June 2023

The Supreme Court ruled on May 25 in a case that questioned the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ability to regulate wetlands under the Clean Water Act. In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court affirmed an Idaho couple’s ability to build a home on their property that is a few hundred feet from Priest Lake, reversing a decision made by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit that sided with the EPA. However, the court was also split within the ruling on what is known as the “significant nexus” test to interpret whether wetlands are connected to navigable waters. The 5-4 majority ruling found that the EPA’s authority applied only to those wetlands that are indistinguishable from and have a “continuous surface connection” to larger lakes, oceans, streams, and rivers. The decision is considered a win for small property owners but significantly reduces protections for wetlands.

Hunters and recreational shooters collectively form a multi-billion-dollar industry and, as a result, have significant cultural and economic impacts in the United States. These two groups are also the foundation of financial support for state-level wildlife conservation efforts. However, since the 1980s, there has been a noticeable decline in participation in these activities, posing a threat to wildlife conservation and the related outdoor industries. Through a Multi-State Conservation Grant, the Wildlife Management Institute (WMI) has been working with state fish and wildlife agency partners to develop social media video content and test the marketing impact this content is having on the target audience of potential new hunters.

The Biden administration has withdrawn some 225,000 acres of national forest land in northern Minnesota from mineral leasing, protecting a swath of the watershed that adjoins the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The decision follows a 16-month review on whether the minerals lying under Superior National Forest should be open to extraction. The Department of the Interior concluded the land should be protected for 20 years, the maximum possible without congressional approval.