special places newsletter feb 2014

8/13/2019 Special Places Newsletter Feb 2014

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On Jan. 10, Parks & Trails Council nal-ized the acquisition of a critical 2.9-acreisland in Lake Vermilion, which will soonbe conveyed to the state as part of LakeVermilion State Park.

is forested island is on the edge ofCable Bay and is visible from 60 percent

of the park shoreland. As such, it playsa starring role in the ruggedly majestic viewshed from the park.

ere was urgency to acquire this landonce it was put up for sale by its ownerlast year. Nearby, other islands are quicklybecoming acquired for housing. Perhapsnot wanting to see the unique forested

Acquiring, protecting and enhancing critical land for the publics use & benefit

Winter 2014 (Februar

Special PlacPARKS & TRAILS COUNCIL OF MINNESOTA NEWSLETTE

Lake Vermilion continued on page 3

The island Parks & Trails Council recently acquired for Lake Vermilion State Park, view fro

Inside this issueStrategic Plan pg 2Legislative Preview pg 4Legacy Amendment pg 4

Legislative Agenda pg 5-9PolyMet Mining pg 10Magney Circle Recap pg 10 Art Gallery Event pg 11Medtronic Donor Update pg 11

Land Project UpdateParks & Trails Council preserves highly visisland for Lake Vermilion State Park

Upcoming eventsDay on the Hill Tuesday, March 4, 2014 9am - 2pmBest Western Kelly Inn St. Paul, MN$15/person (includes breakfast & lunch)

Register at www.parksandtrails.org

Join us to learn about current policyissues from park and trail leaders and leg-islators. is is your chance to stand withother supporters of parks and trails, speakto your legislators and help protect theseplaces for future generations.

60th Annual Dinner Tuesday, March 18, 2014 5:30 - 9pm Town & Country Club St. Paul, MN$50/person (includes dinner)

Register at www.parksandtrails.org

People-Powered Policy: 60 Years of Safe-guarding Minnesotas Natural Heritage

M i n n e o p a St a te Park Ga r y A l a n N e l s o n

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Vermilion derground Mine

te Parks

Cable Bay

M a t t s o

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Armstrong B

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p b e r r y

I s l a n d

M u r r a y F

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Lake Vermilion State Park

Dewey Lake

Lily Lake

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project site

Annual Dinner continued on page 3


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Winter 2014 (February page 2

By Mike Tegeder

Some years ago there was a controversy in Alaska over a bridgeto nowhere. Whatmade that phrasememorable was thatusually it is taken forgranted that bridgesgo somewhere. Indeed

they make vital connections. We notice when a bridge is not there. After the mas-sive ooding in June 2012 many bridgesin Northeast Minnesota were taken out. And one of those bridges was the historicswinging bridge at Jay Cooke State Park.It was missed by many of us for over a year.

ankfully, at the beginning of last No- vember, the bridge reopened. Indeed mostof it needed to be replaced but the mostessential part of the bridge withstood the

raging waters, the stone pillars erected bythe Civilian Conservation Corps workersin 1934. e CCC built those pillars withpride and the bridge has a pride of placein our state parks. It is wonderful to beable to walk across it over the St. LouisRiver. Once you have crossed it you willnever forget the swinging sensation.

How appropriate that the DNR alloweda group of school children to be the rstto cross the restored bridge, saying theymay have the chance to bring their ownkids across it someday. Indeed, that is astirring image for all of us who love and

work for our states heritage of parks andtrails. We enjoy them but we are alsoappreciative that we will see others comeafter us who will have these special placestoo.

All of us at the Parks and Trails Councilare bridge builders. We are making those

vital connections between our natural

heritage and the generations to come,connecting people and parks. One of themost important ways that we serve asbridge builders is making the case for ouparks and trails at the state capital. On

Tuesday, March 4, P&TC sponsors a Dayon the Hill when members and friendsgroups can engage our state legislators.But our work goes beyond one day. Wehave a daily presence during the sessionthanks to your support. We are buildingbridges throughout the year.

