Final Report to National Park Service, Midwest Archeological Center, on Vegetation and Fire History at Voyageurs National Park

Management of the forest resources in areas such as Voyageurs National Park requires not only information regarding the present forests but also an assessment of forest composition immediately prior to European settlement, the frequency of forest disturbances prior to logging, and the changes or trends of the major forest species prior to logging. A vegetation and fire history of the pre-settlement forests and corresponding climatic interpretation should also aid the interpretation of archeological findings.

The paleoecological work described in this report examines the results of charcoal and pollen analysis from cores of sediment obtained from two lakes within Voyageurs National Park. Relevant results from studies in the BHCA are included in the discussion of the charcoal and pollen analyses from Voyageurs National Park.