Partners to Dedicate Little Nokasippi Wildlife Management Area

State’s newest Management Area to be open to the public for hiking, hunting and other recreational activities

Little Falls, MN —April 24, 2006—The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources joined with Camp Ripley and The Nature Conservancy to celebrate the creation of the Little Nokasippi River State Wildlife Management Area. The 145-acre property boasts extensive grassland habitat and features more than a mile of frontage on the Little Nokassippi River. The Property will be open to the public for a wide variety of non-motorized recreational activities, including hunting, hiking and bird watching.

“The creation of the Little Nokasippi WMA is unique step,” said Gary Drotts, Area Wildlife Supervisor for the Department of Natural Resource. “It’s the first state WMA created through a public/private partnership designed to protect land around the National Guard installation to ensure training opportunities for the base and enhancing important wildlife habitat.”

Known as the Army Compatible Use Buffer project, the partners include National Guard Bureau, the DNR, The Nature Conservancy, private landowners and others. The project involves working with willing landowners to keep land in traditional use within a three-mile area around the Camp. When areas surrounding military camps become too developed, the military is often forced to curtail important training exercises due to noise and public safety concerns. Encroachment is a very serious issue because limited training can put troops at risk if they are forced to go into combat without thorough preparation.

“It is so rewarding to be working with all these partners towards a common goal of securing the mission of Camp Ripley while also maintaining the rural character of this area,” said Marty Skoglund, Camp Ripley Environmental Supervisor.

Camp Ripley, a 53,000 acre state-owned military training site in Little Falls, serves as the primary field training facility for the Minnesota Army National Guard. It is the site of training thousands of soldiers from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Ohio, and Illinois. The Camp is one of the largest employers in Central Minnesota, employing over 500 full-time and 1,000 part-time personnel. Last year alone, Camp Ripley’s economic impact to the local economy exceeded $148 million.

“Protecting the important natural resources around Camp Ripley and ensuring that soldiers have the training opportunities they need makes the establishment of this WMA a win-win for all Minnesotans,” said Tom Landwehr, Assistant State Director of The Nature Conservancy. “Kudos to Camp Ripley and the DNR for developing this partnership to create such a win-win outcome.”

The dedication of the Little Nokasippi River WMA will recognize the partnerships established to secure this WMA and the natural resource/Camp Ripley protection objectives it has accomplished. Contact the MNDNR's Brainerd Area Wildlife Office (218-833-8620) if you wish to attend the dedication or would like further information on this partnership or site.