Olmsted 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 Olmsted County, an 80-foot fishing pier was purchased and installed east of Rochester at the Chester Woods County Park’s Bear Creek Reservoir with help from the Trust Fund.

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 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.

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 Olmsted County, Century High School in Rochester received a grant to help fund the Century High School Stewardship Plan.

Minnesota’s Forest Bird Diversity Initiative - 1999-01 biennium, 1997-99 biennium, 1995-97 biennium, 1993-95 biennium and 1991-93 biennium. Forest birds are key indicators of the health of Minnesota’s forest ecosystem. To address concerns of forest sustainability, the Department of Natural Resources and the Natural Resources Research Institute (at the University of Minnesota, Duluth) launched Minnesota’s Forest Bird Diversity Initiative in 1991. The Initiative’s goal is to develop landscape management tools to maintain the state’s unique diversity of forest birds through long-term monitoring of bird populations, research, modeling and education. This Initiative relies on more than 1,600 bird count locations in Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Cook, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Mille Lacs, Olmsted, Pine, Rice, St Louis, Wabasha and Winona Counties. For more information about this project, including other sponsors, visit www.nrri.umn.edu/mnbirds.

Minnesota Rare Mussel Conservation - 1997-99 biennium. This University of Minnesota project establishes and monitors refugia in the St. Croix River to improve freshwater mussel conservation and to protect them from invading Zebra mussels. In Olmsted County, mussel life history research will take place on the Zumbro River.

Protecting Rural Historic Landscapes in High Development Areas - 1997-99 biennium. The Rochester-Twin Cities-St. Cloud corridor still has significant rural landscape features - windbreaks, barns and farmhouses - that reflect the state’s agricultural history. The Minnesota Historical Society is identifying these features and working with land-planning agencies to protect them.

RIM Accelerate Fisheries Acquisition - 1997-99 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources is working to increase fish populations by acquiring aquatic management areas including easements and fee title on lakes and streams. In Olmsted County, 189 acres have been acquired along Mill Creek.

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 Olmsted County, these funds will be used for the Saratoga Wildlife Management Area.

Accelerated Native Grass and Forbs on Road Rights-of-Way - 1995-97 biennium. The way grasses and plants along roadsides are maintained significantly impacts soil and water quality, wildlife and rare plant habitats. Under this program, the Department of Natural Resources used new technology to plant and manage native grasses which will protect and improve biological diversity.

Environmental Action Grants for Minnesota Schools - 1995-97 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources will work with St. Olaf College in making grants for school area nature sites. Students at Byron Primary School established a butterfly garden, students at Rochester’s John Marshall High School improved a pond and restored prairie grass and students at Rochester’s Mayo High School restored native prairie plants at an area disturbed by a flood control project.

RIM Fisheries Habitat Development, Hatchery Rehabilitation and Stream Flow Protection - 1995-97 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources undertook projects to acquire, improve or restore fishing habitat. In Olmsted County, the North Branch of the Root River underwent channel restoration and improvement and 40 acres were acquired at Mill Creek near Chatfield.

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 Olmsted County, a new fishing pier was installed and shoreline improvements were made on the Willow Creek Reservoir. Lead agency: Department of Natural Resources.

Minnesota County Biological Survey - 1993-95 biennium and 1995-97 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. 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. The Olmsted County survey was begun during the 1993-95 biennium and completed in the 1995-97 biennium.

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 Olmsted County, the grant was used for grassland development, prescribed prairie burns, other prairie management and for forest stand development.

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. Forty-four wells were sealed in Olmsted County through this grant program matching state and county funds. Lead agency: Board of Water and Soil Resources.