Meeting to conduct the land exchange between the U.S. Forest Service and Cook County last week were, left side of table: James Davis, acting realty specialist, Superior National Forest; Christy Tampio, realty specialist, Superior National Forest Tofte and Gunflint Ranger Districts. Right side of table: Cook County Commissioner Myron Bursheim, County Attorney Molly Hicken, Cook County Land Commissioner Lisa Kerr. End of table: County Auditor/Treasurer Braidy Powers (not visible). Picture courtesy of Valerie Marasco
On Thursday, September 24 the United States Forest Service Superior National Forest and Cook County Minnesota completed a land exchange at the Cook County courthouse in Grand Marais – an initiative that began in the 1990s.
Cook County and the Superior National Forest have been working together for nearly two decades to develop the proposal and complete all of the required steps to achieve this land exchange.
The genesis of this exchange has its roots in the establishment of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). When the BWCAW was established, the uses and values of county lands therein were affected due to the laws and regulations applying to wilderness management, including access to and use of those county lands.
The parcels the county now owns through the exchange include parcels under two fire halls, parcels with local recreational trails running across them, and parcels that may be appropriate for gravel pits and communications facilities. The existing Gitchi Gami State Trail corridor now runs across a new county parcel and would be perpetuated by the county through an agreement with the state.
“For years, federally-owned parcels of land have been scattered throughout the county, within its boundaries, but restricted from use,” Molly Hicken, said Cook County attorney. “The land exchange opens up these parcels for land uses that benefit the county’s population, allowing county leadership to include this land in its planning for the county’s future. We are pleased to be able to complete this long-awaited exchange with the Forest Service, and Cook County extends thanks to all involved.”
The land exchange furthers land management objectives identified in the Superior National Forest Plan in that it: contributes to National Forest System land consolidation in the BWCAW, reduces agency administration of complex special-use permits, results in a net wetland acreage gain of approximately 137 acres to the federal estate.
Editor’s note: County lands involved in this exchange are held in trust by the State of Minnesota. Due to a last-minute issue with the State of Minnesota’s deed of conveyance, the exchange is on hold until this issue is resolved.
“All parties involved are working together to complete the exchange as soon as possible,” said County Attorney Molly Hicken.
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