The Natural Resources committee currently consists of shared leadership of  Rod Kleiss, and Jerry Dorff. Also on this committee are Pam Davies Steve Hoffman, Chris Spaight and Joni Burgin.

  • Wood River Cleanup: Jerry is coordinating the Wood River yearly cleanup effort. If you have a chainsaw and an inclination to get wet, contact Jerry at Wild River Outfitters. Cleanup is planned for late May/early June.
  • Trails: Rod Kleiss is coordinating the trails subcommittee. He is looking for help with widening the existing trails and adding more trails. Contact him to help with this project.
  • Olson Drive trail: Ben Binversie and Pam Davies are working on the Olson Drive walking/running trail. They have a grant for materials and are getting bids on labor to create the trail of crushed limestone along Olson Drive. Contact them if you are interested in this subcommittee.
  • Olson Drive wild flowers: Pam Davies will be working on planting wild flowers along Olson Drive. The village will assist with burning selected areas that will then be planted with seed. If you are interested in this project contact Pam Davies.

If you have ideas for utilizing area natural resources to promote Grantsburg as a great place to live, work and play and are willing to act as a subcommittee chair to make your idea come into being, contact GRO.

Tim Dahlberg enjoying the ski trails 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Natural Resources Committee has been working on a number of projects.

The Wood River was identified as one of the natural resources Grantsburg has to draw on as a recreational opportunity. Canoeing and Kayaking on the river will draw tourists to our area as well as providing fun activities for local residents and families. The Wood River cleanup, opening up the river from the HWY 70 bridge down stream to the Saint Croix River, was completed in 2015. Cleanup from Memory Lake to Hwy 70 bridge will take place this spring and summer as well as monitoring the conditions and doing more cleanup as needed throughout the season.

Wood River Cleanup 2015

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The next cleanup dates in 2016 are planned for: May 25, 8 AM, June 1, 8 AM, June 7, 8 AM

To help with this project please contact Bob at hartshorn@grantsburgtelcom.net

Trail Development and Promotion. Grantsburg has had a system of trails within the village for hiking and winter skiing as well as a system of snowmobiling trails. Many of the hiking/skiing trails needed to be revitalized after years of neglect as well as groomed in the winter for skiing. In 2014, 2015 and 2016 more legs were developed, trails were groomed regularly, maps posted and activities utilizing the trails have been carried out. Kiosks to highlight the trails system to visitors are in the works and hopefully the first will be in place by summer 2016.

Trails map

Trails2Trails1 Leopold bench1

If you would like to help with this project, please contact Rod at kleissrod@gmail.com

Olson Drive Project.  The goal of the Olson Drive Project is to improve the appearance and usability of Olson Drive to attract visitors and locals in the broader area to explore our community and provide more recreational options for our residents and visitors.  Olson Drive connects Hwy 70 to Memory Lake Park. It .7 miles in length the passes woods on all of the west side and lovely homes with well kept yards and gardens on the east side. The vision is to attract walkers, runner and bikers to the corridor with a multi purpose path, wild flowers plants, benches, picnic table and possibly exercise stations. Planting of wild flower seeds took place in four beds in 2015 as well as planting of 150 daffodil bulbs. More beds are planned as well as more bulbs. Estimates are pending on creating the multi-purpose trail.

Olson Drive Sara and boys3Daffodils

If you would like to help with this project please contact Pam at pameladavies@yahoo.com