Aug. 12, 2025



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*Minnesota DNR News
*




*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
*

Aug. 12, 2025




*Contact:* Maggie Snyder <[email protected]>

News release and media specialist,

651-259-5446.





In This Issue

* Recreation options and alternatives following drawdown of Lake Alice in William O’Brien State Park [ #link_1491411839600 ]
* Wild rice season opens soon, but harvesters must ensure rice is ripe [ #link_1491411977526 ]
* DNR’s Field to Forest Cost-Share Program helps landowners reforest Minnesota [ #link_1491412003165 ]

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"*NOTE:* Photos are available in the Minnesota DNR Media Room [ [link removed] ]."

"*Contact: *Sara Berhow <[email protected]>, integrated PR supervisor, 651-259-5627."

Recreation options and alternatives following drawdown of Lake Alice in William O’Brien State Park
The dried up lake bed of Lake Alice

Lake Alice, located in William O’Brien State Park, experienced a near total water level drawdown due to a mechanical issue with a valve in the 65-year-old water control structure that regulates its discharge to the St. Croix River. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources staff are currently assessing the structure to identify options and a timeline to address the problem. The DNR will share further information when it becomes available.

As the DNR undertakes its assessment, visitors should be aware that water recreation opportunities are not available on Lake Alice at this time. The swimming beach is not usable and the drawdown has caused a fish kill in the lake. There are no downstream risks due to the mechanical issue with the valve, and neither the earthen dike nor the control structure itself have failed.

Recreation on the St. Croix River is unaffected by the Lake Alice drawdown, and state park rentals of canoes, kayaks and paddleboards continue to be available for use on the river. The public water access in the park is located on the St. Croix River, so it is not impacted by the drawdown.

Lake Alice is a spring-fed lake with an earthen dike that holds water back and a concrete water control structure. The valve in the control structure allows DNR to manage water levels on the lake.

In July, DNR staff partially opened the valve after water from the lake began to overflow the dike, raising erosion concerns. Then, on Aug. 8, staff opened the valve further to address ongoing water level concerns. Having successfully addressed the high water levels, staff attempted to close the valve on Aug. 9. It was at this point that staff discovered the closure mechanism had failed and the valve was stuck open, resulting in the near total water level drawdown.

For information on other Minnesota state parks and recreation areas with water recreation and summer activities, visit the DNR’s summer activities webpage [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/summerguide). To learn about other recreational opportunities at William O’Brien State Park, such as hiking, picnicking and camping, visit the park’s section of the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/williamobrien).

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*"Contact: "*"Ann Geisen" <[email protected]>", Minnesota DNR wildlife lake specialist, 218-429-3036."

Wild rice season opens soon, but harvesters must ensure rice is ripe

As the Aug. 15 wild rice season opening date approaches, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds harvesters that rice stands must be ripe before they can be legally harvested.

“The green rice law helps protect wild rice for future years by requiring people to wait until rice is ripe before harvesting,” said Ann Geisen, Minnesota DNR wildlife lake specialist. “People interested in harvesting need to know the regulations and can check out our website and newsletter for wild rice conditions this year, tips on harvesting and other important information to know before heading out.”

Harvesters are allowed to take ripe wild rice during the harvesting season that runs from Aug. 15 through Sept. 30, but Minnesota’s green rice law makes it illegal to harvest unripe or “green” rice, even within the dates of the harvest season. So, although rice beds might look like they are ready, ricers must make sure the grain is ripe and falling easily from the stalk before attempting to harvest it.

Harvesters are required to be licensed unless they are residents under 18 years of age and accompanied by a licensed harvester. Tribal band members who possess a valid Tribal identification card from a federally recognized Tribe located in Minnesota are deemed to have a license to harvest wild rice, and do not need the additional state wild rice harvesting license.

Harvesters also need to know where it may be unlawful for them to harvest wild rice, including national parks, national wildlife refuges and on American Indian reservations. Details about these restrictions and other regulations are available on the Minnesota DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/regulations/wildrice/index.html).

