Jackson 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.

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 Jackson 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 Jackson County is slated for this biennium.

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. In Jackson County, the grant allowed an assessment of the water quality of Fish Lake. The data was incorporated into a management plan to help improve the lake’s water quality.

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 Jackson County, the Trust Fund portion of the allocation was used for a grant to help the Heron Lake Watershed District study sago pondweed and carp in Heron Lake after its partial drawdown in 2000.

Diversifying Agriculture for Environmental, Economic and Social Benefits - 1999-01 biennium. In Jackson County, University of Minnesota scientists conducted field experiments with a potential alternative crop - hybrid hazelnuts. Projects in other parts of the state examined new strains and planting schedules of cover crops and the potential of Illinois Bundleflower and False Indigo for livestock grazing. The diversification of agricultural products shows great promise for improving both the state’s environment and its farm economy.

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 Jackson County, grants were received by the Heron Lake Watershed District to hire two interns to continue watershed monitoring, promote wildlife enhancement projects and provide support for research at Heron Lake and by the Prairie Ecology Bus Center in Lakefield for educational programs.

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 website. 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 Department of Natural Resources sampled 886 sites in 32 Minnesota rivers, 64 tributaries and 12 lakes including nine sites on the Des Moines River, one site on the Heron Lake outlet and two sites on the Little Sioux River in Jackson County during August and September of 1999. 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.

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 Jackson County, a 44 -foot fishing pier was installed at Loon Lake southwest of Jackson in 2001.

RIM Accelerate Wildlife Land Acquisition - 1995-97 biennium.  The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is purchasing wetlands, restorable-drained wetlands and adjacent uplands in North America waterfowl management areas to protect them for wildlife.  Through this grant, the DNR purchased 123.5 acres at North Heron Lake and 14.87 acres at West Heron Lake.

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 Jackson County, the program funded the installation of fishing piers and shoreline improvements on Clear Lake (west of Jackson) and Loon Lake (southwest of Jackson).  Lead agency: Department of Natural Resources.

County Geologic Atlases, Assessments and Groundwater Sensitivity Mapping - 1993-95 biennium.  The Minnesota Geological Survey is studying the geology and groundwater in southern Minnesota.  Maps will be produced and used for planning and environmental protection. The Department of Natural Resources 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.  The Jackson County program was for expansion of regional hydro geologic assessment.

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.

RIM Critical Habitat Match - 1993-95 biennium.  This program provides matching funds to those who want to buy or improve critical fish, wildlife and native plant habitats in Minnesota.  Some of these funds were used to buy natural areas for scientific study, education and nature observation; others are helping restore waterfowl populations to their 1970s levels.  Jackson County was the recipient of funds for the following two projects:  the acquisition of 90 acres of land for the Toe Wildlife Management Area and the acquisition of 211 acres of native prairie lands.  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 Elm Creek in northeastern Jackson County.  The results are used to direct state and local pollution programs.  Lead agency:  Pollution Control Agency.

Sealing Abandoned Wells - 1991-93 biennium.  Sixty-six wells were sealed in Jackson County through this grant program matching state and county funds.  Lead agency:  Board of Water and Soil Resources.

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

09/25/09 - TM