News Release

Cattail Removal to Continue in Voyageurs National Park to Restore Wetland Habitat

Wetland restoration work

NPS

News Release Date: June 22, 2026

Contact: Kate Severson, [phone]

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. — From July through October 2026 Voyageurs National Park will continue efforts to restore wetland habitat by removing invasive hybrid cattails form within the park. Hybrid cattails have invaded approximately 500 acres of wetlands in Voyageurs, outcompeting important native and diverse plant communities. This long-term project will improve habitat for wildlife, provide enhanced opportunities for fishing, and help restore wetlands to more ecologically diverse, natural states.
 
Park staff and contractors will treat affected areas by grinding up mats of floating cattails with a specialized cutting machine and removing the debris using a harvesting barge. The removed plant debris will be deposited on shore, where it will be spread out and left to decay naturally. Some treated areas will also be re-seeded with a native aquatic plant mix.
 
The initial work will focus on treating problematic floating mats in Black Bay narrows. Additional treatment areas include Gold Portage, as well as Irwin Bay and Mud Bay in Lake Kabetogama.
 
What visitors can expect:

• Work will occur during daylight hours from July through October.
• Equipment may generate noticeable noise in active treatment areas.
• Temporary containment booms will be placed to prevent plant debris from spreading.

Visitors are asked to avoid entering recently treated wetlands by boat or other watercraft to avoid getting stuck or damaging motors as these areas are naturally shallow, mucky, and will contain remnant cattail debris.
 
This project is part of the ongoing Voyageurs Wetland Restoration Project, a collaborative effort supported by multiple partners. Funding is provided through sources including the Outdoor Heritage Fund (Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment), Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, Jefferson National Park Association, The Voyageurs Conservancy, The National Park Foundation, Clean Air Act Settlement Fund, and the National Park Service.
 
For more information about the project, visit the Voyageurs National Park Wetland Restoration Project page.