"ID","Title","Fiscal Year(s)","Fiscal Year Funding Amount","Legal Citation / Subdivision","Appropriation Language","Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)","Measurable Outcome(s)","Proposed Outcomes Achieved","Other Funds Leveraged","Source of Additional Funds","Direct Expenses","Administration Costs","Recipient Board Members","Number of full time equivalents funded","Recipient","Recipient Type","Body","About the Issue","Project Details","Start Date","End Date","Source","Status","Updates","Details/Reports","First Name","Last Name","Organization Name","Street Address","City","State","Zip Code","Phone","Email","Activity Type","Administered by","Media","Counties Affected","LSOHC Section","Watershed","URL","Advisory Group Members and Qualifications","Board Members and Qualifications","Conflict of Interest Contact","Conflict of Interest Disclosed"
10031471,"2024 Contract Agreement Reimbursement",2025,275000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 10c","$275,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources, at the direction of the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, for expenses incurred in preparing and administering contracts, including for the agreements specified in this section.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,8.86,"MN DNR","State Government","Provide contract management to ENRTF pass-through appropriation recipients for approximately 115 open grants. Ensure funds are expended in compliance with appropriation law, state statute, grants policies, and approved work plans.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2026-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Katherine,Sherman-Hoehn,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Road","Saint Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5533",katherine.sherman-hoehn@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/2024-contract-agreement-reimbursement,,,,
10011418,"Accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area Program - Phase XI",2020,5631000,"ML 2019, 1st Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd, 4(a)","$5,631,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to acquire lands in fee and to restore and enhance wetlands and grasslands to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for resident and migratory waterfowl. Lands will be transferred to the USFWS as a WPA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by the USFWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in each WMD Comprehensive Plan which rolls up to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan..Protected habitats will hold wetlands and shallow lakes open to public recreation and hunting - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for resident and migratory waterfowl. Lands will be transferred to the USFWS as a WPA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by the USFWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in each WMD Comprehensive Plan which rolls up to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan..Protected, restored, and enhanced habitat for migratory and unique Minnesota species - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for resident and migratory waterfowl. Lands will be transferred to the USFWS as a WPA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by the USFWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in each WMD Comprehensive Plan which rolls up to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan..",,,1650400,"Private, PF, Federal, Private",5619000,12000,,0.15,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This proposal accelerates the strategic permanent protection of 1,003 acres (241 wetlands and 762 grasslands) of Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) open to public hunting in Minnesota. Pheasants Forever (PF) will strategically acquire parcels that are adjacent to existing public land or create corridors between complexes. All acquisitions will occur in the prairie, prairie/forest transition, or metro regions. ","The loss of grassland and wetland habitats in Minnesota is well documented. In the agricultural region of Minnesota over 90% of our wetlands and 99% our prairie grasslands have been converted for other uses. This proposal aims to slow or reverse this downward trend by strategically acquiring and restoring previously converted wetland and grassland habitats to be permanently protected as WPAs. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and their partners have been employing this strategy for over 50-years through the Small Wetlands Acquisition Program (SWAP). This eleventh phase of the WPA acceleration program builds upon past work of the USFWS SWAP as well as the previous ten phases of this effort by strategically acquiring 1,003 acres (241 acres of wetlands and 762 acres of grassland habitat) for the benefit of upland species and recreational opportunities of the public. Strategic properties will be identified by using landscape level planning tools [e.g. Thunderstorm Maps produced by the USFWS’s Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET)]. Based on HAPET evaluation strategies, modeling predictions can be made on the numbers of nesting waterfowl, grassland nesting birds, and other wildlife the acres impacted by this grant application can produce. In addition to wildlife benefits, the lands acquired and restored through this grant will provide improved water quality, groundwater recharge, and flood abatement benefits. These strategies are well tested and are supported by the greater conservation community in Minnesota. Hunting and fishing stakeholders are very interested in increasing opportunities for hunting and fishing public access and have used WPA’s extensively in the past. To address concerns related to the erosion of county tax revenues due to public land, the USFWS and PF will notify counties prior to the acquisition of lands. Once acquired, the USFWS will make a one-time payment (called a Trust Fund payment) to the county where the property is located. In addition, the USFWS will make annual refuge revenue sharing payments for all fee lands within the respective counties.Additional funding for restoration and development of the properties will be solicited from partners. If this funding is available, budgeted Outdoor Heritage restoration funds under this proposal would be able to accomplish additional fee title w/o PILT acquisition funds. All wetlands, on the properties acquired, will be restored by either surface ditch “plugs"", breaking sub-surface tile lines, or other best practices for wetland restoration. Grasslands will be restored by planting site-appropriate native grasses and forbs following known best practices for the establishment. Grassland restoration on individual tracts may take three to five years, involving one to two years of post-acquisition farming to prepare the site for seeding (e.g. weed management issues, chemical carryover, other site-specific issues). Other restoration activities could include invasive tree removal, building site-cleanup, prescribed fire, etc. as necessary to provide high-quality habitat and public access to the citizens of Minnesota.",,2019-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Eran,Sandquist,"Pheasants Forever, Inc.","410 Lincoln Ave S Box 91","South Haven",MN,55382,"(320) 236-7755",esandquist@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Clay, Cottonwood, Douglas, Faribault, Faribault, Freeborn, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Pope, Renville, Rice, Stevens, Swift, Wilkin, Wright","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-waterfowl-production-area-program-phase-xi,,,,
10019609,"Accelerating the USFWS Habitat Conservation Easement Program - Phase III",2022,4752000,"ML 2021, First Sp. Session, Ch. 1, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 2(i)","$4,752,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited, in cooperation with Pheasants Forever and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to acquire permanent conservation working lands easements and to restore wetlands and prairie grasslands. Of this amount, $3,153,000 is to Ducks Unlimited and $1,599,000 is to Pheasants Forever. A list of proposed acquisitions and restorations must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Wetland and upland complexes will consist of native prairies, restored prairies, quality grasslands, and restored shallow lakes and wetlands - USFWS habitat easements will add restored and protected grassland and small wetland acres to augment existing public lands and other permanent easements to create prairie-wetland complexes with a more diverse mix of habitats and conservation options for private landowners. The measure of success will be the number of functioning prairie wetland complexes that provide adequate wetland and grassland acres within a landscape. This is a long-term, programmatic landscape conservation effort that will take time to achieve. Expiring CRP lands are permanently protected - This outcome will be measured by the sheer number of expiring CRP acres that will be protected through USFWS easements, and the protected grassland and wetland habitat that will not be subject to future conversion to intensive row crop agriculture. By offering private landowners a working lands conservation easement option, landowners in need of an annual income stream from their land will be incentivized to keep grasslands intact and restore wetlands",,,510400,"U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service",4722000,30000,,0.95,"DU with PF and USFWS","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This Phase 3 partnership will accelerate USFWS wildlife habitat easements to protect and restore 1,400 acres of private grasslands and pothole wetlands in west-central Minnesota, and restore an additional 140 prairie-wetland acres. These ""working land"" conservation easements allow delayed haying and grazing while protecting restored wetlands and prairie grasslands for nesting ducks, pheasants, and other wildlife. By restoring and protecting grassland and wetland habitat while allowing for continued landowner use of these working private lands, USFWS habitat easements fill an important prairie landscape conservation niche that complements other more restrictive easements and fee-title public lands, and buffers existing habitats.","Ducks Unlimited (DU) and Pheasants Forever (PF) will purchase, record, and transfer wildlife habitat conservation easements to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) for long-term perpetual monitoring and enforcement in west-central Minnesota using federally-approved USFWS habitat conservation easement language and federal payment rates. DU and PF will restore drained wetlands and cropland back to prairie grassland. DU will purchase and hold easements through it's Wetlands America Trust (WAT), DU's supporting land-holding fiduciary organization, of which DU is the sole corporate member. By purchasing easements and restoring grasslands and wetlands for USFWS with OHF support, DU and PF will effectively accelerate the rate at which USFWS can protect grassland and wetlands in key focus landscapes in which there are also many state and federal wildlife lands owned and managed in fee-title, and other lands protected by more restrictive conservation easements. These are some of the most productive landscapes in the state for breeding waterfowl and other prairie wildlife including pheasants, and these private working land conservation easements complement other federal, state, and private conservation easement options available to landowners. USFWS habitat conservation easements not only include protection measures that prevent wetland/prairie conversion and land development/subdivision, but importantly, they also secure rights to restore wetlands and prairie grassland where feasible too - which is the primary purpose of this OHF easement program. DU/PF will help USFWS conduct landowner outreach, prioritize offers of federally-approved easement payments, and conduct landowner negotiations, boundary survey, environmental review, title review, and other legal tasks, and purchase the easement for USFWS. DU/PF will protect prairie and wetlands via easements we purchase (and restore where needed), record, and transfer to USFWS. DU/PF will also use OHF grant funds to restore additional prairie and wetland acres on land eased directly by USFWS as leverage. DU/PF will restore eased lands in partnership with the USFWS with technical guidance from their private lands biologists. DU engineers will survey/design larger complex wetland restorations, and manage restoration contracts to private earth-moving firms. USFWS ""Habitat Easements"" have been used here for over two decades, and are designed to provide a habitat protection conservation tool to complement public lands habitat complexes such as federal Waterfowl Production Areas and state Wildlife Management Areas, by keeping privately owned restored grassland and wetland habitat intact and on county tax rolls while allowing for working use of the land. These easements provide landowners with the option of either delayed haying (after July 15) or both grazing and delayed haying, which results in adequate habitat for wetland and upland nesting birds and a working land use option that appeals to some private landowners. Importantly, these working land easements also help manage plant succession on their land, which is critical to preventing the encroachment of volunteer trees and invasive plant species. Well-managed grazing, delayed haying, and USFWS prescribed fire also benefits those grassland bird species that prefer more open prairie habitats, such as northern pintail, marbled godwit, snipe, and many other prairie species.",,2021-07-01,2025-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Jon,Schneider,"Ducks Unlimited","311 East Lake Geneva Road ",Alexandria,MN,56308,3207629916,jschneider@ducks.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Douglas, Grant, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Otter Tail, Pope, Swift","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-usfws-habitat-conservation-easement-program-phase-iii,,,,
10019610,"Accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area Program - Phase XIII",2022,3869000,"ML 2021, First Sp. Session, Ch. 1, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 4(a)","$3,869,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to acquire land in fee and restore and enhance wetlands and grasslands to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for resident and migratory waterfowl. Lands will be transferred to the USFWS as a WPA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by the USFWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in each WMD Comprehensive Plan which rolls up to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Protected habitats will hold wetlands and shallow lakes open to public recreation and hunting - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for resident and migratory waterfowl. Lands will be transferred to the USFWS as a WPA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by the USFWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in each WMD Comprehensive Plan which rolls up to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Protected, restored, and enhanced habitat for migratory and unique Minnesota species - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for resident and migratory waterfowl. Lands will be transferred to the USFWS as a WPA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by the USFWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in each WMD Comprehensive Plan which rolls up to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan",,,2268700,", PF, Federal and Private",3854000,15000,,0.59,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This Phase XIII proposal permanently protects and restores 659 acres of Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) open to public hunting in Minnesota. Pheasants Forever (PF) will acquire parcels that are adjacent to existing public land or create corridors between complexes. All acquisitions will occur in the prairie, prairie/forest transition, or metro regions. Acquired properties will be restored to the highest extent possible with regard to time and budgets.","Wetland and grassland habitat in Minnesota have been declining for decades. Currently over 90% of wetland and 99% of grassland habitats have been converted to other uses. This proposal works to slow this decline by acquiring and restoring previously converted wetland and grassland habitat as permanently protected WPA's. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and their partners have been employing this strategy for over 50 years through the Small Wetlands Acquisition Program (SWAP). Additionally, hunting and fishing stakeholders are very interested in increasing public access. This thirteenth phase of the WPA acceleration program provides public access and builds upon past work of the USFWS SWAP as well as the previous twelve phases of this effort. Properties will be identified by using landscape level planning tools such as USFWS' Duck Breeding Density Maps, as well as MN DNR natural heritage data and numerous state level conservation plans. In addition to wildlife benefits, the lands acquired and restored through this grant will provide improved water quality, groundwater recharge, and flood abatement benefits. These strategies are well tested and are supported by the greater conservation community in Minnesota. To address concerns related to county tax revenues due to acquiring public land, the USFWS and PF will notify counties prior to the acquisition of lands. Once acquired, the USFWS will make a one-time payment (called a Trust Fund payment) to the county where the property is located. In addition, the USFWS will make annual refuge revenue sharing payments for all fee lands within the respective counties. All wetlands, on the properties acquired, will be restored by either surface ditch ?plugs,"" breaking sub-surface tile lines, or other best practices for wetland restoration. Grasslands will be restored by planting site-appropriate native grasses and forbs following known best practices for the establishment. Grassland restoration on individual tracts may take three to five years, involving one to two years of post-acquisition farming to prepare the site for seeding (e.g. weed management issues, chemical carryover, other site-specific issues). Other restoration activities could include invasive tree removal, building site-cleanup, prescribed fire, etc. as necessary to provide high-quality habitat and public access to the citizens of Minnesota.",,2021-07-01,2025-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Eran,Sandquist,"Pheasants Forever, Inc.","410 Lincoln Ave S Box 91","South Haven",MN,55382,"(320) 236-7755",esandquist@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Clay, Cottonwood, Douglas, Faribault, Freeborn, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Pope, Renville, Rice, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Wright","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-waterfowl-production-area-program-phase-xiii,,,,
10019611,"Accelerating the Wildlife Management Area Program - Phase XIII",2022,4715000,"ML 2021, First Sp. Session, Ch. 1, Art. 1, Sec. 2, 2(b)","$4,715,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire in fee and restore and enhance lands for wildlife management under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be transferred to the state as a WMA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and ""the Long Range Plan for the Ring-Necked Pheasant in MN"". Protected habitats will hold wetlands and shallow lakes open to public recreation and hunting - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be transferred to the state as a WMA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and ""the Long Range Plan for the Ring-Necked Pheasant in MN"". Key core parcels are protected for fish, game and other wildlife - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be transferred to the state as a WMA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and ""the Long Range Plan for the Ring-Necked Pheasant in MN""",,,987000,"PF, Federal and Private",4698700,16300,,0.16,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This proposal accelerates the protection and restoration of 792 acres of strategic prairie grasslands, associated wetlands and other wildlife habitats as State Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) open to public hunting. Pheasants Forever (PF) will be permanently protecting strategic parcels within the prairie, prairie/forest transition, and metro planning regions. These acquired properties will be restored to the highest quality wildlife habitat feasible and transferred to the MN Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) to be included into the WMA system.","This proposal represents the thirteenth phase in Pheasants Forever's Accelerating the Wildlife Management Area program. The partners involved in this effort are deploying their resources to build upon past investments in long-term upland and wetland conservation. The proposal will protect and restore 792 acres of lands that will be managed for wildlife. These accomplishments further the goals outlined in the MN Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan 2008, the MN Duck Action Plan 2020-2023, the MN Pheasant Action Plan 2020-2023 and the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan 2010, among others. Lands acquired, from willing sellers, will be prioritized using criteria used by MN DNR (Minnesota Wildlife Management Areas ? The Next 50 Years) which include location on the landscape, breeding waterfowl density, restoration potential, native community protection (e.g. Minnesota Biological Survey site), proximity to other investments in perpetually protected habitats. Projects were developed and selected in conjunction with local and regional DNR staff. All projects will meet standards and requirements for inclusion into the WMA system and DNR Commissioner approval will be received for any project funded under this proposal. In addition to meeting the minimum WMA standards, additional criteria are used to develop the potential project list including: 1) Does the parcel contain habitat restoration potential that will result in an increase in wildlife populations? 2) Does the parcel build upon existing investments in public and private land habitat (landscape-scale significance)? 3) Does the parcel contain significant natural communities, or will it protect or buffer significant natural communities? 4) Does the parcel have the potential and focus for habitat protection and restoration in the future? 5) Does the parcel provide multiple benefits (recreation, access, water control, water quality, wellhead protection, riparian protection, local community support, etc.)? Providing quality habitat and keeping future management concerns in mind, all acquisitions will be restored to the highest quality wildlife habitat feasible. Completing high-quality, comprehensive restorations, utilizing native species and best management practices, results in fewer management concerns and lower long-term costs. Acquired croplands will be permanently retired and restored to diverse grasslands and wetlands habitat, drained wetlands will be restored, and invasive trees will be removed when appropriate.",,2021-07-01,2025-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Sabin,Adams,"Pheasants Forever, Inc.","14241 Steves Rd SE ",Osakis,MN,56360,"(320) 250-6317",sadams@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Dakota, Douglas, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Redwood, Rock, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Swift, Watonwan, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-wildlife-management-area-program-phase-xiii,,,,
10017798,"Accelerating the USFWS Habitat Conservation Easement Program - Phase II",2021,3187000,"ML 2020, Ch. 104, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 2(k)","$3,187,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited, in cooperation with Pheasants Forever and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to acquire permanent conservation working lands easements and to restore wetlands and prairie grasslands. Of this amount, $2,248,000 is to Ducks Unlimited and $939,000 is to Pheasants Forever. A list of proposed acquisitions and restorations must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ","Wetland and upland complexes will consist of native prairies, restored prairies, quality grasslands, and restored shallow lakes and wetlands - USFWS habitat easements will add restored and protected grassland and small wetland acres to augment existing public lands and other permanent easements to create prairie-wetland complexes with a more diverse mix of habitats and conservation options for private landowners. The measure of success will be the number of functioning prairie wetland complexes that provide adequate wetland and grassland acres within a landscape. This is a long-term, programmatic landscape conservation effort that will take time to achieve. Expiring CRP lands are permanently protected - This outcome will be measured by the number of expiring CRP acres that will be protected through USFWS easements, and the restored and protected grassland and wetland habitat that will not be subject to future conversion to intensive row crop agriculture. By offering private landowners a working lands conservation easement option, landowners in need of an annual income stream from their land will be incentivized to keep grasslands intact and restore wetlands",,,264000,"DU Private & Federal USFWS and Federal USFWS",3172000,15000,,0.53,"Ducks Unlimited w/ PF and USFWS","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This Phase 2 partnership will accelerate USFWS wildlife habitat easements to restore and protect 775 acres of private grasslands and pothole wetlands in west-central Minnesota, and restore 50 additional prairie-wetland acres too. These ""working land"" conservation easements allow delayed haying and grazing while protecting restored wetlands and prairie grasslands for nesting ducks, pheasants, and other wildlife. By restoring and protecting grassland and wetland habitat while allowing for continued landowner use of these working private lands, USFWS habitat easements fill an important prairie landscape conservation niche that complements other more restrictive easements and fee-title public lands, and buffers existing habitats.","Ducks Unlimited (DU) and Pheasants Forever (PF) will purchase wildlife habitat conservation easements on private land in west-central Minnesota using federally-approved conservation easement language and federal payment rates, restore drained wetlands and cropland back to prairie grassland, and transfer the easements to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) for long-term perpetual monitoring and enforcement. DU will purchase and hold easements through it's Wetlands America Trust (WAT), DU's supporting land-holding fiduciary organization, of which DU is the sole corporate member. By purchasing easements and restoring grasslands and wetlands for USFWS with OHF support, DU and PF will effectively accelerate the rate at which USFWS can protect grassland and wetlands in key focus landscapes in which there are also many state and federal wildlife lands owned and managed in fee-title, and other lands protected by more restrictive conservation easements too. These are some of the most productive landscapes in the state for breeding waterfowl and other prairie wildlife including pheasants, and these private working land conservation easements complement other federal, state, and private conservation easement options available to landowners. USFWS habitat conservation easements not only include protection measures that prevent wetland/prairie conversion and land development/subdivision, but importantly, they also secure rights to restore wetlands and prairie grassland where feasible too - which is the primary purpose of this OHF easement program. DU/PF will help USFWS conduct landowner outreach, prioritize offers of federally-approved easement payments, and conduct landowner negotiations, boundary survey, environmental review, title review, and other legal tasks, and purchase the easement for USFWS. DU/PF will protect via easement (and restore where needed) 775 acres of prairie and wetlands for USFWS. DU/PF will also use OHF grant funds to restore 50 additional prairie and wetland acres on land eased directly by USFWS as leverage too. DU/PF will restore eased lands in partnership with the USFWS with technical guidance from their private lands biologists. DU engineers will survey/design larger complex wetland restorations, and manage restoration contracts to private construction firms. USFWS ""Habitat Easements"" have been used here for over two decades, and are designed to provide a habitat protection conservation tool to complement public lands habitat complexes such as federal Waterfowl Production Areas and state Wildlife Management Areas, by keeping privately owned restored grassland and wetland habitat intact and on county tax rolls while allowing for working use of the land. These easements provide landowners with the option of either delayed haying (after July 15) or both grazing and delayed haying, which results in adequate habitat for wetland and upland nesting birds and a working land use option that appeals to some private landowners. Importantly, these working land easements also help manage plant succession on their land, which is critical to preventing the encroachment of volunteer trees and invasive plant species. Well-managed grazing, delayed haying, and USFWS prescribed fire also benefits those grassland bird species that prefer more open prairie habitats, such as pintail ducks, marbled godwits, snipe, and many other prairie species.",,2020-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Jon,Schneider,"Ducks Unlimited","311 East Lake Geneva Road ",Alexandria,MN,56308,3207629916,jschneider@ducks.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Douglas, Grant, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Meeker, Otter Tail, Pope, Pope","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-usfws-habitat-conservation-easement-program-phase-ii,,,,
10017799,"Accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area Program - Phase XII",2021,3658000,"ML 2020, Ch. 104, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 4(a)","$3,658,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to acquire lands in fee and to restore and enhance wetlands and grasslands to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for resident and migratory waterfowl. Lands will be transferred to the USFWS as a WPA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by the USFWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in each WMD Comprehensive Plan which rolls up to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Protected habitats will hold wetlands and shallow lakes open to public recreation and hunting - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for resident and migratory waterfowl. Lands will be transferred to the USFWS as a WPA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by the USFWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in each WMD Comprehensive Plan which rolls up to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Protected, restored, and enhanced habitat for migratory and unique Minnesota species - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for resident and migratory waterfowl. Lands will be transferred to the USFWS as a WPA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by the USFWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in each WMD Comprehensive Plan which rolls up to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan",,,857000,"PF, Federal and Private",3647000,11000,,0.11,"Pheasants Forever w/USFWS","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This proposal accelerates the strategic permanent protection of 611 acres (122 acres of wetlands and 489 acres of grassland habitat) of Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) open to public hunting in Minnesota. Pheasants Forever (PF) will strategically acquire parcels that are adjacent to existing public land or create corridors between complexes. All acquisitions will occur in the prairie, prairie/forest transition, or metro regions.","The loss of grassland and wetland habitats in Minnesota is well documented. In the agricultural region of Minnesota, over 90% of our wetlands and 99% of our prairie grasslands have been converted for other uses. This proposal aims to slow or reverse this downward trend by strategically acquiring and restoring previously converted wetland and grassland habitats to be permanently protected as WPAs. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and its partners have been employing this strategy for over 50 years through the Small Wetlands Acquisition Program (SWAP). This twelfth phase of the WPA acceleration program builds upon past work of the USFWS SWAP as well as the previous eleven phases of this effort by strategically acquiring 611 acres (122 acres of wetlands and 489 acres of grassland habitat) for the benefit of upland species and recreational opportunities of the public. Strategic properties will be identified by using landscape-level planning tools [e.g. Thunderstorm Maps produced by the USFWS's Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET)]. Based on HAPET evaluation strategies, modeling predictions can be made on the numbers of nesting waterfowl, grassland nesting birds, and other wildlife impacted by this grant application. In addition to wildlife benefits, the lands acquired and restored through this grant will provide improved water quality, groundwater recharge, and flood abatement benefits. These strategies are well tested and are supported by the greater conservation community in Minnesota. Hunting and fishing stakeholders are very interested in increasing public access for hunting and fishing. To address concerns related to county tax revenues due to acquiring public land, the USFWS and PF will notify counties prior to the acquisition of lands. Once acquired, the USFWS will make a one-time payment (called a Trust Fund payment) to the county where the property is located. In addition, the USFWS will make annual refuge revenue sharing payments for all fee lands within the respective counties. All wetlands, on the properties acquired, will be restored by either surface ditch ?plugs,"" breaking sub-surface tile lines, or other best practices for wetland restoration. Grasslands will be restored by planting site-appropriate native grasses and forbs following known best practices for the establishment. Grassland restoration on individual tracts may take three to five years, involving one to two years of post-acquisition farming to prepare the site for seeding (e.g. weed management issues, chemical carryover, other site-specific issues). Other restoration activities could include invasive tree removal, building site-cleanup, prescribed fire, etc. as necessary to provide high-quality habitat and public access to the citizens of Minnesota.",,2020-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Sabin,Adams,"Pheasants Forever","14241 Steves Rd SE Box 91",Osakis,MN,56360,"(320) 236-7755",sadams@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Clay, Cottonwood, Douglas, Faribault, Freeborn, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Otter Tail, Pope, Renville, Rice, Stearns, Stevens, Stevens","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-waterfowl-production-area-program-phase-xii,,,,
10017800,"Accelerating the Wildlife Management Area Program - Phase XII",2021,3322000,"ML 2020, Ch. 104, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 2(b)","$3,322,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire in fee and restore and enhance lands for wildlife management under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be transferred to the state as a WMA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and ""the Long Range Plan for the Ring-Necked Pheasant in MN"". Protected habitats will hold wetlands and shallow lakes open to public recreation and hunting - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be transferred to the state as a WMA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and ""the Long Range Plan for the Ring-Necked Pheasant in MN"".ds. Key core parcels are protected for fish, game and other wildlife - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be transferred to the state as a WMA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and ""the Long Range Plan for the Ring-Necked Pheasant in MN""",,,195000,"PF and Federal Private",3312100,9900,,0.11,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This is the twelfth phase to accelerate the protection and restoration of 540 acres of strategic prairie grasslands, associated wetlands and other wildlife habitats as State Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) open to public hunting. Pheasants Forever (PF) will be permanently protecting strategic parcels within the prairie, prairie/forest transition, and metro planning regions which will be restored and transferred to the MN Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) to be included as a WMA. We continue to have more willing sellers of priority parcels which shows demand for continued phases of this program.","The purpose of this twelfth phase proposal is to accelerate the protection and restoration of prairie and prairie wetlands for associated wildlife. The partners involved in this effort are deploying their resources to build upon past investments in long-term upland and associated wetland conservation. The proposal focuses upon permanent habitat protection of 540 acres of land that will be managed for wildlife and waterfowl. These accomplishments further the goals outlined in the MN Wildlife Action Plan, the MN Prairie Conservation Plan, the Pheasant Action Plan, and the 2017 Prairie Pothole Joint Venture (PPJV) Implementation Plan (including the Minnesota Tactical Plan within the PPJV Plan). Lands acquired from willing sellers will be prioritized using criteria used by MN DNR (Minnesota Wildlife Management Areas ? The Next 50 Years) which include location on the landscape, breeding waterfowl density, restoration potential, native community protection (e.g. Minnesota Biological Survey site), proximity to other investments in perpetually protected habitats. Projects were developed and selected in conjunction with local and regional DNR staff. All projects will meet standards and requirements for inclusion into the WMA system and DNR Commissioner approval will be received for any project funded under this proposal. In addition to meeting the minimum WMA standards, additional criteria are used to develop the potential project list including 1) Does the parcel contain habitat restoration potential that will result in an increase in wildlife populations? 2) Does the parcel build upon existing investments in public and private land habitat (landscape-scale significance)? 3) Does the parcel contain significant natural communities, or will it protect or buffer significant natural communities? 4) Does the parcel have the potential and focus for habitat protection and restoration in the future? 5) Does the parcel provide multiple benefits (recreation, access, water control, water quality, wellhead protection, riparian protection, local community support, etc.)? Providing high-quality habitat and keeping future management concerns in mind, all acquisitions will be restored and/or enhanced to as high quality as practicable, with the belief that quality and comprehensive restorations utilizing native species result in lower management costs. Acquired croplands will be permanently retired and restored to diverse grasslands and wetlands habitat, drained wetlands will be restored, and invasive trees will be removed when appropriate.",,2020-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Eran,Sandquist,"Pheasants Forever, Inc.","410 Lincoln Ave S Box 91","South Haven",MN,55382,"(320) 236-7755",esandquist@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Dakota, Douglas, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mower, Murray, Nobles, Otter Tail, Redwood, Rock, Scott, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Swift, Washington, Watonwan, Watonwan","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-wildlife-management-area-program-phase-xii,,,,
20699,"Accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area Program, Phase 5",2014,6830000,"ML 2013, Ch. 137, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(b)","$6,830,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire land in fee to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"Over the course of the appropriation, 14 parcels were acquired totaling 1,240.79 acres which exceeded the total acre goal of 1,230 acres by 10.79 acres. Breaking down acres by ecological section we acquired 160 acres in the forest/prairie and 1,080.79 acres in the prairie.  Wetland and upland complexes will consist of native prairies, restored prairies, quality grasslands, and restored shallow lakes and wetlands.  Water is kept on the land. Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need. Increased availability and improved condition of riparian forests and other habitat corridors. Improved access to public lands. A network of natural land and riparian habitats will connect corridors for wildlife and species in greatest conservation need. Protected habitats will hold wetlands and shallow lakes open to public recreation and hunting. Improved access to public lands. Core areas protected with highly biologically diverse wetlands and plant communities, including native prairie, Big Woods, and oak savanna. Expiring CRP lands are permanently protected. Remnant native prairies and wetlands are permanently protected and are part of large complexes of restored prairie, grasslands, and large and small wetlands. Improved condition of habitat on public lands. Water is kept on the land. Protected, restored, and enhanced habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need. Improved access to public lands. ",,3813300,"Federal Government, PF, Private ",6743500,,,.19,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The program was to accelerate the protection of 1,230 acres of prairie grassland, wetland, and other wildlife habitat as Waterfowl Production Areas open to public hunting in Minnesota. Over the course of the appropriation, we acquired 14 parcels for a total of 1,240.79 acres which exceeded our total acre goal of 1,230 acres by 10.79 acres.  Breaking down acres by ecological section we acquired 160 acres in the forest/prairie and 1,080.79 acres in the prairie.  We have a balance that will be returned to the Fund despite exceeding our acre goals. In total, we under spent on our budget, over delivered on acre goals, and over delivered on match leverage received. ",,"The loss of grassland and wetland habitats in Minnesota is well documented.  One of the primary ways to reverse this downward trend is to permanently acquire and restore previously converted wetland and grassland habitats on those properties. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and their partners have been employing this strategy for over 50-years with the Small Wetlands Acquisition Program (SWAP). This acceleration program acquired and restored 205.77 acres of wetland and 1,035.02 acres of grassland habitats which are now permanently protected as Waterfowl Protection Areas managed by the Service. Using landscape level planning tools [e.g. Thunderstorm Maps produced by the Service’s Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET)], Pheasants Forever (PF) has acquired these strategically identified properties. Based on HAPET evaluation strategies, modeling predictions can be made on the numbers of nesting waterfowl, grassland nesting birds, and other wildlife the acres affected by this grant application will produce.  Besides the obvious wildlife benefits the lands acquired through this grant will provide additional water quality, groundwater recharge, and flood abatement benefits. These strategies are well tested and are supported by the greater conservation community here in Minnesota. Hunting and fishing stakeholders are very interested in increasing opportunities for hunting and fishing public access and have used WPA’s extensively in the past. To address concerns related to the erosion of county tax revenues due to public land, the Service and PF notified counties prior to acquisition of lands. Once acquired, the Service will make a one-time Trust Fund payment to the County where the property is located.  In addition, the Service will make annual Refuge Revenue Sharing payments for all fee lands within the respective Counties.   ",2013-07-01,2017-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,"Eran ",Sandquist,"Pheasants Forever","410 Lincoln Ave","South Haven",MN,55382,763-242-1273,esandquist@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Blue Earth, Clay, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lyon, Mahnomen, Murray, Rice, Stearns, Wright","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-waterfowl-production-area-program-phase-5,,,,
20716,"Accelerated Wetland and Shallow Lake Enhancement",2014,1790000,"ML 2013, Ch. 137, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(f)","$1,790,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to enhance and restore shallow lakes, including $210,000 for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to help implement restorations and enhancements. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"Protected, restored, and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands. ",,,"Ducks Unlimited ",1766600,62300,,0.7,DNR,"State Government","Many of Minnesota's wetlands have been lost and the remainder degraded.  The original proposal planned for 15,000 acres of wetland/shallow lake enhancement to provide critical habitat for each life stage of waterfowl and wetland wildlife.  The six projects subsequently completed with this appropriation enhanced 13,800 acres of wetlands and shallow lakes in the Prarie and Forest/Prairie Ecosections of Minnestoa. ","    ","Minnesota's ""Long Range Duck Recovery Plan,"" released in 2006, identified a strategic 50-year vision to"" restore, protect, and manage a landscape capable of supporting an average spring breeding population of one million ducks and restoring the historically abundant spring and fall migration of waterfowl.""  A key component of this plan is the restoration and enhancement of 2 million acres of habitat. With this specific appropriation, the DNR completed work on 6 valuable habitat projects: - Completion of a fish barrier and structure to enhance 10,000 of Swan Lake.  Ducks Unlimited (DU) designed and oversaw construction of this project.   Available funding also allowed for additional work on the outlet channel to facilitate water movement. - Construction of a water control structure and dike renovation for Pool 1 of Roseau River Wildlife Area enhanced 1,150 acres of wetland habitat. - Hartford WMA had a water control structure replaced and dike renovated to bring back water to 20 acres of wetland. - 166 acres of wetland are being enhanced through the replacement of two water control structures and dike renovation at Ereaux WMA in Morrison County. - Mille Lacs WMA is undergoing extensive work to replace failed water control structures and renovate associated dikes. This work involves funding from two OHF appropriation.  Half of the completed wetland habitat enhancement work - 2,475 - will be accounted for in this final report.  The remaining 2,475 acres will be reported in the ML14 OHF appropriation final report. - The State Line Lake project, in southern Freeborn County, involved construction at the shallow lake outlet and a rotenone treatment to remove unwanted fish.  Ducks Unlimited completed the construction and reported all the project acres in their final report for the DU appropriation that included funding for that portion of the project.  The rotenone treatment was completed with funding from this DNR appropriation.  NOTE: This final report will not report acres for State Line Lake, as they have already been reported by DU.  Also, State Line Lake became the first project to use the large pump purchased by DU and provided to the DNR.  Pictures are attached to this final report. ",2013-07-01,2018-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Ricky,Lien,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Rd Box 20","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5227",ricky.lien@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Becker, Benton, Big Stone, Freeborn, Jackson, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Mille Lacs, Nicollet, Polk, Roseau, Todd, Wilkin","Forest Prairie Transition, Northern Forest, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-wetland-and-shallow-lake-enhancement,,,,
769,"Accelerated Prairie and Grassland Management, Phase 1",2010,1700000,"ML 2009, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(a)","$1,700,000 in fiscal year 2010 is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate the restoration and enhancement of native prairie vegetation on public lands, including roadsides. A list of proposed projects, describing the types and locations of restorations and enhancements, must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. To the extent possible, prairie restorations conducted with money appropriated in this section must plant vegetation or sow seed only of ecotypes native to Minnesota, and preferably of the local ecotype, using a high diversity of species originating from as close to the restoration site as possible, and protect existing native prairies from genetic contamination.",,"Enhanced 5785 acres of Prairies",,,,1700000,,,.50,DNR,"State Government","This program will complete the initial WMA site development on 1,500 acres of land acquired in the Accelerated Prairie Grassland WMA and Accelerated Wetland WMA Acquisition programs to meet standards for inclusion in the Outdoor Recreation System. This program will also accelerate the restoration, enhancement and management of at least 5,180 acres of native prairie vegetation on existing public lands. Prairie restoration efforts include site preparation, seeding of local ecotype seed, post-seeding management to assure success, and seed harvest of local ecotype seed for prairie restoration at other public land sites. Prairie management efforts will include prescribed burning, managing woody cover encroachment, mowing and interseeding of diverse grass and forb species.","Native grasslands are a rarity of MN, less than 1 percent remains.? Prairie ecosystems have evolved with fire disturbance, and much of the prairie vegetation and prairie obligated wildlife species depend upon it.? Grassland birds, for example, have had a steeper more consistent and widespread poplation declines than any other group of North American avifauna.? Prairie ecosystem are also threatened by the encroachment and dominance of woody species and exotic plants.? Since settlement, most prairie sited in the targeted area have not been exposed to natural ecological processes (such as fire and grazing) needed for sustaining or enhancing prairire plant communities.? Furthermore, many existing grassland sites on state-owned public lands need to be restore to native prairie vegetation to imrove wildlife habitat and reduce long-term maintenance costs.? Creation of accelerated prairie management teams woudl address a long-standing ""back log"" of managemenr need by implementing intensive prairie stewardship practices.? Although MN DNR has the traiing and know-how to restor and mange high quality prairie vegetation currently fundign has been insufficient to meet all needs.? MN DNR manager over 450,000 acres of grasslands and many sites on publci lands are currently not being actively managed to realixe full poltntial as a plant community or wildlife habitat.? Re-establishing prairie on public lands requires periodic burning, inter-seeding grasslands with native species, and up to 5 years or brome that have low habitat values.? Furthermore, exotic and/or invasive plants are encroaching into them.? Newly acquired areas and state-owned marginal croplands also need to be seeded and treated.? Using hight quality seed from established prairie sites to plant at other locatons has proven to be highly cost-effective.? Managing and enhancing existing prairie vegetation on public lands requires periodic burning, grazing, and/or mowing.? Woody cover encroachment is an especially troublesome problem that must be addressed.? Removing tress and brush will be a major emphasis of this program at a cost of between $5 and $8 per tree - larger trees cost significantly more to remove than smaller trees.? Prairie enhancment work is done during primarily early spring, fall and winter.? The Roadsides for Wildlf eProgram has been improving grassland habitat along MN roadsides since 1984.? On average, the DNR seeds native prairie on 50-300 acres of roadsides a year at 5-20 sites, typically on county and township roads.? In contrast, Iowa seeds approximately 3,000 acres a year.? The DNR will continue to work with counties and townships but will also accelerate seeing on state-owned highway right-of-ways (ROW).? Most of MN roadsides are resently dominated by smooth brome (a non-native grass) and are vectors of invasive species and disease.? Native grasses and wildflowers are mor beneficial to pollinators and wildlife.? New WMA Initial Site Development - 1,500 acres - $300,000 New lands acquired through this program will require initial site development to make them functional WMA's.? This initial development will include restoring base ground to diverse mix of native grasses and planst, surveying and signing the coundaries and developing user facilities to protect them from encroachment and incontrolled intrusion, removing building and refuse sites and restoring to native vegetation, and closing all wells and septic systems to protect groundwater integrity. Roadsides for Wildlife - 150 acres - $225,000 DNR will partner with MnDOT to place native prairie along I-35 begining at the Iowa border and extending the full width of the road corridor for 5 miles.? MnDOT will do soe site prep in 2009 and then a contractor will finish up site prep and do the planing next spring.? The contractor wil also perform mowing and spot spraying as needed throughout the 2010 growing season.? This are is on state owned MnDOT ROW and will showcase a diverse roadside planting.? This five-mile stretch of road is highly visible as a major entry point to the state of MN and the southern end of MN portion of the National Prairie Passage.? Prairie Restoration and Management - 5,029 acres - $1,411,000 The primary focus of this program encompases 157 projects on 5,029 acres benefitting over 11,500 acres of planted and native grasslands.? The parcels include 157 projects that will be eompleted in 2 years or less with a total projected cost of $1.14 millin.? An additional 53 projects that will require 3 years or more to compolete have been identified as reserve sites.? The one and two year projects will be first priority.? Should budgets allow additional work, we would move down the list and begin implementation of longer duration projects.? In these instances, DNR will mst likely submit subsequent phases in future years for additional funding so the poejcts can be completed.? Conservation Delivery Grassland restoration work will be primarily through seeding either bare ground (e.g. newly acquired agricultural fields) or old-field habitat (e.g. smooth brome).? Techniques for thsi work incldue site preparation such as mowing, spraying, or burning when necessary; direct seeding and aerial seeding (along some roadsides).? Seed will be obtained from vendors of local seed and harvested from native or restored prairie to supplement when needed.? Projects will be designed and managed by DNR personnel (except ROW project which will be managed by DOT).? Contract vendors will be used to the greatest extent possible although DNR staff may perform some work when suitable contractors are not available.? Grassland management and enhancement work uses a number of techniques to reinvigorate or increase diversity of existing prairie type grasslands.? Without periodic disturbance such as burning, mowing, or grazing, grasslands decline in vigor and species diversity over time.? This portion of the project is designe to mimic natural disturbances, supplement species diversity when necessary and increase statnd vigor.? Techniques that will e employed include brush removal, chemical treatment, mowing, inter-seeding and burning.? Again contractors will beused to the greatest extent possible except in the case of burning.? ?","Final Report",2009-07-01,2012-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",None,,,Bill,Penning,DNR,"500 Lafayette Road ","St Paul",None,55155,"(651) 259-5230",bill.penning@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Isanti, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Sibley, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wadena, Waseca, Watonwan, Winona, Winona","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-prairie-and-grassland-management,,,,
778,"Accelerated Shallow Lake Restorations and Enhancements, Phase 1",2010,2528000,"ML 2009, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(b)","$2,528,000 in fiscal year 2010 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited, Inc. or successor to restore and enhance shallow lake habitats. Up to $400,000 of this appropriation may be used for permanent easements related to shallow lake restorations and enhancements. A list of proposed easements and projects, describing the types and locations of easements, restorations, and enhancements, must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The commissioner of natural resources must agree to each easement, restoration, and enhancement.",,"Protect in easement 76 acres of wetlands, 103 acres of prairie and enhance 6,882 acres of wetlands",,,,2528000,,,,"Ducks Unlimited","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This program will accelerate the improvement and protection of shallow lakes and large wetland habitat critical to migratory waterfowl and other wildlife in Minnesota by improving water quality and rejuvenating aquatic ecology in turbid shallow lake basins. DU will enhance eight (8) or more strategically-selected shallow lakes that have been legally designated by for wildlife management purposes by Minnesota DNR that total 6,000 wetland acres by engineering and implementing construction of water control structures, pumps, and fish barriers on their outlets. These structures will provide the Minnesota DNR and US Fish & Wildlife Service with water level control capability to conduct temporary, periodic draw-downs that will improve wetland habitat quality. DU will also engineer two or more additional shallow lake improvement projects for future implementation 2010 and 2011. As approved by the Council, DU will also use up to $400,000 in grant funding to secure permanent conservation easement(s) on 180 acres on one or more shallow lake to protect shoreland and help buffer basins important to waterfowl.","Shallow lakes and large wetlands throughout Minnesota have become degraded due to high, stable water levels, altered natural hydrology, lack of natural fish winterkill, and invasive animal and plant species. Through our Living Lakes Initiative, DU provides wetland bio-engineering assistance to help the Minnesota DNR and US Fish & Wildlife Service structurally improve shallow lakes outlets and enhance the habitat quality of wetlands throughout Minnesota. DU will implement 8 shallow lake projects previously engineered that will enhance nearly 6,000 acres of wetland habitat, and will complete final engineering plans of several additional projects for future implementation. The implementation of these 8 projects constitute the immediate backlog of complex shallow lake and large wetland water control structure and/or fish barrier projects previously engineered by DU for DNR and the Service. Structures will be constructed by private contractors hired by DU in fall 2009 (throughout competitive bid process) on public land or on private land under permanent easement with DNR or the Service, and structures will be subsequently used in 2010 by state or federal land management staff to conduct temporary draw-downs to improve shallow lake ecology and habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds by reducing invasive fish and rejuvenating aquatic plants and invertebrates. DU staff will provide final engineering and construction management oversight throughout the construction process, and will solicit competitive bids and award construction contracts to private firms to implement the projects. Basins will be slowly reflooded in 2011 or 2012 once aquatic plants become reestablished. This periodic, temporary water level ""draw-down"" management process simulates natural drought conditions that are vital to rejuvenating aquatic ecology in wetlands, and is routinely used by DNR and the Service. Support from private landowners and other stakeholders such as local sportsmen groups is secured in advance of project implementation through the DNR's wildlife lake designation process and lake management plan development process.    This grant will also fund DU bio-engineering staff that will assess turbid shallow lakes and develop new engineering plans for additional projects that can be implemented in the future. This will include all aspects of engineering (survey, design, plans and specifications), assisting state and federal agencies in assessing basins and securing structure or flowage easements from private landowners, permits, and assisting the legal ""wildlife lake"" designation process required to allow active water level management of additional shallow lakes. Funds to construct these additional shallow lake projects engineered through this grant will be subsequently requested from the LOHC in the future.   Du will also use up to $400,000 in grant funds to secure permanent conservation easements on 180 acres along a managed shallow lake to protect it's shoreland, including making 80 acres of restored prairie habitat now in CRP permanent. These easements will be held and annually monitored by DU. Long-term conservation easement stewardship funding will be provided by these grant funds, through donation from the private landowner to ensure future monitoring and management of lands protected under permanent easement.  Conservation easements will protect sensitive shallow lake shoreland buffers, and limit future development and subdivision activities that can disrupt shallow lakes and complicate shallow lake water level management by agencies.","Final Report",2009-07-01,2012-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",None,,,Jon,Schneider,"Ducks Unlimited","311 East Lake Geneva Road ",Alexandria,None,56308,3207629916,jschneider@ducks.org,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Douglas, Faribault, Grant, Lac qui Parle, Murray, Stearns, Stearns",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-shallow-lake-restorations-and-enhancements,,,,
779,"Accelerate the Waterfowl Production Area Program in Minnesota, Phase 1",2010,5600000,"ML 2009, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(c )","$5,600,000 in fiscal year 2010 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever or successor to acquire and restore wetland and related upland habitats, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and Ducks Unlimited, Inc. or successor to be managed as waterfowl production areas. A list of proposed acquisitions and a list of proposed projects, describing the types and locations of restorations, must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"1,924 acres",,,,5600000,,,,"Pheasants Forever with USFWS and Ducks Unlimited","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will cooperate to permanently restore and conserve approximately 800 acres of grassland and 400 acres of wetland as Waterfowl Production Areas in western and southern Minnesota. All lands acquired through this grant proposal will be owned and managed by the Service as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System.","Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA) are managed as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. However, land acquisition and restoration have not kept pace with habitat needs. This LSOHC project will add to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's acquisition of Minnesota's valuable wetland and grassland habitats. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will immediately identify and prioritize lands to be acquired by Pheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited. PF and DU will complete landowner contacts, appraisals, and purchase agreements. Lands will be deeded to and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as WPA's. Under this management, restoration of native grasslands and wetlands will be completed and protected in perpetuity. Approximately 800 acres of grasslands and 400 acres of wetlands will be protected. Acquisition will occur in 18 months and habitat restoration will occur over the next two years depending on funding and seedbed preparation needs. Waterfowl Production Areas will be open for public recreation according to the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act. This project will be part of the Waterfowl Production Area program that has successfully protected similar habitats in Minnesota for 50 years.","Accomplishment PlanPheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, acquired 12 parcels of land from willing sellers totaling 1,522 acres within priority wildlife habitat complexes throughout the prairie and metro regions of the state. Partners were highly successful at securing parcels as evidenced with a 86% acquisition completion rate (12 out of 14 projects closed) because appraisal values were competitive due to the fact most transactions were completed before the agricultural market boom in 2012. All of the acquired parcels are additions onto existing permanently protected wildlife habitat complexes creating an even larger benefit to waterfowl and the myriad of wildlife species that depend on these wetland / grassland habitats. All parcels have been donated to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and are now protected and managed in perpetuity as Waterfowl Productions Areas (WPA) under the National Wildlife Refuge System. Each parcel is open for public recreation, including hunting, as defined by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act.Each acquired parcel has also been restored and/or enhanced to as a high quality as practicable to ensure the maximum amount of benefits to migratory birds and other wildlife species. Wetlands restorations of various types, including seasonal wetlands, were restored by breaking drain tile lines, filling drainage ditches, constructing earthen dams, and installing water control structures. Invasive tree removal work was completed on many of these newly acquired lands and all agricultural fields restored to grasslands were restored using a broadcast or drill seeded method with a diverse mix of native grasses and forb species. In addition, 100 acres of wetland and grasslands were restored and 302 acres of prairie were enhanced on existing Waterfowl Production Areas in Pope and Traverse Counties, MN. These restored and permanently protected acres will provide critical habitat for breeding/migrating waterfowl as reproductive and winter habitat for grassland game and non game species.The work completed in this project has accelerated investment into permanently protected wildlife habitat complexes through the highly successful USFWS Waterfowl Production Area program. The outcomes of this project protects, maintains, and increases waterfowl and other wildlife populations within these areas. Furthermore, this work helps to improve water quality, reduces soil erosion, and provides public areas for Minnesotans to recreate in the outdoors, something so fundamental to ensure Minnesota’s future outdoor heritage.",2009-07-01,2012-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",None,,,Joe,Pavelko,"Pheasants Forever","7975 Acorn Circle ",Victoria,None,55386,6125323800,jpavelko@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Clay, Cottonwood, Douglas, Freeborn, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Otter Tail, Pope, Renville, Rice, Steele, Stevens, Traverse, Traverse",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerate-waterfowl-production-area-program-minnesota,,,,
