Lac qui Parle 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.

Protection of Granite Rock Outcrop Ecosystem – 2009. Outcrops of granite along the Upper Minnesota River are among the oldest exposed rocks in North America, dating back more than 3 million years. These outcrops are also home to rare plants and animals, including several types of cactus and Minnesota’s only lizard, the five-lined skink, but they are increasingly threatened by mining, overgrazing, and development. The Board of Water and Soil Resources and the Renville Soil and Water Conservation District will acquire permanent easements to preserve approximately 530 acres of this endangered habitat and restore their ecological integrity by removing non-native plants. These easements are located in Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Redwood, Renville and Yellow Medicine counties.

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 Laq Qui Parle County, the Trust Fund portion of the allocation was used for a grant to help the Laq Qui Parle Park and Wildlife Association host an environmental education workshop with the Minnesota Extension Service and the Office of Environmental Assistance featuring national author and environmental educator Terry Liberstein.

Diversifying Agriculture for Environmental, Economic, and Social Benefits – 1999-01 biennium. The Fernholz farm near Madison helped the University of Minnesota study new strains and planting schedules of cover crops, evaluating their ability to suppress weeds, recycle nutrients, control disease, decrease erosion, and increase wildlife habitat. Projects in other parts of the state examined hybrid hazelnuts as a crop alternative and the use 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.

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 one site on Canby Creek, two sites on Crow Creek, six sites on Florida Creek, eight sites on the West Fork of the Lac qui Parle River, 14 sites on the Lac qui Parle River, two sites on the Minnesota River, three sites on the North Fork of the Yellow Bank River, two sites on the South Fork of the Yellow Bank River and eight sites on the Yellow Bank River in Lac qui Parle County during June and July 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. The Lac qui Parle area, which includes over 15,000 acres of grassland in the Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area, Lac qui Parle State Park, Nature Conservancy preserves and other wildlife areas, is a major part of the state’s remaining prairies. 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 to improve prairie habitat. In Chippewa, Lac qui Parle and Swift Counties, 29 prescribed burns on nearly 3,000 acres were conducted as part of this project during 2000 and 2001.

Nongame Wildlife Management – 1999-01 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources’ Nongame Wildlife Program used this grant from the Trust Fund to help carry out more than 65 wildlife conservation projects during the biennium. Among the research, habitat management, information and education and planning activities were planting of lakescaping sites, development of bald eagle management plans, surveys of loon, hawk and owl populations, habitat improvements for endangered and threatened species, and wildlife management workshops. In Lac qui Parle County, tree removal and prairie restoration took place at the Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area.

The Web site for the Minnesota DNR Nongame Wildlife Program is http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/nongame/index.html

 Restoring the Greater Prairie Chicken to Southwestern Minnesota - 1999-01 biennium. In an effort to restore the Greater Prairie Chicken to suitable habitat in southwestern Minnesota, the Prairie Chicken Society of Minnesota arranged for the capture of wild birds in Polk, Norman, Clay and Wilkin counties and their release in Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle and Swift counties during the summers of 1999 and 2000. In all, 126 birds were released at six different locations near the Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area.

RIM – Shoreland Stabilization - 1999-01 biennium. As part of the Reinvest in Minnesota Resources program, this project used money from the Trust Fund and other sources to stabilize shorelines on lakes Winnibigoshish and Lac qui Parle. Lead agency: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fisheries.

The Lac qui Parle project was done in two locations: Clay Banks and Lac qui Parle State Park. Fieldstone was used to stabilize 2,700 feet of shoreline for the Clay Banks project, providing a natural look next to the Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area. Additional financial assistance from local organizations allowed for the construction of 300 feet of walleye spawning reef. For the State Park phase, 2,420 cubic yards of large rock was purchased with Trust Fund money to stabilize 1,400 feet of shoreline.

RIM Critical Habitat Match Acquisition and Enhancement - 1997-99 biennium.  This Department of Natural Resources’ project provides an opportunity for private individuals, groups and businesses to help fund the cost of acquiring or improving critical fish, wildlife and native plant habitats by providing matching funds.  In Lac qui Parle County, the Madrena Wildlife Management Area will undergo this process.

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 Conservation Reserve Easements - 1993-95 biennium.  This program assists landowners in returning marginal farmland - especially legally drained wetlands - back to its natural habitat, thus improving water quality, controlling erosion and enhancing fish and wildlife habitat.  Over 50 acres of easements were purchased in Lac qui Parle County.  Lead agency:  Board of Water and Soil 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.  The Lac qui Parle County grant was used for shorebird habitat management.

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.  The results are used to direct state and local pollution programs.  Lead agency:  Pollution Control Agency.

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

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 Lac qui Parle County survey has been completed and a map of rare features is now available as a result of this project.

09/25/09 - TM