Board of Directors Update
The Board of Directors have elected three new members, Tom Bislow, Lee Debe and Jeff Sanborn to join the board in 2008.
Energy Committee Update
The Community Scale Renewable
Energy Analysis project is nearly complete. The Proctor High School
has a wind turbine up and students are involved in building energy efficient
homes that will be sold to help with future funding needs. Grand Portage will be putting up
a wind turbine that will produce enough energy to power the casino.
Food Systems Committee Update
The final presentation for the Cook County Dairy Feasibility Study was recorded
and may be heard by clicking on the title, The Cook County Dairy Market Survey
and Business Plan, prepared by Jim Skurla at the University of Minnesota
Duluth Labovitz School of Business Bureau of Business and Economic Research.
Forestry Committee Update
Mike Reichenbach, Co-chair of the Forestry Committee met with Nancy
Livingston a Wisconsin Tree Farmer to learn about her experience with
wildfire. Her story is posted to help others who may have
experienced forestland loss due to fire. https://umconnect.umn.edu/cottonvillefire/
In
May of 2005, Nancy's
efforts to manage her forest were tested by the devastating Cottonwood Fire.
The fire burned most of the Full Cycle Tree Farm, including trees Nancy planted as a
child. Following the initial shock, Nancy
confronted this challenge with immediate action and a "can-do"
attitude. She planned an extensive salvage harvest, and began a re-planting program.
Her efforts and those of volunteers including the Girl Scouts, the University of Wisconsin Madison Women’s Basketball
team, 4-H groups and the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association (WWOA) are
leading to the restoration of the Tree Farm and personal healing. This 19
minutes presentation is told by Nancy Livingston.
Community Forms & Infrastructure Committee Update
The South Central Itasca County
Wastewater Initiative Team has completed their forum meetings held throughout Itasca County.
As a result of the public input gathered from the community forums, the team is
in the process of formulating a recommendation to establish a wastewater
management district for all of Itasca
County.
Governmental entities within Itasca
County will have the
option of participating in the wastewater management district and in doing so
will have access to economic incentives and assistance to managing the onsite
sewage treatment systems within their boundaries.
Tourism and Forestry Committee Update
In 2006 and 2007 the Gunflint Trail Association worked with the Sustainable Tourism
and Forestry Committees to help Association members adapt to the changing
environmental and economic conditions. The original request was the result of
conditions created by the 1999 blow down and the 2006 Cavity Lake Fire. The
Northeastern Minnesota Sustainable Development Partnership will continue
working with the Gunflint Trail Association as conditions continue to evolve as
a result of the Ham
Lake fire. One of the
products from the work was a presentation by Lee Frelich, Director of the
University of Minnesota Center for Hardwood Ecology on Fire and Wind in the
Boundary Waters Canoe Area. This presentation depicts the succession of the
species in the first 10 years after a fire. To view the presentation visit https://breeze5.umn.edu/fireandwind
Click
here for the Gunflint Trail Tourism Resource Team Report
RSDP Evaluation Update
In
2005, Dr. Kathy Draeger (the Statewide Director, University of Minnesota Regional Partnerships)
identified evaluation of the Regional Partnerships as a key priority and asked
Dr. Okey Ukaga
(Executive Director, Northeast Minnesota Sustainable Development Partnerships)
to provide leadership for the evaluation. Specific goals include:
To document our history,
group process, projects, funding, leverage, and reach.
To assess our accomplishments
by priority, region, and for the whole program.
To gain the insights needed
to continually improve the work of the Partnerships.
To gain the insights needed
to plan for the next phase of the program's evolution.
Under Dr. Okey Ukaga's leadership the statewide Evaluation has been completed and
published in 2007. A pdf version is available at: http://www.regionalpartnerships.umn.edu/index.pl?id=4600&isa=Category&op=show
