Rollie Johnson Island Project - Steamboat Island

The Matt Hanson farm lies in the floodplain of the north branch of the Root River. The project will create a perpetual easement through the ReInvest in Minnesota program and planting perennial vegetation to protect floodplain soils from future scour erosion. A grazing-haying plan will be developed by the NRCS grazing specialist and managed by the landowner with oversite by the Olmsted SWCD. The Minnesota DNR division of fisheries has already been working with the landowner to fix streambanks and provide angling easements for the public along the adjacent reaches of the Root River. This project will provide a large tract of managed habitat for fish and wildlife, protect critical soils, reduce sediment delivery to the river and improve water quality here and downstream. This project will provide 173 acres of much needed habitat for grassland nesting birds, amphibians, shorebirds, deer, pheasant, turkey fish along its banks and downstream for perpetuity.