VNPA’s work promoting and protecting Voyageurs National Park gets us involved with a number of diverse projects relating to the Park.  Here are two of the many things we’re currently working on:

Voyageurs National Park Land Protection Program

To ensure that Voyageurs National Park can be enjoyed by the many generations to come, it is necessary for the Park to be able to manage and conserve the land within the Park’s borders in its entirety. However, there are 52 private properties scattered throughout the Park, primarily on islands and lakeshores. Most have been in stable ownership since the establishment of Voyageurs in 1975. But when they are sold to new owners, these inholdings pose one of the greatest threats to the future integrity of the Park.

The owners of private inholdings within the Park’s boundaries retain full development rights to their properties, restricted only by county zoning regulations. Each time these parcels are sold to new property owners, the risk of property subdivision, new development on pristine land, and home improvements not in keeping with the character of a national park increases significantly.

Through the generosity of the WM Foundation and the Dayton family, we have started a revolving fund to help acquire these private inholdings inside the boundaries of Voyageurs National Park when they are put on the market by willing sellers and to hold them in trust until they can be added to the Park’s public lands. The Wallace C. Dayton Voyageurs National Park Legacy Fund honors Wallace Dayton, a prominent Minnesota conservationist and supporter of Voyageurs National Park.

In addition, VNPA is active in educating decision makers about the importance of federal funding to purchase land for our national parks, a resource that has been severely underfunded for years.

Voyageurs National Park Volunteer Rendezvous

VNPA organizes two Volunteers Rendezvous events each year that help the Park maintain the visitor amenities and wild nature that make the Park a great place to visit.

Due to chronically underfunded budgets, it is often difficult for Voyageurs National Park to adequately maintain the 60 miles of backpacking, hiking, skiing, and snowshoeing trails that offer the primary overland access to the Park’s interior.  Ongoing VNPA efforts help provide upkeep and preventive maintenance for the Park’s trails.  VNPA raises money to donate to the Park for trail crew workers and organizes volunteer trail maintenance crews to complete work in the Park.

This year, the Park has identified the need for volunteers to plant native trees and remove non-native vegetation in order to restore disturbed sites in the Park to their natural state. Native planting will enhance the beauty of Park shorelines, improve wildlife habitat, discourage invasive species, and help the Park receive expected federal funding for future restoration projects.