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MN DNR holds second free state park visit day
(ABC 6 News) – With the weather staying clear for the most part in southern Minnesota, Saturday was the perfect day for many residents to get out and enjoy their local state park.
On Saturday, April 27, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources held their second free state park visit day of 2024, with the first one happening earlier in January.
Bob Storlie, the park manager for Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park, says the day provides residents with the perfect opportunity to experience what Minnesota has to offer.
“A great thing about Minnesota state parks is that they highlight the different landscapes in Minnesota.” Storlie said.
In Fillmore County, where Forestville State Park is located, Storlie says that landscape doesn’t include a lot of rivers, but adds that there’s still plenty to see.
“At Forestville this time of year we have a lot of spring ephemeral wildflowers blooming. For instance, bloodroot is blooming, the rue-anemones are blooming, the blue bells are coming out,” Storlie said.
For many residents in our area, these free state park visit days are a chance to experience all of the scenic landscaping in the North Star State, without having to worry about being able to afford a day pass, which typically costs around $7, or $35 for the year.
“The idea is to encourage families to get out and enjoy the outdoors,” Storlie said.
One local man, Blake Talamantes from Austin, took the day to do just that.
“[I’m] doing some trout fishing,” Talamantes said, adding that these promotional days open up state parks to everybody. “It lets people who are maybe on a bit of a budget to go out and enjoy without having to worry about the financial burden.”
This was the second of four free state park visit days set for this year; the other two are planned for June 8 and November 29.
Watch CBS News
Tour shows off $20 million investment to Minnesota fish hatchery
By Adam Duxter
April 24, 2024 / 6:21 PM CDT / CBS Minnesota
WATERVILLE, Minn. — A community tour Wednesday highlighted a massive investment to one of Minnesota's 15 fish hatcheries – a $20 million makeover, nearly 70 years in the making.
"This is generational. We've not had an investment to this level in many, many years, and it's needed," said Craig Soupir, who serves as the site's supervisor. "A lot of our hatcheries are kind of in this state, where they need some upgrades. This kind of investment is huge for Waterville."
The site raises more than 10,000 walleyes, muskies and more each year – from egg to fry – that are eventually stocked in Minnesota lakes and rivers.
It contributes to a more than $4.2 billion fishing industry statewide.
READ MORE: Ancient gars studied at new University of Minnesota lab in hopes of unlocking secrets of longevity
Yet much of the equipment at the Waterville hatchery is original to its 1950s build, which raises concerns over safety and space.
"Really, it's a great spot for a hatchery – it is old, though. It's becoming dilapidated – a lot of our infrastructure was put in during the early 1950s – and it's all original," Soupir said. "[The water] is not filtered. We need to have biosecurity. It's very important that we have that."
The rebuild comes thanks to a $150 million investment to Minnnesota's Department of Natural Resources – part of state funding created by "Get Out More" funding approved during the 2023 legislative session.
"Honestly, Minnesota has not seen this kind of foundational investment in our outdoors in a generation," said DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen. "This is funding that really a generation of Minnesotans have not seen and the impacts will be felt for another generation."
Soupir says the site hopes to have a construction bid accepted by year's end, with hopes of breaking ground on a new facility by spring of 2026.
- Minnesota Department Of Natural Resources
Born and raised in Metro Detroit, Adam loves all things Michigan, but is thrilled to now call Minnesota home.
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CBS Minnesota
DNR highlights $20 million investment at Waterville fish hatchery
Posted: April 24, 2024 | Last updated: April 24, 2024
The DNR showed off all the changes that need to happen during a community tour at the Waterville fish hatchery.
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Natural resources education; Recreational vehicle safety classes; Safety training instructors; ... Tours in Minnesota state parks. Visit a mine, a cave or a bison range! All tours are available seasonally. Bison and prairie tours. Experience the sights and smells of the prairie as you travel into the bison range at Blue Mounds State Park on ...
This summer, Minnesota state parks will offer tours introducing visitors to the Iron Ranges' mining history, prairie life, and the longest cave in the state. ... Schedules and reservation information are available on the state park tours webpage of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website. Returning in 2024: Soudan Underground ...
Southern Region: Minnesota River Valley Regional Tour. Panoramic virtual tours are best viewed via high bandwidth connection. Snapshot tours are optimized for those using assistive technology, mobile devices or low bandwidth. This program is made possible by funds from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.
Itasca State Park. Welcome to the Itasca State Park virtual tour! In this journey you'll stand at the headwaters of the Mississippi River, go inside Douglas Lodge, and get a birds-eye-view from an observation tower. We hope it prompts you to visit the park in person sometime soon.
Yes, all vehicles entering a state park or recreation area must have a state park vehicle permit. This includes overnight stays as well as day visits. When will tours be available? Tours will be viewable starting 4/1/2024. When should I show up for my tour? Please arrive and check in 15 minutes prior to your designated tour time. Place.
