Firewood Policy

A fire burns in a pit

All firewood at Three Rivers Park District campgrounds must be Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) certified wood. DNR-certified firewood is no longer accepted.

Three Rivers Park District is working to protect Minnesota forests from invasive pests. As part of this effort, we have a policy prohibiting visitors from bringing in firewood from unapproved sources into any Three Rivers Park property. Similar programs have been implemented on a state and federal level.

Firewood options available to park patrons include:

  • MDA-certified firewood. This wood must be accompanied with a receipt and the MDA-certified logo.
  • Firewood is available to purchase at the Three Rivers Campgrounds (Baker Park, Carver Park and Cleary Lake). This firewood is not MDA certified or intended for use outside of the campground purchased at.
  • Untreated, unpainted and unstained dimensional lumber (such as 2x4 or 4x6 scraps from a building project) free of metal or other foreign substances. Pallet wood is not approved firewood.

Emerald Ash Borer Discovered in February 2018

The first confirmed emerald ash borer (EAB) infestation within Three Rivers Park District was found in February 2018 in Elm Creek Park Reserve near the Chipmunk reservation picnic area. The infestation of this invasive species was discovered in three trees by Forestry staff during the annual hazard tree inspection. Because the infestation was discovered in an active use area of the park, all of the ash trees in that immediate area must be removed.

While it is impossible to determine exactly how EAB was spread to the infested area at Elm Creek Park Reserve, the most likely cause was through unintentional transportation of infested firewood to the picnic area. Learn more about the infestation and management plan.

Additional information on the Emerald Ash Borer and MDA-certified firewood is available on the MDA webpage.