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The Minnesota River – The Back-Bone to Creating
an Economic Advantage
By Loran Kaardal and Brad Cobb
The Minnesota River has been the focal point for water, food, lumber, and transportation since people have
settled here. A bluff-lined waterway ribboning through Minnesota’s agricultural heartland, the Minnesota
River Valley is still a focal point for natural resources and the outdoor recreational opportunities that the
great river provides. Generating a new vision for the untapped opportunities the Minnesota River Valley
can offer, the Tatanka Bluffs Corridor group is a representation of energized citizens in the valley.
This new collaboration is a result of community organizing with just the right set of ingredients.
For over 20 years, the Blandin Foundation has been training Minnesota’s rural community leaders
on how to facilitate change and improve the health and economic vitality of Minnesota communities.
Blandin’s Community Advanced Leadership Program (CALP) trains local leaders on how to identify un-
derutilized community assets and apply innovative leadership ideas towards reaching their goals. A key tenet
is to address how resources can be enhanced and developed to create an economic advantage for local com-
munities. The Tatanka Bluffs Corridor group had done just this. The CALP team determined that the Minne-
sota River and its valley contains southwestern Minnesota’s most unique and underutilized assets including;
ecologically unique plant communities only found in and around the exposed 3.8 billion-year-old granite
this issue
An Economic Advantage P.1 TBC Accomplishments P.3
Friends of Renville County P.4 MVRRA Update P.4
Fundraising P. 4
Renville Rangers Shooting Club P. 5
3-16 Regional meeting—P 6
Tatanka Bluffs Corridor Inc. ….promoting recreational opportunities in the heart of the Minnesota River Valley. Discover our Secrets!
Issue 1, First Quarter, 2012
SAVE THE DATE: FRIDAY, March 16, 2012 —
10 a.m.—NOON — Renville County Government Center —
Regional meeting Olivia
A
For more information:
www.tatankabluffs.com
outcroppings, public parks, hunting areas, fishing opportunities, wildlife observation areas, the Minnesota
River Valley National Scenic Byway, a variety of trail systems, and one of the most significant cultural sites
in Minnesota – the location of the US/Dakota Conflict of 1862.
The CALP team faced a major question: Could the river that has politically divided this region for
over 150 years be the very asset that people from both sides of the river could rally around? Can this
citizens group organize to create a regional recreation destination and produce an economic advantage
for communities along the Minnesota River?
The Tatanka Bluffs Corridor (TBC) is now actively planning and working to develop the underutilized
resources of the Minnesota River Valley. They hope to create Minnesota’s newest regional recreation desti-
nation over the next 25 years. The goal is to make this a green corridor with the designated “water trail”
winding through the center of it, a “Corridor of Trails,” that will be an affordable recreation destination for
families, resulting in long-term, significant economic and quality of life advantages for these 26 communi-
ties—seamed together by the river.
The plan encourages partner groups to collaborate with planning and development initiatives within the corri-
dor, where each partner leads within their area of interest and passion. This has created a synergism of activi-
ty and produced accomplishments that would never have been possible without setting aside territorial differ-
ences and focusing on what the coalition can accomplish across the entire landscape. TBC recognizes the im-
portance of their agency partners, especially the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (whose assis-
tance and cooperation has been phenomenal) and the local recreational and wildlife clubs, who share the pas-
sion.
The coalition has a measured and reasonable land acquisition plan for creating and enhancing outdoor recrea-
tion. These enhanced opportunities ultimately create an outdoor recreational economy with the Minnesota
River as the “back-bone” to this outdoor recreational system. A key part of the recreational development vi-
sion is to design a “Corridor of Trails” that uses the Minnesota River water trail as its spine. The success of
this innovative, locally-driven process will be determined by the ability of the partnering stakeholders to help
each other. As one of partners has stated, “As a leader for community-based conservation, Great River
Greening is thrilled to partner with such a passionate and driven group of citizens and we are proud of our
role in orchestrating the Middle Minnesota Valley Conservation Plan and making connections for the group.”