When the swinging bridge reopened,Park Manager Gary Hoeft told theassembled people, Were just terriblyexcited to have this reopen to the public.Congratulations to Gary and his staff andto all at the DNR for a job well done. It iexciting to have the bridge back.

From the PresidentBeing a bridge builder of the literal and metaphorical kind

Parks & Trails Councils Strategic Direction

New Strategic Plan Approved for 2013-2016If you dont know where youre going, any road will get you there.

~ Lewis Carroll in Alice in Wonderland

After an extensive planning process thatincluded an enviornmental scan withsurveys, interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders, the Parks & TrailsCouncils board of directors approved anew strategic plan in December 2013.

e new plan will lead the organizationto be even more visible and inuential inthe coming years. We will build on ourpast successes and increase our part-nerships with groups that have similarmissions.

In summary, the goals identied in theplan include:

Goal 1 - Increase the pace of land conservation in Minnesotas parks and trailsthrough increased use of our land acquisi-tion program services.

Goal 2 - Build and mobilize a strategicpower base to advance comprehensivepolicy goals that cultivate a world-classsystem of integrated parks and trails inMinnesota.

Goal 3 - Continue to build a dedicated,broad-based membership and engage themembership in support of our mission.

Goal 4 - Pioneer a program that elevates

the capacity of friends groups to acquireprotect and enhance Minnesotas parksand trails.

Goal 5 - Continue to strengthen ourorganizational capacity to ensure succes

The full strategic plan is availableat www.parksandtrails.org/resources/report


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Winter 2014 (February) page

island views transformed into one of adeforested housing complex, the De-partment of Natural Resources (DNR)requested our help to acquire the land.

e rst barrier to incorporating theisland into the park was overcome duringthe 2013 legislative session, when thestatutory boundaries of the park wereexpanded to include this island.

e next step is talking with the land-

owner, who in this case was delighted tosell his land knowing it would becomepart of the park. It had been a getawayplace and has two cabins and a storagebuilding, but they are all in a state of dis-repair. As such, it is likely the buildings will be removed.

Future uses for the island, beyond pre-serving the scenic view are to be deter-

mined. While some parts of the park arecurrently open, most of the park is still indevelopment. Capital funds are neededto complete this development. Parks &

Trails Council is supporting the DNRs2014 bonding request of $25 million tocontinue these developments (see details

within Lake Vermilion heading on page6).

Co-management plans for Lake Ver-milion and Soudan Underground Mine

are modeled as next generation parks.Future development considerations in-clude innovative features such as a sceniczipline, interpretive treehouses and othersdesigned to engage young people in out-doors. Plus, sustainable designs will strivefor net zero energy consumption.

For Minnesotans who are anxious to visitthis new gem in our state park system,

one trail is currently marked and open. e trail is accessible from Soudan Un-derground Mine State Park, which formsthe western border of the park. Addition-ally, there is a picnic area at ArmstrongBay and a boat-in campsite within CableBay.

A panoramic tour of Lake VermilionState Park, including scenic views of thenew island, is available at www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/lake_vermilion.

Annual Dinnercontinued from page 1

Lake Vermilion island acquisitioncontinued from page 1

Rocky shoreline of the newly acquired islan

Keynote speaker We are honored to have former Sen.David Durenberger as our keynote speak-er. He served as U.S. Senator from Min-nesota for 18 years (1978-1995) and hashad a tremendous impact on Minnesotas

natural landscape. He helped to establishVoyageurs National Park, the MississippiNational River and Recreation Area, theMetropolitan Council and the MinnesotaPollution Control Agency. He also served

as the rst chair of the Metropolitan Parksand Open Space Commission in 1974 and went on to chair the Hennepin CountyPark Reserve District Board (1975-1977).In addition, while serving as senator, he was the driving force behind numerous

important pieces of environmental legisla-tion and appropriations.

