Clay 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.

Restorable Wetlands Inventory – 2009
Minnesota’s wetlands provide crucial habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife, assist in flood control, and help maintain water quality.  But the state has lost half the wetlands that existed before European settlement.  Ducks Unlimited will use this appropriation to identify and map drained wetlands that can be restored.  Mapping will take place in 170 townships in Clay, Mahnomen, McLeod, Meeker, Nicollet, Norman, Renville, Sibley, Wilkin, and Wright counties.

Restoring RIM Match – 2003-05 biennium. Prairie once covered more than 18 million acres in Minnesota. With less than 1/10th of 1 percent of our native prairies remaining, these prairie parcels are often the last refuge for rare animals and plants including many of Minnesota’s less common birds.

The Department of Natural Resources’ Nongame Wildlife Program matched Trust Fund dollars as part of this project to help fund a survey and assessment of prairie birds inhabiting 18 Scientific and Natural Areas on prairie tracts in northwest Minnesota and an additional seven sites on lands with Prairie Bank easements. Surveys were completed in Clay, Kittson, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Ottertail, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, Stevens and Wilkin counties.

A total of 111 rare species documentation reports were filled out and submitted for inclusion in the Natural Heritage Program database. This project was the most comprehensive effort to date to survey birds on Scientific and Natural Areas, and it was the first effort to survey birds on prairie bank sites. The project provided not only rare species sightings, but also underscored the value of these sites as habitats for wildlife, specifically birds.

Evaluate Establishment, Impact of Leafy Spurge Biocontrol Agents - 1999-01 biennium. Leafy Spurge is a European perennial that was first documented in the eastern United States in the early 1800s. For decades, landowners and managers have faced the enormous challenge of trying to manage this extremely competitive plant species with chemical, cultural and mechanical methods. The plant has a characteristic white sap containing chemicals that are toxic to grazing wildlife and domesticated livestock. It is a prohibited noxious weed in Minnesota.  Since 1989, five species of Flea Beetles have been released in Minnesota to control Leafy Spurge. This project evaluated their establishment and impact and made recommendations to improve the beetles’ effectiveness. Scientists from the Department of Agriculture and the University of Minnesota conducted the research at two locations in Becker County, 16 locations in Clay County and eight locations in Otter Tail County.

Integrated Prairie Management - 1999-01 biennium.  This cooperative project by the University of Minnesota and Clay County took an integrated land management approach to solve the conflict between the continuing need for gravel and other aggregate resources and the desire for conservation of the native landscape on public land at the Felton Prairie Complex. In the process, the Zilmer pit became a restored prairie and interpretive site. This project also studied the effects of fire and rotational grazing on prairie vegetation, livestock and grassland birds in western Minnesota and produced the booklet Landowner’s Guide to Management of Prairie in Minnesota.

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 Clay County, grants were received by the Hawley Public School to develop environmental education handbooks specific to prairie, wetland and biology units and by River Keepers to enhance the nature trail at Johnson Park.

Minnesota Wildlife Tourism Initiative - 1999-01 biennium. The Office of Tourism and Department of Natural Resources collaborated on this project to enhance Minnesota’s visibility as a national destination for wildlife tourism by placing advertisements in Audubon, National Wildlife, Wild Bird and Birder’s World magazines. To promote this industry within the state, an array of techniques was employed including workshops, field trips, cost-sharing grants for groups promoting local wildlife watching areas and printing and posting of signs for locations listed in the book Travelers Guide to Wildlife in Minnesota.  In Clay County, the Fargo/Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau put together a consumer advertising campaign with help from this project.

Native Prairie Prescribed Burns - 1999-01 biennium. Periodic fire is an essential to the health of the prairie ecosystem, but deliberately set and controlled burns interact far better with civilization than random wildfires.  On average, 6,000 of the 48,000 acres of prairie habitat in northwest Minnesota’s Glacial Lake Agassiz Beach Ridges landscape are burned annually. While this is a significant amount, it is still about 9,000 acres per year short of what is needed for a healthy prairie habitat. This cooperative project between the Department of Natural Resources and The Nature Conservancy accelerated the prescribed fire program in select areas of the state. In the Glacial Lake Agassiz Beach Ridges area, 74 burns on nearly 15,000 acres were conducted as part of this project.  In Clay County, targeted areas included parts of the Barnesville and Felton Wildlife Management Areas.

Prairie Heritage Fund - 1997-99 biennium and 1999-01 biennium. Twenty-nine parcels of land totaling 3,683 acres were purchased in 14 counties, donated to the State of Minnesota and designated as wildlife management areas as a result of this project coordinated by Pheasants Forever. Money from the Trust Fund was matched and extended for these prairie and wetland purchases by contributions from local Pheasants Forever chapters and other groups and individuals. These new parcels fit into an existing network of close to 1,300 wildlife management areas maintained by the Department of Natural Resources and are open to public hunting and other recreational pursuits.  In Clay County, Trust Fund money was used to help purchase 498 acres of land northeast of Barnesville to extend the Barnesville Wildlife Management Area. If you would like additional information about wildlife management areas, please contact the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife.

Prairie-Grassland Landscapes - 1997-99 biennium.  Landowners in northwestern Minnesota’s Glacial Lake Agassiz Interbeach Area are struggling to strike a balance between earning a living from the land and conserving prairies and grasslands for future generations. The Department of Natural Resources is working with local landowners and organizations to create grassland-landscaping projects that will preserve and protect the prairies.

 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 that will lead to methods of protecting water quality from the effects of erosion.

RIM - 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 providing matching funds.  In Clay County, this project has acquired 113 acres for the Felton Prairie Science and Natural Area.

Environmental Education Teacher Training - 1995-97 biennium.  Environmental education courses are a new field of study 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.  Moorhead State University was awarded grants for the participation of their educators.

RIM Critical Habitat Match - 1995-97 biennium. This program provides funds to buy or improve critical fish, wildlife and native plant habitats, buy natural areas for scientific study, education and nature observation and help restore waterfowl populations to their 1970s level. In Clay County, the program permitted the acquisition of 272 acres at the Felton Prairie Scientific and Natural Area. Lead agency:  Department of Natural Resources.

State Park and Recreation Area Acquisition, Development, Betterment and Rehabilitation - 1995-97 biennium.  This program improves state parks by adding new or renovating park buildings, recreational trails, restrooms and campgrounds.  Projects include restoring trails, rehabilitating historic structures and constructing new offices and shops.  Under this program, Buffalo River State Park underwent prairie restoration.

County Geologic Atlases, Assessments and Groundwater Sensitivity Mapping - 1993-95 biennium.  The Minnesota Geological Survey is studying the geology and groundwater in Minnesota.  Maps will be produced and used for planning and environmental protection.  The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is also producing maps of areas with the potential for groundwater pollution from materials like farm chemicals.  These maps can be used for land-use planning, regulation and management.  In Clay County, the DNR is attempting to map areas particularly susceptible to groundwater pollution.

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.  Buffalo River State Park received this grant for a new office contact station.

County Geologic Atlas and Groundwater Sensitivity Mapping - 1991-93 biennium.  This project resulted in expanded production of county geologic atlases and creation of a new Atlas Service Office.  In Clay County, the project helped map the area’s groundwater resources.  Lead agency: Minnesota Geological Survey.