After more than a year of persistent advocacy, State Senator Grant Hauschild (DFLHermantown) is celebrating a major win for Northern Minnesota families, resort owners, and winter tourism workers as the National Park Service (NPS) has officially withdrawn its proposed Frozen Lake Surface Use Plan at Voyageurs National Park.

“This is a huge victory for Northern Minnesota,” said Sen. Hauschild. “From day one, I’ve said this plan was federal overreach that would devastate winter access and disrupt local businesses that have responsibly used these frozen lakes for generations. I’m proud to say our efforts paid off –
and the voices of our communities were heard loud and clear.”

The draft plan, which aimed to significantly restrict the use of plowed ice roads and motorized travel on portions of Rainy Lake and Lake Kabetogama, sparked strong backlash across the region. Hauschild first raised alarm bells after meeting with the Voyageurs Country Houseboat Operators Association and Voyageurs resort owners during the winter of 2023. Since then, he has been actively pressuring the U.S. Department of the Interior and National Park Service to abandon the proposal, citing the risk it posed to winter tourism, local jobs, and longstanding cultural practices.

According to information Sen. Hauschild received from the National Park Service, the agency is terminating the environmental assessment associated with the frozen lakes plan after reviewing public feedback and determining the effort was unwarranted. The termination was to be posted publicly on May 5. The National Park Service stated the proposed activities would not cause any greater environmental impact than current summertime motorboat usage and therefore did not merit additional federal regulation.

In addition to federal advocacy, Sen. Hauschild took action at the state level to protect Minnesota’s rights to manage their own water bodies. During the 2024 Legislative Session, he authored and passed a key amendment to state law that reinforced Minnesota’s authority to manage its own waters – including frozen lake surfaces. That legislation helped clarify jurisdiction and sent a clear message to federal agencies that local expertise and control matter.

“This is what it looks like when we fight back against federal decisions that don’t reflect the reality on the ground,” said Hauschild. “I want to thank all the local business owners, guides, and community members who spoke out – this win belongs to you.”

Sen. Hauschild vowed to remain vigilant against future attempts to curtail local use of frozen lake surfaces and reaffirmed his commitment to protecting both the traditions and economies that make the Northland unique.

“I’ll always stand up for Northern Minnesota – and I’ll never stop fighting to make sure we have a seat at the table when decisions are being made about our way of doing things.”