Chisago 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.

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 Chisago County, Trust Fund money helped rehabilitate and expand a public access near the City of Wyoming at Comfort Lake.

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 Beetles that transmit the disease and the effectiveness of using a fungus and 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 Chisago County at the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area.

Freshwater Mussel Resources in the St. Croix River - 1999-01 biennium. Mucket, Elktoe and Purple Wartyback are just three of the mussels Macalester College biologists found during their 1999-01 survey of freshwater mussel resources in the St. Croix River. All three, as well as many others, are on Minnesota’s threatened species list. The object of the survey was to measure mussel population density, age, community structure and current environmental conditions and compare them to previous measurements including those taken by the University of Minnesota during the Minnesota Rare Mussel Conservation Trust Fund Project during 1997-99. In Chisago County, sampling took place near Wild River State Park, Interstate Park, Franconia and State Highway 243.

Implement the Chisago and Washington Counties Green Corridor Project - Continuation - 1999-01 biennium. This appropriation allows the 1000 Friends of Minnesota to build on the significant work done under the FY97 work program by implementing the Green Corridor, permanently protecting land and setting up long-term land protection programs in Chisago and Washington Counties to continue these efforts for years to come. The FY99 project will finalize drafts from the FY97 project, conduct public hearings, implement the ordinances and enroll landowners in the new programs. The project will also develop a public education campaign to seek participation of landowners and stakeholders.

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 Chisago County, the Rush Lake Improvement Association received a grant to help four property owners improve their shoreland and demonstrate to other landowners the benefits of lake stewardship practices.

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 Chisago County, a 64-foot fishing pier was installed at West Rush Lake near Rush City in 2000.

Minnesota County Biological Survey - 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, 29 counties have been surveyed. The survey will begin work in Chisago County during the 1997-99 biennium.

Minnesota Rare Mussel Conservation - 1997-99 biennium. This University of Minnesota project establishes and monitors mussel habitat in the St. Croix River to improve freshwater mussel conservation and protect them from invading Zebra Mussels. In Chisago County, this will include researching mussel life history and relocating mussels in the St. Croix River.

New Models for Land-Use Planning - 1997-99 biennium. Washington and Chisago Counties are two of the fastest growing counties in the country. The Department of Natural Resources and the Land Stewardship Project are leading an effort to protect about 1,500 acres of land in a 10,000-acre “green” corridor through those two counties to link land that has already been protected and preserved for its environmental value. The corridor will feature agricultural land, open space, wildlife habitat and natural areas.

State Park Betterment - 1995-97 biennium. This program improves state parks by rehabilitating existing facilities and building new ones. Wild River State Park received interpretative signs and toilets and Interstate State Park received road signs. Lead agency: Department of Natural Resources.

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 Chisago County, this grant enabled installation of a new fishing pier on the St. Croix River. Lead agency: Department of Natural Resources.

State Park Betterment - 1993-95 biennium. This program improves state parks by rehabilitating existing facilities and building new ones. Projects range from rehabilitating and restoring trails and historic structures to building new offices and shops. Interstate State Park received a grant for trail rehabilitation/development and campground sanitation and building rehabilitation. At Wild River State Park, a bridge was replaced. Lead agency: Department of Natural Resources.

Land and Water Resource Management for the Lower St. Croix National Scenic Riverway - 1991-93 biennium. This project was designed to organize and analyze updated information about the ecological and visual impacts of growing recreational use, assess existing management strategies and determine long-term monitoring research and public policy needs. Lead agency: Minnesota-Wisconsin Boundary Area Commission.