Norman 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.

Restoring RIM Match – 2003-05 biennium. Prairie once covered more than 18 million acres in Minnesota. With less than 1/10th of 1 percent of our native prairies remaining, these prairie parcels are often the last refuge for rare animals and plants including many of Minnesota’s less common birds.

The Department of Natural Resources’ Nongame Wildlife Program matched Trust Fund dollars as part of this project to help fund a survey and assessment of prairie birds inhabiting 18 Scientific and Natural Areas on prairie tracts in northwest Minnesota and an additional seven sites on lands with Prairie Bank easements. Surveys were completed in Clay, Kittson, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Ottertail, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, Stevens and Wilkin counties.

A total of 111 rare species documentation reports were filled out and submitted for inclusion in the Natural Heritage Program database. This project was the most comprehensive effort to date to survey birds on Scientific and Natural Areas, and it was the first effort to survey birds on prairie bank sites. The project provided not only rare species sightings, but also underscored the value of these sites as habitats for wildlife, specifically birds.

Native Prairie Prescribed Burns - 1999-01 biennium. Periodic fire is an essential to the health of the prairie ecosystem, but deliberately set and controlled burns interact far better with civilization than random wildfires.  On average, 6,000 of the 48,000 acres of prairie habitat in northwest Minnesota’s Glacial Lake Agassiz Beach Ridges landscape are burned annually. While this is a significant amount, it is still about 9,000 acres per year short of what is needed for a healthy prairie habitat. This cooperative project between the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and The Nature Conservancy accelerated the prescribed fire program in select areas of the state. In the Glacial Lake Agassiz Beach Ridges area, 74 burns on nearly 15,000 acres were conducted as part of this project.

In Norman County, targeted areas included parts of the Agassiz-Olson, Neal and Twin Valley Wildlife Management Areas and the Prairie Smoke Dunes Scientific and Natural Area.

Prairie-Grassland Landscapes - 1997-99 biennium.  Landowners in northwestern Minnesota’s Glacial Lake Agassiz Interbeach Area are struggling to strike a balance between earning a living from the land and conserving prairies and grasslands for future generations. The Department of Natural Resources is working with local landowners and organizations to create grassland-landscaping projects that will preserve and protect the prairies.

Red River Valley Planning and Management - 1997-99 biennium. The Pollution Control Agency is working with an array of political jurisdictions and governments to determine ways of managing the land and water in the Red River Valley in northwestern Minnesota. The project includes a U.S. Geological Survey study of causes of sediment in streams and rivers, which will lead to methods of protecting water quality from the effects of erosion. 

County Geologic Atlases, Assessments and Groundwater Sensitivity Mapping - 1993-95 biennium.  The Minnesota Geological Survey is studying the geology and groundwater in Minnesota.  Maps were 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 Norman County, researchers studied the relationship between area geology and groundwater quality.

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.  The Norman County grant was used for brushland development.

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.  Easements on over 208 acres of Norman County wetlands were purchased through this program.  Lead agency:  Board of Water and Soil Resources.

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

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