DNR R1 News - Red River State Recreation Area to open in May – reserve your campsite now

 

DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                            MAY 4, 2009

Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, DNR communications director, 651-259-5023; Gladwin Lynne, Red River SRA park manager, 218-773-4950.

Red River State Recreation Area to open in May – reserve your campsite now

The seasonal facilities at Red River State Recreation Area (SRA) in East Grand Forks are expected to open on schedule during the first full week in May, despite being underwater just weeks ago.

The park office is now open and camping reservations are being accepted for the 2009 season.

 

"The record flooding this spring made for extra cleanup," said Gladwin Lynne, park manager, "but the park didn't sustain any major damage."

 

That's because the Red River SRA, which lies between the river and the city's "invisible flood wall," was designed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and built to be a model, modern floodplain campground. The sanitation and shower buildings were designed to minimize structural damage in times of high water, and meet all local, state and federal policies regarding structures in a floodplain. Some of the park's trails consist of mown grass and packed gravel, rather than pavement, in order to minimize flood impacts and associated maintenance costs; and all of the electrical components within the SRA are removable.

 

Work crews have been busy since the flood waters receded, clearing and cleaning the park's facilities and readying the campground for visitors.

 

Sherlock Park Campground will open to campers on a first-come, first-served basis beginning May 7, with reserved camping available May 15 through Oct. 4. Campers may reserve any of the 72 campsites through the state park reservation service at 866-85PARKS (866-857-2757), online at www.stayatmnparks.com or by calling the park office. 

 

The River Heights Trailhead will be open to the public May 23. The site includes three picnic shelters, two of which may be reserved through the park office, and a modern restroom. The trailhead is located near a handicapped fishing access and entrance to the Greenway bike trail system.

 

The Red Lake River public water access is currently under water, but is expected to be open by mid-May.

 

Red River SRA is part of the Greater Grand Forks Greenway. Located near the Riverwalk Center mall, this unique SRA offers visitors access to outdoor recreational opportunities while still within walking distance of urban shopping and dining experiences.

 

For information, call the park office at 218-773-4950 or visit www.mnstateparks.info.

 

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Tammi Jalowiec

NW Regional Information Officer

MN Department of Natural Resources

Office: 218-308-2647 

Cell: 218-766-8645

tammi.jalowiec@dnr.state.mn.us

 

R1 DNR News - Grazing as a habitat management tool on wildlife management areas

Grazing as a habitat management tool on wildlife management areas

Passersby will notice cattle grazing this spring in some unlikely places in Pope and Stevens counties. Beginning in May, livestock will graze on the Sedan Wildlife Management Area (WMA) along Highway 55 northeast of Sedan, the Edwards Waterfowl Production Area (WPA) four miles east of Morris along County Road 10, the Ordway Prairie along County Road 104 south of Terrace, and other lands in the area.

The cooperative project, designed to demonstrate the potential benefits of managed grazing for grassland habitat and wildlife, is being conducted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Pope County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), the Nature Conservancy, and several local livestock operators.

According to project coordinators, small side-by-side plots on both public and private land will be used to visually demonstrate the similarities and differences of various grassland management practices, such as managed grazing, prescribed burning, haying and idled grasslands.

"The native tall-grass prairies of western Minnesota evolved through a historic regimen of fire, intensive grazing, and rest," explained Richard Olsen, Glenwood DNR assistant area wildlife manager. "Today we mimic these historic grassland disturbances with prescribed fires, hay or biomass harvesting, livestock grazing, and idling or rest."

Fire is currently used on an annual basis on a fraction of acres to simulate the fires of more than a century ago that reinvigorated the prairies. Hay or biomass harvesting is used to suppress woody vegetation, control weeds, and stimulate native grasses.

Both burning and harvesting are widely accepted grassland habitat management tools that have many documented benefits, according to Olsen. Livestock grazing, on the other hand, is an underutilized grassland wildlife management technique. He said managed livestock grazing is compatible and beneficial to grasslands and wildlife.

The USFWS in Morris and the DNR in Glenwood currently provide grazing opportunities on public lands to meet several specific habitat management objectives. "This project will help raise awareness that all grassland management tools are needed to promote healthy and productive grasslands that, in turn, benefit waterfowl, pheasants, and other bird species," Olsen said.

The project is funded through a Working Lands Initiative grant and contributions from Glacial Ridge Pheasants Forever, Glacial Ridge Cattleman's Association, Pope County Pheasant Restoration, Terrace Sportsman, Bar J. Ranch, Pope SWCD, Chippewa River Watershed Project, Jenniges Hidden Acres, Big Valley Milling, and Natural Resources Conservation Service. Working Lands Initiative is a public/private partnership for wildlife development on working farms, where local teams work with landowners to meet local needs and priorities.

Cooperators are offering a bus tour on Aug. 20 so the public can see first-hand the positive aspects of grassland management techniques currently being used by public land managers. Call the Pope County SWCD at 320-634-5327 to sign up or learn more about the tour.

For more information on Sedan WMA or DNR grassland management, contact the Glenwood Area Wildlife office at 320-634-0342 or visit www.mndnr.gov.

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Tammi Jalowiec
NW Regional Information Officer
MN Department of Natural Resources
Office: 218-308-2647
Cell: 218-766-8645
tammi.jalowiec@dnr.state.mn.us

Brainerd Airport Grant Brings Recovery Investment in Northeast Minnesota to $62 million

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Washington DC – The Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport will receive $1 million in federal economic recovery funding, Congressman Jim Oberstar announced today.  The money will make it possible to begin rehabilitating a runway apron at the airport. 

"The project at the Brainerd Airport demonstrates how the recovery funding is revitalizing our economy," said Oberstar.  "It creates jobs right away and when the project is done, the region has a better facility that will move goods and people to market more efficiently.  We are laying the groundwork for a more productive economy in the long run."

Since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act became law in February, Minnesota's 8th Congressional District has received nearly $62 million in funding for programs that will save and create jobs. A list of Northeast Minnesota projects and programs that have received recovery funding so far is available at www.oberstar.house.gov.