By almost any standard, the Mississippi River Northwoods presents an exceptional conservation opportunity. Encom- passing 2,000 acres and three miles of the Mississippi River, the Northwoods lies two hours northwest of the Twin Cities, in the heart of one of Minnesota’s most popular recreation areas. The river here offers some of the state’s best fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass, and wild rice growing along its undeveloped shoreline attracts ducks and other waterfowl three seasons of the year. Protecting the land would also facili- tate completion of a key state trail linkage. Aware of the land’s importance to wildlife and for
recreation, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources a decade ago identified the Mississippi Northwoods parcel for possible protection. The Trust for Public Land and other
conservation groups approached the Potlatch Corporation, a forest products company that owns the land, to try to negotiate a sale. But at that time Potlatch was not interested in selling, even if the funds could have been found. Then, in 2008, Minnesota voters passed the landmark
Clean Water, Land, and Legacy constitutional amendment, a sales tax measure to fund conservation, clean water, parks and trails, the arts, and cultural programs. A third of the money goes to the state’s Outdoor Heritage Fund, which supports efforts such as the Mississippi River Northwoods project. Potlatch had been exploring plans to develop the property.
But with the new possibility of state funding, The Trust for Public Land’s Minnesota office asked the company to recon- sider. This time Potlatch agreed to sell if TPL could close the deal by the end of 2012. The state’s Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, which advises the legislature on expenditures from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, has recommended that the state contribute to the land’s purchase. As Land&People goes to press, the Minnesota state legislature is weighing the appropriation. If the project is completed, it would mark another success for a pioneering state funding program that is helping to protect, restore, and enhance Minnesota’s most special places. For more information on The Trust for Public Land’s work in Minnesota, go to tpl.org/minnesota.
Chris Stockness/Shenehon Company 52 LAND&PEOPLE Spring/Summer 2012