For this vision to be realized, partners must support partners. The closer each partnership group realizes their
maximum potential, the greater the economic advantages will be throughout the Tatanka Bluffs Corridor
along the Minnesota River Valley.
SAVE THE DATE: FRIDAY, March 16, 2012 — 10 a.m.—NOON — Renville County Government Center — Regional meeting
Tatanka Bluffs Corridor Inc. ….promoting recreational opportunities in the heart of the Minnesota River Valley. Discover our Secrets!
Issue 1, First Quarter, 2012
Tatanka Bluffs Accomplishments: 2006 to 2012
GREEN CORRIDOR LEGACY RE-
PORT
Since 2008 to present the Green
Corridor Legacy Initiative has
been successful in securing $9.2
million dollars in state funding
appropriations/recommendations
to create an expanded outdoor
recreational system of public
lands in a nine (9) county pro-
gram area of the mid-section of
the Minnesota River Watershed.
All of these grants are focused on
creating a legacy of habitat con-
nectivity and regional economic
viability sustained by outdoor
recreational tourism by creating
public assess to outdoor recrea-
tional systems.
Grants were awarded from the
Environment & Natural Resource
Trust Fund (ENRTF) and from the
Clean Water, Land, and Legacy
Fund. All of these grants have or
will be used to acquire and restore
public lands for Wildlife Manage-
ment Areas (WMA), Aquatic
Management Areas (AMA), and
Scientific and Natural Areas
(SNA) as well as an expansion
project at Ft. Ridgely State Park.
To date nearly 1,100 acres have
been acquired with an additional
750 acres currently being consid-
ered. The Green Corridor Legacy
program has also played a signifi-
cant role in assisting the Minneso-
ta Department of Natural Re-
sources (DNR) and other wildlife
and conservation groups in
Tatanka Bluffs Corridor (TBC)
History:
Evolved from the 2006 Blan-
din Foundation’s Community
Advanced Leadership Pro-
gram training (CALP)
Identified the natural history
and ecological resources of
the Minnesota River Valley
(MRV) as the region’s most
underutilized assets with the
most economic advantage
potential
Organized regionally and de-
veloped a community eco-
nomic advantage (CEA) mod-
el for developing the
“Tatanka Bluffs Corridor” in-
to a competitive regional
outdoor recreation destina-
tion for camping, ATV parks,
hiking, biking, horse trail rid-
ing, canoeing, snowmobiling,
birding, fishing, hunting and
ecological, cultural and his-
torical interpretation
Defined the CEA target area
as the MRV corridor from
the Upper Sioux Agency
State Park to Fort Ridgely
State Park, including all 26
communities in Redwood
and Renville Counties
Initiated collaborations with
stakeholder groups to devel-
op a vision for an integrated
system of recreational trails
and public infrastructure to
support a competitive re-
gional recreation destination
Is an incubator for ideas and
regional leadership collabo-
ration for implementing rec-
reational/educational pro-
jects on the ground
Relationships with other organi-
zations: TBC is actively engaged
with associated stakeholder
groups:
Minnesota River Watershed
Alliance: improvements to the
Minnesota River Water Tail
Green Corridor and MN DNR:
completing a public land bridge
between the two state parks
Renville County Parks Com-
mission: Improved park ameni-
ties and trail connections for
each county park to serve as a
trail oasis for the integrated sys-
tem of trails between the two
state parks
Renville County Board of
Commissioners
Whispering Ridge AMA
Friends of Renville County Parks Last January, a group of people who have a love affair with our Ren-ville County Parks got together and formed a new support group, FRIENDS OF RENVILLE COUNTY PARKS.
This group had a common bond, they simply loved to be in and enjoy our beautiful park system, es-pecially in the valley of the Minneso-ta River. This is one of the best county park systems in the State of Minnesota.
Most of these parks are what we call “conservation parks” where things are left as the creator intend-ed them to look. There are, of course, places where the grass is mowed and the area is camper and hiker friendly. But, just looking around from where you happen to be, there is raw nature, the way the Great Spirit intended.
The scenery and views in the Renville County Parks is some of the best in the State of Minnesota.