Join us as this knowledgeable guide leadsus through the compelling story of Parks& Trails Councils 60 years of action tosafeguard Minnesotas natural heritage. We will be transported along a timelinefull of fascinating people, tremendous ac-complishments and pristine places. It willentail an exploration on motivations andreasons for past accomplishments that willinspire us to continue the legacy of people-powered policy on behalf of our naturalheritage into the future.

Reuel Harmon AwardeeDavid Minge, will be presented with the

prestigious Reuel Harmon Award. For thepast decade Minge has used his charis-matic leadership to envision, organizeand execute the Parks & Trails Councilsannual bike tour. It has been a labor oflove fueled by his deep appreciation forthe outdoors, bicycling and engaging withpeople. Regardless of the region of thestate in which the event is held, David is

always recognized as a great ambassadorfor Parks & Trails Council, bringing withhim a band of merry followers and signicant media attention that focuses attentionon the value of parks and trails in communities throughout the state.Sen. David Durenberger donning a rangers hat at Parks &

Trails Councils annual dinner in 2008.

David Minge leading the Parks & Trails Counc


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Working to acquire, protect and enhance critical land for the publics use and bene

2014 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA BONDING SESSION

In preparation for each session of the Minnesota Legislature, Parks & Trails Council works with leaders of Minnesotas park and trail systems to review priorities. We also partner with friends groups, chambers ofcommerce and other community groups to ensure local voices are incorporated into our efforts of cultivatingworld-class parks and trails that contribute to the health, economy and quality of life of all Minnesotans.

2014 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

2014 BONDING FOR PARKS AND TRAILS

M innesotans value our interconnected systems of parks andtrails. But a rapidly growing population and aging infra-structure means more must be done to protect these outdoortreasures that are so essential to our economy, our health and ouroutdoor way of life. e 2014 bonding bill is a vital componentfor ensuring that necessary and wise investments are made onbehalf of state, metro and greater Minnesota regional systems.

During the two biennia prior to the passage of the Legacy Amendment in November 2008, Minnesota appropriated $50to $70 million in Capital Bonding per biennium to parks andtrail projects. Regrettably, in the two biennia since the Legacy Amendments passage, capital investment in Minnesotas parksand trails has been reduced by more than 50 percent.

Minnesotas park and trail systems have substantial capital needs.In their budget planning for years 2011-2020, the Departmentof Natural Resources reports capital needs of more than $60 mil-lion per biennium to tackle deferred maintenance, land acquisi-tion, and park and trail development. e Metropolitan Councilreports capital bonding needs in excess of $10 million bienniallyto develop and expand park and trails throughout the Twin Cit-ies. And while the long-term needs for developing and expand-ing Greater Minnesotas system of parks and trails are still beingquantied, they too are signicant.

e Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota, as part of its mission,advocates for the acquisition, development and operation of parksand trails throughout the state. Our following agenda, whichoutlines $99.1 million in bonding priorities for parks and trails in2014, builds on the goals presented to the Legislature in the last

few years; many of the projects listed have gotten state fundingin the past. is years bonding should continue the investmentsalready made.

As the 2014 legislative session convenes, Parks & Trails Counciurges the legislature to fully support the bonding requests submited on behalf of parks and trails by the Department of NaturalResources and Metropolitan Council while providing for theemerging system in Greater Minnesota.

$72.4 M

$26.7 M$31.1 M

* Includes House File 23 (2011) and House File 1752 (2012)

Bonding for Minnesotas Parks and Trails

$51.8 M

$100 M

NEEDS UNFUNDEDFROM 2010 & 2012


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Parks & Trails Council has worked with community groupsacross the state to identify state trail projects with the high-est priority based on strong local support and shovel-readiness. ese projects have been ready and sitting on hold since 2010.

Investing in these acquisition and development projects wouldensure that Minnesota continues to attract tourists and providessafe and healthy transportation alternatives for its citizens.See list of projects in highlighted box 1.

