve its extraordinary history, breathtaking scenery, and wildlife habitat for future generations.