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part of the northern drainage area, but as far as this 
article is concerend, we are interested only in that 
section of northeastern Marshall County which was 
included in the Thief Lake drainage area. The re- 
resultant condition was similar to that of other northern 
drainage projects; the pertinent fact was the effect 
upon one of the most important waterfowl breeding 
areas in the State. 
     Thief Lake was a large body of marshy waters 
lying in the northeastern section of Marshall County, 
in the northwestern corner of Minnesota. In 1904 
drainage operations were started in this area in the 
usual hope of reclaiming the land for agricultural 
purposes; until 1916 these operations were continued. 
The operation was a success, but the patient died. 
At the start, the project looked very good. Much 
level, good appearing land was exposed when the 
water drained off, and hopeful settlers moved onto 
this new land, with visions of easily cultivated farms 
to be had for the fencing. No tedious clearing of 
brush and forest, no back-breaking tussle with stones. 
     They tried-but couldn't make a go of it. They 
built homes, farm    buildings, schools. They had 
faith, but one by one the settlers drifted out-man 
must eat to live and this land could not produce a 
living. They did not give up without a struggle; 
covering this area now would reveal derelict shells 
of what was once a home, a barn or a school-house. 
Gnarled and stunted fruit trees, a staggering row of 
decrepit trees, a shrub or flower plant patently of 
foreign  origin-all indications of   blasted  hopes. 
A weatherbeaten school-house, to the imaginative, 
echoing from the past the trudge of childish feet on 
their way to be fitted for the dominion of a prosperous 
farm community. 
     Approximately $187,000 was spent in ditching 
projects in the Thief Lake area in 12 years; the State 
of Minnesota has recently spent more than $100,000 
in the restoration of this area to what is hoped will 
be its former status. 
     Before its destructive reclamation, Thief Lake 
had had a reputation of its own-it was a marvelous 
shooting  ground.    Millions of waterfowl, geese, 
ducks and shorebirds bred and fed on this marshy 
waste, and it was the Mecca of the market-hunter. 
Carloads of game were shipped out to sate the palates 
of urban epicures; there was such a multitude of game 
that no one could visualize a famine in the future. 
Mink, muskrats, beaver and other valuable fur- 
bearers swarmed over the area in the dryer fringes 
moose and deer had their habitat. It literally teemed 
with wild life, and when the water disappeared, so 
did the wild life. The ducks went elsewhere, so did 
the fur-bearers. 
     In 1927, the fact began to dawn upon some people 
that this reclaimed area was useless as an agricultural 
section, and it began to be evident to others that 
duck-hunting had receded to the point where the 
market hunter wasn't even tolerated. Conservation 
orgainzations began to scrutinize some of these defunct 
 
 
LARGE DAM PARTIALLY COMPLETED 
 
 
OvERLOOKING FORMER LAKE BED FROM 
   ACROSS CHANNEL AT MAIN DITCH 
 
 
drainage projects, and pertinently asked why, if 
they were agriculturally unsuccessful, they could not 
be restored to their former condition, and thereby 
increase the waterfowl resources. 
    The idea gained momentum, and in 1927 the 
State Legislature enacted a law permitting the ac- 
quisition of such areas by the game and fish depart- 
ment. Authorization was given to destroy or dam 
up the ditches and to purchase flooded areas where 
the land concerend in such projects was obviously 
not suited for agriculture. 
     The restoration of Thief Lake was the first project 
undertaken by virtue of this authorization, and the 
mechanical work is practically finished-nature must 
do the rest. Rains and snow must fill the emptied 
reservoir, and the depleted breeding stock of waterfowl 
carefully nurtured until the area teems again with 
millions of birds. 
    More than 19,500 acres is included in the project; 
27 small dams and one large one have been built to 
hold back the necessary water. If sufficient rain falls 
next spring, authorities expect to see a lake about 
six miles long and two to three miles wide in the bed 
of the former lake, which was a trifle larger. About 
7,500 acres will be flooded now, but the main dam is 
so constructed that enough water can be held back to 
double this acreage. 
    Although the cost of ditching was paid by taxation, 
the restoration will not be. It will be paid directly 
out of the funds of the game and fish division, which 
in turn are supplied by the sportsmen themselves; 
in the future, when this and similar contemplated 
projects are completed and functioning, the average