Minnesotans For Sustainability©
Sustainable: A society that balances the environment, other life forms, and human interactions over an indefinite time period.
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Minnesotans For Sustainability©
Sustainable: A society that balances the environment, other life forms, and human interactions over an indefinite time period.
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Testimony of the Friends of the Boundary Waters Minneapolis Star Tribune Poll*
"Opposition deep to park proposals on BWCA, Voyageurs plans"
A Star Tribune/WCCO-TV Minnesota Poll found that nearly 60 percent of Minnesotans oppose legislation that would prevent any part of Voyageurs from being designated as a federally protected wilderness. Forty-four percent of Minnesotans strongly oppose the bill, while 21 percent support it strongly. The poll also found that 70 percent of Minnesotans oppose lifting restrictions on snowmobiles and motorboats in Voyageurs or the BWCA; more than half strongly oppose such a move. Those findings show the depth of support for maintaining the wilderness nature of the two big federal sanctuaries in northern Minnesota. That support also is widespread, encompassing nearly every geographic, demographic and outdoor recreation group measured by the poll. For example, it may come as no surprise that snowmobilers more strongly support the lifting of restrictions on their sport than do other types of outdoor recreationists. Still, 56 percent of snowmobilers oppose lifting the restrictions in Voyageurs; 60 percent oppose such a move in the BWCA. Opposition is even stronger among wilderness campers, cross-country skiers and backpackers. Even anglers are opposed —by a two-thirds majority— to lifting restrictions on motorboats in the two sanctuaries. "I favor keeping the Boundary Waters a protected wilderness," said one of the poll's respondents, Eileen Heitzmann of St. Paul. "There are some things that should be left to nature. I don't think we need to commercialize everything." Heitzmann, 75, described herself as a political independent. She said she has visited and fished in the BWCA on four occasions, each time staying at resorts. She has never been to Voyageurs. Poll / 58 percent favor protecting environment A bill pending in the U.S. House would remove almost all restrictions on snowmobiles, motorboats and floatplanes in Voyageurs. The bill introduced by Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., also would not allow any apart of the park to be designated as federally protected wilderness. None of the 218,000 acres is now designated as wilderness. However, the National Park Service manages some parts of the park as though it were, restricting motorboating and snowmobiling in those areas. The agency contends that the restrictions are needed to protect timber wolves and bald eagles. All of the million-acre BWCA is designated as a federal wilderness and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Oberstar is expected to introduce a bill soon that would ease restrictions on snowmobiles and motorboats in the BWCA. His Eighth Congressional District includes both federal sanctuaries. The poll found that opposition to any compromise of the wilderness nature of Voyageurs and the BWCA is strongest among women, men and women with more education, liberals and those with higher incomes. Still, the opposition is widespread and cuts across political boundaries. For example, 76 percent of those who identified themselves as Democrats oppose removing the current restrictions on snowmobiles, motorboats and floatplanes in Voyageurs. So do 69 percent of all Republicans and 59 percent of those who consider themselves independents. The poll showed that there's slightly less opposition in the northern half of Minnesota to easing restrictions on motorboats and snowmobiles. Nevertheless, 62 percent of northern Minnesotans oppose lifting such restrictions in Voyageurs; 68 per cent don't want to allow more motorized traffic in the BWCA. Among the poll respondents who favor easing restrictions on motorized traffic is Wally Andersen, a self-employed Duluth businessman. He said he often has used a motorboat to fish in Voyageurs and the BWCA. "But less and less these days." he said. "We have campsites we used to go to that now are totally closed off to us. It's getting frustrating. I think we have a right, for God's sake, to go up there. But, more and more, it's becoming a retreat for those with time and money." Andersen, 49, is a political independent. He said he agrees "that there have to be restrictions on the use of motorboats and snowmobiles" in Voyageurs and the BWCA. "But those restrictions should be opened up some," he stressed. "It's getting tougher for the local people to get into those areas." The poll showed that on the issue of environmental protection and economic growth, Minnesotans have attitudes similar to those of people elsewhere in the nation. Fifty-eight percent of Minnesotans polled said they believe that protecting
the environment should be given priority, even at the risk of curbing economic
growth. Nationally, the figure is 62 percent, based on a Gallup Poll conducted
in April for the Cable News Network and USA Today newspaper. It gathered
opinions from 1,007 people nationwide. Wilderness rules The Star Tribune/WCCO-7V Minnesota Poll found strong opposition to loosening restrictions on motorized craft in Voyageurs National Park and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA). Among the findings:
(Source: Star Tribune/WCCO-TV Minnesota Poll of 814 adults statewide Sept.
13-20. Margin of sampling error: no greater loan 3.4 percentage points, plus or
minus.) MINNESOTA POLL Most Minnesotans oppose loosening restrictions on motorized craft in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyageurs National Park. "Currently, none of Voyageurs National Park is officially designated as a wilderness area. However, the National Park Service manages some of it as though it were, which means that the use of motorized craft such as motorboats and snowmobiles is restricted in portions of the park. There is a bill in Congress that would keep Voyageurs National Park from being a federally protected wilderness. Do you favor or oppose such a bill?"
"Congress is expected to consider a bill soon that would allow snowmobiling and motorboating in parts of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness where such activities now are banned. Do you favor or oppose allowing such motorized craft in more parts of the BWCA?"
Facts about the Minnesota Poll: Results are based on a Star Tribune/ WCCO-TV Minnesota Poll conducted statewide Sept. 13-20 by phone with 814 randomly selected adults. Results were weighted for age, gender and education to make sure the sample reflected 1990 census proportions. The weighting also accounted for household size and the number of phone lines in each household. One respondent from each household was selected randomly to be interviewed. For results based on the sample of 814, margin of sampling error is no greater than 3.4 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level. Margins of sampling error for smaller groups, such as snowmobilers, are larger. In addition to random error, results may he influenced by things such as question order, wording and the practical difficulties of conducting any poll, including the effect on public opinion by news events that may have occurred during the interviewing period. N.K. Friedrichs Inc. conducted the interviewing for the Star Tribune from its facilities in Minneapolis. News Research Director Rob Daves directs the Minnesota Poll. He can be reached at daves@startribune.com via the Star Tribune's Internet connection. He encourages e-mail but might not be able to respond to all messages. Findings are available by appointment at the Star Tribune offices at 425 Portland Av. S., Minneapolis. |
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