Residents, conservation groups outline plan to preserve Sawtooth Bluff; commissioners stress fundraising over county purchase
Loading...
Summary
Residents who have organized to ‘Preserve the Bluff’ updated the county on efforts to protect the Sawtooth Bluff/Old Ski Hill property, discussed funding options including conservation organizations and state legacy funds, and were reminded by commissioners that the prior board decision did not authorize county purchase with taxpayer dollars.
Residents Amy Wilford and Sue Abrahamson briefed the Cook County Committee of the Whole on May 20 about a community effort called “Preserve the Bluff” to explore options for conserving Sawtooth Bluff and the Old Ski Hill property north of Grand Marais.
Wilford and Abrahamson described the site’s history and conservation value, noting that the Old Ski Hill parcel is roughly 600 acres in total and that ownership in the area includes federal, county, city and private parcels. The presenters said the property includes features such as radio towers, the North Shore State Trail, and portions of the Superior Hiking Trail.
The group described outreach to potential conservation partners and grantors, including the Minnesota Land Trust, Trust for Public Land and the Nature Conservancy. Wilford said those partners discussed federal conservation grants that could cover up to 50% of acquisition costs — and that some programs can cover substantial portions of a purchase but often require matching funds; she quoted one contact saying the federal match could be up to $600,000. Presenters also discussed Minnesota’s Legacy funding as a potential source; one participant told the group Legacy funds can cover up to 80% of market value for qualifying projects.
The presenters said the local volunteer group has begun meeting (first public meeting May 7) and is calling itself Preserve the Bluff. The group said it is exploring a mix of strategies: seeking third‑party purchase by a land trust or nonprofit and subsequent transfer or easement, pursuing conservation easements, and running a community fundraising campaign. “We’re slowly becoming formalized,” a group member said of their organizing.
Commissioners and county staff emphasized constraints and precedent. County representatives reiterated that, following earlier board discussion, the county’s intent was not to use county tax dollars to buy the property outright; rather, the board’s earlier vote signaled support for outside fundraising and assistance while giving the county time (the presenters said a December 1 date has been discussed in prior board action) to determine next steps. County staff also said they can provide documents the Parks and Trails staff requested, including records related to legal access and the court order that shows access rights to parts of the tract.
Historic context and risks were part of the discussion: residents summarized decades of proposals for the Old Ski Hill property and said local conservation advocates want to protect the bluff for future generations. Commissioners and attendees discussed the tradeoff between preserving aesthetic and environmental values and impacts on the county tax base if more private development occurs; presenters noted concerns about precedent if the county were to purchase parcels directly.
No formal county acquisition or expenditure was authorized at the May 20 meeting. Presenters said they will continue meetings and outreach to land trusts and potential funders; commissioners asked the group to return with updates to the Committee of the Whole as the effort proceeds.
Why it matters: Sawtooth Bluff is a locally prominent landscape feature that stakeholders say has high ecological and scenic value; the discussion centers on whether conservation can be achieved through grants, nonprofit acquisition, easements, or county involvement, and on how any acquisition would be funded and structured.
