Boundary Waters: Wilderness Ecosystem

Rating:
Summary: A must read for all BWCA visitors!
Review: I have traveled the BWCA for 30 years, but until reading this book never understood much about the history and ecology of the area. Bud Heinselman spent his life intently studying this magnificent forest, and left us a wonderful legacy in this book.

He spent decades studying the fauna and flora of the BWCA, especially the trees of the forest. Combining that information with his rich knowledge of the more recent history of the BWCA, especially of logging and mining, helps one understand just how the forest has come to be as it is today.

He covers all aspects of the BWCA's ecology: water, rocks, fish, trees, et. al. You may not realize how foreign the smallmouth bass is to the area, or even how close the area came to being developed and lost forever. He provides maps of the area with the forests dated to their most recent burn or logging: you are able to look up your favorite canoe routes and determine what trees are prevalent and why.

One of his major points is that modern fire fighting has altered the natural ecology of the area: as fire has been suppressed, fuel on the forest floor has increased, leading to the potential for more severe "crown" fires which destroy even the ancient white and red pines.

This book is a must-read for all BWCA visitors and deserves a place in the library of anyone that cares about ecology. TH Bracken MD [e-mail]