1. Conversion of Pine Lands to Irrigated Row Crops; Who Would Have Guessed?
Large losses of native and grassland habitats across the state has received a lot attention as of late but for those aware of another landscape transformation occurring in the sandy soils of north central MN, the conversion of pine land forests to irrigated row crops are taking notice. The conversion of many thousands of acres of previously jack pine forest and red pine plantation has been swift, a bit under the radar and poses difficulties for those that manage land use, regulate the protection of the state’s water resources and for those communities where the transformation is occurring. These changes are measurable and pose real impacts to local water resources, habitats and water quality while providing additional farmable acres for irrigated row crops such as potatoes, corn and soybeans.
Darrin Hoverson, MN DNR Area Hydrologist
Ecological & Water Resources
2015 DNR Roundtable “Water: Complicated Problems and Creative Solutions”

2. Conversion of Industrial Forest Lands to Irrigated Agriculture
Pinelands Sands aquifer is shown with water table water elevations and Potlatch Lands highlighted, circa 2012 in red overlain on top of the aquifer. The area is a transition zone from prairie to forest with both open space (pasture, row crop, grassland) and forest making up largest percentage of land use / land cover.
Reppe, T.H.C., 2005, Ground-water availability from surficial aquifers in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005–5204, 54 p.
The Pineland Sands surficial aquifer is the largest surficial aquifer located in the study area and covers 996 mi2 in Becker, Cass, Hubbard, Todd, and Wadena Counties. The aquifer likely was deposited by meltwater during three separate periods of glacial recession and is surrounded by surface deposits of glacial till (Wright, 1962; Helgesen, 1977). Poorly sorted, clay-rich till also underlies most of the surficial outwash aquifer and forms isolated surface deposits throughout the southern part of the aquifer and in southwestern Hubbard County (Helgesen, 1977). The aquifer consists of very fine-grained sand to fine gravel and generally increases in grain size from south to north. Along the northwestern part of the aquifer, cobbles and boulders are common (Helgesen, 1977).
The Pineland Sands surficial aquifer is thickest in the northern one-half of the aquifer and thins towards the outer boundaries. Isolated areas of outwash extend beyond the northern boundary of the aquifer (Helgesen, 1977). Ground-water flow in the Pineland Sands surficial aquifer is generally to the south and mimics topographic relief (Helgesen, 1977). Flow paths in the aquifer generally are short due to discharge to streams, lakes, and wetlands.
Most of the land is agricultural fields or forest and is characterized by flat to gently rolling topography (Helgesen, 1977).
citation:
Helgesen, J.O., 1977, Ground-water appraisal of the Pineland Sands area, central Minnesota: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 77–102, 49 p.
Wright, H.E., Jr., 1962, Role of the Wadena lobe in the Wisconsin glaciation of Minnesota: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 73, p. 73–100.

3. BaDoura Township, MN
Area of Badoura Township, Hubbard County circa with extensive pine acreage of high value ecotype jack pine woodlands and red pine plantations.
Area is east of Jct. State Hwy 87 & 64, Badoura State Forest Nursery can be seen in lower left of photo.
Air photos show state of the forest in recent past. Fully vegetate with irrigated row crop bordering the northern portion of the site.

4. Badoura Township
Same area of previous slide, Badoura Township, Hubbard County in the fall of 2012
Much of the pine acreage has been recently harvested as can be seen in large gaps on landscape.
DNR recently purchased 720 acre Badoura Scientific Natural Area (highlighted in purple) – High Biodiversity with rare species and rare jack pine over story and dry prairie understory. Limited number of these stands of this quality left in the state.
Cross hatched partial and full circles are areas proposed for irrigation – water appropriation permits have been applied for as of Jan 1, and the production wells have been drilled and the land has been fully cleared.
This area specificlally and other nearby are historic deer wintering areas.

5. Before Conversion
Before Conversion the pineland forests are in some stage of growth from mature to regeneration. Many have recently been harvested while others had been harvested with the last 10 years ago and have relatively young regrowth.
Conversions are targeting sandy upland mixed jack pine, oak, and aspen forests which are the best year-round forested deer habitats
Areas of recent and past fires are also being targeted such as the 2013 “Green Valley Fire” between Park Rapids and Menahga.

6. During & After Conversion
If mature trees are present those trees are removed for timber first
Heavy Equipment such as excavator is then used to remove and pile stumps for fire.
Additional efforts to remove young trees, roots and other forest debris occurs to expose bare ground for final treatments to remove rocks and any additional tree matter.
Final product is bare field which high capacity well and irrigation pivot are placed for row crop production.

