Hubbard 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.

Energy Efficient Cities – 2009. http://www.mncee.org
The Center for Energy and Environment, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit organization, will use this grant to develop residential energy conservation programs.  Programs will be developed for eight cities:  Apple Valley, Austin, Duluth, Minneapolis, Owatonna, Park Rapids, Rochester, and St. Paul.  Homeowners in these cities will have the opportunity to be trained in low-cost energy conservation strategies.  Selected homeowners will qualify for customized energy action plans, in-home visits by technicians, and assistance with major upgrades such as insulation and replacement of heating and air conditioning systems.  The Center hopes to significantly reduce energy use in at least 6000 homes by the conclusion of the project and to develop programs that will ultimately benefit many more.

Minnesota County Biological Survey – 2007. For the past 20 years the Department of Natural Resources has been systematically surveying the state’s natural habitats.  This study identifies significant natural areas and collects and interprets data on the distribution of native plant communities, rare plants, and rare animals. Through 2007, project managers have completed surveys in 61 of Minnesota’s 87 counties.  Work continues in Hubbard and eleven other counties during 2008 and 2009.

Minnesota County Biological Survey – 2005-07 biennium. Since 1987, the Department of Natural Resources has been collecting information on plants and animals throughout Minnesota to identify the location of natural areas and rare plants and animals in the state. This information is being collected on a county-by-county basis and will be used to better manage areas that have native species of plants and animals. Survey work in Hubbard County is slated for this biennium.

Development and Rehabilitation of Minnesota Shooting Ranges − 2003-05 biennium. Through this appropriation, 28 recreational shooting organizations and archery clubs across the state received grants from the Trust Fund, along with matching grants from the Minnesota DNR Division of Enforcement, to make improvements to archery ranges and shooting ranges that are available for public use. In Hubbard County, grants were used to improve the archery facilities at the Akeley Regional Community Center in Akeley.

Local Water Planning (LWP) Matching Challenge Grants – 2003-05 biennium. The Board of Water and Soil Resources made matching funds available to 21 local government agencies that allowed these agencies to implement portions of their water management plan. Projects ranged from mapping of drainage ditches to erosion control to public education about wetland preservation. The Wadena County Soil and Water Conservation District received a Trust Fund grant to enhance the ability for Hubbard County and Wadena County to work together. Through the Initiative Foundation Healthy Lakes and Rivers Program, the counties were able to offer lake and river management planning and expand on project implementation.

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 Hubbard County, the Trust Fund portion of the allocation was used for a grant to help the Park Rapids School District with a 30 acre prairie restoration project next to the new school.

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 Hubbard County, a demonstration site was completed on Kabekona Lake.

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 Hubbard County, a grant was received for the Hubbard County Water Education Project to fund an Environmental Education consultant to provide water related education to Kindergarten through sixth grade students and help host the Freshwater Festival.

Minnesota Wildlife Tourism Initiative - 1999-01 biennium. The Minnesota 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 Itasca Area Lakes Tourism Association, serving parts of Becker, Clearwater, Hubbard and Mahnomen Counties, put together a consumer advertising campaign, a birding brochure, and added birding information to their Web site www.ItascaArea.com (http://www.itascaarea.com/birding/index.html). Also in Hubbard County, the Park Rapids Chamber of Commerce put together a brochure and a consumer advertising campaign as part of 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 three sites on the Shell River in Hubbard County during July and August of 2000. According to the website for this project, http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/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.

Tools and Training for Community-Based Planning - 1999-01 biennium with an extension until June 30, 2002. Minnesota Planning used this appropriation to develop computer software and train staff from regional development commissions and county planning and zoning offices in its use. The software, named EPICplanner, is designed to be an easy to use geographic information system and is available without cost to help local units of government map and plan their growth by showing jurisdiction, landscape, soils and infrastructure information. According to the project manager, the five pilot counties – Cook, Hubbard, Lake, LeSueur and Pine – were critical in identifying the desired decision-analysis tools and testing the product.

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 Kabekona Lake near Laporte. The plans will address land-use, water-management and quality issues and will be used by other lake managers or associations to develop their own plans.

State Trail Rehabilitation and Acquisition - 1995-97 biennium.  The Department of Natural Resources is improving the Heartland State Trail and the Luce Line State Trail. Under this program, the Heartland Trail, a bituminous bicycle trail, underwent resurfacing and widening as well as replacement of bridge decking.

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 Hubbard County, this program permitted the installation of piers and shoreline improvements on 11th Crow Wing Lake.  Lead agency: Department of Natural Resources.

RIM Critical Habitat Match - 1993-95 biennium.  This program provided funds to buy or improve critical fish, wildlife and native plant habitats.  In Hubbard County, funds purchased 80 acres for browse regeneration and 1.4 acres at the Kabekona Wildlife Management Area near Laporte.

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.  Three projects were funded in Hubbard County:

- Forest opening development
- "Landscaping for wildlife" demonstration area
- Forest stand development

09/25/09 - TM