780,"Accelerated Prairie Grassland Restoration and Enhancement Program on DNR Lands, Phase 2",2011,5833000,"ML 2010, Ch. 361, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(a)","$5,833,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate the protection, restoration, and enhancement of native prairie vegetation. A list of proposed land acquisitions,restorations, and enhancements, describing the types and locations of acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements, must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph (b)."," Wetland and upland complexes will consist of native prairies, restored prairies, quality grasslands, and restored shallow lakes and wetlands Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need A network of natural land and riparian habitats will connect corridors for wildlife and species in greatest conservation need Healthier populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species Remnant native prairies and wetlands are permanently protected and are part of large complexes of restored prairie, grasslands, and large and small wetlands Improved condition of habitat on public lands Protected, restored, and enhanced habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation nee","Enhanced 22,823 acres, protected 1,577 acres and restored 211 acres of prairie. A total of 24,611 acres of prairie was restored, protected or enhanced.",,,,5646400,186600,,8.75,DNR,"State Government","This program will acquire and develop approximately 730, acres of new Wildlife Management Area (WMA) lands. New WMA acquisition acre targets by LSOHC Sections will be consistent with the recommendations of The Citizens Advisory Committee report of 2002? Wildlife Management Area Acquisition The Next 50 Years. Additionally, this program will protect 275 acres of native prairie as state Scientific & Natural Areas (SNAs) and perpetual Native Prairie Bank (NPB) easements. This will provide habitat for rare species, Species in Greatest Conservation Need as identified in the State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) and provide habitat for other game and nongame wildlife species. All public SNA acquired through this project will be open to all forms of hunting and fishing. This program will also accelerate the restoration and enhancement of approximately 20,400 acres of native prairie vegetation on Wildlife Management Areas, Aquatic Management Areas, Scientific and Natural Areas, and State Forests. This will provide much needed wildlife habitat for a host of grassland and farmland species. Prairie restoration efforts will center on site preparation, seeding of local ecotype seed, post-seed management to assure success, and seed harvest of local ecotype seed for prairie restoration at other public land sites. Prairie enhancement efforts will center on prescribed burning, managing woody cover encroachment, and interseeding. Goat prairie enhancements are a distinct target in the Southeast Forests. There is a very significant unmet need for prescribed burning on public lands. We will hire a roving burn crew for 3 years. The crew will be fully equipped and self sufficient and will therefore be capable of burning an additional 7,000 acres per year. Fifty-percent of their time will be spent on burning (this is the entire spring and fall burn season). During the non-burn season the crew will complete 1,000 acres woody encroachment management annually (25%) on WMAs. The remaining 25% will be spent on other WMA habitat management activities. This work is all supplemental to the existing DNR burning and woody cover management programs ","The availability of public hunting lands does not meet the expectations of a growing Minnesota population. Due to the current recession, land prices have stabilized or declined and a short-term opportunity exists to purchase more value for our expenditures. The Citizens Advisory Committee on WMA acquisitions recommended due to long-term rising land costs and continued habitat loss, acquisition efforts should be accelerated to 21,000 acres per year for 10 years completing 30% of the 50 year goal of 702,200 acres. This objective has not been met due to inadequate funding. Supplementing our existing program with accelerated WMA acquisition will require additional temporary staff to acquire and develop new lands. Temperate grasslands are considered to be one of the most altered ecosystems on the earth. Native prairie and associated species have been targeted as critical habitats by the Minnesota County Biological Survey (MCBS). Since 1987, MCBS has evaluated and mapped about 200,000 acres of remaining prairie in the state as compared to the nearly 18 million acres identified about 100 years ago based on the public land surveys. Only half of this remaining prairie habitat is currently under some form of permanent protection. Although Minnesota DNR has the training and know-how to restore high quality prairie vegetation, current funding is insufficient to meet all needs. Many sites on state lands are currently not being actively managed to realize full potential as plant communities or wildlife habitat. Re-establishing prairie on public lands requires periodic burning, inter-seeding grasslands with native species, and up to five years of post-seeding management and assessment. Some state-owned grasslands are ""problem"" sites consisting of monotypic fields of brome of low habitat value. Furthermore exotic and/or invasive plants are encroaching and woody plant encroachment are especially troublesome problems that must be addressed. Portions of newly acquired areas and state-owned marginal croplands also need to be seeded and treated. Use of high quality seed from established prairie sites to plant at other locations has proven to be highly cost-effective. ","We continue to use the Prairie Plan to guide our work in the western part of the state.  While we don't limit ourselves to the core areas from the Plan, core areas and native sites usually rise to the top when we are developing short-term priority lists such as which units to try to burn each spring.  Although Minnesota DNR has the training and know-how to restore and enhance high quality prairie vegetation, past funding was insufficient to meet all needs.  Often time, we'd just 'plant some grass'.  These funds have given us the ability to use much higher diversity seed mixes in our restoration work.  We aren't there yet, but we are getting much closer to restoring the full plant diversity to sites compared to what we were doing a few years ago.  That said, there is still much to learn in the area of seed harvest, seeding method, and post-seeding management.  In some cases we are buying local seed from vendors.  In other cases, we are contracting with neighbors to mechanically harvest seed from established prairies.  This is probably the most cost-effective way of collecting the volume of seed need to do larger restorations.  We are also getting better at using different seed mixes within a site.  A wetland margin should not have the same seed mix as a sandy hilltop.  Probably the most innovative and effective part of this request was the addition of a roving crew.  These crews were 100% additive to the work that was being done in the past.  They had the equipment, skills, and expertise, and were able to move around the entire region to do work that simply wasn't being done in the past.  They were able to do projects by themselves, team up with local DNR staff, and occasionally work with staff from USFWS or TNC to do larger projects such a large Rx fires that cover multiple ownerships.  The other major part we can report in this first full length (5 year) project is our work with contractors.  While DNR staff worked with some contractors in the past, with these funds we were able to scale up these projects.  Through trial and error in some cases we have also figured out who the best contractors are for different types of projects.  Habitat work was new to many contractors.  It sometimes takes significant amounts of time to supervise contractors to make sure they are doing what we need done in the way we need it done.  The more we work with these contractors, we learn their specialties and they become dialed in to what needs to be done and how to do it.  They are also making improvements as they learn.  This is making enhancement work more effective and efficient for both DNR staff and the contractors.  Many of the contractors are pleased to have this extra work, especially when it comes at a time of the year which is normally their 'down' time.  Contractors are telling us they are keeping busy, hiring more staff, and getting more work done as a direct result of OHF funds. ",2010-07-01,2015-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",None,,,Mike,Tenney,DNR,"500 Lafayette Road ","St Paul",None,55155,"(651) 259-5230",michael.tenney@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Beltrami, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, McLeod, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Sherburne, Stearns, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Washington, Wilkin, Wilkin","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-prairie-grassland-restoration-and-enhancement-program-dnr-lands,,,,
795,"Accelerated Forest Wildlife Habitat Program, Phase 1",2011,1791000,"ML 2010, Ch. 361, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 3(d)","$1,791,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for acceleration of agency programs to acquire, in fee, land for state forests and restore and enhance state forest habitat. A list of projects including proposed fee title acquisitions and restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph (b).",,"Protected in fee 397 acres and enhanced 7,586 of forests",,,,1791000,,,3.65,DNR,"State Government","This program will increase populations of a variety of game and non-game wildlife species by protecting and enhancing forest habitats on which wildlife depends. This program of on-the-ground forest conservation projects will amplify the wildlife value of forest communities on DNR administered forestlands. Our forest enhancement will treat 4,472 ac. These activities are not conducted as part of the DNR's commercial timber operations. Additionally, our program will acquire 404 acres of forestland that contributes to habitat complexes and other high priorities. Acquisitions focus on forestland for public hunting, and compatible outdoor uses. At a reduced level of funding, we are focusing on management activities that will maximize wildlife habitat outcomes, especially prescribed burning, hand release, and shearing/mowing. Our program will enhance oak and create a mix of young hardwood forest with more open meadow/brush lands to benefit grouse, elk, and deer. Forest opening creation/enhancement will increase nut and berry production, provide roosting/display areas, and create feeding areas for moose, deer, ruffed grouse, woodcock, and bear. Shearing of trees and brush in large open landscape priority areas will benefit sharp-tailed grouse. Shearing and mowing of hardwoods and brush in smaller patches will benefit woodcock and deer.Our program will benefit a number of nongame species, including yellow rails, sandhill cranes, northern harriers, bobolinks, and upland sandpipers. Activities that create/enhance forest openings will provide habitat for nongame species, including least chipmunks, northern flickers, coopers hawks, and song sparrows. The less intensive timber management in our program will help protect rare native plant communities and a number of nongame species through retention and enhancement of plant species diversity and structure.","Narrative Forests face a formidable array of challenges: fragmentation, invasive species, climate change, disease, and changes in forest-based economics and recreation. While Minnesota's 16.2 million ac of forest are diverse, the acreage and composition of forests have changed significantly. The forest acreage is about half of what it was (31.5 million ac) in the mid 1800s. Just over half of the forestland in Minnesota is publicly owned; the State of Minnesota administers about 24%. Minnesota's forests help maintain the state's environmental and economic health. They are habitat for fish and wildlife, and a source of biodiversity, clean water, watershed protection, carbon sequestration, recreational opportunities, and many other benefits. Habitat loss and degradation are identified as the primary challenge facing wildlife. Almost one-third of the state's 292 Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) inhabit forests. The management objectives in this program parallel the forest management options outlined in Minnesota's State Wildlife Action Plan, Tomorrow's Habitat for the Wild and Rare (Tomorrow's Habitat Plan). Implementation of these objectives in key habitats identified in the Plan will maintain and enhance native forest communities supporting game and non-game wildlife populations. Tomorrow's Habitat Plan also calls for the purchase and protection of key habitats as another tool to address the conservation needs of these species. Protecting forests threatened by fragmentation or development provide important opportunities for collaborative conservation of larger scale areas of habitat. Restoration of newly acquired state forestlands is essential to assure that sites in state ownership are improved to increase or retain their value as wildlife habitat. The availability of public hunting lands does not meet the expectations of a growing Minnesota population. Due to the current recession, land prices have stabilized or declined and a short-term opportunity exists to purchase more value for our expenditures. Broad goals for this program are provided through the Subsection Forest Resources Management Planning process which does include a public participation process. No opposition is anticipated. County board approval is required for all acquisitions. Program managers may add, delete, and substitute projects on this parcel list based upon need, readiness, cost, opportunity, and/or urgency so long as the substitute parcel/project forwards the constitutional objectives of this program in the Project Scope table of this accomplishment plan. The final accomplishment plan report will include the final project parcel list.","Forests face a formidable array of challenges:  fragmentation, invasive species, climate change, disease, and changes in forest-based economics and recreation.  While Minnesota’s 16.2 million ac of forest are diverse, the acreage and composition of forests have changed significantly.  The forest acreage is about half of what it was (31.5 million ac) in the mid 1800s.  Just over half of the forestland in Minnesota is publicly owned; the State of Minnesota administers about 24%.  Minnesota’s forests help maintain the state’s environmental and economic health.  They are habitat for fish and wildlife, and a source of biodiversity, clean water, watershed protection, carbon sequestration, recreational opportunities, and many other benefits.  Habitat loss and degradation are identified as the primary challenge facing wildlife.  Almost one-third of the state’s 292 Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) inhabit forests.  The management objectives in this program parallel the forest management options outlined in Minnesota’s State Wildlife Action Plan, Tomorrow's Habitat for the Wild and Rare (Tomorrow’s Habitat Plan).  Implementation of these objectives in key habitats identified in the Plan will maintain and enhance native forest communities supporting game and non-game wildlife populations.  Tomorrow's Habitat Plan also calls for the purchase and protection of key habitats as another tool to address the conservation needs of these species.Protecting forests threatened by fragmentation or development provides important opportunities for collaborative conservation of larger scale areas of habitat.  Restoration of newly acquired state forestlands is essential to assure that sites in state ownership are improved to increase or retain their value as wildlife habitat.  The availability of public hunting lands does not meet the expectations of a growing Minnesota population.  Due to the current recession, land prices have stabilized or declined and a short-term opportunity exists to purchase more value for our expenditures.  Broad goals for this program are provided through the Subsection Forest Resources Management Planning process which includes a public participation process.  No opposition was anticipated.  County board approval was required for all acquisitions.Program managers were permitted to add, delete, and substitute projects on the parcel list based upon need, readiness, cost, opportunity, and/or urgency so long as the substitute parcel/project forwarded the constitutional objectives of this program in the Project Scope table of the accomplishment plan.  This final report includes the final project parcel list.",2010-07-01,2015-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Cynthia,Osmundson,DNR,"500 Lafayette Rd ","St Paul",,55155,"(651) 259-5169",bob.welsh@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Beltrami, Benton, Cass, Chisago, Cook, Crow Wing, Dakota, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hennepin, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Mille Lacs, Olmsted, Pine, Rice, Roseau, St. Louis, St. Louis","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-forest-wildlife-habitat-program,,,,
797,"Accelerated Shallow Lake and Wetland Enhancement and Restoration Program, Phase 2",2011,6505000,"ML 2010, Ch. 361, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(a)","$6,505,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources to assess, enhance, and restore shallow lake and wetland habitats, to acquire land in fee or through permanent conservation easements for shallow lake program restoration, and to provide stewardship for acquired easements in cooperation with Ducks Unlimited, Inc. of this appropriation, $1,463,000 is for the Department of Natural Resources agency program acceleration and $5,042,000 is for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited, Inc. A list of proposed projects, describing the types and locations of land acquisitions, restoration projects, and enhancement projects, must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The commissioner of natural resources must agree in writing to each acquisition, restoration project, and enhancement project. The accomplishment plan must include an easement stewardship plan. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph (b)",,"7603 acres",,,,6149500,355500,,,"Ducks Unlimited and DNR","State Government","This programmatic partnership between the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Ducks Unlimited (DU) will accelerate enhancement, restoration, and protection of shallow lakes and wetlands important to waterfowl. This partnership will assess, design, and implement shallow lake and wetland enhancement, restoration, and protection projects to address the most important wetland issues facing waterfowl and other wetland wildlife in Minnesota. Every statewide conservation plan recognizes the need for improving and protecting Minnesota's shallow lakes and wetlands for wildlife habitat. The MN DNR Duck Recovery Plan calls for the enhancement and active management of 1,800 shallow lakes while adding 64,000 wetlands to Minnesota's landscape. DU,s Living Lakes conservation initiative supports this plan with a goal of improving 300 shallow lakes in Minnesota. DNR and DU will accelerate partnership efforts to enhance, restore, and protect shallow lakes and wetlands through increased assessment and engineering plus funding for water structure construction and land control. Enhancing and properly managing shallow lakes and wetlands will involve three components: assessment and feasibility analysis (Pre-design), engineering survey, design, review, easements and permits (Design), and ultimately water structure installation (Construction). DU will also work with private landowners to permanently protect lands adjacent to shallow lakes through purchase of lands in and adjacent to large drained basins in fee-title to allow for restoration and/or through permanent conservation easements (Protection). In total, DNR and DU will conduct 200 assessments, work on developing 50 new projects including engineering designs, restore 63 acres, structurally enhance 7,172 acres, and protect 750 acres in fee-title. In the process, DNR may purchase small easements for water flowage and/or water control structure placement, and DU may purchase permanent conservation easements on shallow lake shoreline if needed and grant funding is available. ","An estimated 90% of Minnesota's prairie wetlands have been lost, and those that remain are often larger basins that were more difficult to drain. Throughout the state, these shallow lakes and large wetlands provide critical habitat for wetland wildlife production and migration, especially for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent birds. High quality shallow lakes and wetlands have clear water and abundant rooted aquatic vegetation. Emergent aquatic plants such as rushes and wild rice provide protective cover from weather and predators and over-water nesting habitat, while submerged plants provide food in the form of seeds and tubers and critical habitat for aquatic invertebrates. An abundance of aquatic invertebrates such as insects, amphipods, and snails are critical for breeding ducks and for duckling growth and survival. Protein and carbohydrates from seeds and tubers are critical foods during both spring and fall migration. Seasonally flooded wetlands often fill these needs for shorebirds and dabbling ducks, particularly during spring. However, it is typically the larger, more permanent wetlands and shallow lakes that are important to diving ducks in spring and provide the most important fall habitat for all waterfowl. However, the quality of shallow lakes and wetlands providing wildlife habitat has declined markedly due to landscape drainage and intensive agricultural land use, shoreline development, increased runoff carrying sediment and nutrients, and invasive plant and fish species. Invasive fish, such as bullheads, carp, and fathead minnows reduce the invertebrates and aquatic plants necessary for quality habitat. Highly altered landscape hydrology now allows these invasive fish to access and sustain populations in most of our remaining wetlands. The worst damage has occurred within the prairie and transition portions of the state where conversion of habitat to other uses has degraded the watersheds of shallow lakes and associated wetlands. Restoration of wetland and grassland complexes restores habitat and reduces excessive runoff that can improve water quality. However, in-basin management is also needed to switch turbid shallow lakes back to their preferred clear water state. While watershed improvements benefit shallow lakes and wetlands, and both regulatory and voluntary programs to minimize and mitigate watershed degradation are ongoing by many conservation agencies, watershed work alone will not often switch turbid lakes to clear lakes and improve waterfowl habitat in them. It is only through active water level management that simulates periodic droughts and stimulates aquatic plant growth combined with the removal of invasive fish that the quality of this important aquatic habitat can be rejuvenated and sustained into the future. Similar to the effects of periodic fires in upland prairie systems, temporary droughts in wetlands are essential to maintaining wetland productivity and to rejuvenating turbid shallow lakes. Water level variation drives wetland ecology, and has long been a well-established, science-based wetland management technique employed throughout the world. This programmatic partnership between the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Ducks Unlimited (DU) will accelerate enhancement, restoration, and protection of shallow lakes and wetlands important to waterfowl. This partnership will assess, design, and implement shallow lake and wetland enhancement, restoration, and protection projects to address the most important wetland issues facing waterfowl and other wetland wildlife in Minnesota. Central to our work will be the feasibility analysis, design, and installation of water control structures, pumps, and fish barriers that will provide state and federal conservation agency land managers with the ability to conduct temporary water level draw-downs that simulate the natural hydrologic regimes that drive wetland ecology. All projects will be constructed on public land or land under permanent easement by state or federal agencies, and all projects will be managed by Minnesota DNR field staff or by field staff of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Other agencies and tribal interests will be consulted and queried for input as projects are assessed, designed, and implemented. This proposal is based on the best available shallow lake and wetland management science coupled with over four decades of experience by Minnesota DNR and over two decades of wetland engineering expertise by DU. Specifically, at least 200 shallow lakes and wetlands will be assessed for their current condition and feasibility for needed improvement as determined by DNR and DU field staff. Meanwhile DNR and DU biologists and engineers will work on 50 shallow lake and wetland design projects to review and finalize engineering plans, obtain legal land rights and/or legal wildlife lake designation, obtain landowner and public support, and secure all necessary permits and approvals for future project implementation. DNR will develop shallow lake management plans with DU assistance and input. Landowner outreach will be conducted and public meetings held when needed to review, revise, and fully develop wetland structure projects for implementation, including wildlife lake designation public informational meetings and formal hearings. Finally, several wetland restoration projects will be implemented to restore 63 wetland acres, and 16 structural shallow lake and wetland enhancement projects will be constructed to allow managers to enhance over 7,000 wetland acres. To make future restoration of drained wetlands and shallow lakes legally feasible, DU will attempt to purchase 750 acres of land in fee-title in and adjacent to a drained shallow lake basin from willing private landowners (grant funds will not be used to purchase land from watershed districts or public agencies as per direction received from the Council). The land will eventually be transferred to the Minnesota DNR or U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Initial contacts with landowners and local governmental representatives have been favorable to preliminary land proposals, and county board approval will be sought before any land acquired is transferred to Minnesota DNR or the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. DNR may purchase easements for water flowage and/or structure placement rights, if needed. Also, to protect managed shallow lakes subject to development, DU may also work with private landowners to explore opportunities for conservation easements, and may purchase or obtain donated permanent conservation easements that will be held and monitored in perpetuity by DU. Finally, DU will use grant funds over three years to coordinate and administer this grant. Budget reallocations up to 10% do not require an amendment to the Accomplishment Plan. ","This grant was a programmatic partnership between the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Ducks Unlimited (DU) to accelerate enhancement, restoration, and protection of shallow lakes and wetlands important to waterfowl.  In partnership, DU and DNR assessed shallow lake conditions through the Minnesota DNR Section of Wildlife Shallow Lakes Program, and designed and implemented shallow lake and wetland enhancement and restoration projects using water level control structures and other means.  DU also implemented land protection projects via fee-title land acquisitions to improve and buffer wetland habitats used by waterfowl and other wetland-dependent wildlife in Minnesota. Overall, DU and DNR completed 26 project affecting 7,603 acres.  These included three wetland restoration projects restoring 97 acres, 18 shallow lake enhancement projects enhancing 7,154 wetland acres, and five fee-title land acquisition projects protecting 352 acres.  DNR also completed 317 shallow lake assessment surveys to document current ecological conditions and help justify future shallow lake enhancement projects, while DU staff worked on 50 new shallow lake engineering enhancement projects to design water control structures for state DNR Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), public waters, and wetlands on federal lands managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  Financially, DU and DNR spent $6,439,871 of the $6,505,000 appropriated for this project.  DU spent the entire $5,042,000 portion appropriated to Ducks Unlimited while providing $1,205,381 in non-state financial leverage for a total expense of $6,247,381.  This non-state leverage provided by DU far surpassed the minimal leverage pledged, and was comprised of a combination of private funds donated to DU from individuals, foundations, and corporations, and federal grants such as the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA).  Meanwhile, Minnesota DNR spent $$1,397,871 of the $1,463,000 appropriated to DNR, leaving $65,129 unspent to be returned to the Outdoor Heritage Fund.  Although we fell short of our 750-acre land protection via fee-title acquisition goal, we exceeded all other original accomplishment plan goals of 200 shallow lake assessments, engineering work on 50 new enhancement projects, restoration of 63 wetland acres, and enhancement of 7,132 shallow lake wetland acres. The shortfall in total acres acquired was due to sharply rising cropland prices during this grant period, and uncooperative landowners in the drained Moonshine Lake basin in Big Stone County that made acquisition of those lands not feasible as previously planned.  The primary landowner there refused to sell his land for appraised fair market value, and DU did not anticipate the spike in agricultural land prices that made acquiring an equal number of acres elsewhere impossible.  Nonetheless, DU did acquire five smaller parcels totaling 352 acres in the Prairie Section, including 100 acres of wetlands and 252 acres of uplands.  These parcels have been transferred to the Minnesota DNR for inclusion into the state WMA system for long-term habitat management and public outdoor recreational use.Importantly, DU and DNR wetland projects were highly successful and surpassed our acreage goals.  DU and DNR completed three wetland restoration projects, one by DNR on Pelican Lake WMA in Wright County that restored hydrology to 25 wetland acres in the Metro Section, and two others by DU that involved restoring wetland hydrology to 45 acres on Fenmont WMA in Nobles County and 27 acres o Four Corners WMA in Martin County in the Prairie Section.  Moreover, DU and DNR each completed nine additional shallow lake and wetland enhancement projects that improved wetland ecological condition and management capability, for a total of 18 projects that enhanced 7,154 wetland acres in Prairie, Transition, and Metro Sections.  These were mostly structural enhancement projects where DU and DNR engineering installed water control structures to allow for temporary water level draw-downs to enhance the aquatic ecology of managed wetlands on state and federal areas (including four Waterfowl Production Areas).  Most of the acres enhanced were located on the Roseau state WMA, where DNR renovated an important dike used to control water levels in a large wetland. Elsewhere, DNR seeded wild rice into 40 acres of wetlands and shallow lakes in Wright and Stearns Counties in Metro, Transition, and Prairie Sections.All DU and DNR wetland restoration and shallow lake enhancement projects were in public waters or in basins on state DNR or federal land where DNR or the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will manage and maintain them for both wildlife habitat and public benefit.  All lands acquired by DU were transferred to the Minnesota DNR for long-term wildlife habitat management and pubic outdoor recreational use.",2010-07-01,2015-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Jon,Schneider,"Ducks Unlimited","311 East Lake Geneva Road ",Alexandria,MN,56308,3207629916,jschneider@ducks.org,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Becker, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Clearwater, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Freeborn, Grant, Isanti, Kittson, Le Sueur, Lyon, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Polk, Pope, Rice, Roseau, Stearns, Stevens, Stevens","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-shallow-lake-and-wetland-enhancement-and-restoration-program,,,,
799,"Accelerate the Waterfowl Production Area Program in Minnesota, Phase II",2011,3505000,"ML 2010, Ch. 361, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(b)","$3,505,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire and restore wetland and related upland habitats, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and Ducks Unlimited, Inc., to be managed as waterfowl production areas. A list of proposed acquisitions and a list of proposed projects, describing the types and locations of restorations, must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. All restorations must comply with subdivision, paragraph (b).",,"1398 acres",,,,3505000,,,,"Pheasants Forever with USFWS and Ducks Unlimited","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Pheasants Forever (PF) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) will cooperate to permanently restore and protect approximately 700 acres as Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) in western and southern Minnesota. All lands acquired through this grant proposal will be owned and managed by the Service as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. ","Tremendous economic, agricultural, recreational, and developmental pressures including gravel mining, widely fluctuating commodity prices, withdrawal of CRP contracts, wind energy, ethanol and bio-mass production are squeezing Minnesota's habitat resources and the plants and animals that depend on them. WPAs are acquired with funds derived from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps and managed for wildlife and conservation benefits as part of the National Wildlife System. Land acquisition and restoration have not kept pace with habitat needs however. Funds will be utilized to permanently restore and protect approximately 500 acres of grasslands and 200 acres of wetland as Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) in western and southern Minnesota. The loss of wetland and grassland habitats in Minnesota is well documented. One of the primary ways to reverse this downward trend is to permanently acquire, then restore wetland and grassland habitats on those properties. The Service and our partners have been utilizing this strategy for over 50-years with the Small Wetlands Acquisition Program (SWAP). Utilizing the landscape level planning tools produced by our HAPET office in Fergus Fall, MN, the Service and our partners have strategically identified properties for acquisition. These strategies are well tested and are supported by the greater conservation community here in Minnesota. The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC) project will add to the Service's acquisition of Minnesota's valuable wetland and grassland habitats. Upon notification of project approval, Pheasants Forever & the Service will prioritize lands to be acquired. PF will complete landowner contacts, appraisals and purchase agreements. At closing PF will take ownership to allow for the required reversionary clause. The the lands will be donated to the Service as WPAs and all management actions including the prompt restoration of upland habitats and wetlands will be funded by the Service and protected in perpetuity. The Service will also be responsible for payment of PILT to the Counties. ","Accomplishment PlanPheasants Forever in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, acquired 11 parcels of land from willing sellers totaling 1,397.31 acres within priority wildlife habitat complexes throughout the prairie and forest prairie regions of the state. Partners were highly successful at securing parcels closing 11 out of 14 projects. All of the acquired parcels are additions onto existing permanently protected wildlife habitat complexes creating an even larger benefit to waterfowl and the myriad of wildlife species that depend on these wetland / grassland habitats. All parcels have been donated to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and are now protected and managed in perpetuity as Waterfowl Productions Areas (WPA) under the National Wildlife Refuge System. Each parcel is open for public recreation, including hunting, as defined by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act. Further, we are happy to report that over $3.2 million in match was leveraged through this effort. This match came from a variety of federal sources as well as donations of land value. This exceeds our original match goal by over 10%.Each acquired parcel has also been restored and/or enhanced to as a high quality as practicable to ensure the maximum amount of benefits to migratory birds and other wildlife species. Wetlands restorations of various types, including seasonal wetlands, were restored by breaking drain tile lines, filling drainage ditches, constructing earthen dams, and installing water control structures. Invasive tree removal work was completed on many of these newly acquired lands and all agricultural fields restored to grasslands were restored using a broadcast or drill seeded method with a diverse mix of native grasses and forb species.These restored and permanently protected acres will provide critical habitat for breeding/migrating waterfowl and reproductive and winter habitat for grassland game and non game species.The work completed in this project has accelerated investment into permanently protected wildlife habitat complexes through the highly successful USFWS Waterfowl Production Area program. The outcome of this project protects, maintains, and increases waterfowl and other wildlife populations within these areas. Furthermore, this work helps to improve water quality, reduces soil erosion, and provides public areas for Minnesotans to recreate in the outdoors, something so fundamental to ensure Minnesota’s future outdoor heritage.",2010-07-01,2015-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",None,,,Joe,Pavelko,"Pheasants Forever","7975 Acorn Circle ",Victoria,None,55386,6125323800,esandquist@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Clay, Faribault, Freeborn, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Meeker, Murray, Norman, Norman","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerate-waterfowl-production-area-program-minnesota-phase-2,,,,
805,"Accelerated Aquatic Management Area Acquisition, Phase II",2011,3416000,"ML 2010, Ch. 361, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(b)","$3,416,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate land acquisition by fee title and easements to be added to the state aquatic management area system as defined in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 86A, and to restore and enhance stream habitat and lake habitat. Land acquired in fee must remain open to hunting and fishing, consistent with the capacity of the land, during the open season, as determined in writing by the commissioner of natural resources. A list of proposed fee title and easement acquisitions, stream habitat restorations and enhancements, and lake habitat restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Restored 18 acres, protected 286 acres and enhanced 242 acres of stream habitat.",,,,3416000,,,,DNR,"State Government","This program uses a multi-programmatic approach to achieve prioritized aquatic habitat protection, restoration, and enhancement for lakes, trout streams, and rivers across Minnesota. We propose to: i) protect 7.8 miles of shoreline on lakes, rivers and trout streams; ii) effect structural repairs to 2 lake outlet control structures that will integrate fish passage; iii) restore and enhance river and stream functions that will benefit over 50.5 river miles; and iv) enhance 1.4 miles of shoreline habitat on publicly-owned lakeshore. The strategic approach and priority resources targeted in this proposal are supported by a number of internal and external conservation planning documents. The DNR will implement the objectives of this proposal through established and highly successful programs each having strong stakeholder support including: Aquatic Management Area Program, Shoreland Habitat Restoration Program, Stream Habitat Program, and Coldwater Streams Program.","What is the problem to be addressed? Minnesota's aquatic habitats have been degraded or threatened by a century or more of land, hydrology, and human settlement related alterations. The consequences to aquatic species have been reduced habitats for essential life history stages, lack of access to traditional spawning areas, and fragmentation of formerly continuous habitat that served as corridors to facilitate seasonal movements. Geographically, aquatic habitats are in various states of quality and experiencing differing levels of environmental stress with a general pattern of healthy habitats under low stress in the northeast and less healthy habitats under high stress in the southern and western portions of the state (see Figure H-15 in the State Conservation and Preservation Plan). But even within this generalized pattern there are many notable exceptions ? aquatic habitats exhibiting declining quality under high environmental stress in the northeast, and moderate to high quality habitats within high environmental stress landscapes to the west and south. This provides a meaningful framework for providing habitat protection, restoration, and enhancement through DNR's diverse habitat programs infrastructure. How will this directly relate to restoring, protecting, or enhancing habitat? Why will this strategy work? Acquisition of priority habitats provides permanent protection backed by state and federal laws. The AMA designation unit within the Outdoor Recreation System was established by the Legislature in 1992 and has strong support from conservation groups and anglers. The AMA Program currently has an inventory of 830 miles of shoreline in over 330 AMAs, which provide permanent protection of critical riparian habitats, perpetuate fish and wildlife populations, safeguard water quality, and offer public recreational opportunities as an important additional benefit. Providing fish passage over in-stream barriers such as low-head dams and culverts by backfilling with rock reconnects fish and other aquatic species to upstream habitats essential for spawning, juvenile life stages, and overall abundance and genetic diversity of aquatic species. Stream restoration projects reconstruct the stream's natural pattern, profile, and dimension. Natural stream design favors hydrologic conditions that do not degrade the stream bank and bed and provides a diversity of microhabitats that are more favorable to fish and other aquatic species. Channel restoration, dam modification, and shoreline enhancement work is based on proven methods and DNR experience with multiple projects. The DNR has worked on large-scale river and stream restoration projects since 1998 and has completed or assisted in design elements of over 100 stream projects addressing restoration, fish passage, dam removal and dam modification to rapids. These are significant and durable accomplishments benefiting aquatic habitat. As examples of these successful strategies, DNR has conducted large-scale projects to restore the Whitewater River to its original channel; reconnected nearly the entire Minnesota portions of the Red River by direct dam removal or modification leaving only a few dams presently remaining that impede fish movements (primarily lake sturgeon); and enhanced 21 miles of shoreline on lakes across the state including many challenging high erosion sites. Also projects address other key components of a stream: wildlife and fish habitat, water quality, connectivity to the floodplain and upstream reaches, and hydrology. By drawing on the accumulated scientific knowledge on all components of the stream DNR strives to deliver the best possible restoration projects using the best science available. The DNR has conducted shoreline enhancement projects for over 10 years and during that time the program has grown in scope and popularity. The annual number of shoreland restoration projects completed has increased from 23 in 2002 to 60 in 2009. At the end of the L-SOHC grant period, 1.6 miles of public shoreline including AMAs and other state, county, township, and municipal lands will be enhanced to provide erosion protection, habitat diversity for multiple species of fish and wildlife (including game species and SGCNs), and enhanced aesthetics. Native plants and natural materials will be utilized to increase habitat complexity, provide protective cover, stabilize shorelines, and firmly anchor soils. Project habitat benefits will continue to accrue beyond the term of this grant as project sites mature and the shoreline assumes a more natural character. Describe the nature and extent of any partnerships in this project, stakeholder and public participation processes associated with the project and any anticipated support or opposition to the project. The AMA Acquisition Planning Committee developed an acquisition plan in 2007 that recommended purchasing an additional 2,595 miles of riparian lands over 25 years to meet the habitat protection needs of a rapidly changing Minnesota. This stakeholder-developed plan guides DNR's AMA program implementation. Restoration and enhancement elements of this project are linked to various landscape or system-specific management plans (e.g., Lake Superior Management Plan) that have been developed through extensive internal and external coordination. These elements represent shared priorities with multiple partners and stakeholders. For land acquisitions, indicate local government support and approval Township and County support are usually obtained as part of the acquisition process. County Boards are typically notified after AMA parcels have been optioned and consistent with DNR policy.","We completed six fish passage projects, benefiting 1,311 acres of habitat that will now be accessible to migrating fish and mussels. These projects were modifications to dams that will allow fish to bypass these former barriers. One fish passage project on Chester Creek planned for this appropriation was not completed due to delays in contracting for construction by our project partner, the city of Duluth. They have been very busy contracting stream projects due to the flood of 2012, and this unexpected development kept us from completing the project on time. A design for the project was paid for with this appropriation. The project will be built in 2016 using flood damage money from the State of Minnesota.An instream habitat project was completed on West Beaver Creek. The project narrowed the stream channel to improve instream habitat and better transport fine sediment. Instream habitat was also enhanced, and bank stability improved to reduce erosion.Riparian habitat was enhanced at fourteen coldwater streams and two warmwater streams. These projects will enhance native prairie plants that will improve bank stability and instream cover. Prairie species also encourage narrow and deep stream channels that better move fine sediment, improving habitat for fish and invertebrates. Habitat practices included brush removal, prescribed burns, control of invasive plants, and planting of native species.Lake riparian habitat was enhanced at nine locations. These projects were done cooperatively through grants to local organizations. Mowed turf grass was replaced with native plants with deep roots that are better at stabilizing the shoreline and provide habitat for species such as frogs and other aquatic animals. These parcels are also open to public fishing.We permanently protected lakeshore habitat at eight locations, covering 276 acres. These parcels will protect intact lake shoreline that has been shown to be critical to fish reproduction, and to preventing shoreland erosion. We also protected one parcel on a trout stream through a conservation easement. This will protect coldwater conditions and habitat in the stream through the preservation of riparian vegetation. This parcel will also be open to public fishing.We fell short of our planned output acreage for this appropriation due to a number of factors. First, our protection acreage can vary depending on the relative amount of upland land that is purchased with adjoining waterfront. Sometimes parcels are a narrow strip of lakeshore, while at other times a parcel may be quite deep and have considerable upland that is purchased. For this appropriation, our acquisitions leaned toward primarily waterfront land resulting in a shortfall of 98 acres. Second, when this accomplishment plan was written we planned to be able to account for benefitted upstream acres for fish passage projects. During a plan amendment for a different appropriation we were given direction by the council that we should only count footprint acres for these types of projects. We did not go back and do plan amendments for other appropriations to reflect this guidance, but did follow that direction in our reporting. As a result we reported 1260 acres less than was planned. Third, our trout stream riparian enhancement work over-estimated the amount that we could complete, resulting in a shortfall of 424 acres. The work for this part of the appropriation was completed during the last 6 months that the money was available, preventing a plan amendment to reflect the change in acreage output. We will know better in the future how to estimate acres for this type of work. The fourth reason for our shortfall was an amendment from a fish passage project on the Mississippi River at Little Falls to a channel restoration project on the Buffalo River. As previously mentioned, when the plan was written we expected to report the full benefitted acreage for the fish passage project. When we amended to plan to spend that money on the Buffalo River, there was no corresponding change to our planned output acres as reflected in table 1. This was not changed mainly because the original version of ML2010 accomplishment plan does not include a “Table 1” as shown in the online version. Instead there are a series of less organized tables that allow for a more narrative description of the work. The resulting shortfall in acres from this change was 564 acres.In total, these differences from the accomplishment plan account for 2346 acres, which would explain the difference between the original plan and what we have reported for output. We have learned several lessons regarding output acres since this early appropriation. We will work hard to have our outputs better match the accomplishment plan in future reporting.",2010-07-01,2015-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",None,,,Michael,Duval,DNR,"500 Lafayette Road ","Saint Paul",,55155,"(218) 833-8612",michael.duval@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Blue Earth, Carver, Cass, Chisago, Clay, Cook, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Itasca, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lake, Le Sueur, Martin, Meeker, Morrison, Murray, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Ramsey, Redwood, Rice, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Wadena","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-aquatic-management-area-acquisition,,,,
9803,"Accelerated Prairie Restoration and Enhancement on DNR Lands, Phase 4",2013,4300000,"ML 2012, Ch. 264, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(h)","$4,300,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate the restoration and enhancement of wildlife management areas, scientific and natural areas, and land under native prairie bank easements. A list of proposed restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Restored 123 acres and enhanced 59,373 acres of prairie ",,,"n/a ",4282900,105100,,14,DNR,"State Government","The table below provides a short summary of the acres and sites accomplished. We enhanced or restored 59,495 acres in 458 separate habitat projects.Project Type # Sites # AcresFencing for conserv grazing 6 721grassland conversion 33 1,124Invasive Species Control 43 1,599mowing 3 104Prescribed burn 214 48,368Restoration 13 123Woody Removal 146 7,457",,"In the table above, grassland conversion is generally converting old brome or early low diversity CRP-like plantings (grass only) to a diverse native grass and forb mix. These projects are good examples of the benefits of OHF. Low diversity grasslands provide some habitat for wildlife. These funds allow us to enhance and improve these habitats, going above and beyond what we could do without these funds. By far our most effective management tool is prescribed fire and we were able to burn over 48,000 acres, just over 75 square miles, with these funds.Our acre estimate is probably a low number, especially for woody removal. Trees in grasslands affect both the immediate area as well as the surrounding area. Generally we remove trees to increase nest success in the surrounding areas. While we may only record one acre of tree removal, we’re enhancing nest success for an entire WMA.This was the fourth appropriation for the DNR's programmatic Grassland Enhancement efforts. The primary focus for the Wildlife Section of this appropriation was the use of two Roving Crews, in Region One (located in Polk County) and Region 3 (located in Dakota County). Roving Crews are self-contained habitat enhancement programs. One hundred percent of their time is dedicated to habitat enhancement. In addition, we worked with local contractors to do additional habitat work on WMAs and SNAs.Division of Ecological and Water Resource staff funded on this appropriation did a variety of tasks, including writing contracts for woody removal projects and prescribed burns, firebreak installation, prescribed burn planning and execution, prairie reconstruction, and smaller invasive removal projects. CCM crews were contracted for many projects to add additional abilities. Specifically noteworthy, southern region EWR hires a CCM crew for several weeks in the spring each year to build support into the DNR burn crew (there would not be enough staff for a crew without CCM).In addition to these data, we also provide the following narratives showing the outputs and outcomes of several of the projects on the parcel list.The Cuka WMA project involved the removal of scattered invasive volunteer trees from 130 acres of native and restored prairie. A DNR survey on June 11, 2013 revealed the presence of at least 508 individual clusters of Small White Lady Slipper orchids. The orchid is abundant on Cuka WMA and this tree removal was management that is a direct positive for the preservation of this species. The removal of predator perches and den trees was one objective that appears to have been successfully met based upon the pheasant production that has been observed on this unit in recent years. One hunter has harvested a 2 bird limit on every pheasant opener for the last four years.A large portion of Benson WMA was already a quality restored grassland and wetland complex when acquired, but had thousands of trees covering the WMA. Without treatment, the site would have soon lost its open nature and grassland wildlife. The site includes a very high quality remnant prairie that we use to harvest local ecotype seed for nearby WMA restorations.Two Rivers Aspen Parkland SNA is a 1400 acre high quality brush prairie that was being invaded by aspen. This transition can be devastating to many wildlife species, particularly sharp tailed grouse as they tend to abandon these areas once they transition. After the prescribed burn and woody removal projects, there was a significant increase in sharp tailed grouse observations.Sweetwater WMA has two tracts totaling 430 acres. These tracts are part of a contiguous complex of public lands, including roughly 1,000 acres of Waterfowl Production Areas and 500 acres of WMA in the heart of Lac qui Parle County – an area with a rich history of waterfowl and upland bird hunting. The tree removal work on Sweetwater WMA compliments ongoing habitat acquisitions, restorations and enhancements being done in this area through partnerships among USFWS, MNDNR, TNC, PF and DU.Cooperative Farming Agreement fields totaling nineteen acres on four WMAs in the south Metro were retired. The fields were planted to a diverse mix native grasses and forbs. This will benefit pollinators as well as providing additional nesting cover. These WMAs are relatively close to the Metro Area, proving both wildlife habitat as well as hunting and other recreational opportunities for Twin Cities residents.Because this is a programmatic appropriation, it’s difficult to assign a dollar amount to a specific project. Because of this and the large number of projects, we simply assigned dollars to projects proportional to acres completed in that project. In the same way, we proportionally assigned dollars to personnel based on FTEs.",2012-07-01,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Greg,Hoch,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Road","St Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5230,greg.hoch@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Clay, Douglas, Fillmore, Goodhue, Grant, Houston, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lyon, Meeker, Morrison, Norman, Otter Tail, Polk, Pope, Redwood, Roseau, Statewide, Stearns, Stevens, Traverse, Washington, Winona, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-prairie-restoration-and-enhancement-dnr-lands-phase-4,,,,
9813,"Accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area Program , Phase 4",2013,5400000,"ML 2012, Ch. 264, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(b)","$5,400,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire land in fee to be managed and designated as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Protect in fee 185 acres of wetlands and 816 acres of prairies",,3794200,"USFWS - $2.5 million and Pheasants Forever - $335,500",5400000,,,.12,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This program accelerated the permanent protection of 1,001 acres of wetlands (185 acres) and grasslands (816 acres) as Waterfowl Production Areas open to public hunting in Minnesota.  Over the course of the appropriation, PF acquired 5 parcels for a total of 1,001 acres which exceeded our total acre goal of 935 acres by 66 acres.  Breaking down acres by ecological section we exceeded our acre goal in the prairie area by 346 acres.  We are also happy to bring in $3,794,200 of non-state match dollars to this effort, exceeding our match goal of $3,320,000 by $474,200.  We have a balance of $61,800 that will be returned to the Fund despite exceeding our acre goals which demonstrates the high level of efficiency which Pheasants Forever operates at.  In total, we under-spent on our budget, over delivered on acre goals and over delivered on match while using less personal costs than proposed.",,"Final ReportWorking in close collaboration with partners, Pheasants Forever acquired 1,001 acres of strategic habitat that builds onto existing protected lands and/or develops corridors for wildlife.  These USFWS Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA) will be protected and managed in perpetuity by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).  We have worked together with federal, state and local partners when acquiring the 5 parcels which will be celebrated as new WPAs.  These new additions to existing WPAs not only provides access and recreational opportunities for all Minnesotans, but helps reduce erosion, improve water filtration, and provide quality habitat for many of Minnesota's non-game species.  The offers to the landowners were based on fair market values and appraisals.  The acquired parcels addressed a backlog of willing sellers that now are helping slow the loss, degradation, and fragmentation of habitat in Minnesota.  Parcels were identified jointly with the USFWS, ranked, and prioritized on habitat goals and feasibility.  Pheasants Forever's methods are formed around the principle of accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area program in MN by targeting only the best available habitat with willing sellers.  We utilize local partner expertise to focus on building a system of interconnected wildlife complexes that create habitat mosaics.  We also utilize the latest geospatial layers to help determine factors such as: habitat restoration potential, landscape scale significance, presence of rare features and native habitat, and how these acquisitions fit into other priorities for our partners such as the MN Prairie Conservation Plan, the Pheasant Action Plan, or the State Wildlife Action Plan.  Hanson WPA Addition and John Giese WPA were the two largest permanent protection projects in this proposal making up over half of the total 1,001 acquired acres.  The 282 acre Hanson WPA Addition builds on the existing 80 acre Hanson WPA.  Within 2 miles of this tract there are 2 WPAs totaling 724 acres and 2 WMAs totaling 1,597 acres.  In addition there are numerous perpetual RIM and FWS conservation easements in this area.  All these tracts build around Lake Simon which is the focus area of a lot of conservation efforts including the MN Prairie Conservation plan (this area has the highest designation within this plan as a core area), Chippewa 10% Simon Lake Challenge focus area, in a Grassland Bird Conservation Area, is in a priority area for the MN Wildlife Action Plan, and scores a 20 HAPET score (which is the highest USFWS Habitat and Population and Evaluation team designation).  The 320 acre John Giese WPA is an addition to the 5,000+ acre Talcot Lake WMA and 155 acre Talcot Lake WPA.  In addition to being a priority area for many of the same plans above, this Talcot Lake area is a Southwest MN hot spot for all outdoor enthusiasts being comprised of marshes, bottomlands and adjacent grassland and cropland. Talcot Lake is historically important for migrating waterfowl and other species including canada geese, common yellowthroats, northern cardinals, indigo buntings, and ring-necked pheasants. Mammals include beavers, muskrats, white-tailed deer, red foxes, and minks.  With the help of the LSOHC’s recommendations we were able to permanently protect these two high priority tracts helping fulfill the mission of the council and provide recreational opportunities for all Minnesotans. All parcels acquired were restored and/or enhanced to as a high quality as practicable. The grassland restoration included using a broadcast or drill seeded method with a diverse mix of native grasses and forb species. Wetland restorations included using a combination of tile breaking, sediment removal, dike construction, and water control structures. Scattered invasive tree removal and prescribed fire were used where appropriate to enhance existing grassland habitat after protection.",2012-07-01,2014-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Eran,Sandquist,"Pheasants Forever","410 Lincoln Avenue South","South Haven",MN,55382,320-236-7755,esandquist@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Clay, Lac qui Parle, Murray, Stevens, Swift","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-waterfowl-production-area-program-phase-4,,,,
