The following is a community submission by Amy Hepp, a Wake Forest writer and member of Wake Forest Indivisible. Community submissions reflect the views of the author and not necessarily those of Wake Forest Matters. To submit your own piece, visit our submissions page.
The Silence of the Boundary Waters
The clear blue lake stretched for miles in front of me. Wisps of clouds dotted the sky. The dip of the paddle rippled the water. The profound silence of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota is truly life-changing.
I explored this remote wilderness area as a young adult with my dad. An avid outdoorsman, he was thrilled when I took my first canoe-camping trip to the Boundary Waters in high school. I traveled there two more times in college with my dad, and I treasure those memories. We experienced strong storms, moose, loons, a bear, and muddy portages. However, when someone asks me to describe the area, my first instinct is to describe the silence. There are no roads, no trails, no motorboats, no ATVs, and no cell-phone towers. Moreover, the Boundary Waters is a no-fly zone, only accessible by canoe or XC skis. It is known for its clear, clean waters.
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The Boundary Waters is part of the Superior National Forest. Furthermore, it comprises more than a thousand lakes and a million acres. Jimmy Carter put protections in place for this land in 1978 by signing the Boundary Waters Wilderness Act. Last week, 48 years after that legislation was signed into law, the Senate passed HJR 140. Consequently, this bill strips the federal protections for 225,000 acres of the Rainy River watershed area. In addition, it opens the door for a Chilean mining company to build a copper-sulfide mine on the edge of these interconnected pristine waters.
After two years of environmental studies, it is a well-documented fact that a copper-sulfide mine will pollute the watershed. All of the lakes in the Boundary Waters are interconnected. Therefore, the pollution will spread throughout the system. Notably, Congress ignored the 675,000 public comments and passed the legislation anyway.
Why the Boundary Waters Matters for Wake Forest
The Boundary Waters is 1,700 miles away from Wake Forest, NC. It is unlikely that the copper-sulfide mining will affect your personal water supply. However, North Carolina is home to many federally protected public lands. Additionally, all US public lands are being threatened right now. The next time you’re in your kayak on Falls Lake, hiking a local trail, travelling west to the mountains, or vacationing on the beach — soak up the nature, the quiet, the freedom. For now.
Specifically, Wake Forest residents who love the outdoors understand the irreplaceable value of protected wild spaces. Whether it’s a walk through our local parks and greenways or a weekend trip to the Blue Ridge — what happens to the Boundary Waters is a preview of what could happen to the lands we love here at home. Moreover, these threats to public lands and environmental protections are growing more urgent every day.
Take Action: Sign the Boundary Waters Petition
Amy Hepp is a member of Wake Forest Indivisible and a local writer. Additionally, she writes contemporary romance set in the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota. You can learn more about her work at linktr.ee/amyheppstories.
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Join her in fighting to protect the Boundary Waters by signing the petition urging the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to cancel the lease contract with Twin Metals mining company:
