Operation Bird’s Eye View has taken place in Cook County. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conservation officer Michael Scott traveled from Duluth to report to the county board on the results of an aerial flyover conducted by the DNR to spot wetland infringements dating back to 1991, when the state determined that no more wetland loss would be allowed in Minnesota.
In May of this year, David Demmer of the Cook County Planning & Zoning Department and Tristan Beaster of the Soil & Water Conservation District outlined with the DNR some areas of concern regarding wetland preservation: the Gunflint corridor, the Devil’s Track Lake area, and Greenwood and MacFarland lakes.
Six potential problems were identified by air. Demmer inspected the sites by land and found that four were satisfactory. One was later determined to be an exemption, and only one was not okay, Demmer told the board. Fill had been discharged on three acres around a pond. A restoration order was issued and mitigation is underway.
County Commissioner Bob Fenwick said it would have been good for the public to have been notified in advance of the flyover so property owners would have known their land might be observed and so they could have taken steps to prevent wetland damage. He said he was glad to hear that some questionable parcels were found to be okay.
The DNR is not trying to pick on anyone, Officer Scott said. A lot of wetland has been lost in southern Minnesota, he said, and the DNR is trying to preserve the wetlands of northern Minnesota.
Demmer said he would like to place ads in the Cook
County News-Herald
the next time a flyover is planned. Planning & Zoning Director Tim Nelson said he would notify the board and the public.
Operation Bird’s Eye View was begun in 2006.
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