9816,"Accelerated Shallow Lakes and Wetlands Enhancement , Phase 4",2013,3870000,"ML 2012, Ch. 264, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(e)","$3,870,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to develop engineering designs and complete construction to enhance shallow lakes and wetlands. A list of proposed restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. Work must be completed within three years of the effective date of this article.",,"Enhanced 10,085 acres of wetlands ",,,"n/a ",3644000,125300,,10,DNR,"State Government","This proposal impacts shallow lakes and wetlands in Minnesota through the design and construction of projects, enhancement work done by DNR roving habitat crews, and shallow lakes work identified and initiated through the DNR Shallow Lakes program.  Ten thousand acres of wetlands were enhanced by these activities.",,"This OHF-funded project utilized three components - individual project design and construction of wetland and shallow lake infrastructure, habitat enhancement work by DNR Roving Habitat Crews, and an expansion of the DNR Shallow Lakes program.Design and Construction - Twenty-one projects were designed or designed and constructed. Design only projects are surveyed and receive preliminary design plans and support from Minnesota DNR engineers. This initial work is critical to identify project issues, determine realistic cost estimates, and ensure that future construction can proceed with minimal delays. No acres are reported for design-only projects; that occurs only after construction. Eight projects were design-only. Thirteen projects were design and construct. These 13 projects involved the construction or renovation of water control structures, fish barriers and/or dikes. This work enhanced almost 1200 acres, 913 of which were in the Prairie Ecological Section.Roving Habitat Crews - Minnesota DNR Roving Habitat Crews are highly trained, equipped and motivated staff working together to enhance Wildlife Mangement Areas. Begun in 2010, 2 6-person crews were established to work on prairie grasslands, with one crew based in Mentor, MN and one based at Lac Qui Parle. Beginning with this Accelerated Shallow Lakes and Wetland Enhancements, Phase IV, OHF appropriation, funding was provided to the 2 crews to allow to them expand to do wetland enhancement work. Each crew was provided 2 additional staff and they were able to spend 25% of their time and resources on wetland and shallow lake activities. This work included wetland prescribed burns, removal of woody vegetation from wetlands, the ability to work on wetland drawdowns, cattail spraying and mowing, and other wetland activities. The wetland acreage impacted by these crews has exceeded expectations, with 8,900 wetland acres enhanced. Three thousand-four hundred of these acres were enhanced in the Prairie Ecological Section. The most wetland acres were enhanced in Forest/Prairie Ecological Section, which is a function of the large habitat blocks that are available to manage in northwest Minnesota.Shallow Lakes Program - The Minnesota DNR Shallow Lakes Program consists of a supervisor and 8 shallow lakes specialists. Three of these shallow lake specialist positions were created and funded with the Accelerated Shallow Lakes and Wetland Enhancements, Phase IV, OHF appropriation. Interns are used to augment shallow lake assessment work done during the summer field season. The Shallow Lakes Program can be described as having two major goals - assessment of shallow lakes through a standardized set of measures and initiating management of shallow lakes to enhance their value to wildlife. Management actions may include drawdowns, removal of unwanted fish, control of invasive species, and placement of major infrastructure. Acres are not reported for this component of the grant, though the work done by the Shallow Lakes Program is critical to acres subsequently reported by the DNR or Ducks Unlimited when OHF funds are used to implement management. A measure of the work accomplished by OHF-funded shallow lakes specialists is the number of number of shallow lake assessments the undertake during the grant period. For the period during which funding was provided by this OHF grant, the three funded specialists and interns accomplished 491 assessments on shallow lakes covering 160,268 acres.",2012-07-01,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Ricky,Lien,"MN DNR Div. of Fish and Wildlife","500 Lafayette Rd","St. Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5227,ricky.lien@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Benton, Carver, Cottonwood, Freeborn, Itasca, Jackson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Marshall, Mille Lacs, Roseau, Todd, Wilkin, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-shallow-lakes-and-wetlands-enhancement-phase-4,,,,
2548,"Accelerated Aquatic Management Area Habitat Program, Phase 3",2012,6500000,"ML 2011, First Special Session, Ch. 6, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(a)","$6,500,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire interests in land in fee or permanent conservation easements for aquatic management areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02, to restore and enhance aquatic habitat. A list of proposed acquisitions and stream and lake habitat restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The accomplishment plan must include an easement monitoring and enforcement plan.",,"Protect in fee 504 acres, easement 585 acres and Restore/Enhance 537 acres of Habitats",,752500,"value/cash donation",6464000,34900,,1.5,"MN DNR","State Government","We protected 22.3 miles of trout streams and 1.3 miles of lakeshore via easements (585 acres in total), and 7.4 miles (504 acres) of lakeshore through fee-title purchase. We enhanced shoreline habitat on 524 acres of riparian land, and instream habitat on 3.1 miles of trout streams and 0.5 miles of warmwater rivers. ",,"Final Report: http://www.lsohc.leg.mn/FY2012/accomp_plan/5a.pdf Protection of streams through conservation easements was enabled by the hiring of two easement specialists to work on acquisition. One position was funded through OHF, while the other leveraged funds from a Great Lakes Restoration grant. These positions contacted riparian landowners in targeted locations we prioritized for additional easement protection. We chose to target streams with high-quality habitat and fish populations, and along those streams we prioritized parcels that were adjacent to existing easements or protected public land, as well as landowners who owned parcels with longer lengths of stream. We also prioritized parcels with important features such as springs that are important to maintaining the cold water required by trout. All easements also needed to be accessible to the angling public, either from a public road, adjacent easement, or access path. Contacts with landowners were very fruitful; we found more potential parcels that we had money available for easements. This allowed us to prioritize the best parcels for easement purchase based on our criteria, but also created a list of potential parcels for acquisition using other funding sources, including OHF rounds from future years. We protected a total of 21.3 miles of trout streams using easements. One lakeshore parcel was also protected via conservation easement using this appropriation. The landowners (a scout camp) wanted the parcel protected, but also wanted to continue their passive use of the parcel. A conservation easement was a better tool than fee title acquisition in this case, which allowed us to protect 200 acres along 1.3 miles of lakeshore. The total amount of lake and stream shore acres protected by easements was just short of our goal (585 vs. 609), but we believe in the case of lake and stream riparian protection the length of shoreline is the more important measure. Fee title acquisition protected a total of 7.4 miles of lakeshore (504 acres) under this appropriation. We selected parcels for acquisition where the ratio of lakeshore to total acres was high in order to maximize riparian area protected, and where we protected critical and sensitive habitat such as emergent vegetation and natural shorelines that are critical for aquatic fish and wildlife. We were able to exceed our goal for acres protected in fee (504 vs. 427), in part due to over $550,000 in landowner donations of value that leveraged OHF money. We completed four stream habitat projects: two were on trout streams (Eagle and Rush Creeks), and two were on a warmwater rivers (Buffalo and Pomme de Terre Rivers). Eagle Creek had been degraded by years of cattle grazing, along with numerous beaver dams that had created a wide, shallow stream uninhabited by trout, unlike downstream reaches with better habitat. Using a combination of coir logs, rootwads and other woody debris, and grading and revegetating of the streambanks, the stream was narrowed to less than half of its former width. This created a much deeper stream channel with better habitat for fish, as well as the ability for the stream to better move the over-abundance of sand that comprised the stream bottom. Trout are now found in the restored half-mile of stream. The local watershed district contributed matching funds that helped to complete the project. Rush Creek habitat work has enhanced 2.5 miles of this trout stream. Steep eroding banks have been graded back, creating a floodplain that reduces the erosive energy of the stream during high water. Habitat structures of wood and rock have been placed in strategic locations on outside bends, providing stability to streambanks as well as cover for fish. All riparian areas have been seeded with a native mix of deep-rooted prairie grasses and forbs, providing enhanced stability for streambanks and habitat for terrestrial wildlife. Restoration of a reach of the Buffalo River was done on property owned by the City of Hawley. A formerly straightened reach of the river, the stream had eroding banks and lacked diverse depths, velocities, and cover required by most fish species. 2,700 feet of new meandering stream channel was constructed to restore the stream to a more natural condition, and outside bends were stabilized with woody material buried into the banks which not only provides stability while planted native vegetation becomes established, but also provides habitat for fish and aquatic insects. Enhancement work on the Pomme de Terre River was done on a relatively small area, but was critical to habitat in that reach. Due to bank erosion, the stream was in the process of cutting around a riffle that controls the grade of the streambed in that reach. That could have eventually lead to a downcutting of the stream channel that would have sent tons of sediment downstream. Instead, the streambank was stabilized using rootwads, and additional gravel and cobbles were added to the riffle to enhance its stability, as well as local habitat.",2011-07-20,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Brian,Nerbonne,DNR,"500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5205,brian.nerbonne@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Blue Earth, Cass, Chisago, Clay, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Houston, Hubbard, Itasca, Kandiyohi, Lake, Morrison, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Redwood, Rice, Scott, St. Louis, Swift, Wabasha, Winona","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-aquatic-management-area-habitat-program-phase-3,,,,
23902,"Accelerated Shallow Lakes and Wetland Enhancement Phase VI",2015,877700,"ML 2014, Ch. 256, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(e)","$1,050,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to enhance and restore shallow lakes statewide. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"Enhanced 19,365 acres. ",,,,820100,86500,,,DNR,"State Government","Many of Minnesota's wetlands have been lost and the remainder degraded.  Recent tiling and ditching have accelerated this situation.  Through this program, shallow lakes and wetlands were designed, constructed, and intensively managed to benefit wetland wildlife and Minnesota residents.  Habitat accomplishments from this proposal have enhanced 19,365 acres of wetlands and shallow lakes to benefit waterfowl and wetland wildlife.  Work was accomplish through constructed infrastructure, cattail control, and a significant prescribed wetland burn. ",,"Approximately 30 species of waterfowl are regular migrants through Minnesota. More than a dozen breed and nest in Minnesota. While each of these species has its own particular habitat needs the common bond is a dependence on wetland habitat for survival. Meeting the needs of these waterfowl requires a complex of wetland sizes and types ranging from temporary and seasonal wetlands to large permanent shallow lakes.  Habitat work accomplished with this OHF appropriation contributes to the needs of these waterfowl and other wetland-associated wildlife. Five wetland/shallow lake infrastructure projects were designed and completed (Carlos Avery WMA, Anoka County; Joe River WMA, Kittson County; Cornish Flowage, Aitkin County; Mille Lacs WMA, Mille Lacs County; and Dry Sand WMA, Cass County).  These projects improved or replaced dikes and water level control structures.  These projects enhanced 3,079 acres of wetland habitat.  In addition to these design and construct projects, another four projects were design only.  Because of the complexity of many shallow lake and wetland infrastructure projects, we sometimes begin by bringing in engineers to survey and design potential projects.  We can use this initial information to develop cost estimates, obtain permits, and determine if and when to move ahead with construction.  Because design-only projects do not entail construction, no acres are claimed for these projects, as is consistent with our past reports. These four design-only projects were at Spohn WMA, Quistorff WMA, Aurzada WMA, and Ruff-Nik WMA, all in Todd County. 6,068 acres of invasive cattails were sprayed statewide.  This work was done in both 2015 and 2018.  The work in 2015 was done using private contractors, but in 2018 we were able to do the work using a state-owned helicopter outfitted with an OHF-funded spray unit and using the OHF-funded Roving Habitat Crews as ground support personnel. The acreage of cattails sprayed includes 13.3 acres of a new invasive grass that was discovered at McCarthy Lake WMA.  We were able to effectively deal with this potential threat thanks to the equipment and personnel we now have available.  While aerial spraying of monotypic stands of cattails can't resolve the problem statewide due to the extent of their coverage, property managers are excited to have aerial spraying as a means to improve wetland habitat at select sites.   Finally, a major prescribed wetland burn was funded out of this appropriation which enhanced 10,200 acres.  This was one of the largest prescribed burns ever done in Minnesota.  The effectiveness of this burn and it's relatively low cost have property managers considering future large wetland burns. In total, 19,365 wetland acres were enhanced by this appropriation, well above the Accomplishment Plan goal. ",2014-07-01,2019-10-31,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Ricky,Lien,"MN DNR Div. of Fish and Wildlife","500 Lafayette Rd ","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5227",ricky.lien@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Beltrami, Cass, Chippewa, Clearwater, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Isanti, Jackson, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Mahnomen, Marshall, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Roseau, St. Louis, Stearns, Wabasha, Washington, Wilkin, Wright","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-shallow-lakes-and-wetland-enhancement-phase-vi,,,,
2530,"Accelerated Prairie Restoration and Enhancement on DNR Lands, Phase 3",2012,1652000,"ML 2011, First Special Session, Ch. 6, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(b)","$1,652,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate the restoration and enhancement on wildlife management areas, scientific and natural areas, and land under native prairie bank easements.",,"Enhance 20,600 acres of prairie",,,n/a,1567500,39800,,8.80,"MN DNR","State Government","This appropriation funded 283 projects totaling 21,953 acres. The two largest types of enhancement were 112 woody removal projects totaling 10,160 acres and 134 prescribed burns totaling 10,082 acres. Additionally, we seeded 30 sites totaling 1386 acres, put in infrastructure for conservation grazing of 236 acres on 3 sites, conducted 3 oak savanna enhancements totaling 42 acres, and treated 47 acres of invasive species on 2 sites.",,"Final ReportThis was a shared appropriation between the Fish & Wildlife (FAW) and the Ecological & Water Resources (EWR) Divisions within the DNR.  Both Divisions requested priority grassland projects from field staff across the state.  When this appropriation was funded, the Prairie Plan and other large-scale prairie-focused strategic plans were still in their infancy.  Parcels on the initial parcel list included in the funding request were developed primarily using priorities developed at the regional and areas levels by Area Wildlife Managers and SNA field staff. The parcel list changed substantially from the time of the request as the project went on because of several factors, including: 1) one of the core strengths of the Roving Crew is their flexibility to move quickly on a priority habitat enhancement opportunity, and this often meant addressing parcels that met the appropriation’s purpose, but not on the parcel list; 2) given the nature and purpose of the Roving Crew, parcels/projects done by them were not on the original list, but were added upon completion; and 3) site condition and weather help determine whether we can work on a given project on a given day, and we do our best to find alternate parcels of similar value/priority, even if not on the original parcel list, to maximize efficiency.  Especially when it comes to weather issues (usually ‘too wet’), often large areas affected.  The flexibility of the Roving Crew allowed them to do same enhancement work, but on WMAs in nearby counties not as affected by the weather. For all these reasons, we added a number of sites in counties not originally included in the parcel list.  Although it can make reporting challenging, we feel this dynamic flexibility is one of the strengths of our Roving Crews and our contracting process.  While many appropriations highlight specific projects, “what” they did, we feel the strength of this appropriation is in the cumulative effect of many small projects and “how” we did it.  Specifically, we did a lot of this work by developing the Region 4 (Southern) DNR Roving Crew.  This crew is located at Lac Qui Parle.  As part of developing a new crew, office and shop space had to be developed, crews hired, and those crews needed to be equipped.  That was followed by a steep learning curve as the crew coalesced and began working on projects.  These crews only do habitat work.  We try to minimize the time spent with paperwork, office work, budgets, etc, so that they can fully devote their time to ‘boots on the ground’ habitat enhancement projects.  At the same time, there were some inclement weather patterns during these years that limited the activities of the crews during some periods.  Even given those unavoidable issues, the appropriation exceeded its target acres.  It is our assessment that these initial years are the slowest and therefore least productive.  This crew, as well as the other two, are all functioning as highly efficient teams.  The rest of the work was done with contractors, which stimulates local rural economies.  According to the research literature, we actually underestimating the acres enhanced, especially as it relates to woody removal projects.  Numerous studies show it’s not just the area ‘under the trees’ that impact grassland birds, but the area around the woody vegetation.  Some species simply won’t nest near woody cover and other studies show high nest predation (gamebird) or brood parasitism (songbirds) rates near woody cover.  By removing even a few trees from the center of a grassland, we are actually enhancing the entire area.  Snyder (1984) found that pheasant nest success double greater than 600 meters from a tree.  That means for every tree, or clump of trees, removed we are effectively enhancing nesting success in the surrounding 280 acres of grassland.Although this appropriation focused on the Roving Crew, we can highlight a couple projects as small examples of all the work that we are proud of.  Glenflur WMA – Cottonwood County.  This 165 acre tree removal project substantially opened up this tract.  This WMA is part of the Cottonwood River Prairie Core Area and contains areas of unbroken prairie.  This site had not experienced significance disturbance, other than heavy grazing, in several decades.  A lack of disturbance had allowed tree succession to begin to invade. Prairie Bush Clover and Loggerhead Shrike are SGCN noted in this area.Lac qui Parle WMA-Nygard Tract – Swift County.  This tract is part of the larger Chippewa Prairie on the Lac qui Parle WMA and is part of a Prairie Plan Core Area.  This remnant prairie had been moderately grazed and had not seen disturbance by fire in decades.  Woody encroachment was beginning to take hold prior to this project.  Through a combination of tree removal, prescribed burning and grazing this site is now in good condition with sightings of several native prairie species that were suppressed due to lack of disturbance from fire.  This area has recent sightings of Marbled Godwits, Slender Milk Vetch, Loggerhead Shrike and Upland Sandpipers.The SNA Program was able to start a series of contracted woody removal projects at Swede’s Forest SNA.  Swede’s Forest is home to a large population of the rare five-lined skink.  The management being completed here is focused on removal of encroaching red cedar and invasive buckthorn, improving habitat not only for the five-lined skink but also for the multiple other wildlife species that call this site home.Additionally, SNA staff, with support of CCM, were able to conduct a 109 acre prescribed burn at Prairie Coteau SNA.  Prairie Coteau SNA is one of the most important and stunning prairies in southwestern Minnesota.  This prescribed burn helped improve habitat for grassland gamebird species found on the site in addition to the rare non-game species.It was difficult to assign an exact dollar figure to each person and each project.  What I did was take the total personnel budget, identify the ratio of FTE/years, and scale the personnel budget to that ratio.  I used the same approach on the parcel list.  I took the total budget and total acres, identified percentage of acres for each project relative to the acre total, and assigned the ratio of funds to that project. ",2011-07-01,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Greg,Hoch,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Rd","St. Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5230,greg.hoch@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Isanti, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Otter Tail, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Swift, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Washington, Watonwan, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-prairie-restoration-and-enhancement-dnr-lands-phase-3,,,,
2536,"Accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area Program, Phase 3",2012,9815000,"ML 2011, First Special Session, Ch. 6, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(h)","$9,815,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to accelerate the acquisition of wetlands and grasslands to be added to the waterfowl production area system in Minnesota in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Protect in Fee 465 acres of wetland and 1,802 acres of prairies",,5896500,"PF, FWS, Federal Operation Funds",9815000,,,9.37,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This program accelerated the permanent protection of 2,267 acres of wetlands (465 acres) and grasslands (1,802 acres) as Waterfowl Production Areas open to public hunting in Minnesota. Over the course of the appropriation, PF acquired 18 parcels for a total of 2,267 acres which exceeded our total acre goal of 2,250 acres by 17 acres. Breaking down acres by ecological section we exceeded our acre goal for both the metropolitan area by 61 acres and in the prairie area by 346 acres. We have exceeded anticipated match of $5,125,000 by $771,500. We have a balance of $88,200 that will be returned to the Fund despite exceeding our acre goals which demonstrates the high level of efficiency which Pheasants Forever operates at. In total, we under-spent on our budget, over delivered on acre goals, and over delivered on match leverage received.",,"Final ReportWorking in close collaboration with partners, Pheasants Forever acquired 2,267 acres of strategic habitat that builds onto existing protected lands and/or develops corridors for wildlife.  All lands acquired have been enrolled into the Federal Waterfowl Production Area (WPA) Program and will be protected and managed in perpetuity by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).  We have worked together with federal, state and local partners when acquiring the 18 parcels which will now be celebrated as new WPAs.  These new WPAs not only provides access and recreational opportunities for all Minnesotans, but helps reduce erosion, improve water filtration, and provide quality habitat for many of Minnesota's non-game species.  The offers to the landowner were based on fair market values and appraisals.  The acquired parcels addressed a backlog of willing sellers that now are helping slow the loss, degradation, and fragmentation of habitat in Minnesota.  Parcels were identified jointly with the USFWS, ranked, and prioritized on habitat goals and feasibility.  Pheasants Forever's methods are formed around the principle of accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area program in MN by targeting only the best available habitat with willing sellers.  We utilize local partner expertise to focus on building a system of interconnected wildlife complexes that create habitat mosaics.  We also utilize the latest geospatial layers to help determine factors such as: habitat restoration potential, landscape scale significance, presence of rare features and native habitat, and how these acquisitions fit into other priorities for our partners such as the MN Prairie Conservation Plan, the Pheasant Action Plan, or the State Wildlife Action Plan.  All parcels acquired were restored and/or enhanced to as a high quality as practicable. The grassland restoration included using a broadcast or drill seeded method with a diverse mix of native grasses and forb species. Wetland restorations included using a combination of tile breaking, sediment removal, dike construction, and water control structures. Scattered invasive tree removal and prescribed fire were used where appropriate to enhance existing grassland habitat after protection.",2011-07-20,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Eran,Sandquist,"Pheasants Forever","410 Lincoln Avenue South","South Haven",MN,55382,612-532-3800,esandquist@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Blue Earth, Clay, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Meeker, Murray, Otter Tail, Pope, Rice, Sibley, Wright","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-waterfowl-production-area-program-phase-3,,,,
2540,"Accelerated Forest Habitat Enhancement, Phase 2",2012,826000,"ML 2011, First Special Session, Ch. 6, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 3(c )","$826,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore and enhance lands in state forests, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 89.021.",,"Restored 24 acres and Enhanced 11,066 acres of Forest",,,,824400,10400,,0.03,"MN DNR","State Government","This program of on-the-ground conservation projects increased the wildlife and ecological values of forest communities on Minnesota's public forestlands. Restoration and enhancement projects in this program enhanced more than 10,000 acres of forest.",,"The projects in this program were designed to address the following management objectives:1.  Enhance forest communities by altering the plant species composition and/or structure.  These projects were accomplished by, for example, conducting hand release to enhance the growth of Northern red oak saplings and trees to increase mast available for wildlife, and meet the Forest Planning goal to FRMP goal of ""improving  the regeneration and increasing the presence of oak and pine across the landscape.""2.  Enhance brushland habitat by altering the plant species structure and/or composition.  Shearing projects were performed on lowland brush to set back succession in mature willow stands to improve cover and forage for deer and moose, and to enhance nesting and brood rearing habitat for a variety of game and non-game brushland dependent avian species. Perpetuation of the brushland component of the Aspen Parklands landscape helped to predispose these stands to future management with prescribed fire.This program worked to enhance oak regeneration and create a mix of young hardwood forest with more open meadow/brush lands to benefit grouse, elk, and deer.  Enhancement of conifer stands and mixed hardwood/conifer forests provided habitat for fisher and marten, and thermal cover for deer and moose. Shearing of trees and brush in large open landscape priority areas enhanced habitat for sharp-tailed grouse. Shearing and mowing of hardwoods and brush in smaller patches enhanced habitat for woodcock and deer.The program also enhanced habitat for a number of nongame species, including yellow rails, sandhill cranes, northern harriers, bobolinks, and sandpipers.  Activities that created/enhanced forest openings provided habitat for nongame species, including least chipmunks, northern flickers, coopers hawks, and song sparrows. Some of the less intensive timber management in our program helped protect rare native plant communities and a number of nongame species through retention and enhancement of plant species diversity and structure.",2011-07-20,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Bob,Welsh,DNR,"500 Lafayette Rd","St. Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5169,bob.welsh@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hubbard, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Marshall, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Olmsted, Roseau, St. Louis, Stearns, Wadena, Winona","Forest Prairie Transition, Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-forest-habitat-enhancement-phase-2,,,,
35018,"Accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area Acquisition - Phase VII",2016,7620000,"ML 2015, First Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(a)","$7,620,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire land in fee to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"263 Wetland acres, 1,221 Prairie acres, and 24 Forest acres (for a total of 1,508 acres) Protected in Fee without State PILT Liability. ",,4998400,"Federal, Private, PF  ",7589900,13100,,0.27,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This proposal accelerates the permanent protection of 900 acres of wetlands (225 acres) and grasslands (675 acres) as Waterfowl Production Areas open to public hunting in Minnesota. ",,"Conversion of grassland and wetlands for other uses have not only contributed to many native species population declines, but also impacted water quality, groundwater recharge cycles, and natural flood cycles. Permanent acquisition and restoration of grasslands and wetlands is one of the major tools we have for reversing this trend. This seventh phase of the WPA acceleration program acquired and restored a total of 1,506.35 acres of grasslands and wetland habitat as permanently protected WPA’s managed by the USFWS. Pheasants Forever and USFWS staff collaborated to generate a list of parcels with landowners who had the desire to sell. The parcel’s ecological impact was evaluated using landscape level planning tools developed by the USFWS Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET). These tools utilize Thunderstorm Maps to predict productivity of breeding waterfowl, grassland birds, and other wildlife species for the potential parcel and surrounding area. By utilizing these tools, we were able to focus efforts in areas where acquisitions and restorations will make the greatest impact on the landscape and thus these additional acres of WPA are very beneficial to wildlife and public recreation. Pheasants Forever notified counties prior to acquisition of lands. Once acquired, the UFWS will make a one-time Trust Fund payment to the County where the property is located. Additionally, the USFWS will make annual Refuge Revenue Sharing payments for all fee lands within the respective counties. Once acquired, wetlands on each parcel were restored by installing surface ditch “plugs” and or breaking subsurface tile. Some wetlands may also have had sediment removed to create proper substrates for wetland function and vegetative growth. Grasslands were restored by planting a high-diversity native seed mix of grasses and forbs that are regionally appropriate to the area. As with all restoration work there are challenges that come from weather and working with private contractors but we did not face any major issues. ",2015-07-01,2021-08-11,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Eran,Sandquist,"Pheasants Forever","410 Lincoln Ave S Box 91","South Haven",MN,55382,"(320) 236-7755",esandquist@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Blue Earth, Carver, Douglas, Faribault, Lincoln, Mahnomen, Murray, Otter Tail, Stearns, Stevens, Swift","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-waterfowl-production-area-acquisition-phase-vii,,,,
35026,"Accelerating the Wildlife Management Area Program - Phase VII",2016,7452000,"ML 2015, First Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(b)","$7,452,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire land in fee for wildlife management area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquisition of lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"749 Wetland acres, 1,318 Prairie acres, and 40 Forest acres (for a total of 2,107 acres) Protected in Fee with State PILT Liability,  ",,1518500,"Federal, PF, Private ",7440000,12000,,0.28,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This proposal accelerates the protection of 900 acres of prairie grassland, wetland, and other wildlife habitat as State Wildlife Management Areas open to public hunting. ",,"Conversion of grassland and wetlands for other uses have not only contributed to many native species population declines, but also impacted water quality, groundwater recharge cycles, and natural flood cycles. Permanent acquisition and restoration of grasslands and wetlands is one of the major tools we have for reversing this trend. This seventh phase of the WMA acceleration program acquired and restored a total of 2,100.19 acres of grasslands and wetland habitat as permanently protected WMA's. Due to our ability to partner with other conservation groups and agencies such as the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, we are able to bring leverage to the program and far exceed the goals of this phase. Pheasants Forever and MN DNR staff collaborated to generate a list of parcels with landowners who had the desire to sell. The parcel’s ecological impact was evaluated using landscape level planning tools such USFWS Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET), The MN Prairie Conservation Plan and The Pheasant Action Plan among others. By utilizing these tools, we were able to focus efforts in areas where acquisitions and restorations will make the greatest impact on the landscape and thus these additional acres of WMA are very beneficial to wildlife and public recreation. Once acquired, wetlands on each parcel were restored by installing surface ditch “plugs” and or breaking subsurface tile. Some wetlands may also have had sediment removed to create proper substrates for wetland function and vegetative growth. Grasslands were restored by planting a high-diversity native seed mix of grasses and forbs that are regionally appropriate to the area. As with all restoration work, there are challenges that come from weather and working with private contractors, but we did not face any major issues. ",2015-07-01,2021-08-05,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Eran,Sandquist,"Pheasants Forever","410 Lincoln Ave S Box 91","South Haven",MN,55382,"(320) 236-7755",esandquist@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Carver, Douglas, Grant, Kandiyohi, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Nobles, Pope, Rock, Stearns, Wright, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-wildlife-management-area-program-phase-vii-0,,,,
35033,"Accelerated Native Prairie Bank Protection - Phase IV",2016,2957700,"ML 2015, First Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(e )","$3,740,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to implement the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan through the acquisition of permanent conservation easements to protect native prairie and grasslands. Up to $165,000 is for establishing monitoring and enforcement funds as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquisition of lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the final report. ",,"Protected 1,342 acres (in easement) ",,,,2937400,34500,,0.40,DNR,"State Government","The Native Prairie Bank Program perpetually protected via conservation easement 1,342 acres of native prairie from willing landowners.  This exceeds the original outcome goal of 760 acres by 582 acres.   Easement acquisition focused on Minnesota Prairie Plan identified landscapes and targeted high quality prairies that provide valuable wildlife habitat. ",,"The loss of native prairie and associated grassland habitat is arguably the greatest conservation challenge facing western and southern Minnesota. This appropriation aimed to protect 760 acres of native prairie habitat by accelerating the enrollment of Native Prairie Bank easements. Not only were the prairie protection outcomes met but they were exceeded by 582 acres.  Acceleration, such as this, is necessary to address the loss of native prairie and associated grasslands. Today, only about 1.3% of Minnesota’s original 18 million acres of prairie remains. The few remaining acres of native prairie once were thought of as unsuitable for crop production, however with advancements in technology and equipment, in addition to growing competition for tillable acres, this is no longer the case.  Unfortunately, grassland-to-cropland conversion is not the only impact to native prairie, significant degradation and loss is also occurring due to property development, mineral extraction and lack of prairie-oriented management. If the current trajectory of grassland and prairie loss continues it will be devastating to grassland dependent wildlife populations. Recognizing that protecting grassland and wetland habitat is one of the most critical conservation challenges facing Minnesota, over a dozen leading conservation organizations have developed a road map for moving forward – the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. This plan calls for several outcomes, one being the protection of all remaining native prairie, largely through conservation easements. One of the primary easement tools for native prairie protection in Minnesota is the DNR administered Native Prairie Bank easement. Native Prairie Bank was established by the 1987 legislature to protect private native prairie lands by authorizing the state to acquire conservation easements from willing landowners. Native Prairie Bank targets the protection of native prairie tracts, but can also include adjoining lands as buffers and additional habitat.  Originally, this appropriation aimed to protect 760 acres of native prairie through Native Prairie Bank easements. Eligible tracts were to be located within priority landscapes identified in the Minnesota Prairie Plan and prioritized based on several evaluation factors including:     1) Size and quality of habitat, focusing on diverse native prairie communities that have been identified by the Minnesota Biological Survey    2) The occurrence of rare species, or suitability habitat for rare species    3) Lands that are part of a larger habitat complex Ultimately, 10 native prairie parcels for a total of 1,342 acres (582 acres more than initial 760 acre goal) were perpetually protected through this appropriation via Native Prairie Bank Easements.  These now protected native prairies are unique natural resources that consist of thousands of different organisms, plants, animals, bacteria and soil fungi.  Their complex interactions provide the food, water and shelter required by many of Minnesota’s rare, threatened and endangered species. These prairies house a wide variety of pollinator species, some of which often cannot survive in other habitats, including prairie restorations.  ",2015-07-01,2019-10-23,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Judy,Schulte,"MN DNR","1241 E Bridge Street ","Redwood Falls",MN,56283,"(507) -637-6016",judy.schulte@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Clay, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Polk, Redwood, Wilkin, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-native-prairie-bank-protection-phase-iv,,,,
35038,"Accelerated Shallow Lakes and Wetland Enhancement - Phase VII",2016,2130000,"ML 2015, First Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(d)","$2,130,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to enhance and restore shallow lakes statewide. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"28,101 Wetland acres Enhanced. ",,,,1889400,77000,,4,DNR,"State Government","This proposal will address a backlog of shallow lake and wetland habitat work that will otherwise go unfunded. These projects will address work called for in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan, Long Range Duck Recovery Plan, and Shallow Lakes plan. ",,"Engineering and construction of major shallow lake and wetland infrastructure includes work on water control structures, dikes, and fish barriers to improve wetland habitat management. Five major infrastructure projects were constructed with funding from this appropriation. The five (Carex Slough/Freeborn County, Mahlke Marsh/Lyon County, Hovland/Mahnomen County, Roseau River WMA Pool 2/Roseau County, and Staples/Todd County) all began with property manager submission of the projects into an annual Section of Wildlife project solicitation process. All projects undergo Regional and Central Office review, with wetland and shallow lake projects receiving additional review by Wetland Habitat Team members. Suitable projects are selected for inclusion in OHF proposals. Given the complexity of major wetland infrastructure projects, OHF project lists in Accomplishment Plans undergo continual adjustments based on engineering assessments, budget projections, and to seek efficient use of appropriation funds. Reflective of the expense often incurred in major wetland infrastructure projects, expenditures for these five projects accounted for 43% of the total expenditures for this appropriation. Four major shallow lake/wetland management actions were implemented to enhance habitat - Simon Lake Drawdown and Fish Treatment/Pope County, Raguet WMA Wetland Tree Removal/Carver County, a major wetland prescribed burn at Roseau River WMA/Roseau County, and a channel cleanout at Moose-Willow Flowage/Aitkin County. Both projects were initiated, reviewed and selected for inclusion in an OHF appropriation by the aforementioned process and both projects presented unique challenges that are typical of complex wetland projects. Water levels at Simon Lake were reduced by gravity drawdown as much as possible, then was supplemented by pumps. When reduced as much as practical, a private company was hired to apply rotenone to remove unwanted fish. Unfortunately, the private company quit only hours after beginning the rotenone application. In an amazing move, the DNR Shallow Lakes Program immediately began work to undertake the rotenone application in-house. One year after the private company quit the treatment, a highly coordinated operation involving DNR Shallow Lakes and Roving Habitat Crew staff successfully implemented the treatment. Follow up assessments reported a successful fish treatment and a subsequent improvement in habitat quality at Simon Lake. Tree removal at Raguet WMA in Carver proved challenging as well. Existence of a high quality fen in the project area prohibited the use of large equipment. Instead, cut trees were removed by pulling them offsite with cables and winches to protect the fen. The prescribed burn of a wetland occurred in August 2019 at Roseau River WMA and involved 7,350 acres. The project ""burn boss"" said the burn was done to set back brush encroachment and cattails in a sedge meadow. One month after the burn, significant rainfall at the site raised water levels and flooded the burned cattails. Thick beds of wild rice were reported in areas in which cattails had previously been dominant. Finally, a channel cleanout was conducted in the downsteam channel of the Moose- Willow Flowage in Aitkin County. Channels often become shallower as sediment is deposited. The shallow channels can be more conducive to growth of cattails. The double-whammy of shallower channels and cattails can result in higher water levels in upstream basins. The Moose-Willow Flowage had declined as habitat due to the described sedimentation and cattail growth. A specialized piece of equipment known as a Cookiecutter was utilized to cleanout the channel is what will be a two phase plan to improve Moose-Willow. Phase I was the channel cleanout. Phase II will see installation of a new water control structure. An exciting activity undertaken with this appropriation is the outfitting of a DNR helicopter with equipment to all annual spraying of invasive cattails. Credit for initiating this goes to DNR Pilot Brad Maas, who saw the potential to add spray equipment to an existing under-utilized helicopter. OHF funding was used for a capital equipment purchase of both a aerial spray unit and new avionics for the helicopter. This new equipment allows for annual spraying of approximately 2500 acres of invasive hybrid cattails. A standardized process has developed for the annual work. Early in the calendar year, the supervisor of all DNR Roving Habitat Crews puts out a call for potential cattail spray sites. The combined list of projects is mapped and projects to be treated are selected based on property manager ranking of needs and proximity of projects to each other and their statewide location. Helicopter landing sites are chosen and property managers are responsible for mowing the landing sites and proving proper public notice. Specially trained staff from Roving Habitat Crews are utilized as ground support for the helicopter. Thirty-five individual parcels were treated in the first year of utilizing the DNR helicopter. Prior to obtaining the ability to use the DNR helicopter to spray cattails, three parcels were sprayed by contracted companies, also with this appropriation. Direct comparison of these two spray methods (private company vs. DNR helicopter) shows that the DNR helicopter allows us to get this work done at less cost and with more control over the timing of the treatment and size of the treated areas. Funding from this appropriation was utilized for wetland enhancement work by two Roving Habitat Crews, the Region 3 crew based out of Vermillion and the Region 4 crew based out of Lac qui Parle. Wetland habitat enhancement conducted by Roving Habitat Crews can include tree removal from wetlands, small scale spraying of cattails and other invasive vegetation, seeding wild rice, conducting drawdowns, sediment removal from small wetland basins, and actual construction of small wetland infrastructure projects. Roving Habitat Crew Leaders are constantly receiving submissions from DNR property managers for potential habitat projects and develop priorities based on Department priorities and the need to address requirement imposed by funding rules. Thirty- two individual wetland enhancement projects were reported by the two Roving Habitat Crews. Of the 28,101 wetland acres impacted by this appropriation, the reported wetland enhancement work done by Roving Habitat Crews accounted for 11,056 acres at a cost of just over $35/acre. ",2015-07-01,2021-11-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Ricky,Lien,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road Box 20","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5227",ricky.lien@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Beltrami, Big Stone, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Freeborn, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pope, Roseau, Stearns, Swift, Todd, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wright, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-shallow-lakes-and-wetland-enhancement-phase-vii,,,,
35045,"Accelerated Prairie Restoration and Enhancement on DNR Lands - Phase VII",2016,4880000,"ML 2015, First Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(k)","$4,880,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate the restoration and enhancement of prairie communities on wildlife management areas, scientific and natural areas, state forest land, and land under native prairie bank easements. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",," 1,152 Prairie acres Restored.  22,195 Prairie acres Enhanced.  Total of 23,347 Prairie acres affected. ",,,,4534500,297400,,19.95,DNR,"State Government","We propose restoration and enhancement of prairie and savanna on WMA’s, SNA’s, and Native Prairie Banks in Minnesota and restoration and enhancement of bluff prairies on State Forest Land in southeast Minnesota. ",,"We select projects using a number of criteria and reviews to make sure the DNR was spending these funds in the best and most productive ways. We can summarize our results in the following table. Project Type # sites Total Acres Interseeding 32 416 Invasive Species Control 33 1,058 Prescribed Fire 196 13,382 Prescribed Grazing 5 531 Woody Removal 166 6,808 Prairie Restoration 46 1,152 This appropriation involved the Roving Crews. These Crews allow the DNR to be very flexible. While they have a list of projects to work on, they can also respond fairly quickly if there's an enhancement opportunity shows up. For instance, a short dry period in a part of the state may allow them to conduct a late summer prescribed fire which was not in any of the original work plans. Roving Crews have begun experimenting with different burn seasons. Typically, we burn in the spring before the nesting season. However, this can stimulate the warm-season grasses and begin to crowd out forbs, lowering plant diversity. Burning in the late summer, after birds have fledged but with enough time for some late summer regrowth, has shown to increase both plant diversity as well as structural diversity in the habitat. Just as important, it can knock back the dominant grasses such as big bluestem and Indian grass just enough for forbs to express themselves the following year. Although 23,247 acres appears to be a large number, we feel the actual acres benefitted may be much larger. For instance, we know nest predation of grassland birds is higher near woody vegetation and some birds just won't nest near woody veg. By removing trees, we are impacting both the footprint of where those trees were but also the surrounding grassland where nest success should now be higher. Esthetically, it creates a more open landscape visually which is usually appreciated by grassland enthusiasts. Especially when near ungrazed grassland, grazing can have larger benefits. Birds used grazed areas primarily during the summer when birds are young. Having ungrazed grassland, good nesting cover, next to grazed grassland, good brood rearing cover, should increase overall number of birds that survive into the fall. I have personally visited a number of public lands grazing sites in western Minnesota and have always been impressed with what I've seen. Although grazing is a summer activity, I've flushed a number of birds, both pheasants and songbirds, from these areas in the fall. Often the biggest benefit to grazing comes in the first couple years after grazing as the habitat is regrowing. Although there is still much to learn, we have learned a lot in recent years about restoration techniques. We still use several methods for restoring prairie and there's probably no one perfect way of doing it. It's very clear to even someone without botanical training when they are walking through a recent restoration and an older restoration. Even if they can't identify every plant, the diversity people see is striking. This in comparison to older restorations which are strongly dominated by only a couple species of grasses. The DNR has traditionally focused on game species such as pheasants. However, there is more and more interest in pollinators and biodiversity. Fortunately, just about every study out there shows that management and restoration for pollinators and songbirds often creates the best habitat for game species. Diverse, healthy, productive habitat is good for a wide range of species. As we continue to use these funds, costs for projects will probably increase. In the early years of these funds, we completed a number of simpler or easier projects, the low-hanging fruit. Now we are left with the larger and more challenging projects. While they are good habitat projects, they will probably increase in costs over time. In our budget table, we prorated our budget for individual projects by the acres accomplished. Staff funding was combined into one value. Identifying funding for each position would be an accounting challenge. ",2015-07-01,2021-11-08,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Greg,Hoch,"DNR Wildlife","500 Lafayette Rd ","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5230",greg.hoch@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-prairie-restoration-and-enhancement-dnr-lands-phase-vii,,,,
35080,"Accelerated Shallow Lakes and Wetland Enhancement - Phase VIII",2017,2167000,"ML 2016, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(e )","$2,167,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to enhance and restore shallow lakes and wetland habitat statewide. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"22,142 enhanced wetland acres ",,,,1918400,109200,,"7 ",DNR,"State Government","This proposal will accomplish shallow lake and wetland habitat work that will otherwise go unfunded. This work is called for in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan, Long Range Duck Recovery Plan, and Shallow Lakes plan. ",,"ML2016 Accelerated Shallow Lakes and Wetland Enhancement Phase 8 entailed three components. * Engineering, Construction, and/or Management of Individual Shallow Lake/Wetland Projects - Fourteen individual projects were undertaken with funding from this appropriation. Two of these projects, Swamp Lake (Aitkin County) and Puposky Lake (Beltrami County), entailed extensive cleanout of outlet channels leading to better water level management. These projects are necessary when downstream outlets become clogged with sediment and vegetation and water levels in shallow lakes become abnormally high. Specialized (and expensive) equipment such as Swamp Devils, Cookie Cutters, or extended-reach excavators, removed accumulated sediments and other obstructions to surveyed levels. The resulting water elevations return to lower levels and habitat benefits are often dramatic. Five projects - Clear Lake (Murray County) Eckvoll WMA (Marshall County), Typhoon WMA (Cottonwood County), Sterle Pool/Sawyer WMA (Carlton County), and Buena Vista (Beltrami County) - were completed and involved engineering and construction of wetland/shallow lake infrastructure such as dikes and water control structures. In all of these projects, engineering was done in-house (i.e. DNR engineers) and private contractors were used for the construction. Finally, seven infrastructure projects were engineered only, with construction planned for the future. Doing this initial engineering allows us to determine project feasibility, identify construction obstacles, and obtain accurate cost estimates for materials and construction. While five of these engineering-only projects were accomplished with in-house engineers, the other two projects were completed with private engineering consultants, as in-house engineering is becoming more difficult to obtain. Obtaining needed engineering support is an issue we continue to look at. *Shallow Lakes Program - The Shallow Lakes Program is a high-visibility program within the DNR Section of Wildlife that uses single-focused Shallow Lakes Specialists to (1) perform standardized assessments of shallow lakes and (2) to bring about needed management or infrastructure changes where needed to enhance shallow lake habitat. Work by these Specialists guides Shallow Lakes work by both DNR Wildlife staff and NGOs. Funding from this appropriation allowed the addition of three Shallow Lake Specialists who are stationed at Detroit Lakes, Tower, and Brainerd and provided their funding for three fiscal years - Fy17-FY19. During this time the Specialists reported doing 183 shallow lake assessments covering 76,602 acres. This assessment work directly leads to shallow lake project initiation by the DNR and DU to address needed management and infrastructure issues that lead to enhanced habitat. * Roving Habitat Crews - Roving Habitat Crews are teams of DNR staff who are equipped and trained to performP a g e 3 | 12 habitat enhancement projects on public lands. Funding from this appropriation was provided to the Region 1 Roving Habitat Crew to enable it to perform wetland enhancement activities through the addition of two roving crew members and their associated costs for three fiscal years (FY17-FY19). Typical wetland enhancement activities undertaken by Roving Habitat Crews include prescribed burns of wetlands, removal of invasive species and trees from wetlands, support of shallow lake drawdowns, and seeding wild rice. The Region 1 Roving Habitat Crew notably was involved in recent wetland management actions for which acres were reported in other appropriations and will not be reported in this report to avoid double-counting. Examples include the 7,000+ acre prescribed wetland burn that was done at Roseau River WMA. The Reg. 1 Roving Habitat Crew initiated, planned, and led the large effort to do this burn, but the acres were reported in the ML2015 Shallow Lakes and Wetland Enhancements Phase 7 Final Report, which provided the funding the helicopter that performed the aerial ignition using a helitorch. Likewise, cattail spraying done with the OHF-funded spray unit on a DNR helicopter used Reg. 1. Roving Habitat Crew members as ground support staff to load herbicide and refuel the helicopter between spray flights, a job liked to being an Indy pit crew, but with a running helicopter. Acres for this activity are reported in the OHF appropriations that fund the helicopter and chemical costs. Finally, the Reg. 1 Roving Habitat Crew stepped in when Covid-19 hiring restrictions prevented the DNR from hiring season technicians to run the OHF-purchased airboat on Rice Lake. Reg. 1 crew members volunteered to get the needed airboat training, then worked in shifts to operate the airboat during the field season. As an added bonus, innovative and mechanically adept Reg. 1 crew members decided they could improve the airboat cutting attachment. They crafted their own cutters which have proven more effective than the original equipment. ",,2021-11-03,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Ricky,Lien,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road Box 20","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5227",ricky.lien@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Beltrami, Carlton, Clearwater, Cottonwood, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Murray, Norman, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-shallow-lakes-and-wetland-enhancement-phase-viii,,,,
35081,"Accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area Program - Phase VIII",2017,5650000,"ML 2016, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(a)","$5,650,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire in fee and restore and enhance wetlands and grasslands to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"111 acres of wetland and 950 acres of prairie for a total of 1061 acres protected in Fee without State PILT Liability  ",,5100000,"Federal, Private, PF ",5600800,14800,,0.22,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This proposal accelerates the permanent protection of 760 acres of wetlands (175 acres) and grasslands (585 acres) as Waterfowl Production Areas open to public hunting in Minnesota. ",,"Conversion of grasslands and wetlands for other uses have not only contributed to many native species population declines, but also impacted water quality, groundwater recharge cycles, and natural flood cycles. Permanent acquisition and restoration of grasslands and wetlands is one of the major tools we have for reversing this trend. This seventh phase of the WPA acceleration program acquired and restored a total of 1,061.97 acres of grasslands and wetland habitat as permanently protected WPA’s managed by the USFWS. Pheasants Forever and USFWS staff collaborated to generate a list of parcels with landowners who had the desire to sell. The parcel’s ecological impact was evaluated using landscape level planning tools developed by the USFWS Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET). These tools utilize Thunderstorm Maps to predict productivity of breeding waterfowl, grassland birds, and other wildlife species for the potential parcel and surrounding area. By utilizing these tools, we were able to focus efforts in areas where acquisitions and restorations will make the greatest impact on the landscape and thus these additional acres of WPA are very beneficial to wildlife and public recreation. Pheasants Forever notified counties prior to acquisition of lands. Once acquired, the USFWS will make a one-time Trust Fund payment to the County where the property is located. Additionally, the USFWS will make annual Refuge Revenue Sharing payments for all fee lands within the respective counties. Once acquired, wetlands on each parcel were restored by installing surface ditch “plugs” and/or breaking subsurface tile. Some wetlands may also have had sediment removed to create proper substrates for wetland function and vegetative growth. Grasslands were restored by planting a high-diversity native seed mix of grasses and forbs that are regionally appropriate to the area. As with all restoration work there are challenges that come from weather and working with private contractors but we did not face any major issues. ",,2021-08-05,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Eran,Sandquist,"Pheasants Forever","410 Lincoln Ave S Box 91","South Haven",MN,55382,"(320) 236-7755",esandquist@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Clay, Cottonwood, Freeborn, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Nobles, Otter Tail","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-waterfowl-production-area-program-phase-viii,,,,
10033374,"Accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area Program - Phase XIV",2023,5537000,"ML 2022, Ch. 77, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 4(a)","$5,537,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to acquire land in fee and restore and enhance wetlands and grasslands to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for resident and migratory waterfowl. Lands will be transferred to the USFWS as a WPA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by the USFWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in each WMD Comprehensive Plan which rolls up to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Protected habitats will hold wetlands and shallow lakes open to public recreation and hunting - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for resident and migratory waterfowl. Lands will be transferred to the USFWS as a WPA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by the USFWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in each WMD Comprehensive Plan which rolls up to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Protected, restored, and enhanced habitat for migratory and unique Minnesota species - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for resident and migratory waterfowl. Lands will be transferred to the USFWS as a WPA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by the USFWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in each WMD Comprehensive Plan which rolls up to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan",,,3644200,"PF, Federal and Private",5515300,21700,,0.2,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This Phase XIV proposal permanently protects and restores 9058 acres of Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) open to public hunting in Minnesota. Pheasants Forever (PF) will acquire parcels that are adjacent to existing public land or create corridors between complexes. All acquisitions will occur in the prairie, prairie/forest transition, or metro regions. Acquired properties will be restored to the highest extent possible with regard to time and budgets.","Wetland and grassland habitat in Minnesota have been declining for decades. Currently over 90% of wetland and 99% of grassland habitats have been converted to other uses. This proposal works to slow this decline by acquiring and restoring previously converted wetland and grassland habitat as permanently protected WPA?s. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and their partners have been employing this strategy for over 50 years through the Small Wetlands Acquisition Program (SWAP). Additionally, hunting and fishing stakeholders are very interested in increasing public access. This thirteenth phase of the WPA acceleration program provides public access and builds upon past work of the USFWS SWAP as well as the previous twelve phases of this effort. Properties will be identified by using landscape level planning tools such as USFWS? Duck Breeding Density Maps, as well as MN DNR natural heritage data and numerous state level conservation plans. In addition to wildlife benefits, the lands acquired and restored through this grant will provide improved water quality, groundwater recharge, and flood abatement benefits. These strategies are well tested and are supported by the greater conservation community in Minnesota. To address concerns related to county tax revenues due to acquiring public land, the USFWS and PF will notify counties prior to the acquisition of lands. Once acquired, the USFWS will make a one-time payment (called a Trust Fund payment) to the county where the property is located. In addition, the USFWS will make annual refuge revenue sharing payments for all fee lands within the respective counties. All wetlands, on the properties acquired, will be restored by either surface ditch ?plugs,"" breaking sub-surface tile lines, or other best practices for wetland restoration. Grasslands will be restored by planting site-appropriate native grasses and forbs following known best practices for the establishment. Grassland restoration on individual tracts may take three to five years, involving one to two years of post-acquisition farming to prepare the site for seeding (e.g. weed management issues, chemical carryover, other site-specific issues). Other restoration activities could include invasive tree removal, building site-cleanup, prescribed fire, etc. as necessary to provide high-quality habitat and public access to the citizens of Minnesota.",,2022-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Sabin,Adams,"Pheasants Forever, Inc."," ",,MN,56360,,sadams@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Clay, Cottonwood, Douglas, Faribault, Freeborn, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Otter Tail, Pope, Renville, Rice, Sibley, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Wright, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-waterfowl-production-area-program-phase-xiv,,,,
10033375,"Accelerating the Wildlife Management Area Program - Phase XIV",2023,5660000,"ML 2022, Ch. 77, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 2(a)","$5,660,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire in fee and restore and enhance lands for wildlife management area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05,subdivision 8. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be transferred to the state as a WMA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and the Minnesota Pheasant Action Plan 2020-2023. Protected habitats will hold wetlands and shallow lakes open to public recreation and hunting - Parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be transferred to the state as a WMA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and the Minnesota Pheasant Action Plan 2020-2023. Key core parcels are protected for fish, game and other wildlife - Parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be transferred to the state as a WMA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and the Minnesota Pheasant Action Plan 2020-2023",,,1178100,"PF, Federal and Private",5638300,21700,,0.19,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This proposal accelerates the protection and restoration of 911 acres of prairie grasslands, associated wetlands and other wildlife habitats as State Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) open to the public. Pheasants Forever (PF) will be permanently protecting parcels within the prairie, prairie/forest transition, and metro planning regions. These acquired properties will be restored to the highest quality wildlife habitat feasible and transferred to the MN Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) to be included into the WMA system.","This proposal represents the fourteenth phase in Pheasants Forever's Accelerating the Wildlife Management Area program. This program continues to build upon past investments in long-term upland and wetland conservation. The proposal will protect and restore 911 acres of lands that will be managed for wildlife. The goals of this program specifically address goals outlined in the foundational documents for the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council's recommendation process, including those outlined in the MN Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan 2008, the MN Duck Action Plan 2020-2023, the MN Pheasant Action Plan 2020-2023 and the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan 2010, among others. Parcels will be acquired from willing sellers and will be prioritized using criteria used by MN DNR (Minnesota Wildlife Management Areas - The Next 50 Years) which include location on the landscape, breeding waterfowl density, restoration potential, native community protection (e.g. Minnesota Biological Survey site), proximity to other investments in perpetually protected habitats. Projects were developed and selected in conjunction with local and regional DNR staff. All projects will meet standards and requirements for inclusion into the WMA system and DNR Commissioner approval will be received for any project funded under this proposal. In addition to meeting the minimum WMA standards, additional criteria are used to develop the potential project list including: 1) Does the parcel contain habitat restoration potential that will result in an increase in wildlife populations? 2) Does the parcel build upon existing investments in public and private land habitat (landscape scale significance)? 3) Does the parcel contain significant natural communities, or will it protect or buffer significant natural communities? 4) Does the parcel have the potential and focus for habitat protection and restoration in the future? 5) Does the parcel provide multiple benefits (recreation, access, water control, water quality, wellhead protection, riparian protection, local community support, etc.)? Providing quality habitat and keeping future management concerns in mind, all acquisitions will be restored to the highest quality wildlife habitat feasible. Completing high-quality, comprehensive restorations, utilizing native species and best management practices, results in fewer management concerns and lower long-term costs. Acquired croplands will be permanently retired and restored to diverse grasslands and wetlands habitat, drained wetlands will be restored, and invasive trees will be removed when appropriate.",,2022-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Sabin,Adams,"Pheasants Forever, Inc."," ",,MN,,,sadams@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Brown, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Dakota, Douglas, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mower, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Sibley, Stearns, Swift, Watonwan, Wilkin, Wright, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-wildlife-management-area-program-phase-xiv,,,,
10033929,"Accelerated Shallow Lakes and Wetland Enhancements Phase 15",2024,3695000,"ML 2023, Ch. 40, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 4(h)","$3,695,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to enhance and restore shallow lakes and wetland habitat statewide. A list of proposed shallow lake and wetland restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Improved availability and improved condition of habitats that have experienced substantial decline - Intensive wetland management and habitat infrastructure maintenance will provide the wetland base called for in numerous prairie, shallow lake and waterfowl plans. Area wildlife staff and/or shallow lakes staff will monitor completed projects to determine success of implementation and to assess the need for future management and/or maintenance. Wetland and upland complexes will consist of native prairies, restored prairies, quality grasslands, and restored shallow lakes and wetlands - Intensive wetland management and habitat infrastructure maintenance will provide the wetland base called for in numerous prairie, shallow lake and waterfowl plans. Area wildlife staff and/or shallow lakes staff will monitor completed projects to determine success of implementation and to assess the need for future management and/or maintenance. Protected habitats will hold wetlands and shallow lakes open to public recreation and hunting - Intensive wetland management and habitat infrastructure maintenance will provide the wetland base called for in numerous prairie, shallow lake and waterfowl plans. Area wildlife staff and/or shallow lakes staff will monitor completed projects to determine success of implementation and to assess the need for future management and/or maintenance. Protected, restored, and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands - Intensive wetland management and habitat infrastructure maintenance will provide the wetland base called for in numerous prairie, shallow lake and waterfowl plans. Area wildlife staff and/or shallow lakes staff will monitor completed projects to determine success of implementation and to assess the need for future management and/or maintenance",,,,,3566000,129000,,4,DNR,"State Government","This proposal will accomplish shallow lake and wetland enhancement and restoration work on over 555000 acres. The proposal is comprised of two components - (1) nine projects to engineer and/or construct infrastructure such as water control structures, dikes, and fish barriers that will lead to enhanced or restored wetland wildlife habitat, plus aerial cattail spraying of hybrid cattails; (2) Continued funding for four shallow lakes specialists.","Minnesota wetlands and shallow lakes, besides being critical for waterfowl, also provide other desirable functions and values - habitat for a wide range of species, groundwater recharge, water purification, flood water storage, shoreline protection, and economic benefits. An estimated 90% of Minnesota's prairie wetlands have been lost and more than 50% of our statewide wetlands. In the wetlands that remain, benefits are often compromised by degraded quality. This programmatic proposal will accomplish wetland habitat work throughout Minnesota and is comprised of two components - (1) Projects and (2) Shallow Lakes Program. 1. Projects identified on the parcel list were proposed and reviewed by DNR Area and Regional supervisors. Planned work includes replacement/renovation of wetland infrastructure to bring about habitat enhancement, wetland restorations, and direct wetland management activities. - Engineering and construction of seven infrastructure projects will provide 3,033 acres of enhancement. - One project will provide restoration work totaling 19 acres in Lyon County - One project will provide engineering for a project in Murray County. - Efforts will continue to spray dense stands of monotypic hybrid cattails, with 2,500 acres planned for treatment on parcels that will be identified by wildlife staff and listed in the Final Report. 2.The Minnesota Shallow Lakes Plan identified the overall poor water quality and habitat condition of shallow lakes in Minnesota. This deteriorated quality dramatically reduced wildlife use. The Minnesota DNR has developed a unique programmatic approach to shallow lake management. This programmatic approach is an example of how staff dedicated to a specific task and provided with additional finances can successfully implement a clear strategic plan. Data shows that actively managed shallow lakes have dramatic habitat improvements and better waterfowl use. Past management of shallow lakes was limited until an investment was made in dedicated shallow lakes specialists to support our area wildlife staff and who only worked on shallow lake management. Work by these specialists includes conducting habitat evaluations, guiding the designation of wildlife management lakes, identifying lake problems, recommending lake management strategies and developing management plans, and, alongside property managers, implementing shallow lake management. Past OHF funding made it possible to expand the number of shallow lake specialists available to do work. This proposal will continue funding four Shallow Lakes Specialists. The Shallow Lakes Program has celebrated the 60th designated lake and has been recognized with a DNR Commissioner's Award, and the USFWS Blue-winged Teal Award for the quality and scope of its work. The parcel list may be modified as needed by the program manager. The Final Report must reflect an accurate and complete parcel list. To improve efficiency and meet mutual goals, projects may be done cooperatively with Ducks Unlimited.",,2023-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Ricky,Lien,"Minnesota DNR","500 Lafayette Road ","St Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5227,ricky.lien@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Lyon, Mahnomen, Mille Lacs, Murray, Rice, Roseau, Waseca","Northern Forest, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Prairie Region, Forest Prairie Transition",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-shallow-lakes-and-wetland-enhancements-phase-15-0,,,,
10033882,"Accelerating the USFWS Habitat Conservation Easement Program - Phase IV",2024,5077000,"ML 2023, Ch. 40, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 2(g)","$5,077,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to restore and enhance wetland and prairie habitat on habitat easements of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as follows: $3,391,000 to Ducks Unlimited and $1,686,000 to Pheasants Forever. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Wetland and upland complexes will consist of native prairies, restored prairies, quality grasslands, and restored shallow lakes and wetlands - USFWS habitat easements will add restored and protected grassland and small wetland acres to augment existing public lands and other permanent easements to create prairie-wetland complexes with a more diverse mix of habitats and conservation options for private landowners. The measure of success will be the number of functioning prairie wetland complexes that provide adequate wetland and grassland acres within a landscape. This is a long-term, programmatic landscape conservation effort that will take time to achieve. Expiring CRP lands are permanently protected - This outcome will be measured by the sheer number of expiring CRP acres that will be protected through USFWS easements, and the protected grassland and wetland habitat that will not be subject to future conversion to intensive row crop agriculture. By offering private landowners a working lands conservation easement option, landowners in need of an annual income stream from their land will be incentivized to keep grasslands intact and restore wetlands",,,1100000,"USFWS In-kind staff and USFWS Migratory Bird Conservation Funds",5021000,56000,,1.15,"DU and PF","Non-Profit Business/Entity","DU and PF will help accelerate USFWS wildlife habitat easements by restoring and enhancing 1,900 acres of protected private grasslands and wetlands in Minnesota's Prairie and Transition Sections. These are ""working lands"" under permanent federal conservation easements that allow delayed haying and/or grazing while protecting restored wetlands and prairie grasslands for nesting ducks, pheasants, and other wildlife. By restoring and enhancing protected grassland and wetland habitat while allowing for continued landowner use of these working private lands, USFWS habitat easements buffer existing protected lands and provide important conservation easement options that complement more restrictive easements and public lands.","Ducks Unlimited (DU) and Pheasants Forever (PF) will restore and enhance wetlands and prairie on private lands protected by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) in Minnesota through federal USFWS grassland habitat conservation easement. DU and PF will restore drained wetlands and cropland back to prairie grassland, and enhance existing habitats. USFWS currently has robust Migratory Bird Conservation Fund (MBCF) budgets to purchase habitat conservation easements, but these funds cannot be used to restore or enhance lands protected. By restoring grasslands and wetlands for USFWS with OHF support, DU and PF will effectively accelerate the rate at which USFWS can protect grassland and wetlands in key focus landscapes in which there are also many state and federal wildlife lands owned and managed in fee-title, and other lands protected by more restrictive conservation easements. These are some of the most productive landscapes in the state for breeding waterfowl and other prairie wildlife including pheasants, and these private working land conservation easements complement other federal, state, and private conservation easement options available to landowners. USFWS habitat conservation easements not only include protection measures that prevent wetland/prairie conversion and land development/subdivision, but importantly, they also secure rights to restore wetlands and prairie grassland where feasible too - which is the primary purpose of this OHF easement program. DU and PF will restore and enhance private lands eased by USFWS in partnership with the USFWS with technical guidance from their private lands biologists and using private contractors to seed native prairie grass, remove trees, and restore wetlands. DU engineers will survey/design larger complex wetland restorations, and manage restoration contracts to private earth-moving firms. Importantly, as some of these ""working private land"" easements allow managed livestock grazing, some restoration and enhancement work will include paying contractors to remove old fences and install new fences to facilitate managed rotational grazing systems that protect grassland and wetlands habitats while improving wildlife habitat cover by limiting trees and invasive plants and providing landowners with the opportunity to actively manage/maintain their land. USFWS ""Habitat Easements"" have been purchased here for over three decades, and are designed as a habitat protection conservation tool to complement public lands habitat complexes such as federal Waterfowl Production Areas and state Wildlife Management Areas, by keeping privately owned restored grassland and wetland habitat intact and on county tax rolls while allowing for working use of the land. These easements provide landowners with the option of either delayed haying (after July 15) or both grazing and delayed haying, which results in adequate habitat for wetland and upland nesting birds and a working land use option that appeals to some private landowners. Importantly, these working land easements also help manage plant succession on their land, which is critical to prevent the encroachment of volunteer trees and invasive plant species. Well-managed grazing, delayed haying, and USFWS prescribed fire also benefits those grassland bird species that prefer more open prairie habitats, such as northern pintail, marbled godwit, snipe, and many other prairie species.",,2023-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Logan,Shoup,"Ducks Unlimited, Inc.","Ducks Unlimited, Inc., c/o USFWS 18965 County Highway 82","Fergus Falls",MN,56537,218-446-8851,lshoup@ducks.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Douglas, Otter Tail, Pope, Swift","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-usfws-habitat-conservation-easement-program-phase-iv,,,,
10033967,"Accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area Acquisition Program - Phase XIV",2024,5231000,"ML 2023, Ch. 40, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 4(d)","$5,231,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to acquire land in fee and restore and enhance wetlands and grasslands to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for resident and migratory waterfowl. Lands will be transferred to the USFWS as a WPA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by the USFWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in each WMD Comprehensive Plan which rolls up to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Protected habitats will hold wetlands and shallow lakes open to public recreation and hunting - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for resident and migratory waterfowl. Lands will be transferred to the USFWS as a WPA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by the USFWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in each WMD Comprehensive Plan which rolls up to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Protected, restored, and enhanced habitat for migratory and unique Minnesota species - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for resident and migratory waterfowl. Lands will be transferred to the USFWS as a WPA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by the USFWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in each WMD Comprehensive Plan which rolls up to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan",,,3958400,"PF, PF, Federal and Private",5209000,22000,,1.07,PF,"Non-Profit Business/Entity","This Phase XV proposal permanently protects and restores 678 acres of Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) open to public hunting in Minnesota. Pheasants Forever (PF) will acquire parcels that are adjacent to existing public land or create corridors between complexes. All acquisitions will occur in the prairie, prairie/forest transition, or metro regions. Acquired properties will be restored to the highest extent possible with regard to time and budgets.","Wetland and grassland habitat in Minnesota have been declining for decades. Currently over 90% of wetland and 99% of grassland habitats have been converted to other uses. This proposal works to slow this decline by acquiring and restoring previously converted wetland and grassland habitat as permanently protected WPA's. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and their partners have been employing this strategy for over 50 years through the Small Wetlands Acquisition Program (SWAP). Additionally, hunting and fishing stakeholders are very interested in increasing public access. This fifteenth phase of the WPA acceleration program provides public access and builds upon past work of the USFWS SWAP as well as the previous fourteen phases of this effort. Properties will be identified by using landscape level planning tools such as USFWS' Duck Breeding Density Maps, as well as MN DNR natural heritage data and numerous state level conservation plans. In addition to wildlife benefits, the lands acquired and restored through this grant will provide improved water quality, groundwater recharge, and flood abatement benefits. These strategies are well tested and are supported by the greater conservation community in Minnesota. To address concerns related to county tax revenues due to acquiring public land, the USFWS and PF will notify counties prior to the acquisition of lands. Once acquired, the USFWS will make a one-time payment (called a Trust Fund payment) to the county where the property is located. In addition, the USFWS will make annual refuge revenue sharing payments for all fee lands within the respective counties. All wetlands, on the properties acquired, will be restored by either surface ditch ""plugs,"" breaking sub-surface tile lines, or other best practices for wetland restoration. Grasslands will be restored by planting site-appropriate native grasses and forbs following known best practices for the establishment. Grassland restoration on individual tracts may take three to five years, involving one to two years of post-acquisition farming to prepare the site for seeding (e.g. weed management issues, chemical carryover, other site-specific issues). Other restoration activities could include invasive tree removal, building site-clean-up, prescribed fire, etc. as necessary to provide high-quality habitat and public access to the citizens of Minnesota.",,2023-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Sabin,Adams,"Pheasants Forever","14241 Steves Rd SE Box 91",Osakis,MN,56360,320-236-7755,sadams@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Clay, Cottonwood, Douglas, Freeborn, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lyon, Mahnomen, Meeker, Murray, Otter Tail, Pope, Sibley, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Wright, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-waterfowl-production-area-acquisition-program-phase-xiv-1,,,,
10033932,"Accelerating the Wildlife Management Area Program - Phase XV",2024,5216000,"ML 2023, Ch. 40, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 2(f)","$5,216,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire in fee and restore and enhance lands for wildlife management area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8. Subject to the evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be transferred to the state as a WMA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and the Minnesota Pheasant Action Plan 2020-2023. Protected habitats will hold wetlands and shallow lakes open to public recreation and hunting - Parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be transferred to the state as a WMA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and the Minnesota Pheasant Action Plan 2020-2023. Key core parcels are protected for fish, game and other wildlife - Parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be transferred to the state as a WMA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and the Minnesota Pheasant Action Plan 2020-2023",,,1175000,"PF, PF, Federal, Private, PF and Private",5194700,21300,,1.07,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This proposal accelerates the protection and restoration of 679 acres of prairie grasslands, associated wetlands and other wildlife habitats as State Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) or Pheasants Forever Habitat Management Areas open to the public. Pheasants Forever (PF) will be permanently protecting parcels within the prairie, prairie/forest transition, and metro planning regions. These acquired properties will be restored to the highest quality wildlife habitat feasible.","This proposal represents the fifteenth phase in Pheasants Forever's Accelerating the Wildlife Management Area program. This program continues to build upon past investments in long-term upland and wetland conservation. New to this proposal is the addition of the Pheasants Forever HMA program funding. This addition will provide PF with maximum flexibility to ensure quality acquisition projects can be completed. The proposal will protect and restore 679 acres of lands that will be managed for wildlife. The goals of this program specifically address goals outlined in the foundational documents for the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council's recommendation process, including those outlined in the MN Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan 2008, the MN Duck Action Plan 2020-2023, the MN Pheasant Action Plan 2020-2023 and the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan 2010, among others. Parcels will be acquired from willing sellers and will be prioritized using criteria including location on the landscape, breeding waterfowl density, restoration potential, native community protection (e.g. Minnesota Biological Survey site), proximity to other investments in perpetually protected habitats. WMA Acquisition projects are developed and selected in conjunction with local and regional DNR staff. Criteria used to develop the potential project list including: 1) Does the parcel contain habitat restoration potential that will result in an increase in wildlife populations? 2) Does the parcel build upon existing investments in public and private land habitat (landscape scale significance)? 3) Does the parcel contain significant natural communities, or will it protect or buffer significant natural communities? 4) Does the parcel have the potential and focus for habitat protection and restoration in the future? 5) Does the parcel provide multiple benefits (recreation, access, water control, water quality, wellhead protection, riparian protection, local community support, etc.)? Providing quality habitat and keeping future management concerns in mind, all acquisitions will be restored to the highest quality wildlife habitat feasible. Completing high-quality, comprehensive restorations, utilizing native species and best management practices, results in fewer management concerns and lower long-term costs. Acquired lands will be restored to diverse grasslands and wetlands habitat, drained wetlands will be restored, and invasive trees will be removed when appropriate. PF acquired HMA's may be donated to the MN DNR as a WMA or USFWS as a WPA in the future if title issues that prevented donation originally are resolved.",,2023-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Sabin,Adams,"Pheasants Forever, Inc."," ",,MN,,,sadams@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Big Stone, Brown, Carver, Clay, Douglas, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, McLeod, Meeker, Mower, Murray, Nobles, Pennington, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Watonwan, Wilkin, Wright, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-wildlife-management-area-program-phase-xv-0,,,,
10035222,"Accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area Program - Phase XVI",2025,7020000,"ML 2024, Ch. 106, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(d)","$7,020,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to acquire land in fee and restore and enhance wetlands and grasslands to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota.","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Acquired parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for resident and migratory waterfowl and SGCN. Lands will be transferred to the USFWS as a WPA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by the USFWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in each WMD Comprehensive Plan which rolls up to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Protected habitats will hold wetlands and shallow lakes open to public recreation and hunting - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for resident and migratory waterfowl. Lands will be transferred to the USFWS as a WPA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by the USFWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in each WMD Comprehensive Plan which rolls up to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Protected, restored, and enhanced habitat for migratory and unique Minnesota species - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for resident and migratory waterfowl. Lands will be transferred to the USFWS as a WPA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by the USFWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in each WMD Comprehensive Plan which rolls up to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan",,,2382400,"PF, PF, Federal and Private",6983900,36100,,0.44,PF,"Non-Profit Business/Entity","In this phase of the Accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area program, Pheasants Forever (PF) seeks to permanently protect and restore parcels of land as Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) in the prairie, prairie forest transition, and metro regions of Minnesota. Acquired parcels will be either adjacent to or between existing public lands to create larger complexes or corridors for a variety of wildlife species. These properties will be restored to their greatest potential habitat possible with regard to time and budget constraints.","Loss and degradation of grasslands and wetlands pose a severe threat to the future of Minnesota's flora and fauna. Over 90% of wetland and 99% of grassland habitats have been converted to other uses, primarily those surrounding agricultural and urban development. This habitat loss significantly reduces wildlife populations abilities to increase or remain stable in the face of multiple stressors including climate change, pressure from invasive species, etc. This proposal works to slow habitat decline by acquiring and restoring previously converted wetland and grassland habitats into WPA's that are open to public recreation. This program continually builds on prior phases and augments current efforts by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and their partners to increase waterfowl populations through the Small Wetlands Acquisition Program (SWAP). By improving wetland quality, quantity, and public access this program provides multiple benefits to Minnesotans. Potential properties will be identified and evaluated based on landscape level planning tools such as the USFWS Duck Breeding Density Maps, MN DNR natural heritage data, and other state level conservation plans. Once purchased, all wetlands will be restored by either surface ditch ""plugs,"" breaking sub-surface tile lines, or other best practices for wetland restoration. Restoration of grasslands will be completed using site-appropriate native grasses and forbs while following best management practices. Quality grassland restoration results typically take three to five years, allowing for one to two years of post-acquisition farming to allow residual herbicides to leave the soil. This timing allows us to address weed management issues, chemical carryover, and any other site-specific issues that may prevent the site from being restored to its fullest potential. Other restoration activities that may be needed include invasive tree removal, building site clean-up, prescribed fire, etc. as necessary to provide high-quality habitat. All restoration work will be completed to the highest possible standards with considerations towards budgets and grant timelines. To address concerns related to county tax revenues due to acquiring public land, the UFWS and PF will notify counties prior to the acquisition of lands. Once acquired, the USFWS will make a one-time payment (Trust Fund payment) to the county where the property is located. In addition, the USFWS will make annual refuge revenue sharing payments for all fee lands within their respective counties.",,2024-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Sabin,Adams,"Pheasants Forever, Inc","14241 Steves Rd SE ",Osakis,MN,56360,320-250-6317,sadams@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Clay, Cottonwood, Freeborn, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lyon, Mahnomen, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Otter Tail, Pope, Sibley, Stevens, Swift, Wilkin, Wright","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-waterfowl-production-area-program-phase-xvi,,,,
10035223,"Accelerating the Wildlife Management Area Program - Phase XVI",2025,5315000,"ML 2024, Ch. 106, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(b)","$5,315,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire in fee and restore and enhance lands for wildlife management area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie.","Remnant native prairies are part of large complexes of restored prairies, grasslands, and large and small wetlands - Parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Outcomes will be measured by overall acres protected in prairie core areas or acres added to complexes. Lands will be transferred to the state as a WMA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and the Minnesota Pheasant Action Plan. Protected habitats will hold wetlands and shallow lakes open to public recreation and hunting - Parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be transferred to the state as a WMA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR. Outcomes (restoration and protected acres) will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and the Minnesota Pheasant Action Plan 2020-2023. Key core parcels are protected for fish, game and other wildlife - Parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be transferred to the state as a WMA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and the Minnesota Pheasant Action Plan 2020-2023",,,1072300,"PF, PF, Federal and Private",5287900,27100,,0.37,PF,"Non-Profit Business/Entity","In this phase of Accelerating the Wildlife Management Area Program, Pheasants Forever (PF) seeks to protect, enhance, and restore wildlife habitat in the prairie, prairie forest transition, and metro regions of Minnesota. Acquired parcels will either be adjacent to or between existing public lands to create larger complexes or corridors for a variety of wildlife species. These properties will be restored to their greatest potential with regard to time and budgets.","This proposal represents the latest phase of Pheasants Forever's Accelerating the Wildlife Management Area program. The longtime goal of this program is to prevent future loss of wetland and grassland habitat and improve public access in the prairie, forest-prairie transition, and metro regions. This mission helps to expedite goals set out by the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan (MPCP), and Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years plan. Concurrently, this proposal achieves three priority actions set by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council's Ecological Vision and Priorities as part of its FY2025/ML2024 Call for Funding. To date we've successfully protected and restored over 15,000 acres of priority wildlife habitat and wish to protect additional acres under this phase. When selecting parcels for acquisition, PF and the MN DNR will approach willing sellers who often wish to leave their conservation legacy by providing wildlife habitat for all Minnesotans to enjoy. Factors considered when prioritizing parcels include location relative to other public land complexes, corridors, and habitat priority areas. Breeding waterfowl density, restoration potential, and the presence of threatened or endangered (T/E) species or species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) as identified by surveys such as the Minnesota Biological Survey are also parameters considered when evaluating the value of parcels. Criteria used to develop the potential project list including: 1) Does the parcel contain habitat restoration potential that will result in an increase in wildlife populations? 2) Does the parcel build upon existing investments in public and private land habitat (landscape scale significance)? 3) Does the parcel contain significant natural communities, or will it protect or buffer significant natural communities? 4) Does the parcel have the potential and focus for habitat protection and restoration in the future? 5) Does the parcel provide multiple benefits (recreation, access, water control, water quality, wellhead protection, riparian protection, local community support, etc.)? Upon purchase, PF and the MN DNR will work together to create a plan that ensures habitat is restored to the highest quality as funds and time allow. Plans may include farming current cropland for 1-2 years to mitigate any herbicide present in the soil or manage non-native species, planting high-diversity native seed mixes, restoring drained wetlands, and removing invasive trees when appropriate. Tracts will ultimately be transferred to the MN DNR to be enrolled in the Wildlife Management Area program or held as an HMA by PF (in which case the property will be permanently protected by PF or transferred to another agency to hold in perpetuity). In both cases, tracts will be open to the public to be used in accordance with state law.",,2024-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Sabin,Adams,"Pheasants Forever, Inc.","14241 Steves Rd SE ",Osakis,MN,56360,320-250-6317,sadams@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Brown, Carver, Clay, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lyon, Mahnomen, McLeod, Meeker, Mower, Nobles, Redwood, Renville, Sibley, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-wildlife-management-area-program-phase-xvi,,,,
10006476,"Accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area Program - Phase X",2019,5061000,"ML 2018, Ch. 208, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 4(a)","$5,061,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire lands in fee and to restore and enhance wetlands and grasslands to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"The majority of the acquisitions in this program are located in the Prairie Pothole Region which is not only the richest wetland system on earth but also produces approximately one-third of the continents waterfowl population. In addition to supporting waterfowl, this region supports numerous grassland and wetland dependent wildlife species, many of which are experiencing severe population declines due to habitat loss. The parcels acquired and restored as part of this phase add to the quantity and quality of grasslands and wetlands that are available to species such as mallards, black terns, bobolinks, meadowlarks, and the ring-necked pheasant. Additionally SGCN and T/E were considered when the parcels were evaluated for acquisition. Parcels with these species were ranked more favorably than parcels without. Species of concern that will benefit from these projects include the greater prairie chicken, short-eared owl, marsh hawk and yellow rail.","A total of 1,150 acres were affected: 0 Restored, 1,150 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 0 in Enhance.",2976200,"Federal, Private, Federal, Private, PF and Private attorney",5013100,10400,,0.13,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The goal of this phase of the WPA acquisition program was to protect a total of 915 acres of grassland, wetland and other wildlife habitats as Waterfowl Production Areas open to public hunting. Pheasants Forever purchased 10 parcels totaling 1,150.27 acres of wetlands and grasslands in Minnesota's prairie region. In addition to exceeding our acre goals, $ 37,512.95 of grant funds will be returned.","Conversion of grasslands and wetlands for other uses have not only contributed to many native species population declines, but also impacted water quality, groundwater recharge cycles, and natural flood cycles. Permanent acquisition and restoration of grasslands and wetlands is one of the major tools we have for reversing this trend. This phase of the WPA acceleration program acquired and restored a total of 1,150.27 acres of grasslands and wetland habitat as permanently protected WPA's managed by the USFWS. Pheasants Forever and USFWS staff collaborated to generate a list of parcels with landowners who had the desire to sell. The parcel's ecological impact was evaluated using landscape level planning tools developed by the USFWS Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET). These tools utilize Thunderstorm Maps to predict productivity of breeding waterfowl, grassland birds, and other wildlife species for the potential parcel and surrounding area. By utilizing these tools, we were able to focus efforts in areas where acquisitions and restorations will make the greatest impact on the landscape and thus these additional acres of WPA are very beneficial to wildlife and public recreation. Pheasants Forever notified counties prior to acquisition of lands. Once acquired, the USFWS will make a one-time Trust Fund payment to the County where the property is located. Additionally, the USFWS will make annual Refuge Revenue Sharing payments for all fee lands within the respective counties. Once acquired, wetlands on each parcel were restored by installing surface ditch ""plugs"" and/or breaking subsurface tile. Some wetlands may also have had sediment removed to create proper substrates for wetland function and vegetative growth. Grasslands were restored by planting a high-diversity native seed mix of grasses and forbs that are regionally appropriate to the area. As with all restoration work there are challenges that come from weather and working with private contractors but we did not face any major issues.",,2018-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Sabin,Adams,"Pheasants Forever, Inc."," ",,MN,,,sadams@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Meeker, Otter Tail, Stearns","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-waterfowl-production-area-program-phase-x,,,,
10006510,"Accelerating the Wildlife Management Area Program - Phase X",2019,5740000,"ML 2018, Ch. 208, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 2(b)","$5,740,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire in fee and restore lands for wildlife management under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"A majority of the acquisitions in this program add to existing WMA habitat complexes which are strongholds for many species of wildlife including SGCN and T/E species. Increasing the size of these complexes improve the landscapes ability to support larger populations and provide connectivity between patches of habitat. All parcels are located in the Prairie Pothole Region which boasts the richest wetland system on earth and produces approximately one-third of the continents waterfowl population. The parcels acquired and restored as part of this phase add to the quantity and quality of grasslands and wetlands that are available to species such as mallards, black terns, bobolinks, meadowlarks, and the ring-necked pheasant. Additionally SGCN and T/E were considered when the parcels were evaluated for acquisition. Parcels with these species were ranked more favorably than parcels without. Species of concern that will benefit from these projects include the greater prairie chicken, short-eared owl, marsh hawk and yellow rail.","A total of 1,260 acres were affected: 0 Restored, 1,260 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 0 in Enhance.",1402900,"PF and federal or private source",5726500,10300,,0.15,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This phase of WMA acquisition protected 1,260.22 acres of prairie grassland, wetland, and other wildlife habitat as State Wildlife Management Areas open to public hunting. With these 9 acquisition we have exceeded our planned acres of 1030 by more than 230.22 acres. All of the acquired properties had wildlife habitat restored to the highest quality possible.","Loss of wetland and grassland habitat has contributed tot he decline of native populations of flora and fauna, negatively impacted water quality, groundwater recharge and natural flood cycles. To reverse this trend, PF works to permanently protect and restore these wetland-grassland complexes. This phase of the WMA acceleration program acquired and restored a total of 1260.22 acres of grasslands and wetland habitat as permanently protected WMA's. Due to our ability to partner with other conservation groups and agencies such as the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, we are able to bring leverage to the program and far exceed the goals of this phase. Pheasants Forever and MN DNR staff collaborated to generate a list of parcels with landowners who had the desire to sell. The parcel's ecological impact was evaluated using landscape level planning tools such USFWS Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET), The MN Prairie Conservation Plan and The Pheasant Action Plan among others. By utilizing these tools, we were able to focus efforts in areas where acquisitions and restorations will make the greatest impact on the landscape and thus these additional acres of WMA are very beneficial to wildlife and public recreation. Once acquired, wetlands on each parcel were restored by installing surface ditch ""plugs"" and or breaking subsurface tile. Some wetlands may also have had sediment removed to create proper substrates for wetland function and vegetative growth. Grasslands were restored by planting a high-diversity native seed mix of grasses and forbs that are regionally appropriate to the area. As with all restoration work, there are challenges that come from weather and working with private contractors, but we did not face any major issues.",,2018-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Sabin,Adams,"Pheasants Forever, Inc."," ",,MN,55382,320-250-6317,sadams@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Carver, Douglas, Fillmore, Martin, Meeker, Nobles, Renville, Sibley, Steele","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-wildlife-management-area-program-phase-x,,,,
10000075,"Accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area Program - Phase IX",2018,5500000,"ML 2017, Ch. 91, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 4(a)","$5,500,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire land in fee and restore and enhance wetlands and grasslands to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"The majority of the acquisitions in this program are located in the Prairie Pothole Region which is not only the richest wetland system on earth but also produces approximately one-third of the continents waterfowl population. In addition to supporting waterfowl, this region supports numerous grassland and wetland dependent wildlife species, many of which are experiencing severe population declines due to habitat loss. The parcels acquired and restored as part of this phase add to the quantity and quality of grasslands and wetlands that are available to species such as mallards, black terns, bobolinks, meadowlarks, and the ring-necked pheasant. Additionally SGCN and T/E were considered when the parcels were evaluated for acquisition. Parcels with these species were ranked more favorably than parcels without. Species of concern that will benefit from these projects include the greater prairie chicken, short-eared owl, marsh hawk and yellow rail.","A total of 1,310 acres were affected: 0 Restored, 1,310 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 0 in Enhance.",5793700,"Federal, Federal, Private, PF, PF and Private attorney",5463600,8200,,0.13,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The goal of this phase of the WPA acquisition program was to protect a total of 760 acres of grassland, wetland and other wildlife habitats as Waterfowl Production Areas open to public hunting. Pheasants Forever purchased 11 parcels totaling 1,310 acres of wetlands and grasslands in Minnesota?s prairie region. In addition to exceeding our acre goals, $28,152.10 of grant funds will be returned. ","Conversion of grasslands and wetlands for other uses have not only contributed to many native species population declines, but also impacted water quality, groundwater recharge cycles, and natural flood cycles. Permanent acquisition and restoration of grasslands and wetlands is one of the major tools we have for reversing this trend. This phase of the WPA acceleration program acquired and restored a total of 1,310.61 acres of grasslands and wetland habitat as permanently protected WPA's managed by the USFWS. Pheasants Forever and USFWS staff collaborated to generate a list of parcels with landowners who had the desire to sell. The parcel's ecological impact was evaluated using landscape level planning tools developed by the USFWS Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET). These tools utilize Thunderstorm Maps to predict productivity of breeding waterfowl, grassland birds, and other wildlife species for the potential parcel and surrounding area. By utilizing these tools, we were able to focus efforts in areas where acquisitions and restorations will make the greatest impact on the landscape and thus these additional acres of WPA are very beneficial to wildlife and public recreation. Pheasants Forever notified counties prior to acquisition of lands. Once acquired, the USFWS will make a one-time Trust Fund payment to the County where the property is located. Additionally, the USFWS will make annual Refuge Revenue Sharing payments for all fee lands within the respective counties. Once acquired, wetlands on each parcel were restored by installing surface ditch ""plugs"" and/or breaking subsurface tile. Some wetlands may also have had sediment removed to create proper substrates for wetland function and vegetative growth. Grasslands were restored by planting a high-diversity native seed mix of grasses and forbs that are regionally appropriate to the area. As with all restoration work there are challenges that come from weather and working with private contractors but we did not face any major issues. ",,2017-07-01,2023-08-25,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Sabin,Adams,"Pheasants Forever","14241 Steves Rd SE Box 91",Osakis,MN,56360,"(320) 236-7755",sadams@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Carver, Clay, Kandiyohi, Otter Tail, Renville, Swift","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-waterfowl-production-area-program-phase-ix,,,,
10011391,"Accelerating the Wildlife Management Area Program - Phase XI",2020,6060000,"ML 2019, 1st Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd, 2(b)","$6,060,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire in fee and restore and enhance lands for wildlife management under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be transferred to the state as a WMA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and ""the Long Range Plan for the Ring-Necked Pheasant in MN""..Protected habitats will hold wetlands and shallow lakes open to public recreation and hunting - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be transferred to the state as a WMA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and ""the Long Range Plan for the Ring-Necked Pheasant in MN"".ds..Key core parcels are protected for fish, game and other wildlife - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be transferred to the state as a WMA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and ""the Long Range Plan for the Ring-Necked Pheasant in MN""..",,,215000,"PF, Federal, Private",6048600,11400,,0.154,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This programmatic proposal accelerates the protection and restoration of 1,073 acres of strategic prairie grassland, wetland, and other wildlife habitats as State Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) open to public hunting. Pheasants Forever (PF) will be protecting parcels that build onto or create a corridor between existing protected lands which will be transferred to the MN Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) to be included as a WMA. All acquisitions will occur within the prairie, prairie/forest transition, and metro planning regions. These areas have seen the greatest decline in upland and wetland habitats.","Pressures from development, industry, and agriculture continue to mount on wildlife habitat within the farmland regions of Minnesota. Despite our collective investments in conservation, many of the agricultural counties in Minnesota are continuing to experience a net loss of wildlife habitat. This unfortunate reality is exacerbated by the conversion of lands expiring out of CRP. In the next five years, Minnesota's agricultural landscape is set to experience a loss of 549,185 acres due to expiration out of CRP. In 2018 alone MN will lose 201,294 acres of CRP that are set to expire. This equates to roughly a 20% loss of our grassland habitat necessary for pheasants, ducks, and the suite of grassland species that call Minnesota home. Now, more than ever, is the time to accelerate our investments in permanently protected high-quality habitat complexes that will protect, sustain, and increase Minnesota’s wildlife populations. Providing public habitat for Minnesotans to hunt, trap, fish and otherwise recreate in the outdoors are urgent needs for Minnesota's growing citizenry. Access to the outdoors is fundamental to ensuring Minnesota’s outdoor heritage is passed on to future generations.PF and our partners will protect (fee acquisition from willing sellers) 1,073 acres of high priority grassland (native prairie if available), wetland, and wildlife habitat as WMAs throughout the pheasant range of Minnesota. PF is striving to protect strategic tracts that build landscape level habitat complexes. Many of the potential projects are additions to existing WMAs which were originally acquired in partnership with MNDNR, local PF chapters, and conservation partners. Projects were developed and selected in conjunction with local and regional DNR staff. All projects will meet standards and requirements for inclusion into the WMA system and DNR Commissioner approval will be received for any project funded under this proposal. In addition to meeting the minimum WMA standards, additional criteria are used to develop the potential project list including:  Does the parcel contain habitat restoration potential that will result in an increase in wildlife populations?  Does the parcel build upon existing investments in public and private land habitat (landscape scale significance)? Does the parcel contain significant natural communities or will it protect or buffer significant natural communities?  Does the parcel have the potential and focus for habitat protection and restoration in the future?  Does the parcel provide multiple benefits (recreation, access, water control, water quality, wellhead protection, riparian protection, local community support, etc.)? Providing high-quality habitat and keeping future management concerns in mind, all acquisitions will be restored and/or enhanced to as high quality as practicable, with the belief that quality and comprehensive restorations utilizing native species result in lower management costs. Acquired croplands will be permanently retired and restored to diverse grasslands and wetlands habitat. Restorations will also consider the needs of the monarch butterfly and native prairie.",,2019-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Eran,Sandquist,"Pheasants Forever, Inc.","410 Lincoln Ave S PO Box 91","South Haven",MN,55382,"(3202367755) -",esandquist@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Dakota, Douglas, Faribault, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Otter Tail, Pope, Redwood, Rock, Sibley, Stearns, Swift, Washington, Watonwan, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-wildlife-management-area-program-phase-xi,,,,
10031461,"Acquisition of State Park Inholdings",2025,1886000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 09c","$1,886,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota to complete efficient, time-sensitive acquisitions of high-priority state park inholdings from willing sellers, deconstruct buildings and reuse building materials, and convey properties to the state to protect and enhance Minnesota's environment and public recreation opportunities. This appropriation may not be used to purchase habitable residential structures.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,1.56,"Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Complete efficient, time-sensitive acquisition of high priority State Park inholdings, conduct needed site cleanup, and convey the properties to the state to enhance Minnesota's environment and public recreation opportunities.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2026-09-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Brett,Feldman,"Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota","275 East Fourth Street, Suite 250","Saint Paul",MN,55101,"(651) 370-7900",bfeldman@parksandtrails.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/acquisition-state-park-inholdings,,,,
20697,"Albert Lea Lake Management and Invasive Species Control Structure",2015,700000,"ML 2014, Chapter 256, Article 1, Section 2, Subd. 5(l)"," (l) Albert Lea Lake Management and Invasive Species Control Structure - Supplement $700,000 in the second year is added to the appropriation contained in Laws 2013, chapter 137, article 1, section 2, subdivision 5, paragraph (h), to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Shell Rock River Watershed District to construct structural deterrents and lake level controls. ",,,,,,,,,,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","Local/Regional Government","The Albert Lea Lake Management project replaced the previous Albert Lea Lake fix-crest dam with a 3-in-1 structure that included a rock riffle dam, a lake level management structure, and an electric fish barrier. The benefits from this project include improved aquatic and waterfowl habitat, invasive species management, and improved desirable fish populations.","The Shell Rock River Watershed District (SRRWD) encompasses 246-square miles in Freeborn County. The District includes 11 lakes that drain to the Shell Rock River, which flows into the Cedar River. Among the District’s lakes are Fountain Lake and Albert Lea Lake, located within the City of Albert Lea. These lakes are central to Albert Lea’s tourism industry and its identity.The previous Albert Lea Lake outlet structure and access bridge, installed in 1922, was in need of repair. The Albert Lea Lake Management and Invasive Species Control Project replaced the fixed-crest dam with a rock-arch rapids feature to control water levels. A lake level management structure was also constructed, as well as an electric fish barrier to prevent silver, bighead, and common carp and other benthic feeding fish from entering the lake.The project is expected to result in improved aquatic habitat, improved waterfowl nesting, breeding, and feeding habitat, an increase in desirable fish populations, and improved water quality and clarity for years to come. Specific benefits are outlined below.1. Rock-Arch Water-Level Control: The SRRWD replaced the old fixed-crest dam with a series of rock arches to provide a naturalized outlet to Albert Lea Lake. The upper-most rock arch is controlling the normal water level with the help of metal sheeting. There are two more rock arches behind the first, totaling 3 rock arches. 2.  Lake Level Management Structure: The installation of the structure to facilitate lake-level management gives the SRRWD flexibility to take action benefiting the health of the lake. Periodic lowering of lake elevations allows maximum in-lake sediment compaction, improvement of water clarity due to reduction in wind-generated turbidity, and time for plant colonization of shoreline and shallow-water areas. The resulting improvement in aquatic plant health benefits the entire lake system.3.  Electric fish barrier:  An electric fish barrier was installed and is used to reduce the population of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in Albert Lea Lake and to prevent the introduction of Bighead and Silver (Asian) Carp. Common carp uproot and consume aquatic vegetation, disturb and re-suspend phosphorous-rich sediments. The resulting increase in turbidity reduces light penetration—discouraging rooted plant growth—and contributes to algal blooms responsible for oxygen depletion. The destruction of aquatic vegetation by large populations of foraging fish also impacts waterfowl nesting, breeding, and feeding habitat, shoreline and littoral habitat, and game fish spawning habitat.Design and engineering of the project started in late 2013. Contracts and associated agreements for the dam were made in early 2014. The order of operations for the construction of the project includes:•    Installation of the cofferdam•    Construction of the water diversion channel•    Removal of the old dam and bridge•    Installation of the metal sheeting that holds the lake level•    Placement of the first rock arch along the sheeting•    Installation of the footings for the concrete work•    Concrete work for the fish barrier•    Concrete work for the draw down structure•    Finalize/seal all concrete•    Placement of remaining rock arches•    Removal of the cofferdam and water diversion channel•    Installation and fine tuning of the fish barrier componentThe main construction of the projects where completed in the spring of 2015. At the end of 2015, some calibrations of the electric components were needed on the electric fish barrier. After the ice melt in the spring of 2016, those changes were made to fine tune the barrier. The Albert Lea Lake Management and Invasive Species Control Structure is now fully complete. The outlet, fish passage, and fish barrier worked in harmonization as part of the District’s overall management plan. Similar to the Wedge Creek, White Lake, and Mud Lake efforts, the anticipated outcome for Albert Lea Lake is restoration of rooted aquatic vegetation, fish and wildlife habitat, and enhanced water quality—all of which will serve to increase community use of this important recreational resource.   The existing Albert Lea Lake outlet structure and access bridge, installed in 1922, are in need of repair.The proposed project would replace the fixed-crest dam with a rock-arch rapids feature to control water levels and allow fish passage (see concept drawing). A lake level management structure would also be constructed, as well as an electric barrier to prevent silver, bighead, and common carp and other benthic feeding fish from entering the lake. This project is expected to result in improved aquatic habitat, improved waterfowl nesting, breeding, and feeding habitat, an increase in desirable fish populations, and improved water quality and clarity. It has been identified as a high priority in the SRRWD Management Plan, developed with public participation, and subject to public review and approval by the SRRWD Board. Specific benefits are outlined below. 1.  Rock-Arch Water-Level Control and Fish Passage: Replacing the existing fixed-crest dam with a series of rock arches will provide a naturalized outlet to Albert Lea Lake, with the upper-most rock arch controlling the normal water level. The arches will also provide fish passage, allowing northern pike to move upstream from the Shell Rock River to spawn in the lake. Northern Pike typically spawn in March and April, while carp spawning/movement typically does not start until May. A fish passage—in combination with an electric fish barrier activated in May to preclude carp—will increase the population of Northern Pike, natural predators of carp. Albert Lea Lake populations of Northern Pike and Bluegill (also a carp egg predator) are currently below Minnesota DNR norms for similar lakes. 2.  Lake Level Management Structure: Installation of a structure to facilitate lake-level management gives the SRRWD flexibility to take action benefiting the health of the lake. Periodic lowering of lake elevations allows maximum in-lake sediment compaction, improvement of water clarity due to reduction in wind-generated turbidity, and time for plant colonization of shoreline and shallow-water areas. The resulting improvement in aquatic plant health benefits the entire lake system. 3.  Electric fish barrier: An electric fish barrier will be used to reduce the population of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in Albert Lea Lake and to prevent the introduction of Bighead and Silver (Asian) Carp. Common carp uproot and consume aquatic vegetation, disturb and re-suspend phosphorous-rich sediments. The resulting increase in turbidity reduces light penetration—discouraging rooted plant growth—and contributes to algal blooms responsible for oxygen depletion. The destruction of aquatic vegetation by large populations of foraging fish also impacts waterfowl nesting, breeding, and feeding habitat, shoreline and littoral habitat, and game fish spawning habitat. Asian Carp multiply rapidly and are voracious eaters, depleting food resources. The leaping ability of the Silver Carp also poses a danger to boaters and skiers. According to a 2010 news story in the Cedar Rapids Gazette, Asian carp have migrated past the 5-in-1 Dam in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, moving up the Cedar River to Black Hawk County—where the Cedar and the Shell Rock River join. The distance from this point to Albert Lea Lake is only about 100 miles. While there is not general agreement about the threat posed by Asian carp in lake waters, if this does become a concern the barrier could be used year-round and an alternative fish management plan developed. The SRRWD has a proven track record of success with fish barriers. The fish barriers upstream of Albert Lea Lake—at Wedge Creek and White Lake (partially funded by 2009 Outdoor Heritage Funds) and Mud Lake—have improved habitat and water clarity in the upstream areas. Improved habitat is demonstrated by increased sightings of aquatic fur bearers and waterfowl, with 15 waterfowl species sighted during the fall migration. Improvements in water clarity are demonstrated by secchi disk readings on Fountain Lake (connected to these water bodies), which were the best on record in 2010. The proposed outlet, fish passage, and fish barrier will work as part of the District’s overall management plan. Similar to the Wedge Creek, White Lake, and Mud Lake efforts, the anticipated outcome for Albert Lea Lake is restoration of rooted aquatic vegetation, fish and wildlife habitat, and enhanced water quality—all of which will serve to increase community use of this important recreational resource. The strategy of carp/rough fish control and exclusion is known to be effective. This program is endorsed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fishery and Wildlife Divisions and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and conducted with their technical assistance and cooperation. This project is consistent with recommendations of the 2004 Shell Rock River Watershed Management Plan (Appendix B & J). It is also noted in the Albert Lea Lake Management Plan, as part of the Freeborn County Comprehensive Water Plan 2006-2015. Other applicable plans include the Minnesota Conservation and Preservation Plan Phase II provisions that address the control of invasive species, restoration of shallow lakes, water quality improvements in impaired waters, and  protection and enhancement of fish and waterfowl breeding habitat (pg. 30-96); and the 2009 Minnesota State Management Plan for Invasive Species. Activities are also within the goals of the Basin Alliance for the Lower Mississippi in Minnesota (BALMM). This project is a component of the 2011 Restoring Native Habitat/Water Quality to the Shell Rock River Project funded by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Fund for the fee-title acquisition of the headwaters of the Shell Rock River. The land has been acquired and will be turned over to the DNR to be operated under an Aquatic Management Area Management Plan. There are no known opponents or anticipated barriers to project completion. These efforts will be highly visible and seen as a benefit to the entire region. They are endorsed by the local Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Freeborn County, City of Albert Lea, DNR and Fountain Lake Sportsmen’s Club.  ",,2013-07-01,2018-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Andy,Henschel,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","411 S Broadway ","Albert Lea",MN,56007,"(507) 377-5785",andy.henschel@co.freeborn.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Freeborn,"Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/albert-lea-lake-management-and-invasive-species-control-structure,,,,
