Wabasha 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.

Updating Outmoded Soil Surveys - 1999-01 through 2003-05 biennia. The Board of Water and Soil Resources is working to update outmoded soil surveys for Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue and Wabasha Counties. The update is needed so that current soil survey maps, descriptions and database are available for managing agriculture, forestry, urban growth, recreation and wildlife land. As interim products from this project are developed, they will be made available to the local soil and water conservation districts for dissemination to the public. The project is expected to be complete by July of 2006.

Biological Control of Eurasian Watermilfoil and Purple Loosestrife - Continuation - 2001-03 biennium. In cooperation with staff from the University of Minnesota, the Army Corps of Engineers, Cornell University and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources coordinated this project to develop and implement biological controls for Eurasian Watermilfoil and Purple Loosestrife – two intrusive species invading Minnesota lakes and rivers.

The research scientists working on this project chose study areas along the Mississippi River corridor between Red Wing and Winona and lakes in the seven county metro area. They report that milfoil weevils can cause sustained declines of the invasive, non-native Eurasian Watermilfoil if sufficient densities of the insect are maintained throughout the summer each year. They also discovered that the milfoil weevils have their own predators – sunfish, which were in turn studied for their effect on the weevil population. Other variables they manipulated for this project include water clarity and physically removing milfoil and other plants.

On the other side of the project, research scientists found that leaf-beetles can provide long-term control of purple loosestrife and that these biological agents do not have a detrimental effect on two non-invasive species of loosestrife native to Minnesota. Their study results show these agents can move through a wetland in less than three years and disperse and colonize other wetlands as far as 20 kilometers away.

Diversifying Agriculture for Environmental, Economic, and Social Benefits - 1999-01 biennium. The Lentz farm near Lake City helped the University of Minnesota conduct field experiments with two native prairie plants – Illinois Bundleflower and False Indigo– for livestock grazing. Projects in other parts of the state examined the use of new strains and planting schedules of cover crops 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.

Groundwater Flow in the Prairie du Chien Aquifer - 1999-01 biennium. The Prairie du Chien and underlying Jordan Aquifers supply drinking water to more than 15,000 wells in the Twin Cities, Rochester and other parts of southeastern Minnesota. Groundwater in this part of the state has been contaminated at specific locations including a landfill in northern Olmsted County, the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant in Ramsey County and beneath sewage treatment ponds in Wabasha and Winona Counties. This project by the University of Minnesota Geological Survey is studying the structure and flow of the aquifers to better predict how contamination will travel through these underground waterways so better prevention plans can be developed.

Local Initiatives Grants Program - 1999-01 biennium. This appropriation allows the Department of Natural Resources to provide matching grants to local governments or private organizations for various projects related to local parks, natural and scenic areas, local trail connection projects, regional trail projects, environmental partnership projects and conservation partners’ projects. In Wabasha County, landowner-based environmental partnership projects will take place.

Minnesota Wildlife Tourism Initiative - 1999-01 biennium. The Minnesota Office of Tourism and Department of Natural Resources collaborated on this project to enhance Minnesota’s visibility as a national destination for wildlife tourism by placing advertisements in Audubon, National Wildlife, Wild Bird, and Birder’s World magazines. To promote this industry within the state, an array of techniques was employed including workshops, field trips, cost-sharing grants for groups promoting local wildlife watching areas, and printing and posting of signs for locations listed in the book Travelers Guide to Wildlife in Minnesota.

In Wabasha County, the Lake City Chamber of Commerce put together a birding brochure with help from this project.

Nongame Wildlife Management - 1999-01 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources’ Nongame Wildlife Program used this grant from the Trust Fund to help carry out more than 65 wildlife conservation projects during the biennium. Among the research, habitat management, information and education and planning activities were planting of lakescaping sites, development of bald eagle management plans, surveys of loon, hawk and owl populations, habitat improvements for endangered and threatened species, and wildlife management workshops. Projects in Wabasha County included research and monitoring of Blanding’s turtle populations at the Weaver Dunes nesting area and restoration of oak savanna habitat to benefit the endangered Karner Blue butterfly.
The Web site for the Minnesota DNR Nongame Wildlife Program is http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ecological_services/nongame/index.html

Sustainability Forums - 1999-01 biennium. This appropriation will allow the Minnesota Division of the Izaak Walton League of America to hold a forum in Wabasha for the public and local units of government on sustainability and community-based planning objectives. The project will draw on the organization’s national Sustainability Education Project to promote planning in Minnesota. The follow-up support, provided by the project staff, will include technical advice, help in identifying and seeking funding for community-based projects and other participant-identified needs.

Minnesota’s Forest Bird Diversity Initiative - 1999-01, 1997-99, 1995-97, 1993-95 and 1991-93 biennia. Forest birds are key indicators of the health of Minnesota’s forest ecosystem. To address concerns of forest sustainability, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Natural Resources Research Institute (at the University of Minnesota, Duluth) launched Minnesota’s Forest Bird Diversity Initiative in 1991. The Initiative’s goal is to develop landscape management tools to maintain the state’s unique diversity of forest birds through long-term monitoring of bird populations, research, modeling, and education. This initiative relies on more than 1,600 bird count locations in Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Cook, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Mille Lacs, Olmsted, Pine, Rice, St Louis, Wabasha and Winona Counties. For more information about this project, including other sponsors, visit www.nrri.umn.edu/mnbirds.

Minnesota Rare Mussel Conservation - 1997-99 biennium. This University of Minnesota project is attempting to improve freshwater mussel conservation and protect them from invading Zebra mussels. In Wabasha County, mussel life history research will take place in the Mississippi River.

RIM Accelerate Fisheries Acquisition - 1997-99 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources is working to increase fish populations by acquiring aquatic management areas including easements and fee title on lakes and streams. In Wabasha County, Long Creek will undergo this process.

Water Access - 1995-97 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources is improving access to some of the state’s most popular lakes and rivers for anglers and boaters by building new boat ramps, fishing piers and shoreline structures. In Wabasha County, access to Maple Springs on the Mississippi River was improved.

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. The Department of Natural Resources used this grant to acquire and develop access sites on Lake Pepin and to acquire and develop access sites on the Mississippi River.

Fisheries Acquisition for Angler Access and Habitat Development - 1993-95 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is buying easements along three miles of trout streams and three miles of warm-water streams to increase access for anglers and improve fish habitats. The DNR is also protecting critical fish habitats by purchasing 200 acres of land near those habitats. This program acquired land along a quarter mile of Middle Creek along with four and a half acres of easements.

RIM Wildlife Habitat Stewardship - 1993-95 biennium. About 29,000 acres of state land is being developed and improved to protect wildlife and native plants. The Department of Natural Resources is restoring prairies, brush land, forests and non-game habitat while planting and managing native vegetation to enhance hunting, observing nature and education. In Wabasha County, this grant funded a “landscaping for wildlife” demonstration area and for Blanding’s Turtle habitat management.

Minnesota County Biological Survey - 1991-93 biennium, 1993-95 biennium and 1995-97 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources is collecting information on plants and animals throughout Minnesota to identify the location of natural areas and rare plants and animals. This information will be used to better manage areas that have native species of plants and animals. This project has been ongoing since 1987. The Wabasha County survey began during the 1991-93 biennium, continued in the 1993-95 biennium and was completed in the 1995-97 biennium.

Mississippi River Valley Blufflands Initiative - 1991-93 biennium. This Department of Natural Resources’ project was designed to assist local officials in developing appropriate land use controls, identifying critical habitats and improving citizen stewardship of the blufflands.

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