Minnesota National Guard deploys 60-ton bridge over a drainage ditch. - FWS photo

Tree clearing equipment moves across the bridge to access a native prairie site. - FWS photo

The Litchfield Wetland Management District (WMD) recently received assistance from the Minnesota National Guard in Willmar. 

Litchfield WMD had applied for a grant to remove invasive woody vegetation from 390 acres on Burr Oak Lake Waterfowl Production Area (WPA) and the Kandi Wildlife Production Area administered by the Minnesota. Department of Natural Resources. 

Approximately 210 acres of the WPA are grassland that was threatened by encroaching trees and shrubs.  Of these 210 acres approximately 50 acres were native prairie that was heavily infested by wild plum, boxelder, green ash and red cedar.  The majority of this native prairie was inaccessible to tree clearing equipment due to a large drainage ditch. 

A request was made to the Guard to deploy an Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge over the ditch to allow equipment access.  This request was met with enthusiasm by the Guard and the AVLB was deployed within two weeks by a team from Camp Ripley.  Clearing of woody vegetation began immediately and was completed just prior to a heavy snow that would have otherwise shut down the operation.   In addition to the Guard providing the AVLB, Morris WMD made this operation possible by providing heavy equipment in the form of a tractor and brush mower.