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Voyagers National Park acting superintendent outlines power-line, visitor-center and wetland projects for 2026
Summary
Brian Harmon, acting superintendent at Voyagers National Park, briefed the county on 2025 anniversary events and 2026 projects including a 13-mile power-line replacement to Kettle Falls (construction late spring–fall 2026), parking and walkway repairs at visitor centers, dark-sky programming, and ongoing wetland restoration.
Brian Harmon, acting superintendent of Voyagers National Park, gave commissioners an update on the park’s recent activities and upcoming projects, noting that 2025 marked the park’s 50th anniversary and describing planned infrastructure and natural-resource work for 2026.
Harmon said the park has been celebrating its 50th anniversary with museum tours and community events. Looking ahead, he said crews will replace the aging power line that runs to Kettle Falls — work he estimated at about 13 miles — with installation starting in late spring 2026 and continuing through fall; lake cable-laying operations will create temporary slow zones in the immediate work area but will not close water access. “The power line was put in in 1987, so it is definitely due for a replacement,” Harmon said.
Harmon also told the board the park expects to perform road work, parking-lot improvements and walkway repairs around the Rainy Lake and Ash River visitor centers in 2026–27, subject to the contracting schedule. On the natural-resource side, he said the park will continue wetland restoration to reduce invasive hybrid cattails, noting 24 acres were treated in 2025 and similar areas are planned for ongoing work. Harmon thanked commissioners for the county’s recent dark-sky proclamation and said dark-sky programming draws visitors and benefits the ecosystem.
Commissioners asked about boat parking and road widening; Harmon said the park is exploring options but that the current projects will not include major roadway widening. He also said the park is coordinating press releases and social-media notices to keep the public informed about closures and slow zones.
Ending: Harmon closed by offering to return with more detailed schedules as contracts are finalized and invited commissioners to contact park staff with questions about visitor access during construction.
