County commissioners approve easements
News | Published on July 11, 2023 at 3:02pm GMT+0000 | Author: Tucker Henderson
0By Tom Hintgen
Otter Tail County Correspondent
County commissioners, on June 27, approved certification of wetland easements for haying, following a request from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Landowners will retain primary responsibility for weed control, recreational use, access and will continue to be responsible for the payment of property taxes.
The approved easements are as follows:
• A habitat easement allowing for haying in Dead Lake Township, south of Dent, consisting of approximately 126 acres, to be determined by a survey. This is a habitat easement allowing for haying after July 15 of each year and grazing throughout the year.
• Another approval is for haying in Dane Prairie Township, southeast of Fergus Falls, consisting of approximately 21 acres, also to be determined by a survey. Also in Dane Prairie Township is an easement for approximately 34 acres.
• An easement for haying pertains to Paddock Township, northeast of New York Mills, consisting of approximately 604 acres and to be determined by a survey.
• An approved habitat easement allows for haying after July 15 each year in Erhards Grove Township, south of Pelican Rapids, and consists of approximately 92 acres, to be determined by a survey.
• Another easement is located in Friberg Township, east of Elizabeth, consisting of approximately 76 acres, to be determined by a survey.
• County board members approved a habitat easement allowing for haying after July 15 of each year in Norwegian Grove Township, west of Pelican Rapids, consisting of approximately 99 acres, to be determined by a survey.
More about county wetlands easements
A wetland easement is a legal agreement signed with the United States of America, through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, that pays landowners to permanently protect wetlands.
Landowners who sell a wetland easement agree that wetlands protected by an easement cannot be drained, filled, leveled or burned. If these wetlands dry up naturally, they can be farmed, grazed or hayed.
Wetlands covered by an easement are mapped, and a copy of the easement and maps is provided to the landowner. Property subject to a wetland easement remains on local tax rolls.
By selling easements, landowners receive funds to pay down debt, reinvest in capital improvements or buy other lands to maintain and/or expand working lands.