--- kind: "range" citation: "16 U.S.C. §§ 577–577b" title: "16" from: "577" to: "577b" count: 3 release: "119-102" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/577..577b" --- # §577. Public lands in northern Minnesota; withdrawal from entry and appropriation All [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) of the United States situated north of township 60 north in the [Counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d) of Cook and Lake, [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) of Minnesota, including the natural shore lines of Lake Superior within such [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A); all [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) of the United States situated in that part of St. Louis County, [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) of Minnesota, lying north of a line beginning at the northeast corner of Township 63 north, Range 12 west, 4th P. M., thence westerly along the township line to the southwest corner of Township 64 north, Range 18 west, 4th P. M., thence northerly to the northwest corner of Township 65 north, Range 18 west, 4th P. M., thence westerly to the southwest corner, Township 66 north, Range 21 west, 4th P. M., thence northerly along the Township line to its intersection with the international boundary between the United States and the Dominion of Canada; all [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) of the United States on the shore lines of the lakes and streams forming the international boundary, so far as such lands lie within the [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) heretofore described in this section; all [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) of the United States in that part of the Superior [National Forest](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3) located in Townships 61 and 62, Ranges 12 and 13 west, 4th P. M.; and all [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) of the United States on the shore lines of Burntside Lake and Lake Vermilion, [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) of Minnesota, are withdrawn from all forms of entry or appropriation under the public land laws of the United States, subject to prior existing legal rights initiated under the public land laws, so long as such claims are maintained as required by the applicable law or laws and subject to such permits and licenses as may be granted or issued by the Department of Agriculture under laws or regulations generally applicable to [national forests](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3). # §577a. Conserving shore line beauty for recreational use of public lands in northern Minnesota; regulation of logging The principle of conserving the natural beauty of shore lines for recreational use shall apply to all [Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) which border upon any boundary lake or stream contiguous to this [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), or any other lake or stream within this [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) which is now or eventually to be in general use for boat or canoe travel, and that for the purpose of carrying out this principle logging of all such shores to a depth of four hundred feet from the natural water line is forbidden except as the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture may see fit in particular instances to vary the distance for practical reasons: Provided, That in no case shall logging of any timber other than diseased, insect infested, dying, or dead be permitted closer to the natural shore line than two hundred feet, except where necessary to open [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) for banking grounds, landings, and other [uses](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=10) connected with logging operations. # §577b. Preserving water level of lakes and streams of public lands in northern Minnesota; reservoirs; water power In order to [preserve](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=7) the shore lines, rapids, waterfalls, beaches, and other natural features of the [region](/usc/16/1447a.md?p=6) in an unmodified [state](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) of nature, no further alteration of the natural water level of any lake or stream within or bordering upon the designated [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) shall be authorized by any permit, license, lease, or other authorization granted by any official or [commission](/usc/16/410cc–1.md?p=3) of the United States, which will result in flooding lands of the United States within or immediately adjacent to the Superior [National Forest](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3), unless and until specific authority for granting such permit, license, lease, or other authorization shall have first been obtained by special Act from the Congress of the United States covering each such [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4): Provided, That nothing in this section shall be construed as interfering with the duties of the International Joint [Commission](/usc/16/410cc–1.md?p=3) created pursuant to the convention concerning the boundary waters between the United States and Canada and concluded between the United States and Great Britain on January 11, 1909, and action taken or to be taken in accordance with provisions of the convention, protocol, and agreement between the United States and Canada, which were signed at Washington on February 24, 1925, for the purpose of regulating the levels of the Lake of the Woods: Provided, That with the written approval and consent of the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, reservoirs not exceeding one hundred acres in [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) may be constructed and maintained for the transportation of logs or in connection with authorized recreational [uses](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=10) of national-[forest lands](/usc/16/544.md?p=f), and maximum water levels not higher than the normal high-water mark may be maintained temporarily where essential strictly for logging purposes, in the streams between lakes by the construction and operation of small temporary dams: Provided, however, That nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the [Secretary](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3) of Agriculture from listing for homestead entry under the provisions of the Act of June 11, 1906 (34 Stat. 233), any of the above-described lands found by him to be chiefly valuable for agriculture and not needed for public purposes: Provided further, That the provisions of this section shall not apply to any proposed development for water-power purposes for which an application for license was pending under the terms of the Federal Power Act [[16 U.S.C. 791a](/usc/16/791a.md) et seq.] on or before January 1, 1928.