Crow Wing 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.

Land Exchange Revolving Fund for Cass, Aitkin and Crow Wing Counties – 2005-07 biennium. This appropriation will allow three north central counties to purchase environmentally sensitive or isolated land in an effort to prevent inappropriate development. The purchase of land in undeveloped areas precludes development that might require additional public services, and purchase of property adjacent to land already owned by the public results in more efficient land management. In a unique twist, the cost of this program will be offset by the sale of tax forfeited land to private owners, with the three counties repaying the Trust Fund by 2011.

Soil Survey – 2005-07 biennium. The Board of Soil and Water Resources will use this appropriation from the Trust Fund to make information on soils available in electronic form and for new soil surveys in Crow Wing and Pine counties.

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 Crow Wing County, the Trust Fund portion of the allocation was used for grants to help fund a variety of projects including one by the University of Minnesota Extension Service for public education activities at the Brainerd School Farm and Poor Farm Wildlife Management Area. Others helped the Sibley Lake Association of Pequot Lakes with a Ramsey Street Access Improvement project that will reduce the amount of pollution entering Sibley Lake and the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association provide bicyclists and motorists along the route with interpretive exhibits and educational information on local natural resources and their value.

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. Crow Wing State Park located in Cass, Crow Wing and Morrison Counties grew by 115 acres and the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area northeast of Brainerd gained 691 acres. In all, more than 1,100 acres were purchased within the boundaries of nine state park and recreation areas from willing private landowners.

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 Crow Wing County, Trust Fund money was used to add an additional section to a fishing pier on Gull Lake, install a new 84-foot fishing pier in the northern part of the county at Ruth Lake and provide the first and only bona fide public access to Perry Lake north of Crosby.

Minnesota County Biological Survey – 2001-03 biennium, 1999-01 biennium and 1997-99 biennium. 2001 marks the start of the eighth biennium of this ambitious twelve-biennium project that identifies significant natural areas and systematically collects and interprets data on the distribution and ecology of natural communities, rare plants and area animals. Since 1987, surveys have been completed or are underway in 64 counties. Survey work in Crow Wing County began during the 1997-99 biennium and continues in the 1999-01 biennium and 2001-03 biennium.

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 Crow Wing County, a workshop was held on May 20, 2000, in Brainerd and a demonstration site was completed on North Long Lake.

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. With help from this project, the Mille Lacs Area Tourism Association put together a consumer advertising campaign and a birding brochure.

Nongame Wildlife Management – 1999-01 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Nongame Wildlife Program used this grant from the Trust Fund to help carry out more than 65 wildlife conservation projects during the biennium. Among the research, habitat management, information and education and planning activities were planting of lakescaping sites, development of bald eagle management plans, surveys of loon, hawk and owl populations, habitat improvements for endangered and threatened species and wildlife management workshops. Projects in Crow Wing County included a lakescaping demonstration site on North Long Lake, management of the Landscaping for Wildlife Demonstration Area at the Uppgaard Wildlife Management Area near Crosslake, reprinting a “Birds of the Byway” guide to the Pequot Lakes area and planting a Landscaping for Wildlife Demonstration Area at the DNR’s Brainerd office.

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 Crow Wing County, a 104-foot fishing pier was installed at Whipple Lake in Baxter in 2000.

RIM Accelerate Fisheries Acquisition – 1997-99 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources is working to increase fish populations in Minnesota by acquiring aquatic management areas including easements and fee titles on lakes and streams. In Crow Wing County, these lakes include North Long Lake, Ada Lake and Upper Mission Lake.

State Park and Recreation Area Acquisition, Development, Betterment and Rehabilitation – 1997-99 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources is expanding and improving state parks and recreation areas by building new facilities, repairing and upgrading existing facilities and buying privately-owned land within park boundaries. In Crow Wing County, this program acquired 70 acres for the Cuyuna Country Recreation Area.

Sustainable Lake Plans – 1997-99 biennium. What should your lake look like in two generations? That’s the question the University of Minnesota’s Center for Urban and Regional Affairs is focusing on as it develops plans for managing five lakes including the Cross/Whitefish Chain of Lakes in Crow Wing County. The plans will address land-use, water management and quality issues and will be easily transferable for use by other lake managers or associations to develop their own plans.

RIM Accelerated Critical Habitat Match – 1995-97 biennium. This program is a continuation of previous efforts to acquire and improve nongame fish, wildlife and native plants. In Crow Wing County, the Ivy Island Wildlife Management Area underwent improvements including the addition of 5 acres. Lead agency: Department of Natural Resources.

RIM Statewide Habitat Development, Hatchery Rehabilitation – 1995-97 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources undertook projects to acquire, improve and restore fishing habitat. In Crow Wing County, this project improved warm-water fish habitats and re-established bulrushes at various sites.

State Parks and Recreation Areas – 1995-97 biennium. This program improves state parks and recreation areas with new or renovated picnic facilities, recreational trails, restrooms, playground equipment, maintenance buildings and parking lots. Under this program, campground rehabilitation occurred at Cuyuna Country Recreation Area, interpretive signs were installed at Crow Wing State Park and 3.23 acres were added to Crow Wing State Park. Lead agency: Department of Natural Resources.

Fisheries Acquisition for Angler Access and Habitat Development – 1993-95 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources is buying easements along three miles of trout streams and three miles of warm-water streams to increase access for anglers and improve fish habitats. The Department of Natural Resources is also protecting critical fish habitats by purchasing 200 acres of land near those habitats. In Crow Wing County, this project acquired land and access easements along Whitely's Creek.

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. This grant is for habitat improvement on Borden Creek. Lead agency: Department of Natural Resources.

RIM 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. In Crow Wing County, the grant was spent on bald eagle habitat management and on a demonstration area for landscaping for wildlife.