Protect Minnesota’s Identity: Defend the Boundary Waters

For Minnesotans, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness isn’t just a place on a map—it’s part of who we are. It’s where silence still exists, where water replaces roads, and where generations have learned to slow down and pay attention. Whether you’ve paddled its lakes or simply grown up knowing it’s there, it represents something deeper: resilience, stewardship, and respect for nature. In Minnesota, we don’t separate identity from land.

Spanning more than a million acres in northeastern Minnesota, the Boundary Waters is a national treasure—known for its pristine waters, diverse ecosystems, and unmatched tranquility. But this irreplaceable wilderness is under threat. Pollution, climate change, and proposed mining activities put its delicate environment at serious risk.

Recently, actions at the federal level—including moves by the U.S. Senate to overturn protections that limited mining activity near the Boundary Waters—have heightened these risks and reopened the door to potential environmental harm. This makes strong state leadership more critical than ever.

We cannot afford to wait.

We are calling on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Commissioner Sarah Strommen, Governor Tim Walz, and Minnesota state legislators to take immediate, meaningful action to protect the Boundary Waters.

We urge leaders to:

• Enforce stronger environmental protections and oversight
• Require comprehensive environmental impact assessments before any industrial development
• Increase funding for conservation, restoration, and water quality monitoring
• Take decisive state-level action to counter weakened federal protections and prevent harmful mining near the Boundary Waters

Protecting the Boundary Waters is not just about conservation—it’s about preserving a defining part of Minnesota’s identity.

Our message is simple: prioritize sustainability. Defend what makes Minnesota, Minnesota.

Sign this petition and contact your elected officials today (Governor Walz and DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen- 651 259 5555) Together, we can ensure the Boundary Waters remains a place of natural wonder for generations to come.