Rock 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 Rock County is slated for this biennium.

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 three sites on Beaver Creek, two sites on Champepaden Creek, one site on Elk Creek, two sites on Kanaranzi Creek, one site on Mud Creek, one site on Pipestone Creek, nine sites on the Rock River and five sites on Split Rock Creek in Rock 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.

National Prairie Passage; Linking Isolated Prairie Preserves − 1999-01 biennium with an extension to June 30th 2002. With funding from the Federal Highway Administration and this grant from the Trust Fund, the Minnesota Department of Transportation arranged for the preparation and planting of 480 acres of land in Blue Mounds and Camden State Parks, the Black Rush Lake Waterfowl Production Area and the adjacent Highway 23 and 75 corridors with more than 30,000 pounds of prairie grass and wildflower seed, most of which was harvested from local prairies. Prairie Passage route signs, posters and brochures were also developed for this project and informational kiosks were installed at wayside rests near Marshall and Luverne and at Blue Mounds and Camden State Parks. The designated Prairie Passage route in Minnesota stretches through 20 counties in the western and southwestern part of the state from Manitoba to the Iowa border and will perhaps extend through Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, our partners in the National Prairie Passage project.

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 Rock County, Trust Fund money was used to help purchase 121 acres of land to establish two new Wildlife Management Areas: Little Beaver Creek Wildlife Management Area northwest of Luverne and Big John’s Wildlife Management Area south of Luverne. If you would like additional information about Wildlife Management Areas, please contact the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife.

State Park and Recreation Area Acquisition, Development, Betterment and Rehabilitation - 1995-97 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources is buying privately owned land within state park and recreation area boundaries to avoid losing substantial natural and cultural resources. In Rock County, 17 acres were acquired for Blue Mounds State Park.

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.

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 Rock County, this program allowed the acquisition of over 145 acres of land at the Rock River Wildlife Management Area and the purchase 20 acres at the P.F. Mulder Wildlife Management Area. 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 financed prairie restoration at Blue Mounds 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 Rock County, this program was used to expand groundwater sensitivity mapping. Lead agency: Minnesota Geological Survey.