| Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area | |
|---|---|
 Development is centered around an existing public water access | |
  Location of Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area in Minnesota Show map of Minnesota Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Location | Meeker,Minnesota,United States |
| Coordinates | 45°0′57″N94°28′0″W / 45.01583°N 94.46667°W /45.01583; -94.46667 |
| Area | 1,230 acres (5.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,083 ft (330 m)[1] |
| Established | 2007 |
| Governing body | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources |
Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area is astate park unit ofMinnesota, USA, currently in development. It includes undeveloped shoreline on bothGreenleaf and Sioux Lakes, halfway between the cities ofHutchinson andLitchfield inMeeker County. Portions of the state recreation area (SRA) are open to the public for day-use recreation, but there are no facilities yet on site.[2] The park boundaries were set by theMinnesota Legislature and the state is still acquiring land from willing sellers; two-thirds of the property remain privately owned.
Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area is situated on the south end of the interconnected Greenleaf and Sioux Lakes, encompassing most of the peninsula between them.[3] The 1,230 acres (500 ha) legally designated include 3.1 miles (5.0 km) of shoreline on Greenleaf Lake and 5.7 miles (9.2 km) on Sioux Lake.[4]: 1 This is nearly half of the lakes' natural shoreline.[2] Their outflow drains into three other lakes before reaching the South Fork of theCrow River, a tributary of theMississippi River. The SRA is 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Hutchinson and 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Litchfield.[4]: 5
Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area is characterized by rolling topography supportingnorthern hardwood forest,wetlands,grasslands, and croplands. The peninsula and island bear an unusual forest type for Minnesota:rock elm andAmerican elm mixed withbasswood,green ash,bur oak, andred oak.[4]: 10 The southwest shore of Greenleaf Lake bears an open bur oak woodland with some basswood, green ash, red oak,hackberry, andbitternut hickory.[4]: 11 While most of these habitats aresecondary forest, some tracts ofold-growth forest remain. The elm forest was protected from mostwildfires by the lakes, and was minimally affected by theDutch elm disease outbreak in the 1970s.[4]: 10
Both lakes exhibit good water quality,[3] through Greenleaf Lake has been prone to intensealgal blooms.[2] The shallower Sioux Lake is attractive to waterfowl, while Greenleaf supportsgame fish likepanfish andsmallmouth bass.[3]
Bird and mammalian species includebluebird,raccoon, variousowls,white-tailed deer,sandhill crane,muskrat, six species ofduck,loon,beaver,snipe,red andgray fox species,mink,coyote,skunk, five species offalcon,badger, three species ofhawk,river otter, two species ofswan,opossum, andwild turkey in abundance.[5]
Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area has not been closely surveyed for Native American cultural sites.[4]: 10 Following Euro-American settlement the prairie and some of the woodlands and wetlands were farmed.[4]: 10
In 1985 Mark Geyer — a resident of suburbanHennepin County, Minnesota — purchased property on Greenleaf Lake as an outdoor retreat for his family.[6] In 1990 he and other landowners opposed areal estate developer's plan to build a lakeside housing complex, and Geyer arranged to buy the land instead. At the time Greenleaf was one of the last two undeveloped lakes in Meeker County.[3] Geyer continued to buy additional acreage as it became available, intent on preserving the area. In the late 90s he heard theMinnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was hoping to add a state park in Meeker orMcLeod County and Geyer suggested his property.[3]
After a few years of discussion, the Minnesota Legislature authorized Greenleaf Lake State Park in 2003 and appropriated $500,000 to buy property from Geyer and other willing landowners. However the DNR claimed it did not have the funding to run its existing parks, much less plan, develop, and maintain a new one, and the project languished.[7][8] In March 2007 the DNR and legislature reached a compromise, reestablishing Greenleaf Lake as a state recreation area for lower operation and maintenance costs.[7] At the same time DNR officials began eagerly negotiating to establishLake Vermilion State Park in northern Minnesota, prompting criticism from Greenleaf Lake supporters that "the DNR bureaucrats in St. Paul did not really care that much about a state park in Meeker County."[8] In December 2007 the first parcel was purchased from Geyer's 386 acres (156 ha). The Meeker Countyboard of commissioners and thenonprofit organization Minnesota Parks & Trails Council stepped in with additional funds for the $3.2 million deal.[3] The transfer of the rest of Geyer's property is expected to be completed in early 2012, with further acquisitions within the designated boundaries as funds and willing sellers arise.[6]
Until park development begins in earnest, the state is leasing 86 acres (35 ha) for farming.[4]: 10
Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area is within an hour drive of theMinneapolis–Saint Paul urban population and is being planned for high day-use.[4]: 2 In addition tohiking,fishing,mountain biking,cross-country skiing, andsnowshoeing, much of the SRA will be open tohunting. Planned developments include a picnic area, hiking trails, campground, camper cabins,hunting blinds, and aninterpretive center.[4]: 1
Currently the SRA can be accessed via an existing public water access on Greenleaf Lake.[4]: 11 This includes a fishing pier and parking area. Greenleaf Lake has beenstocked withlargemouth bass,black crappie,bluegill,northern pike, andwalleye.[2] 1 mile (1.6 km) of trail is open to non-motorized use. Hunting for deer, turkey,pheasant, and small game is being allowed in season.[4]: 5
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