Trust Lands Managed for the People of St. Louis County
Protecting environmental values
Performing public services
Producing products for people
Providing for the future
A Public Enterprise Trust
Vision
St. Louis County Land Department’s vision is to provide the optimum combination of benefits from tax forfeited trust lands through leadership and a commitment to a standard of excellence in the management of the Tax Forfeited Trust Lands for the people of St. Louis County .
Mission
The mission of the St. Louis County Land Department is to promote, enhance and protect St. Louis County Tax Forfeited Trust lands by providing professional expertise in the use of sound land management principles for:
- Financial return to the county and taxing districts
- Performing public services
- Maintaining and improving forest health and productivity
- Providing raw material for local industry
- Providing opportunity for tourism and recreation
- Protecting wildlife habitat, soil resources, and water quality
- Providing for scientific research
The Department is dedicated to long-term management of the Tax-Forfeited Trust for the economic, social, and ecological benefit of the people of St. Louis County . The Land Department’s vision hinges on the concept of sustainability. In other words, protecting the natural environment while enhancing economic opportunity and community well-being.
Programs
The Department’s core function is to administer Tax Forfeited Trust Lands for the benefit of the County, School Districts and Townships in accordance with Statute. Management of an enterprise fund of this nature requires fiduciary responsibility, innovation, and flexibility to accomplish our core function successfully.
Core Programs include:
- Forest Management;
- Tax Forfeited Land Administration;
- Special Sites;
- Extractives; and
- Recreation.
Forest Management
Management techniques such as planned tree removal from the forest, using improved trees, established inventory and land classification systems for analysis to better understand the dynamics of the forest have contributed to the county’s success.
The value of forest products manufactured in Minnesota is increasing. The demand for wood products is increasing from wood products manufacturers to supply a greater market share of wood products produced in Minnesota .
Acquisition of lands vital to effective management of the tax forfeited land base will play an increasingly important role as large land management organizations liquidate some of their land holdings.
Tax Forfeited Land Administration
State tax forfeited land covers approximately 900,000 acres of St. Louis County ’s 4.5 million acres. Tax forfeited ownership is fragmented; certain areas in the County have large, contiguous blocks of tax forfeited land, while other areas have small scattered parcels.
- Work closely with cities, towns and municipalities with the use of tax forfeited lands in their planning efforts.
- Promote efficient economic use of Tax Forfeited land.
Special Sites
St. Louis County contains many sites on its landscape that merit special protection or management. Preserving and protecting cultural sites, threatened and endangered species, and rare or unique forest stands is an integral part of the management strategy of the St. Louis County Land Department. The Department actively designates examples of these sites as "special sites".
Extractives
Aggregate resources, by their nature, are not renewable. Depletion of the resource would not only impact Land Department operations, but could significantly impact the economy in the area.
The Department is currently conducting an inventory of potential gravel resources in the south area of the county. County wide, we are anticipating further assistance from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. This will provide a base on which long range aggregate resource planning can be done.
Recreation
The rural character and natural landscapes of St. Louis County provide numerous opportunities for outdoor recreation. The Land Department:
- Administers Recreation Cabin Lease Program;
- Administers Recreation Grant Program; and
- Cooperates with public and private agencies to develop recreational opportunities.