After a federal judge upheld the use of motorboats that allow outfitters to tow canoeists into parts of the BWCA, non-profit group Wilderness Watch filed an appeal.
La Tourell’s Resort and Outfitters in Ely operates Prairie Portage and is directly impacted by the ruling.
“The USFS knows how important towboats are to the distribution of BWCA visitors and this use is a big part of their management plan,” said Bob LaTourell.
“The original court decision affirmed this long standing practice was important and appropriate to the total enjoyment of the BWCA.
“Tourism in the Ely area and access for many canoeists would be negatively affected if this access were to be denied.
“For our family, it would be the loss of another aspect of our business that was promised to remain when a buyout was offered to area businesses in 1978.
“Our success and that of other tourism businesses as a part of the fragile Ely economy doesn’t need to see any more hurdles.”