20697,"Albert Lea Lake Management and Invasive Species Control Structure",2014,1127000,"ML 2013, Ch. 137, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(h)","$1,127,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Shell Rock River Watershed District to construct structural deterrents and lake level controls to enhance aquatic habitat on Albert Lea Lake in Freeborn County. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Enhanced 3,100 acres of wetlands. Protected, restored, and enhanced shallow lakes and wetland habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need. Provided a permanent solution for preclusion of common carp from accessing a shallow lake basin.",,438800,"Local Option Sales Tax, In-kind Services",1827000,,,0.55,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","Local/Regional Government","The Albert Lea Lake Management project replaced the previous Albert Lea Lake fix-crest dam with a 3-in-1 structure that included a rock riffle dam, a lake level management structure, and an electric fish barrier. The benefits from this project include improved aquatic and waterfowl habitat, invasive species management, and improved desirable fish populations.","The Shell Rock River Watershed District (SRRWD) encompasses 246-square miles in Freeborn County. The District includes 11 lakes that drain to the Shell Rock River, which flows into the Cedar River. Among the District’s lakes are Fountain Lake and Albert Lea Lake, located within the City of Albert Lea. These lakes are central to Albert Lea’s tourism industry and its identity.The previous Albert Lea Lake outlet structure and access bridge, installed in 1922, was in need of repair. The Albert Lea Lake Management and Invasive Species Control Project replaced the fixed-crest dam with a rock-arch rapids feature to control water levels. A lake level management structure was also constructed, as well as an electric fish barrier to prevent silver, bighead, and common carp and other benthic feeding fish from entering the lake.The project is expected to result in improved aquatic habitat, improved waterfowl nesting, breeding, and feeding habitat, an increase in desirable fish populations, and improved water quality and clarity for years to come. Specific benefits are outlined below.1. Rock-Arch Water-Level Control: The SRRWD replaced the old fixed-crest dam with a series of rock arches to provide a naturalized outlet to Albert Lea Lake. The upper-most rock arch is controlling the normal water level with the help of metal sheeting. There are two more rock arches behind the first, totaling 3 rock arches. 2.  Lake Level Management Structure: The installation of the structure to facilitate lake-level management gives the SRRWD flexibility to take action benefiting the health of the lake. Periodic lowering of lake elevations allows maximum in-lake sediment compaction, improvement of water clarity due to reduction in wind-generated turbidity, and time for plant colonization of shoreline and shallow-water areas. The resulting improvement in aquatic plant health benefits the entire lake system.3.  Electric fish barrier:  An electric fish barrier was installed and is used to reduce the population of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in Albert Lea Lake and to prevent the introduction of Bighead and Silver (Asian) Carp. Common carp uproot and consume aquatic vegetation, disturb and re-suspend phosphorous-rich sediments. The resulting increase in turbidity reduces light penetration—discouraging rooted plant growth—and contributes to algal blooms responsible for oxygen depletion. The destruction of aquatic vegetation by large populations of foraging fish also impacts waterfowl nesting, breeding, and feeding habitat, shoreline and littoral habitat, and game fish spawning habitat.Design and engineering of the project started in late 2013. Contracts and associated agreements for the dam were made in early 2014. The order of operations for the construction of the project includes:•    Installation of the cofferdam•    Construction of the water diversion channel•    Removal of the old dam and bridge•    Installation of the metal sheeting that holds the lake level•    Placement of the first rock arch along the sheeting•    Installation of the footings for the concrete work•    Concrete work for the fish barrier•    Concrete work for the draw down structure•    Finalize/seal all concrete•    Placement of remaining rock arches•    Removal of the cofferdam and water diversion channel•    Installation and fine tuning of the fish barrier componentThe main construction of the projects where completed in the spring of 2015. At the end of 2015, some calibrations of the electric components were needed on the electric fish barrier. After the ice melt in the spring of 2016, those changes were made to fine tune the barrier. The Albert Lea Lake Management and Invasive Species Control Structure is now fully complete. The outlet, fish passage, and fish barrier worked in harmonization as part of the District’s overall management plan. Similar to the Wedge Creek, White Lake, and Mud Lake efforts, the anticipated outcome for Albert Lea Lake is restoration of rooted aquatic vegetation, fish and wildlife habitat, and enhanced water quality—all of which will serve to increase community use of this important recreational resource.   The existing Albert Lea Lake outlet structure and access bridge, installed in 1922, are in need of repair.The proposed project would replace the fixed-crest dam with a rock-arch rapids feature to control water levels and allow fish passage (see concept drawing). A lake level management structure would also be constructed, as well as an electric barrier to prevent silver, bighead, and common carp and other benthic feeding fish from entering the lake. This project is expected to result in improved aquatic habitat, improved waterfowl nesting, breeding, and feeding habitat, an increase in desirable fish populations, and improved water quality and clarity. It has been identified as a high priority in the SRRWD Management Plan, developed with public participation, and subject to public review and approval by the SRRWD Board. Specific benefits are outlined below. 1.  Rock-Arch Water-Level Control and Fish Passage: Replacing the existing fixed-crest dam with a series of rock arches will provide a naturalized outlet to Albert Lea Lake, with the upper-most rock arch controlling the normal water level. The arches will also provide fish passage, allowing northern pike to move upstream from the Shell Rock River to spawn in the lake. Northern Pike typically spawn in March and April, while carp spawning/movement typically does not start until May. A fish passage—in combination with an electric fish barrier activated in May to preclude carp—will increase the population of Northern Pike, natural predators of carp. Albert Lea Lake populations of Northern Pike and Bluegill (also a carp egg predator) are currently below Minnesota DNR norms for similar lakes. 2.  Lake Level Management Structure: Installation of a structure to facilitate lake-level management gives the SRRWD flexibility to take action benefiting the health of the lake. Periodic lowering of lake elevations allows maximum in-lake sediment compaction, improvement of water clarity due to reduction in wind-generated turbidity, and time for plant colonization of shoreline and shallow-water areas. The resulting improvement in aquatic plant health benefits the entire lake system. 3.  Electric fish barrier: An electric fish barrier will be used to reduce the population of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in Albert Lea Lake and to prevent the introduction of Bighead and Silver (Asian) Carp. Common carp uproot and consume aquatic vegetation, disturb and re-suspend phosphorous-rich sediments. The resulting increase in turbidity reduces light penetration—discouraging rooted plant growth—and contributes to algal blooms responsible for oxygen depletion. The destruction of aquatic vegetation by large populations of foraging fish also impacts waterfowl nesting, breeding, and feeding habitat, shoreline and littoral habitat, and game fish spawning habitat. Asian Carp multiply rapidly and are voracious eaters, depleting food resources. The leaping ability of the Silver Carp also poses a danger to boaters and skiers. According to a 2010 news story in the Cedar Rapids Gazette, Asian carp have migrated past the 5-in-1 Dam in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, moving up the Cedar River to Black Hawk County—where the Cedar and the Shell Rock River join. The distance from this point to Albert Lea Lake is only about 100 miles. While there is not general agreement about the threat posed by Asian carp in lake waters, if this does become a concern the barrier could be used year-round and an alternative fish management plan developed. The SRRWD has a proven track record of success with fish barriers. The fish barriers upstream of Albert Lea Lake—at Wedge Creek and White Lake (partially funded by 2009 Outdoor Heritage Funds) and Mud Lake—have improved habitat and water clarity in the upstream areas. Improved habitat is demonstrated by increased sightings of aquatic fur bearers and waterfowl, with 15 waterfowl species sighted during the fall migration. Improvements in water clarity are demonstrated by secchi disk readings on Fountain Lake (connected to these water bodies), which were the best on record in 2010. The proposed outlet, fish passage, and fish barrier will work as part of the District’s overall management plan. Similar to the Wedge Creek, White Lake, and Mud Lake efforts, the anticipated outcome for Albert Lea Lake is restoration of rooted aquatic vegetation, fish and wildlife habitat, and enhanced water quality—all of which will serve to increase community use of this important recreational resource. The strategy of carp/rough fish control and exclusion is known to be effective. This program is endorsed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fishery and Wildlife Divisions and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and conducted with their technical assistance and cooperation. This project is consistent with recommendations of the 2004 Shell Rock River Watershed Management Plan (Appendix B & J). It is also noted in the Albert Lea Lake Management Plan, as part of the Freeborn County Comprehensive Water Plan 2006-2015. Other applicable plans include the Minnesota Conservation and Preservation Plan Phase II provisions that address the control of invasive species, restoration of shallow lakes, water quality improvements in impaired waters, and  protection and enhancement of fish and waterfowl breeding habitat (pg. 30-96); and the 2009 Minnesota State Management Plan for Invasive Species. Activities are also within the goals of the Basin Alliance for the Lower Mississippi in Minnesota (BALMM). This project is a component of the 2011 Restoring Native Habitat/Water Quality to the Shell Rock River Project funded by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Fund for the fee-title acquisition of the headwaters of the Shell Rock River. The land has been acquired and will be turned over to the DNR to be operated under an Aquatic Management Area Management Plan. There are no known opponents or anticipated barriers to project completion. These efforts will be highly visible and seen as a benefit to the entire region. They are endorsed by the local Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Freeborn County, City of Albert Lea, DNR and Fountain Lake Sportsmen’s Club.  ",,2013-07-01,2018-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Andy,Henschel,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","411 S Broadway ","Albert Lea",MN,56007,"(507) 377-5785",andy.henschel@co.freeborn.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Freeborn,"Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/albert-lea-lake-management-and-invasive-species-control-structure,,,,
21784,"Antibiotics in Minnesota Waters - Phase II - Mississippi River",2014,203000,"M.L. 2013, Chp. 52, Sec. 2, Subd. 05h","$203,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the University of St. Thomas to measure antibiotic concentrations and antibiotic resistance levels and assess the contributions of farm runoff and wastewater treatment in a portion of the Mississippi River. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2016, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,203000,,,3.22,"University of St. Thomas","Private College/University","The occurrences of contaminants including antibiotics, other pharmaceuticals, and personal care products in the environment have gained increasing attention in recent years because of their potential health and ecological impacts. However, serious gaps remain in our understanding of these contaminants and the significance of the threats they may pose, such as to drinking water. Through this appropriation scientists at the University of St. Thomas, Gustavus Adolphus College, and the University of Minnesota will continue work focused on the threats posed by antibiotics to understand which antibiotics are of the most concern – for example, because of their potential to increase antibiotic resistance – and to delineate their urban and rural sources. The first phase focused on antibiotics in the Minnesota River and this phase will focus on the Mississippi River. Findings will help develop strategies to manage threats and minimize future impacts posed by antibiotics to human and ecological health.",,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2013/work_plans/2013_05h.pdf,2013-07-01,2016-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Kristine,Wammer,"St. Thomas University","2115 Summit Ave, OSS 402","St. Paul",MN,55105,"(651) 962-5574",khwammer@stthomas.edu,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Ramsey, Sherburne, Stearns, Wabasha, Wright",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/antibiotics-minnesota-waters-phase-ii-mississippi-river,,,,
785,"Aquatic Management Area Acquisition, Phase 1",2010,5748000,"ML 2009, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(b)","$5,748,000 in fiscal year 2010 is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire and in fee title and easement to be added to he state aquatic management area system. Acquired land must remain open to hunting and fishing, consistent with the capacity of the land, during the open season, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. A list of proposed fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Forestlands are protected from development and fragmentation Improved aquatic habitat indicators Improved aquatic habitat indicator","1,026 acres",,6220900,"RIM and Private Source",5748000,,,None,DNR,"State Government","This program will permanently protect approximately 1,246 acres (8.9-miles) of lake and warm water stream shoreline through fee title and permanent easement acquisition. Our program will also secure 54 Acres (3.1-miles) of permanent habitat management easements that include angler access on designated trout streams.","Aquatic Management Areas were established to protect, develop, and manage lakes, rivers, streams, and adjacent wetlands and lands that are critical for fish and other aquatic life, for water quality, and for the intrinsic biological value, public fishing, or other compatible outdoor recreational uses. AMAs provide angler or management access; protect fish spawning, rearing, or other unique habitat; protect aquatic wildlife feeding and nesting areas; and protect critical shoreline habitat, among other purposes authorized by Minnesota Statures 86A.05, Subdivision 14. Guiding Principles >Conserve critical shoreline habitat for all fish and wildlife species >Conserve vital fish spawning and rearing areas >Provide angling and management access corridors on trout and warmwater streams >Provide non-motorized angler access on lakes and streams >Preserve examples of healthy shoreline habitats as maps for future restoration of disturbed sites. Project dollars will secure fee title or permanent easements on approximately 921 acres (6.6 miles) of lake and warmwater stream shoreline, and leverage about 325 acres (2.3 miles) of similar acquisition through partner funds. Project dollars will also secure 54 acres (3.1 miles) of permanent habitat management easements that include angler access on designated trout streams, primarily in the Southeast and Northeast areas of the state. Overall priority will be given to acquiring regionally significant fish and wildlife habitat that will build on existing shoreline habitat and provide angler and hunter access. Projects may occur anywhere within the state, and depending on priorities, risk of development, and potential partners. Project lists will change, as new parcels become available and as previously included projects become unavailable. Collaborative partnerships will be promoted in order to acquire key lands. Project money is expected to generate additional non-state funded acres and shoreline miles, for a grand total of 1,300 acres (12 miles) of critical shoreline habitat. Department policy is to notify County and Township governments when acquiring AMA's. Local support for AMA acquisition is usually substantial, and local groups commonly offer to help raise funds.","Accomplishment Plan: http://www.lsohc.leg.mn/FY2010/accomp_plan/5b.pdfAquatic Management Areas were established to protect, develop, and manage lakes, rivers, streams, and adjacent wetlands and lands that are critical for fish and other aquatic life, for water quality, and for the intrinsic biological value, public fishing, or other compatible outdoor recreational uses. AMAs provide angler or management access; protect fish spawning, rearing, or other unique habitat; protect aquatic wildlife feeding and nesting areas; and protect critical shoreline habitat, among other purposes authorized by Minnesota Statures 86A.05, Subdivision 14.Guiding Principles>Conserve critical shoreline habitat for all fish and wildlife species>Conserve vital fish spawning and rearing areas>Provide angling and management access corridors on trout and warm-water streams>Provide non-motorized angler access on lakes and streams>Preserve examples of healthy shoreline habitats as maps for future restoration of disturbed sites.Project dollars secured fee title or permanent easements on approximately 525 acres (5.2 miles) of lake warmwater stream shoreline, and leveraged about 427 acres (5.3 miles) of similar acquisition through partner funds. Project dollars also secured 73 acres (4.8 miles) of permanent habitat management easements that include angler access on designated trout streams, primarily in the Southeast and Northeast areas of the state. Overall priority was given to acquiring regionally significant fish and wildlife habitat that will build on existing shoreline habitat and provide angler and hunter access. Acquisitions occurred throughout the state, and depending on priorities, risk of development, and potential partners. Collaborative partnerships were promoted in order to acquire key lands.County and Township governments were notified by the DNR when acquiring AMA's in their locale. Local support for AMA acquisition is usually substantial, and local groups commonly offer to help raise funds.Note: Land acquisition for this appropriation incurred professional service expenses that exceeded the approved budget.  During this appropriation, the state of Minnesota changed its billing software system.  The change resulted in significant delays (9 months, July 2011- March 2012) in receiving bills and overspending the professional service budget line without prior authorization.  We have created individual accounting budgets for each line item in approved budgets.  This step and the now operational accounting system will prevent similar issues in the future.Sources outside of OHF were also used to pay for professional service expenses.  These leveraged dollars are noted in the budget table.",2009-07-01,2012-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",None,,,Pat,Rivers,DNR,"500 Lafayette Road ","Saint Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5209",pat.rivers@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Crow Wing, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Hubbard, Lake, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, St. Louis, St. Louis","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/aquatic-management-area-acquisition,,,,
10031410,"Are Stream Restoration Efforts Effective? An Evidence-Based Assessment",2025,200000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 04l","$200,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Saint Mary's University of Minnesota to assess stream habitat improvement projects to improve trout populations and stream health in Minnesota's Driftless Area.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,5.1,"Saint Mary's University","Private College/University","Assessing stream habitat improvement projects to improve trout populations and stream health in the Driftless Area.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2026-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Andrew,Robertson,"Saint Mary's University","700 Terrace Heights Box 7",Winona,MN,55897,"(507) 457-8746",aroberts@smumn.edu,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Blue Earth, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Le Sueur, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, Winona",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/are-stream-restoration-efforts-effective-evidence-based-assessment,,,,
18345,"Bent Tree Trail",2013,950000,"M.L. 2011 First Special Session Ch. 6 Art. 3 Sec. 3(c) (1) & M.S. 85.535","$7331000 the first year and $7686000 the second year are for grants under Minnesota Statutes section 85.535 to acquire develop improve and restore parks and trails of regional or statewide significance outside of the metropolitan area as defined in Minnesota Statutes section 473.121 subdivision 2.",,,,,,,,,,"Freeborn County",,"to acquire 12.65 miles of abandoned rail line for trail development with connection to existing biking lane and trail head of the Blazing Star State Trail located in Albert Lea",,,2013-01-04,2015-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Traci,Vibo,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","Saint Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5619",traci.vibo@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Freeborn,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/bent-tree-trail,,,,
10031409,"Breaking the PFAS Cycle with a Full-Scale Demonstration",2025,1481000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 04k","$1,481,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Barr Engineering Company, in partnership with the city of St. Cloud and the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) at the University of Minnesota, to conduct a full-scale pilot to evaluate supercritical water oxidation of biosolids and drinking water treatment residuals to destroy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and recover energy in the water treatment process. This appropriation is subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,1.24,"Barr Engineering Co.","For-Profit Business/Entity","This full-scale pilot will evaluate supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) for managing PFAS in biosolids and water treatment residuals. SCWO can destroy PFAS in a variety of wastes and recover energy.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2026-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Andrew,McCabe,"Barr Engineering Co.","4300 MarketPointe Dr",Minneapolis,MN,55435,"(952) 832-2844",amccabe@barr.com,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Benton, Big Stone, Cass, Chippewa, Crow Wing, Douglas, Grant, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Nicollet, Otter Tail, Pope, Renville, Sibley, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wadena, Wilkin",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/breaking-pfas-cycle-full-scale-demonstration,,,,
10006482,"Buffalo River Watershed Stream Habitat Program – Phase 1",2019,1195000,"ML 2018, Ch. 208, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 5(n)","$1,195,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District to restore and enhance aquatic and upland habitat associated with the south branch of the Buffalo River and Whisky Creek in the Buffalo River watershed. A list of proposed restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced habitat for migratory and unique Minnesota species - The outcome of the Buffalo River Watershed Stream Restoration Program will be up to 4.6 miles of restoration (currently estimated at 3 miles based on reduced funding) of the South Branch of the Buffalo River into a stable prairie stream with expanded and enhanced permanently protected habitat corridor. This will provide significantly improved terrestrial and aquatic habitat for fish and wildlife, such as prairie chickens, using the stream corridor. Improvements in water quality are also expected. .",,,355000,"CREP, RIM, Local Tax Levy, Local Tax Levy",1195000,,,,"Buffalo-Red River Watershed District ","Local/Regional Government","Over a century ago, the construction of Judicial Ditch No. 3 resulted in the rerouting of the South Branch of the Buffalo River, completely changing its flow characteristics. In the first phase of this multi-phase project, the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District (BRRWD) in partnership with landowners, federal, state, and local agencies, will put much of the rerouted channel back restoring up to 4.6 miles of the South Branch with up to 100 acres of associated riparian habitat corridor. Additional restorations of straightened stream and river channels along the South Branch and Whisky Creek will be completed as funding permits.","The construction of several legal ditch systems and other channel straightening efforts eliminated hundreds of acres of quality of stream habitat within the BRRWD. In some cases, the channelization simply straightened the stream channel and in others the constructed ditch diverted water away from the natural stream. Straightened channels create homogenous habitats, they no longer have the shallow riffles and deeper pools that are required by fish at various stages in their life cycle. The straightened reaches also tend to lose access to their floodplains which increases erosion in the channel and causes downstream flooding. In addition, aggradation of the downstream channel due to increased sediment loading reduces habitat quality and makes flooding worse. Over the last several years, the BRRWD, with input and in partnership with landowners, federal, state, and local agencies, designed comprehensive subwatershed restoration plans and intends to implement these plans over the next several years. A component of these plans includes the restoration of numerous reaches of straightened and abandoned creek and river channels throughout the Watershed District. Prioritization of projects is largely based on ecological benefits, being shovel-ready and having landowner and other stakeholder support. In the first phase of this multi-phase project, the BRRWD plans to restore up to 4.6 miles of perennial stream with up to 100 plus acres of associated riparian corridor habitat along the South Branch of the Buffalo River. The project will divert water from Wilkin County Ditch No. 44 (formerly called Judicial Ditch 3) back into the abandoned South Branch channel. The South Branch will be restored using natural channel design principles. The river restoration has been designed with direct input from the MN DNR Stream Habitat Program as well as the MN Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR). A sinuous riffle-pool natural channel design is proposed to recreate the aquatic habitat diversity that was lost in the straightened ditch. The naturally stable restored channel will not only recreate lost habitat, but will reduce the current erosion that is overloading downstream reaches of the South Branch. This project is being completed in conjunction with a Reinvest in Minnesota project being implemented by the MN BWSR. As part of their comprehensive subwatershed planning process, the District has completed planning and design on three additional stream reaches which are included as part of this application package. These include the restoration of Whisky Creek, its tributary, and the South Branch of the Buffalo River and their associated riparian corridors. Additional stream restoration enhancement along the South Branch of the Buffalo River and Whisky Creek will be completed as funding permits when and if additional sources of match funding become available. Combined, these comprehensive projects have the potential to restore and enhance more than 38 miles of natural prairie stream. Ultimately, over 1400 acres of floodplain wetland and grassland habitat along these restoration reaches will be protected and restored. ",,2018-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Bruce,Albright,"Buffalo-Red River Watershed District","1303 4th Avenue NE PO Box 341",Barnesville,MN,56514,"(218) 354-7710",balbright@brrwd.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Clay, Wilkin","Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/buffalo-river-watershed-stream-habitat-program-phase-1,,,,
32153,"Buffalo River State Park improvements",2012,,"M.L. 2011 First Special Session Ch. 6 Art. 3 Sec. 3(a)(2)","Sec. 3. Department of Natural Resources (a)$14262000 the first year and $14603000 the second year are for state parks recreation areas and trails to: (1)Connect people to the outdoors; (2)Acquire land and create opportunities; (3)Maintain existing holdings; and (4)Improve cooperation by coordinating with partners to implement the 25-year long-range parks and trails legacy plan",,,,,,,,,,,,"This project entailed a number of small individual improvements to the park made over a 3 year period, including constructing a drinking fountain with an accessible sidewalk at the beach in Buffalo River State Park, repairing a broken water line, rebuilding the main park entrance sign, purchasing sand to stem the flooding of nearby Buffalo R into the beach area, purchasing accessible fire rings, and purchase of new park signs.",,,2012-07-01,2015-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Phil,Leversedge,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,,MN,,"() -",,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Clay,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/buffalo-river-state-park-improvements,,,,
3264,"Buffalo River State Park Swimming Pond Repair",2011,,"M.L. 2009 Ch. 172 Art. 3 Sec. 2(3)",,,,,,,,,,,,,"Replacement of failed swimming pond drainage and piping system","Repair work allowed the swimming area to open for summer use on schedule and allowed treatment equipment to operate efficiently for maintaining healthy conditions. ",,2011-05-25,2014-09-29,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Brian,Nelson,"MNDNR Division of Parks and Trails","500 Lafayette Rd","St Paul",MN,55155,"(218) 498-2124",brian.nelson@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Clay,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/buffalo-river-state-park-swimming-pond-repair,,,,
10033377,"Buffalo River Watershed Stream Habitat Program - Phase 2",2023,2407000,"ML 2022, Ch. 77, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(p)","$2,407,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District to restore and enhance aquatic and upland habitat associated with the Buffalo River and tributaries in the Buffalo River watershed. A list of proposed restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced habitat for migratory and unique Minnesota species - Project outcomes are measured by the total acres of restored riparian habitat, in addition to the total stream miles restored",,,690000,"CREP, RIM, Local Tax Levy, Clean Water Fund, Local Tax Levy and Clean Water Fund",2407000,,,None,"Buffalo Red River WD","Local/Regional Government","A century of channel straightening efforts has significantly reduced the habitat quality within the BRRWD. The BRRWD has identified, with preliminary designs completed, a number of straightened streams. In the second phase of this multi-phase project, the BRRWD in partnership with landowners, federal, state, and local agencies, will restore 7 miles of the Upper Buffalo River channel and riparian habitat corridor, and 4.2 miles of the South Branch Buffalo River channel and riparian habitat corridor. Additional restorations of straightened streams include a Buffalo River tributary (Glyndon), and Whisky Creek and its south tributary to be completed as funding permits.","Throughout the last century, channel straightening efforts and poor field practices have significantly reduced the habitat quality within the BRRWD. Channel straightening efforts have eliminated hundreds of acres of quality stream habitat. Straightened channels create homogenous habitats that no longer have the shallow riffles and deeper pools that are required by fish at various stages in their life cycle. The straightened reaches also tend to lose access to their floodplains which increases erosion in the channel and causes downstream flooding. In addition, aggradation of the downstream channel, due to increased sediment loading, reduces habitat quality and makes flooding worse. Over the last several years, the BRRWD, with input and in partnership with landowners, federal, state, and local agencies, designed comprehensive subwatershed restoration plans and intends to implement these plans over the next several years. A component of these plans includes the restoration of numerous reaches of straightened and abandoned creek and river channels throughout the Watershed District. Prioritization of projects is largely based on ecological benefits, being shovel-ready and having landowner and other stakeholder support. In the second phase of this multi-phase project, the BRRWD plans to restore 7 miles of the Upper Buffalo River channel, within an 11-mile stream reach, and associated riparian habitat corridor. In addition, this phase will restore 4.2 miles of the South Branch Buffalo River channel in the 280 acre associated riparian habitat corridor. The Upper Buffalo River and the South Branch Buffalo River will be restored using natural channel design principles. The river restorations have been designed with direct input from the MN DNR Stream Habitat Program as well as the MN Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR). A sinuous riffle-pool natural channel design is proposed to recreate the aquatic habitat diversity that was lost in the straightened channel. The naturally stable restored channel will not only recreate lost habitat but will reduce the current erosion that is overloading downstream reaches of the Upper Buffalo River and South Branch Buffalo River. This project is being completed in conjunction with a Reinvest in Minnesota project implemented by the MN BWSR. As part of their comprehensive subwatershed planning process, the District has completed planning and design on three additional stream reaches which are included as part of this application package. These include the restoration of Whisky Creek, its south tributary, and the Buffalo River tributary near Glyndon and their associated riparian corridors. Additional stream restoration enhancement along the Buffalo River tributary near Glyndon and Whisky Creek will be completed as funding permits when and if additional sources of match funding become available. Combined, these comprehensive projects have the potential to restore and enhance more than 46 miles of natural prairie stream. Ultimately, over 970 acres of stream, river, floodplain, wetland, and grassland habitat along these restoration reaches will be protected and restored.",,2022-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Kristine,Altrichter,"Buffalo-Red River Watershed District","1303 4th Ave NE ",Barnesville,MN,56514,218-789-3100,kaltrichter@brrwd.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Clay, Wilkin","Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/buffalo-river-watershed-stream-habitat-program-phase-2,,,,
10033968,"Buffalo-Red River Watershed District Stream Habitat Program ?Phase 3""",2024,3748000,"ML 2023, Ch. 40, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(d)","$3,748,000 the first year is to acquire permanent conservation easements and restore and enhance aquatic and upland habitat associated with the Red River and Buffalo River watersheds. Of this amount, $2,250,000 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District and $1,498,000 is to the Board of Water and Soil Resources. $102,000 of the amount to the Board of Water and Soil Resources is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed acquisitions and restorations must be included as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced habitat for migratory and unique Minnesota species - Project outcomes are measured by the total acres of acquired and restored riparian habitat, in addition to the total stream miles restored",,,5095000,"CREP, Other RIM, Local Tax Levy, DNR FHMGP, Clean Water Fund, NWQI, USFWS, Local Tax Levy and Clean Water Fund",3729200,18800,,0.27,"Buffalo Red River WD, BWSR","Local/Regional Government","A century of channel straightening has significantly reduced the stream habitat quality within the BRRWD. The BRRWD has identified, with preliminary designs completed, a number of straightened streams. In several multi-phase projects, the BRRWD in partnership with landowners, federal, state, and local agencies, will restore 3 miles of targeted stream and their respective riparian habitat corridors. Targeted restorations of straightened streams include the South Branch of the Buffalo River, Upper Buffalo River, Stony Creek, Whisky Creek, and Whiskey's Creek southern tributary. Easement acquisition of conservation lands will be required in corresponding target project corridors.","Throughout the last century, channel straightening efforts and poor field practices have significantly reduced the habitat quality within BRRWD. Channel straightening efforts have eliminated hundreds of acres of quality stream habitat. Straightened channels create homogenous habitats that no longer have the shallow riffles and deeper pools that are required by fish at various stages in their life cycle. Straightened reaches also tend to lose access to their floodplains which increases erosion in the channel and causes downstream flooding. In addition, aggradation of the downstream channel, due to increased sediment loading, reduces habitat quality and makes flooding worse. Over the last several years, BRRWD, with input and in partnership with landowners, federal, state, and local agencies, designed comprehensive subwatershed restoration plans and intends to implement these plans over the next several years. A component of these plans includes the restoration of numerous reaches of straightened and abandoned creek and river channels throughout the Watershed District. Prioritization of projects is largely based on ecological benefits, being shovel-ready and having landowner and other stakeholder support. In these multi-phase projects, the BRRWD anticipates to restore 4 miles of the South Branch Buffalo River within 225-acres of riparian habitat corridor. An estimated 448 acres of conservation easement acquisition is included for this phase of restoration and future restorations. Depending on other outside funding, the funding through this appropriation may be used on other targeted reaches. Acquiring land often creates time constraints and delays project progress. To ensure timely progress on future project phases, 223 acres of easement acquisition for future phases are considered in this proposal. River restorations using natural channel design principles have been designed with input from the MN DNR River Ecology Unit as well as the MN BWSR. A sinuous riffle-pool natural channel design is proposed to recreate the aquatic habitat diversity that was lost in the straightened channel. Naturally stable restored channels will not only recreate lost habitat but will reduce the current erosion that is overloading downstream reaches of the South Branch Buffalo River. The easement acquisition part of this project is proposed to be completed using the Reinvest in Minnesota project implemented by MN BWSR. As part of their comprehensive subwatershed planning process, BRRWD has completed planning and design on four additional stream reaches which are included as part of this application package. These include the restoration of Stony Creek (5.1 miles), Whiskey Creek (1.2 miles), Whisky Creek (14.5 miles) and its south tributary (1.18 miles), and the Upper Buffalo River (16 miles) and their associated riparian corridors. Additional stream restoration enhancement along Stony Creek, Whisky Creek, Whiskey Creek, and the Upper Buffalo River will be completed as funding permits when and if additional sources of match funding become available. Combined, these comprehensive projects have the potential to restore and enhance more than 40 miles of natural prairie stream. Ultimately, over 1,750 acres of stream, river, floodplain, wetland, and grassland habitat along these restoration reaches will be protected and restored.",,2023-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Kristine,Altrichter,"Buffalo-Red River Watershed District","1303 4th Ave NE ",Barnesville,MN,56514,218-789-3100,kaltrichter@brrwd.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Clay, Wilkin","Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/buffalo-red-river-watershed-district-stream-habitat-program-phase-3,,,,
10031439,"Building Resilient Urban Forests for Climate Change",2025,752000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 07b","$752,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Great River Greening to partner with municipalities and school districts to create gravel-bed nurseries, conduct tree assessments and mapping, and plant climate-resilient tree species on public lands in St. Cloud, Mankato, and the Twin Cities region. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,1.84,"Great River Greening","Non-Profit Business/Entity","We will partner with urban municipalities and school districts to support planting of climate-resilient tree species. Activities include planting trees, gravel bed nursery creation, tree assessment and mapping, and community.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2027-12-31,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Todd,Rexine,"Great River Greening","251 Starkey St, Ste 2200","Saint Paul",MN,55107,"(651) 665-9500",trexine@greatrivergreening.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Benton, Big Stone, Cass, Chippewa, Crow Wing, Douglas, Grant, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Nicollet, Otter Tail, Pope, Renville, Sibley, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wadena, Wilkin, Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, Wright, Brown, Cottonwood, Jackson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, Watonwan, Yellow Medicine",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/building-resilient-urban-forests-climate-change,,,,
787,"Cold Water River and Stream Restoration, Protection, and Enhancement, Phase I",2010,2050000,"ML 2009, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(c )","$2,050,000 in fiscal year 2010 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Trout Unlimited or successor to restore, enhance, and protect cold water river and stream habitats in Minnesota. A list of proposed acquisitions and a list of proposed projects, describing the types and locations of restorations and enhancements, must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The commissioner of natural resources must agree to each proposed acquisition, restoration, and enhancement.",,"Total acres restored or enhanced: 277",,,,2050000,,,0.125,"MN Trout Unlimited","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This program will restore and enhance in-stream and riparian fish and wildlife habitat in 11 watersheds across the state of Minnesota. The proposed projects will improve habitat for both game and non-game fish and wildlife species uniquely associated with cold water trout streams and provide expanded recreational opportunities for Minnesota anglers. ","As part of our ongoing program of trout and salmon habitat restoration and enhancement, the Minnesota Council of Trout Unlimited (""MNTU"") has identified the priority conservation projects listed below. MNTU proposes to restore or enhance in-stream and riparian fish and wildlife habitat in and along the following Minnesota waters (counties) between July 2009 and June 201, with most projects completed by October 2010: 1. Hay Creek (Goodhue); 2. Kabekona Creek (Hubbard); 3. Lawndale Creek (Wilkin); 4. Little Rock Creek (Benton); 5. Middle Branch of Whitewater River (Olmsted); 6. Mill Creek (Fillmore); 7. Pickwick Creek (Winona); 8. Trout Run Creek (Fillmore); 9. Straight River (Becker & Hubbard); 10. Sucker River (St. Louis); 11. Vermillion River (Dakota). Degraded cold water habitat is an important statewide conservation issue that requires immediate investment through habitat restoration and enhancement projects. The distinct natural resource characteristics of each ecologically distinct region of Minnesota, together with the variation in the type and magnitude of poor land uses practices in different watersheds, require that fish habitat restoration methods vary around the state. MNTU understands this and tailors our projects accordingly. In the Lake Superior basin, this may mean restoring in-stream cover which was removed decades ago to facilitate log drives. In Southwest Minnesota this may mean restoring overhead bank cover, while drastically sloping soil back to remove thick sediment deposited from the uplands and restore streams' access to their floodplains. The projects to be undertaken by MNTU as part of this program will be designed to accomplish a number of the following purposes: a) reduce stream bank erosion and associated sedimentation, b) reconnect streams to their floodplains to reduce negative impacts from severe flooding, c) increase natural reproduction of trout and other aquatic organisms, d) maintain or increase adult trout abundance, e) increase biodiversity for both in-stream and non-game species, f) be long lasting with minimal maintenance required, and g) improve angler access. The results of the projects will be evaluated not only in measures of habitat restored and/or enhanced, but also through trout population assessments. ","As part of our ongoing program of trout and salmon habitat restoration and enhancement, the Minnesota Council of Trout Unlimited (""MNTU"") has identified the priority conservation projects listed below. MNTU proposes to restore or enhance in-stream and riparian fish and wildlife habitat in and along the following Minnesota waters (counties) between July 2009 and June 201, with most projects completed by October 2010:1. Hay Creek (Goodhue);2. Kabekona Creek (Hubbard);3. Lawndale Creek (Wilkin);4. Little Rock Creek (Benton);5. Middle Branch of Whitewater River (Olmsted);6. Mill Creek (Fillmore);7. Pickwick Creek (Winona);8. Trout Run Creek (Fillmore);9. Straight River (Becker & Hubbard);10. Sucker River (St. Louis);11. Vermillion River (Dakota).Degraded cold water habitat is an important statewide conservation issue that requires immediate investment through habitat restoration and enhancement projects. The distinct natural resource characteristics of each ecologically distinct region of Minnesota, together with the variation in the type and magnitude of poor land uses practices in different watersheds, require that fish habitat restoration methods vary around the state. MNTU understands this and tailors our projects accordingly. In the Lake Superior basin, this may mean restoring in-stream cover which was removed decades ago to facilitate log drives. In Southwest Minnesota this may mean restoring overhead bank cover, while drastically sloping soil back to remove thick sediment deposited from the uplands and restore streams' access to their floodplains.The projects to be undertaken by MNTU as part of this program will be designed to accomplish a number of the following purposes: a) reduce stream bank erosion and associated sedimentation, b) reconnect streams to their floodplains to reduce negative impacts from severe flooding, c) increase natural reproduction of trout and other aquatic organisms, d) maintain or increase adult trout abundance, e) increase biodiversity for both in-stream and non-game species, f) be long lasting with minimal maintenance required, and g) improve angler access.The results of the projects will be evaluated not only in measures of habitat restored and/or enhanced, but also through trout population assessments.",2009-07-01,2011-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",None,,,John,Lenczewski,"Minnesota Council of Trout Unlimited","P O Box 845 ",Chanhassen,None,55317,,jlenczewski@comcast.net,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Benton, Dakota, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hubbard, Olmsted, St. Louis, St. Louis",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/cold-water-river-and-stream-restoration-protection-and-enhancement,,,,
9483,"Como Regional Park Pool Replacement",2011,150000,"M.L 2009 Ch. 172 Art. 3 Sec 2d & M.S. 85.535.","$3970000 the first year and $4900000 the second year are for grants under new Minnesota Statutes section 85.535 to parks and trails recognized as meeting the constitutional requirement of being a park or trail of regional or statewide significance. Grants under this section must be used only for acquisition development restoration and maintenance. Of this amount $500000 the first year and $600000 the second year are for grants for solar energy projects. Up to 2.5 percent of this appropriation may be used for administering the grants.",,,,,,,,,,"City Of Saint Paul",,"to install solar thermal hot water heating system for the bathhouse building and the concessions building as part of the park swimming pool replacement",,,2011-02-08,2012-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Traci,Vibo,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","Saint Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5619",traci.vibo@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Ramsey,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/como-regional-park-pool-replacement,,,,
10031413,"Connecting Communities to Voyageurs Classroom and Minnesota's National Park",2025,994000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 05b","$994,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Voyageurs Conservancy to connect Minnesotans to the state's only national park through standards-aligned K-12 education, career-building fellowships, and enhanced programming that engages diverse audiences in the park's conservation.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,10.8,"Voyageurs Conservancy","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Voyageurs Conservancy will connect 17,000 Minnesotans to the state's only national park through standards-aligned K-12 education, career-building fellowships, and enhanced programs that engage diverse audiences in the park's conservation.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2027-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Breanna,Trygg,"Voyageurs Conservancy","1400 Van Buren Street #200-235",Minneapolis,MN,55413,"(612) 333-5424",btrygg@voyageurs.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/connecting-communities-voyageurs-classroom-and-minnesotas-national-park,,,,
10006486,"Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program Phase 10: Statewide and Metro Habitat",2019,11589000,"ML 2018, Ch. 208, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 5(r )","$11,589,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for a program to provide competitive matching grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, state, and national organizations for enhancing, restoring, or protecting forests, wetlands, prairies, or habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. Of this amount, up to $2,567,000 is for grants in the seven-county metropolitan area and cities with a population of 50,000 or greater. Grants must not be made for activities required to fulfill the duties of owners of lands subject to conservation easements. Grants must not be made from the appropriation in this paragraph for projects that have a total project cost exceeding $575,000. Of the total appropriation, $536,000 may be spent for personnel costs and other direct and necessary administrative costs. Grantees may acquire land or interests in land. Easements must be permanent. Grants may not be used to establish easement stewardship accounts. Land acquired in fee must be open to hunting and fishing during the open season unless otherwise provided by law. The program must require a match of at least ten percent from nonstate sources for all grants. The match may be cash or in-kind resources. For grant applications of $25,000 or less, the commissioner must provide a separate, simplified application process. Subject to Minnesota statutes, the commissioner of natural resources must, when evaluating projects of equal value, give priority to organizations that have a history of receiving, or a charter to receive, private contributions for local conservation or habitat projects. If acquiring land in fee or a conservation easement, priority must be given to projects associated with or within one mile of existing wildlife management areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8; scientific and natural areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 84.033 and 86A.05, subdivision 5; or aquatic management areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02. All restoration or enhancement projects must be on land permanently protected by a permanent covenant ensuring perpetual maintenance and protection of restored and enhanced habitat, by a conservation easement or by public ownership, or in public waters as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 103G.005, subdivision 15. Priority must be given to restoration and enhancement projects on public lands. Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 13, applies to grants awarded under this paragraph. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2022. No less than five percent of the amount of each grant must be held back from reimbursement until the grant recipient has completed a grant accomplishment report by the deadline and in the form prescribed by and satisfactory to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. The commissioner must provide notice of the grant program in the summary of game and fish law prepared under Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.051, subdivision 2.",,"All CPL project requests included a Natural Heritage Database Review, which addresses wildlife species of greatest conservation need, the MN County Biological Survey data, and/or rare, threatened and endangered species inventories.","A total of 18,010 acres were affected: 9,145 Restored, 1,121 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 7,744 in Enhance.",1666600,"local match",9238100,10100,,2.5,DNR,"State Government","As of 11/1/2022, the CPL program has provided over 900 grants totaling $109 million to over 200 different grantee organizations, improving or protecting over 339,000 acres of habitat. Demand for CPL grants has continued to grow each year as new applicants hear about the program and successful grantees return. In ML 2018 there were 107 grants awarded- 18 metro grants, 20 traditional grants, and 69 Expedited Conservation Partners grants. Through these 107 grants, over 18,000 acres were restored, enhanced, or protected. Over $11M was awarded to organizations for projects.","The CPL program fulfills MS 97a.056 Subd. 3a, directing LSOHC to establish a conservation partner?s grant program encouraging/supporting local conservation efforts. $11,053,000 was available for grants. Of this amount, up to $2,567,000 was used for projects in the 7-county metro area and in cities with a population of 50,000 people or greater. This is a stand-alone program, but depends on support/technical advice from public land managers and habitat and acquisition specialists. Grant activities included enhancement, restoration and protection of forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. A 10% match from non-state sources is required for all grants, and may be in-kind or cash. Applicants described the project, location, activity, habitat, benefit, etc. For acquisition projects, applicants described the parcel selection process. CPL Staff developed an RFP incorporating LSOHC priorities. Staff worked with applicants to submit applications, oversaw grant selection, prepared/executed grant documents, reviewed expenditures, approved payments/reports, monitored work, and assisted recipients with close-out. Staff complies with Office of Grants Management policies. The CPL program has 3 annual grant cycles- Traditional, Metro, and Expedited Conservation Projects (ECP). The Traditional and Metro cycles had one grant round beginning August 2017. Projects under $25,000 will have a simplified application. The ECP grant cycle had two rounds of funding. CPL staff reviewed applications for completeness. Technical Review Committees, comprised of habitat experts across the state and approved by the DNR Commissioner, reviewed and scored Traditional and Metro applications based on evaluation criteria (see attached). The DNR Directors of Fish and Wildlife, Eco Waters, and Forestry reviewed the committee?s recommendations and provide a final ranking to the Commissioner. Funding decisions were made by the Commissioner?s office. ECP grants are reviewed by CPL staff and DNR habitat experts using established criteria. The Director of Fish and Wildlife made final funding decisions for ECP. Grantees were required to submit annual and final accomplishment reports. Grantees were paid on a reimbursement or ?for services rendered? basis, meaning payment is made to the grantee after work has been performed. Proof that the vendor was paid must be submitted to staff before additional payments are made. Funds were advanced for acquisitions to accommodate cash flow needs. CPL Administration Budget: Administration costs of $137,400 include salary/fringe, direct support services, travel, supplies, outreach, ongoing application system/database maintenance, and other professional services.",,2018-07-01,2022-11-16,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Kathy,Varble,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Road Box 20","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5233",jessica.lee@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Carlton, Carver, Chisago, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hennepin, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Le Sueur, Marshall, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Morrison, Mower, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Ramsey, Rice, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Todd, Washington, Winona, Wright","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/conservation-partners-legacy-grant-program-phase-10-statewide-and-metro-habitat,,,,
10000081,"Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program Phase IX: Statewide and Metro Habitat",2018,9294000,"ML 2017, Ch. 91, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(j)","$9,294,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for a program to provide competitive, matching grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, state, and national organizations for enhancing, restoring, or protecting forests, wetlands, prairies, or habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. Of this amount, up to $2,660,000 is for grants in the seven-county metropolitan area and cities with a population of 50,000 or greater. Grants shall not be made for activities required to fulfill the duties of owners of lands subject to conservation easements. Grants shall not be made from the appropriation in this paragraph for projects that have a total project cost exceeding $575,000. Of the total appropriation, $634,000 may be spent for personnel costs and other direct and necessary administrative costs. Grantees may acquire land or interests in land. Easements must be permanent. Grants may not be used to establish easement stewardship accounts. Land acquired in fee must be open to hunting and fishing during the open season unless otherwise provided by law. The program shall require a match of at least ten percent from non-state sources for all grants. The match may be cash or in-kind resources. For grant applications of $25,000 or less, the commissioner shall provide a separate, simplified application process. Subject to Minnesota Statutes, the commissioner of natural resources shall, when evaluating projects of equal value, give priority to organizations that have a history of receiving or charter to receive private contributions for local conservation or habitat projects. If acquiring land in fee or a conservation easement, priority shall be given to projects associated with or within one mile of existing wildlife management areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8; scientific and natural areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 84.033 and 86A.05, subdivision 5; or aquatic management areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02. All restoration or enhancement projects must be on land permanently protected by a permanent covenant ensuring perpetual maintenance and protection of restored and enhanced habitat, by a conservation easement, or by public ownership or in public waters as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 103G.005, subdivision 15. Priority shall be given to restoration and enhancement projects on public lands. Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 13, applies to grants awarded under this paragraph. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2021. No less than five percent of the amount of each grant must be held back from reimbursement until the grant recipient has completed a grant accomplishment report by the deadline and in the form prescribed by and satisfactory to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. The commissioner shall provide notice of the grant program in the game and fish law summary prepared under Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.051, subdivision 2. ",,"1,379 Wetland acres, 942 Prairie acres, 1,758 Forest acres, 268 Habitat acres (for a total of 4,347 acres) Restored. 185 Prairie acres, 175 Forest acres, 317 Habitat acres (for a total of 677 acres) Protected in Fee with State PILT Liability. 181 Forest acres and 23 Habitat acres (for a total of 204 acres) Protected in Fee without State PILT Liability. 603 Wetland acres, 13,179 Prairie acres, 18,148 Forest acres, 3,034 Habitat acres (for a total of 34,964 acres) Enhanced. ",,1557500,"grantees and partners ",7557200,11400,,1,DNR,"State Government","The Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program will be managed by the Department of Natural Resources to provide competitive matching grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, state, and national non-profit organizations and government entities. In it's first 7 years of funding, the CPL program has provided 410 grants totaling $37 million to 133 different grantee organizations, positively affecting over 220,000 acres of habitat. Demand for CPL grants has continued to grow each year as new grantees hear about the program and successful grantees return. ",,"The CPL program fulfills MS 97a.056 Subd. 3a, directing LSOHC to establish a conservation partner’s grant program encouraging/supporting local conservation efforts. $8,660,000 was available for grants. Of this amount, up to $2,660,000 was used for projects in the 7-county metro area and in cities with a population of 50,000 people or greater. This is a stand-alone program, but depends on support/technical advice from public land managers and habitat and acquisition specialists. Grant activities included enhancement, restoration and protection of forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. A 10% match from non-state sources is required for all grants, and may be in- kind or cash. Applicants described the project, location, activity, habitat, benefit, etc. For acquisition projects, applicants described the parcel selection process. CPL Staff developed an RFP incorporating LSOHC priorities. Staff worked with applicants to submit applications, oversaw grant selection, prepared/executed grant documents, reviewed expenditures, approved payments/reports, monitored work, and assisted recipients with close-out. Staff complies with Office of Grants Management policies. The CPL program has 3 annual grant cycles- Traditional, Metro, and Expedited Conservation Projects (ECP). The Traditional and Metro cycles had one grant round beginning August 2017. Projects under $25,000 will have a simplified application. The ECP grant cycle had two rounds of funding. CPL staff reviewed applications for completeness. Technical Review Committees, comprised of habitat experts across the state and approved by the DNR Commissioner, reviewed and scored Traditional and Metro applications based on evaluation criteria (see attached). The DNR Directors of Fish and Wildlife, Eco Waters, and Forestry reviewed the committee’s recommendations and provide a final ranking to the Commissioner. Funding decisions were made by the Commissioner’s office. ECP grants are reviewed by CPL staff and DNR habitat experts using established criteria. The Director of Fish and Wildlife made final funding decisions for ECP. Grantees were required to submit annual and final accomplishment reports. Grantees were paid on a reimbursement or “for services rendered” basis, meaning payment is made to the grantee after work has been performed. Proof that the vendor was paid must be submitted to staff before additional payments are made. Funds were advanced for acquisitions to accommodate cash flow needs. CPL Administration Budget: Administration costs of $101,300 include salary/fringe, direct support services, travel, supplies, outreach, ongoing application system/database maintenance, and other professional services. ",2017-07-01,2021-11-12,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Jessica,Lee,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Road Box 20","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5233",jessica.lee@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Blue Earth, Cass, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kittson, Lake, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Mower, Murray, Nobles, Otter Tail, Ramsey, Rice, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Winona","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/conservation-partners-legacy-grant-program-phase-ix-statewide-and-metro-habitat,,,,
