Kittson 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.

Restoring RIM Match – 2003-05 biennium. Prairie once covered more than 18 million acres in Minnesota. With less than 1/10th of 1 percent of our native prairies remaining, these prairie parcels are often the last refuge for rare animals and plants including many of Minnesota’s less common birds.

The Department of Natural Resources’ Nongame Wildlife Program matched Trust Fund dollars as part of this project to help fund a survey and assessment of prairie birds inhabiting 18 Scientific and Natural Areas on prairie tracts in northwest Minnesota and an additional seven sites on lands with Prairie Bank easements. Surveys were completed in Clay, Kittson, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Ottertail, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, Stevens and Wilkin counties.

A total of 111 rare species documentation reports were filled out and submitted for inclusion in the Natural Heritage Program database. This project was the most comprehensive effort to date to survey birds on Scientific and Natural Areas, and it was the first effort to survey birds on prairie bank sites. The project provided not only rare species sightings, but also underscored the value of these sites as habitats for wildlife, specifically birds.

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 one site on the South Branch of Two Rivers in Kittson County during September 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.

Native Prairie Prescribed Burns - 1999-01 biennium. Periodic fire is an essential to the health of the prairie ecosystem, but deliberately set and controlled burns interact far better with civilization than random wildfires. On average, 4,000 of Kittson County’s 60,000 acres of prairie are burned annually. While this is a significant amount, it is still 5,000 to 10,000 acres per year short of what is needed for a healthy prairie habitat. This cooperative project between the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and The Nature Conservancy accelerated the prescribed fire program in select areas of the state. In Kittson County, 32 burns on approximately 15,000 acres were conducted during 2000 and 2001 as part of this project. Targeted areas included parts of the Pelan, Caribou, Skull Lake, Beaches, Twin Lakes, Devil’s Playground and Halma Swamp Wildlife Management Areas and the Lake Bronson State Park.

Prairie-Grassland Landscapes - 1997-99 biennium.  Landowners in northwestern Minnesota’s Glacial Lake Agassiz Interbeach Area are struggling to strike a balance between earning a living from the land and conserving prairies and grasslands for future generations. The Department of Natural Resources is working with local landowners and organizations to create grassland-landscaping projects that will preserve and protect the prairies.

Red River Valley Planning and Management - 1997-99 biennium. The Pollution Control Agency is working with an array of political jurisdictions and governments to determine ways of managing the land and water in the Red River Valley in northwestern Minnesota. The project includes a U.S. Geological Survey study of causes of sediment in streams and rivers, which will lead to methods of protecting water quality from the effects of erosion. 

State Park and Recreation Area Acquisition, Development, Betterment and Rehabilitation - 1997-99 biennium.  The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) 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. At Lake Bronson State Park, the DNR is rehabilitating the park’s interpretive center.

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 Kittson 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.

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 Kittson County, 383 acres were added to Lake Bronson State Park.

State Park and Recreation Area Acquisition, Development, Betterment and Rehabilitation - 1995-97 biennium.  This project was used to acquire new lands for state parks and to develop and rehabilitate existing state parks.  Lake Bronson State Park received park tables and toilets.  Lead agency:  Department of Natural Resources.

Lake Bronson State Park - 1993-95 biennium.  The Department of Natural Resources is improving state parks by rehabilitating existing facilities and building new ones.  Projects range from rehabilitating and restoring trails and historic structures to building new offices and shops.  This grant was used for building rehabilitation at Lake Bronson State Park.

RIM Critical Habitat Match - 1993-95 biennium.  This program provides matching funds to buy or improve critical fish, wildlife and native plant habitats; buy natural areas for scientific study and nature observation; and help restore waterfowl populations to their 1970s levels.  In Kittson County, this program allowed the acquisition of 160 acres of aspen parkland and the acquisition of 100 acres at the Halma Swamp Wildlife Management Area west of Halma.  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 Kittson County, the grant was used for brushland development and for grassland development.

Minnesota County Biological Survey - 1991-93 biennium.  The Department of Natural Resources is collecting information on plants and animals throughout Minnesota to identify the location of natural areas and rare plants and animals.  This information will be used to better manage areas that have native species of plants and animals.  This project has been ongoing since 1987.  The Kittson County survey was completed during the biennium.

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

09/25/09 - TM