The Freeborn County commissioners Tuesday morning resolved to support the Shell Rock River Watershed District’s application to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Fund, which may help acquire funds to purchase property near the Albert Lea Lake dam.

Andy Henschel, director of field operations for the watershed district, approached the board to tell them about the purchase. He said that the land would be bought by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Fund and then given to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Asking the heritage fund to purchase the land would be much like a state grant so the watershed district wouldn’t have to use county or watershed tax dollars. Henschel also said the watershed district would rather have the DNR own the land.

“There’s a lot of management to do with land like this,” Henschel said.

Acquiring funds from the heritage fund to purchase the land near the dam from property owner Greg Jensen is part of the Shell Rock River headwaters restoration project. The watershed district recently received funding to restore a large portion of the watershed in Freeborn County. Included in this plan is the building of a new dam on Albert Lea Lake.

Commissioner Dan Belshan asked Henschel about the $150,000 the watershed district has in reserves to use for a new dam from the DNR. Henschel said this funding is still available until June 30, 2011. He said money from the restoration project will also be used toward the dam, but that the DNR money is still an option. He also said the DNR is aware of the restoration project and all the funding available for renovations.

The watershed district was granted a hearing for next week by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, which was created as a result of the voter-approved amendment in 2008. It increased sales taxes statewide by three-eighths of 1 percent.

Watershed District Administrator Brett Behnke said in a press release that the district needs state assistance to complete the acquisition of property near the dam. The heritage council was established by the Minnesota Legislature to provide annual recommendations on how to spend funds. The Shell Rock River Watershed District has previously received funds from this source for three fish barriers.

In other action the Board of Commissioners:

• Approved a resolution for an application to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Small Cities Program for funding to assist with debris removal costs from the storm damages in June. Smaller townships and cities in the county have paid for debris removal and not all of those costs are covered under public assistance.