Brown 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.

Putting Green Environmental Adventure Park: Sustainability – 2003-05 biennium. This grant from the Trust Fund allowed Putting Green, Inc to develop nine learning stations and 30 bilingual interpretive signs with the message of resource sustainability along the Minnesota River in New Ulm. The 9 acre park is a “Living Lab” encouraging people to experience the natural river environment and southern Minnesota ecosystems through nine miniature golf learning stations, interpretive river trail and “outdoor rooms” featuring native plants. In fact, the whole park is a showcase of sustainable design and construction principles and practices that demonstrate the use of recycled and reused materials, renewable energy sources and sustainable landscaping practices that invite people to consider environmentally healthy choices in their own homes and workplaces.

Acquisition of Lands as Scientific and Natural Areas - 2001-03 biennium. This appropriation from the Trust Fund was used to acquire critical lands with plant communities such as native prairie and rare species habitat. Appraisals at seven potential locations were completed during the biennium and nearly 180 acres of land was purchased at four different Scientific and Natural Areas. In Brown County 2 acres were added to Cottonwood River Prairie southwest of Springfield.

Minnesota ReLeaf [Tree Planting and Preservation] Matching Grant Program - Continuation - 1999-01 biennium. This project, organized by the Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry, used money from the Trust Fund and the Minnesota Future Resources Fund to provide 111 grants to local units of government and non-profit organizations for community forest assessments, preventing the spread of Oak Wilt in community forests and planting new trees. On average, each $1 of state funds was matched by $1.72 of local cash or in-kind services. Part of this appropriation assisted St. Peter, Comfrey and Granite Falls with the replacement of trees destroyed by the tornados of 1998 and 2000.

Minnesota River Basin Initiative: Local Leadership - 1999-01 biennium with an extension to June 30, 2002. The Minnesota River has been the subject of many studies and many projects over many years. This project, administered by the Minnesota River Basin Joint Powers Board, was designed to encourage local leadership within each of the 13 major Minnesota River watersheds, implement projects on a cost-sharing basis to improve the river’s water quality and display the results on the Minnesota River Basin Data Center website. Visit http://mrbdc.mnsu.edu/index.html for more information about this project.

Minnesota County Biological Survey - 1999-01 biennium and 1997-99 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. Survey work began in Brown County during the 1997-99 biennium and was completed during the 1999-01 biennium.

State Park and Recreation Area Acquisition, Development, Betterment and Rehabilitation - 1997-99 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources is expanding and improving its state parks and recreation areas by building new facilities, repairing and upgrading existing facilities and buying privately-owned land within park boundaries. This appropriation allowed the addition of eight acres to Flandrau State Park.

Maintaining Native Grasses Along Roadsides - 1995-97 biennium. The way grasses and plants along roadsides are maintained significantly impacts soil and water quality, wildlife and rare plant habitats. Under this program, new technology was used to plant and manage native grasses in road rights-of-way that will protect and improve biological diversity.

RIM Critical Habitat Match - 1995-97 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources has matching funds available for anyone who wants to buy or improve critical fish, wildlife and native plant habitats. Projects must emphasize habitat for endangered species, uncommon or diminishing ecological communities, existing fish and wildlife populations and fish and wildlife recreation. In Brown County, this program led to restoration of original vegetation at Tauer Prairie.

State Park Betterment - 1995-97 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources is improving state parks by rehabilitating existing facilities and building new ones.

- Beach rehabilitation at Flandrau State Park.
- Bridge rehabilitation at Fort Ridgely State Park.
- Office rehabilitation at Fort Ridgely State Park.

Minnesota River Implementation Project - 1993-95 biennium. This project works with landowners and governmental agencies to reduce the high amounts of pollution in the Minnesota River. The goal is to use land management practices that reduce the amount of pollutants and runoff that empty into the river from a 30-county area. The project includes an educational program being used by 15 high schools that brings attention to water quality. Lead agency: Pollution Control Agency.

RIM 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 population to their 1970s levels. This grant allowed the Department of Natural Resources to purchase 41 acres of land at the Rosenau-Lambrecht Wildlife Management Area west of New Ulm, 33 acres at the River Valley Wildlife Management Area northwest of New Ulm and 16 acres at the Bashaw/Reicks Wildlife Management Area near Comfrey.

RIM 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 winter kill. The Brown County grant allowed the removal of the Flandrau Dam on the Cottonwood River. Lead agency: Department of Natural Resources.

Clean Water Partnership Grants to Local Units of Government - 1991-93 biennium. This program seeks to control nonpoint sources of pollution through watershed management to protect and improve surface and groundwater in Minnesota. The project provides matching grants and technical assistance to local units of government. The Brown County grant was for implementation of programs to improve groundwater quality. Lead agency: Pollution Control Agency.

Minnesota River Basin Water Quality Monitoring - 1991-93 biennium. This project sought to identify the sources of nonpoint pollution threatening the water quality and uses of the Minnesota River and its tributaries including the Sleepy Eye and Cottonwood Rivers. The results are used to direct state and local pollution programs. Lead agency: Pollution Control Agency.

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

South Central Minnesota Surface Water Resources Atlases and Data Bases - 1991-93 biennium. This project gathered data to produce the following maps: general land survey, surface hydrology, weather station locations, point source pollution, incorporation of new land-use maps, population data from the 1990 census, county soil maps and cancer and epidemiology maps. The Brown County project developed surface hydrology atlases and a database. Lead agency: Mankato State University.