STATE TRAILS ACQUISITION & DEVELOPMENT -$20.95 MILLION

EXCEEDS DNR REQUEST BY $10.95 MILLION PRIORITY GIVEN TO 2010 VETOED PROJECTS

To continue to be a valuable resource that contributes to ourstates overall quality of life, our state parks need to offer recre-ational opportunities aligned with Minnesotans lifestyles. Fundsare needed to complete a new state-of-the art campground, toprovide sanitary facilities that meet the needs of people of allabilities, to purchase key inholdings, and to develop two newpublic water accesses.

STATE PARKS ACQUISITION & DEVELOPMENT -

$8.7MILLION

SUPPORTING FULL DNR REQUEST

LAKE VERMILION STATE PARK DEVELOPMENT $25 MILLION

SUPPORTING FULL D COMPLEMENTS PAST S

For ongoing development of Lake Vermilion State Park, including the Cable Bay Campground (road, water access site, 26campsites, 3 group camps; 2 sanitation buildings, 3 picnic shel-ters, 1 sh house, RV dump station; Wi-Fi), remote backpackand boat-in campsites, camper cabins, a welcome plaza, StuntzBay picnic area and boat launch, Cable Bay family adventurearea, road connecting Soudan Underground Mine and Lake Vemilion state parks, and Lake Lodge road. Construction priori-ties may change due to challenges encountered on-site and may

require that some substitutions be made.

e DNR, under the direction of the legislature, administersfour matching grant programs that are designed to help localgovernments across Minnesota acquire and manage outdoorrecreational opportunities in partnership with the DNR.

ese funds would be used to provide competitive grants to locgovernments to acquire approximately 70 acres and develop orredevelop three to seven local and/or regional parks and alsoprovide funding for ten to 15 local and regional trail projects.

LOCAL & REGIONAL GRANT PROGRAM - $3 MILLION SUPPORTING FULL D

ASSET PRESERVATION - $30.4 MILLION SUPPORTING FULL D

Many facilities within our state parks are 50-70 years old. eyhave fallen from a maintenance issue to rehabilitation. And mastate trails are becoming hazardous to bicyclists. Since 2010

when Minnesota was recognized as the nations Best Trails Stalimited investments have been made to maintain these trails.

Within this request $24 million would be used to rehabilitatecampgrounds, water access sites, roads and bridges within park

e other $6.4 million would be used for improvements to statetrails, including resurfacing, culvert and bridge replacements,erosion control, trail alignments, and accessibiilty improvemento priority projects at Root River, Sakatah, Arrowhead Trails, anItasca Park bike trail.

Minnesotas state park and trail system is managed by theDepartment of Natural Resources and includes 67 stateparks, 7 state recreation areas, 25 state trails, and contains1,600 buildings, 332 miles of roads, and 1,277 miles of in-park trails, and over 1,300 miles of developed state trails. e bonding request made by the DNR includes six areasrelated to parks and trails, totaling $77.1 million. Parks& Trails Council supports this request plus an additional$10.95 million for the state trails initiative.

State Parks and Trails System


Tettegouche State Park (photo by Paul Sundberg)


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Blazing Star State Trail$500,000

SHOVEL READY$1 MILLION VETOED IN 2010

Toward the acquisition and developmentof a 4-mile segment that would extend thecurrent trail east from Myre-Big Island StatePark to the village of Hayward.

Casey Jones State Trail$750,000

SHOVEL READY$2 MILLION VETOED IN 2010

Toward three projects: 1) to develop andpave a ve-mile segment in PipestoneCounty from Co. Rd. 16 through Wood-

stock, 2) to preserve and enhance prairiegrasses and the horse trail along an existingnine-mile segment from Pipestone throughWoodstock and 3) to enhance the trailheadin Pipestone and interpretive signage alongthe existing trail.

Minnesota Valley State Trail$2.5 million

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN COMPLETE$400,000 VETOED IN 2010 FOR SEPARATE SEGMENT

Toward the development of the remaining12-mile segment from Bloomington Ferry

Bridge to Minnesota Valley Wildlife RefugeVisitor Center in eastern Bloomington. Oncethis segment is complete, a short distanceremains to reach Ft. Snelling State Park andthereby ll in a critical missing link in theSouth Metro Trail System. Accommodatesboth a surfaced trail and a mountain-biking,dirt trail.

