Workshop offers preservation tips on Owatonna

OWATONNA — For landowners in Steele County who are looking for ways to preserve the landscape’s wildlife habitat, a new workshop later this month will help them find the tools they may need.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Carleton College Cowling Arboretum is sponsoring a wildlife habitat workshop for private landowners on Saturday, March 20, at the Carleton campus in Northfield. Pre-registration is required and registrations will be accepted through the end of the week.

Emily Hutchins, private lands specialist for the Minnesota DNR at the Owatonna office, said this will be a good opportunity for the public who have been “thinking about” improving their surrounding wildlife habitats but need the tools to follow through.

“It’s for either private landowners or people who want to learn more about wildlife habitat who don’t necessarily have their own land as well,” Hutchins said. “People can become more knowledgeable about habitat to either implement it on the ground or by helping educate others.”

Steele County has long been home to wildlife and wetland preservation efforts such as the Straight River Marsh or the Aurora Wildlife Management Area.

“There is a lot of land that has gone into government or restoration programs,” Hutchins said.

Although at least 50 percent of the county was once wetlands, with the remaining areas falling under grassland or Oak Savanna, less than 1 percent of the original habitats remain in Steele County.

“In the agricultural part of the state, there is always more that can be done. Parts of Steele County have tremendous habitat,” Hutchins said.

Conservation efforts result in more than just retaining wildlife habitat, however. Hutchins points out that adding perennial vegetation and allowing land for wetlands, grasslands and forests helps naturally filter sediments and pollutants from feeding into water supplies. Wetland areas and wildlife habitats function as areas to hold water run-off and excess water as well.

“If somebody restores wildlife habitat, they’re providing a greater public benefit by contributing to better water quality,” Hutchins said.

The workshop will provide techniques and advice for landowners to improve wildlife habitat on their land, as well as information on programs that are available to assist them in their projects.

The workshop is limited to 75 attendees. Registration can be made online at http://go.carleton.edu/fed. Questions about the workshop can be directed to Hutchins at 455-5841.

Wendy Reuer can be reached at 444-1565.

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