In This Issue
After months of intensive training in all aspects of being a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officer, 15 new officers are now working in their initial field stations.
?I?m excited for these new officers as they get started and am confident they will carry on the Enforcement Division?s proud tradition of protecting Minnesota?s people and natural resources,? said Col. Rodmen Smith, director of the DNR Enforcement Division. ?We demand a lot from our conservation officers and I have no doubt these new officers are up to the task.?
The new conservation officers bring with them a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. Some of them already were licensed peace officers and came through the traditional hiring process, while others had no law enforcement experience and took part in the CO Prep program, which prepares people with at least a two-year degree in any discipline to become a conservation officer. All the new officers attended the CO Academy at Camp Ripley from May through mid-August and trained in the field with experienced officers from then through Dec. 5.
New conservation officers and their stations are:
- Nicholas Ambroz ? Waseca
- Matthew Brodin ? Brainerd
- Levi Brown ? Benson
- Nicolas Bruesewitz ? Karlstad
- Sean Cannon ? Cook
- Koleby Dingmann ? Montevideo
- Justin Frisch ? Cambridge
- Aimee Hand ? Willow River
- Jake Homan ? Wealthwood
- Sarah Jahn ? Thief River Falls #2
- Brady Manteufel ? Bagley
- Derek Peterlin ? Brookston
- Landyn Saewert ? Wadena
- Joe Scholz ? Malmo
- Jamus Veit ? Baudette #2
There are 155 field stations across the state, each covering about 650 square miles. While this year?s conservation officer class will cut down on the number of vacancies, there still will be more than 12 field stations without full-time, dedicated coverage. The DNR is holding a CO Academy next spring and plans to begin the hiring process early next year for a 2025 academy.
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The Minnesota DNR urges people to stay off the ice all winter at the Canisteo pit, nearby wetlands, and Holman Lake
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has resumed seasonal pumping to control water levels at the Canisteo Legacy Mine Pit (Canisteo) in Itasca County. Pumping this winter will keep water levels below 1,318 feet. Maintaining water levels below 1,318 feet ensures that the drain tile system continues to divert groundwater away from residential structures located in Bovey. Additionally, lowering water levels as much as possible this winter is essential to preparing for the construction of a permanent outlet structure.
The pumping system is located on the east side of the Canisteo and draws water from the pit at a maximum rate of 18,000 gallons per minute. Pumping is occurring at a higher rate than last year to prepare for construction of the permanent outlet. The water will be discharged to a wetland complex that flows into Holman Lake in Itasca County.
Once pumping begins, the Canisteo water level is expected to drop, which could create a gap between winter ice cover and the water?s surface below, resulting in unsafe ice conditions across the entire pit. Water from the Canisteo will flow into the nearby wetlands and Holman Lake, potentially resulting in unsafe ice conditions on those water bodies. The DNR strongly advises that all people and recreational vehicles stay off the ice all winter at the Canisteo, nearby wetlands, and Holman Lake.
Background
Active mining in the Canisteo stopped in 1980 and no company is responsible for managing the Canisteo?s rising water levels. As of November 2023, the Canisteo water level is around 1,310 feet, which is 14 feet below natural overflow. Until an engineered outlet is in place, seasonal pumping is being used to control Canisteo water levels.
To prevent the spread of invasive species downstream, the DNR must ensure that zebra mussel larvae, called veligers, are not present in the Canisteo before water is discharged into surrounding water bodies. Water sampling has documented that zebra mussel?s reproductive season ends during winter months when water temperatures are consistently below 53 degrees. When water temperatures are low, live veligers, which float in the water and can be moved by water currents, are not present in the water column. Therefore, confining pumping to the winter months avoids the expense of additional filtration or treatment.
The 2023 legislature approved $8.875 million dollars for construction of an outlet at the Canisteo to provide permanent and year-round water level management. The permanent outlet will address removal of invasive species. The permanent outlet project will go out for bid in spring 2024, and construction could start later that year.
More information is available on the DNR?s?Canisteo Mine Pit webpage (mndnr.gov/lands_minerals/waters_program/canisteo.html).
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