7. Current Status Forest Conversions
Potlatch Land Currently or Proposed Conversion ,000+ acres
Many 100’s MGY of groundwater requested
Additional acres of Potlatch Lands ~ 35,000 acres
High/Medium Risk for conversion ~ 20,000 acres
Many thousands of acres of private land similar risk to conversion
Largest percentage of conversion focused on Potlatch Commercial Forest Land
Status of Lands DNR is aware of
Potlatch Land Currently or Proposed Conversion ,000+ acres
Many 100’s millions of gallon per year of groundwater
requested for DNR water appropriation permit.
Additional acres of Potlatch Land ~ 35,000 acres
High/Medium Risk for conversion ~ 20,000 acres
High & Medium lands at risk for conversion are those lands
that are large enough, with available water source (groundwater)
, generally flat terrain, and near historic production area.
Many thousands of acres of private land at similar risk for conversion with over a thousand acres of other private lands currently converted from pine land forest to row crop irrigation.
The greatest percentage of the forest conversion has focused on prior Potlatch Commercial Forest Land. Over 4000 acres of additional Potlatch Land sold to others not likely to be converted but to remain Forest, likely not high value for irrigated cropland
2015 DNR Roundtable
Ecological & Water Resources

8. Current Status of Potlatch lands over Pineland Sands Aquifer
Air photo of Potlatch Lands over Pineland Sand Aquifer (Wadena, Hubbard, Cass and Becker Counties) currently converted, proposed for conversion and those still in Potlatch ownership

9. Water Quantity & Quality
Ground & Surface Water
Pineland Sands Aquifer is large but limited and is directly connected to surface waters including lakes, stream and wetlands
Permeable sandy soils and agriculture fertilizers pose risk for nitrate contamination and other water quality impacts
Potential nitrate concerns in surface water receiving groundwater
Potential for impacts to both ground & surface waters
The pineland sand aquifer is large but limited aquifer and directly connected to surface waters including all lakes, stream and wetlands in the area
Sandy soils common to the pineland sands outwash are very permeable posing a risk for nitrate and other GW quality impacts
Potential Nitrate concerns in surface water in area of limited natural nitrogen in ground and surface water
2015 DNR Roundtable
Ecological & Water Resources

10. Surface Waters and Drinking Water
Wetlands – directly connected to water table, potential impacts from runoff and herbicides
Lake and Rivers – increase in temperature and reductions in flow and habitat
Habitat impacts to fish and other aquatic species
Source Water Drinking Water Protection – ground and surface water provide clean clear drinking water for downstream users such as Minneapolis & St. Paul
Wetlands – If water use is not sustainable wetland many times are the first to be affected as available water may be reduced and potential runoff of sediment and herbicides can be significant
Lake and Rivers where groundwater discharge is reduced can see a reductions in flow, temperature, and habitat
Habitat impacts to the many fishes and other species in the ecosystems would then be affected.
Forest cover on the landscape provides Source Water Drinking Water Protection to downstream users for clean clear drinking water for users such as Minneapolis & St. Paul
2015 DNR Roundtable
Ecological & Water Resources

11. Wildlife Habitat, Forest Fragmentation & Timber Loss
Forest fragmentation and upland habitat loss
Targeting sandy upland mixed jack pine, oak, and aspen forests which are the best year-round forested deer habitats
Many forest stands are rare ecotypes with rare plants and animals
Wildlife Depredation Concerns
Loss of future timber production
Forest fragmentation and upland habitat loss
Targeting sandy upland mixed jack pine, oak, and aspen forests which are the best year-round forested deer habitats
These jack pine areas have provided excellent deer winter cover including deer yarding areas in the past
Wildlife Depredation Concern – act as a large food plot in the forest & additional browsing in nearby forest
Photo – Air photo just east of Huntersville, MN with pivots in the middle of state forestry land (Huntersville State Forest) and Wildlife Management Area lands (Huntersville WMA) .
2015 DNR Roundtable

12. Further Potential For Expansion
Sandy soils with available groundwater common in north central Minnesota
Jack Pine stands found almost exclusively on sandy, glacial outwash soils
Reduced stands of existing Jack Pine
The sand soils atop the Pinelands Sands aquifer are extensive but similar soils types with available ground water sources exist elsewhere in north central MN in it could be future possiblity that even more of the forest lands could be converted to another landuse.
Map above show glacial outwash plains and existing or original jack pine stands and barrens. If current trends continue the likely hood of those conversion would follow much of this historic jack pine coverage.

13. Current Protections & Needs
DNR’s Groundwater Appropriation Permit Program provides protections for groundwater and surface water quantities primarily but have limited control of the landuse itself including the conversion of the forest pinelands to irrigated row crops.
DNR currently operates and extensive ground and surface water monitoring network that provides information on how the water appropriations may be having on the aquifer itself or nearby connected water features such as lakes, rivers and wetlands.
Local Government Landuse controls in each of the counties being affected are limited to the shoreland and none of the counties have county wide zoning that would prohibit or regulate the current activities occurring on the landscape. Some of the counties have been trying to be proactive and one is even trying to purchase many of the high risk conversion lands but the land prices are greater than they would be allowed to purchases at. Many do not feel they have the tools to address these action that are “Happening Extremely Fast”
Acquisition and/or Conservation Easements
LSOHC ~ $3 Million approved or recommended (DNR & Trust for Public Land)
Cass County actively pursuing some of these lands
Potential for Clean Water Legacy Fund
Creative Solutions Needed - Incentives to keep the landscape forested
2015 DNR Roundtable
Ecological & Water Resources