Schmidt Foundation equips southeast Minnesota burn crews

The Carl & Verna Schmidt Foundation has significantly increased the capacity of southeast Minnesota crews to restore prairie and oak savannas using prescribed burns. Grants from the foundation over the past four years have allowed the Corps Minnesota to equip an additional Rochester crew with burn equipment and purchase two slip-on units, which are fitted into trucks or utility vehicles to lay wet lines around burn areas and spray desirable trees.  This year, a Schmidt Foundation grant generously helped our southern district purchase a six-wheel utility vehicle for Rochester field crews. Beside prescribed burns, the vehicle will be used for towing and hauling equipment, loading rocks and getting into remote areas to remove invasive woody species, plant prairie seed and improve trails.