Tara Solem of the Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District met with the Lake County Board last week to talk about ongoing collaborative work to care for and manage the Rainy Headwaters – Vermilion Watershed. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Superior National Forest, Voyageurs National Park, and Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe are all part of this watershed. The ongoing work there is part of an effort to identify and address issues of concern so as to conserve and improve the beauty of this natural resource.
There is a considerable list of priority issues that are part of this project, including monitoring for pollutants, addressing shoreline erosion caused by development, mitigating septic systems that contribute to groundwater contamination, stormwater runoff, and forest management. Other considerations affecting management of the watershed include monitoring the impacts of climate change, the social capacity of the area, and cultural considerations.
Soil and water conservation agencies that are partnering in this effort include Cook County, North St. Louis, Lake County and St. Louis County. Solem asked that the Board approve the plan and accept a memorandum of agreement (MOA) among the partners for the implementation of the plan.
County Administrator Matthew Huddleston has been talking with State legislators about a number of issues important to Lake County including helium mining. Helium is used in the manufacture of semiconductors, MRI scanners, and other advanced technologies. The potential for helium mining is new to Minnesota and will likely be important to the area.
Huddleston is also working with Lake County HRA Director Matthew Johnson both funding for the Silverpoint II project and on the role the County can play in the development of the John A. Johnson property.
The next Lake County Board meeting is scheduled for February 27th at 2:00.