21762,"Conservation Grazing to Improve Wildlife Habitat on Wildlife Management Areas",2014,600000,"M.L. 2013, Chp. 52, Sec. 2, Subd. 04i","$600,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to develop grazing plans and provide infrastructure to support conservation grazing on approximately 10,000 acres of targeted wildlife management areas in partnership with local livestock producers. Any revenue generated as a result of this appropriation must be reinvested in producing plans, conducting maintenance, or building infrastructure for new or existing conservation grazing efforts. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2016, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,600000,,,7.72,"MN DNR","State Government","Grassland ecosystems evolved to depend on periodic disturbances, such as fire and grazing, to maintain their health and stability. Periodic disturbances help control invasive species, add nutrients back into the soil, germinate plant seeds, enhance wildlife habitat, and more. In Minnesota habitat managers have used fire as a disturbance tool for decades but the use of grazing has been much rarer, mostly because of a lack of necessary infrastructure such as fencing. This appropriation is being used by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to provide the infrastructure needed to support conservation grazing on 10,000 acres of targeted wildlife management areas to demonstrate that grazing can be effectively and cost-efficiently implemented to improve grassland habitat quality and ecological integrity in Minnesota.",,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2013/work_plans/2013_04i.pdf,2013-07-01,2017-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Greg,Hoch,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Rd","St. Paul",MN,55045,"(651) 259-5230",greg.hoch@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Clay, Douglas, Faribault, Grant, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Mahnomen, Norman, Otter Tail, Polk, Pope, Redwood, Stearns, Stevens, Traverse, Wilkin",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/conservation-grazing-improve-wildlife-habitat-wildlife-management-areas,,,,
10031448,"Conservation Grazing for Birds, Beef, and Better Soil",2025,342000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 08f","$342,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the National Audubon Society, Minnesota office, to assess Audubon Conservation Ranching as a strategic approach to improve grassland biodiversity, soils, and ecosystem resilience. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,4.1,"Audubon Minnesota","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Assessing Audubon Conservation Ranching as a strategic approach to biodiversity conservation and grassland soils and vegetation ecosystem resilience.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2028-03-31,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Dale,Gentry,"Audubon Minnesota","2355 Highway 36 W Suite 400",Roseville,MN,55113,"(651) 274-1073",dale.gentry@audubon.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/conservation-grazing-birds-beef-and-better-soil,,,,
9826,"Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program, Phase 4",2013,4990000,"ML 2012, Ch. 264, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(i)","$4,990,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for a program to provide competitive, matching grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, state, and national organizations for enhancing, restoring, or protecting forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. Grants shall not be made for activities required to fulfill the duties of owners of lands subject to conservation easements. Grants shall not be made from = appropriations in this paragraph for projects that have a total project cost exceeding $575,000. $366,000 of this appropriation may be spent for personnel costs and other direct and necessary administrative costs. Grantees may acquire land or interests in land. Easements must be permanent. Land acquired in fee must be open to hunting and fishing during the open season unless otherwise provided by state law. The program shall require a match of at least ten percent from nonstate sources for all grants. The match may be cash or in-kind resources. For grant applications of $25,000 or less, the commissioner shall provide a separate, simplified application process. Subject to Minnesota Statutes, the commissioner of natural resources shall, when evaluating projects of equal value, give priority to organizations that have a history of receiving or charter to receive private contributions for local conservation or habitat projects. If acquiring land or a conservation easement, priority shall be given to projects associated with existing wildlife management areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8; scientific and natural areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 84.033 and 86A.05, subdivision 5; and aquatic management areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02. All restoration or enhancement projects must be on land permanently protected by a conservation easement or public ownership or in public waters as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 103G.005, subdivision 15. Priority shall be given to restoration and enhancement projects on public lands. Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 13, applies to grants awarded under this paragraph. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2016. No less than five percent of the amount of each grant must be held back from reimbursement until the grant recipient has completed a grant accomplishment report by the deadline and in the form prescribed by and satisfactory to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. The commissioner shall provide notice of the grant program in the game and fish law summaries that are prepared under Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.051, subdivision 2.",,"Restored 4,933 acres, Protected 665 Acres, and Enhanced 44,797 acres for a total of 50,395 acres.",,915500,"Grantee match",4571600,6000,,3,DNR,"State Government","The Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program, managed by the Department of Natural Resources, provided 56 competitive matching grants to non-profit organizations and governments, appropriating all the available ML12 funds.",,"The Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program (CPL) is managed by the MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to provide competitive matching grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, state, and national non-profit organizations, including governments. Grant activities include the enhancement, restoration, or protection of forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. A 10% match from non-state sources is required for all grants. CPL Program Staff solicited applications and worked with applicants to submit applications, oversaw the grant selection process, prepared and executed grant documents, reviewed expenditure documentation, made reimbursement payments, monitored grant work, assisted recipients with closing out their agreements, and prepared reports as required by LSOHC. Applicants describe the location of the work (county and ecological subsection), activity type, and habitat in their application. They also describe how their actions will benefit habitat and fish, game and wildlife. For acquisition projects, applicants describe their parcel selection process. Funds for projects under this appropriation were available until June 30, 2016. In administering this program, the DNR complied with the Department of Administration - Office of Grants Management policies. Stakeholders were involved in this proposal as applicants or reviewers (if no conflict of interest exists). There is no known stakeholder opposition to this program. A Request for Proposal (RFP) was posted on the CPL website in August, 2012. This document contained grant program information, application requirements and scoring criteria, grant reporting requirements, and state agency contacts. A list of ECP Projects and criteria for each was developed by conservation biologists so grant applicants could easily apply and receive funding for commonly-accepted restoration and enhancement conservation projects. The RFP and grant agreements incorporated appropriate principles and criteria from LSOHC’s FY13 Call for Funding Requests and associated legislation. Simplified application processes were in place for applicants requesting up to $25,000 or ECP grants. Grants were selected for funding once in the full for the Traditional cycle, and ECP applications were approved continuously throughout the year by CPL staff. CPL staff reviewed applications to make sure they were complete and met grant program requirements. Technical Review Committee(s), selected by the Commissioner of Natural Resources, reviewed and scored applications based on established criteria. These committees included representatives from DNR, BWSR, the University of MN, state universities or private colleges, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and other appropriate members from government, non-profit organizations, and private businesses. A final ranking committee made up of the Directors of the DNR Divisions of Fish and Wildlife, Ecological Resources/Waters, and Forestry considered TRC, Division and Regional DNR comments, and recommended projects and funding levels to the Commissioner of Natural Resources. The Commissioner made the final decisions on all projects funded and funding levels. Efforts were made to evenly distribute the selected grants by geographic location and activity. CPL staff worked with grantees to ensure financial reviews, grant agreements, and any other necessary paperwork was completed. Grantees submitted annual accomplishment reports, accounting for the use of grant and match funds, and outcomes in measures of wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat restored, enhanced, and protected. The report also included an evaluation of these results. A final report was required by all grantees. CPL staff submitted accomplishment reports to LSOHC. Accomplishment information was also posted on the CPL website. Grant administration costs were billed using actual costs. These costs included salary and fringe for grants staff, direct support services, travel, supplies, and expense. An internal Service Level Agreement (SLA) was developed with DNR’s Management Information Systems to update and manage the online grant application system. (This budget item is included in the Contracts line in the attached Budget Table.) Applicants were required to budget for DNR Land Acquisition costs that are necessary to support the land acquisition process for parcels to be conveyed to the DNR. The Division of Fish and Wildlife staff provided ongoing technical guidance. This technical guidance helped applicants prepare grant proposals, and helped grantees meet requirements for working on state lands. Additional technical guidance was provided for land acquisitions, program planning and management, accounting and grantee payment. Grantees were paid on a reimbursement or “for services rendered” basis. Grantees must provide proof that the work was completed or a purchase made in order to receive payment. Grantees were required to provide a 10% match from nonstate sources. All match was verified before final grant payment were made.",2012-07-01,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Jessica,Lee,DNR,"500 Lafayette Rd","St. Paul",MN,55155-4020,651-259-5233,jessica.lee@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Becker, Brown, Carlton, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Douglas, Faribault, Goodhue, Grant, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kittson, Lake, Lincoln, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Nobles, Otter Tail, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Renville, Rock, Sherburne, St. Louis, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Wilkin","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/conservation-partners-legacy-grant-program-phase-4,,,,
35036,"Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program: Statewide and Metro Habitat - Phase VII",2016,6690000,"ML 2015, First Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(h)","$8,440,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for a program to provide competitive, matching grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, state, and national organizations for enhancing, restoring, or protecting forests, wetlands, prairies, or habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. Of this amount, $3,692,000 is for grants in the seven-county metropolitan area and cities with a population of 50,000 or greater. Grants shall not be made for activities required to fulfill the duties of owners of lands subject to conservation easements. Grants shall not be made from the appropriation in this paragraph for projects that have a total project cost exceeding $575,000. Of this appropriation, $596,000 may be spent for personnel costs and other direct and necessary administrative costs. Grantees may acquire land or interests in land. Easements must be permanent. Grants may not be used to establish easement stewardship accounts. Land acquired in fee must be open to hunting and fishing during the open season unless otherwise provided by law. The program must require a match of at least ten percent from nonstate sources for all grants. The match may be cash or in-kind resources. For grant applications of $25,000 or less, the commissioner shall provide a separate, simplified application process. Subject to Minnesota Statutes, the commissioner of natural resources shall, when evaluating projects of equal value, give priority to organizations that have a history of receiving or a charter to receive private contributions for local conservation or habitat projects. If acquiring land or a conservation easement, priority must be given to projects associated with or within one mile of existing wildlife management areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8; scientific and natural areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 84.033 and 86A.05, subdivision 5; or aquatic management areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02. All restoration or enhancement projects must be on land permanently protected by a permanent covenant ensuring perpetual maintenance and protection of restored and enhanced habitat, by a conservation easement, or by public ownership or in public waters as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 103G.005, subdivision 15. Priority must be given to restoration and enhancement projects on public lands. Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 13, applies to grants awarded under this paragraph. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2018. No less than five percent of the amount of each grant must be held back from reimbursement until the grant recipient has completed a grant accomplishment report by the deadline and in the form prescribed by and satisfactory to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. The commissioner shall provide notice of the grant program in the game and fish law summary prepared under Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.051, subdivision 2. ",,"Restored 2,549 acres, protected (in fee with state PILT liability) 352 acres, protected 34 acres (without state PILT), and enhanced 24,265 acres for a total of 27,200 acres ",,1731500,"Grantees/local support ",6672200,59000,,2,DNR,"Non-Profit Business/Entity","With the ML 2015 appropriation The Conservation Partners Legacy (CPL) Grant Program awarded 70 grants, 22 of these grants were the metropolitan area. Over 24,000 acres were enhanced, 2,500 acres were restored, and 386 acres protected through these 70 projects. Thirty-eight counties had CPL projects completed in them through 47 unique organizations. The average project for the ML 2015 grants was $96,000, with few exceptions most projects were completed on time and many were under budget. Additionally, the awarded grant partners contributed over $1.7 million in in-kind or cash match, far exceeding the 10% requirement.  ",,"The CPL Program fulfills MS 97a.056 Subd. 3a, directing LSOHC to establish a conservation partners' grant program, encouraging and supporting local conservation efforts. $7,844,000 of the appropriated funds was available for grants. This is a stand along program but depends on the support and technical advice of local land managers, habitat and acquisition specialists, and support staff.  Grant activities include: enhancement, restoration, and protection of forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife. A 10% match from non-state sources is required for all grants. CPL staff develop a Request for Proposal and Program Manual incorporating LSOHC priorities, solicit applications, work with applicants to submit scorable applications, oversee grant selection, prepare/execute grant documents, review expenditure documentation, ensure financial integrity, make payments, monitor grant work, assist recipients with closing out agreements, and prepare required reports. CPL staff complies with the Department of Administration- Office of Grants Management policies. Application process:  A Request for Proposal/Program Manual was posted on the CPL website in August 2015. Document contains all grant program information.  Applications are submitted on the online grant application system. Applicants use the mapping tool in the application to map project sites. Applications are accepted until September 2015 for round 1 of all grant cycles. Expedited Conservation Project (ECP) applications and applications for less than $25,000 have a shorter application form. The application system accepts ECP applications until funding runs out, but is designed for 5 rounds of applications. Traditional (statewide) applications were accepted once, Metro applications were accepted twice, and ECP applications were accepted three times.  Grant Selection Process:  Cpl Grant Program Staff review applications for completeness. Technical Review Committees, selected by the Commissioner of Natural Resources, evaluate applications based on criteria below. A final score is given to all applications. Committees include representatives from the DNR, BWSR, UMN, USFWS, USFS, counties, and other local government and non-profit organizations. A final ranking committee of Directors of the DNR Divisions of Fish and Wildlife, Ecological Resources/Waters, and Forestry consider the technical review committee, division and regional DNR comments, and recommend projects and funding to the Commissioner. ECP grants are reviewed by CPL staff, using criteria established for each type of project, and make recommendations. Division of Fish and Wildlife leadership make final decisions. CPL Grant Program Staff work with grantees to complete financial reviews, grant agreements, and other paperwork. Work may not begin until grant contract is executed. Applications are evaluated on these criteria:  Amount of habitat restored, enhanced, or protected Local Support Degree of collaboration Urgency Multiple benefits Consistency with current conservation science Adjacent to protected lands Full funding of project Budget/cost effectiveness Public access for hunting and fishing Use of native plant materials Applicants' capacity to successfully complete and sustain work Project Reviews and Reporting:  Grantees submit annual accomplishment reports on forms provided by CPL staff, based on LSOHC report forms. Reports account for the use of grant and match funds, and outcomes in measures of wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat restored, enhanced, and protected. The report must include an evaluation of these results. A final report is required by all grantees 30 days after project completion. CPL Administration Budget: Grant administration costs total $144,000, include salary/fringe for grants staff, direct and necessary costs, travel, supplies, and expenses. An Internal Service Level Agreement (SLA) is developed with MNIT to update/manage the online grant application system.  DNR Land Acquisition Costs:  Applicants are required to budget for DNR Land Acquisition costs that are necessary to support the land acquisition process for parcels to be conveyed to the DNR. These costs are billed to awarded grants on a professional services basis DNR Technical Support:  The Division of Fish and Wildlife provides ongoing technical guidance, helping applicants prepare grant proposals and meet requirements for working on state lands. Project development and oversight is provided by area managers and additional guidance is provided for land acquisitions.  Grantee Payment:  Grantees are paid on reimbursement basis, meaning payment is made to the grantee after work has been performed or materials purchased, but before the vendor is paid by the grantee. Grantees provide proof that work is completed or a purchase made to receive payment. Proof that the vendor was paid must be submitted to CPL staff before additional grant payments are made. Payment advances may be made for acquisitions with a signed purchase agreement. Partial payments are allowed. Funds are built into grants for required Legacy logo signage and forms of acknowledgement/notification including, but not limited to, local news advertisements announcing completion of grantees projects.   ",2015-07-01,2019-11-18,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,"Kathy ",Varble,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Road Box 20","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5216",kathy.varble@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Dakota, Douglas, Fillmore, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Itasca, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Murray, Nobles, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Rock, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stevens, Washington, Wilkin","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/conservation-partners-legacy-grant-program-statewide-and-metro-habitat-phase-vii,,,,
35055,"Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program Phase VIII: Statewide and Metro Habitat",2017,7438000,"ML 2016, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(k)","$7,438,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for a program to provide competitive, matching grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, state, and national organizations for enhancing, restoring, or protecting forests, wetlands, prairies, or habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. Of this amount, up to $2,500,000 is for grants in the seven-county metropolitan area and cities with a population of 50,000 or greater. Grants shall not be made for activities required to fulfill the duties of owners of lands subject to conservation easements. Grants shall not be made from the appropriation in this paragraph for projects that have a total project cost exceeding $575,000. Of the total appropriation, $588,000 may be spent for personnel costs and other direct and necessary administrative costs. Grantees may acquire land or interests in land. Easements must be permanent. Grants may not be used to establish easement stewardship accounts. Land acquired in fee must be open to hunting and fishing during the open season unless otherwise provided by law. The program must require a match of at least ten percent from nonstate sources for all grants. The match may be cash or in-kind resources. For grant applications of $25,000 or less, the commissioner shall provide a separate, simplified application process. Subject to Minnesota Statutes, the commissioner of natural resources shall, when evaluating projects of equal value, give priority to organizations that have a history of receiving or a charter to receive private contributions for local conservation or habitat projects. If acquiring land in fee or a conservation easement, priority must be given to projects associated with or within one mile of existing wildlife management areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8; scientific and natural areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 84.033 and 86A.05, subdivision 5; or aquatic management areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02. All restoration or enhancement projects must be on land permanently protected by a permanent covenant ensuring perpetual maintenance and protection of restored and enhanced habitat, by a conservation easement, by public ownership, or in public waters as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 103G.005, subdivision 15. Priority must be given to restoration and enhancement projects on public lands. Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 13, applies to grants awarded under this paragraph. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2020. No less than five percent of the amount of each grant must be held back from reimbursement until the grant recipient has completed a grant accomplishment report by the deadline and in the form prescribed by and satisfactory to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. The commissioner shall provide notice of the grant program in the game and fish law summary prepared under Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.051, subdivision 2. ",,"7 wetland acres restored.  431 prairie acres restored. 5,165 forest acres restored. 149 habitat acres restored, for a total of 5,752 acres restored. 152 prairie acres and 13 habitat acres (for a total of 165 prairie acres) protected in fee with state PILT liability. 42 forest acres protected in fee without state PILT liability. 2,147 wetland acres enhanced.  21,451 prairie acres enhanced. 2,366 forest acres enhanced.  2,006 habitat acres enhanced for a total of $27,970 enhanced acres.   ",,1313800,"Local match ",6291200,11700,,1,DNR,"State Government","The Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program will be managed by the Department of Natural Resources to provide competitive matching grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, state, and national non-profit organizations and government entities. ",,"The CPL Program fulfills MS 97a.056 Subd. 3a, directing LSOHC to establish a conservation partners' grant program, encouraging and supporting local conservation efforts. $6,850,000 of the appropriated funds was available for grants. This is a stand alone program but depends on the support and technical advice of local land managers, habitat and acquisition specialists, and support staff. Grant activities include: enhancement, restoration, and protection of forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife. A 10% match from non-state sources is required for all grants. CPL staff develop a Request for Proposal and Program Manual incorporating LSOHC priorities, solicit applications, work with applicants to submit scorable applications, oversee grant selection, prepare/execute grant documents, review expenditure documentation, ensure financial integrity, make payments, monitor grant work, assist recipients with closing out agreements, and prepare required reports. CPL staff complies with the Department of Administration- Office of Grants Management policies. Application process: A Request for Proposal/Program Manual was posted on the CPL website in August 2016. Document contains all grant program information. Applications are submitted on the online grant application system. Applicants use the mapping tool in the application to map project sites. Applications are accepted until September 2016 for round 1 of all grant cycles. Expedited Conservation Project (ECP) applications and applications for less than $25,000 have a shorter application form. The application system accepts ECP applications until funding runs out, but is designed for 5 rounds of applications. Traditional (statewide) applications were accepted once, Metro applications were accepted twice, and ECP applications were accepted one time. Grant Selection Process: CPL Grant Program Staff review applications for completeness. Technical Review Committees, selected by the Commissioner of Natural Resources, evaluate applications based on criteria below. A final score is given to all applications. Committees include representatives from the DNR, BWSR, UMN, USFWS, USFS, counties, and other local government and non-profit organizations. A final ranking committee of Directors of the DNR Divisions of Fish and Wildlife, Ecological Resources/Waters, and Forestry consider the technical review committee, division and regional DNR comments, and recommend projects and funding to the Commissioner. ECP grants are reviewed by CPL staff, using criteria established for each type of project, and make recommendations. Division of Fish and Wildlife leadership make final decisions. CPL Grant Program Staff work with grantees to complete financial reviews, grant agreements, and other paperwork. Work may not begin until grant contract is executed. Applications are evaluated on these criteria: Amount of habitat restored, enhanced, or protected Local Support Degree of collaboration Urgency Multiple benefits Consistency with current conservation science Adjacent to protected lands Full funding of project Budget/cost effectiveness Public access for hunting and fishing Use of native plant materials Applicants' capacity to successfully complete and sustain work Project Reviews and Reporting: Grantees submit annual accomplishment reports on forms provided by CPL staff, based on LSOHC report forms. Reports account for the use of grant and match funds, and outcomes in measures of wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat restored, enhanced, and protected. The report must include an evaluation of these results. A final report is required by all grantees 30 days after project completion. CPL Administration Budget: Grant administration costs total $112,200, include salary/fringe for grants staff, direct and necessary costs, travel, supplies, and expenses. An Internal Service Level Agreement (SLA) is developed with MNIT to update/manage the online grant application system. DNR Land Acquisition Costs: Applicants are required to budget for DNR Land Acquisition costs that are necessary to support the land acquisition process for parcels to be conveyed to the DNR. These costs are billed to awarded grants on a professional services basis. DNR Technical Support: The Division of Fish and Wildlife provides ongoing technical guidance, helping applicants prepare grant proposals and meet requirements for working on state lands. Project development and oversight is provided by area managers and additional guidance is provided for land acquisitions. Grantee Payment: Grantees are paid on reimbursement basis, meaning payment is made to the grantee after work has been performed or materials purchased, but before the vendor is paid by the grantee. Grantees provide proof that work is completed or a purchase made to receive payment. Proof that the vendor was paid must be submitted to CPL staff before additional grant payments are made. Payment advances may be made for acquisitions with a signed purchase agreement. Partial payments are allowed. Funds are built into grants for required Legacy logo signage and forms of acknowledgement/notification including, but not limited to, local news advertisements announcing completion of grantees projects. ",,2021-11-12,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Kathy,Varble,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Road Box 20","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5216",kathy.varble@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Becker, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Dakota, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hennepin, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake, Marshall, Martin, McLeod, Mower, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Polk, Ramsey, Rice, Scott, St. Louis, Stevens, Washington, Wright","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/conservation-partners-legacy-grant-program-phase-viii-statewide-and-metro-habitat,,,,
10011423,"Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program Phase 11: Statewide and Metro Habitat",2020,10760000,"ML 2019, 1st Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd, 5(p)","$10,760,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for a program to provide competitive matching grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, state, and national organizations for enhancing, restoring, or protecting forests, wetlands, prairies, or habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. Of this amount, at least $3,000,000 is for grants in the seven-county metropolitan area and cities with a population of 50,000 or greater. Grants must not be made for activities required to fulfill the duties of owners of lands subject to conservation easements. Grants must not be made from the appropriation in this paragraph for projects that have a total project cost exceeding $575,000. Of the total appropriation, $445,000 may be spent for personnel costs and other direct and necessary administrative costs. Grantees may acquire land or interests in land. Easements must be permanent. Grants may not be used to establish easement stewardship accounts. Land acquired in fee must be open to hunting and fishing during the open season unless otherwise provided by law. The program must require a match of at least ten percent from nonstate sources for all grants. The match may be cash or in-kind resources. For grant applications of $25,000 or less, the commissioner must provide a separate, simplified application process. Subject to Minnesota statutes, the commissioner of natural resources must, when evaluating projects of equal value, give priority to organizations that have a history of receiving, or a charter to receive, private contributions for local conservation or habitat projects. If acquiring land in fee or a conservation easement, priority must be given to projects associated with or within one mile of existing wildlife management areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8; scientific and natural areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 84.033 and 86A.05, subdivision 5; or aquatic management areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02. All restoration or enhancement projects must be on land permanently protected by a permanent covenant ensuring perpetual maintenance and protection of restored and enhanced habitat, by a conservation easement or public ownership or in public waters as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 103G.005, subdivision 15. Priority must be given to restoration and enhancement projects on public lands. Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 13, applies to grants awarded under this paragraph. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2023. No less than five percent of the amount of each grant must be held back from reimbursement until the grant recipient has completed a grant accomplishment report by the deadline and in the form prescribed by and satisfactory to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. The commissioner must provide notice of the grant program in the summary of game and fish law prepared under Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.051, subdivision 2.",,"All CPL project requests include a Natural Heritage Database Review, which addresses wildlife species of greatest conservation need, the MN County Biological Survey data, and/or rare, threatened and endangered species inventories. These results are incorporated into the requests, along with mitigation measures if needed. Habitat value/species benefits is also one of the evaluation criterion used to score applications. When the projects are reviewed by the technical habitat experts, wildlife species of greatest conservation need, targeted species, and threatened/endangered species are all discussed, and add to the overall habitat quality and urgency of applications which is reflected in the scoring and funding recommendations.","A total of 33,353 acres were affected: 11,043 Restored, 300 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 22,010 in Enhance.",1699800,Grantees,8473600,22000,,2.0,DNR,"State Government","As of 11/1/2023, the CPL program has provided over 970 grants totaling $115 million to over 250 different grantee organizations, improving or protecting over 577,000 acres of habitat. Demand for CPL grants has continued to grow each year as new applicants hear about the program and successful grantees return. In ML 2019 there were 99 grants awarded- 15 metro grants, 29 traditional grants, and 55 Expedited Conservation Partners grants. Through these 99 grants, over 34,000 acres were restored, enhanced, or protected. Over $10.6M was awarded to organizations for projects.","The CPL program fulfills MS 97a.056 Subd. 3a, directing LSOHC to establish a conservation partner's grant program encouraging/supporting local conservation efforts. $10,315,000 was available for grants. Of this amount, up to $3,000,000 was used for projects in the 7-county metro area and in cities with a population of 50,000 people or greater. This is a stand-alone program, but depends on support/technical advice from public land managers and habitat and acquisition specialists. Grant activities included enhancement, restoration and protection of forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. A 10% match from non-state sources is required for all grants, and may be in-kind or cash. Applicants described the project, location, activity, habitat, benefit, etc. For acquisition projects, applicants described the parcel selection process. CPL Staff developed an RFP incorporating LSOHC priorities. Staff worked with applicants to submit applications, oversaw grant selection, prepared/executed grant documents, reviewed expenditures, approved payments/reports, monitored work, and assisted recipients with close-out. Staff complies with Office of Grants Management policies. The CPL program has 3 annual grant cycles- Traditional, Metro, and Expedited Conservation Projects (ECP). The Traditional and Metro cycles had two grant rounds with the first beginning August 2018. Projects under $25,000 will have a simplified application. The ECP grant cycle had four rounds of funding. CPL staff reviewed applications for completeness. Technical Review Committees, comprised of habitat experts across the state and approved by the DNR Commissioner, reviewed and scored Traditional and Metro applications based on evaluation criteria (see attached). The DNR Directors of Fish and Wildlife, Eco Waters, and Forestry reviewed the committee's recommendations and provide a final ranking to the Commissioner. Funding decisions were made by the Commissioner's office. ECP grants are reviewed by CPL staff and DNR habitat experts using established criteria. The Director of Fish and Wildlife made final funding decisions for ECP. Grantees were required to submit annual and final accomplishment reports. Grantees were paid on a reimbursement or ""for services rendered"" basis, meaning payment is made to the grantee after work has been performed. Proof that the vendor was paid must be submitted to staff before additional payments are made. Funds were advanced for acquisitions to accommodate cash flow needs.",,2019-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Kathy,Varble,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Road Box 20","St. Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5216,kathy.varble@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Beltrami, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chisago, Clay, Cook, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Faribault, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Marshall, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, St. Louis, Washington, Wilkin, Yellow Medicine","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/conservation-partners-legacy-grant-program-phase-11-statewide-and-metro-habitat,,,,
21775,"Controlling Terrestrial Invasive Plants with Grazing Animals",2014,52000,"M.L. 2013, Chp. 52, Sec. 2, Subd. 06g","$52,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Hiawatha Valley Resource Conservation and Development, Inc. to develop cost effective best management practices to control invasive terrestrial species through planned grazing. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2016, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,52000,,,0.62,"Hiawatha Valley Resource Conservation & Development, Inc.","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Terrestrial invasive plants such as buckthorn, wild parsnip, garlic mustard, and others are becoming widespread threats throughout many sites in Minnesota. Present chemical and mechanical control methods tend to be costly, effective only in the short-term, or have other negative environmental impacts. However, an alternative practice of using grazing animals for invasive species management is used successfully in many parts of the western United States. Grazing animals can help put target plant species at a competitive disadvantage if plants are grazed at times when they are most vulnerable in order to prevent flower and seed production. The Hiawatha Valley Resource Conservation & Development Council is using this appropriation to develop and demonstrate cost effective and environmentally friendly best management practices for using grazing as a component of invasive species management in Minnesota.",,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2013/work_plans/2013_06h.pdf,2013-07-01,2017-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,John,Beckwith,"Hiawatha Valley Resource Conservation & Development, Inc.","6584 134th Court","Apple Valley",MN,55124,"(612) 599-5864",john.e.beckwith@gmail.com,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Winona",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/controlling-terrestrial-invasive-plants-grazing-animals,,,,
21738,"County Geologic Atlases - Part B",2014,1200000,"M.L. 2013, Chp. 52, Sec. 2, Subd. 03c","$1,200,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to continue the analysis and compilation of groundwater data for the production of county geologic atlases, publication of geospatial groundwater data, and continued mapping of springsheds and karst features for Winona and Houston Counties. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2016, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,1200000,,,12.42,"MN DNR","State Government","The Minnesota County Geologic Atlas program is an ongoing effort begun in 1979 that is being conducted jointly by the University of Minnesota’s Minnesota Geological Survey and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This portion, called Part B and conducted by the DNR, analyzes water samples to understand water chemistry and sensitivity to pollution. The information is used in planning and environmental protection efforts at all levels of government, by businesses, and by homeowners to ensure sound and sustainable planning, management, and protection of water resources used for drinking, agriculture, industry, and more. This appropriation will continue or complete work on Part B geologic atlases for Blue Earth, Chisago, Nicollet, Sibley, Anoka, Wright, Renville, and Clay counties and potentially begin work on Part B atlases for Sherburne and Morrison counties. Additionally springshed mapping will be continued in the karst area of southeastern Minnesota in Winona, Houston, and Fillmore counties.",,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2013/work_plans/2013_03c.pdf,2013-07-01,2017-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Jim,Berg,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Rd","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5680",jim.berg@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Blue Earth, Clay, Houston, Morrison, Nicollet, Renville, Sherburne, Sibley, Wright",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/county-geologic-atlases-part-b,,,,
10004452,"County Geologic Atlases - Part B",2016,2000000,"M.L. 2015, Chp. 76, Sec. 2, Subd. 03b","$2,000,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to continue acceleration of the production of county geologic atlases for the purpose of sustainable management of surface water and groundwater resources. This appropriation is to complete Part B of county geologic atlases, which focuses on the properties and distribution of subsurface water found within geologic formations mapped in Part A in order to characterize the potential yield of aquifers and their sensitivity to contamination. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2018, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,,,,,"MN DNR","State Government",,,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2015/work_plans_may/_2015_03b.pdf,2015-07-01,2019-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Jim,Berg,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Rd","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5680",jim.berg@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Brown, Clay, Houston, Kanabec, Meeker, Morrison, Nicollet, Redwood, Renville, Sherburne, Sibley, Winona, Wright",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/county-geologic-atlases-part-b-1,,,,
2906,"County Geologic Atlases for Sustainable Water Management - Part B",2012,300000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 03b2","$900,000 the first year and $900,000 the second year are from the trust fund to accelerate the production of county geologic atlases to provide information essential to sustainable management of ground water resources by defining aquifer boundaries and the connection of aquifers to the land surface and surface water resources. Of this appropriation, $600,000 each year is to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for the Geologic Survey and $300,000 each year is to the commissioner of natural resources. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2015, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,300000,,,3.06,"MN DNR","State Government","PROJECT OVERVIEWThe Minnesota County Geologic Atlas program is an ongoing effort begun in 1982 that is being conducted jointly by the University of Minnesota's Minnesota Geological Survey and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The program collects information on the geology of Minnesota to create maps and reports depicting the characteristics and pollution sensitivity of Minnesota's ground-water resources and their interaction with surface waters. The information from County Geologic Atlases is used in planning and environmental protection efforts at all levels of government, by businesses, and by homeowners to ensure sound and sustainable planning, management, and protection of water resources used for drinking, agriculture, industry, and more. This appropriation will:Support completion of geologic atlases for Carlton, McLeod, Carver, Benton, and Chisago counties.Support ongoing work on geologic atlases for Anoka, Blue Earth, Clay, Nicollet, Renville, Sibley, and Wright counties;Initiate geologic atlases for three or more additional counties;Make collected data available in a digital format.",,"Work Plan",2011-07-01,2015-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Jan,Falteisek,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Rd","St Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5665",jan.falteisek@state.mn.us,"Technical Assistance, Mapping, Inventory, Digitization/Online Information Access, Analysis/Interpretation","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Blue Earth, Clay, Nicollet, Renville, Sibley, Wright",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/county-geologic-atlases-sustainable-water-management-part-b,,,,
2906,"County Geologic Atlases for Sustainable Water Management - Part B",2013,300000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 03b2","$900,000 the first year and $900,000 the second year are from the trust fund to accelerate the production of county geologic atlases to provide information essential to sustainable management of ground water resources by defining aquifer boundaries and the connection of aquifers to the land surface and surface water resources. Of this appropriation, $600,000 each year is to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for the Geologic Survey and $300,000 each year is to the commissioner of natural resources. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2015, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,300000,,,3.05,"MN DNR","State Government","PROJECT OVERVIEWThe Minnesota County Geologic Atlas program is an ongoing effort begun in 1982 that is being conducted jointly by the University of Minnesota's Minnesota Geological Survey and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The program collects information on the geology of Minnesota to create maps and reports depicting the characteristics and pollution sensitivity of Minnesota's ground-water resources and their interaction with surface waters. The information from County Geologic Atlases is used in planning and environmental protection efforts at all levels of government, by businesses, and by homeowners to ensure sound and sustainable planning, management, and protection of water resources used for drinking, agriculture, industry, and more. This appropriation will:Support completion of geologic atlases for Carlton, McLeod, Carver, Benton, and Chisago counties.Support ongoing work on geologic atlases for Anoka, Blue Earth, Clay, Nicollet, Renville, Sibley, and Wright counties;Initiate geologic atlases for three or more additional counties;Make collected data available in a digital format.",,"Work Plan",2011-07-01,2015-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Jan,Falteisek,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Rd","St Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5665",jan.falteisek@state.mn.us,"Technical Assistance, Mapping, Inventory, Digitization/Online Information Access, Analysis/Interpretation","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Blue Earth, Clay, Nicollet, Renville, Sibley, Wright",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/county-geologic-atlases-sustainable-water-management-part-b,,,,
10031468,"Dent and Vergas Spur Trails",2025,934000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 09j","$934,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Otter Tail County to construct a trail along County State-Aid Highway 35 to connect the cities of Dent and Vergas to the Heart of the Lakes Regional Trail and Maplewood State Park to provide recreation and nonmotorized transportation opportunities.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,,"Otter Tail County","Local/Regional Government","Construction of a 6.6 mile bituminous trail along CSAH 35 connecting the cities of Dent and Vergas to the Heart of the Lakes Regional Trail and Maplewood State Park",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2025-12-31,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Kevin,Fellbaum,"Otter Tail County","520 Fir Ave. W.","Fergus Falls",MN,56537,"(218) 998-8492",kfellbau@co.ottertail.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Benton, Big Stone, Cass, Chippewa, Crow Wing, Douglas, Grant, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Nicollet, Otter Tail, Pope, Renville, Sibley, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wadena, Wilkin",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dent-and-vergas-spur-trails,,,,
10013269,"Develop Sonar Data Mapping on Three Rivers to Assess Suitability for Native Mussel Habitat",2019,200000,"M.L. 2018, Chp. 214, Art. 4, Sec. 2, Subd. 03j","$200,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the National Park Service to create high-resolution sonar data maps to identify critical native mussel habitat for the designated Lower St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area including part of the Minnesota River.","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,,,,,"National Park Service",,"The acquisition of high-resolution sonar data provides important information essential for mapping mussel habitat while having ecological applications useful to resource managers and policy makers protecting Minnesota threatened/endangered native mussels.",,"Work Plan",2018-07-01,2021-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Nancy,Duncan,"National Park Service","111 E Kellogg Blvd, Ste 105","St. Paul",MN,55101,"(651) 293-8434",nancy_duncan@nps.gov,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/develop-sonar-data-mapping-three-rivers-assess-suitability-native-mussel-habitat,,,,
10002282,"Developing Youth Watershed Stewardship in Northwest Minnesota",2018,121000,"M.L. 2017, Chp. 96, Sec. 2, Subd. 05f","$121,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Headwaters Science Center to accelerate a multiyear environmental science club for middle-school students focused on water quality, watershed evaluation, and aquatic invasive species in northwestern Minnesota. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2020, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,,,,,"Headwaters Science Center","Non-Profit Business/Entity",,,"Work Plan",2017-07-01,2020-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Annie,"Butler Ricks","Headwaters Science Center","413 Beltrami Ave NW",Bemidji,MN,56601,"(218) 444-4472",director@hscbemidji.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Hubbard",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/developing-youth-watershed-stewardship-northwest-minnesota,,,,
10006516,"DNR WMA and SNA Acquisition, Phase X",2019,2786000,"ML 2018, Ch. 208, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 2(a)"," $2,786,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire in fee and restore lands for wildlife management under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, and to acquire lands in fee for scientific and natural areas under Minnesota satutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 5. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ","Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Acres of habitat acquired that support endangered, threatened and special concern species and Species in Greatest Conservation Need. Species lists (and numbers where available) of those species observed or documented..Key core parcels are protected for fish, game and other wildlife - Acres of prairie acquired. Acres of habitat acquired that support upland gamebirds, migratory waterfowl, big-game, and unique Minnesota species (e.g. endangered, threatened, and special concern species and Species in Greatest Conservation Need). Species lists (and numbers where available) of those species observed or documented..",,,,,2773900,12100,,0.24,DNR,"State Government","Acquire 470 acres of high priority habitat for designation as Wildlife Management Area (Prairie Planning Section) or Scientific and Natural Area (Prairie, and Northern Forest Planning Sections) emphasizing Prairie Conservation Plan implementation and coordination with partners. All lands will be open for public hunting and fishing (a limited number of SNA’s are proposed for limited hunting for instance archery only or hunting but no trapping). Accomplishments are based on $5,000 per acre average and should be considered a minimum estimate. ","Approximately 470 acres of wildlife habitat will be protected through fee title acquisition and development as Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs, 350 acres) and Scientific & Natural Areas (SNAs, 120 acres). While no match is indicated in this proposal, Outdoor Heritage appropriations to DNR for WMA and SNA acquisitions have been matched by donations, Reinvest in Minnesota Critical Habitat Match, and Surcharge (a $6.50 surcharge on small game license sales to be used in part for land acquisition) at approximately 25% (1 dollar of match to 4 dollars of OHF).Wildlife Management Areas. WMAs protect lands and waters which have a high potential for wildlife production and develop and manage these lands and waters for public hunting, fishing and trapping, and for other compatible outdoor recreational uses such as wildlife watching and hiking. While highly successful, the current WMA system does not meet all present and future needs for wildlife habitat, wildlife population management, hunter access, and wildlife related recreation. This is notably true in the Prairie Ecological planning section where public ownership in many counties is 2 percent or less. DNR Section of Wildlife uses a GIS-based tool to identify the highest priority tracts for potential WMA acquisitions. This quantitative approach scores and ranks acquisition proposals based on a set of weighted criteria and creates a standardized method for evaluating proposed acquisitions on a statewide level.Criteria and weights are periodically reviewed and adapted to changing conditions and priorities. This ensures that funds are used to acquire available lands consistent with the statutory purpose of WMAs. The WMA acquisition program is guided by the 2002 Citizens' Committee report developed with a diverse group of eleven major stakeholder groups. Potential acquisition opportunities from willing sellers are coordinated with stakeholders and partners to eliminate duplication and identify concerns and support. Coordinating with partners has been successful to ensure we are working cooperatively and on priority parcels. Scientific & Natural Areas. The SNA Program will increase public hunting and fishing opportunities while protecting sites with outstanding natural values. Protection is targeted at high priority areas identified in the SNA Strategic Land Protection Plan with emphasis on prairie core areas identified in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. A quantitative system scores and ranks acquisition proposals based on a weighted set of six criteria. Priority is given to sites of high and outstanding biodiversity significance by the Minnesota Biological Survey, high quality native plant communities and habitat for endangered and threatened species. Larger parcels which adjoin other conservation lands, improve habitat management, are under imminent threat and are partially donated are also rated highly.Properties acquired through this appropriation require County Board of Commissioners’ written approval in the county of acquisition, will be designated as WMA or SNA through a Commissioner's Designation Order, brought up to minimum DNR standards, and listed on the DNR website. Basic site improvements will include boundary and LSOHC acknowledgement signs and may include any necessary site cleanup and restoration of agricultural fields and minimal parking area development.",,2018-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Jay,Johnson,"MN Dept. of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road ","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5248",jay.johnson@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Brown, Cook, Cottonwood, Hubbard, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Murray, Norman, Renville, Rice, Stearns, Yellow Medicine","Northern Forest, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-wma-and-sna-acquisition-phase-x,,,,
10011394,"DNR WMA and SNA Acquisition, Phase XI",2020,2519000,"ML 2019, 1st Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd, 2(a)","$2,519,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire in fee and restore and enhance lands for wildlife management under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, and to acquire lands in fee for scientific and natural areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 5. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Acres of habitat acquired that support nesting and migratory habitat and upland birds and Species in Greatest Conservation Need. Species lists (and numbers where available) of those species observed or documented..Key core parcels are protected for fish, game and other wildlife - Acres of prairie acquired. Acres of habitat acquired that support upland gamebirds, migratory waterfowl, big-game, and unique Minnesota species (e.g. endangered, threatened, and special concern species and Species in Greatest Conservation Need). Species lists (and numbers where available) of those species observed or documented..",,,,,2486600,32400,,1.115,DNR,"State Government","Acquire approximately 400 acres of high priority habitat for designation as Wildlife Management Area (Prairie Planning Section) or Scientific and Natural Area (Prairie, and Forest/Prairie Planning Sections) emphasizing Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan implementation and coordination with partners. All lands will be open for public hunting and fishing (a limited number of SNA’s are proposed for limited hunting for instance archery only or hunting but no trapping). ","Approximately 400 acres of wildlife habitat will be protected through fee title acquisition and development as Wildlife Management Areas or Scientific & Natural Areas. While no match is indicated in this proposal, Outdoor Heritage appropriations to DNR for WMA and SNA acquisitions have been matched by donations, Reinvest in Minnesota Critical Habitat Match, and Surcharge (a $6.50 surcharge on small game license sales to be used in part for land acquisition) at approximately 20%.Wildlife Management Areas. WMAs protect lands and waters which have a high potential for wildlife production and develop and manage these lands and waters for public hunting, fishing and trapping, and for other compatible outdoor recreational uses such as wildlife watching and hiking. While highly successful, the current WMA system does not meet all present and future needs for wildlife habitat, wildlife population management, hunter access, and wildlife related recreation. This is notably true in the Prairie Ecological planning section where public ownership in many counties is 2 percent or less. DNR Section of Wildlife uses a GIS-based tool to identify the highest priority tracts for potential WMA acquisitions. This quantitative approach scores and ranks acquisition proposals based on a set of weighted criteria and creates a standardized method for evaluating proposed acquisitions on a statewide level.Criteria and weights are periodically reviewed and adapted to changing conditions and priorities. This ensures that funds are used to acquire available lands consistent with the statutory purpose of WMAs. The WMA acquisition program is guided by the 2002 Citizens' Committee report developed with a diverse group of eleven major stakeholder groups. Potential acquisition opportunities from willing sellers are coordinated with stakeholders and partners to eliminate duplication and identify concerns and support. Coordinating with partners has been successful to ensure we are working cooperatively and on priority parcels. Scientific & Natural Areas. The SNA Program will increase public hunting and fishing opportunities while protecting sites with outstanding natural values. Protection is targeted at high priority areas identified in the SNA Strategic Land Protection Plan with emphasis on prairie core areas identified in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. A quantitative system scores and ranks acquisition proposals based on a weighted set of six criteria. Priority is given to sites of high and outstanding biodiversity significance by the Minnesota Biological Survey, high quality native plant communities and habitat for endangered and threatened species. Larger parcels which adjoin other conservation lands, improve habitat management, are under imminent threat and are partially donated are also rated highly.Properties acquired through this appropriation require County Board of Commissioners’ written approval in the county of acquisition, will be designated as WMA or SNA through a Commissioner's Designation Order, brought up to minimum DNR standards, and listed on the DNR website. Basic site improvements will include boundary and LSOHC acknowledgement signs and may include any necessary site cleanup and restoration of agricultural fields and minimal parking area development.",,2019-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Jay,Johnson,"MN Dept. of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road ","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5248",jay.johnson@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Brown, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Murray, Norman, Pipestone, Polk, Stearns, Watonwan, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-wma-and-sna-acquisition-phase-xi,,,,