Gateway State Trail$2 million

COMPLEMENTS PAST STATE FUNDING$2 MILLION VETOED IN 2010

Toward the continued acquisition and devel-opment of the trail to extend from its currentend point at Pine Point Park in May Townshipinto William OBrien State Park near Marineon St. Croix. This would create a connectionfor bicyclists within the park to access thestate trail and for residents along the trail,which starts in St. Paul and passes throughnumerous cities, to bike into the park.

Cuyuna Lakes State Trail$2.75 million

SHOVEL READY COMPLEMENTS PAST STATE FUNDING$1 MILLION VETOED IN 2010

$700,000 MATCHED BY FEDERAL FUNDSTo continue connections of the trail to theCuyuna Country State Recreation Area onthe east end and to the Paul Bunyan Trailin Brainerd on the west end. Project detailsinclude:

$1.1 million to connect Deerwood to Crosbyand the Sagamore unit of the CCSRA.

$1.3 million to connect this trail to the PaulBunyan State Trail and into Lum Park inBrainerd.

$350,000 to connect this trail from Lum Parkto the airport. The last section will be donein conjunction with the redevelopment of theairport.

Mill Towns State Trail$550,000

$550,000 VETOED IN 2010Toward the acquisition and development of acurrently undeveloped rail bed from Faribaultto Dundas.

Shooting Star State Trail$1 million

COMPLEMENTS PAST STATE FUNDING$1.5 MILLION VETOED IN 2010

Toward the acquisition and development of the 11-mile segment from Rose Creek toAustin where it will connect to a proposedsegment of the Blazing Star State Trail.

Heartland State Trail$3.1 million

SHOVEL READY

COMPLEMENTS PAST STATE FUNDING$1.5 MILLION VETOED IN 2010Toward the acquisition and development ofa new 9-mile portion of the trail from DetroitLakes into Frazee. And for the completion ofa conceptual corridor design for a 21-mileportion between Moorhead and Hawley (HF625) and (SF390).

Luce Line State Trail$2 million

SHOVEL R PARTNER FU$2.373 MILLION VETO

To pave 28.5 miles of the Luce Line StateTrail from the Carver/McLeod County borderthrough the cities of Winsted, Silver Lakeand Hutchinson to Cedar Mills in MeekerCounty. Currently the surface is crushedaggregate and ready for paving. Local unitsof government will contribute the remaining$1.36 million to the project. The DNR hascommitted $1 million in Legacy funds.

Goodhue Pioneer State Trail

$1.3 million COMPLEMENTS PAST S$1.3 MILLION VETO

To continue to acquire and develop a ve-mile segment of the southern portion of thetrail to extend from its current end pointin White Willow into Goodhue. The statealready owns three miles of the trail, andthe remaining two miles have seven willingsellers. This project would provide a scenictrail between the cities of Goodhue andZumbrota.

Gitchi Gami State Trail$3 million SOME SEGMENTS SH

COMPLEMENTS PAST S MATCHED BY FEDE

$1 MILLION VETOToward the acquisition and developmentof the trail from a MnDOT wayside rest onHwy 61 at Cutface Creek to the existingtrail terminus on the west edge of GrandMarais. This highly scenic section will closelyparallel the rugged shore of Lake Superior.Other priority segments include: Beaver Bayto West Road in Beaver Bay, Silver Bay toTettegouche State Park, Tofte missing linkand Lutsen Ski Hill Road to Co. Rd. 41.

Glacial Lakes State Trail$1.5 million

$2 MILLION VETOTo acquire and develop a 5-mile spur fromthe existing trail, through New London andinto Sibley State Park. Project includes abridge over Hwy. 71. This would create asafe passage for residents into the park andfor park users to access the state trail.


