It would increase the wilderness area by 7,400 acres and close Loon and Seagull lakes to motorized traffic. The St. Paul Democrat, who has strong support from environmentalists, said his bill is in direct contrast to legislation sponsored by two other Minnesota lawmakers, Sen. Rod Grams, a Republican, and Rep. Jim Oberstar, a Democrat. The issue of more motorized access versus fewer motors in the BWCA has divided Minnesotans. Democratic Sen. Paul Wellstone proposed a mediation process that failed to reach a settlement. The Grams-Oberstar bill would keep Seagull Lake permanently open to motorboats.
Grams also wants to reopen three truck portages without any expansion of the wilderness.
Exceptions in current law allow motorized traffic on 20 to 25 percent of the total water surface in the BWCA, and allowing more motorboats would erode the wilderness, Vento said.