Beltrami County

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.

Minnesota County Biological Survey – 2009
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/mcbs/index.html
For the past 20 years the Department of Natural Resources has been systematically surveying the state’s natural habitats.  This study identifies significant natural areas and collects and interprets data on the distribution of native plant communities, rare plants, and rare animals.  Through May 2009, project managers have completed surveys in 74 of Minnesota’s 87 counties and have added almost 17,000 new records of rare features to DNR information systems.  These data have been put to a number of uses, including park and natural area protection and the development of a state wildlife action plan.  This appropriation will permit continuation of the survey in Lake, Cook and St. Louis counties, while surveys will begin in Clearwater and Beltrami counties. Work will also continue on two books:  a revised guide to Minnesota’s reptiles and amphibians, and a guide to the wildlife of the Red River Valley and nearby aspen parklands.

State Trail Acquisition – 2009
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_trails/index.html
This appropriation will help the Department of Natural Resources acquire land for two trails: the Brown’s Creek Segment of the Willard Munger Trail in Washington County and the Paul Bunyan Trail in the city of Bemidji. The Brown’s Creek Segment runs six miles between the Gateway State Trail and downtown Stillwater along the route formerly used by the Minnesota Zephyr Dinner Train, while the new segment of the Paul Bunyan Trail will run 1.25 miles along the southeastern shoreline of Lake Bemidji.

Paul Bunyan State Trail Connection – 2005-07 biennium. This appropriation from the Trust Fund to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is to acquire land to connect the Paul Bunyan State Trail within the city of Bemidji.

Development and Rehabilitation of Minnesota Shooting Ranges − 2003-05 biennium. Through this appropriation, 28 recreational shooting organizations and archery clubs across the state received grants from the Trust Fund, along with matching grants from the Minnesota DNR Division of Enforcement, to make improvements to archery ranges and shooting ranges that are available for public use. In Beltrami County, grants were used to improve the archery facilities at Bemidji Archery Club in Bemidji.

Local Grants Initiative Program: Outdoor Recreation Grants – 2001-03 biennium. Money from the Trust Fund as well as the Minnesota Future Resources Fund was allocated during the biennium for this project administered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. As a result, grants were provided for more than 130 different local environmental initiatives under several different categories, each with their own requirements: the Natural and Scenic Area grants program, Regional Park grants, Local Park grants, Conservation Partner grants and Environmental Partnership grants. In Beltrami County, the Trust Fund portion of the allocation was used for grants to help the Headwaters Science Center compile teaching and reference collections of north-central Minnesota invertebrates and collaborate with Bemidji State University, the Bemidji Middle School and the Beltrami Soil and Water Conservation District staff to teach 400 7th graders about the importance of water, water quality indicators and how to run basic water tests. In addition, the Turtle River Watershed Association received a grant to create a revolving loan fund to restore natural plant communities along streams and lake shores in the watershed north of Bemidji.

State Park and Recreation Area Acquisition - 2001-03 biennium. Funding from two sources - the Trust Fund and the Future Resources Fund - was combined for this project to expand our public parks. Big Bog State Recreation Area just north of Waskish in Beltrami County grew by 200 acres during the biennium. In all, more than 1,100 acres were purchased within the boundaries of nine state park and recreation areas from willing private landowners.

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 Beltrami County, a workshop was held on August 19, 2000, in Bemidji.

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 Beltrami County, grants were received by the Headwaters Science Center to provide training and equipment for the Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Project and by the Bemidji Middle School to enhance the school campus for wildlife habitat and environmental education.

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 two sites on the Clearwater River in Beltrami County during June of 2001.  According to the website for this project, http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/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.

Predicting Water and Forest Resources Health and Sustainability - 1999-01 biennium. This project, organized by the University of Minnesota’s Natural Resources Research Institute in Duluth identified and compiled existing data on forest birds, amphibians, aquatic insects and native plant communities in the Drift and Lake Plains and the Northern Superior Uplands of northern Minnesota. The result is a mathematical model called SUSTAIN that can be used by resource managers to predict future forest ecosystem health and sustainability for northern Minnesota forests.

