RMEF Announces Grants for Minnesota 7-31-2010
gengberg July 31st, 2010
RMEF Announces Grants for Minnesota
MISSOULA, Mont.-Wildlife conservation and public education projects in seven Minnesota counties have been selected to receive grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation in 2010.
The new RMEF funding, totaling $29,965, will affect Beltrami, Goodhue, Kittson, Marshall, Otter Tail, Roseau and Wilkin counties.
Other projects have statewide interest.
“These grants are possible because of the successful banquets and fundraisers staged over the past year by our Minnesota volunteers-most of whom are elk hunters as well as devoted conservationists,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “Since 1984, our annual grants have helped complete 104 different projects in Minnesota with a combined value of more than $1.8 million.”
RMEF grants will help fund the following projects, listed by county:
Goodhue County-Introduce young people to outdoor recreation and conservation by sponsoring Red Wing Environmental Learning Center bowfishing and bowhunting programs.
Kittson County-Construct 24 firebreaks in preparation for prescribe burns on 8,821 acres of elk habitat at Caribou and Beaches Lake wildlife management areas.
Marshall County-Encourage elk to utilize public lands by planting 67 acres of forage openings at Grygla and Wapiti wildlife management areas (also affects Beltrami County); brush shear and mow 300 acres to restart vegetative succession and improve habitat at Grygla, Wapiti and Moose River wildlife management areas (also affects Beltrami County); prescribe burn seven sites totaling 5,210 acres to improve aspen parklands and other habitat for elk and other wildlife (also affects Roseau and Kittson counties).
Otter Tail County-Introduce families to outdoor recreation and conservation by sponsoring Henning Rod and Gun Club Take-a-Kid Fishing event.
Statewide-Sponsor Minnesota 2010 Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus to help facilitate representation on sporting issues statewide; introduce young people to outdoor recreation and conservation by sponsoring Minnesota 4-H Shooting Sports and Wildlife Camp in a Box programs; sponsor Becoming an OutdoorsWoman programs including Becoming an Outdoor Family Weekends, College Outdoor Skills Day and Deer Hunting Clinic, and mentored archery deer hunts; sponsor National Archery in the Schools Program kits for schools across Minnesota.
Wilkin County-Introduce young people to outdoor recreation and conservation by sponsoring Breckenridge National Archery in the Schools Program.
Projects are selected for grants using science-based criteria and a committee of RMEF volunteers and staff along with representatives from partnering agencies and universities. Continue Reading »
