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WALKER - The Minnesota State Legislature has appropriated $300,000 to Cass County Environmental Services from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund for a collaborative project with the Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation for lake protection in Cass County. The project "Conserving Sensitive and Priority Shorelands in Cass County" is one of 71 projects totaling $26 million that were appropriated in 2010.

The three-year project beginning July 1, 2010, will provide financial assistance to shoreland property owners who are willing to donate a perpetual conservation easement on their property to protect water quality and important fish and wildlife habitat. Property designated as "sensitive shoreland" by the Minnesota DNR will be the priority for the 12-15 conservation easements funded by the project. The end result will be the permanent protection of the natural resources on three to five miles of critical shoreland.

Sensitive shorelands are parcels that have unique or critical fish and wildlife habitat and are highly vulnerable to the impacts of development. A conservation easement is a legal restriction on a property that permanently limits development to protect the natural resources. The landowner retains private ownership and use of the property while the development rights are held by a qualified entity. If the property is sold, or inherited, the easement passes on to the future owners to insure permanent protection of the natural resources.

In a pilot program in Cass County over the past three years, the Minnesota DNR has identified sensitive shoreland parcels on 17 large lakes using science-based criteria. Results of the pilot study will be used to develop a statewide model to identify sensitive shorelands that need special protection on other lakes. "Using a conservation easement to protect sensitive shorelands from development is important to the long-term protection of recreation, water quality, and critical wildlife habitat on these key lakes in Cass County," said John Ringle, director of Cass County Environmental Services. "Cass County currently holds 10 conservation easements and the County is very supportive of holding additional conservation easements. The Minnesota Land Trust will also be available as an easement holder for landowners who prefer using a private entity."

Cass County will be the fiscal agent for the project and collaborate with the Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation (LLAWF) for project coordination and staffing. John Sumption, formerly with Cass County Environmental Services, will be working with the Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation as a land conservation specialist. He will provide technical assistance to landowners who participate in the project by placing a conservation easement on their eligible property. LLAWF will work closely with the lake association on the 17 lakes to identify potential landowners of sensitive shoreland and inform them about the project opportunity.

Participating landowners will be expected to donate the easement to their property, which usually qualifies for an IRS conservation deduction, and the grant will pay up to $15,000 to cover the out-of-pocket costs associated with an easement. These costs include an appraisal, land survey, legal review, documentation of conservation values, and other associated costs. "This is very cost-effective conservation," said Ringle. " With a previous county grant of $75,000, closing costs were paid on five conservation easements that resulted in 11,400 feet of shoreland and 557 acres of natural resources protection. That's about $7 per shoreland foot with a donated market value of $5.7 million."

The Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund was created in 1988 by Minnesota voters as a constitutionally dedicated fund to ensure a long-term, stable source of funds for protecting and enhancing the state's environment and natural resources. Forty percent of the net proceeds from the Minnesota State Lottery, or approximately seven cents of every dollar spent on playing the lottery, goes into the Trust Fund and is then invested. The Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) makes project funding recommendations based on a competitive selection process for up to 5.5% of the annual existing value in the Trust Fund. Money from the Trust Fund can only be used for the public purpose of protection, conservation, preservation and enhancement of the state's air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources.

The Cass County lakes in the DNR pilot study included Woman, Roosevelt/Lawrence, Washburn, Thunder, Long, Boy, Wabedo/Little Boy/Louise, Leech, Ada, Sylvan, Big Portage/Deep Portage, Pine Mountain, Birch, Ten Mile, and Steamboat. Landowners interested in the project should contact either Cass County Environmental Services at 218-547-7241 or the Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation at 218-675-5773.

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