June 10, 2021 at 1:12 p.m.
Aquatic Invasive Species Plan approved by County Board
The plan focuses on preventing such species as Zebra Mussels, Eurasian water milfoil and Facet Snails from leaving infested waters on boats, trailers and dock parts. It suggests lake associations should take the lead to keep invasive species from entering uninfested lakes.
The board also named Cass County Soil and Water Conservation District as the lead agency to implement the plan.
Commissioner Jeff Peterson said the county should prepare to make available money from Fund 73 to match any state grants that become available.
That fund was created by the county's sale several years ago of state leased lots. By state law, the county can spend interest the fund generates, but not the principal.
When state funds do become available, Environmental Services Director John Ringle said having a plan will help to qualify for those funds more quickly.
Administrator Robert Yochum said he thinks the state committee that recommends approval of the state's three-eighths cent sales tax to the Legislature looks more favorably on regional requests that do not have the DNR as a partner.
Cass's plan is considered a draft plan, which will be subject to revision as work continues to control the spread of invasive species, Ringle said.
Cass County has 514 lakes more than 10 acres in size. So far, 14 have been identified as having infestations of invasive species. There are 129 public accesses on Cass lakes, with 59 owned/operated by DNR, three by MnDOT; eight by the county; three by townships; and five by a city.
There also are public accesses operated by private businesses such as resorts or marinas. There are additional accesses at the end of roads, which are traditionally used, but not owned or maintained by anyone.
Tuesday, the board also approved participating in a statewide program under which the Minnesota Geological Survey (MGS) is working toward creating a statewide atlas of aquifers by verifying data on the geographic information system to verify existing wells in each county.
Dale Setterholm, geologist and assistant director of MGS, told the board there is enough data on records the state has from private and public wells drilled to create an atlas that will show where aquifers are, which direction water flows from those and their depth.
This information ultimately will show where underground water lies, whether its level affects above ground water and where there could be a potential for contamination. Over time, it can also show whether water resources are being depleted, he added.
Ringle said his department and the land department should be able to provide enough time from existing staff to give three-fourths to one full-time equivalent employee to work on this project over two years.
Setterholm said it will take his agency another three to four years to process the data the county provides. He said his agency has enough state funding to continue with his part of the project. When his work is complete, it will take the DNR another three years to compile hydrological maps of the geological systems, he said.
There are 12,000 wells in Cass County.
Ringle reported ESD issued about a comparable number of zoning permits through September this year compared with 2012. Permits were down the first six months, but increases in the third quarter have largely offset that decline his figures indicate.
In the third quarter, the largest number of new land use permits were the 25 issued in Crooked Lake Township near Outing, followed by 24 in Sylvan in southern Cass and 20 each in Shingobee near Walker and Woodrow between Hackensack and Longville. Assessor Mark Peterson submitted a third quarter 2013 report on foreclosures in the county. This year, there were 31, up from the 22 in 2012 and 26 in 2011, but less than the 35 in 2010.
Two-thirds were seasonal cabins and one-third, homesteaded residences, with one each being agricultural and commercial/resort.
Two were properties valued over $1 million. Four were valued between $200,000 and $1 million. The other 25 were valued under $200,000. All but two foreclosures were in the central or southern part of Cass.
The number of arms-length sales of existing homes this year ran ahead of 2012 during the summer months, but has lagged this year in other months.
Second publication rights after Brainerd Dispatch.
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