This “Friends group” plans to help to promote, preserve, and en-hance the parks through volunteer labor support, and will work at fund-raising to help with parks improve-ments. The “Friends” will work with and through the Renville County Parks Commission. The Renville County Commissioners do a pretty good job of maintaining the park system, but funding is always a problem with any county endeavor.
The Friends of Renville County Parks believe that by making the parks even better, and by promoting more recrea-tional use of the parks, that people outside the Renville-Redwood County area will eventually come here for a visit. When outside dollars are spent in the two county area, those dollars are multiplied several times over and everyone benefits.
We look forward to ad-vancing awareness of our beautiful Renville County
Parks.
Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority
acquiring an additional 1,000 acres
of WMA and AMA in the program
area.
Other news of great significance is the
recent announcement by the US Depart-
ment of Interior that the Upper Minne-
sota River Valley was designated as a
“Blue-way” corridor under the new
federal program called the “America’s
Great Outdoor” initiative. Regional
planning for this new initiative is
currently underway and the Green
Corridor program is playing a key role in
the development and planning of this new
federal initiative.
Fundraising Appeal
All of this work by the Green Corridor
comes at a cost to human and financial
resources and the Green Corridor Board
of Directors is actively seeking donations
rom individuals, organizations, businesses,
and civic groups to help sustain the inten-
sive planning and implementation of all of
these programs and initiatives. The Green
Corridor program is at a crossroads and we
will not be able to continue these and
many other efforts without this financial
support. It is imperative that the Tatanka
Bluffs Corridor (TBC) and all of our region-
al partners and stakeholders assist in sup-
porting this financial campaign with our
goal to raise $60,000 in 2012.
Your tax deductible donation can be
made out to: Green Corridor Inc. (a
501c3 non-profit) and mailed to Green
Corridor Inc., 200 S. Mill St. Redwood
Falls MN 56283.
MVRRA completed another 7.5 miles of Rail Rehab between
August 2 and November 11, 2012 from Highway 22 to just east of
Highway 15 at Winthrop, Minnesota.
During the summer of 2012 we will be completing another 4 mile stretch from CSAH 13 in
Sibley County to Arlington. 7 more crossings will be renewed and new rail installed. By
this fall we will have completed just over 28 miles of track rehabilitation and will be able
to more our train from 7-10 mph to 25 mph and will be able to move 110-car unit trains!
This is a HUGE milestone that was started in 2001 and now $28M invested in this major
infrastructure improvement to our rail line. “I think I Can” is and will remain our motto
until we complete the remaining 66 miles to Hanley Falls!
MVRRA (Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority)
Maybe Tatanka Bluffs and Green Corridor should consider putting in a bid to the Governor’s office for the Hunting Opener for 2013or 2014. It has already been decid-ed it will be in Marshall/Lyon County for 2012!!! With the hotels we have in our area and our “bookend” Casinos….it would certainly be worth a “pitch!”
Horseback riding
at Skalbekken Park! What a great way to enjoy the outdoors on a Sunny after-noon! Great walk-ing paths, canoe-ing, and camping!
Come visit all the parks in Tatanka Bluffs this sum-mer! Consider a letter of support for the proposed ATV Park!!!!
Letters of Support needed
for proposed ATV Park
Letters of support for the ATV park need to be forwarded to Mark Erickson for presentation to the Renville County Commis-sioners by February 24th at: [email protected]
It will be important that those of us that have email contacts with other business owners, especially those in the hospitali-ty businesses (motels, conven-ience stores, grocery stores, cafes, bars, etc.), solicit these owners for letters of sup-port. Mark needs letters from multiple communities and also support from Redwood County.
Within that letter of support, it is important that the writer share how he perceives that a “major league ATV park”, that would attract riders from the 5 state area, would economically impact their local business, their local community and the region.
Please get this out to your con-tacts and ask them to get a letter of support for the ATV park back to Mark. Letters will be submitted with State and Federal grants applications!
