Mower 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. 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 Mower County, grants were received by the Mower County Soil and Water Conservation District to continue testing water from the Upper Iowa River for turbidity, atrazine, membrane fecal coliform, nitrates and ammonia and for the Upper Iowa River Watershed Community Education project.

Management and Restoration of Natural Plant Communities on State Trails - 1999-01 biennium. Three acres of the abandoned Rowe Sand Pit area along the Shooting Star State Trail have been cleared of exotic and invasive woody vegetation and other material left by previous mining activities, seeded with native grasses and forbs and planted with native woody plants where needed. The planting was done in the fall of 2001 and the spring of 2002 by Eco-Tech of Cannon Falls. This Department of Natural Resources’ project will enhance the ecological value of the area and contribute to the sustainability of the native landscape, heighten the quality of the recreation experience and foster environmental stewardship and education.

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 six sites on the Little Cedar River and a tributary, 15 sites on the Cedar River, three sites on the Little Iowa River, one site on Orchard Creek, eight sites on Otter Creek, one site on Roberts Creek, eight sites on Rose Creek, three sites on Turtle Creek and eight sites on the Upper Iowa River in Mower County during August, September and October of 1999.

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.

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 Mower County, turtle population surveys took place on the Cedar River.

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

Minnesota Rare Mussel Conservation - 1997-99 biennium. This University of Minnesota project is attempting to improve freshwater mussel conservation and to protect them from invading Zebra mussels. In Mower County, mussel life history research will take place in the Root River.

State Park and Recreation Area Acquisition - 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 Mower County, 38 acres were acquired for Lake Louise State Park located north of LeRoy.

RIM Critical Habitat Match - 1993-95 biennium. This program provides matching funds to those who want to buy or improve critical fish, wildlife and native plant habitats in Minnesota. Some of these funds are being used to buy natural areas for scientific study, education and nature observation; others are helping restore waterfowl populations to their 1970s level. Mower County received grants to acquire 101 acres at the Ramsey Mill Pond Wildlife Management Area north of Austin and to add 25 acres to the Cary Creek Wildlife Management Area near Racine. Lead agency: Department of Natural Resources.

State Park Betterment - 1993-95 biennium. This program improves 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. At Lake Louise State Park, the program paid for the new headquarters, shop and an office building.

Erosion Control Cost-Share Grants - 1991-93 biennium. This program aids in the funding of conservation costs for soil erosion control and the protection of water quality. Lead agency: Board of Water and Soil Resources.

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