Meeker 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.

Restorable Wetlands Inventory – 2009
Minnesota’s wetlands provide crucial habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife, assist in flood control, and help maintain water quality.  But the state has lost half the wetlands that existed before European settlement.  Ducks Unlimited will use this appropriation to identify and map drained wetlands that can be restored.  Mapping will take place in 170 townships in Clay, Mahnomen, McLeod, Meeker, Nicollet, Norman, Renville, Sibley, Wilkin, and Wright counties.

Local Water Planning (LWP) Matching Challenge Grants – 2003-05 biennium. The Board of Water and Soil Resources made matching funds available to 21 local government agencies that allowed these agencies to implement portions of their water management plan. Projects ranged from mapping of drainage ditches to erosion control to public education about wetland preservation. Through this appropriation, improvements were made to Meeker County’s public drainage ditch system.

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 Meeker County, the Trust Fund portion of the allocation was used for a grant to help the Dassel Rod & Gun Club with a shoreline stabilization project and other environmental improvements at the Sportsmen’s Park on Washington 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 Meeker County began during the 1999-01 biennium and continued in the 2001-03 biennium.

Lakescaping for Wildlife and Water Quality Initiative - 1999-01 biennium. This Department of Natural Resources’ program helped lakeshore homeowners learn how to use native plants on the shoreline and in the water to enhance wildlife habitat and improve water quality in their lake. With assistance from the Minnesota Lakes Association, the department conducted a series of workshops for property owners and constructed demonstration sites throughout the state. In Meeker County, a workshop was held on August 12, 2000, in Litchfield and a demonstration site was completed on Washington Lake.

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 Meeker County, two demonstration sites were established by the Prairie Country Resource Conservation and Development Council to show hardwood stand establishment through direct seeding.

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 building and extending fishing piers, developing boat access sites and purchasing land for future access sites. In Meeker County, two fishing piers were installed near Litchfield during the biennium. A 64-foot pier was installed at Greenleaf Lake in 2000 and an 84-foot pier was installed at Clear Lake in 2001.

Conservation Reserve Easements - 1991-93 biennium.  This program acquires easements for wetland areas to enhance wildlife habitat, control erosion and improve water quality.  Landowner compensation via easement payment has proven to be the most effective method in converting these private acres back to wildlife habitat.  In Meeker County, this program permitted the purchase of 16.4 acres of easements.  Lead agency:  Board of Water and Soil 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.  In Meeker County, this grant permitted the purchase of 51.6 acres of easements.  Lead agency:  Board of Water and Soil Resources.

07/21/09 - TM