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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Cook considers representation on river board

Tom Klein
Posted 10/4/13

COOK – Cook could soon have a representative for the city on the Littlefork and Rat Root River Board.

The city was invited to participate by Koochiching County Environmental Services Director …

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Cook considers representation on river board

Posted

COOK – Cook could soon have a representative for the city on the Littlefork and Rat Root River Board.

The city was invited to participate by Koochiching County Environmental Services Director Dale Olson and County Commissioner Rob Eklund, who chairs the Littlefork and Rat Root River Board. The two attended the council’s regular meeting on Sept. 26.

Olson said they also plan to ask St. Louis County to appoint representatives to the board and plan to meet with Nett Lake officials, as well.

Cost to the city and county would be minimal. Olson estimated that annual fee for the city to participate would be $250 while the county’s annual cost would be $750.

Olson said the board was one of three formed to provide local control over area waterways instead of having then enrolled in the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers program. Other boards were created for the Bigfork River and the Rainy and Rapid rivers.

“Developing our own management plans for the rivers guarantees a local say in how the rivers are utilized,” said Eklund. It’s also good stewardship for local communities to protect the integrity of the rivers in their areas, he added.

Eklund said that the more entities that become involved in the rivers’ management, the greater chance that the board can attract grants for improvement projects. He pointed to a recent project on the Rat Root River, which removed log jams and debris to clear the path for spawning walleye. The project was supported by the Rainy Lake Sportfishing Club and obtained a grant from Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.

Olson suggested that area schools could become involved in helping monitor water quality of the rivers. North Woods students could help collect samples of river water and examine the quality of the water in their science classes.

Councilor Elizabeth Storm said Nett Lake School should also be included in that process and Bois Forte should also be involved in the river management plan.

Olson said they planned to meet with Bois Forte officials about having representation on the joint powers board.

Mayor Harold Johnston said the city should be involved in preserving the environmental quality of the river. He said the city could appoint a representative and it wouldn’t necessarily require a councilor to serve on the board.

Although the Cook City Council took no action at the Sept. 26 meeting, they plan to pursue the issue and will seek candidates to represent the city on the board.

The Littlefork and Rat Root Management Board was legally constituted in 1993 when the county of Koochiching and city of Littlefork signed a joint powers agreement to implement a local river management plan. The plan was completed in 1995.

Cook City Council, Littlefork-Rat Root River Board, Littlefork River