Freeborn 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.

Lakescaping for Wildlife and Water Quality Initiative - 1999-01 biennium. This Department of Natural Resources 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 department conducted a series of workshops for property owners and constructed demonstration sites throughout the state. In Freeborn County, a workshop was held on September 8th, 2000 in Albert Lea.

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 Web site. Visit http://mrbdc.mnsu.edu/index.html for more information about this project.

Mussel Resource Survey − 1999-01 biennium. During the first two years of this project (this biennium), biologists and other staff from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources sampled 886 sites in 32 Minnesota rivers, 64 tributaries and 12 lakes, including two sites on Goose Creek, seven sites on the Shell Rock River and five sites on Turtle Creek in Freeborn County during August and September of 1999.

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.

Prairie Heritage Fund – 1997-99 and 1999-01 bienniums. 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 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and are open to public hunting and other recreational pursuits.

In Freeborn County, Trust Fund money was used to help purchase 346 acres of land southwest of Gordonsville to extend the Panicum Prairie Wildlife Management Area. If you would like additional information about Wildlife Management Areas, please contact the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife.

Minnesota Rare Mussel Conservation - 1997-99 biennium. This University of Minnesota project is attempting to improve freshwater mussel conservation and protect them from invading Zebra mussels. In Freeborn County, mussel life history research will take place on area lakes.

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. In Freeborn County, new technology was used to plant and manage native grasses in road rights-of-way to protect and improve biological diversity. 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 Freeborn County, this project led to construction of a new fishing pier on Albert Lea’s Fountain Lake. Lead agency: Department of Natural Resources.

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.

State Park Betterment - 1993-95 biennium. This project was used to improve state parks by rehabilitating existing facilities and building new ones. At Myre Big Island State Park, the group campground was rehabilitated along with the implementation of resource management. Lead agency: Department of Natural Resources.

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 LeSueur and Cobb Rivers in Freeborn County. The results are used to direct state and local pollution programs. Lead agency: Pollution Control Agency.

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 Freeborn County project developed surface hydrology atlases and a database. Lead agency: Mankato State University.