Seavey Peatland Project

Mining in Minnesota is often associated with the iron ore mines of the Mesabi Iron Range. However, due to glaciation and post-glaciation events, Minnesota mining encompasses far more materials, such as aggregate, granite, limestone, marble, sandstone, and Sioux Quartzite. Another lesser known mined resource is peat. Back in the 1970s, the ongoing energy crisis prompted the US Department of Energy to research the use of Minnesota peat as an alternative energy source. Although the US energy market is no longer considering peat, there are other markets for the resource, including agricultural and general commercial use (e.g. gardening).

Client:  Private Mining

Location:  Aitkin County, MN

Services Provided:   

  • Rare Plant Surveys

  • NPC Classification and Mapping

  • Wetland Delineations

MNR was recently involved in several peat mining projects including the Seavey Peatland Project located in north-central Minnesota. Our scope involved several in-depth natural resource studies for a project site covering over 2,800 acres. These studies included wetland delineations, native plant community mapping, and rare plant surveys. The results of these surveys concluded with several notable rare plant observations including a state-threatened liverwort and a state-endangered bristleberry species. Additionally, MNR documented the southernmost occurrence of the Northern Bedrock Outcrop – Crystalline Bedrock Outcrop community (ROn12b) in the state.

This project provided a new approach to inventory surveys of massive sites, deviating from the norms of the natural resources consulting industry. The approach and product resulted in accolades from both the regulatory agencies and the client. This successful approach has been implemented on subsequent large-scale project efforts undertaken by Midwest Natural Resources.