Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2024

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 1657, the Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2024.

Lake Winnibigoshish, or Lake Winnie as it is also known, is located within the boundaries of the Chippewa National Forest and is home to Bowen Lodge, a premier, family-owned fishing lodge. Bowen Lodge has been in operation and welcoming patrons since 1925.

For the past four decades, Bill and Gail Heig and their family have operated Bowen Lodge, serving as incredible stewards of Lake Winnie and providing incredible fishing and vacation memories for Minnesotans and other out-of-towners over the years.

Currently, Bowen Lodge has a 20-year agreement with the U.S. Forest Service to lease 17\1/2\ acres of shoreline along the lake, where they operate their marina. Under the Heigs' stewardship, Lake Winnie has remained accessible to the citizens of Itasca County and the many people who visit.

Notably, the Heigs purchased extra acreage in 2021 after an out-of- State mega-resort developer sought to purchase a parcel of land, which would have changed the face of Lake Winnie forever. Now, Bowen Lodge is seeking to convey this extra acreage to the Chippewa National Forest.

It is in the best interest of the public that the Forest Service take stewardship of this land, rather than out-of-State developers that may not prioritize public access for our local community.

Additionally, this land will make it easier for the Forest Service to access and responsibly maintain their other acreage in the area.

The bill before us today would facilitate the land exchange between Bowen Lodge and the Forest Service: 17 acres of shoreline to Bowen Lodge so they can continue to operate their marina in exchange for 37 acres of nearby land to the Forest Service, which would then be added to the Chippewa National Forest.

This exchange would better align proper boundaries, put the right acreage under the right management, and ensure Minnesotans have the ability to boat, fish, and enjoy beautiful Lake Winnie.

Thanks to the Heigs' quick thinking and strong advocacy, our way of life will be preserved.

I am proud that this land exchange is supported by local communities in Itasca County, including the local county board of supervisors that testified in support of the bill before the Natural Resources Committee last fall as well as the Mississippi Headwaters Board and other local environmental organizations. It is also supported by the U.S. Forest Service and leadership of the Chippewa National Forest.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1657) to provide for a land exchange in the Chippewa National Forest, Minnesota, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1657, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1657, the Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2024, a bipartisan bill being led by the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).

This commonsense legislation will authorize the U.S. Forest Service to enter into a land exchange with the Bowen Lodge, a family-operated resort on the shores of Lake Winnibigoshish in northern Minnesota.

Exchanging parcels between the Chippewa National Forest and the Bowen Lodge will create a win-win scenario. The lodge will gain permanent access to the lake, and the Forest Service will be able to reconfigure part of its unwieldy checkerboard pattern of land ownership.

This change will provide excellent fishing and recreation opportunities for the local community and improve management efficiencies for the Federal Government.

I applaud Representative Stauber for his leadership in this effort to improve outdoor recreation opportunities for his constituents and for all who have the pleasure of visiting and recreating in northern Minnesota. He has long been a strong advocate for responsible public land management and access for outdoor recreation, and this

legislation is an excellent reflection of that commitment.

Mr. Speaker, I support the bill and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber), the lead sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, this is a commonsense bill that will benefit the people of northern Minnesota and our public lands. Once again, I applaud Representative Stauber for his work on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1657, introduced by Representative Stauber, would authorize the U.S. Forest Service to exchange a parcel of Chippewa National Forest land for a parcel of land currently owned by the Big Winnie Land and Timber company in Minnesota.

The Forest Service parcel is commercially zoned and already leased annually for the management and operation of a marina and resort, so the land exchange is designed to ease and simplify management.

In exchange for the land that includes the marina, the Forest Service will receive a parcel that consolidates ownership in the Chippewa National Forest, providing for better land management of undisturbed sites, critical wetlands, and wildlife habitat that are currently adjacent to Federal lands. In turn, Big Winnie will continue management and operation of the marina and resort for continued visitor and commercial activity.

This bill is a commonsense solution that follows the standard protocols for these types of transactions.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for working with us to incorporate feedback from the Forest Service, including extending the timeline to allow for the completion of the exchange.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.