Lac qui Parle State Park, Wildlife Merge (2005-05-02)

Tom Conroy Information Officer DNR Southern Region 261 Hwy 15 South New Ulm MN 56073 507/359-6014 tom.conroy@dnr.state.mn.us 

April 29, 2005

For additional information, contact: Lac qui Parle State Park Manager Kerry Christoffer (320-734-4450) or Wildlife Manager Dave Trauba (320-734-4451)

Lac qui Parle State Park, Wildlife Merge

It's been a long time a'comin' but Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff from the Lac qui Parle (LQP) Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and the Lac qui Parle State Park are finally fishing out of the same boat.

For the past 14 years, change has been the norm at both the LQP State Park and the WMA. Now, with State Park staff joining Section of Wildlife staff in the Lac qui Parle DNR Headquarters building, the final steps have been taken in a process that began more than a decade ago.

"Normally it's not big news when staff offices are moved," said Kerry Christoffer, LQP State Park Manager. "But in this case it signals the culmination of a series of changes in the Lac qui Parle area that have generated considerable public interest, angst and hard work. Where we used to have two DNR offices on opposite sides of Lac qui Parle Lake, we now have one centrally located facility."

Dave Trauba, LQP Area Wildlife Manager, explained that having State Park staff share office space with him and his staff "means we're now going to be open seven days a week to serve all the folks who visit this area. And that will give us a lot more opportunity to educate people about all the great attractions we are fortunate to have out here." The chain of events that has finally resulted in Parks and Wildlife staff sharing the same office building was actually instigated by the Minnesota River's increasing propensity to flood in the late1980s and early 1990s. Major land use changes and higher average rainfall amounts in the upper Minnesota drainage system over the years eventually resulted in the river flooding more frequently and more severely.

"As a consequence, the Lac qui Parle campground often became unusable because of flood waters," Christoffer explained. Between 1991 and 1997, Christoffer said, the campground flooded at least twelve times. "And it was obvious that, if anything, flooding problems were only going to become worse," he stated. During that time, public meetings were held and the decision was unanimous to move the campground. DNR also included the proposal to move the campground in an extensive Lac qui Parle Area Management Plan that was finalized in 1997 following nearly two years of public input.

"As far as I know, that was the first time the DNR had ever pulled different divisions together to develop an entire plan for an area," Christoffer noted. "Previously, each DNR division would develop their own separate management plans, whether that was Parks, Wildlife, Fisheries, or whatever. This plan was very unique in its comprehensive nature."

The plan addressed topics and issues ranging from area history and archeology to tourism and marketing to fish and wildlife. During that same time, a new DNR office/visitor center was being constructed on the southeast side of Lac qui Parle Lake to replace an old, cramped office and a dilapidated barn that was used for goose hunting registration.

The new 4,000-square foot building, completed in 1996, was always intended to eventually serve as a central location for both Park and Wildlife staff. Wildlife staff moved in immediately but before Park staff could re-locate it was first necessary to purchase and develop a new Park campground.

Following legislative approval for funding, the search began for a new campground location. "It became a rather arduous, complex and time-consuming project," Christoffer stated. "But eventually, with a tremendous amount of citizen support and assistance, we were able to secure the land in 1999."

The new 30-acre campground, situated high on a 145-acre parcel on the southeast corner of Lac qui Parle Lake, opened in 2004. "It offers a great view and is a perfect fit for the 34,000-acre WMA and refuge that surrounds it," Christoffer said. Lac qui Parle is one of only two state parks that offer sewer, water and full electric hook-ups for RVs. There are 15 such sites, as well as another 27 sites with electricity (many of them pull-through), and three walk-in sites with push carts available to haul in gear.

The new campground also offers two "side by side" camping sites for those who want to camp closer together and eventually Christoffer hopes funding can be found to finish the construction project for three camper cabins. (Roads, parking, and electric are in place but there is currently no funding to construct the cabins.)

"These cabins have been extremely popular at the Parks that currently have them," he noted.

Trauba said the diversity, beauty and accommodations in the Lac qui Parle area "just continue to get better and more and more people are discovering all there is out here. Whether it's hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, camping, bird watching or just observing wildlife, this is a great area. There are rivers, lakes, prairie and wooded areas. It's hard to beat, as far as I'm concerned."

Christoffer compares the Lac qui Parle area to the famed Itasca State Park in some regards. "It's about the same size and basically offers the same things, only in a different kind of landscape. Sometimes I think we don't realize how fortunate we are."

Now that the office move has finally been completed, both Trauba and Christoffer look forward to learning from each other. "We're both DNR but we've spent basically our entire careers in different divisions," Trauba said. "Sharing this office is going to help us better understand the issues and challenges of our separate divisions and that is going to help both of us."

Christoffer, however, believes the bigger adjustment to the change will need to come from Trauba. "You know, Dave has been fishing out of this boat for the past seven years," Christoffer noted. "And now here I come along with all my rods and reels and tackle and say, 'Hey, slide on over pal!' I'm not sure how he's going to react to that."

Trauba chuckled.

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