Lincoln 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.

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 Lincoln County is slated for this biennium.

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 Coon Creek, one site on Dead Coon Lake, one site on the North Branch of the Lac Qui Parle River, three sites on the Lac Qui Parle River, one site on Lake Benton, one site on Lake Hendricks, three sites on Medary Creek and one site on Spring Creek in Lincoln County during July and September of 2000.

According to the website for this project, http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ecological_services/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.

RIM Accelerate Fisheries Acquisition - 1997-99 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources is working to increase fish populations by acquiring aquatic management areas, including easements and fee title, on lakes and streams. In Lincoln County, Lake Benton will undergo this process.

RIM Accelerate Critical Habitat Match Program - 1995-97 biennium. As part of a continuation of this program to acquire and improve game and nongame fish, wildlife and native plants, this grant was used to acquire 61 acres at Bohemian Marshes Wildlife Management Area. 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. In Lincoln County, the project studied the relationship between geology and groundwater, leading to improved mapping of the county’s groundwater 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 plant habitats; buy natural areas for scientific study, education and nature observation; and help restore waterfowl populations to their 1970s levels. This grant was used to acquire 60 acres at the Archerville Wildlife Management Area near Porter. Lead agency: Department of Natural Resources.

Clean Water Partnership Grants to Local Units of Government - 1991-93 biennium. This program seeks to control nonpoint sources of pollution through watershed management to protect and improve surface and groundwater in Minnesota. The project provides matching grants and technical assistance to local units of government. The Lincoln County grant was for restoration of Lake Shaokatan southwest of Ivanhoe. Lead agency: Pollution Control Agency.

County Geologic Atlas and Groundwater Sensitivity Mapping - 1991-93 biennium. This project resulted in expanded production of county geologic atlases and creation of a new Atlas Service office. In Lincoln County, this program was used to expand groundwater sensitivity mapping. Lead agency: Minnesota Geological Survey.

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 the Yellow Medicine and Lac Qui Parle Rivers. The results are used to direct state and local pollution programs. Lead agency: Pollution Control Agency.

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