Anoka County Trust Fund Projects

This listing is produced by the Minnesota State Lottery from information provided by project managers and the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources. While we attempt to provide the most current information, specific project locations and allocations do change. Information on projects for the current biennium, in particular, should be regarded as preliminary.

Cedar Creek Natural History Area Interpretive Center and Restoration – 2005-07 biennium. The University of Minnesota plans to use this grant from the Trust Fund to restore 400 acres of savanna and prairie, construct a Science Interpretive Center and create interpretive trails at the Cedar Creek History Area near East Bethel.

Biological Control of Eurasian Watermilfoil and Purple Loosestrife - Continuation - 2001-03 biennium. In cooperation with staff from the University of Minnesota, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Cornell University and the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Natural Resources coordinated this project to develop and implement biological controls for Eurasian Watermilfoil and Purple Loosestrife - two intrusive species invading Minnesota lakes and rivers. The research scientists working on this project chose study areas along the Mississippi River corridor between Red Wing and Winona and lakes in the seven-county metro area. They report that Milfoil Weevils can cause sustained declines of the invasive, non-native Eurasian Watermilfoil if sufficient densities of the insect are maintained throughout the summer each year. They also discovered that the Milfoil Weevils have their own predators - sunfish - which were, in turn, studied for their effect on the weevil population. Other variables they manipulated for this project include water clarity and physically removing milfoil and other plants. On the other side of the project, research scientists found that Leaf Beetles can provide long-term control of Purple Loosestrife and that these biological agents do not have a detrimental effect on two non-invasive species of loosestrife native to Minnesota. Their study results show these agents can move through a wetland in less than three years and disperse and colonize other wetlands as far as 20 kilometers away.

Metro Greenways - 2001-03 biennium. The goal of the Metro Greenways Project is to protect, connect and restore a metro-wide area network of significant natural areas and open spaces. This project is administered and coordinated by the Department of Natural Resources and relies on partnerships with a wide range of nonprofit conservation organizations, government agencies and private landowners. During the biennium, 11 planning grants were issued to local governments to inventory and assess more than 240,000 acres of land in the metro area, 221 acres were purchased and will be held in public domain, 178 acres were permanently protected with conservation easements and 40 acres of rare sand prairie were restored. In Anoka County, planning and inventory work took place for nearly 25,000 acres of land in Ham Lake and along the Rum and Mississippi River corridors. Trust Fund money also helped expand the Mikkelson Wildlife Management Area in Linwood Township near East Bethel by adding 145 acres of high-quality oak forest and wetlands. You can find more information on this topic at www.embraceopenspace.org.

Metropolitan Regional Parks Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Development - 2001-03 biennium. This Metropolitan Council project used money from the Trust Fund along with the sale of bonds to acquire, develop and rehabilitate parks in the Twin Cities area. In all, 15 projects were financed during the biennium including the construction of a campground visitor center, parking lot and utilities at the Bunker Hills Regional Park in Anoka County. The equestrian center was also relocated and a mile and a half of trails at the park was paved thanks to help from the Trust Fund.

Water Recreation: Boat Access, Fishing Piers and Shore Fishing - 2001-03 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources combined this allocation from the Trust Fund with significant help from local partners to develop five public water access sites around the state, purchase three parcels of land to provide new or expanded access, construct two shore-fishing areas and add or modify eighteen public fishing piers. In Anoka County, Trust Fund money helped purchase and install a 64-foot fishing pier at Ham Lake during 2004.

Development and Assessment of Oak Wilt Control Technologies - 1999-01 biennium. Oak Wilt remains the number one cause of oak mortality in Minnesota. Increased development through oak woods is accelerating the problem, especially in the prime oak habitats of east central and southeastern Minnesota. For this project, the University of Minnesota’s Department of Plant Pathology studied the Sap Beetle that transmits the disease and the effectiveness of using fungus or root graft barriers to control the spread of Oak Wilt. The results included a model that predicts when the Oak Wilt fungus is active, the determination of a variable “no prune” period of time during the spring and better tools for natural resource managers. Part of this study took place in Anoka County at about 20 different properties in Ham Lake and Columbus Township, on Metropolitan Airport Commission lands and at the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area.