10019617,"DNR Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Enhancement - Phase 4",2022,2790000,"ML 2021, First Sp. Session, Ch. 1, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(k)","$2,790,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore and enhance aquatic habitat in degraded streams and aquatic management areas and to facilitate fish passage. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Improved aquatic habitat indicators - For the Kingsbury Creek project, we will evaluate instream habitat as well as brook trout populations to assess success. For the Grindstone Dam project, we will use routine fish surveys to gauge changes to the fish community and compare to pre-project data. Rivers and streams provide corridors of habitat including intact areas of forest cover in the east and large wetland/upland complexes in the west - Both MNDNR and PCA conduct periodic surveys of the Otter Tail River watershed. For the Otter Tail Lakes Dams project, we will compare warmwater fish communities before and after project completion. We will also compare catch rates for critical species before and after project completion as indicators of population density changes. Improved aquatic habitat indicators - For the Beven's Creek dam project, we will use routine fish surveys to gauge changes to the fish community, and compare with pre-project data. Rivers, streams, and surrounding vegetation provide corridors of habitat - We will evaluate instream and riparian habitat measures to evaluate the success of the North Branch Whitewater River restoration. Changes in fish populations will also be evaluated. The Whiskey Creek channel restoration project in this region will improve in-channel and riparian habitat. We will use metrics that evaluate instream and floodplain habitat to assess our success",,,929600,"NRCS, EPA, BWSR and Carver County WMO",2777800,12200,,,DNR,"State Government","Diverse habitat is critical to sustaining quality fish populations in lakes and rivers. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) will complete six fish passage projects to restore habitat connectivity for fish and other aquatic life, and restore reaches of four different rivers, creating 24.4 miles of diverse aquatic habitat. Though the actual footprint of fish passage projects is relatively small, these projects will reconnect over 27,000 acres of lake and river habitat. Stream projects were selected from a statewide list, prioritized by factors such as ecological benefit, scale of impact, urgency of completion, and local support.","The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) annually updates a statewide list of stream habitat projects. Project submittals come both from MNDNR staff and from partner organizations. Projects are prioritized based on scale-of-impact, urgency, local support, and critical habitat for rare species. Based on this list, MNDNR and our partners are proposing six fish passage projects and four channel restorations, leveraging a confirmed $3,225,000 and an additional $980,000 requested from other sources. Access to diverse habitats is critical for fish and other aquatic organisms to complete various life stages. The habitats they use at different life stages may all vary widely. These habitats can be fairly unique, such as high-gradient riffles favored by many spawning fish, and may be miles apart. When dams or other obstructions prevent aquatic life from reaching ideal habitat, they are forced to use less optimal locations that can reduce their success. In some cases this leads to the complete loss of sensitive species upstream of a barrier. Research by MNDNR River Ecologist Luther Aadland found that on average, species richness declined by 37% upstream of near complete barriers to fish passage. Subsequent removal of 11 barriers in this study resulted in upstream recolonization of an average of 66% of the species that had been absent. Modifying or removing the barriers through our two proposed fish passage projects would have a total footprint of 6 acres, but create upstream access to over 27,000 acres of lake and river habitat. This will benefit fish such as Walleye and Brook Trout present in these rivers, as well as five mussel species classified as threatened or special concern. Restoring connectivity also expands fishing opportunities by acting as a conduit for recolonization should something catastrophic such as drought happen in one portion of a watershed. Streams naturally form habitat through the meandering of the river. Deeper, slower habitat is created by scour into the bed of the river around the outside of bends, while faster water and a rockier bottom is found in the straight sections in between. Wood, overhanging vegetation, and boulders serve as cover and current breaks for fish. In degraded sections of river, these natural processes are disrupted. Some reaches have been artificially straightened, preventing the meandering that forms diverse habitat. In other places, streams have become surrounded by tall banks that prevent high flows from spilling out onto a floodplain. When floods are trapped within the stream channel, the river erodes the banks. This not only mobilizes tons of sediment that degrades downstream habitat, but results in a wide, shallow channel during low-flow periods that is avoided by adult fish. Channel restoration projects will utilize reference locations with high-quality habitat to improve habitat. Working with partners, we will restore 24.4 miles of habitat on four streams.",,2021-07-01,2025-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Jamison,Wendel,"Minnesota DNR","500 Lafayette Road ","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5205",jamison.wendel@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Carver, Clay, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, St. Louis","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-aquatic-habitat-restoration-and-enhancement-phase-4,,,,
10019618,"DNR Forest Enhancement",2022,1338000,"ML 2021, First Sp. Session, Ch. 1, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 3(d)","$1,338,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore and enhance wildlife habitat in the northern forest region on wildlife management areas, scientific and natural areas, aquatic management areas, and state forests. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - The DNR and partner agencies conduct a number of wildlife surveys, including moose, deer, ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, woodcock, and songbird surveys. Protected, restored, and enhanced aspen parklands and riparian areas - A number of species are tied to brushland and young aspen forests in these region, including moose, elk, golden-winged warblers, and sharp-tailed grouse. Ongoing surveys and research on these species will allow the DNR to track local and regional responses to these and related efforts. A forest land base that contributes to the habitat picture - These efforts will help manage forests in this region to benefit a range of wildlife species, both game and non-game. Ongoing surveys, especially among songbirds, will track long-term changes in bird populations in this region. Healthier populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - The non-game program is very active in this region with projects assessing timber rattlesnake and other wildlife populations. And there are the same ongoing wildlife surveys as in the other regions of the state",,,,,1311200,26800,,0.41,DNR,"State Government","Minnesota's iconic northern forests, wetlands, and brushland habitats require management beyond basic forestry practices or at smaller scales than commercial operations work. Other enhancements, such as brushland shearing or mowing have low commercial value but high wildlife value. These additional habitat enhancements improve the quality of the forests for both wildlife and outdoor recreation. DNR's Conservation Agenda, Wildlife Action, Forest Action, SNA Strategic Land Protection and SFRMP Plans, will guide habitat enhancements in this proposal to see that all activities meet these objectives.","Northern Minnesota's forest habitats include pines, maple and basswood, aspen, oak forests and savannas, as well as different age classes of forests. The region also includes rivers, lakes, sedge meadows, bogs, and brushland. Each of these habitats are home to a wide array with game and non-game species, and multiple Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). They provide outdoor recreation, timber products, and support local communities. They also clean and absorb water and sequester carbon. However, these forests face increasing stress from invasive species, climate change, forest loss, and fragmentation. While forest harvest is an important tool in management of our forests, we can do additional or different enhancements to maximize the diversity and productivity of these habitats for both wildlife and people. For example, timber harvest can create a wildlife opening. However other management such as periodic mowing is needed to maintain he opening. We will accomplish strategic and targeted enhancements through contractors to conduct activities which support healthy, diverse and resilient habitats. Activities may include 1) invasive species control, 2) firebreak development and maintenance as well as prescribed burns in fire-dependent forests, brushlands and wetlands, 3) maintaining wildlife openings 4) tree removal, girdling, brush mowing/shearing, 5) infrastructure for conservation grazing in openland and brushland habitats, 6) tree release, such as enhancing oak management for mast production, 7) forest regeneration site prep, 8) seed and acorn collection followed by broadcasting and/or drilling of seed, and 8) tree planting and protection to reforest and restore habitats, add conifer to the landscape, provide thermal cover, diversify forests, and address ash stand management. Forest managers in Minnesota regularly work across agencies and NGOs to take a landscape view of forests. For instance, there is currently an NRCS RCPP (Regional Conservation Partnership Program) that promotes young forests for golden-winged warblers and other species that use these habitats. The people involved with this program regularly talk to DNR staff and those working for other agencies in northern Minnesota to coordinate efforts. This request seeks funding to enhance over 4,800 acres of habitat on public lands open to hunting, primarily but not limited to, WMA, AMA, SNA and State Forest. Strategic and targeted work will be accomplished through the added capacity of contractors hired to conduct activities that support healthy, diverse and resilient habitats.",,2021-07-01,2025-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Greg,Hoch,DNR,"500 Lafayette Rd ","St Paul",MN,55055,"(651) 259-5230",greg.hoch@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Chisago, Cook, Crow Wing, Dakota, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Olmsted, Pine, Roseau, Sherburne, St. Louis, Todd, Wadena, Winona","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-forest-enhancement,,,,
10019619,"DNR Grassland Phase XIII",2022,3534000,"ML 2021, First Sp. Session, Ch. 1, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 2(l)","$3,534,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate the restoration and enhancement of prairies, grasslands, and savannas in wildlife management areas, in scientific and natural areas, in aquatic management areas, on lands in the native prairie bank, in bluff prairies on state forest land in southeastern Minnesota, and in waterfowl production areas and refuge lands of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Monitoring will take place with the base level monitoring conducted by DNR staff and staff from other agencies/NGOs. This includes surveys such as pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, and woodcock, which are all dependent on open areas. Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Migratory game and non-game birds will be some of the primary beneficiaries of this work. We hope to continue to strengthen partnerships with the University of Minnesota to incorporate graduate students into research and monitoring work. Core areas protected with highly biologically diverse wetlands and plant communities, including native prairie, Big Woods, and oak savanna - Monitoring will take place with the base level monitoring conducted by DNR staff and staff from other agencies/NGOs. Healthier populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Monitoring will primarily be done through studies conducted by the DNR's Ecological and Water Resources Division of key indicator species such as timber rattlesnakes. Restored and enhanced upland habitats - The multi-agency/NGO Grassland Monitoring Team (GMT) has developed standardized protocols for sampling grassland vegetation and a number of the sites on this request will be sampled over the 5 year period",,,,,3448800,85200,,1.5,DNR,"State Government","Grasslands continue to be the most threatened habitat in the state. This programmatic request will build on the DNR's history of enhancing and restoring grasslands, embedded wetlands, and oak savannas to increase wildlife populations. The Prairie Plan, Pheasant Plan, and Wildlife Action Plan will guide our efforts to ensure we are operating in a strategic and targeted manner. This proposal will enhance and restore grasslands on parcels that are permanently protected and most open to public hunting, including DNR WMAs, SNAs, AMAs, Native Prairie Bank (NPB) easements, State Forests, as well as federal WPAs and NWRs.","In many farmland counties less than five percent of the area is in public wildlife lands, often much less. We continue to lose about 200 acres of native prairie per year. While Minnesota does have acres enrolled in CRP as well as state programs such as RIM and CREP, there is still very little grassland left in many counties of the state. As such, we need to make sure the remaining grasslands, especially those open to public recreation are as diverse and productive as possible. These lands provide wildlife habitat as well as Wildlife and pollinator populations are a fraction of what they were even a decade ago. Water quality, especially nitrate contamination, is a human health and wildlife issue. Restoring and enhancing grasslands are one of the most effective ways to improve all of these issues. Grassland and wetland restoration and enhancement, carefully guided by planning, is one of the best ways to address many of these issues. This programmatic request seeks funding to enhance grassland habitat on permanently protected grasslands and prairies, most of which are open to public hunting. Without periodic management to simulate historical disturbance patterns, grassland lose diversity and productivity. Invasive species may increase and woody vegetation will encroach into the grasslands, changing their very character and the species that inhabit the area. The activities listed in this proposal will use BMPs for grassland enhancement and diverse local ecotype seed mixes for restoration. This request is part of larger efforts among the grassland community. For instance, in July 2020, multiple partners worked together to submit a SAFE (State Acre For wildlife Enhancement) to FSA to boost CRP acres in Minnesota.",,2021-07-01,2025-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Greg,Hoch,DNR,"500 Lafayette Rd ","St Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5230",greg.hoch@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Benton, Big Stone, Brown, Cass, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Dakota, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Houston, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Murray, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Roseau, Sherburne, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Washington, Wilkin, Yellow Medicine","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-grassland-phase-xiii,,,,
10019620,"DNR Roving Crews",2022,4500000,"ML 2021, First Sp. Session, Ch. 1, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(r )","$4,500,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore and enhance fish and wildlife habitat on permanently protected lands statewide using the roving crew program of the Department of Natural Resources. A list of restoration and enhancement projects must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Monitoring will take place with the base level monitoring conducted by DNR staff and staff from other agencies/NGOs. This includes surveys such as moose, sharp-tailed and ruffed grouse, and woodcock, which are all dependent on open areas. Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Migratory game and non-game birds will be some of the primary beneficiaries of this work. We hope to continue to strengthen partnerships with the University of Minnesota to incorporate graduate students into research and monitoring work. Core areas protected with highly biologically diverse wetlands and plant communities, including native prairie, Big Woods, and oak savanna - Monitoring will take place with the base level monitoring conducted by DNR staff and staff from other agencies/NGOs. Restored and enhanced upland habitats - The multi-agency/NGO Grassland Monitoring Team (GMT) has developed standardized protocols for sampling grassland vegetation and a number of the sites on this request will be sampled over the 5 year period. They recently published the first results of this project",,,,,4255500,244500,,34,DNR,"State Government","Grasslands and wetlands in western Minnesota continues to be the most threatened habitat in the state. At the same time, the DNR continues to work to make the state's forests more productive for wildlife, timber, and other compatible uses. This request will realign and streamline previous funding requests by placing all DNR Roving Crews under a single proposal and appropriation. This proposal will enhance wildlife habitat on permanently protected lands, most of which are open to public hunting. These include DNR WMAs, SNAs, AMAs, NPB easements, State and National Forests, as well as WPAs and NWRs","Roving Crews are fully equipped to conduct a range of habitat projects. The staff on these crews are solely dedicated to habitat enhancement and restoration. They do not work on infrastructure or non-habitat projects. In the prairies and western prairie pothole wetlands, they focus on prescribed burns, tree removal, grassland restorations, removal of old fencing, installing fenceposts for conservation grazing. In wetlands the focus is on wild rice collection and seeding, water control structure repair, wetland restorations with earth moving equipment, invasive species control, cattail spraying, and sediment removal. Forest projects include prescribed burns in fire-dependent forests and brushlands; tree seeding, planting, protection, and/or release of species such as oak and winter cover such as conifer; mowing and shearing of brushlands; maintenance of wildlife openings; and control of invasive species. While forest harvest is a valuable tool for many types of forest habitat enhancement, there are some habitat enhancements that harvests don't do or enhancements that can be done post-harvest to quickly improve habitat quality for wildlife. This can be especially true for practices such as shearing brushlands, where there isn't a strong economic incentive but numerous species of wildlife require these habitats for all or some stages of life. Prescribed fire can be used more to stimulate oak/acorn production for wildlife and improve pine forests as well as set back invasives. Making these habitat productive and diverse benefits wildlife as well as benefits native pollinators and commercial beekeepers. Enhancing all of these habitats maximizes the ecosystem services these habitats provide such as nitrate filtration, floodwater capture, and groundwater recharge, all in addition to the wildlife benefits. In the farmland region, we continue to lose ground on wetlands and grasslands. Therefore, its critical that the remaining public and protected habitats are in as high a quality as possible to both produce resident wildlife, such as pheasants, and be attractive to migratory wildlife, waterfowl that breed to our north. This proposal will fund the three existing 8 person grassland/wetland Roving Crews located east of Crookston (DNR Region 1), Lac Qui Parle (Region 4), and Rosemount (Region 3). This will also fund the newly established (ML19/FY20 appropriation) 6 person crew south of Fergus Falls and northeast forest crew (ML20/FY21 appropriation). We estimate that on a good to average year the crews will enhance over 28,000 acres of habitat annually across the state.",,2021-07-01,2025-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Greg,Hoch,DNR,"500 Lafayette Rd ","St Paul",MN,55055,"(651) 259-5230",greg.hoch@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Chippewa, Cook, Cottonwood, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Kandiyohi, Lake of the Woods, Lincoln, Lyon, Marshall, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Redwood, Roseau, Stearns, Washington","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-roving-crews,,,,
10027638,"DNR Grasslands - Phase IX",2018,3950000,"ML 2017, Ch. 91, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 2(i)","$3,950,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate the restoration and enhancement of prairies, grasslands, and savannas on wildlife management areas, scientific and natural areas, Native Prairie Bank land, bluff prairies on State Forest land in southeastern Minnesota, and United States Fish and Wildlife Service waterfowl production area and refuge lands. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"Prairie habitats once covered one-third of the state but presently less than 2% remain. Native prairie, other grasslands that provides habitat for wildlife, and wetlands are key components of functional prairie landscapes that have the capacity to adapt to changing environmental conditions. While these appropriation only added 2,085 acres of grassland acres to the state through restoration, these funds enhanced a much larger area. Put in another fashion, we restored and enhanced 69.5 square miles with these funds. That's an area 8.3 by 8.3 miles in area. None of this work was targeted at a specific species of wildlife. We used that approach that diverse productive habitats benefit a wide variety of both game and non-game wildlife species as well as any threatened or endangered species. In our restorations, we use very diverse seed mixes. This is obviously beneficial for pollinators. However, all those insects also create a food base for a large number of wildlife species. The structural diversity all those plant species create in the habitat allow every species to find an ideal niche in the grass as well as accomodates different life history stages of wildlife.","A total of 40,539 acres were affected: 1,191 Restored, 0 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 39,348 in Enhance.",,,3586000,190400,,7.5,DNR,"State Government","We restored and enhanced a total of 40,539 grassland acres with 446 activities on Wildlife Management Areas, Scientific and Natural Areas, Native Prairie Bank easements, Waterfowl Production Areas, and National Wildlife Refuges.","We select projects using a number of criteria and reviews to make sure the DNR and our federal partners, the USFWS, were spending these funds in the best and most productive ways. We can summarize our results in the following table. Brome conversion 76 Interseeding 51 Grassland restoration 1,191 Prescribed Fire 36,079 Herbaceous Invasive Control 1,503 Goat Browsing - woody removal281 Woody Removal 1,358 TOTAL 40,539 This appropriation involved the Southeast Roving Crews. These Crews allow the DNR to be very flexible. While they have a list of projects to work on, they can also respond fairly quickly if there's an enhancement opportunity shows up. For instance, a short dry period in a part of the state may allow them to conduct a late summer prescribed fire which was not in any of the original work plans. Roving Crews have begun experimenting with different burn seasons. The DNR will be hosting a workshop later this fall to discuss the science and management behind seasonal burns so that all staff and partners can continue to learn new applications for old tools. This appropriation included a partnership with the USFWS. They were able to bring in 'detailers', federal crews from outside MN to dramatically enhance their capacity and ability to enhance wildlife habitat on WPAs and Refuges. The final acres reported here are reduced from our recent Status Updates. In further conversations with the USFWS, we calculated the number of detailers, number of in-state fire staff, and pro-rated the acres to account for this ratio. We were also able to experiment with goat browsing in the SE to control buckthorn. SNA staff will monitor these sites over the coming years. This may provide a way to reduce chemical use and integrate some new and emerging agricultural practices, goats, into habitat management for the benefit of wildlife and the agricultural economy. The DNR has traditionally focused on game species such as pheasants. However, there is more and more interest in pollinators and biodiversity. Fortunately, just about every study out there shows that management and restoration for pollinators and songbirds often creates the best habitat for game species. Diverse, healthy, productive habitat is good for a wide range of species. These projects can also increase the amount of carbon absorbed and stored by the plants and soils on these sites. As we continue to use these funds, costs for projects will probably increase. In the early years of these funds, we completed a number of simpler or easier projects, the low-hanging fruit. Now we are left with the larger and more challenging projects. In our budget table, we prorated our budget for individual projects by the acres accomplished. Staff funding was combined into one value. Identifying funding for each position would be an accounting challenge.",,2017-07-01,2022-11-04,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Greg,Hoch,DNR,"500 Lafayette Rd ","St Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5230",greg.hoch@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Carlton, Carver, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cottonwood, Dakota, Douglas, Fillmore, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Isanti, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Washington, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-grasslands-phase-ix,,,,
10017805,"DNR Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Enhancement - Phase 3",2021,3790000,"ML 2020, Ch. 104, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 5(j)","$3,790,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore and enhance aquatic habitat in degraded streams and aquatic management areas and to facilitate fish passage. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ","Improved aquatic habitat indicators - For the Hockamin Creek project, brook trout catch rates will be compared before and after project completion to evaluate the success of restoring fish passage upstream of these barriers. Rivers and streams provide corridors of habitat including intact areas of forest cover in the east and large wetland/upland complexes in the west - Both MNDNR and PCA conduct periodic surveys of the Pelican River. For the Pelican Rapids Dam project, we will compare warmwater fish communities before and after project completion. We will also compare catch rates for critical species before and after project completion as indicators of population density changes. Large corridors and complexes of biologically diverse wildlife habitat typical of the unglaciated region are restored and protected",,,463400,"Sustain Our Great Lakes grant and Buffalo Red River Watershed District",3722100,67900,,3.6,DNR,"State Government","Diverse habitat is critical to sustaining quality fish populations in lakes and rivers. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) will complete two fish passage projects to restore habitat connectivity for fish and other aquatic life, and restore reaches of two different rivers, creating 1.8 miles of diverse aquatic habitat. Though the actual footprint of fish passage projects is relatively small, these projects will reconnect over 600 acres of lake and river habitat. Stream projects were selected from a statewide list, prioritized by factors such as ecological benefit, scale of impact, urgency of completion, and local support.","The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) annually updates a statewide list of stream habitat projects. Project submittals come both from MNDNR staff and from partner organizations. Projects are prioritized based on scale-of-impact, urgency, local support, and critical habitat for rare species. Based on this list, MNDNR and our partners are proposing two fish passage projects and two channel restorations, leveraging a confirmed $463,400 and an additional $1,000,000 requested from other sources. Access to diverse habitats is critical for fish and other aquatic organisms to complete various life stages. The habitats they use at different life stages may all vary widely. These habitats can be fairly unique, such as high-gradient riffles favored by many spawning fish, and may be miles apart. When dams or other obstructions prevent aquatic life from reaching ideal habitat, they are forced to use less optimal locations that can reduce their success. In some cases this leads to the complete loss of sensitive species upstream of a barrier. Modifying or removing the barriers through our two proposed fish passage projects would have a total footprint of 2 acres, but create upstream access to over 600 acres of lake and river habitat. This will benefit fish such as walleye and brook trout present in these rivers, as well as five mussel species classified as threatened or special concern. Streams naturally form habitat through the meandering of the river. Deeper, slower habitat is created by scour into the bed of the river around the outside of bends, while faster water and a rockier bottom is found in the straight sections in between. Wood, overhanging vegetation, and boulders serve as cover and current breaks for fish. In degraded sections of river, these natural processes are disrupted. Some reaches have been artificially straightened, preventing the meandering that forms diverse habitat. In other places, streams have become surrounded by tall banks that prevent high flows from spilling out onto a floodplain. When floods are trapped within the stream channel, the river erodes the banks. This not only mobilizes tons of sediment that degrades downstream habitat, but results in a wide, shallow channel during low-flow periods that is avoided by adult fish. Channel restoration projects will utilize reference locations with high-quality habitat to improve habitat. Working with partners, we will restore 1.8 miles of habitat on two streams. Department resources for stream habitat work falls far short of the need; funding from the Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF) has been critical to an acceleration of stream habitat work by the department and partners such as Trout Unlimited, as well as smaller groups such as lake associations. We propose to continue funding for one stream habitat coordinator and two stream habitat specialist positions to enable this increased effort. They provide technical assistance and oversight on Legacy-funded projects by MNDNR and partners, improve efficiency of coordination by providing single points of contact, and enhance outcomes of aquatic habitat projects through technical guidance.",,2020-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Jamison,Wendel,"Minnesota DNR","500 Lafayette Road ","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5205",jamison.wendel@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Clay, Lake, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Otter Tail","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-aquatic-habitat-restoration-and-enhancement-phase-3,,,,
10017806,"DNR Forest Habitat Enhancement",2021,1773000,"ML 2020, Ch. 104, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 3(d)","$1,773,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore and enhance wildlife habitat in the northern forest region in wildlife management areas, scientific and natural areas, aquatic management areas, and state forests. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ","Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Northern Minnesota forests will be enhanced to provide biologically diverse wildlife habitat for both desirable game species and endangered, threatened, special concern, and species of greatest conservation need, providing multiple conservation benefits in the face of climate change, invasive species, and other major stressors, and increased satisfaction from hunters and other recreational users. Wildlife populations and hunter satisfaction will be monitored",,,6500,"Ruffed Grouse Society",1683900,89100,,4,DNR,"State Government","Minnesota's iconic northern forest habitats, along with their interlaced wetlands and brushlands, are in need of management for the future due to stressors such as invasive species and climate change. This request will enhance and restore up to 3,250 acres of habitat in the Northern Forest Region on WMAs, AMAs, State Forests, and SNAs to increase forest health and resilience, and ultimately wildlife populations, through activities of a roving crew over three years. DNR's conservation Agenda, and Wildlife Action, Forest Action, SNA Strategic Land Protection and SFRMP Plans, will guide operations to ensure strategic, targeted work.","Northern Minnesota's forest habitats include towering pines, dense aspen, spruce bogs, and oak with broad arching branches, with rivers, lakes, sedge meadows, and brushlands intermixed. These habitats are home to a wide array of wildlife, including species in greatest conservation need such as moose, sharp-tailed grouse, American woodcock, and the black-throated blue warbler. They also provide clean water, outdoor recreation and products, sequester carbon, and support local communities. However, our forests face increasing stress from invasive species, climate change, lack of management, conversion, and fragmentation. If we are to address these stressors, and sustain the health of forest habitats on state lands which DNR is entrusted to steward for Minnesota citizens and the multiple benefits they provide, we must begin now to support management activities that are above and beyond normal timber harvest. For example, timber harvest can create a wildlife opening, however other management such as periodic mowing is needed to maintain it. This request seeks funding to enhance and restore up to 3,250 acres of habitat over three years on WMAs, AMAs, State Forests, and SNAs in the Northern Forest Region. Strategic and targeted work will be accomplished through the added capacity of a roving habitat crew modeled after the successful crews in the remainder of Minnesota. The crew will conduct activities which support healthy, diverse and resilient habitats, allowing the habitats to better withstand stressors, and address the need to complete small or unique projects for which vendors are lacking. Activities may include invasive species control; firebreak development and maintenance, and prescribed burns in fire-dependent forests, brushlands and wetlands which have lacked management; wildlife opening maintenance; tree removal, girdling, brush mowing/shearing, and support of conservation grazing in openland and brushland habitats; tree planting and protection to reforest and restore habitats, add conifer to the landscape, provide thermal cover, diversify forests, and address ash stand management; tree release, such as enhancing oak management for mast production; forest regeneration site prep; seed and acorn collection; restoration site prep; broadcasting and drilling of seed; stream bank stabilization; ditch closure; and dike removal to enhance forest wetlands. A majority of the projects will occur on State Forests and WMAs which are all open to public access for a wide range of outdoor recreational activities including hunting. Enhancement and restoration activities will be guided by DNR's Conservation Agenda, Wildlife Action Plan, Forest Action Plan, SNA Strategic Land Protection Plan, and Section Forest Resource Management Plans. A DNR team of Fish and Wildlife, Forestry, and Ecological and Water Resources staff will request projects that meet plan and program priorities from state land managers, prioritize and select projects, develop a schedule, annually evaluate accomplishments and the budget, adapt, and seek additional projects as needed. The Ruffed Grouse Society will provide financial support of $6,500 over the three year period. ",,2020-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Greg,Hoch,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Rd, Box 20 ","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5230",greg.hoch@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Chisago, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Pine, Roseau, St. Louis, St. Louis","Northern Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-forest-habitat-enhancement,,,,
10017807,"DNR Grassland Phase XII",2021,4432000,"ML 2020, Ch. 104, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 2(l)","$4,432,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate restoration and enhancement of prairies, grasslands, and savannas in wildlife management areas, in scientific and natural areas, in aquatic management areas, on lands in the native prairie bank, in bluff prairies on state forest land in southeastern Minnesota, and in waterfowl production areas and refuge lands of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ","Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Monitoring will take place with the base level monitoring conducted by DNR staff and staff from other agencies/NGOs. This includes surveys such as pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, and woodcock, which are all dependent on open areas. Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Migratory game and non-game birds will be some of the primary beneficiaries of this work. We hope to continue to strengthen partnerships with the University of Minnesota to incorporate graduate students into research and monitoring work. Core areas protected with highly biologically diverse wetlands and plant communities, including native prairie, Big Woods, and oak savanna - Monitoring will take place with the base level monitoring conducted by DNR staff and staff from other agencies/NGOs. Healthier populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Monitoring will primarily be done through studies conducted by the DNR's Ecological and Water Resources Division of key indicator species such as timber rattlesnakes. Restored and enhanced upland habitats - The multi-agency/NGO Grassland Monitoring Team (GMT) has developed standardized protocols for sampling grassland vegetation and a number of the sites on this request will be sampled over the 5 year period",,,,,4241300,190700,,7.22,DNR,"State Government","Grasslands continue to be the most threatened habitat in the state. This programmatic request will build on the DNR's history of enhancing and restoring grasslands, embedded wetlands, and savannas to increase wildlife populations. The Prairie Plan, Pheasant Plan, and Wildlife Action Plan will guide our efforts and ensure we are operating in a strategic and targeted manner. This proposal will enhance and restore grasslands on parcels that are permanently protected and most open to public hunting. These include DNR WMAs, SNAs, AMAs, Native Prairie Bank (NPB) easements, State Forests, as well as federal WPAs and NWRs.","In many farmland counties less than five percent of the area is in public wildlife lands, often much less. Since 2007, Minnesota has lost nearly a million acres of CRP. Last fall, another 203,000 acres expired from the program. Under the new Farm Bill, it's unclear how many of those lost habitat acres the state will recover. Wildlife and pollinator populations are a fraction of what they were even a decade ago. Water quality, especially nitrate contamination, is a human health and wildlife issue. Restoring and enhancing grasslands are one of the most effective ways to improve all of these issues. Because of the losses of grassland and wetland habitat across western Minnesota both historically and in recent years, it is that much more important that the public grasslands in Minnesota are as productive as possible for wildlife and pollinators. This programmatic request seeks funding to enhance grassland habitat on permanently protected grasslands and prairies, most of which are open to public hunting. Without periodic management to simulate historical disturbance patterns, grassland lose diversity and productivity. Invasive species may increase and woody vegetation will encroach into the grasslands, changing their very character and the species that inhabit the area. The activities listed in this proposal will use BMPs for grassland enhancement and diverse local ecotype seed mixes for restoration. Contract work for prescribed fire, woody species removal, invasive species control, grassland restoration, and other enhancement efforts. WMA Habitat Enhancement and restoration (9,5000 acres) over five years ? $2,409,400 Continuing funding for DNR Region 3 (Southeast) Rover Crew (35600 acres) over five years - $1,213,700 This request will restore and enhance native prairies on SNAs and Native Prairie Bank (NPB) easements as described above for WMAs. SNA/NPB Enhancement and restoration (800 acres) over five years? $812,300",,2020-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Greg,Hoch,DNR,"500 Lafayette Rd ","St Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5230",greg.hoch@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Grant, Houston, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Roseau, Scott, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Washington, Wilkin, Wilkin","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-grassland-phase-xii,,,,
10031475,"DNR County Groundwater Atlas",2025,3200000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 03j","$3,200,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to continue producing county groundwater atlases to inform management of surface water and groundwater resources for drinking and other purposes. This appropriation is for Part B, to characterize the potential water yields of aquifers and aquifers' sensitivity to contamination.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,16.6,"MN DNR","State Government","This project supports continuing development of County Groundwater Atlases for approximately three years. The goal is to provide this valuable water and resource management information infrastructure to every county.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2027-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Vanessa,Baratta-Person,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5685",vanessa.baratta@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-county-groundwater-atlas-1,,,,
20692,"DNR Aquatic Habitat - Phase V",2014,5250000,"ML 2013, Ch. 137, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(a)","$5,250,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire interests in land in fee for aquatic management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02, and to restore and enhance aquatic habitat. A list of proposed land acquisitions and restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"Increased availability and improved condition of riparian forests and other habitat corridors. Healthier populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species. High priority riparian lands, forestlands, and savannas are protected from parcelization and fragmentation. Rivers, streams, and surrounding vegetation provide corridors of habitat. Stream to bluff habitat restoration and enhancement will keep water on the land to slow runoff and degradation of aquatic habitat. Improved aquatic habitat indicators. Improved condition of habitat on public lands. ",,2502900,"CPL (city of Barnesville), US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, City of Oronoco, Olmsted County, DNR Dam Safety bonding money ",5249800,192600,,7.5,DNR,"State Government","DNR completed nine stream habitat projects with this appropriation. Four fish passage projects opened up access to 180 miles of river and 13,521 acres of lake and wetland habitat. We enhanced habitat on 39 Aquatic Management Areas, totalling 1440 acres, through the efforts of four positions funded by this appropriation. It also funded two stream habitat positions that oversaw the completion of 23 DNR projects and over 50 partner-lead projects funded by various OHF sources. ",,"Stream projects were chosen based on the DNR's Stream Habitat Priority List, where projects are ranked based on a number of criteria surrounding support and outcomes. This appropriation funded nine stream projects, several of which involved external partners. Individual project details are listed below. - Solid Bottom Creek: This project addressed a steep, eroding stream bank along 500 feet of a designated trout stream.  The stream bank was a primary source of sedimentation within the stream, and likely contributed to a delta that is forming at the outlet of the stream in Elbow Lake.  Construction was completed in the spring of 2016, relocating the stream away from the tall eroding bank, stabilizing the toe of that bank by installing toe-wood structures, and enhancing pool habitat for trout that are stocked into the stream. - Whisky Creek: OHF funding from DNR was combined with a CPL grant to the City of Barnesville to fund the project.  Bids for the work came in under projected costs, which allowed the City to also remove another dam within city limits on Whisky Creek that was underneath a railroad bridge.  Work has been completed in 2015 on the modification of the dam at Blue Eagle Lake and the removal of the dam underneath the railroad bridge. This project restored fish passage to 31 miles of upstream habitat. -Minnesota River at Granite Falls: Construction of a riffle in the Minnesota River at Granite Falls was completed in December 2017. The project modified the remnants of an old dam made of rock into a riffle, enhancing spawning habitat that will be used by numerous fish species including lake sturgeon, walleye, and sauger. -Red Sand Lake outlet: The outlet structure on Red Sand Lake was modified to allow fish passage, with construction completed in June of 2018. The former drop structure within a culvert was replaced by a larger culvert with an arch-rapids upstream and downstream, and with natural substrate within the culvert. Fish passage between White Sand Lake, which lies downstream, Red Sand Lake, and wetlands in between will benefit Red Sand Lake, especially in the occasional year that it experiences a partial fish-kill due to low oxygen conditions. -South Branch Root River: This project was funded by the ML2013 and ML2014 DNR Aquatic Habitat appropriation. A 450 foot reach of the river was experiencing severe erosion, with the streambank losing over 10 feet per year. A riffle was constructed at the upstream end of the reach to direct flow, and a bankfull bench was constructed along the eroding bank using toe wood to enhance stability and fish habitat. The bench was vegetated with a native seed mix and willow live stakes. Construction was completed in August of 2018, with ML2013 funds only used for work completed prior to July 1, 2018. -Turtle River: DNR partnered with the US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and Beltrami County to replaced an undersized culvert that blocked fish passage. The project opened up 13,000 acres of lake and wetland habitat and 30 miles of river that was formerly inaccessible to fish downstream of the project. -Mississippi River at Weaver Bottoms: Former deepwater habitat in Goose Lake, a former floodplain lake on the Mississippi River had been filled with silt over several decades. This project dredged 9 acres back into deepwater habitat, and was completed in the fall of 2017. Dredge spoils from project excavation were stockpiled on land for drying and eventual spreading and revegetation on private land. The deepwater habitat is becoming rare on the river due to sedimentation, and is critical for over-wintering habitat for bluegill, crappies, and other fish species. This project was split between the ML2012 and ML2013 DNR Aquatic Habitat appropriations, and accomplished acres split proportional to the total cost contributed by each. -Middle Fork Zumbro River/Lake Shady: This appropriation funded a portion (along with the DNR's ML2013 Aquatic Habitat) of the restoration of the Middle Fork of the Zumbro River through a former impoundment known as Lake Shady. The dam had washed out in a 2011 flood, leaving behind an eroding mud flat that threatened to harm downstream reaches as it eroded, and contained poor habitat in the channels that had cut through the mud. The former dam site's grade was stabilized by creating a rapids of stable rock material, and within the former reservoir new stream channels with appropriate dimensions were constructed. Habitat in the new channels was restored to include woody material as well as rocky riffles. Re-vegetation of the surrounding reservoir sediments with native plant species will provide quality riparian and upland habitat as well. The project was completed in partnership with Olmsted County ($125,736), the city of Oronco ($83,824) and DNR Dam Safety bonding funds ($1,000,000) all contributing funding. An additional $236,540 of in-kind staff time was contributed by Olmsted County.  In addition to the 147 acres of habitat restored, the project opened up access to 119 miles of stream. Accomplished acres are split between the two OHF appropriations proportional to funds contributed. -Middle Branch Whitewater River: Construction began on this project in September of 2016. At that time, the new channel and floodplain were shaped prior to the end of the construction season. However, this project has run into issues with design that have prevented its completion to date. An outside consultant has been hired by DNR to provide a final design, with a new construction period in the summer of 2019 to complete the project. DNR received approval for an amendment that added this project to our ML2015 Aquatic Habitat appropriation, which will be used to pay for the remaining design and construction of this project. -Aquatic Management Area enhancement: Enhancement work on 39 different AMAs such as prescribed burns, riparian plantings, and invasive species control were done on 1440 acres of habitat. Locations were in all four LSOHC planning regions. This work was made possible by the four AMA habitat positions funded by this appropriation. AMA staff assessed habitat needs at 106 AMAs, and developed management guidance that identifies enhancement needs for those parcels. In addition to the 39 projects done using this appropriation, AMA staff were involved with 106 other Outdoor Heritage-funded AMA enhancement projects, and provided guidance for 23 similar projects being lead by external partners who were using OHF money. -Stream Habitat Specialist positions: Two specialists were hired to coordinate statewide stream habitat worked that was funded by OHF. These positions were responsible for both DNR projects, and assisting partner organizations with their projects. These positions upped the capacity for DNR to undertake multiple larger stream habitat projects, and to increase the quality of projects being done by partners. During the life of this appropriation, specialists participated in the design and construction oversight of 23 DNR stream projects, and provided assistance to over a dozen local partners on over 50 stream habitat projects funded by various OHF appropriations.   ",2013-07-01,2017-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Brian,Nerbonne,"Mn Dept of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road ","Saint Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5205,brian.nerbonne@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Cass, Chippewa, Clay, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Fillmore, Hubbard, Itasca, Jackson, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Martin, Meeker, Morrison, Otter Tail, Polk, Renville, Rice, Rock, St. Louis, Wabasha, Winona","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-aquatic-habitat-phase-v,,,,
20694,"DNR Wildlife Management Area, Scientific and Natural Area and Native Prairie Bank Easement Acquisition",2014,4783400,"ML 2013, Ch. 137, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(c )","$4,940,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire land in fee for wildlife management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8; acquire land in fee for scientific and natural area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 5; and acquire native prairie bank easements under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96. Up to $42,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund, as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17, for native prairie bank easements. A list of proposed land and permanent conservation easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"Protected (in fee with state PILT liability) 2169 acres and protected (in easement) 387 acres for a total of  2556 acres ",,593400,"Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM), Small Game Surcharge ",4738100,45300,,.31,DNR,"State Government","Work resulting from this appropriation resulted in the acquisition, development, and inclusion of 2,095 acres into the state Wildlife Management Area (WMA) system, 74 acres into the the state Scientific and Natural Area system, and through easement acquisition added 387 acres to the state Native Prairie Bank. ",,"Through this appropriation the MN DNR protected lands in the prairie, forest prairie transition, northern forest, and metro urbanizing ecological sections. The MN DNR prioritized our acquisitions to focus on parcels with an existing habitat base, acquisition opportunities that provided connectivity and worked toward building habitat complexes, and opportunities that allowed us to maximize habitat benefits. All acquisitions were a result of a relationship with a willing seller. We scored them using a GIS based tool that assigns points based on the natural resource attributes along with other ecological and management criteria. We then ranked them in importance based on their score and input from local DNR land managers. All acquisitions where then subject to County Board review and approval. Ten WMA parcels and one SNA totaling 2,169 are now permanently protected as a result of acquisitions funded by this program. This eclipsed our Accomplishment Plan goal for acquisition by 561 acres. In addition we protected 387 acres through easement in Native Prairie Bank. ",2013-07-01,2019-11-05,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Patrick,Rivers,"MN Dept. of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road ","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5209",pat.rivers@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Brown, Clearwater, Hubbard, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Pennington, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Wadena, Wilkin, Wright","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-wildlife-management-area-scientific-and-natural-area-and-native-prairie-bank-easement-a,,,,
20717,"DNR Grassland Phase 5",2014,2220000,"ML 2013, Ch. 137, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(g)","$2,220,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate the restoration and enhancement of wildlife management areas, scientific and natural areas, and land under native prairie bank easements. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"Wetland and upland complexes  consist of native prairies, restored prairies, quality grasslands, and restored shallow lakes and wetlands. Water is kept on the land. Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need. A network of natural land and riparian habitats will connect corridors for wildlife and species in greatest conservation need. Healthier populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species. Improved condition of habitat on public lands. Protected, restored, and enhanced habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need. ",,,,2201900,178400,,8.25,DNR,"State Government","The following table provides a short summary of the accomplishments under this appropriation.  In total, the DNR enhanced and restored 283 sites for a total of 17,087 acres.   Activity                     Sites             Acres Diversity Seeding      42               1,031 Prescribed Burn        148            10,365 Restorations               4                    144 Woody Removal       92                 5,666 ",,"This report begins with a few specific examples of the outcomes of these projects.  I also include a larger overview of how these funds in general benefit the conservation community.   Tree removal on Popular WMA essentially “reclaimed” an open prairie wetland being overtaken by an overgrown fringe of black willow and cottonwood.  The wetland basin saw very little in the way of waterfowl usage prior to the project, but has been used to a much greater degree by dabbler ducks since the project.  The Area Wildlife Manager has directed several inquiring parties to this wetland for waterfowl hunting opportunity since the project was completed.  The elimination of the trees likely increased nesting success as those clumps of trees are no longer harboring skunks, raccoon, opossum, and avian predators.  Perhaps most importantly, the project eliminated the seed source of cottonwoods from being broadcast into the adjacent prairie reconstruction area. The prescribed burn on Benderberg WMA triggered an excellent response in the native wet prairie remnant.  It was largely an after-thought at this was former pasture, but the presence of fire really benefitted the native plant community.  There was even some hand- harvest opportunity for species like wood lily.  Without the roving crew and the MarshTracker, an Rx burn on this site would not have been possible.  This was the first time much of this ground had seen a fire in over 4 decades.  The plan is to periodically maintain this WMA with fire going forward and to maintain/enhance the wet prairie community that so wonderfully responded to it the first time around. These funds were used to complete more than 50 acres of woody control projects on the Lake Bronson and Two Rivers Aspen Parkland Scientific and Natural Areas.  These projects were part of an ongoing multi-year strategy to combat the encroachment of woody vegetation into high quality native prairies.  In addition to setting back encroaching willows and aspen, the Lake Bronson SNA project appeared to have positive impacts on the sites population of western prairie fringed orchids (a Federally threatened species) as the second highest number of orchids ever recorded on the site were counted the spring following the project.   One untold stories is the cooperation between conservation agencies and NGOs in Minnesota.  In some states, feds don’t like the state, and the NGOs fight among themselves.  In Minnesota, we all get along really well.  This is evidenced in partnership efforts that developed the Prairie Plan and Pheasant Plan.  One early fear with OHF is that this would cause these groups to start bickering over the resource.  In fact, the exact opposite has happened.  It has pulled us together and increased cooperation.  One example of that is our collective seed harvest and grassland restoration efforts.  In at least two areas, most notably Detroit Lakes and the Glacial Lakes area, multiple agencies/NGOs are coordinating their seed harvest and restoration efforts.    Partners are looking 1 to 3 years ahead on restoration efforts.  Seed production is best on burned sites.  Partners are determining what units and what soil types they want to restore each year.  Then they find native tracts or high diversity restorations with similar soil types.  These sites are prioritized for burning in the spring.   Once the site is burned, partners again work together to harvest and store the seed in the fall.  The seed is then distributed to the DNR, USFWS, TNC or other partners.  The seed is spread on the sites in the late winter or early spring.  In some cases, agency/NGO staff are harvesting the seed.  In other cases, they work with local contractors to harvest the seed.   Harvesting local seed is both cost-effective and when harvesting native tracts ensures we, collectively, are using a diverse mix of local ecotype seed.   Again, the OHF has helped developed new partnerships and projects that would not have happened or that would have happened at a much smaller scale with these critical funds.   Because this is a programmatic appropriation, it’s difficult to assign a dollar amount to a specific project.  Because of this and the large number of projects, we simply assigned dollars to projects proportional to acres completed in that project.  In the same way, we proportionally assigned dollars to personnel based on FTEs.     ",2013-07-01,2018-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Greg,Hoch,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Road ","St Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5230,greg.hoch@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Beltrami, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Clay, Cottonwood, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Goodhue, Grant, Houston, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lyon, Marshall, Martin, Nobles, Norman, Otter Tail, Polk, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Roseau, Sibley, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Wabasha, Winona, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-grassland-phase-5,,,,
9818,"DNR Aquatic Habitat Program, Phase 4",2013,3480000,"ML 2012, Ch. 264, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(a)","$3,480,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire interests in land in fee or permanent conservation easements for aquatic management areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02, and to restore and enhance aquatic habitat. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The accomplishment plan must include an easement stewardship plan. Up to $25,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund and a description of annual monitoring and enforcement activities.",,"Restored 66 acres, protected in fee 58 acres and protected in easement 93 acres of habitat ",,2736400,"Mix of cash and in-kind time from Olmsted County, City of Orononco, and Dam Safety bonding money contributed towards the Zumbro River project, Landowner donation, RIM, Game and Fish Fund, and Fish and Wildlife Acquisition Account. ",3480000,,,1,DNR,"State Government","We used a programmatic approach to achieve prioritized aquatic habitat protection, restoration, and enhancement for lakes, trout streams, and rivers across all LSOHC planning regions of Minnesota.",,"This appropriation funded a mixture of restoration, enhancement, and protection of aquatic habitat by the DNR. We were successful in completing our proposed projects, and in meeting may of the goals included in our accomplishment plan. The different projects accomplished from this appropriation are summarized below.Habitat protection was accomplished using a mixture of fee title and easement acquisition. For easements we purchased 11 parcels on trout streams located on either the North Shore or in southeast Minnesota. Easements will protect 5.3 miles of stream and 94 acres of habitat. Fee title acquisition protected 5 parcels of lakeshore, including one parcel that was purchased with funds from both ML2011 and ML2012 funding. Acreage and shoreline feet protected have been pro-rated between appropriations based in their respective contribution to the purchase price. A total of 2.6 miles of shoreline and 58 acres of habitat are protected by these parcels. The amount of habitat protected in easement and fee title falls short of our proposed outcomes for this appropriation. Because land values vary across the state it is difficult to anticipate how much habitat can be protected for a given amount of money. It is also hard to anticipate the amount of landowner donation we will receive. We were successful in leveraging an additional $1.3 million toward protection work from a mixture of sources, including landowner donation.The Mille Lacs Lake shoreland enhancement involved the removal of breakwall from a former marina that is now a DNR Aquatic Management Area. Breakwall was removed along 455 feet of shore and returned to a natural shoreline, with native riparian vegetation planted in all areas. This habitat will benefit fish species using the nearshore area of the lake as well as other wildlife such as birds, reptiles and amphibians that use a mixture of nearshore and riparian habitat.The Kingsbury Creek stream restoration project removed masonry walls that had been built along the banks through that reach and were limiting habitat. The project also included constructed a new stream channel through a reach that had previously been impounded by a dam. The stream channel was resized to appropriate dimensions, and habitat structures such as toe wood, rootwads, and cross vanes were installed. The project will benefit resident brook trout as well as steelhead that spawn and rear juveniles in Kingsbury Creek.A fish passage project at Shell Lake converted a dam into an arch-rapids, allowing fish to migrate in and out of the lake freely. Fish passage is especially important at Shell Lake, which is subject to occasional partial winter-kills. Recolonization from the Shell River will help the lake to recover from these events. This project was added to our original accomplishment plan and completed using surplus funds realized due to cost savings from other projects.A second stream habitat enhancement project was done using surplus funds. This one was located on the Pomme de Terre River, where a riffle and adjoining streambank was enhanced to provide better habitat in a former reservoir where the dam had been removed several years previous.Backwater habitat on the Mississippi River within Weaver Bottoms was enhanced to create critical backwater habitat that had been lost due to decades of sedimentation. The deepwater habitat is critical for many fish species such as bluegill and black crappie that over-winter there. The nine acres of newly enhanced habitat has shown high use by Mississippi River fish, and anglers have taken notice and are using the area as well.This appropriation funded a portion (along with the DNR's ML2013 Aquatic Habitat) of the restoration of the Middle Fork of the Zumbro River through a former impoundment known as Lake Shady. The dam had washed out in a 2011 flood, leaving behind an eroding mud flat that threatened to harm downstream reaches as it eroded, and contained poor habitat in the channels that had cut through the mud. The former dam site's grade was stabilized by creating a rapids of stable rock material, and within the former reservoir new stream channels with appropriate dimensions were constructed. Habitat in the new channels was restored to include woody material as well as rocky riffles. Re-vegetation of the surrounding reservoir sediments with native plant species will provide quality riparian and upland habitat as well. The project was completed in partnership with Olmsted County ($125,736), the city of Oronco ($83,824) and DNR Dam Safety bonding funds ($1,000,000) all contributing funding. An additional $236,540 of in-kind staff time was contributed by Olmsted County. In addition to the 147 acres of habitat restored, the project opened up access to 119 miles of stream.Stream habitat work for this appropriation and other LSOH-funded projects from other appropriations was aided by funding for a stream restoration coordinator and intern. These positions aided in survey work, design, permitting, contracting, and coordination with project partners on these complex projects. The coordinator also worked on assessing other potential projects for future LSOHC proposals.",2012-07-01,2014-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Brian,Nerbonne,"Mn Dept of Natural Resources","1601 Minnesota Drive",Brainerd,MN,56401,651-259-5205,brian.nerbonne@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Blue Earth, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Dakota, Fillmore, Hubbard, Itasca, Kandiyohi, Le Sueur, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Redwood, Renville, Rice, St. Louis, Stearns, Wabasha, Washington","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-aquatic-habitat-program-phase-4,,,,
