Renville 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.

Fort Ridgely Historic Site Interpretive Trail – 2003-05 biennium. This grant to the Minnesota State Historical Society is to construct a trail through the original fort site and install interpretive markers.

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 Renville County, a demonstration site was established by the Prairie Country Resource Conservation and Development Council to show hardwood stand establishment through direct seeding.

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 Web site. Visit http://mrbdc.mnsu.edu/index.html for more information about this project.

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 Renville County during the 1997-99 biennium and was completed during the 1999-01 biennium.

Prairie Heritage Fund – 1997-99 biennium and 1999-01 biennium. 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 Renville County, Trust Fund money was used to help purchase 40 acres of land southeast of Sacred Heart to extend the Dybsand Wildlife Management Area. If you would like additional information about wildlife management areas, please contact the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife.

Developing the Birch Coulee State Historic Site - 1997-99 biennium. Birch Coulee, near Morton in Renville County, was the site of a major battle in the United States-Dakota Indian Conflict of 1862. It was an undeveloped historic site with limited public use. The Minnesota Historical Society improved the site with new public access, one mile of interpretive walking trails, an interpretive kiosk and markers, a picnic area, portable restroom and water availability. The site was also restored to the condition it was in during the Conflict of 1862.

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 Conservation Reserve Easements - 1993-95 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. The Board of Water and Soil Resources purchased over 82 acres of easements in Renville County through this program.

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. This program was used to add 21 acres to the Schmalz Wildlife Management Area east of Buffalo Lake and to acquire habitat for rare species under the state’s Scientific and Natural Areas Program. Lead agency: Department of Natural Resources.

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. Through this program, easements were acquired on 24 acres of Renville County wetlands. Lead agency: Board of Water and Soil Resources.

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.