Lakescaping for Wildlife and Water Quality Initiative - 1999-01 biennium. This Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) program helped lakeshore homeowners learn how to use native plants on the shoreline and in the water to enhance wildlife habitat and improve water quality in their lake. With assistance from the Minnesota Lakes Association, the DNR conducted a series of workshops for property owners and constructed demonstration sites throughout the state. In Anoka County, a workshop was held on October 14, 2000, in Lino Lakes.

Local Initiatives Grants Program - 1999-01 biennium. Appropriations from the Trust Fund for this project allowed the Department of Natural Resources to fund the Natural and Scenic Area Grants Program, the Conservation Partners Grants Program and the Environmental Partnerships Grants Program during the biennium. More than 140 different projects across the state were approved for matching grants from July of 1999 through June of 2001. In Anoka County, grants were received by the Anoka County Parks and Recreation Department to help restore three acres of Mississippi River bank, six acres of oak savanna along the Rum River near St. Francis and 15 acres of wet prairie by the Linwood Community Park and School Forest to develop and assemble learning trunks for grades 1-6 and by the City of Columbia Heights to restore two acres of wetland at Prestemon Park.

Mussel Resource Survey - 1999-01 biennium. During the first two years of this project (this biennium), biologists and other staff from the Department of Natural Resources sampled 886 sites in 32 Minnesota rivers, 64 tributaries and 12 lakes including 16 sites on the Mississippi River and one on the Rum River in Anoka County during August of 2000 and July and August of 2001. According to the website for this project, http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ecological_services/nhnrp/mussel_survey/index.html, freshwater mussels, commonly called clams, occur throughout the world but reach their greatest diversity in North America where about 300 species are found. Unfortunately, within the last 100 years mussel communities have declined in abundance and diversity due to dam construction, stream channelization, water pollution and sedimentation, over harvesting and the recent introduction of the exotic Zebra Mussel. In response, groups such as the American Fisheries Society and The Nature Conservancy have identified mussels as the most imperiled group of animals in North America. The primary goal of this project is to build the information base necessary to sustain freshwater mussels in Minnesota. Building this base of information is expected to take about six years to complete.

Nongame Wildlife Management - 1999-01 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources’ Nongame Wildlife Program used this grant from the Trust Fund to help carry out more than 65 wildlife conservation projects during the biennium. Among the research, habitat management, information and education and planning activities were planting of lakescaping sites, development of bald eagle management plans, surveys of loon, hawk and owl populations, habitat improvements for endangered and threatened species and wildlife management workshops. Projects in Anoka County included a wildlife survey of the Sandhill Crane Natural Area in East Bethel, mapping of Blanding’s turtle habitat in Lino Lakes, Arden Hills and the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area (WMA), printing of bird checklists for the Carlos Avery WMA and the Boot Lake Scientific and Natural Area, a reprint of the Carlos Avery WMA Auto Tour Route guide, interpretive signage and monitoring of heron populations at Centerville’s Peltier Lake and heron and eagle nest protection signs at Howard Lake near Anoka. The website for the Nongame Wildlife Program is http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ecological_services/nongame/index.html.

Metropolitan Regional Parks Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Development - 1999-01 biennium and an extension of funding from the 1997-99 biennium. For this project, Trust Fund money was combined with a partial match from bonds issued by the Metropolitan Council to finance the highest-priority acquisition, redevelopment and development projects of the metropolitan regional park system. In Anoka County, the Council used Trust Fund money to complete park roads and trails and to enhance the existing beach and picnic area at the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve in Lino Lakes.

Public Boat Access and Fishing Piers - 1999-01 biennium. With help from the Minnesota Future Resources Fund and donations from local contributors, Trust Fund money was put to work building and extending fishing piers, developing boat access sites and purchasing land for future access sites. In Anoka County, a 64-foot fishing pier was installed at Cenaiko Lake at the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park in 2000.

Metropolitan Regional Parks Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Development - 1997-99 biennium. The Metropolitan Council is expanding, improving or developing Twin Cities’ regional parks including constructing recreational trails and picnic shelters, expanding beaches and parking lots and improving boat ramps, campgrounds and park lighting. Also, all parks and trails in the metro area are being digitized for mapping. In Anoka County, the development of the Rum River Central Regional Park and the campground expansion at Bunker Hills Regional Park is being financed.

