Earth Day event at Glacial Ridge, April 21, 2006

This year the associate chief for the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, Dana York attended the Earth Day Celebration at the Glacial Ridge Project near Mentor with more than  120 sixth graders in attendance. Earth Day began in 1970 and has been celebrated every year since it’s inception.  Earth Day was started to draw attention to the earth's health and pollution problems, said Bill Hunt, NRCS state conservationist. 

Following the opening ceremony, the 6^th grade students from Red Lake Falls and Crookston, Minnesota participated in 6 environmental learning stations, including discussions on:  Prairie Prescribe Burns, Waterfowl identification, Wetlands, Web of life, Water Experiment and prairie Wildlife. Local partners provided the training at these environmental stations.  

Later in the morning an Earth Day ceremony took place at the Nature Conservancy Headquarters.  Dana York, associate chief for NRCS reminded the audience of the importance of outcomes with conservation. “With shrinking federal dollars the cooperation we have with other agencies and groups is the way we will get it done," York said.  Glacial Ridge was highlighted at the recent White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation Partnerships.  The best projects start from the bottom and go up, said York. 

In August 2000 The Nature Conservancy (TNC) purchased 24,270 acres east of Crookston, Minnesota, this set the stage for the largest tall grass prairie/wetland restoration in history.  NRCS worked with TNC, private landowners, USFWS, Ducks Unlimited (DU) and over 30 other partners to plan and implement this massive project.  NRCS utilized funds from its Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) for easement and restoration activities.

To date, The Nature Conservancy has enrolled 13,500 acres into the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP).  This includes the fourth easement with TNC covering 1276 acres that is currently out for closing.  TNC was also funded in 2005 for a fifth easement on 1416 acres, with a closing planned for later in 2006.

For additional information about Glacial Ridge Project, please contact Greg Bengtson at 218-281 1445.

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