Voyageurs National Park is temporarily closing the breeding areas around two (2) of the park’s bald eagle nests to campers and other human activities. After the young eagles leave in late July, these temporarily closed park areas will be reopened for public use.

The park follows the recommended conservation management actions of the Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Management Act (16 U.S.C. 668-668c, 1940 as amended), a Federal law enacted to protect America’s national bird from disturbance and harassment. Each year since 1992, the park has temporarily closed the land and water areas around active bald eagle nests to visitor use during their critical nesting periods. Some eagle pairs nest in late March and early April and others may not initiate nesting until late April or early May.

The closed areas are marked with closure signs and buoys. Park officials are asking both motorized and non-motorized watercraft users to not travel within 200 meters of nests where bald eagles are actively nesting during the closure period (early May through mid-August). Boaters are also encouraged to not stop on the water within the 200 meters near active nesting sites.

Two of the park’s 291 developed Day Use, Tent, and Houseboat sites are affected by the temporary closures. The closed developed areas are:
Kabetogama Lake:

• Happy Landing Campsite (K-11)

• Camelback Island Campite (K-3)

If more breeding areas are found with actively nesting pairs that fall within conservation management guidelines after this news release is issued, more park areas may be posted closed.

Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Voyageurs National Park is increasing recreational access. The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis.
Beginning May 30, 2020 Voyageurs National Park will reopen access to:

• Kettle Falls Rental Villas to overnight guests

• Recreational equipment rental in the Kettle Falls area

• Trading Post sales outlet

• Ferry service to the Kettle Falls area by the concessionaire

Beginning June 1, 2020 in conjunction with state guidance take-out food service will be available with limited menu options, and barroom service will follow MN state guidelines. Hours of operation will be limited, call Kettle Falls Hotel for details (218) 240-1724 or (218) 240-1726.

Portage service and marina fuel service continues to be available in the Kettle Falls area.

In alignment with current federal, state and local guidance for social distancing and to ensure the health and safety of its employees and the public, the park has modified the following operations through the 2020 season:

• Kettle Falls Hotel rooms will be closed

• Walleye filleting and preparing in the restaurant will not be offered

• Music events will not be scheduled through the summer

At Voyageurs, our operational approach will be to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance and will be regularly monitored. We continue to work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public and workspaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers.

While this area is accessible for visitors to enjoy, a return to full operations will continue to be phased and services may be limited. When recreating, the public should follow local area health orders, practice Leave No Trace principles, avoid crowding, and avoid high-risk outdoor activities.

The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19, and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health.

Virtual tours of Voyageurs are available online for anyone who is at home or not traveling at this time. Please see the videos produced in partnership with the Voyageurs National Park Association at https://vimeo.com/user34378905.

Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted on our website at www.nps.gov/voya and www.Voyageurs.org/visitorinfo and social media channels. Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

Starting the week of May 18, 2020, and continuing through the open-water season, Koochiching County Environmental Services and Koochiching and North St. Louis County Soil and Water Conservation Districts will have Aquatic Invasive Species inspectors checking boats and trailers at various public boat ramps on Rainy, Kabetogama, and Crane Lakes. Voyageurs National Park and Voyageurs National Park Association are partnering with Koochiching and St. Louis Counties and other public agencies on Aquatic Invasive Species prevention efforts. Agencies request visitors to park lakes follow Aquatic Invasive Species regulations and Clean, Drain, Dry recommendations to help keep these wonderful lakes free of additional aquatic invasive species.

For more information, please visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Aquatic Invasive Species regulations webpage (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/laws.html) and the Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers Clean, Drain, Dry webpage (https://stopaquatichitchhikers.org/aboutus/#cleandraindry). For invasive species regulations specific to Voyageurs National Park’s smaller backcountry interior lakes (not including Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan, Sand Point), please visit the park’s aquatic invasive species webpage (https://www.nps.gov/voya/learn/nature/aquatic-invasive-species.htm).

The National Park Service is seeking public feedback and comments on the environmental assessment for a site development plan for the Kettle Falls Historic District in Voyageurs National Park. The site development plan provides the park with a road map to enhance the visitor and employee experience in the area, while ensuring the protection of natural and cultural resources. The environmental assessment will analyze a range of options regarding employee housing'; overnight opportunities for visitors; improvements to recreational amenities and day-use areas, landscaping, and accessibility; and access for boats, houseboats, and seaplanes. Alternatives analyzed within the plan were developed, in part, through the public scoping process held by the park in November 2019.

The public is encouraged to review and submit feedback on the draft environmental assessment and associated site development plan at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/kettlefalls; comments will be accepted vi the website through July 10, 2020. The National Park Service is particularly interested in comments regarding the accuracy and adequacy of the information and analysis contained in the environmental assessment. Comments will be addressed and incorporated during the next step of the planning process.

Please note that in-person public meetings will not be held for this review period in order to support social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kettle Falls is located at the east end of the Kabetogama Peninsula within Voyageurs National Park. The area has been used by various peoples throughout history. American Indians once gathered and hunted at the falls, voyageurs paddled and portaged through the area with their goods and furs, and prospectors stopped on their way to gold mines at Rainy Lake. The Kettle Falls Hotel, built during the 1910s, initially served dam builders, lumberjacks, commercial fishermen, trappers, and traders. Later, tourists became the hotel’s primary patrons.

Today, Kettle Falls is a popular destination for Voyageurs National Park visitors and has several docks, scenic trails, and lodging options. The Kettle Falls Hotel and adjacent villas operate from late May through mid-September and are the only lodging available at the park.