Josephine Marcotty, The Star Tribune:
A stark forecast looms for Minnesota’s great North Woods, the mixed hardwood and conifer forest that grew when the glaciers retreated during the last great climate change 12,000 years ago.
Driven by a warming climate, scientists predict, the forest will soon follow the glaciers and retreat north by as much as 300 miles in the next century. Much of northern Minnesota, they say, will become open savannas like those in Nebraska and eastern Kansas — with grasses and brush, a few scattered trees, and domes of bare rock rising from the ground.
Great reporting. Don’t miss the interactive graphics, which are truly frightening.
The Beargrease is Back On
Last week, organizers of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon announced that the race on Minnesota’s North Shore would be canceled this winter. The funding, they said, just wasn’t there after a few uncooperative winters.
But this week, a group of mushers and longtime supporters – which includes the magazine’s own Linda Nervick – stepped forward to keep the race going. The new leadership says the community’s support has been strong, and they’re already working to make the 2014 race better than ever, reports the Duluth News Tribune.
Wood-Powered
Wood chips are helping Northern Michigan University keep energy costs down. The Upper Peninsula school trucks in four loads of the chips to help produce electricity in a new biomass unit on its campus.
The unit will save the university $1.5 million per year.
+ North Shore Community Radio’s Kelly Schoenfelder reports on two major projects in Lutsen, Minnesota.
+ Eastern Upper Peninsula tourism traffic was up in 2013, says Soo Evening News.
+ The Northwestern Ontario Aviation Heritage Centre celebrated its grand reopening this week. The Chronicle Journal has the story.
+ The Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center in Ashland generates more than $5 million in area spending, reports the Daily Press' Rick Olivo.
+ The Country Today profiles the Farm Beginnings program, which provides training to farmers in the Lake Superior region.
+ KBJR: “New owners of Telemark Lodge willing to work with community leaders.”
+ The iconic Swinging Bridge at Minnesota's Jay Cooke State Park will soon reopen, reports Sam Cook in the Duluth News Tribune.