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

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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: mark_e@co.renville.mn.us

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 wogenjonr@q.com

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