Cook County strives to keep lakes clean on the Gunflint Trail

Clean. Drain. Dry. The message has been shared by Cook County’s aquatic invasive species coordinator and concerned citizens for years. At the same time, the North Shore region – including Cook County’s many inland lakes and streams – remains some of the most pristine water in the Upper Midwest.

However, the region is not immune to the spread of invasive species. In the summer of 2019, Cook County is offering free boat and canoe washes on the Gunflint Trail as an active approach to combat the spreading of invasive species. A new, heated pressure washer is available for anyone to use at no cost at Rockwood Lodge & Canoe Outfitters. Rockwood is located on Poplar Lake in the Middle Gunflint area.

WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs stopped by Rockwood recently to visit with Carl Madsen, a co-owner of the business who operates the county owned pressure washer.