DNR news release: Kids fishing clinic offered at Hayes Lake State Park

DNR NEWS - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JULY 7, 2009
Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, DNR communications director, 651-259-5023; Hayes Lake State Park, 218-425-7504.

Kids fishing clinic offered at Hayes Lake State Park

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invites children and their parents to Hayes Lake State Park on Saturday, July 11, from 10-4 p.m. for a Kid's Fishing Clinic at the Dam Picnic Area.

Participating children will explore the aquatic habitat of Hayes Lake, learn to identify fish, practice knot tying and casting, and end the afternoon fishing on the pier.

This program is for children grades one to four, and is limited to 10 participants. Registration is required by calling 218-425-7504. The DNR encourages parents to participate with their children. Participants do not need a fishing license.

This program, sponsored by Mattson Pharmacy of Roseau, is free. A vehicle permit, sold at the park office, is required to enter the park. Daily permits are $5. Annual permits, good for year-long access to all 72 of Minnesota's state parks and recreational areas, are just $25.

The entrance to Hayes Lake State Park is located 15 miles south of Roseau on State Highway 89, then nine miles east on Roseau County Road 4.

For more information about Hayes Lake or Hayes Lake State Park, visit www.mndnr.gov.
-30-

DNR news release: Paul Bunyan State Trail now open between Bemidji and Guthrie

DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 1 , 2009
Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, DNR communications director,
651-259-5023; David Schotzko, DNR Parks and Trails area supervisor,
218-308-2367.

Paul Bunyan State Trail now open between Bemidji and Guthrie

Construction on the Bemidji to Guthrie segment of the Paul Bunyan State
Trail is complete and the trail is now open to the public.

The trail is now paved for approximately 11.5 miles between the two
communities, primarily along the old Burlington Northern Santa Fe
railroad grade. Bridges were constructed along this route in 2002 over
Washington Ave. and the U.S. Highway 2 bypass.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will construct the
Guthrie to Walker segment of the trail over the next two years to
provide a continuous paved trail from Bemidji to Brainerd.

Future trail and bridge construction will be required in the southern
part of Bemidji and in Crow Wing State Park to fully complete the Paul
Bunyan State Trail. Once finished, it will extend for approximately 110
miles from Crow Wing State Park south of Brainerd to Lake Bemidji State
Park north of Bemidji.

For a map of the Paul Bunyan or other state trails, visit or call toll
free, 888-646-6367.
-30-

R1 DNR Information Office message

Dear Communication Partner,

 

Today is my last day as the NW Regional Information Officer. (I am leaving the DNR to pursue a career opportunity in my hometown.)

 

Until a replacement is hired, you may direct your media inquiries to:

   Information Program Supervisor Scott Pengelly at 651-259-5351 or scott.pengelly@state.mn.us

          or

   Information Officer Steve Carroll at 651-259-5342 or steve.carroll@state.mn.us

 

Other DNR contacts may be found by using the Office Locator on the DNR Web site at:

 http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/contact/locator.html

 

It has been a pleasure working with you.

 

Sincerely,

 

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

 

DNR R1 News - Free Northwest Minnesota prairie tours offered July 11-12

DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                          JUNE 22, 2009

Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, DNR communications director, 651-259-5023; Nancy Sather, MCBS Botanist/NHNRP plant ecologist, 651-259-5136.

Free Northwest Minnesota prairie tours offered July 11-12

The Minnesota County Biological Survey (MCBS), the Natural Sciences Department at the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC), and the Minnesota Native Plant Society are teaming up to offer a variety of field trips to northwestern Minnesota's prairies July 11-12.

 

Trip coordinator Nancy Sather, an MCBS ecologist originally from Fosston, notes that northwestern Minnesota's tallgrass aspen parkland is too diverse to be explored on a single trip. Therefore, a variety of shorter mix-and-match tours are planned to enable people to choose the experience that best matches their interests and schedules as well as the level of difficulty of the trip. The level of difficulty noted for each trip is based on a combination of the distance covered and terrain difficulty.

 

Participants may choose from among the following tours.

 

SATURDAY, JULY 11

 

·         9 a.m. Agassiz Dunes Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) near Fertile, led by UMC Instructor Rhett Johnson (moderate hike). No preregistration required. Meet at the parking lot of the Sandhill Drive Inn, 605 South Mill St., Fertile.

 

·         9 a.m. Count Western prairie fringed orchids near Fertile, led by MCBS Ecologists Nancy Sather and Derek Anderson (difficult, working hike). Preregistration is required.

 

·         10:45 a.m. Aspen parkland near Karlstad, led by MCBS Ecologist Robert Dana. The trip continues through the afternoon (difficult tour and hike). Preregistration is required.

 

·         1:30 p.m. Thorson Wildlife Management Area near Fertile, led by Rhett Johnson (moderate hike). No preregistration required. Meet at the parking lot of the Sandhill Drive Inn, 605 South Mill St., Fertile.

 

·         1:30 p.m. Western prairie fringed orchids near Fertile, led by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) ecologists and Native Plant Society members (family-friendly hike). No preregistration required. Meet at the parking lot of the Sandhill Drive Inn, 605 South Mill St., Fertile.

 

SUNDAY, JULY 12

 

·         9 a.m. Aspen parkland, led by MCBS Ecologist Robert Dana. The trip visits multiple sites, continuing through the afternoon (difficult tour and hike). Preregistration is required. Meet at the DNR Area Wildlife office, 202 Main St. North, Karlstad.

 

-MORE-

·         9 a.m. Natural communities along the historic Pembina Trail ox-cart route through Marshall, Pennington, Red Lake and Polk counties, led by Nancy Sather (family-friendly auto tour with several short stops). No preregistration required. Meet at the entrance of Old Mill State Park, 33489 240th Ave. N.W., Argyle.

