Happy America Recycles Day! Voyageurs Offers a New Way to Keep the Park Clean
For an angler, nothing is better than a calm day casting a line into one of Voyageurs’ stunning lakes. But what happens to that line when tackle is packed, boats are cleaned, and the day is over?
This summer, Voyageurs Conservancy partnered with park staff and members from Women of the Water out of Crane Lake to create monofilament recycling stations for leftover fishing line. Local artists are being commissioned to paint the stations, which will be placed at popular fishing spots throughout the park.
Based in Crane Lake, Women of the Water is a community of women looking to build and share boating and navigating skills on northern Minnesota’s captivating, wild lands and waters. A June event provided the ideal opportunity to collaborate on a project that protects the waters we all love.
After a guided hike along the newly-finished Mukooda Trail, the Women of the Water built monofilament recycling stations out of PVC piping. These fixtures will provide a secure, easily accessible spot for anglers to dispose of fishing line, thus preventing discarded line from harming the health of the Voyageurs ecosystem. When the receptacles are full, park staff empty them out, and send the line to be recycled and take on new purpose as a variety of plastic products.
Local artists are turning the receptacles into works of art that unite stewardship and art. The art will reflect the resources we are protecting by recycling fishing line, displaying the park’s ability to inspire artists and anglers alike. Ranger Mariah kicked off the project, painting the enchanting scene of a swimming loon on the receptacle installed at the new fishing pier at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. We look forward to seeing how local student and scout groups let their creativity flow with the remaining recycling stations.
On your next trip up to the park, be it on November 15 for America Recycles Day or any other time the water calls out to you, be on the lookout for these monofilament recycling stations, and enjoy the art of protecting Voyageurs!