St. Louis County to acquire additional public forest land

The Conservation Fund (TCF) and St. Louis County have announced that the county will be acquiring new public forest land. The deal, which was approved on June 3, will have TSF selling 4,643 acres of former timber lands in northern St. Louis County to be managed by the St. Louis County Land and Minerals Department for integration with the County Forest System.

“This is a win for all involved,” said Commissioner Mike Jugovich, who chairs the County Board’s Environment & Natural Resources Committee. “It’s a smart investment in preserving land for public use, and we are thankful for the partnership with The Conservation Fund to make it happen.”

The land is located about 120 miles north of Duluth and were previously managed by the timber company PotlactchDeltic before being acquired by the Conservation Fund.

“In our work toward lasting solutions for these important lands we purchased from Potlatch, we look for partners that are ready to make long-term commitments for the public good,” said Kim Berns Melhus, Minnesota state director at TCF. “St. Louis County is the ideal partner to manage these acres and ensure that the land is open for recreation, safeguarded for the benefit of wildlife and sustainably managed timber lands.”

The County’s purchase of the lands will open them to the public and bring the lands into the county’s sustainable forest management program.

“This agreement allows us to consolidate important and productive forest lands,” said St. Louis County Land Commissioner Jason Meyer. “It benefits the people who enjoy our forests, the wildlife that inhabits these lands and the logging industry and many jobs associated with it.

Officials say the land will be a destination for grouse hunters and trail enthusiasts.