Meetings, Minutes and Media
Defending Grove Lake: Transparent Updates on Conservation Efforts and Community Action
MOST RECENT...
Recently, The Grove Lake community successfully opposed the development of a proposed 25-unit commercial RV campground with 15 boat slips on the shores of Grove Lake. This victory represents our collective commitment to preserving the pristine waters, delicate ecosystems, and the tranquility of the lake for future generations. Together, we stood up to protect the natural habitat, including the eagle nests and other wildlife that thrive in this area, ensuring that Grove Lake remains a sanctuary for nature lovers and local residents alike.
Media: TV & Radio
Media #1
PELICAN RAPIDS, Minn. (KVRR) — Joseph Clauson wants to use land that his family has owned for more than 100 years on Grove Lake in Otter Tail County and turn it into a 26-unit commercial campground. The problem is that a group of landowners next to the proposed campground don’t want people to disturb the land.
“We’ve been to the meetings, we’ve been opposing it because of environmental issues. We’ve got bald eagles out here. We actually have two bald eagle nests right along the shoreline,” said Franc Lerch, Landowner.
According to The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, in Minnesota you can build within 330 feet of a nest outside of breeding season, during breeding season construction must be done within 660 feet, and anytime of the year you must have a permit to clear a nest.
But another major concern with residents is the possibility of Zebra mussels causing a disruption to the ecosystem.
“We have no infestation of invasive species out here at all. And why we don’t have that, because we control it, we know who comes in and off our properties,” said Lerch.
Franc Lerch has lived in his home for eight years but has been in this area for over twenty. He says that the neighbors all watch out for each other.
“So it’s all peaceful and quiet we’re neighborly. We have bonfires, we cook out together we watch the Bisons,” said Lerch.
One of the landowners who owns A-P Concrete in Moorhead hired a lawyer to represent the group. If the project is approved, the group will explore the possibility of taking legal action.
“Where all of us go as one we go all. And we’re going to fight this,” said Lerch.
The Otter Tail County Commission will meet to discuss the proposal Tuesday morning. We contacted Clauson, but he had no comment.
Landowners have also created a website to inform the public about their cause and how it affects them.
Media: TV & Radio
Media #2
FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (KVRR) — Otter Tail County Commissioners have voted against a proposed 25 Unit Campground.
It would have been on Grove Lake north of Pelican Rapids.
The commissioners unanimously rejected the proposal that was previously approved by the county planning commission.
“It’s a small lake. I don’t .. these people that have bought lakes, property out there already they didn’t intend to have twenty five more campers on that lake so I personally I got to feel we got to look out for those guys that already have the property,” said Commissioner Dan Bucholz.
Commissioner Wayne Johnson said that for many years, he’s been close with the family that wanted to build the campground, and believes that the proposal had not properly addressed the environment.
“This one’s messy, I’ll be honest. I’ve read that tape, I’ve listened to this thing. Frankly, I know Joe Clauson, I’ve known him and his family all my life you know. So I have nothing personal here, but it’s just a matter of for the resource and those kinds of things,” said Commissioner Wayne Johnson.
The biggest concerns that Johnson pointed out were based on the shallowness of the water and the environmental impact.
“Buffalo-Red Watershed District actually came in and put in an outlet and a control structure to get the water down. So, it’s down to a certain level approved by the DNR. The Buffalo-Red put that in and it can only rise so far, but that doesn’t mean it can go down so far,” said Johnson.
Other Commissioners agreed with Johnson and mentioned that if the campground was allowed to move forward, there would need to be an environmental review.
While many landowners in the area are happy about the decision, they are hoping things stay the way they are now.
We have contacted Clauson once again for a comment but received no response.