I would like to thank Ken Francis for his June 13th article about clear cutting of the trees in the Sand Dunes State Forest. I would also like to commend the DNR for their success in creating a beautiful habitat for humans and wildlife out of what was once a man-made “Dust Bowl” disaster---left to their own expertise, I have no doubt that they would continue their good work.

 

Unfortunately, when politics gets involved, the best laid plans often go awry. In 2012, the state legislature adopted rules pertaining to 'School Trust Land' (STL)-stating that the DNR must give priority to revenue over conservation when managing STL.  When the DNR proposed clear cutting the timber from STL land in Anoka County, their citizens opposed having their natural areas desicrated-and managed to stop the cutting. Now the proposal is to transfer the STL in Isanti and Anoka counties to one thousand acres of the Sand Dunes State Forest-transferring the problem from their backyard to our backyard. This is the issue that has us alarmed.