Four Private Landowners in County Permanently Protect Their Land
Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund dollars used to protect wildlife habitat.
KANDIYOHI COUNTY, Minn., March 7, 2008 – Officials from the Minnesota Land Trust
announced today that four private landowners have permanently protected their land
in Kandiyohi County. The four projects total 638 acres and include mixed hardwood
forests, restored ponds, wetlands and grasslands adjacent to the City of New London.
These projects are part of the Land Trust’s work in the Habitat Conservation Partnership.
The Partnership consists of several conservation organizations working to restore,
enhance and conserve Minnesota’s fish and wildlife habitat. Funding for these projects
was provided in part by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund
as recommended by the Legislative-Citizens Committee on Minnesota Resources.
“We are delighted to have worked once again with private landowners in Kandiyohi
County to conserve some of the region’s most desirable fish and wildlife habitat,”
states Jane Prohaska, President of the non-profit Minnesota Land Trust.
Two of the project sites are in close proximity to Sibley State Park and are surrounded
by land that is already protected by a conservation easement with the Minnesota
Land Trust. Totaling 175-acres, these two sites are mostly forested with mixed hardwoods.
“These properties also contain natural and restored wetlands that provide habitat
for a variety of aquatic plants and animals and contribute to the ecological viability
of the larger complex of wetlands and small glacial lakes in the area” says Prohaska.
One of the landowners, Dr. Robert Strand, completed an earlier project with the
Minnesota Land Trust. “My dream is to create a protected natural corridor that keeps
the wonderful scenic views and native wildlife habitat for generations,” Dr. Strand
says.
The other two properties lie within the New London Hills portion of Kandiyohi County,
which is the most heavily forested and steepest portion of the county. Totaling
463 acres, these properties are situated along the Glacial Ridge Scenic Byway (a
state scenic byway) and consists of rolling forested terrain and agricultural land
used for grazing. The forested areas are a mix of hardwood species and the property
also contains a large variety of wetland types ranging from ponds to lakes. The
properties provide habitat to a variety of wildlife species ranging from deer and
turkey to frogs and ducks.
The Land Trust has previously worked with the Strand family and other landowners
on four other projects bringing the total number of completed projects in the county
to eight which now protect 1,281 acres and 14,460 feet of shoreline.
The Minnesota Land Trust
The Minnesota Land Trust is the only private conservation organization in Minnesota
working extensively with perpetual conservation easements – legal, recorded agreements
by which landowners agree to limit the development and use of their land to preserve
its natural and scenic values. The Minnesota Land Trust has completed 360 conservation
projects protecting over 32,000 acres and 630,000 feet of shoreline which benefit
the public by conserving important plant and animal habitats, protecting water quality,
and preserving scenic landscapes that contribute to a community’s sense of place.
More information can be found on the organization’s website:
www.mnland.org
or by
calling 651-647-9590.
The Legislative-Citizens Commission on Minnesota Resources
The function of the Legislative-Citizens Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR)
is to make funding recommendations to the legislature for natural resource projects
primarily from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. These projects
are to help protect and enhance Minnesota's natural resources.
The LCCMR developed from a program initiated in 1963. Prior to June 1, 2006, over
$525 million has been appropriated to approximately 1,214 projects recommended by
LCMR to protect and enhance Minnesota's natural resources.