Restoring Voyageurs National Park's wetlands is hard, yet rewarding work! Recently, a large invasive cattail mat was removed in the Black Bay Narrows of Rainy Lake. This floating cattail mat has been moving around the park since the 2022 flood and posed a risk to Voyageurs’ wetland habitat.
Cattail removal at Black Bay Narrows, Rainy Lake
Why does removing cattails matter?
These hybrid cattails are aggressive and non-native to Minnesota. They suffocate native vegetation and create dangerous floating mats. If left unmanaged, these invasive species would overtake the park’s rich wetlands. Healthy wetlands are critical to Voyageurs National Park’s resiliency. By removing invasive cattails we are protecting:
Wildlife Habitat: By removing invasive cattails, we are increasing biodiverse habitats for wild rice, marsh birds, native fish, and more.
Water Quality: Wetlands act as natural water purifiers, filtering sediment and absorbing many pollutants in surface waters.
Endangered Species: About one-third of all plants and animals listed as threatened or endangered species in the United States depend on wetlands for their survival.
Recreation: Wetlands contain a diversity of plants, animals and water features that provide beautiful places for sightseeing, hiking, fishing, hunting, boating, bird watching, and photography.
Education: Ecological, cultural, and historic resources run abundant in our nation's wetlands, and provide countless opportunities for environmental education and public awareness programs.
Credit: Andrea Hynes
In 2015, Voyageurs National Park and Voyageurs Conservancy, with support from many other partners, launched a 10-year plan to restore cattail-invaded wetlands. The goal of the Voyageurs Restoration Project is to mechanically remove cattail and other invasive plants and restore native vegetation, such as wild rice, using new and established techniques. The project is also evaluating the effectiveness of our restoration strategies for their use in Voyageurs National Park and the surrounding region. With your support, we are working to restore over 500 acres of native wetlands in the park!
Team of Wildlife & Wetland Technicians at Voyageurs National Park
