Podcast Summary: Legends of the Wild, Episode 17

"Boundary Waters Under Threat: Why Sportsmen Must Speak Up Now"

Host: Sam Soholt
Guest: Lukas Leaf, Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters
Date: January 28, 2026

Episode Overview

This urgent episode of Legends of the Wild delves into the escalating threat facing the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) in Minnesota. Host Sam Soholt and guest Lukas Leaf, Executive Director of Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters, provide a comprehensive look at the crisis posed by a proposed copper-nickel mine near the BWCAW. They explain the significance of the region, the political and environmental stakes, and, crucially, why now is the time for conservation-minded people to take action.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Boundary Waters: Uniqueness and Importance

• The BWCAW is a 1.1 million-acre wilderness in northeast Minnesota, "interconnected lake, streams, rivers only accessible by canoe and your own personal power. World class fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, birding" – Lukas Leaf [01:57].
• It's the most-visited wilderness in the U.S., with 150,000–165,000 permitted visitors annually [03:39], and the heart of a significant outdoor recreation economy.
• The BWCAW and the surrounding Superior National Forest harbor "20% of the fresh water in the entire national forest system" despite being only 2% of its acreage [10:02].

2. The Twin Metals Mine Proposal: A Threat Upstream

• A Chilean company, Antofagasta, owns Twin Metals, seeking to open a copper-nickel (sulfide ore) mine on Birch Lake, upstream from the BWCAW [06:21].
• "All of these, this type of mine has in some form polluted the waterways surrounding it historically. 100% of the time." – Lukas Leaf [08:11]
• The mine poses significant risk due to the water-rich nature of the area; pollution could irreparably harm the Boundary Waters ecosystem.

3. The Legal & Political Battle: Moratorium in Jeopardy

• In 2023, a 20-year moratorium (Public Land Order) on new mineral leasing near the BWCAW was enacted to protect the watershed and allow time for technological or legislative solutions [11:23].
• Recently, Rep. Pete Stauber introduced a resolution using the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn the moratorium. This resolution passed in the House and is headed to the Senate [12:48].
• The CRA allows a simple majority to overturn protections and, worryingly, prevents future administrations from reinstating similar protections for the area [35:33].
• "This sets a precedent, if it is successful, for Congress to target other public land orders across the country. So this isn't a singular issue..." – Lukas Leaf [35:34].

4. Action Steps: Why and How Sportsmen Must Speak Up NOW

• "The time is now… create as big of a stink as we possibly can. We don't know yet when the Senate is going to vote on this... so being prepared for it, having a strong coalition behind it, which we have seen..." – Lukas Leaf [14:11].
• Grassroots pressure (calls, messages, social posts) is vital. Calling Senators through the Congressional switchboard and signing action alerts are the most impactful actions [15:46, 21:02, 39:18].
• Involvement with conservation organizations (e.g., Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership) amplifies public pressure in D.C. [19:40, 44:07].
• The BWCAW campaign is a "collective effort," uniting the entire outdoor and conservation community [21:02, 41:08].

5. Stories that Illustrate the Stakes

• Lukas shares his personal history in the Boundary Waters – first visiting at age 12, now with 250+ nights spent there – and the transformative power of wilderness experiences [23:01–25:54].
• The Boundary Waters experience, whether for fishing, hunting, foraging, or just solace in nature, is "something that people need to try to experience" for themselves [30:23].

6. Broader Implications: This Is About More Than Minnesota

• Overturning the moratorium endangers public lands protections nationally by easing the pathway for future mineral leasing on all U.S. public lands [35:54, 36:22].
• "If you're on the fence about... maybe I'll save my voicemail for something bigger... this is something that is going to affect all of us if we don't end up on the right side of this." – Sam Soholt [37:38].

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the uniqueness of the waters:

  "The Superior National Forest, roughly 3 million acres, holds 20% of the fresh water in the entire national forest system... a national forest that is 2% of the collective whole... holding 20% of the freshwater."
  – Lukas Leaf [10:02]

• On the certainty of mining pollution:

  "All of these, this type of mine has in some form polluted the waterways surrounding it historically. 100% of the time."
  – Lukas Leaf [08:11]

• On public lands and collective action:

  “This should not be a political issue. This should not be Democrat or Republican... We should be working on this together for the collective good.”
  – Lukas Leaf [41:08]

• On the urgency to act:

  "The time is now. There's no better time than now and ensuring that we get ahead of it and create as big of a stink as we possibly can."
  – Lukas Leaf [14:11]

• On the meaning of wilderness:

  “To truly understand how important the place is, you really need to experience it.”
  – Lukas Leaf [25:54]

• On the precedent at stake:

  “This isn't a singular issue... This is about protections across the country that have existed for a while or were just implemented recently.”
  – Lukas Leaf [35:34]

Important Timestamps

• [01:57] - Overview of BWCAW: geography, recreation, cultural and economic importance.
• [06:21] - The origin and details of the Twin Metals mine proposal.
• [10:02] - Superior National Forest's national water significance.
• [11:23] - The 20-year mineral moratorium; political and legislative context.
• [12:48] - The Congressional Review Act (CRA) and current attempt to overturn protections.
• [14:11] - Urgency of grassroots action; steps listeners can take right now.
• [19:40] - How to get involved with Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters and conservation coalitions.
• [25:01] - Lukas shares personal stories and formative trips in the BWCAW.
• [35:34] - The national precedent and dangers of using the CRA for public land withdrawals.
• [44:07] - Final call to action; organizations to support and how to get involved.
• [45:59] - White House switchboard number provided.

Resources & How to Take Action

Call Your Senators and Representatives:

• White House Switchboard: 202-456-1414 [45:59]
• Find more info and customizable action alerts at: sportsmenbwca.org

Support and Follow Key Organizations:

• Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters (donate, sign up for alerts, social media)
• Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
• Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
• Save the Boundary Waters
• Other listed partners: First Lite, OnX, Wilderness Society, Conservation Alliance

Speak Up:

• Calling remains the most impactful action ("The most powerful thing that people can do is call" – Sam Soholt [15:46]).
• Join and support conservation groups to increase collective advocacy power [40:48].
• Use, share, and amplify accurate information through social media [15:46, 21:02].

Final Words

This episode is an impassioned rallying cry. The fate of the BWCAW—and potentially all U.S. public lands—hangs on whether the outdoor community will use its collective voice to stop harmful legislation in its tracks. Acting today can make all the difference; as Lukas says, “make those phone calls, support your local organization, join an organization, send a message, do whatever you can” [44:07].