Wildlife Management Area near North Branch expanding by 108 acres

The wildlife management area situated just south of North Branch, that was established to honor the memory of state senator Janet Johnson, is expanding. The Chisago County Board accepted a Lessard Sams Grant from the Outdoor Heritage Fund monies that will be used to acquire 108 acres. The $577,000 grant allows the county to work with the DNR on securing Ardell and Vernon Johnson’s tract, southwest of County Road 14 and 380th, North Branch. The 108 new acres will be in addition to 223 existing in the WMA. The acreage will be owned by the Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources and managed as the Janet Johnson Memorial WMA. Family members negotiated the transaction to conserve the land and to honor Ardell and Vernon, now deceased, the Board was advised. This 108 acres will be accessible through the north edge of the existing wildlife management area, and eventually, a new entrance is planned at County Road #14. (At this time public access to the entire WMA is from Hemingway Ave., you’ll see the signage and parking area about a mile-and-a-half south of #14 on Hemingway.) WMAs are the “crown jewels” in the state’s conservation and public land use programming efforts, according to the DNR website. Hunting is generally allowed. The land areas close at night, and are not meant for camping. For regulations on their use, see www.dnr.state.mn. us. Chisago County also has Carlos Avery, which straddles two counties, and two relatively small WMAs in Franconia and near Rush Lake.