Dr. Adam J. Heathcote is the Director of the Department of Water and Climate Change at the St. Croix Watershed Research Station.
The Science Museum of Minnesota is deeply committed to advancing the science of water. At the museum’s St. Croix Watershed Research Station, one of our central missions is to provide the scientific expertise needed to protect and restore our most precious natural resource: fresh water.
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness represents a unique living laboratory and an invaluable public treasure. Its pristine natural beauty is an environmental, ecological, and cultural touchstone for Minnesotans. It is irreplaceable. The protections that have ensured the Boundary Waters will be a place for Minnesotans to enjoy for generations to come are under legislative threat. The Senate will soon deliberate on a bill that would overturn a mining ban near the entire area.
The proposed mining area sits at the headwaters of pristine waterways that have remained largely unchanged for millennia, offering rare opportunities for baseline scientific research and environmental education. Once altered, these systems can never be restored. Minnesota’s greatest resource legacy lies in protecting the exceptional water quality that defines our state’s identity and future. As an institution dedicated to inspiring learning through science, we encourage decision-makers to prioritize long-term watershed protection and the preservation of natural systems that serve as invaluable educational resources for generations to come.
Science-based solutions require careful consideration of irreversible impacts. We stand ready to share our expertise in water science and environmental education as this conversation continues. We urge all Minnesotans who want to protect our waters to make their voices heard. Join conservation partners at Boundary Waters Day at the Capitol on Feb. 25, 2026, to speak directly with lawmakers about the importance of preserving this irreplaceable wilderness. When decisions about Minnesota’s water future are being made, it matters who shows up.