 

Maps to tour sites will be distributed at the starting point. Participants are responsible for their own transportation. All trips involve some walking off trails for distances of one mile or more. Everyone is encouraged to wear solid shoes, long pants and sun protection.

 

All tours are free, but space is limited. To preregister, send an e-mail stating exactly which tour(s) you plan to attend to or leave a voice message at 651-259-5136. The registration deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 7.

 

-30-

 

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

 

Old Mill State Park program announcement: Oxcart trail program July 5

Oxcart Trail program to be held at Old Mill State Park on July 5

Date: Sunday, July 5, 2009

Time: 1 to 4 p.m.

Location: Old Mill State Park, 33489 240th Ave. NW, Argyle, MN 56713

Meet at the picnic shelter.

Description: Orlin Ostby will tell the tale of his 2008 journey, which retraced the steps of trappers and traders along the nineteenth century oxcart trails from Winnipeg to St. Paul.

Then, experience what life was like on the trail and take a trip to the remnants of an actual trail close to the park. Tour led by DNR Ecologist Nancy Sather.

Program is free, but vehicle permit is required to enter the park. Permits available at the park office; daily permit is $5, annual permit is $25.

Directions: From Newfolden, go 11 miles west on County Road 4. From Argyle, go 12 miles east on County Road 4, then 1 mile north on County Road 4 to County Road 39.

More Information: Call the park office at 218-437-8174.

 

 

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

 

DNR R1 News - DNR to hold public hearing on Lake Anka management June 30

DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                          JUNE 18, 2009

Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, DNR communications director, 651-259-5023; Nicole Hansel-Welch, shallow lakes program supervisor, 218-833-8626.

DNR to hold public hearing on Lake Anka management June 30

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a public hearing on a proposal to formally designate Lake Anka in Douglas County for wildlife management.

 

The hearing will be at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, at the Lund Township Hall, 17443 Lake View Ave. NW, Evansville.

 

Lake Anka, located just north of Melby, is a 208-acre shallow lake basin that has long been considered an important waterfowl migration lake, as has the adjacent Lake Christina. The two lakes are connected and have been managed together for decades. This designation would be part of a larger project to continue to improve Lake Christina (which was designated a wildlife lake in 1984) for waterfowl migration habitat using water level management.

 

Designating Lake Anka as a wildlife lake would give the DNR the authority to conduct periodic drawdowns in conjunction with the management of Lake Christina. Drawdowns are done to reduce numbers of rough fish and to facilitate wildlife habitat improvements, including enhancing water clarity and the re-establishing aquatic vegetation.

 

Those who wish to comment on the proposal may do so at the public hearing. Written comments may be submitted to Thomas Carlson, waterfowl habitat specialist, Fergus Falls Area DNR Office, 1509 1st Ave. North, Fergus Falls, MN 56537, or to Thomas.Carlson@dnr.state.mn.us. The deadline for written comments is 4:30 p.m. on July 31.

 

-30-

 

 

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

 

DNR R1 News x 2 - Lake Bemidji & Big Cormorant public access improvements/closures

Attached please find two news releases regarding closures of public water access sites during improvement projects and corresponding maps.

 

__________________

 

DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                          JUNE 18, 2009

Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, DNR communications director, 651-259-5023; David Schotzko, DNR Trails and Waterways Area Supervisor, (218) 308-2367.

Big Cormorant west public access improvements scheduled, closed July 8-Aug 21

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is temporarily closing the Big Cormorant public water access site, located on the west shore of Big Cormorant Lake, to improve the site. The access is located at Cormorant Lake Village along County Road 5.

 

The access will be closed July 8-Aug. 21.

 

Improvements include reconfiguring and paving a parking lot to add more spaces, building a new ramp, creating two stormwater retention ponds, and re-vegetating slopes. Central Specialties Inc. won the bid to do the work.

 

"This facility is the primary access site to Big Cormorant Lake for both summer and winter fishing," said Dave Schotzko, DNR Parks and Trails area supervisor. "These new improvements will provide much-needed parking to help meet the fishing demands on this lake now and in to the future."

 

During the six-week closure, fishermen and boaters are directed to the DNR's public water access at the north end of Big Cormorant Lake. Because this alternate site has minimal parking, the DNR recommends that it be used for boat launching and retrieval only.

 

For questions about this project or other public water access issues, contact the DNR Bemidji Area Parks and Trails office at 218-308-2372.  . 

 

-30-

 

 

DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      JUNE 18, 2009

Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, DNR communications director, 651-259-5023; David Schotzko, DNR Trails and Waterways Area supervisor, 218-308-2367.

Northwoods public access improvements scheduled, closed July 13-Aug 1 

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is temporarily closing the Northwoods public water access site on the northwest shore of Lake Bemidji to improve the site. The access is located along Bemidji Avenue North (County Road 21).

 

The access will be closed from July 13-Aug.1.

 

Improvements include replacing the double ramp, building a new stormwater retention pond, improving drainage, and adding a paved parking lot with a direct approach from County
Road 21. Northern Contracting Inc. of Bemidji won the bid to do the work.

 

"This facility, which was first constructed in 1992 on the site of the previous Northwoods Resort, is one of the primary access sites to Lake Bemidji for both summer and winter fishing," said Dave Schotzko, DNR Parks and Trails area supervisor. "The new upgrades will complement the adjacent roadway work and new infrastructure improvements by the city of Bemidji and Beltrami County. This ensures that it will continue to provide excellent public access for many years to come." 

 

There is also a very small public access located in Lake Bemidji State Park. A vehicle permit is required to enter the park.     

 

For questions about this project or other public water access issues, contact the DNR Bemidji Area Parks and Trails office at 218-308-2372.

 

-30-

 

 

 

 

 

 

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