Date: 11/26/25 6:13 am From: Cleone Stewart <cleone...> Subject: Re: [mou-net] 180th Street Marsh
Similar situation in Detroit Lakes area, although it wasn't about bird habitat, more about neighbor's health and property value.
The decision was left to the County Commissioner Board, who said an EAW was not needed and passed the gravel pit application.
It's about $$
________________________________
From: Minnesota Birds <MOU-NET...> on behalf of Steve Weston <sweston2g...>
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2025 5:57 PM
To: <MOU-NET...> <MOU-NET...>
Subject: Re: [mou-net] 180th Street Marsh
Update on 180th Street Marsh.
Last night I attended the Vermillion Township special board meeting on the
pit expansion.
While the public were welcome, the meeting wasn't for public input and
virtually no questions were tolerated.
As expected, the board passed everything unanimously (2 to nothing - one
board recused himself with a conflict of interest). They decided that an
environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) was not needed. Then they passed a
number of resolutions resulting in giving the gravel pit the go ahead for
the expansion.
The neighbors who oppose the expansion have retained an attorney to appeal
the decision in court. They are hoping they can raise the funds for that
action.
All governmental institutions, such as the EQB, DNR, county, etc. are aware
of the pit expansion and the petition of the neighbors requesting a EAW.
I have offered to be a witness if it goes to court on the environmental
issues.
Steve Weston
On Quigley Lake in Eagan, MN
<sweston2g...>
On Sat, Nov 22, 2025 at 11:18 PM Steve Weston <sweston2g...> wrote:
> Here is the latest on what is happening in the vicinity of 180th Street
> Marsh (aka Marshall's Marsh), the most visited birding location in Dakota
> County.
>
> A few hundred yards up the hill to the southwest of the marsh is a small
> aggregate (gravel) pit that is planning to expand. The company that owns
> the pit has bought the two houses to the north with plans to tear them down
> and mine the land. These houses are the first two houses on the east side
> of Fischer Avenue south of 180th Street.
>
> The neighbors are fighting to keep the pit from expanding. Besides being
> one of the premier birding locations in the region, the marsh ranks as one
> of the highest quality wetlands in Dakota County. Also, the Hastings school
> district has bought land on this wetland as an outdoor science laboratory.
> Is mining a compatible land use with a sensitive, protected wetland habitat
> that is a host to educational activities just a couple of hundred yards
> above the marsh? The township board will be meeting this Monday (Nov 24) at
> 6:30 at 118 Park Avenue South in Vermillion to consider whether there are
> enough environmental issues to warrant requiring an environmental
> assessment worksheet (EAW). The second item on the agenda of this special
> meeting (called with only 3 days notice) is whether to grant the permit for
> the expansion.
>
> Locals assume that because they have included both items on the agenda
> that the issue has already been decided and an EAW will not be required. I
> have heard from contacts I have at Dakota County that they have decided
> that it is in the hands of the township board to decide what action to
> take. I have also heard that the DNR and the local watershed people are not
> inclined to be involved.
>
> I have written a letter to the Township Board requesting a copy of the EAW
> as a representative of the Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter (MRVAC).
> MRVAC has led field trips to the area with stops at the marsh. We have also
> invested in the Hastings school district's establishment of the site as a
> dedicated destination for the study of grassland and marsh habitats.
>
> I will be at the meeting on Monday to address our concerns and I welcome
> anyone who is concerned about the future of the 180th Street Marsh to join
> me.
>
> Steve Weston
> On Quigley Lake in Eagan, MN
> <sweston2g...>
>
