Nobles 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.

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 Nobles County is slated for this biennium.

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 Nobles County, native prairie restoration at Olson Park 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 Champepaden Creek and five sites on the Little Rock River in Nobles County during August and September 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.

Prairie Heritage Fund – 1997-99 and 1999-01 bienniums. Twenty-nine parcels of land totaling 3,683 acres were purchased in 14 counties, donated to the State of Minnesota and designated as Wildlife Management Areas as a result of this project coordinated by Pheasants Forever. Money from the Trust Fund was matched and extended for these prairie and wetland purchases by contributions from local Pheasants Forever Chapters and other groups and individuals. These new parcels fit into an existing network of close to 1,300 Wildlife Management Areas maintained by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and are open to public hunting and other recreational pursuits.

In Nobles County, Trust Fund money was used to help purchase 29 acres of land south of Worthington to extend the Peterson Wildlife Management Area, an additional 23 acres of land east of Wilmont was purchased to extend the Groth Wildlife Management Area, and 15 acres of land west of Worthington was purchased to help establish the Lambert Prairie Wildlife Management Area. If you would like additional information about Wildlife Management Areas, please contact the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife.

Access to Lakes and Rivers - 1993-95 biennium. Fishing piers, boat ramps and shoreline access sites are being built around the state to provide boaters and anglers with more access to popular Minnesota lakes and rivers. In Nobles County, the Department of Natural Resources installed a new fishing pier and shoreline improvements at Lake Okabena in Worthington.

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 Nobles County, researchers studied the relationship between area geology and groundwater quality.

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. Through this program, the Department of Natural Resources was able to acquire 150 acres of key waterfowl habitat at the West Graham Wildlife Management Area as part of the North American Waterfowl Management Program and 158 acres of prairie grass and trees in county wildlife management areas.

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 Nobles County, this program was used to expand groundwater sensitivity mapping. Lead agency: Minnesota Geological Survey.

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