June 2, 2025



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*Minnesota DNR News
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*June 2, 2025*




*For more information:*

Contact the DNR Information Center by email  <[email protected]>or call 888-646-6367.





In This Issue

* Piers added with Get Out MORE funding [ #link_1491411977526 ]
* Celebrate the grand opening of the Glendalough State Park trail center on June 14 [ #link_1491412051810 ]
* Volunteers needed for DNR loon survey [ #link_1491412104175 ]

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Piers added with Get Out MORE funding
Lake Francis Park fishing pier

 

New fishing piers at Leech Lake in the city of Walker, and Lake Francis in the city of Elysian, are the newest of many fishing infrastructure improvements made possible by the Get Out MORE (Modernize Outdoor Recreation Experiences) one-time funding approved by the Minnesota Legislature in 2023.

“We’re proud of the partnerships we have with the cities of Elysian and Walker to get these fishing piers in the water,” said Jim Levitt, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources shore fishing program coordinator. “These are examples of how funding from the legislature and coordination with local partners can make fishing better for anglers of all ages and abilities, including those who want to fish but might not have access to boats.”

The piers were finished in time for spring fishing opener in May, and Take a Kid Fishing Weekend (Friday, June 6, to Sunday, June 8). Both piers are aluminum with steel frames and were made in Minnesota.

For the Lake Francis pier, the Minnesota DNR and the City of Elysian partnered to add the pier in a local park, where anglers can fish in a close and accessible location. It is located in Lake Francis Park at 200 NW Frank Ave. in Elysian.

For the Leech Lake pier, the DNR partnered with the City of Walker to add the pier in a location where anglers can access quality fishing protected from the prevailing wind and wave action on Leech Lake. It is located north of Railroad Ave. W. and just east of a private marina channel.

The Elysian and Walker fishing piers are two of five such projects completed with Get Out MORE funding so far. The other projects were on Spring Lake in North Mankato, Madison Lake in Blue Earth County and Sylvan Pond in Lanesboro. Twenty more piers and shore fishing site improvements are planned to be added in 2025 with more to come in 2026. Fishing piers and shore fishing sites can be found on a map on the Minnesota DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/fishing_piers/index.html).

Get Out MORE is a historic, one-time investment of $150 million to help ensure Minnesotans of all abilities and interests enjoy a world-class recreation system, whichever outdoor experience they choose. Get Out MORE funding centers on five key areas, with $60 million going toward a state-of-the-art fish hatchery system, increased fish production, along with enhancing shore fishing sites and opportunities. More information about the Get Out MORE improvements in progress and soon to come can be found on the Get Out MORE page of the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/aboutdnr/get-out-more/fisheries-infrastructure.html).

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Celebrate the grand opening of the Glendalough State Park trail center on June 14

On Saturday, June 14, Glendalough State Park will celebrate the completion of its new trail center and the trail extension past Sunset Lake. Visitors can enjoy an open house at the new building from 10 a.m. until noon with cake and lemonade served by the Glendalough Park Partners. A program begins at 11 a.m. with appearances from State Senator Jordan Rasmusson, Battle Lake Mayor Richard Bullard, and senior DNR officials.

June 14 is a Free Park Day at all Minnesota state parks and recreation areas, and no vehicle permit is required to visit Glendalough State Park for this event. Parking may be limited at the trail center, so visitors are encouraged to hike or bike there on the new paved trail section from parking lots at the Prairie Hill, ranger station, Sunset Lake, or Glendalough Lodge parking areas. A park map is at mndnr.gov/glendalough [ [link removed] ].

For those arriving early, a history tour by bicycle is offered on the new trail at 8:30 a.m. Meet at the lodge parking lot to learn about park history at a few stops along the loop. Participants will be back in time for the main event at 10 a.m. 

The new trail center features bike rentals, restrooms, a meeting and education space that accommodates up to 40, and convenient parking with accessible stalls. The meeting room can be reserved year-round for meetings and events, and is the site of interpretive programs in the park.

The Sunset Trail extension provides a paved trail to the park’s entrance at Highway 16 and connects to the 12-mile Glendalough Trail that links the park with the city of Battle Lake. This trail extension makes it easier for park visitors to access the city, and for Battle Lake residents to bike to the park.

The trail center and trail extension projects are a collaboration between the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Glendalough Park Partners, the park’s non-profit friends’ group. Contributions from state park friends groups are important contributions to Glendalough and other state parks across Minnesota. The total cost of the projects was $3.8 million which includes funding from state bonding, the Parks and Trails Legacy Fund, a Federal Recreational Trail Program grant and private contributions through the Glendalough Park Partners. 

For more information, visit the park pages on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/glendalough) or call the park at 218-261-6900. 

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Volunteers needed for DNR loon survey

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking volunteers to help monitor the loon population in Aitkin, Becker, Cook, Crow Wing, Itasca, Kandiyohi, Lake, and Otter Tail counties. Volunteers are needed for a minimum of one morning during the July 4 through July 14 monitoring period, to count the number of adult and juvenile loons on pre-selected lakes.

With the assistance of hundreds of volunteer observers, the DNR has gathered information for more than 30 years about common loon numbers on more than 600 lakes across six regions, or "index areas,” throughout the state.

“The Minnesota Loon Monitoring Program is a success due to hundreds of volunteers who conduct surveys annually,” DNR Nongame Wildlife Specialist Gaea Crozier said. “The data collected allow us to track changes in the loon population over time and identify potential management needs and opportunities on Minnesota lakes.”

Volunteers can choose one or more lakes on which to count the number of adult and juvenile loons. They will then report these observations to the DNR for data analysis.

Volunteers are especially needed in Otter Tail County, with 49 lakes available, and Kandiyohi County, with 48. There are 21 lakes available in Becker County, 18 in Cook and Lake counties, 15 in Itasca County, and 10 in Aitkin and Crow Wing counties.

The time commitment is one to four hours per lake. Each lake’s survey must be done between 5 a.m. and noon on a single day of the volunteer’s choosing, within the July 4-14 date range.

Volunteers must commit to completing one or more assigned lakes and are encouraged to consider participating in the program for multiple years. Surveys can be conducted from shore on smaller lakes or by boat or canoe on larger lakes. Volunteers use an online system to reserve and manage their lake assignments, view maps and information for their lakes, and print data collection sheets. The online system was funded by a donation from the Minnesota United professional soccer team, whose mascot is a loon.

To sign up as a survey volunteer and select a lake, go to the DNR’s loon monitoring program webpage [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/eco/nongame/projects/mlmp_state.html) and click on “Volunteer Map.” Select an available lake, add it to the volunteer cart and sign up to become a loon surveyor.

People considering volunteering in Cook, Lake, or Itasca counties can contact regional loon monitoring coordinator Bry Persing, 218-735-3962, [email protected] with any questions.

Questions regarding Aitkin or Crow Wing County lakes can be directed to Karen McLennan, [email protected], 218-203-4352.

Questions about Becker or Otter Tail County lakes should go to Kristie Brezina, [email protected], 218-671-7977.

Questions about Kandiyohi County go to Mike Worland, [email protected], 507-649-9081.

The Minnesota Loon Monitoring Program and broader Nongame Wildlife Program are also supported by donations to the nongame wildlife check-off on Minnesota’s tax forms.

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