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Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails System


e Metropolitan Regional Park System consists of54,800 acres of parks and 308 miles of trails which hosted43.9 million visits in 2011. e Metropolitan RegionalPark System is owned, operated and maintained by tenregional park implementing agencies:

Anoka County City of BloomingtonRamsey County ree Rivers Park DistrictCity of St. Paul Minneapolis Park & Rec BoardCarver County Scott County Dakota County Washington County

Metropolitan Regional Parks and Trails System

e Metropolitan Council, a regional planning agency,prepares and administers the state bonding requests onbehalf of the ten regional park implementing agencies.Each agency is allocated a percentage of the total bondingbudget based on the agencys population and the percent-age of park and trail visits that are non-local users.

GRANT PROGRAM - $11 MILLION SUPPORTS FULL METROPOLITAN

COMPLEMENTS METROPOLITA

LEGISLATIVE CITIZEN COMMISSION ON MN RESOURCESIn late October, the Legislative-CitizenCommission on Minnesota Resources(LCCMR) recommended 72 projectstotaling $28.9 million to the 2014 Min-nesota Legislature for funding from theEnvironment and Natural Resources TrustFund.

e Parks & Trails Council is disappoint-ed that none of the DNRs requested $2.2million for state parks and trails acquisi-tion and only $1.5 million of the MetroParks $2.25 million request was funded.

We urge the legislature to fund all, or partof these requests should funds becomeavailable prior to the close of the 2014legislative session.

e Greater Minnesota Regional Park System is anemerging entity. While counties and cities in greater MNhave managed parks and trails of regional signicance formany years, there was no overarching agency to coordinateefforts until 2010 when the Greater Minnesota RegionalParks and Trails Coalition was established.

Additionally, in 2013 the Minnesota Legislature createdthe Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Com-mission to undertake system planning and provide recom-mendations to the legislature for specic grants funded bythe Legacy Amendment (Minnesota Statutes, 85.536).

An inventory of the Greater MN Regional Parks and Trails System is underway and will include the newlyestablished criteria for regionally signicant.

While Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails have not hitorically requested separate bonding funds, this sytem has recei

vital funds through the DNRs Local and Regional Grant Progra when funded. erefore the state parks and trails system request the grants program should be considered a priority to ensure funing for the greater Minnesota system.

NO SEPARATE REQUEST - SEE STATE PARKS AND TRAILSREQUEST FOR LOCAL & REGIONAL GRANTS PROGRAM

Quarry Regional Park in Stearns County


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BackgroundIn 1858, when Minnesota became a state,the federal government granted sections16 and 36 of every township, or theirequivalent, to the state as School TrustFund Lands. e Minnesota Constitutionestablished the Permanent School Fund toensure the lands use as a long-term sourceof funds for public education in the state.Currently, approximately 2.5 million acresin Minnesota are designated as PermanentSchool Trust Land.

Today, the DNR manages these lands onbehalf of the School Trust Fund (STF)and is directed to maximize the long-termrevenue that they generate from mineralleases, timber sales and the sale of land toprivate owners.

Riparian Land SalesRecently, with funding for public schoolsbeing a challenging issue, some leadersbegan looking to increase the revenue be-ing generated for the STF by selling landslocated along the banks of water. Last year,the legislature accommodated this desireby no longer requiring legislative approvalprior to such sales.

Protected Lands within STFHowever, there are a signicant numberof parcels (75,500 acres) within the STFinventory that simply cannot generate anyrevenue for the STF due to their location within protected areas such as ScienticNatural Areas or Wildlife Management Areas, which prohibit their sale to pri- vate owners or from having any resourcesextracted.

e legislature requested that the DNRdevelop a plan to compensate the STF forthese lands. As such, the DNR, for the rsttime, has made a recommendation thatthe Governor include $20 million in his2014-15 capital bonding budget to buythese lands of high natural resource or rec-reational value from the STF, to be ownedby the DNR for continued management asprotected areas.

e Parks & Trails Council fully supportsthis recommendation. Furthermore, webelieve this approach should not only beapplied to those lands that are not currentlygenerating revenue for the STF, but also tolands that are generating minimal returnfor the STF such as a number of hiking

trails where a small lease fee is collectedfrom nonprot organizations maintainingthe trails. By making such lands eligible fopurchase using this bonding appropriation,the DNR could protect authorized trails inperpetuity for the publics use and benet.

