Published: May 23, 2008 02:21 am         

1,000-acre restoration project for wildlife habitat

Originally published in the May 16, 2008, print edition.

Roger Holmes enjoyed a rewarding event May 2, when a 1,036-acre tract of land about 10 miles northeast of Alexandria was dedicated in his honor as the newest state wildlife management area in Minnesota.

When the red ribbons were cut, the engraved stone bearing his name read: “Minnesota thanks Roger Holmes for 41 years of service with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. This wildlife management area is dedicated in his honor as a lasting tribute to his many contributions to the WMA system and Minnesota’s Fish & Wildlife resources.”

Having started out as an assistant DNR game manager, Holmes retired Jan. 6, 2000; as he left the DNR, WMAs were already part of his legacy. However at that time he knew nothing about this piece of land in Douglas County soon to be added to the Minnesota WMA stable.

“When I started my career here 40 years ago, we were just beginning to set up wildlife areas. We mostly dealt in small 15- to 20-acre parcels, even 2- to 3-acre potholes and sloughs, more properly called wetlands. But we managed to get 22 of these wildlife management areas set up here in Douglas County, and eight more in adjoining Pope County,” Holmes said.

Amazing acquisition

“What happened here is quite amazing. A single owner offering this land to the DNR when he likely could have sold it for more to private investors, who likely would have subdivided for further development. So getting a 1,000-acre chunk of land for building a wildlife habitat area is absolutely wonderful,” he said.

Kevin Kotts, area wildlife manager at the DNR’s Division of Fish/Wildlife Glenwood office, described this acquisition as the result of tremendous help from area organizations and conservation groups.

This 1,036-acre package cost $1.8 million. That was less than the land’s appraised value. The DNR wrote out the biggest check, about $1.28 million. Picking up the balance was funding from eight Pheasants Forever chapters, the Minnesota Waterfowl Association, the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association and the efforts of local groups such as the Viking Land Sportsmen’s Club of Alexandria.

Described as an oak savannah outwash plain of the Long Prairie River, which flows nearly 2 miles along the west boundary of this newest WMA, the land was mostly seeded to brome grass back in the early Conservation Reserve Program days of the late 1980s. As a WMA, portions of the land will be reseeded to native grasses and prairie flowers. It has a few wetland areas, some waterfowl spots ideal for courtship, and breeding areas for ducks.

Deer, pheasants, waterfowl, even a few wild turkeys already roam this area. “The turkeys were introduced by the DNR. We first thought this was a little too far north for them but they’ve certainly proven us wrong,” Holmes said, complimentary about the conservation leadership of Minnesota.

“We’re blessed with some wonderful natural resources. That’s always a good starting point,” he said. “But it seems we’re getting more and more cooperation from other governmental agencies. It used to be the DNR pitching their ambitions pretty much alone. But now the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and so many of these groups such as Pheasant’s Forever that are providing tremendous talent and fiscal support. I think this is mostly what sets Minnesota apart from the rest of the nation. ... We are one of the leaders in the nation when it comes to conservation.”

The next biggest thing to make Minnesota even more of a leader is obvious to this long-time veteran of the political process. The legislature’s passage of the constitutional amendment to get special conservation funding on the ballot this fall keys the future from a funding point of view.

“That was huge,” Holmes said, emphasizing that abstaining from voting on this special constitutional amendment counts as a “no” vote. “We need 51 percent ‘yes’ vote so it’s absolutely crucial that voters don’t forget, or simply overlook, this special item on their ballot this fall.”

This special constitutional amendment dedicates a portion of the state sales tax for funding clean water programs, fish and wildlife habitat, parks and trails, and the arts.

A good-natured gentleman, yet firm in his beliefs, Holmes joked that he has attended many wildlife management dedications but they generally are memorials for persons already dead. “This is the first for a living person and that’s pretty neat since I’m the person,” Holmes said, smiling.

Ron Nargang, former 23-year DNR employee and now retired from his last post as state director of the Nature Conservancy, said the May 2 event was only the ninth on behalf of a DNR employee of more than 1,400 total WMA dedications. “Because of Roger’s track record this one is especially fitting. During his career, Roger helped secure more than 1.2 million acres of wildlife management areas in Minnesota.”

Prime public land

Nargang said this 1,000-acre tract in Douglas County was prime because ground-nesting birds are at risk in much of the grassland areas of the state. The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program has been a huge help in restoring game bird populations, especially pheasants, but Nargang is concerned about CREP land reverting to row crop agriculture because of the currently strong commodity prices.

Minnesota’s increasing efforts in WMAs couldn’t be at a better time. With gasoline and travel costs rising, Nargang and other DNR spokespersons feel there will be many Minnesotans taking their vacation right here in Minnesota this year. “The baby boomer generation is starting to retire and they’re putting increased demands on public lands around the state,” Nargang said, indicating this newest WMA is simply great for Minnesota.

Both Holmes and Nargang think the proposed Vermillion State Park should happen, but at this stage it’s still an undecided issue with the state legislature and Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Meanwhile this newest WMA will gradually be replanted to native grasses to provide better nesting cover for upland birds, and also better year-round cover for all wildlife.

“We’ll do maybe 200 to 300 acres each year starting next spring. Big blue stem, little blue stem, prairie clovers with a diverse mix including native wild flowers so we have actively growing vegetation almost year-round is our ambition with this land,” Kotts said.

The key objective is to build this WMA into an attraction for both wildlife and people. There will be walking trails throughout the area. To keep weeds in check during the formative years of the native grasses, Kotts thinks they will try some short-term grazing permits with area cattlemen.

“Burn downs is a common way to control weeds and establish native grasses but that would be risky in this area, especially with a project this big. So grazing, maybe even haying could be part of the land management. We’re not even ruling out the potential of certain grasses for biofuel feedstocks,” Kotts said.

The Roger M. Holmes Wildlife Management Area is located at the intersection of Douglas County Road 69 and Douglas County Road 3.

Through the Build a Wildlife Area partnership, every dollar raised is tripled with matching grants from the DNR, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other partners. The Build a Wildlife Area concept was launched in 2003 by Pheasants Forever Inc., Outdoor News, Game Fair, the Minnesota DNR, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Gander Mountain. To learn more about Minnesota’s Build a Wildlife Area, contact Pheasants Forever at (877) 773-2070, or online at www.pheasantsforever.org/events/bawa.

     

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