ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 8, 2009

HEARING SET ON McLEAN COUNTY ACQUISITION

BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has called for a hearing of the North Dakota Natural Areas Acquisition Advisory Committee (NAAAC)to consider a proposal by Ducks Unlimited (DU) to acquire a 321-acre parcel of land, known as the Tishinski Tract, in McLean County.

The hearing will be held in conjunction with the McLean County Commission at 9 a.m., Tuesday, May 5, in the McLean County Courthouse, 712 Fifth Ave., in Washburn.

Owned by Ted Tishinski, Irvine, CA, the tract is located in the southeast part of McLean County, approximately five miles south and three miles west of Mercer. It contains 30 acres of wetlands, 88 acres of native grass pasture and 203 acres of land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program through 2014.

Ducks Unlimited says the tract “is exceptionally attractive to breeding waterfowl, accommodating breeding duck densities of 80-100 per square mile.” DU wants to buy the property to conserve its natural areas and animal habitat.”

Oral and written testimony will be accepted at the hearing. Persons with disabilities who wish to testify and who require special facilities, assistance or aids, such as readers or signers, should contact the North Dakota Department of Agriculture at (701) 328-2231 by May 1. Written testimony may be submitted to Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept. 602, Bismarck, ND 58505-0020; fax: (701) 328-4567; e-mail: plahlum@nd.gov by May 8.

After the hearing, the committee will provide an advisory recommendation to Gov. John Hoeven, who will decide if the acquisition can proceed.

In addition to Goehring, who chairs the NAAAC, the committee includes Terry Steinwand, director of the State Game and Fish Department; Doug Prchal, director of the State Parks and Recreation Department; Eric Aasmundstad, president of the North Dakota Farm Bureau; Robert Carlson, president of the North Dakota Farmers Union; Jack Reich, president of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association and Larry Kotchman, state forester.

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MEDIA: For more information, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233 or tquanrud@nd.gov or Patrice Lahlum at (701) 239-7210 or plahlum@nd.gov.