Nicollet 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.

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 Nicollet County, the Trust Fund helped modify the fishing pier at North Mankato’s Hiniker Pond in 2003.

Groundwater Flow in the Prairie du Chien Aquifer - 1999-01 biennium. The Prairie du Chien and underlying Jordan Aquifers supply drinking water to more than 15,000 wells in the Twin Cities, Rochester and other parts of southeastern Minnesota. Groundwater in this part of the state has been contaminated at specific locations including a landfill in northern Olmsted County, the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant in Ramsey County and beneath sewage treatment ponds in Wabasha and Winona Counties. This project by the University of Minnesota’s Geological Survey is studying the structure and flow of the aquifers to better predict how contamination will travel through these underground waterways so better prevention plans can be developed.

Minnesota ReLeaf [Tree Planting and Preservation] Matching Grant Program - Continuation - 1999-01 biennium. This project, organized by the Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry, used money from the Trust Fund and the Minnesota Future Resources Fund to provide 111 grants to local units of government and non-profit organizations for community forest assessments, preventing the spread of oak-wilt in community forests and planting new trees. On average, each $1 of state funds was matched by $1.72 of local cash or in-kind services. Part of this appropriation assisted St. Peter, Comfrey and Granite Falls with the replacement of trees destroyed by the tornados of 1998 and 2000.

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.

Traverse des Sioux Site Development - 1999-01 biennium. With this appropriation, the State Historical Society improved the Traverse des Sioux historic site by researching its history, building a walking path, removing unwanted and non-native foliage from the area, planting native prairie grasses and flowers and installing benches, kiosks, building identification markers and interpretive signs. The site is located one mile north of St. Peter on US Highway 169.

Minnesota County Biological Survey - 1999-01 biennium and 1997-99 biennium. Minnesota still has pockets of rare plants, animals and natural areas that need to be protected, managed and studied. The Department of Natural Resources is surveying every county in Minnesota to locate these areas. Since the survey began in 1987, 50 counties have been surveyed. Survey work began in Nicollet County during the 1997-99 biennium and was completed during the 1999-01 biennium.

RIM Critical Habitat Match Acquisition and Enhancement - 1997-99 biennium. This Department of Natural Resources’ project provides an opportunity for private individuals, groups and businesses to help fund the cost of acquiring or improving critical fish, wildlife and native plant habitats by providing matching funds. In Nicollet County, 18 acres have been acquired at the Swan Lake Wildlife Management Area.

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 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. The Department of Natural Resources funded four projects in Nicollet County:

- Acquired 40 additional acres at the Fritsche Creek Wildlife Management Area northwest of New Ulm.
- Acquired and developed 60 acres at Swan Lake and Peterson Lake for the North American Waterfowl Management Program.
- Acquired 38 acres in the Oakleaf area of Swan Lake.
- Acquired 53 acres in the Courtland Bay area of Swan Lake.

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. In Nicollet County, the grant was used for shorebird habitat management.

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 Nicollet County grant was for implementation of programs to improve groundwater quality. Lead agency: Pollution Control Agency.

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. The results are used to direct state and local pollution programs. Lead agency: Pollution Control Agency.

RIM Conservation Reserve Easements - 1991-93 biennium. This program assists landowners in returning marginal farmland, especially legally-drained wetlands, back to its natural habitat thus improving water quality, controlling erosion and enhancing fish and wildlife habitat. Through this program, 239 acres of easements were purchased in Nicollet County. Lead agency: Board of Water and Soil Resources.

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

South Central Minnesota Surface Water Resources Atlases and Data Bases - 1991-93 biennium. Mankato State University gathered data to produce the following maps: general land survey, surface hydrology, weather station locations, point source pollution, incorporation of new land-use maps, population data from the 1990 census, county soil maps and cancer and epidemiology maps. The Nicollet County project developed surface hydrology atlases and a database.