Kandiyohi 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.

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 Kandiyohi County, Trust Fund money was used to purchase land near Willmar for a future public access on East Solomon Lake.

Minnesota County Biological Survey - 2001-03 biennium and 1999-01 biennium. 2001 marks the start of the eighth biennium of this ambitious twelve biennia 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 Kandiyohi County began during the 1999-01 biennium and continues in the 2001-03 biennium.

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 Kandiyohi County, a grant was received by the Prairie Woods School in New London to continue efforts to improve species mix in the school nature area and a demonstration site was established by the Prairie Country Resource Conservation and Development Council to show hardwood stand establishment through direct seeding.

Management and Restoration of Natural Plant Communities on State Trails - 1999-01 biennium. This Department of Natural Resources’ project will enhance the ecological value and contribute to the sustainability of the native landscape, heighten the quality of the recreation experience and foster environmental stewardship and education. In Kandiyohi County, native trees and shrubs were planted in intermittent groupings for windbreak screening between New London and Hawick along the Glacial Lakes State Trail. This project was completed during the spring of 2000.

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.

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 acquiring land for future public access sites, developing existing sites and building and extending fishing piers. In Kandiyohi County, land was purchased for a new boat access site near Spicer on Green Lake.

State Park and Recreation Area Acquisition, Development, Betterment and Rehabilitation - 1999-01 biennium. This project provided funds to acquire 155 acres of critical private land within the current boundaries of six of our state parks – 11 acres at Fort Snelling in Hennepin and Dakota Counties, 2 acres at Frontenac in Goodhue County, 11 acres at Moose Lake in Carlton County, 10 acres at Nerstrand Big Woods in Rice County, 81 acres at Sibley in Kandiyohi County and 40 acres at Whitewater in Winona County. This project also provided development funds for a municipal sewer connection at Banning State Park in Pine County, design funding for the new visitor center at Forestville Mystery Cave State Park in Fillmore County and a portion of the development cost for the Itasca Suites guest lodging at Itasca State Park in Clearwater County.

Sustainability Forums - 1999-01 biennium. Sustainability was the topic of discussion at these three-day workshops held in Red Wing, Willmar, Duluth and Winona. The objectives at each workshop were to increase citizen knowledge and awareness of community sustainability principles, improve communication between citizens and local government leaders and enhance opportunities for citizen leadership in the development and implementation of community sustainability action plans. This project was planned and conducted by the Minnesota Division of the Izaak Walton League of America.

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 Kandiyohi County, Trust Fund money was used to help purchase 144 acres of land southeast of Regal to extend the Regal Flats Wildlife Management Area. If you would like additional information about wildlife management areas, please contact the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife.

State Park and Recreation Area Acquisition, Development and Betterment - 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 Kandiyohi County, 42 acres were acquired for Sibley State Park.

Environmental Action Grants for Minnesota Schools - 1995-97 biennium. St. Olaf College’s School Nature Project worked with the Department of Natural Resources to conduct a pilot program in which 40 K-12 schools received matching grants to establish or enhance nature areas within walking distances of the school buildings. At Willmar High School, students planted trees and shrubs to enhance a prairie area, constructed goose nesting platforms and built a bluebird trail.

Maintaining Native Grasses Along Roadsides - 1995-97 biennium. The way grasses and plants along the roadsides are maintained significantly impacts soil and water quality, wildlife and rare plant habitats. In Kandiyohi County, new technology was used to plant and manage native grasses in road rights-of-ways to protect and improve biological diversity.

State Park and Recreation Area Acquisition - 1995-97 biennium. This appropriation allowed the Department of Natural Resources to acquire additional land for existing state parks. In Kandiyohi County, eight acres were added to Sibley State Park.

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 Kandiyohi County, a new fishing pier was installed on Mud Lake north of New London. 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.

RIM Critical Habitat Match - 1993-95 biennium. This project provided funds to buy or improve critical fish, wildlife and native plants habitat. Trees were planted at the Whitefield Wildlife Management Area south of Willmar. Lead agency: Department of Natural Resources.

Easement Acquisition on Restored Wetlands - 1991-93 biennium. This program acquires permanent easements of federally-restored wetlands. With the destruction of wetlands, many species of waterfowl are at all-time lows and rural Minnesota faces significant water contamination, soil erosion and downstream flooding problems. By restoring and protecting wetlands, many of these problems can be reduced or eliminated. Easements were purchased on over 279 acres of restored Kandiyohi County wetlands through this project. Lead agency: Board of Water and Soil Resources.

Insecticide Impact on Wetland and Upland Wildlife - 1991-93 biennium. Kandiyohi County was used as a site for a Department of Natural Resources’ study on the extent of the effects that insecticides have on wetland and upland areas. Other study areas were in Stevens, Ramsey and Watonwan Counties.

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 Shakopee Creek, Hawk Creek and Chetomba Creek in Kandiyohi County. The results are used to direct state and local pollution programs. Lead agency: Pollution Control Agency.

Rails-to-Trails Acquisition and Development - 1991-93 biennium. This program acquires and develops abandoned railroad lines for recreational use including hiking, bicycling, skiing, snowmobiling and horseback riding. Among the trails being developed is the Willmar to Richmond Trail.