Stevens 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.

Community Energy Development Program – 2003-05 biennium. Part of this grant was used by the University of Minnesota at Morris to help complete a 1.65 megawatt wind turbine in April of 2005. The turbine is expected to generate about 5 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year.

Diversifying Agriculture for Environmental, Economic, and Social Benefits – 1999-01 biennium. Researchers at the University of Minnesota West Central Experiment Station in Morris examined new strains and planting schedules of cover crops, evaluating their ability to suppress weeds, recycle nutrients, control disease, decrease erosion, and increase wildlife habitat. University of Minnesota scientists also conducted field experiments with Illinois Bundleflower and False Indigo for livestock grazing and hybrid hazelnuts as a crop alternative. The diversification of agricultural products shows great promise for improving both the state’s environment and its farm economy.

Integrated Prairie Management - 1999-01 biennium. This cooperative project by the University of Minnesota and Clay County took an integrated land management approach to solve the conflict between the continuing need for gravel and other aggregate resources and the desire for conservation of the native landscape on public land at the Felton Prairie Complex. In the process, the Zilmer pit became a restored prairie and interpretive site. This project also studied the effects of fire and rotational grazing on prairie vegetation, livestock, and grassland birds in western Minnesota and produced the booklet Landowner’s Guide to Management of Prairie in Minnesota. Part of the prairie vegetation study took place at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center at Morris in Stevens County.

Minnesota County Biological Survey - 1999-01 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 was completed in Stevens County during the 1999-01 biennium.

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. In Stevens County, Trust Fund money was used to help finance the reconstruction of about 600 feet of the Chippewa River bank that was eroding dangerously close to the Swan Lake Township road. The result is less sediment in the water and a safer roadway.

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 Twelve Mile Creek. This study will lead to methods of protecting water quality from the effects of erosion.

Environmental Education Teacher Training - 1995-97 biennium. Minnesota universities that train students to be teacher 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 Stevens County, grants were given to the University of Minnesota - Morris for participation of their educators.

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 and its tributaries. 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.

Reinvest in Minnesota Conservation Reserve Easements - 1993-95 biennium. This program assists landowners in returning marginal farmland - especially legally drained wetlands - back to its natural habitat, which improves water quality, controls erosion and enhances fish and wildlife habitat. Forty-one acres of permanent easements on agricultural land were purchased in Stevens County.

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. The Board of Water and Soil Resources purchased 25 acres of easements in Stevens County through this project.

Insecticide Impact on Wetland and Upland Wildlife - 1991-93 biennium. Stevens County was used as a site for a Department of Natural Resources’ study on the extent of the effects that insecticides have on wetland and upland areas. Other study areas were in Kandiyohi, Ramsey and Watonwan Counties.

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 including the Pomme de Terre River in Stevens County. The results are used to direct state and local pollution programs. Lead agency: Pollution Control Agency.

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