Cass seeks support to dedicate county-managed lands as part of Camp Ripley buffer zone

WALKER -- Land Commissioner Norm Moody obtained Cass County Board approval Tuesday to seek support from four townships and two cities for the county board to dedicate southern Cass County managed lands as part of the Camp Ripley buffer zone.

Townships include Homebrook, Fairview, May and Sylvan. The cities are Lake Shore and East Gull Lake.

Moody said, if the county board ultimately approves the designation for state deeded, county managed forest lands, the specific land parcels might change over time, but it would commit the county to maintaining a consistent number of acres with Camp Ripley buffer zone designation.

All these acres would lie within 10 miles of Camp Ripley.

Minnesota Department of Military Affairs seeks to maintain undeveloped lands as a buffer to the camp. Private property owners as well as surrounding government agencies are being asked to participate voluntarily.

LTC Rich Weaver told the county board Tuesday that training activities at Camp Ripley this summer likely will be the quietest in many years, because so many troops have been deployed around the world. Some of the military equipment and ammunitions also have been sent abroad, so less will be used in training programs this year, he added.

There will be fewer helicopters and fewer large-caliber weapons fired during training this year, according to Weaver.