Benton County 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.

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 Elk River, two sites on the West Branch of the Rum River and one site on Stoney Brook in Benton County during June 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.

Minnesota County Biological Survey - 1999-01biennium, 1997-99 biennium and 1995-97 biennium. Minnesota still has pockets of rare plants, animals and natural areas that need to be protected, managed and studied. The Department of Natural Resources is surveying every county in Minnesota to locate these areas. Since the survey began in 1987, 50 counties have been surveyed. Work began in Benton County during the 1995-97 biennium, continued during 1997-99 biennium and was completed during the 1999-01 biennium.

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 68.4 acres of Benton County wetlands were acquired in Benton County. Lead agency: Board of Water and Soil Resources.

Reinvest in Minnesota Conservation Reserve Easements - 1991-93 biennium. This program assists landowners in returning marginal farmland - especially legally-drained wetlands - back to its natural habitat thus improving water quality, controlling erosion and enhancing fish and wildlife habitat. The Benton County grant allowed the purchase of 26.6 acres in easements. Lead agency: Board of Water and Soil Resources.

Sealing Abandoned Wells - 1991-93 biennium. Forty-two wells were sealed in Benton County through this grant program matching state and county funds. Lead agency: Board of Water and Soil Resources.