Minnesota DNR Wildlife staff compile a wild rice harvesting outlook report each year. The report will be available by Aug. 14 on the Minnesota DNR’s wild rice management webpage [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/wildlife/shallowlakes/wildrice.html), along with license, regulation and safety information, and DNR contact information to call about local conditions.

Early reports from Minnesota DNR and Tribal biologists indicate highly variable conditions across central and northern Minnesota, with individual waters ranging from fair to great.

“Every year, DNR Wildlife staff remind harvesters of the importance of scouting waters before the season begins,” Geisen said. “This year scouting will be especially important to find sites with harvestable beds.”

Higher water levels on lakes and rivers means most rice stands should be accessible by canoe.

The Minnesota DNR sends out periodic newsletters about rice harvesting topics. People can sign up to receive the email newsletters on the Minnesota DNR homepage [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov) by finding the “Get email updates” box, entering an email address, and selecting the “Go” button. Then in the subscription list, check the box for “Wild rice harvesting.”

Since wild rice is ripening at the same time as Minnesota’s early waterfowl hunting seasons, over-water waterfowl hunters are urged to be aware of wild ricers nearby no matter where they hunt. Those who plan to hunt the early teal season on the Leech Lake, White Earth, or Mille Lacs reservations should be aware of hunting restrictions on or near wild rice waters. Important information about these restrictions is available on page 9 of the Waterfowl Hunting Regulations available on the Minnesota DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/regulations/hunting).

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"*NOTE:* There is a photo available in the Minnesota DNR Media Room [ [link removed] ]."

*"Contact:"* "Jennifer Teegarden" <[email protected]>", forestry incentives coordinator, 651-259-5285."

DNR’s Field to Forest Cost-Share Program helps landowners reforest Minnesota
Two men in a forest pointing at a young evergreen tree

Private landowners with open lands, such as former pastures or crop fields, can apply for financial assistance to plant trees through Minnesota DNR‘s Field to Forest Cost-Share Program.

This program aims to restore tree cover across Minnesota. Selected projects receive up to 75% cost-share reimbursement for tree planting expenses. After planting is completed in spring 2026, participating landowners will also receive a $500-per-acre incentive payment, in addition to the cost share to help with the cost of caring for the seedlings.

“Minnesota has lost more than 15 million acres of forest since European settlement, with most of that loss happening on privately owned lands,” said Jennifer Teegarden, DNR forestry incentives coordinator. “The Field to Forest Cost-Share Program helps restore some of these lost forests – and the environmental, economic and habitat benefits that forests provide to all – by helping with the cost of tree planting and care of the newly planted trees during the critical first five years of growth.”

Reforesting open lands offers landowners a powerful opportunity to improve the health and value of their property while contributing to a more resilient landscape. Planting trees can slow runoff, combat erosion, improve water retention and rebuild healthy soils. Forests also offer habitat for wildlife and improve resilience to drought and flooding. For private landowners, transforming open land to forests can also increase property value, offer future timber income and create recreational opportunities.

The Field to Forest Cost-Share Program is focused on tree plantings of 3 acres or more and is not intended for residential landscaping or planting in established forests. Funding is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Landowners participating in the program can purchase tree seedlings from either private nurseries or the Minnesota State Forest Nursery [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/forestry/nursery). The cost-share reimbursement for tree planting and incentive payment are provided after a forester has verified that the planting project has been completed.

Interested landowners should call or email their local DNR stewardship forester [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/woodlands/cfm-map.html) by Dec. 1 to apply. Selected projects will begin the following spring.

Funding for this program was provided through a grant from the U.S. Forest Service. Visit the DNR website for more information on DNR Forestry cost-share programs [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/woodlands/cost-share.html).

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minnesota department of natural resources [ [link removed] ]

*Minnesota Department of Natural Resources  |  mndnr.gov [ [link removed] ] *

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