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 Beltrami County, a 64-foot fishing pier was installed at Bullhead Lake in Kelliher in 2000.

Minnesota’s Forest Bird Diversity Initiative - 1999-01 biennium, 1997-99 biennium, 1995-97 biennium, 1993-95 biennium and 1991-93 biennium. Forest birds are key indicators of the health of Minnesota’s forest ecosystem. To address concerns of forest sustainability, the Department of Natural Resources and the Natural Resources Research Institute (at the University of Minnesota, Duluth) launched Minnesota’s Forest Bird Diversity Initiative in 1991. The Initiative’s goal is to develop landscape management tools to maintain the state’s unique diversity of forest birds through long-term monitoring of bird populations, research, modeling and education. This Initiative relies on more than 1,600 bird count locations in Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Cook, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Mille Lacs, Olmsted, Pine, Rice, St. Louis, Wabasha and Winona Counties. For more information about this project, including other sponsors, visit www.nrri.umn.edu/mnbirds.

Red River Valley Planning and Management - 1997-99 biennium. The Pollution Control Agency is working with an array of political jurisdictions and governments to determine ways of managing the land and water in the Red River Valley in northwestern Minnesota. The project includes a U.S. Geological Survey study of causes of sediment in streams and rivers in the Red River drainage basin (including the Red Lake River) that will lead to methods of protecting water quality from the effects of erosion. 

Reinvest in Minnesota Critical Habitat Match Acquisition and Enhancement - 1997-99 biennium.  This Department of Natural Resources’ project provides an opportunity for private individuals, groups and businesses to help fund the cost of acquiring or improving critical fish, wildlife and native plant habitats by offering matching funds.  In Beltrami County, 27 acres have been acquired for the Big Turtle Lake Island Aquatic Management Area.

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 or enhance nature areas within walking distances of the school buildings.  Students at Ponemah Elementary School improved wildlife habitat at the school’s nature area and put up a variety of nest boxes and bird feeding stations.

Environmental Education Teacher Training - 1995-97 biennium.  Environmental education is a new field of study that is not required for teacher licensure.  The Office of Environmental Assistance is working with universities to develop four such courses that can be required for students and offered to teachers as in-service programs.  Under this program, grants were given to Bemidji State University for participation of their educators.
  
Reinvest in Minnesota Fisheries Habitat Development, Hatchery Rehabilitation and Stream Protection - 1995-97 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) undertook projects to acquire, improve or restore fishing habitat. The DNR grant was used for the improvement of warm water fisheries habitat for the walleye spawning area at Big Lake Creek.

State Park and Recreation Area Acquisition, Development, Betterment and Rehabilitation - 1995-97 biennium.  This program improves state parks by rehabilitating existing facilities and building new ones.  Under this program, 8.82 acres were added to Lake Bemidji State Park and park benches and toilets were installed.  Lead agency:  Department of Natural Resources.

Reinvest in Minnesota Statewide Fisheries Habitat Development - 1993-95 biennium. This program improves habitat for trout, walleye and small-mouth bass by building structures in 25 miles of streams throughout the state and installing aerators in lakes prone to winterkill. In Beltrami County, this program financed habitat improvement along the Blackduck and Clearwater Rivers.  Lead agency:  Department of Natural Resources.

Reinvest in Minnesota Wildlife Habitat Stewardship - 1993-95 biennium.  About 29,000 acres of state land is being developed and improved to protect wildlife and native plants.  The Department of Natural Resources is restoring prairies, brush land, forests and non-game habitat while planting and managing native vegetation to enhance hunting, observing nature and education.  The Beltrami County grant was used for brush land development.

Easement Acquisition on Restored Wetlands - 1991-93 biennium.    This program acquires permanent easements of federally-restored wetlands.  With the destruction of wetlands, many species of waterfowl are at all-time lows and rural Minnesota faces significant water contamination, soil erosion and downstream flooding problems.  By restoring and protecting wetlands, many of these problems can be reduced or eliminated.  Easements on thirty-one acres of wetlands were acquired in Beltrami County.  Lead agency:  Board of Water and Soil Resources.

09/25/09 - TM