Bluffing Can Be a Good Thing

Anyone who has visited southeastern Minnesota's gorgeous bluff country understands how crucial it is to our state's identity. One of Minnesota's conservation leaders, the Minnesota Land Trust (MLT), is doing amazing work to make sure our kids and their kids will see that same beauty.

Recently, the MLT held its annual Treasured Places Celebration in Red Wing. The City of Red Wing and MLT have worked together since 1995. The Land Trust has completed four projects with the city of Red Wing and 10 additional projects with private landowners, protecting more than 3700 acres in and around Red Wing. The Land Trust and the City will complete a 201-acre conservation easement over land that will include Bay Point Park before the end of October.

The Trust is partnering with landowners not only in the blufflands, but also elsewhere to craft conservation easements. These voluntary, legally binding agreements leave property in private hands, where families can pass down their traditions or work the land for farming or other current uses, and also assure no further development will take place on that land.

In addition to raising private money, the MLT has received bluffland conservation funds from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment the voters approved in 2008. This is a great demonstration of the good the Amendment does — it's using one-time money to provide permanent benefits for all of us. Truly, a good news story.