The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota is the most visited Wilderness area in the United States, garnering around 150,000 to 250,000 visitors per year. Its vast wilderness extends 150 miles along the U.S.-Canada border, covering approximately 1,098,000 acres with over 1,100 lakes and 1,200 miles of canoe routes, attracting more than 150,000 visitors annually. Now, that is under threat of being changed forever.

A congressional plan to force a Chilean-owned copper mine into the headwaters of the nation’s most visited and beloved Wilderness is moving forward, with Representative Stauber introducing Joint Resolution 140 on Jan 12, 2026. The bill went to the floor for a vote on Wednesday, January 21. It passed 214-208. It now heads to the Senate, and timing is yet unknown.

Joining Liz for this deep dive episode is Ingrid Lyons, the Executive Director of Save the Boundary Waters. Ingrid talks about why the Boundary Waters is so special and why everyone needs to care about protecting it. These are OUR public lands and we won't let them be taken away.

TAKE ACTION: Call and email your Senators NOW using the Save the BWCA action toolkit: Call Form & Email Form.

Learn more about Save the Boundary Waters: SaveTheBoundaryWaters.org/
Follow Save the Boundary Waters on Instagram: @savethebwca.

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