Murray 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.

Minnesota County Biological Survey – 2007. For the past 20 years the Department of Natural Resources has been systematically surveying the state’s natural habitats.  This study identifies significant natural areas and collects and interprets data on the distribution of native plant communities, rare plants, and rare animals. Through 2007, project managers have completed surveys in 61 of Minnesota’s 87 counties.  Work continues in Murray and eleven other counties during 2008 and 2009.

State Park and Trail Land Acquisition – 2007. This funding will help the Department of Natural Resources acquire privately held land within existing state park boundaries and parcels of land along state trail corridors.  Planned acquisitions include land near William O’Brien State Park and the Gateway State Trail in Washington County, the Frontenac State Park in Goodhue County, the George Crosby Manitou State Park in Lake County and additional land for the Casey Jones State Trail near Walnut Grove in Murray County.

The Casey Jones State Trail – 2005-07 biennium. This appropriation from the Trust Fund to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is to acquire land and develop the Casey Jones State Trail. Proposed segments in Murray County would run from Lake Wilson through Slayton, Currie, past Lake Shetek State Park and up to Walnut Grove.
 
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 Murray County is slated for this biennium.

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 Murray County, the Trust Fund portion of the allocation was used for a grant to help the Society of Local and Regional History with a book project that recounts the environmental history of the area: Draining the Great Oasis: Lessons in Sustainability.

Water Recreation: Boat Access, Fishing Piers and Shore Fishing - 2001-03 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources combined this allocation from the Trust Fund with significant help from local partners to develop five public water access sites around the state, purchase three parcels of land to provide new or expanded access, construct two shore-fishing areas and add or modify eighteen public-fishing piers. In Murray County, money from the Trust Fund helped purchase and install a 44-foot fishing pier north of Slayton at Lake Sarah in 2002.

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 website.  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 Department of Natural Resources sampled 886 sites in 32 Minnesota rivers, 64 tributaries and 12 lakes including one site on Beaver Creek, ten sites on the Des Moines River and one site on Lime Creek in Murray County during August of 1999. 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.

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 Murray County, tree removal and prairie restoration took place at selected wildlife management areas near Slayton.

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

RIM Accelerate Wildlife Land Acquisition - 1995-97 biennium.  The Department of Natural Resources will acquire land identified in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.  In Murray County, the grant was used to acquire 25 acres at the Schoeberl Wildlife Management Area and 60 acres at the County Line Wildlife Management Area. Both Wildlife Management Areas are near the town of Iona.

State Park and Recreation Area Acquisition - 1995-97 biennium.  This program is for the acquisition of new land for state parks and to develop and rehabilitate existing state parks. Lake Shetek State Park underwent sewer rehabilitation.  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 Murray County, researchers studied the relationship between area geology and groundwater quality.

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 program matched funds to those who want to either buy or improve critical fish, wildlife and native plant habitats.

-  Acquire 425 acres at the Lake Maria fish barrier north of Slayton.
- Acquire 102 acres and prairie seeding at the Murray County Wildlife Management  Area.

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 Shetek State Park, an office building was converted to an interpretive center.

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 Murray 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 Plum Creek in northeastern Murray County.  The results are used to direct state and local pollution programs.  Lead agency:  Pollution Control Agency.

09/25/09 - TM