Stearns 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.

Local Initiative Grants – 2005-07 biennium. Part of this grant administered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is to purchase land for a proposed county regional park on Kraemer Lake southwest of St Joseph in Stearns County.

Woodchip Biofilter Treatment of Feedlot Runoff – 2005-07 biennium. This project by the Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District and the University of Minnesota is to remove pollutants from feedlot runoff with woodchip filters and then assess improvements to surface water quality in the county.

Acquisition of Lands as Scientific and Natural Areas - 2001-03 biennium. This appropriation from the Trust Fund was used to acquire critical lands with plant communities such as native prairie and rare species habitat. Appraisals at seven potential locations were completed during the biennium and nearly 180 acres of land was purchased at four different scientific and natural areas. In Stearns County, Sedan Brook north of Brooten was expanded by 40 acres.

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 Stearns County, a workshop was held on September 30, 2000, in St Cloud.

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 Stearns County, grants were received by the St. Johns Arboretum to help restore 10 acres of oak savanna and by the Sauk Centre School District for the Prairie-n-River Learning Site Enhancement and Awareness Project.

Management and Restoration of Natural Plant Communities on State Trails - 1999-01 biennium. This Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) project will enhance the ecological value and contribute to the sustainability of the native landscape, heighten the quality of the recreation experience and foster environmental stewardship and education. In Stearns County, ten acres of trail right-of-way at the historic Northtown site near Paynesville were seeded with native grasses and forbs by Minnesota Native Landscapes, LLC of Foley during the fall of 1999. Two years later, the DNR reports that the native plants will continue to compete with red clover and eventually take over the area. Another site, one mile east of the town of Roscoe, was seeded by Prairie Restoration Inc. who will maintain the 32-acre site for the 2001 and 2002 growing seasons to change it from pasture and cultivated land to dry prairie savanna. Both projects are along the Glacial Lakes State Trail.

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 one site on the Mississippi River and two sites on the Sauk River in Stearns County during June and August of 2001.

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.

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 Department of Natural Resources and are open to public hunting and other recreational pursuits.

In Stearns County, Trust Fund money was used to help purchase 889 acres of land to establish two new wildlife management areas and extend two others. The Prairie Heritage Wildlife Management Area (named after this project), located northwest of Regal, is 391 acres in size. The Kurilla Wildlife Management Area is the other new location and contains about 210 acres of land north of New Munich. A purchase of 243 acres of land between Paynesville and Belgrade extended the Tribute Wildlife Management Area and an additional 45 acres of land was added to the Padua Wildlife Management Area, located northeast of the city by the same name. Trust Fund money was also used to help restore the native prairie on 40 acres of the Kurilla Wildlife Management Area. If you would like additional information about wildlife management areas, please contact the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife.

Minnesota County Biological Survey - 1997-99 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. Survey work in Stearns County began during the 1995-97 biennium and was completed in the 1997-99 biennium.

Accelerated Native Grass and Forbs in Road Rights-of-Way - 1995-97 biennium. This appropriation to the Department of Natural Resources will help establish and maintain native plants along Minnesota roadsides.

Environmental Action Grants for Minnesota Schools - 1995-97 biennium. St. Olaf College’s School Nature Area Project is conducting a pilot program with the help of the Department of Natural Resources in which 40 K-12 schools will receive matching grants to establish or enhance nature areas within walking distances of the school buildings. Students at St. Cloud’s Oak Hill Community School have developed four acres of restored prairie on school grounds.

Environmental Education Teacher Training - 1995-97 biennium. Minnesota universities do not offer environmental education courses because it is a new field of study and is not required for teacher licensure. The Office of Environmental Assistance is working with universities to develop four such courses that can be required for students and offered to teachers as in-service programs. In Stearns County, grants were given to St. Cloud State University for the participation of their educators.

RIM Critical Habitat Match - 1993-95 biennium. This Department of Natural Resources’ 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 grant allowed the addition of more than 31 acres to the Zion Wildlife Management Area near Paynesville.

County Geologic Atlases, Assessments and Groundwater Sensitivity Mapping -1991-93 biennium and 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. The 1993-95 Stearns County allocation is for expanded regional sensitivity mapping and the 1991-93 allocation is for production of county geologic atlases.

Rails to Trails - 1991-93 biennium. This Department of Natural Resources’ program acquires and develops abandoned railroad property for recreational use including hiking, bicycling, skiing, snowmobiling and horseback riding. Among the trails being developed is the Willmar to Richmond Trail in Stearns and Kandiyohi Counties.

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