School Trust Fund LandsL AND ACQUISITION - $20 MILLION

SUPPORTS FULL DWITH ADDED PROVISION TO USE A PORTION OF THE FUN


Parks & Trails Council ofMinnesota Proposals: We encourage the Legislature tosupport the DNRs request for $20million to compensate the School Trust Fund for lands of high natu-ral resource or recreational value.Furthermore, we encourage theLegislature to enable the DNR touse this appropriation to purchasepermanent easements and/or themaximum 50-year leases from theSTF on those lands where currenttrails exist or are authorized orproposed.

Superior Hiking Trail Gary Alan Nelson


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Last fall, a group of Magney Circlemembers enjoyed an exclusive reception with award-winning mountaineeringphotographer Jimmy Chin at MidwestMountaineering in Minneapolis.

e event was in partnership with theNorth Face speaker series and MidwestMountaineering, who generously donatedall event proceeds to the Parks & TrailsCouncil of Minnesota.

Rudi Hargesheimer, a former P&TCboard member and employee at Midwest

Mountaineering facilitated a fascinatingdiscussion with Jimmy Chin about hisexperiences in capturing awe-inspiringimages of professional mountain climbers.

Chins work inspires a deep appreciationfor both the awe-inspiring mountainlandscapes he visits and the human ca-pacity to push beyond vertical boundaries.

Chin grew up in Mankato, MN andstarted his love affair with alpine adven-tures on the slopes at Mount Kato.

Chin was excited to hear about Parks& Trails Councils joint project withthe Minnesota Climbers Association toacquire outstanding boulders at BanningState Park for people to connect with theoutdoors through climbing.

Minnesota is on the brink of a majordecision that will impact the future ofmining in the state for decades to come.On Dec. 14, 2013, a 2,200-page analysis(SDEIS) on the environmental impactfor a new kind of mining project, pro-posed by PolyMet Mining, Inc. near theBoundary Water Canoe Wilderness Area(BWCAW), was released for public review and input. Minnesotans have untilMarch 13, 2014 to provide comments.

Shortly after the SDEIS was released, e Parks & Trails Council joined with26 other environmental groups to requestan extension for the comment period

from 90 days to 180 days. is request was denied. Environmental groups haveraised signicant concerns about theimpact that sulde mining, which hasnever been done in the state, will have onMinnesotas natural resources.

Parks & Trails Council is concernedabout the potential impacts that thePolyMet project could have on the BW-CAW as well as the precedent it sets foropening future sulde mines near otherparks and trails. Another sulde mine isalready being proposed within the RainyRiver watershed, which ows throughVoyageurs National Park. Sulde min-

ing has increased potential for leachingharmful toxins into connected water-

ways, which affects humans, sh, birds,and other wildlife. If such contaminatioleaches into the waterways in parks andtrails, the very places that Minnesotanshave worked hard to protect become ir-reparably harmed.

Parks & Trails Council is urging cautionand a thorough review of the impacts.

e full SDEIS is available on the DNR websitewww.dnr.state.mn.us andsearch PolyMet

Issue UpdatePolyMet mining project could set precedent that impacts parks an

Magney Circle Event Recap

Alpine climber/photographer Jimmy Chin amazed us withhis awe-inspiring photos

Named in honor

of Parks & Trails Councilfounder, JudgeC. R. Magney,the MagneyCircle consistsof members

who help to advance the mission ofP&TC with a generous contribution of$500 or more each year. Magney Circlemembers are invited to special eventsduring the year. To join, visit www.parksandtrails.org/join_dona

EIS Scoping

Oct 2005

Draft EIS

Oct 2009

Comments considered/

Decision to prepareSupplemental DEIS

June 2010

Supplemental DEISreleased for public

inputDec 2013 - Mar 2014

Final EIS

TBD

Adequacydetermination/

Record of decision TBD

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT EIS TIMELINE FOR POLYMET MINE


