Fact Sheet - Koochiching-Washington Forest Legacy Project

Koochiching-Washington Forest Legacy Project
Minnesota Forest Legacy Partnership

  • Overview: The Koochiching-Washington Forest Legacy Project is the single largest conservation project in Minnesota in at least a decade. The project will protect jobs, preserve wildlife habitat and ensure public access for outdoor recreation.
  • Location: Minnesota's Northwoods, north-central Minnesota, Itasca and Koochiching counties. The conserved lands are private working forestland owned by Forest Capital Partners. They are located in and near Koochiching State Forest and George Washington State Forest.
  • Size: 51,163 acres / approximately 80 square miles
  • Land Owner: Forest Capital Partners is a private forest landowner that acquires and manages working forests across North America for long-term sustainability including more than 290,000 acres in Minnesota.
  • Conservation Value: This project achieves significant wildlife habitat conservation by maintaining working forests and avoiding forest fragmentation. The conserved lands are located near 439,658 acres of state-owned land and serve as a critical link in creating a conservation area that approaches 500,000 acres in size. As many as 81 of Minnesota's 292 species classified as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (declining, rare or vulnerable in the state) will benefit from this project including Canada lynx, gray wolf, American black duck, American woodcock, neotropical migratory birds, and several songbird species.
  • Significant Features: Coniferous forest and peatland; 13 lakes and more than 90 ponds totaling 46.9 miles of shoreline; 43.5 miles of rivers and streams; 18,971 acres of wetlands.
  • Recreational Opportunities: Hunting (the property can accommodate an estimated 1,100 deer hunters a year), fishing, hiking and cross-country skiing. Snowmobiles and ATV use will continue as is subject to future trail designation on the property.
  • Purchase Price: $12 million to ensure its permanent protection from development.
  • Public Funding: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources through public bond funds appropriated by the Minnesota Legislature in 2006: $6.6 million
  • Private Funding: The Nature Conservancy contributed $5.4 million via gifts from: the Blandin Foundation, $4 million; The Conservation Fund, $500,000; and from a variety of other sources including the Surdna Foundation. The source of The Conservation Fund’s contribution is a grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, which supports wildlife habitat conservation.
  • Partners: The Minnesota Forest Legacy Partnership includes the Blandin Foundation, The Conservation Fund, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Forest Resources Council, The Nature Conservancy, and The Trust for Public Land.