At the end of 2011, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources designated two new lakes for wildlife management. Teal Lake in Jackson County and Bolstad Slough in Cottonwood County are the 46th and 47th lakes of this type in the state. Ducks Unlimited has partnered with the DNR to complete conservation work on both lakes.
DU and the DNR are currently awaiting word from the Minnesota state legislature on whether the Teal Lake and Bolstad Slough projects will receive funding from the Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF), as recommended by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. These two projects and many others are part of a $4.5 million 2012 OHF appropriation for DU. DU has also requested a federal cost-share grant through the "Windom Area Wetlands" North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) small grant proposal.
Thus far, DU and the DNR have surveyed and designed both shallow lake projects, with the goal of addressing water and habitat quality problems in each basin. With the proposed funding, DU will hire and manage the construction of new water-control structures.
"DU is pleased to provide bio-engineering technical assistance to design and implement these important shallow lake enhancement projects in partnership with the DNR and with funding from the Outdoor Heritage Fund," said Jon Schneider, manager of Minnesota conservation programs for DU. "These will be two more excellent migration marshes for ducks and hunters alike."
Funding decisions for these projects are expected to be made this spring.