Otter Tail 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.

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.

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 Otter Tail County, Trust Fund money was used to purchase land south of Perham on Marion Lake to expand a current public access site.

Minnesota County Biological Survey - 1999-01 through 2003-05 biennia. 2001 marks the start of the eighth biennium of this ambitious twelve biennia project that identifies significant natural areas and systematically collects and interprets data on the distribution and ecology of natural communities, rare plants and area animals. Since 1987, surveys have been completed or are underway in 64 counties. Survey work in Otter Tail County began during the 1999-01 biennium and was completed in the 2003-05 biennium.

Evaluate Establishment, Impact of Leafy Spurge Biocontrol Agents - 1999-01 biennium. Leafy Spurge is a European perennial that was first documented in the eastern United States in the early 1800s. For decades, landowners and managers have faced the enormous challenge of trying to manage this extremely competitive plant species with chemical, cultural and mechanical methods. The plant has a characteristic white sap containing chemicals that are toxic to grazing wildlife and domesticated livestock.  It is a prohibited noxious weed in Minnesota.

Since 1989, five species of flea beetles have been released in Minnesota to control Leafy Spurge. This project evaluated their establishment and impact and made recommendations to improve the beetles’ effectiveness. Scientists from the Department of Agriculture and the University of Minnesota conducted the research at two locations in Becker County, 16 locations in Clay County and eight locations in Otter Tail County.

Lakescaping for Wildlife and Water Quality Initiative - 1999-01 biennium. This Department of Natural Resources’ program helped lakeshore homeowners learn how to use native plants on the shoreline and in the water to enhance wildlife habitat and improve water quality in their lake. With assistance from the Minnesota Lakes Association, the department conducted a series of workshops for property owners and constructed demonstration sites throughout the state. In Otter Tail County, a demonstration site was completed on Wall Lake.

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 Otter Tail County, the Perham-Dent Public School received a grant for a research project at Mud Lake on the Otter Tail River.

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 the Otter Tail River in Otter Tail County during October 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.

Public Boat Access and Fishing Piers - 1999-01 biennium. With help from the Minnesota Future Resources Fund and donations from local contributors, Trust Fund money was put to work acquiring land for future public access sites, developing existing sites and building and extending fishing piers. In Ottertail County, land was purchased for a new boat access site near Perham on Little McDonald Lake.

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 in the Red River Watershed such as the Pelican and Ottertail Rivers.  This study will lead to methods of protecting water quality from the effects of erosion. 

Sustainable Lake Plans - 1997-99 biennium.  What should your lake look like in two generations? That is the question the University of Minnesota’s Center for Urban and Regional Affairs is focusing on as it develops plans for managing five lakes including Otter Tail County’s Clitherall Lake. The plans will address land use, water management and quality issues and will be used by other lake managers or associations to develop their own plans.

State Park and Recreation Area Acquisition, Development, Betterment and Enhancement - 1997-99 biennium.  The Department of Natural Resources is expanding and improving state parks and recreation areas by building new facilities, repairing and upgrading existing facilities and buying privately-owned land within park boundaries.  In Otter Tail County, 18 acres were acquired at Maplewood State Park located east of Pelican Rapids. 

State Park Betterment - 1995-97 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.  Under this program, Glendalough State Park added 1.29 acres, underwent restoration on trails and their entrance road as well as campground development while electrical hookups were added to the campground at Maplewood State Park.   

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 Otter Tail County, funds were used for pier installation and shoreline improvements on the Pelican River.  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 Otter Tail County, funds were used for expanded hydrologic assessment.

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.  In Otter Tail County, this program allowed the acquisition of 400 acres of land at the Head Lake Wildlife Management Area and acquisition of 27.5 acres at the Elmo Wildlife Management Area southeast of Henning. Lead agency:  Department of Natural Resources.

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.  This grant is for trail rehabilitation at Maplewood State Park and for site restoration at Glendalough State Park.

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 Otter Tail County, the project mapped areas sensitive to groundwater contamination.  Lead agency:  Minnesota Geological Survey.

09/25/09 - TM