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Beginning July 1, Cass County Environmental Services launched a new project "Conserving Sensitive and Priority Shorelands in Cass County" in collaboration with the Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation (LLAWF). Cass County is receiving $300,000 in funding for the project from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. The three-year project will provide financial assistance to shoreland property owners who are willing to donate a perpetual conservation easement on their property to protect water quality and important fish and wildlife habitat. Property designated as "sensitive shoreland" on one of the 18 lakes in Cass County that participated in the DNR Sensitive Shoreland Identification Pilot will be the priority for the 12-15 conservation easements that will receive funding resulting in permanent protection of the natural resources on three to five miles of critical shoreland.

Sensitive shorelands are parcels that have unique or critical fish and wildlife habitat and are highly vulnerable to the impacts of development. A conservation easement is a legal restriction on a property that permanently limits development to protect the natural resources. The landowner retains private ownership and use of the property while the development rights are held by a qualified entity...either Cass County or the Minnesota Land Trust. If the property is sold, or inherited, the easement passes on to the future owners to insure permanent protection of the natural resources.

[[In-content Ad]]Cass County will be the fiscal agent for the project and collaborate with the Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation (LLAWF) for project coordination and staffing. John Sumption, formerly with Cass County Environmental Services, will be working with the Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation as a land conservation specialist, and he will provide technical assistance to landowners who participate in the project. LLAWF will work closely with the lake associations on the 18 lakes to identify potential landowners of sensitive shoreland and inform them of the project opportunities.

The Cass County lakes in the DNR pilot study included Woman, Roosevelt/Lawrence, Washburn, Thunder, Long, Boy, Wabedo/Little Boy/Louise, Leech, Ada, Sylvan, Big Portage/Deep Portage, Pine Mountain, Birch, Ten Mile, and Steamboat. Landowners interested in the project should contact John Sumption at [email protected] or [email protected] or Cass County Environmental Services at 218-547-7241.

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