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Upcoming Gallery EventA is for Afton, Z is for Zippel Bay Artwork inspired by MNs State Parks

Mixed media works byRobyn Beth Priestley

May 1 - June 1, 2014at the AZ Gallery in Lowertown

308 Prince StreetSt. Paul, MN 55101(hours -Fr 5-8pm;Sat-Sun 9am-3pm or by appt.)

An exhibition of works inspired by Min-nesotas State Parks, A is for Afton, Z isfor Zippel Bay is a series of 26 works,

one for each letter of the alphabet thatexplores the ecology and environments ofour favorite special places. e pieces arecreated using hand-drawn, hand-cut andprinted block prints, which are mountedthen painted, each one is unique. Each

work will be accompanied by text writtenby Robyn beth Priestley and Mary Olson.

Robyn Beth Priestley is a former employ-ee of the Parks & Trails Council, a Min-nesota Master Naturalist and is currentlyan arts administrator and professionalillustrator.

For more information, contact RobynBeth Priestley at [email protected] the AZ Gallery at 651-224-3757.

Robyn Beth Priestley is a recipient of an Artist Initiative grant from the Min-nesota State Arts Board. is activity ismade possible by the voters of Minnesotthrough a grant from the MinnesotaState Arts Board, thanks to a legislativeappropriation from the Legacy Amende-ments Arts and Culture Heritage Fund.

Medtronic recently began matching char-itable contributions made by its retireesup to $50,000. e program is designedto reinforce the importance of supportinglocal communities.

is new program was brought to ourattention by our board member, KeithFester, who is retired from Medtronic. When he heard about the opportunity, he was inspired to donate a signicant gift,knowing it would turn into two signi-cant gifts. And I cant wait to do it againnext year, said Fester.

We would like thank Medtronic for providing this inspiring opportunity and forall the Medtronic employees/retirees whtake advantage of it.

If you are a Medtronic employee/retiree you can visit the Medtronic website formore details.

If your employer has a matching gift program, please let us know so we can share

with our members.

Donor UpdateMedtronic matches employees/retireesdonations up to $50,000

Parks & Trails Council of Minnesotais a proud member of theMinnesota Environmental Fund,a workplace giving option comprisedof 23 environmental nonprots working to protect, conserve andrestore Minnesotas environment.

Visit the website to see if you candonate through your workplace or tond out how to add your workplaceto the program.

WWW . MN ENVIRO FUND .ORG

T

www.midwestmtn.com

Minnesota

TRAILS A Parks & Trails Journal / MnTrails.com

www.mntrails.com


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Special Places ispublished three times a year by the

Parks & Trails Council of MinnesotaLisa Filter, editor

Parks & Trails Council of MN275 E. 4th St., Suite #250

St. Paul, MN 55101-1626(651) 726-2457 or (800) 944-0707 www.parksandtrails.org

Non-Prot OrgU.S. Postage

PAID Twin Cities, MN

Permit #4936

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Executive CommitteeMike Tegeder, PresidentRobert O. Erickson, Treasurer Timothy Eschweiler, Secretary Kathy Bonnield, Director at large Andrew Brantingham, Director at large Julie Gugin, Director at largeMark Larson, Director at large Tom Pavey, Director at large

DirectorsRichard Dick BrainerdKathy Connelly Keith Fester Anne Flueckiger omas A. GumpVernica JaralambidesBruce JohnsonMary Merrill AndersonEmily Nesvold John Oldendorf Tom Stoa

Honorary DirectorsRollis BishopSen. David Durenberger omas T. DwightMartin KelloggDavid MingeMike PrichardPeter Seed

S C Joe BagnoliGovernment Relations Consultant

Vicki DunlopDatabase Administrator

Brett Feldman Executive Director

Lisa Filter External Relations Director

Beth HynesDatabase Administrator

Jess Mann Administrative Assistant

Andrew OftedalPolicy Research Consultant

Sarah Psick Government Relations Consultant

Steve YoungLand Acquisition Consultant

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special places newsletter feb 2014

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