Blue Mounds State Park offers places to hike and camp, Sioux quartzite cliffs to climb, and stunning overlooks from which you can watch the prairie clouds sweep by, or take in the park's herd of bison as they graze. Enjoy your virtual tour, and come visit the park in person sometime soon!.
VR Setup. Whitewater State Park. Your visit to Whitewater State Park includes facilities for both small and large groups, a river landscape for fishing, swimming and other recreation. Historic structures and modern facilites, trails and scenic views offer visitors a variety of choices. Explore them all!
You will need a year-round or one-day vehicle permit before you visit a Minnesota state park or recreation area. Find some fun Need help deciding which state park or recreation area to visit?
Whether it's led by a local expert or self-guided, taking a tour is often the best way to get to know a place. Explore Minnesota on guided tours, boat cruises and themed excursions that will immerse you in Minnesota's most intriguing destinations. These distinctive outings include train journeys from Duluth, narrated boat cruises on lakes and rivers throughout the state, cave tours in ...
Reserve online. or by calling 866-857-2757. Reservations may be booked in advance or up until 2 p.m. on the day of the tour. Any unsold tickets are available for purchase at the cave on a first-come, first-served basis. Walk-ins may be accommodated based on availability. Tours are available from Memorial Day weekend through mid-October each year.
Natural Resources Find resources to help you explore Minnesota's great outdoors, apply for hunting and fishing licenses, and find information on nature and conservation. ... State Park Reservations. State Parks & Trails Virtual Tour. Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Licenses & Regulations Hunting Licenses. Fishing Licenses. Get Your License Online ...
Your complete inspiration and travel planning guide to the state of Minnesota, with trip ideas, lodging, attractions, events, free brochures and more. Find Minnesota resorts, campgrounds, and events, plus Minnesota activities like hiking, biking, shopping, theater, and arts on ExploreMinnesota.com
Enjoy your virtual tour, and come visit the park in person sometime soon! Zippel Bay State Park is located on Lake of the Woods, one of the world's largest lakes. The mood of the lake is always changing, from storms that bring five-foot-high crashing waves to an eerie stillness, broken only by the faint calls of gulls in the lake's interior.
Buy your permit now and enjoy Minnesota's state parks and trails. Choose from annual, daily, or gift options. Easy and secure online purchase.
Minnesota DNR offers free admission to state parks on April 27, allowing visitors to access all state parks without a vehicle permit. Minneapolis National Politics Crime Weather Food Arts More
Tours resume in spring 2024. Travel 2,341 feet down the shaft to the 27 th level of the Soudan Underground Mine to experience one of the most unique tours in not just Minnesota, but in the whole nation. (Some might even say the whole world!) You will journey into the mine on authentic, expertly-maintained hoisting equipment, followed by an ...
On Saturday, April 27, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources held their second free state park visit day of 2024, with the first one happening earlier in January. Bob Storlie, the park ...
DNR highlights $20 million investment at Waterville fish hatchery The DNR showed off all the changes that need to happen during a community tour at the Waterville fish hatchery. ©2024 CBS ...
Just minutes from the Twin Cities, this state recreation area preserves part of the Minnesota River Valley. This area offers diverse habitats that include wetlands, floodplain forest, and blufftop oak savanna. Horseshoe Lake is one of the best spots in the Lawrence Unit of the Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area to see migrating songbirds ...
WATERVILLE, Minn. — A community tour Wednesday highlighted a massive investment to one of Minnesota's 15 fish hatcheries - a $20 million makeover, nearly 70 years in the making. "This is ...
The DNR showed off all the changes that need to happen during a community tour at the Waterville fish hatchery. CBS Minnesota. DNR highlights $20 million investment at Waterville fish hatchery.
TOURS FORESTVILLE/MYSTERY CAVE STATE PARK EXPLORE MINNESOTA'S LONGEST CAVE! TAKE A GUIDED TOUR OF MYSTERY CAVE • scenic pools • variety of cave ... ©2019 State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources. The Minnesota DNR is an equal opportunity provider. FORESTVILLE/MYSTERY CAVE STATE PARK ykoff o Spring Valley 16 12 Old Cave Road ...
Tours resume in spring 2024. Travel 2,341 feet down the shaft to the 27 th level of the Soudan Underground Mine to experience one of the most unique tours in not just Minnesota, but in the whole nation. (Some might even say the whole world!) You will journey into the mine on authentic, expertly-maintained hoisting equipment, followed by an ...
Visit Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park to see natural wonders above and below ground. In the summer, beat the heat with a visit below ground. Explore the world of Mystery Cave with its stalactites, stalagmites, and underground pools. Park naturalists provide tours of the cave throughout the summer and on weekends in the spring and fall. The temperature stays at a constant 48 degrees Fahrenheit.
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More than 14,400 volunteers helped the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources do everything from monitoring rainfall levels to clearing trails, according to the new 2023 annual DNR volunteer report. The report is being released as part of the celebration of National Volunteer Week (April 21-27) when organizations across the country honor ...