MVRRA receiving its 7.5 miles of con-
tinuous welded rail last August— 1600’
sections
“ Brad Cobb (far right) Program Manager for Green Corridor with his
2011 MN Governor’s Pheasant Opener hunting party”
RENVILLE RANGERS
Shooting Club
Green Corridor Horse
Trails
Minnesota Valley ATV
Riders
Green Corridor -
$9,200,000 in LSOHC &
LCCMR grants since 2008
Mid Minnesota River
Valley Conservation Plan
City of Redwood Falls –
two Parks & Trails Legacy
grants for Alexander Ram-
sey Park
Renville County - $194,000
Parks & Trails Legacy grant
for Beaver Falls County
Park
MATAG Award (2010)
$100,000 Blandin Grant
(2011-2012) in partnership
with Center for Changing
Landscapes & Conserva-
tion Corps of Minnesota –
engaging youth in environ-
mental preservation &
recreational infrastructure
development projects in
the Minnesota River Valley
(See photo above of our
great crew who did the
work along with Staff from
Renville County Parks!
One of the best kept secrets in our area is that Renville County has one of the top shooting clubs and ranges in the State of Minnesota.
The Renville Rangers Shooting Club is located just over a mile north of Bird Island on County Road 5. This is a members-only shooting club that was named after a bunch of young men of question-able character who were going to volunteer for the U.S. Army at Fort Ridgely, for fighting in the Civil War in 1862. They helped to defeat the Indian attack on Fort Ridgely, which overlooks the Valley of the Minnesota River.
Family membership is only $30 and members often bring guests to the facility to shoot trap, skeet, or rifles and handguns on the various ranges. Range length varies from 50 feet to 200 yards. The shooting lines are covered with shade and rain protection. In the spring and summer months, the skeet/trap ranges are open on Sunday after-noon and at other times as mem-bers choose.
The RRSC has a nice clubhouse for members to gather when the ranges are busy. Members like to gather for conversation about their favorite sports and sip a soda on a nice summer day. Once in a while the club plays host for shooting tournaments and rendezvous of re-enactors and such on the site. Classes in firearms safety and Concealed Carry are offered at the clubhouse at the range.
New members are always welcome.! For more information email [email protected]
Continued from page 2
Redwood County Board of Com-
missioners
Redwood and Renville County
Trail Committees: connecting
trails to the 26 communities
Green Corridor Horse Trails:
developing a state park to state
park horse trail system
Minnesota Valley ATV Riders:
developing a “major league” ATV
park in Renville County
MN Valley Sno-Riders: develop-
ing more snowmobile trails from
state park to state park
Minnesota River Valley National
Scenic Byway Alliance: paving the
MRV road trail
Minnesota Valley History Learn-
ing Center: developing an educa-
tional gateway that inspires citi-
zens to connect to the unique nat-
ural, cultural, and recreational op-
portunities within the MRV
Minnesota Valley Regional Rail
Authority: developing “vintage
recreational passenger rail service”
connecting the metro area from
the Hopkins Light Rail Transit Sta-
tion to both FRSP and USASP
Accomplishments: Completed
Projects and ongoing Community
Economic Advantage initiatives
Redwood Area Learning Center
Tatanka Bluffs Corridor Commu-
nity Trail Plan
Tatanka Arts
Minnesota Valley History Learning
Center
Conservation Corp of
Minnesota Youth Team
TBC Board of Directors
Dick Hagen, Olivia
Nancy Standfuss, Olivia
Annie Tepfer, Danube
Matt Baumgartner,
Olivia
Jon Wogen, Olivia
Colleen Marcus,
Redwood Falls
Alyssa Adam, Redwood
Falls
Barb Wille, Lamberton
Tatanka Bluffs Corridor LLC
ISSUE 01 2012
SAVE THE DATE—March 16, 2012 — 10 a.m.— NOON: Regional Informational meeting — Open to all who are interested in: Attracting a skilled workforce to our area for your future em-
ployment base Promoting our regional assets Looking to bring more people to visit and move to our area Finding out more about the Minnesota Valley History Learning
Center Hearing the update on the proposed ATV Park in Renville
County Guest speaker: Dennis Fredrickson, Southern Division—DNR
office—New Ulm ….and others!
Tatanka Bluffs Corridor Inc.
200 S Mill Street
Redwood Falls, MN 56283
www.tatankabluffs.com