Other large rivers flowing through the outwash plains of the subsection include the Pine and Crow Wing. Red pine-white pine forests, occupied the rolling to irregularly sloped end moraines. Mixed hardwood and pine forests, dominated by a diverse mix of northern hardwoods and white pine, were found in the most fire-protected areas at the northern and eastern edges of the subsection. Fire protection was offered by irregular topography, broad wetlands, and relatively large lakes. Agriculture is common in the west, where center pivot irrigation of corn and potatoes is common.
Tourism is common where there are concentrations of lakes.
Summertime swells the population of these areas significantly. Brainerd, a community of 14,000. absorbs more than ten times that number within a 30 mile radius during summer weekends. Other concerns include lakeshore development, amount of timber harvesting, and water quality issues. All rights reserved.