Marshall 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.

Local Initiatives Grants Program - 1999-01 biennium. This appropriation allows the Department of Natural Resources to provide matching grants to local governments or private organizations for various projects related to local parks, natural and scenic areas, local trail connection projects, regional trail projects, environmental partnership projects and conservation partners projects. In Marshall County, study of the life history of the American bittern will take place.

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 Moose River and one site on Thief River in Marshall County during June of 2001.

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.

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 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 Marshall County, Old Mill State Park will be expanded by 119 acres and the park’s contact station will be rehabilitated.

State Park and Recreation Area Acquisition - 1995-97 biennium. This grant is for the acquisition of new land for state parks and to develop and rehabilitate existing state parks. This grant was used for trail rehabilitation at Old Mill State Park. 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. The Marshall County grant was for brushland development.

Minnesota County Biological Survey - 1991-93 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. 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. The Marshall County survey was completed during the 1991-93 biennium.

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