[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 145 (Monday, September 26, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1356]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CHIPPEWA NATIONAL FOREST RISES TO THE FUTURE

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                         HON. RICHARD M. NOLAN

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 26, 2016

  Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the dedicated 
natural resource management professionals at the Chippewa National 
Forest for their excellent work on the replacement of the Knutson Dam 
at the outlet of Cass Lake to the Mississippi River.
   Staff at the national forest and their community partners earned the 
``Rise to the Future'' award, one of the U.S. Forest Service's most 
prestigious awards, for their utilization of a design called Rock Arch 
Rapids, which allows aquatic wildlife to travel freely between Cass 
Lake and the Upper Mississippi river. Before the construction of Rock 
Arch Rapids, the Knutson Dam, a logging dam built in the early 1900's, 
blocked the passage of fish between Cass Lake and the Mississippi 
river. Furthermore the dam was at the end of its usable life and 
required more and more costly repairs each year.
   The complete replacement of the dilapidated logging dam was a 
collaboration between Chippewa National Forest, Leech Lake Band of 
Ojibwe, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, Midwest 
Glacial Lakes Partnership and Ottertail Power Company. The new Rock 
Arch Rapids not only improves access to Cass Lake for aquatic life but 
also access to the lake by outdoor enthusiasts, and minimizes erosion 
of Cass Lake's shoreline to preserve the beautiful campgrounds, trails 
and beaches of the Chippewa National Forest for years to come.
   Please join me in congratulating the staff at Chippewa National 
Forest and their community partners for their prestigious achievement.

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