Metropolitan Area Groundwater Model to Predict Contaminant Movement - 1995-97 biennium and 1997-99 biennium. Estimates are that 230 billion gallons of groundwater are contaminated in the Twin Cities including 16 percent of the most-commonly used groundwater source. The Pollution Control Agency is refining and improving its model that tracks the movement of contaminated groundwater. The model will also be able to evaluate the impact of increased use of groundwater as urban pressures increase.

Environmental Action Grants for Minnesota Schools - 1995-97 biennium. St. Olaf College's School Nature Area Project is conducting a pilot program in which 40 K-12 schools received matching grants to establish and enhance nature areas within walking distance of the school buildings. Ramsey Elementary School students used one of these grants to create a wildlife corridor on two acres of land that had been disrupted by school construction.

Metropolitan Regional Park Acquisition (additional fiscal year 1995) - 1995-97 biennium. This program acquired 55.78 acres from the Department of Transportation for the development of the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve. Lead agency: Metropolitan Council.

Metropolitan Regional Parks - 1995-97 biennium. This Metropolitan Council program financed improvements to its parks with natural habitat areas by creating acre prairies, improvements to maintenance buildings, cul-de-sacs and fencing.

- Building maintenance and fencing at Lake George Regional Park.
- Creation of a 14-acre prairie at Wargo Nature Center.
- Coon Rapids Park Reserve Activity Center Americans with Disabilities Act retrofit.
- Bunker Hills Recreational Center and archery building Americans with Disabilities Act retrofits.
- Islands of Peace toilets Americans with Disabilities Act retrofit.

Retrofitting Regional Parks - 1995-97 biennium. Regional parks in the Twin Cities are being made more accessible for disabled people through this program. In Anoka County, this grant is for improvements at Islands of Peace, Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park and Bunker Hills Recreational Center. Lead agency: Metropolitan Council.

Access to Lakes and Rivers - 1993-95 biennium. Fishing piers, boat ramps and shoreline access sites are being built around the state to provide boaters and anglers with more access to popular Minnesota lakes and rivers. In Anoka County, these funds were used for installation of piers and shoreline improvements on Lake Peltier near Centerville and Golden Lake near Circle Pines as well as shoreline improvements to fishing sites on the Rum River. Lead agency: Department of Natural Resources.

Retrofitting Regional Parks - 1993-95 biennium. Regional parks in the Twin Cities are being made more accessible for disabled people through this program. In Anoka County, this grant was used for improvements in Anoka County Riverfront Regional Park, Rice Creek Trail West and Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park. Lead agency: Metropolitan Council.

Reinvest in Minnesota Critical Habitat Match - 1993-95 biennium. This program provides matching funds to those who want to buy or improve critical fish, wildlife and native plant habitats in Minnesota. Some of these funds are being used to buy natural areas for scientific study, education and nature observation; others are helping restore waterfowl populations. In Anoka County, this program acquired 11.2 acres of land for the Bethel Wildlife Management Area, added acreage to a previously purchased 600 acre oak forest, acquired 40 acres at the Boot Lake section of the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area and seeded native prairie at Carlos Avery. Lead agency: Department of Natural Resources.

Reinvest in Minnesota Wildlife Habitat Stewardship - 1993-95 biennium. This program develops and improves state land for the protection of wildlife and native plants. It includes the restoration of prairies, brush lands, forests and non-game habitat and the planting and management of native vegetation to be used for hunting, observing nature and education. Lead agency: Department of Natural Resources.

- Bald eagle habitat management.
- Grassland development.
- “Landscaping for Wildlife” demonstration area.
- Shorebird habitat management.

Trail Linkages, Metropolitan Regional Network - 1993-95 biennium. New recreational trails are being developed and existing ones are being improved to connect regional, state and local parks and trails around the Twin Cities. In Anoka County, this program helped develop the North Mississippi Regional Trail from Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park to the Rice Creek West Regional Trail. Lead agency: Metropolitan Council.