23917,"DNR Grassland Phase VI",2015,1458800,"ML 2014, Ch. 256, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(h)","$1,530,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate the restoration and enhancement of prairie communities in wildlife management areas, scientific and natural areas, aquatic management areas, state forest land, and land under native prairie bank easements. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"Restored 113 acres and enhanced 11,594 acres for a total of 11,707 acres. ",,,,1380000,126400,,1.5,DNR,"State Government","With this appropriation, the DNR enhanced and restored over 11,700 acres of public lands or permanently protected private lands under easement.  Projects under this appropriation included prescribed fire, prescribed or conservation grazing, woody removal, and enhancing plant diversity.  With this appropriation we were able to exceed our target acreage by 38 percent.   ",,"This project was a little different from the typical DNR grassland enhancement appropriations in that it did not include a Roving Crew and it was a little more focused on the south east part of the state than other DNR grassland enhancement appropriations have been.  That said, the types of projects are similar to what we've done in the past.  What makes this appropriation different, perhaps, is not the few large showcase projects we do, but the collective impact and benefits of many smaller projects on the landscape.   With this funds we were able to conduct prescribed fires on over 6000 acres and remove woody vegetation from almost 2000 acres of grassland.  Both of these types of projects are critical to grassland wildlife, especially birds.  Multiple studies have shown that nesting success of both game birds and songbirds is significantly impacted by woody vegetation.  Some species won't nest near tall trees and these trees also provide habitat for several types of nest predators.   There were several efforts to increase grassland diversity in brome or bluestem monocultures totaling 250 acres as well as restoration of over 100 acres.  This should increase habitat quality for pollinating insects as well as increase the abundance of insects that serve as a critical high protein food resource, especially for egg-laying birds and fast-growing young chicks.   We also completed invasive species control on over 2700 acres of grassland. This should in turn increase native plant diversity and increase pollinator habitat.   One area new for this appropriation is conservation grazing, although in this case much of it could be referred to as conservation browsing.  Goats were used in some cases for grazing prairie, especially on steep slopes.  These areas are often dangerous for equipment and the goats reduce reliance on chemicals.  Below is one description from DNR staff of this type of project.   ""At Mound Prairie SNA, west of Hokah, MN, goats have spent multiple seasons grazing two bluff prairies cleared of eastern red cedar trees and invasive brush, such as buckthorn and honeysuckle.  The goats were able to reduce the vigor of the woody vegetation, allowing native grasses and forbs an opportunity to grow.  Using goats reduced the amount of chemical needed to control the invasive woody brush! There is now a sufficient grass component to facilitate prescribed burning.""       A similar project in central Minnesota shows the benefits of cedar removal to prairie plants and wildlife.    ""Starting in 2016 and continuing into 2019 invading trees and brush were removed from about 25 acres of rock outcrop and wet prairie at Cedar Rock SNA in Redwood County.  The work was done in two phases; first large trees (mostly cedar) were cut, treated, piled and burned.  Two years later a follow-up pass was made to control buckthorn which had grown after the removal of the taller trees.  Although formal post-treatment surveys have not been conducted; previously undocumented rare plants are apparent and the area appears to harbor a broad array of both plant and animal species."" One area that gets little attention in habitat work is the ecosystem benefits of that work.  Again, numerous studies have shown that grassland restoration is a very good way to remove carbon from the air, helping to mitigate climate change.  Even prescribed burning, because it stimulates root growth will help remove carbon from the air and store the carbon in the soil.   As always, monitoring continues to be an issue with all these projects, both at the individual site and the larger landscape.  The conservation partners in the state, including DNR, FWS, TNC, and others, continue to work to develop statistically rigorous ways of addressing these questions.   Attached are a series of images from Mound Prairie SNA (word doc) and Cedar Rock SNA (indiv jpgs).  The Mound Prairie images show the impacts of cedar removal in the SE.  The Cedar Rock aerial images show how cedars were only scattered over the site in the 1930s, covered the site before this project, and how these funds help open up a large area to prairie.   For this final report, dollars for each project are pro-rated based on the acre percentage for each project relative to the budget.   ",2014-07-01,2019-10-31,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,"Greg ",Hoch,"DNR Wildlife","500 Lafayette Rd ","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5230",greg.hoch@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Clay, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Goodhue, Grant, Houston, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, McLeod, Meeker, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Pope, Red Lake, Redwood, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Washington, Wilkin, Winona, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-grassland-phase-vi,,,,
23924,"DNR Wildlife Management Area and Scientific & Natural Area Acquisition",2015,8145000,"ML 2014, Ch. 256, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(a)","$8,145,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire land in fee for wildlife management area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, and to acquire land in fee for scientific and natural area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 5. Of this amount, $4,250,000 is for the Vermillion River Wildlife Management Area addition in Dakota County. Money appropriated in this paragraph may not be used to acquire any portion of the Vermillion River Wildlife Management Area Addition that is or will be subject to the removal of gravel or other mining activities. Any funds not spent on the Vermillion River Wildlife Management Area addition must be used for acquisition of land in the seven-county metropolitan area. Lands acquired with this appropriation may not be used for emergency haying and grazing in response to federal or state disaster declarations. Conservation grazing under a management plan that is already being implemented may continue. Subject to the evaluation criteria under Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquisition of lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land and permanent conservation easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"Protected 1,733 acres in fee with State PILT Liability. ","achieved proposed outcomes",2884600,"RIM ",8014600,38000,,0.74,DNR,"State Government","Work resulting from this appropriation resulted in the acquisition, development, and inclusion of 1,733 acres into the state Wildlife Management Area (WMA) system.  We exceeded the projected acres by 56% and exceeded leverage by nearly 20%. ",,"Through this appropriation the MN DNR protected lands in the prairie, and metro ecological sections. The MN DNR prioritized our acquisitions to focus on parcels with an existing habitat base, acquisition opportunities that provided connectivity and worked toward building habitat complexes, and opportunities that allowed us to maximize habitat benefits. All acquisitions were a result of a relationship with a willing seller. We scored them using a GIS based tool that assigns points based on the natural resource attributes along with other ecological and management criteria. We then ranked them in importance based on their score and input from local DNR land managers. All acquisitions where then subject to County Board review and approval. Ten WMA parcels totaling 1,733 acres are now permanently protected as a result of acquisitions funded by this program. This eclipsed our Accomplishment Plan goal for acquisition by 620 acres! ",2014-07-01,2021-10-29,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Patrick,Rivers,"MN Dept. of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road ","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5209",pat.rivers@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Chisago, Clay, Cottonwood, Dakota, Lyon, Murray, Norman, Rice, Stearns, Swift, Wright","Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-wildlife-management-area-and-scientific-natural-area-acquisition,,,,
23935,"MN DNR Aquatic Habitat Program - Phase VI",2015,2483200,"ML 2014, Ch.256, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(a)","$2,560,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire interests in land in fee for aquatic management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02, and to restore and enhance aquatic habitat. A list of proposed land acquisitions and restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ","I ","Restored 131 acres, protected in fee with state PILT liability 62 acres, protected in easement 132 acres, and enhanced 2,182 acres for a total of 2,507 acres. ",,660000,"US Forest Service, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Upper Mississippi Headwater Restoration Fund, Chippewa Stewardship Fund, Otter Tail Wetland Mitigation, and Otter Tail Transmission Line Tribal Gathering Mitigation ",2425600,111000,,3.4,DNR,"State Government","DNR modified six dams to allow fish passage and enhanced in stream habitat on two rivers with this appropriation. Also, habitat enhancement project were completed on 28 Aquatic Management Areas and three metro parks, totaling 1,002 acres. Stream habitat work for this appropriation and LSOHC-funded projects from other appropriations was aided by funding for a stream restoration coordinator and interns. These positions aided in public outreach, survey work, design, permitting, contracting, and coordination with project partners on these complex projects. The coordinator moved seven additional projects forward and assessed ten potential projects for future LSOHC proposals. ",,"Stream projects were prioritized based on the DNR's Stream habitat Priority List, where projects are ranked based on a number of criteria surrounding support and outcomes. This appropriation funded five stream projects, several of which involved external partners. Individual project details are outlined below. - Sand Hill River Fish Passage Project: This project partnered with the Sand Hill River Watershed District and Army Corps of Engineers to restore fish passage on the Sand Hill River. The in channel portion of the project was essentially completed in 2017. Initial fish surveys have already documented restored fish passage upstream of the modified dams. Both this grant and an ML 2015 grant to the Sand Hill River Watershed District contributed to the local share of this project and were matched 3:1 by federal funds. Credits for habitat benefits were divided up between the two grants based on overall contribution to the project. - Knutson Dam fish passage- Construction of the project was finished in the spring of 2016. The dam, at the outlet of Cass Lake in Beltrami County, was modified into a rapids to allow fish movement upstream from the Mississippi River. This will allow free movement between habitats in the lakes upstream and the river downstream, facilitating access for fish to key habitats such those used for spawning. The project was done in conjunction with the US Forest Service, who owns the dam. The initial LSOHC grant spurred multiple other parties to invest in the project, totaling $660,000 in match. Partners included the US Forest Service, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Upper Mississippi Headwater Restoration Fund, Chippewa Stewardship Fund, Otter Tail Wetland Mitigation, and Otter Tail Transmission Line Tribal Gathering Mitigation. - Long Lake fish passage- We worked with Itasca County to modify a small dam at the outlet to Long Lake into a rapids in January, 2016 in order to facilitate fish passage. - Straight River habitat enhancement: Several DNR divisions teamed up to improve aquatic habitat by installing 32 new tree structures on the Straight River, one of Minnesota’s premier trophy brown trout streams. DNR fisheries staff selected three sections of the river to place the structures to address an over-wide stream channel with little cover for fish. Due to the inaccessibility of this reach of stream for heavy equipment due to surrounding wetlands, a helicopter was used to lower about 150 trees into position to create the structures. A total of 4,180 feet of stream was enhanced by this project. - South Branch Root River: This project was funded by the ML2013 and ML2014 DNR Aquatic Habitat appropriation. A 450 foot reach of the river was experiencing severe erosion, with the streambank losing over 10 feet per year. A riffle was constructed at the upstream end of the reach to direct flow, and a bankfull bench was constructed along the eroding bank using toe wood to enhance stability and fish habitat. The bench was vegetated with a native seed mix and willow live stakes. Construction was completed in August of 2018. - AMA Enhancement: This appropriation includes funding for personnel tasked with assessing habitat needs on Aquatic Management Areas (AMAs), writing management guidance documents that outline projects, and overseeing project implementation. AMA Specialists completed nine new site assessments, bringing the total number of AMAs assessed since June 2014 to 138. To date, 109 Management Guidance Documents have been completed. An additional 29 Management Guidance Documents are in various stages of review. Staff also planned or oversaw enhancement project on 48 AMAs. These accomplished acres are reflected in the status updates for individual OHF appropriations that funded contracts and/or materials for the project. Site visits for specific habitat project planning purposes or habitat enhancement work completed: •    Jennie Lake AMA (Prairie) •    Minniebelle Lake AMA (Prairie) •    Hutchinson FMA (Prairie) •    Miller Creek AMA (SE Forest) •    Gemini AMA (Prairie) •    Eagle Creek AMA (Metro) •    Lotus Lake AMA (Metro) •    Silver Creek AMA (Metro) •    Elizabeth Lake AMA (Prairie) •    Games Lake AMA (Prairie) •    Norway Lake AMA (Prairie) •    Francis Lake AMA (Prairie) •    St Peter AMA (Prairie) •    Cannon River (Morristown) AMA (Prairie) •    Middle Lake AMA (Prairie) •    Kasota Lake AMA (Prairie) •    Cedar River AMA (Prairie) •    Sanborn AMA (Prairie) •    Whispering Ridge AMA (Prairie)  •    Etna Creek AMA (SE Forest)  •    Sakatah Lake AMA (Prairie)  •    St. Catherine Lake AMA (Metro) •    Glacier Lake AMA- Northern Forest •    Pierz Fish Lake AMA- Forest/Prairie Transition •    Quamba Lake AMA- Northern Forest •    Cross Lake AMA- Northern Forest •    Bertha Moody Lake AMA- Northern Forest •    Hubert Lake AMA- Northern Forest •    Agate Rearing Pond AMA- Northern Forest •    Sunrise Lake AMA- Northern Forest •    Cedar Creek AMA- Northern Forest •    Larson Lake AMA- Northern Forest •    North Long Lake AMA- Northern Forest •    Buetow AMA- Northern Forest •    Island Lake AMA- Northern Forest •    Roosevelt Lake AMA- Northern Forest •    Little Knife AMA- Northern Forest •    Barnes Springs AMA- Northern Forest •    Frank Rose AMA- Prairie •    Glacier Lake AMA (N. Forest) •    Little Otter Creek AMA (N. Forest) •    North Long Lake AMA (N. Forest) •    Little Knife AMA (N. Forest) •    Barnes Springs AMA (N. Forest) •    Bertha Moody AMA (N. Forest) AMA staff worked with R3 and R4 Roving Crews to write burn plans for: •    Stephen AMA (Prairie) •    Minniebelle Lake AMA (Prairie) •    Miller Creek AMA (SE Forest) - Stream habitat work for this appropriation and other LSOHC-funded projects from other appropriations was aided by funding for a stream restoration coordinator and interns. These positions aided in public outreach, survey work, design, permitting, contracting, and coordination with project partners on these complex projects.  Five projects were completed during this appropriation. The coordinator was also responsible for moving 7 additional projects forward and assessing 10 potential projects for future LSOHC proposals.  The coordinator has collected monitoring data on two completed LSOHC projects.   The coordinator (with interns) collected culvert data on 4 watersheds, identified barriers and determined which barriers are among the highest priority. ",2014-07-01,2019-10-22,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Jamison,Wendel,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Rd. Box 20","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5205",jamison.wendel@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Beltrami, Carlton, Carver, Crow Wing, Dakota, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Itasca, Kandiyohi, Lake, Lincoln, Mower, Otter Tail, Pine, Polk, Ramsey, Redwood, Rice, Scott, St. Louis, Wabasha, Winona, Wright","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mn-dnr-aquatic-habitat-program-phase-vi,,,,
35017,"DNR Aquatic Habitat - Phase VII",2016,4540000,"ML 2015, First Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(a)","$4,540,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire interests in land in fee and permanent conservation easements for aquatic management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02, to acquire interests in land in permanent conservation easements for fish and wildlife habitat under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.66, and to restore and enhance aquatic habitat. Up to $130,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed land acquisitions and restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"22 Habitat acres Restored.  52 Habitat acres Protected in Fee with State PILT Liability.  347 Forest acres and 132 Habitat acres (for a total of 479 acres) Protected in Easement. 330 Prairie acres and 535 Habitat acres (for a total of 865 acres) Enhanced.  1,418 total acres impacted. ",,405100,"Sustain our Great Lakes and BWSR Flood Assistance - South St. Louis SWCD general fund ",4415700,65700,,0.5,DNR,"State Government","We will use a programmatic approach to achieve prioritized aquatic habitat protection, restoration, and enhancement of lakes and streams across all the LSOHC planning regions of Minnesota. ","   ","Stream projects were prioritized based on the DNR's Stream habitat Priority List, where projects were ranked based on a number of criteria surrounding support and outcomes. This appropriation funded five stream projects, several of which involved external partners. Individual project details are outlined below. Stewart River Restoration: The Stewart River channel restoration project used Natural Channel Design to restore 4,500 of premier trout stream in Northeastern Minnesota. Historic logging and a berm located in the floodplain had significantly impacted the stream. The project was designed and implemented to create trout habitat including deep pools, overhead cover and abundant spawning gravels. The project also removed the confines of the berm and reconnected the stream with the floodplain. A 100 year flood affected the project just a few years after implementation. Some damage was caused, but the objectives of the projects were still met once repairs were made in 2019 using DNR FAW funding. Mission Creek Restoration: DNR partnered with South St. Louis SWCD to compete this project on Mission Creek. The Mission Creek channel restoration project restored 3150 feet of stream near Duluth, Minnesota. This stream was historically altered and had an in-stream trash rack which affected fish passage and the stability of the stream. The 2012 flood caused the stream to blowout around the trash rack resulting in a highly aggraded and unstable stream. The trash rack was removed and the dimension, pattern and profile of the stream was restored. Additionally, 8.4 miles of the stream was reconnected with the removal of the trash rack. During design, a historic native burial site was discovered just downstream of the project site. This slowed down design as we needed to sort through the risks to artifacts and find a tribal inspector to be onsite during construction. In the end we were able to do the project with oversight from the tribe. No artifacts were discovered during construction. Construction finished in June of 2020. North Branch of Whitewater River Restoration: This channel restoration project took place within Whitewater State Park in a location that previously had riprap installed on the bank for stabilization. This riprap failed at least two times so a stream restoration was implemented to better address the issues causing the bank erosion. The project utilized toe-wood sodmat to protect the bank and reshaped the channel dimension, pattern and profile based on a nearby stable reference reach. During construction it was found that the bed and bank material were particularly difficult for toe-wood sodmat installation. A unique technique using a trenching bucket was employed to get the toe-wood sod mat installed correctly. Another impact of the bed and bank materials was that it was difficult to get vegetation established. This project had to have additional work done after the original construction was finished. Due to lack of vegetation, a large flood and being in a flashy watershed, some of the stream features were impacted after the flood. Following the damages, the natural pattern that the river laid out was utilized to improve the overall project. The project was replanted with additional straw protection. Since the adjustments were made, the project has been stable and the vegetation is getting established. Cottonwood River Restoration: DNR partnered with Redwood County to complete this restoration. This project was originally funded to provide fish passage at three dams by modifying the dams to rock arch rapids structures. However during the course of project development, at two of the dam sites, the grantee opted to install riffles along the river corridor to slowly step the river down and to provide more habitat than originally anticipated. Two of the dam sites now have 6-7 riffles and deep pool associated with those riffles. Fish use these pools as is evident by the anglers seen at various riffles. Fish have also been seen passing through the riffles to get upstream. Construction of this project started in February of 2020; that spring construction was put on hold due to high flows and the COVID pandemic. However, as the flows were rising the contractor continued to work. This proved to be an issue when the contractor was unable to finish installing that riffle. As a result, the unfinished structure caused some significant erosion; this lead to additional work at that riffle site for the contractor once flows receded. The COVID- 19 pandemic significantly limited the ability of Department staff to provide construction oversight which would likely have avoided the contractor working in rising flows. Construction of the projects were finished in fall of 2020. Overall the project accomplished the goals of fish passage and has the added benefit of additional habitat along the river corridor. Driftless Area Habitat Enhancement: The DNR's Fisheries Construction crew used this appropriation to purchase rock and equipment rental to enhance 15 acres of stream habitat in the Driftless Area of Minnesota. Shoreline protection accomplished with this appropriation consisted of two fee-title acquisitions, nine trout stream easement acquisitions, and three Forest for the Future conservation easements. The two fee-title acquisitions protected 52 acres and 4,825 feet of undeveloped shoreline . All nine trout stream easement acquisitions were in the SE Forest Ecological Section. Two easement acquisitions were initiated in the Northern Forest Section, but neither was successfully concluded. The nine trout stream easements protect a total of 132 acres and 31,150 feet of stream. The Forest for the Future project prioritized protecting forests in high priority cisco lake watersheds. With this project, one 32 acre easement was purchased in the Kabekona watershed (Hubbard County), 122 acres in the Ten Mile lake watershed (Cass County), and 193 acres in the Pelican watershed in Crow Wing County. Two large easement acquisitions were not completed when the landowners chose not to accept the DNR offer. These acquisitions were scheduled to be completed close to the end of the appropriation availability and we did not have enough time to move on to other parcels. Therefore, we did not meet goals for easement acquisition and funds were returned to the Council. ",2015-07-01,2021-10-05,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Martin,Jennings,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road ","St Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5176",martin.jennings@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Becker, Blue Earth, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Clay, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Hubbard, Itasca, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Lake, Le Sueur, Meeker, Mower, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Pope, Redwood, Scott, St. Louis, Wabasha, Winona, Wright","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-aquatic-habitat-phase-vii,,,,
35057,"DNR Grassland - Phase 8",2017,3983000,"ML 2016, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(j)","$3,983,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate restoration and enhancement of prairies, grasslands, and savannas on wildlife management areas, scientific and natural areas, native prairie bank land, and bluff prairies on state forest land in southeastern Minnesota. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Prairie habitats once covered one-third of the state but presently less than 2% remain. Native prairie, other grasslands that provides habitat for wildlife, and wetlands are key components of functional prairie landscapes that have the capacity to adapt to changing environmental conditions. While these appropriation only added 2,085 acres of grassland acres to the state through restoration, these funds enhanced a much larger area. Put in another fashion, we restored and enhanced 69.5 square miles with these funds. That's an area 8.3 by 8.3 miles in area. None of this work was targeted at a specific species of wildlife. We used that approach that diverse productive habitats benefit a wide variety of both game and non-game wildlife species as well as any threatened or endangered species. In our restorations, we use very diverse seed mixes. This is obviously beneficial for pollinators. However, all those insects also create a food base for a large number of wildlife species. The structural diversity all those plant species create in the habitat allow every species to find an ideal niche in the grass as well as accomodates different life history stages of wildlife.","A total of 44,506 acres were affected: 2,081 Restored, 0 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 42,425 in Enhance.",,,3762900,172000,,7.11,DNR,"State Government","We restored 2,081 acres of grassland and enhanced 42,425 acres of grassland for a total of 44,506 acres of wildlife habitat across 329 sites with these funds.","We select projects using a number of criteria and reviews to make sure the DNR was spending these funds in the best and most productive ways. We can summarize our results in the following table. Project Type Acres # Sites Grassland Restoration 2,085 63 Prescribed Fire 36,896 159 Woody removal 4,461 60 interseed / diversity enhancement 500 27 Conservation grazing infrastructure 120 1 Prescribed Browsing-woody control (goats) 299 9 Herbaceous Invasive Control 145 10 Sum 44,506 329 This appropriation involved the Roving Crews. These Crews allow the DNR to be very flexible. While they have a list of projects to work on, they can also respond fairly quickly if there's an enhancement opportunity shows up. For instance, a short dry period in a part of the state may allow them to conduct a late summer prescribed fire which was not in any of the original work plans. Roving Crews have begun experimenting with different burn seasons. Typically, we burn in the spring before the nesting season. However, this can stimulate the warm-season grasses and begin to crowd out forbs, lowering plant diversity. Burning in the late summer, after birds have fledged but with enough time for some late summer regrowth, has shown to increase both plant diversity as well as structural diversity in the habitat. Just as important, it can knock back the dominant grasses such as big bluestem and Indian grass just enough for forbs to express themselves the following year. Although 44,506 acres appears to be a large number, we feel the actual acres benefitted may be much larger. We know nest predation of grassland birds is higher near woody vegetation and some birds just won't nest near woody veg. By removing trees, we are impacting both the footprint of where those trees were but also the surrounding grassland, up to a half mile from the project, where nest success should now be higher. We installed grazing infrastructure on one site and used goats to browse undesirable and invasive woody plants. This will accomplish two goals. FIrst, we will get good habitat work on our public lands. Second, its a way to further develop a working lands approach to land management and incorporate conservation work into the state's agricultural economy. I have personally visited a number of public lands grazing sites in western Minnesota and have always been impressed with what I've seen. Although grazing is a summer activity, I've flushed a number of birds, both pheasants and songbirds, from these areas in the fall. Often the biggest benefit to grazing comes in the first couple years after grazing as the habitat is regrowing. Although there is still much to learn, we have learned a lot in recent years about restoration techniques. We still use several methods for restoring prairie and there's probably no one perfect way of doing it. It's very clear to someone when they are walking through a recent restoration and an older restoration. Even if they can't identify every plant, the diversity people see is striking. The DNR has traditionally focused on game species such as pheasants. However, there is more and more interest in pollinators and biodiversity. Fortunately, just about every study out there shows that management and restoration for pollinators and songbirds often creates the best habitat for game species. Diverse, healthy, productive habitat is good for a wide range of species. These projects can also increase the amount of carbon absorbed and stored by the plants and soils on these sites. As we continue to use these funds, costs for projects will probably increase. In the early years of these funds, we completed a number of simpler or easier projects, the low-hanging fruit. Now we are left with the larger and more challenging projects. While they are good habitat projects, they will probably increase in costs over time. In our budget table, we prorated our budget for individual projects by the acres accomplished. Staff funding was combined into one value. Identifying funding for each position would be an accounting challenge.",,2016-07-01,2022-11-04,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Greg,Hoch,"DNR Wildlife","500 Lafayette Rd ","St. paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5230",greg.hoch@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Chippewa, Clay, Clearwater, Cottonwood, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Goodhue, Grant, Houston, Jackson, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Morrison, Murray, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Redwood, Roseau, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Washington, Watonwan, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-grassland-phase-8,,,,
35058,"DNR Stream Habitat",2017,2074000,"ML 2016, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(f)","$2,074,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore and enhance habitat to facilitate fish passage, degraded streams, and critical aquatic species habitat. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"Restored 8 Habitat acres and enhanced 7 Habitat acres for a total of 15 acres. ",,104400,"USFWS, Pomme de Terre River Assoc. ",2039900,33200,,2,DNR,"State Government","The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will restore or enhance habitat to facilitate fish passage, restore degraded streams, and enhance habitat critical to fish and other aquatic life. Projects are prioritized based on ecological benefit, urgency, feasibility, and stakeholder support. ",,"Lake Carlos Dam Modification During the winter and spring of 2021, the Lake Carlos Dam was replaced with a rock arch-shaped rapids to restore upstream fish passage. We expect that migratory species from Lake Carlos and upstream Lake Le Homme Dieu will benefit from improved access to 121 miles of river that could be used for spawning and rearing habitat. Rare mussel species such as creek heelsplitter and black sandshell are found downstream of the outlet, and may also find suitable habitat in tributary streams to Lake Carlos. The rock arch rapids structure is located within Lake Carlos State Park, and will provide an opportunity to educate the public on the importance of lake and stream connectivity. Cottonwood Dam Modifications – Soldier’s and Sailor’s Park, Kuhar and Sanborn Golf Course Dams This project was originally funded to provide fish passage at three dams by modifying the dams to rock arch rapids structures. However during the course of project development, at two of the dam sites, the grantee opted to install riffles along the river corridor to slowly step the river down and to provide more habitat than originally anticipated. Two of the dam sites now have 6-7 riffles and deep pool associated with those riffles. Fish use these pools as is evident by the fishermen seen at various riffles. Fish have also been seen passing through the riffles to get upstream. Construction of this project started in February of 2020; that spring construction was put on hold due to high flows and the COVID pandemic. However, as the flows were rising the contractor continued to work. This proved to be an issue when the contractor was unable to finish installing that riffle. As a result, the unfinished structure caused some significant erosion; this lead to additional work at that riffle site for the contractor once flows receded. For the most part this project was constructed during the COVID pandemic which significantly limited the availability of Department oversight during construction. Additional oversight by the Department would have been beneficial in implementation and would likely have avoided the contractor working in rising flows. Construction of the projects were finished in fall of 2020. Overall the project accomplished the goals of fish passage and has the added benefit of additional habitat along the river corridor. Prairie/Lizzie Dam Modifications The Prairie Lake and Lizzie Lake dam outlets were modified to rock arch rapids to improve fish passage. Construction finished in summer of 2019 and reconnected 2 consecutive dams, which when combined reconnected 20 stream miles. Recently, there has been some momentum in the Otter Tail watershed to improve fish passage. Because of this support, the timeline went really quickly for Lizzie and Prairie and the construction was very efficient. This was due, in part, to local DNR, the consultant and contractors’ experience working on prior dam modifications. The Prairie Dam was unique in that we needed to do the modification on both sides of the road/bridge. Since construction was completed the vegetation has reestablished and fish have been seen using the rapids.P a g e 3 | 10 Hallock Dam Modification Construction on the Hallock dam finished spring of 2021. This project has a unique river setting with the dam immediately upstream of a meander bend and an incised reach of stream. This led to a unique design of modifying the dam by installing two sections of rock arch rapids upstream and downstream of the meander. There were also some riffles downstream of the rapids to partially address the incision and provide additional habitat. Fish passage was achieved at the site by modifying the dam into a rock arch rapids; channel catfish movement has already occurred and a variety of sizes were sampled earlier in the summer. Due to the drought this year, the vegetation has been struggling to get established. The project partner (City of Hallock) has responded by setting up a pump and watering the newly seeded area. Drywood Creek Dam Removal and Channel Restoration The Drywood Creek project removed the dam and restored the stream to a stable dimension, pattern and profile. Toe-wood sod mat was used to protect the banks while vegetation establishes and 2 rock riffles were installed to account for the grade change from the dam. After construction was finished, it was determine that one of the riffles was built too narrow and not according to plan specifications. Construction of this project was consistently up against high flows; which is likely why it wasn’t clear that the riffle didn’t meet specifications. DNR funding was used to adjust the riffle to the correct width. Coolridge Creek Restoration Construction for the Coolridge Creek restoration project was completed in May 2019. The project removed 18 culverts from the stream channel and three additional culverts from side channels. Removing the culverts restored 1,800 feet of stream channel. Shell River Culvert Replacement Three culverts on the Shell River were replaced in fall 2020. The previously undersized culverts were replaced with larger culverts to restore fish passage and improve stream conditions. One culvert replacement was funded through ML 18 and two replacements were funded through ML 16. Stream habitat work for this appropriation and other LSOHC-funded projects from other appropriations was aided by funding for a stream restoration coordinator and interns. Here are some of the highlighted work of these positions using funding from this appropriation: • Project development and public outreach. • Management of project funding. • Analyze and prioritize culverts for replacement – Buffalo River, Cottonwood River and Otter Tail River watersheds. • Annual updates of the Stream Restoration Priority List • Geomorphic monitoring of Buffalo River and Lake Shady • Collected culvert data in Lake Pepin and Chippewa watersheds. • Assisted with geomorphic monitoring of stream restoration projects. ",,2021-10-04,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Brian,Nerbonne,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Rd. Box 20","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5205",brian.nerbonne@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Douglas, Kittson, Otter Tail, Redwood, Swift, Winona","Forest Prairie Transition, Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-stream-habitat,,,,
10033381,"DNR Accelerated Shallow Lakes and Wetland Enhancements Phase 14",2023,2301000,"ML 2022, Ch. 77, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 4(g)","$2,301,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to enhance and restore shallow lakes and wetland habitat statewide. A list of proposed shallow lake and wetland restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Improved availability and improved condition of habitats that have experienced substantial decline - Intensive wetland management and habitat infrastructure maintenance will provide the wetland base called for in numerous prairie, shallow lake and waterfowl plans. Area wildlife staff and/or shallow lakes staff will monitor completed projects to determine success of implementation and to assess the need for future management and/or maintenance. Wetland and upland complexes will consist of native prairies, restored prairies, quality grasslands, and restored shallow lakes and wetlands - Intensive wetland management and habitat infrastructure maintenance will provide the wetland base called for in numerous prairie, shallow lake and waterfowl plans. Area wildlife staff and/or shallow lakes staff will monitor completed projects to determine success of implementation and to assess the need for future management and/or maintenance. Protected, restored, and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands - Intensive wetland management and habitat infrastructure maintenance will provide the wetland base called for in numerous prairie, shallow lake and waterfowl plans. Area wildlife staff and/or shallow lakes staff will monitor completed projects to determine success of implementation and to assess the need for future management and/or maintenance",,,,,2251000,50000,,1,DNR,"State Government","This programmatic proposal will accomplish 6,195 acres of shallow lake and wetland enhancement and restoration work. The proposal is comprised of two components - (1) INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS: Nine projects to implement shallow lake and wetland restoration and enhancement through engineering and construction of infrastructure, three engineering only projects, and three management action projects (wild rice seeding and management, cattail control, and water level manipulation); (2) INCREASING PROJECT MANAGEMENT CAPACITY: Hiring a wetland project manager to coordinate and speed implementation of wetland and shallow lake habitat projects.","Minnesota wetlands and shallow lakes, besides being critical for waterfowl, also provide other desirable functions and values - habitat for a wide range of species, groundwater recharge, water purification, flood water storage, shoreline protection, and economic benefits. An estimated 90% of Minnesota's prairie wetlands have been lost and more than 50% of our statewide wetlands. In the wetlands that remain, benefits are often compromised by degraded quality. This proposal will accomplish wetland habitat work throughout Minnesota, with a focus on the prairie region. Shallow Lake / Wetland Enhancement Restoration - This proposal seeks to engineer and construct wetland infrastructure, such as dikes and water control structures, and to implement management techniques such as wetland restoration, water-level manipulation and sediment removal. The shallow lake and wetland projects identified on the parcel list were proposed and reviewed by DNR Area and Regional supervisors. Projects include engineering feasibility and design work, replacement/renovation of wetland infrastructure to bring about habitat enhancement, wetland restorations, and direct wetland management activities. Two projects will provide restoration work, both in the prairie region. Another 3 projects will use funding for surveys and engineering to prepare for future implementation of wetland enhancement projects. Funding will be used to continue efforts to spray dense stands of monotypic hybrid cattails. 4,600 acres will be treated over two field seasons on parcels that will be identified by wildlife staff and listed in the Final Report. OHF funds will be used to expand wild rice enhancement activities which are extremely valuable to waterfowl and other wetland wildlife. Funding will be targeted to wild rice enhancement work such as seeding and channel cleanouts to manage water-levels. DNR will collaborate with tribal biologists to identify, plan and initiate wild rice enhancement projects. One project will be undertaken to perform a drawdown through pumping. Wetland Project Management - Numerous plans pertaining to wetlands/shallow lakes call for an increase and acceleration of wetland management activities for wildlife. The Minnesota Duck Action Plan notes the need to expand the Wetland Management Program (WMP) in Minnesota. The WMP assesses wetlands and initiates management to produce quality wetland habitat. It is conservatively estimated that each Natural Resource Specialist working in the WMP will impact 1,125 acres of small wetlands over the life of an appropriation. With the addition of two additional wetland management specialists planned for summer 2021, bringing total number to four, the quantity of projects initiated by these specialists has presented a challenge for DNR engineering and business office functions. It is recommended that a project manager be hired to address this workload and expand capacity. The project manager would oversee implementation of complex wetland and shallow lakes infrastructure projects, acting as a focal point between field biologists, engineers, and business office staff. The parcel list may be modified as needed by the program manager. The Final Report must reflect an accurate and complete parcel list. To improve efficiency and meet mutual goals, projects may be done cooperatively with Ducks Unlimited.",,2022-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Ricky,Lien,"Minnesota DNR","500 Lafayette Road ","St Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5227,ricky.lien@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Douglas, Freeborn, Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Mille Lacs, Redwood, Rice, St. Louis, Steele, Yellow Medicine","Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Forest Prairie Transition",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-accelerated-shallow-lakes-and-wetland-enhancements-phase-14,,,,
10033382,"DNR Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Enhancement - Phase 5",2023,5177000,"ML 2022, Ch. 77, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(n)","$5,177,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore and enhance aquatic habitat in degraded streams and aquatic management areas and to facilitate fish passage. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Improved aquatic habitat indicators - For the Kingsbury Creek project, we will evaluate instream habitat as well as brook trout populations to assess success. For the Rock Dam project, warmwater fish communities will be assessed before and after project completion. Rivers and streams provide corridors of habitat including intact areas of forest cover in the east and large wetland/upland complexes in the west - Both MNDNR and PCA conduct periodic surveys of the Otter Tail River watershed. For the Phelps Mill Dam project, we will compare warmwater fish communities before and after project completion. We will also compare catch rates for critical species before and after project completion as indicators of population density changes. Improved aquatic habitat indicators - For the Tischer Creek Dam project, we will evaluate instream habitat and use routine fish surveys to gauge changes to the fish community to compare to pre-project data. The Whiskey Creek and Roseau River channel restoration projects in this region will improve in-channel and riparian habitat. We will use metrics that evaluate instream and floodplain habitat to assess our success. For the Buffalo River, Seven Mile Creek, and Lake Sakatah fish passage projects, we will use routine fish surveys to gauge changes to the fish community, and compare with pre-project data. For the Whetstone Creek project, we will evaluate instream habitat and use routine fish surveys to gauge changes to the fish community to compare to pre-project data",,,2542000,"Buffalo Red River Watershed District, NRCS, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Roseau River Watershed District, flood hazard mitigation funds and Red River Watershed Management Board",5159500,17500,,1.5,DNR,"State Government","Diverse habitat is critical to sustaining quality fish populations in lakes and rivers. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) will complete nine fish passage projects to restore habitat connectivity for fish and other aquatic life, and restore reaches of five different rivers, creating nine miles of diverse aquatic habitat. Though the actual footprint of fish passage projects is relatively small, these projects will reconnect over 10,000 acres of lake and river habitat. Aquatic habitat projects were selected from a statewide list, prioritized by factors such as ecological benefit, scale of impact, urgency of completion, and local support.","The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) annually updates a statewide list of stream habitat projects. Project proposals come both from MNDNR staff and from partner organizations. Projects are prioritized based on scale-of-impact, urgency, local support, and critical habitat for rare species. Based on this list, MNDNR and our partners are proposing nine fish passage projects and four channel restorations, leveraging a confirmed $4,016,000 from a variety of federal, state, and local sources. Access to diverse habitats is critical for fish and other aquatic organisms to complete various life stages. The habitats they use at different life stages may all vary widely. These habitats can be fairly unique, such as high-gradient riffles favored by many spawning fish, and may be miles apart. When dams or other obstructions prevent aquatic life from reaching ideal habitat, they are forced to use less optimal locations that can reduce their success. In some cases this leads to the complete loss of sensitive species upstream of a barrier. Research by MNDNR River Ecologist Luther Aadland found that on average, species richness declined by 37% upstream of near complete barriers to fish passage. Subsequent removal of 11 barriers in this study resulted in upstream recolonization of an average of 66% of the species that had been absent. Modifying or removing the barriers through our nine proposed fish passage projects would have a total footprint of 9 acres, but create upstream access to over 10,000 acres of lake and river habitat. Restoring fish passage will benefit fish such as Walleye and Brook Trout present in these rivers, as well as five mussel species classified as threatened or special concern. Restoring connectivity also expands fishing opportunities by acting as a conduit for recolonization following catastrophic events such as drought that may happen in one portion of a watershed. Meandering rivers and streams naturally form diverse habitat. Deeper, slower habitat is created by scour into the bed of the river around the outside of bends, while faster water and a rockier bottom is found in the straight sections in between. Wood, overhanging vegetation, and boulders serve as cover and current breaks for fish. In degraded sections of river, these natural processes are disrupted. Some reaches have been artificially straightened, preventing the meandering that forms diverse habitat. In other places, streams have become surrounded by tall banks that prevent high flows from spilling out onto a floodplain. When floods are trapped within the stream channel, the river erodes the banks. This not only mobilizes tons of sediment that degrades downstream habitat, but results in a wide, shallow channel during low-flow periods that is avoided by adult fish. Channel restoration projects will utilize reference locations with high-quality habitat to improve habitat. Working with partners, we will restore and enhance 8.1 miles of habitat on five streams.",,2022-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Dean,Paron,"Minnesota DNR","525 Lake Ave South Suite 415 ",Duluth,MN,55802,651-259-5205,dean.paron@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Clay, Clearwater, Le Sueur, Nicollet, Otter Tail, Roseau, St. Louis","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-aquatic-habitat-restoration-and-enhancement-phase-5,,,,
10033384,"DNR Forest Enhancement Phase 2",2023,2172000,"ML 2022, Ch. 77, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 3(e )","$2,172,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore and enhance wildlife habitat within the northern forest region in wildlife management areas, scientific and natural areas, aquatic management areas, and state forests. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - The DNR and partner agencies conduct a number of wildlife surveys, including moose, deer, ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, woodcock, and songbird surveys. Protected, restored, and enhanced aspen parklands and riparian areas - A number of species are tied to brushland and young aspen forests in these region, including moose, elk, golden-winged warblers, and sharp-tailed grouse. Ongoing surveys and research on these species will allow the DNR to track local and regional responses to these and related efforts. A forest land base that contributes to the habitat picture - These efforts will help manage forests in this region to benefit a range of wildlife species, both game and non-game. Ongoing surveys, especially among songbirds, will track long-term changes in bird populations in this region. Healthier populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - The non-game program is very active in this region with projects assessing timber rattlesnake and other wildlife populations. And there are the same ongoing wildlife surveys as in the other regions of the state",,,,,2115300,56700,,1.21,DNR,"State Government","Minnesota's iconic northern forests, wetlands, and brushland habitats require management beyond basic forestry practices or at smaller scales than commercial operations work. Other enhancements, such as brushland shearing or mowing have low commercial value but high wildlife value. These additional habitat enhancements improve the quality of the forests for both wildlife and outdoor recreation. DNR's Conservation Agenda, Wildlife Action, Forest Action, SNA Strategic Land Protection and SFRMP Plans, will guide habitat enhancements in this proposal to see that all activities meet these objectives.","Northern Minnesota's forest habitats include pines, maple and basswood, aspen, oak forests and savannas, as well as different age classes of forests. The region also includes rivers, lakes, sedge meadows, bogs, and brushland. Each of these habitats are home to a wide array with game and non-game species, and multiple Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). They provide outdoor recreation, timber products, and support local communities. They also clean and absorb water and sequester carbon. However, these forests face increasing stress from invasive species, climate change, forest loss, and fragmentation. While forest harvest is an important tool in management of our forests, we can do additional or different enhancements to maximize the diversity and productivity of these habitats for both wildlife and people. For example, timber harvest can create a wildlife opening. However other management such as periodic mowing is needed to maintain he opening. We will accomplish strategic and targeted enhancements through contractors to conduct activities which support healthy, diverse and resilient habitats. Activities may include 1) invasive species control, 2) firebreak development and maintenance as well as prescribed burns in fire-dependent forests, brushlands and wetlands, 3) maintaining wildlife openings 4) tree removal, girdling, brush mowing/shearing, 5) infrastructure for conservation grazing in openland and brushland habitats, 6) tree release, such as enhancing oak management for mast production, 7) forest regeneration site prep, 8) seed and acorn collection followed by broadcasting and/or drilling of seed, and 8) tree planting and protection to reforest and restore habitats, add conifer to the landscape, provide thermal cover, diversify forests, and address ash stand management. Forest managers in Minnesota regularly work across agencies and NGOs to take a landscape view of forests. For instance, there is currently an NRCS RCPP (Regional Conservation Partnership Program) that promotes young forests for golden-winged warblers and other species that use these habitats. The people involved with this program regularly talk to DNR staff and those working for other agencies in northern Minnesota to coordinate efforts.",,2022-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Greg,Hoch,DNR,"500 Lafayette Rd ","St Paul",MN,55055,651-259-5230,greg.hoch@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Chisago, Cook, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pennington, Pine, Polk, Sibley, St. Louis, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Winona","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-forest-enhancement-phase-2,,,,
10033385,"DNR Grassland Enhancement - Phase 14",2023,3088000,"ML 2022, Ch. 77, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 2(i)","$3,088,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate the restoration and enhancement of prairies, grasslands, and savannas in wildlife management areas, in scientific and natural areas, in aquatic management areas, on lands in the native prairie bank, in bluff prairies on state forest land in southeastern Minnesota, and in waterfowl production areas and refuge lands of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Monitoring will take place with the base level monitoring conducted by DNR staff and staff from other agencies/NGOs. This includes surveys such as pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, and woodcock, which are all dependent on open areas. Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Migratory game and non-game birds will be some of the primary beneficiaries of this work. We hope to continue to strengthen partnerships with the University of Minnesota to incorporate graduate students into research and monitoring work. Core areas protected with highly biologically diverse wetlands and plant communities, including native prairie, Big Woods, and oak savanna - Monitoring will take place with the base level monitoring conducted by DNR staff and staff from other agencies/NGOs. Healthier populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Monitoring will primarily be done through studies conducted by the DNR's Ecological and Water Resources Division of key indicator species such as timber rattlesnakes. Restored and enhanced upland habitats - The multi-agency/NGO Grassland Monitoring Team (GMT) has developed standardized protocols for sampling grassland vegetation and a number of the sites on this request will be sampled over the 5 year period",,,,,2989500,98500,,3.15,DNR,"State Government","Grasslands continue to be the most threatened habitat in the state. This programmatic request will build on the DNR's history of enhancing and restoring grasslands, embedded wetlands, and oak savannas to increase wildlife populations. The Prairie Plan, Pheasant Plan, and Wildlife Action Plan will guide our efforts to ensure we are operating in a strategic and targeted manner. This proposal will enhance and restore grasslands on parcels that are permanently protected and most open to public hunting, including DNR WMAs, SNAs, AMAs, Native Prairie Bank (NPB) easements, State Forests, as well as federal WPAs and NWRs.","In many farmland counties less than five percent of the area is in public wildlife lands, often much less. We continue to lose about 200 acres of native prairie per year. While Minnesota does have acres enrolled in CRP as well as state programs such as RIM and CREP, there is still very little grassland left in many counties of the state. As such, we need to make sure the remaining grasslands, especially those open to public recreation are as diverse and productive as possible. These lands provide wildlife habitat as well as Wildlife and pollinator populations are a fraction of what they were even a decade ago. Water quality, especially nitrate contamination, is a human health and wildlife issue. Restoring and enhancing grasslands are one of the most effective ways to improve all of these issues. Grasslands and embedded wetlands are also very good at sequestering and storing carbon, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change. Grassland and wetland restoration and enhancement, carefully guided by planning, is one of the best ways to address many of these issues. This programmatic request seeks funding to enhance grassland habitat on permanently protected grasslands and prairies, most of which are open to public hunting. Without periodic management to simulate historical disturbance patterns, grassland lose diversity and productivity. Invasive species may increase and woody vegetation will encroach into the grasslands, changing their very character and the species that inhabit the area. The activities listed in this proposal will use BMPs for grassland enhancement and diverse local ecotype seed mixes for restoration. The SNA program will be funding the same Seasonal and Technician positions they have requested in the past. This year we are adding Contract Administration staff, which we have done every 3-4 years in the past. We are adding two Prairie Restoration Biologists, which are new positions. These positions will work with staff and vendors to help design seed mixes for restorations, work with contractors/vendors to order seed and seed supply issues, and help coordinate seed harvest programs and consortiums around the state. Last, they will assess past OHF funded prairie restorations and address specific management questions in an adaptive management framework to help inform staff and develop/modify BMPs for future restoration work. They will communicate these results and refinements to BMPs back to DNR staff and the conservation community multiple times each year at professional meetings and field days.",,2022-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Greg,Hoch,DNR,"500 Lafayette Rd ","St Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5230,greg.hoch@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Houston, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Morrison, Nicollet, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Redwood, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Washington, Wilkin, Winona, Yellow Medicine","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-grassland-enhancement-phase-14,,,,
10033893,"DNR Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Enhancement - Phase 11",2024,4122000,"ML 2023, Ch. 40, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(u)","$4,122,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore and enhance aquatic habitat in degraded streams and aquatic management areas and to facilitate fish passage. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Improved aquatic habitat indicators - For the Kingsbury Creek project, we will evaluate instream habitat as well as brook trout populations to assess success. For the Rock Dam project, warmwater fish communities will be assessed before and after project completion. Our AMA enhancement program will monitor all projects to insure that outcome goals are being met by looking at the diversity and abundance of native plant species that are supported by project sites as compared to pre-project. Rivers and streams provide corridors of habitat including intact areas of forest cover in the east and large wetland/upland complexes in the west - For the Bucks Mill Dam and Eden Lake Dam projects, we will compare warmwater fish communities before and after project completion. We will also compare catch rates for critical species before and after project completion as indicators of population density changes. Our AMA enhancement program will monitor all projects to insure that outcome goals are being met by looking at the diversity and abundance of native plant species that are supported by project sites as compared to pre-project. Improved aquatic habitat indicators - For the Cascade Creek and Tischer Creek Dam projects, we will evaluate instream habitat and use routine fish surveys to gauge changes to the fish community to compare to pre-project data.Our AMA enhancement program will monitor all projects to insure that outcome goals are being met by looking at the diversity and abundance of native plant species that are supported by project sites as compared to pre-project. Rivers, streams, and surrounding vegetation provide corridors of habitat - Our AMA enhancement program will monitor all projects to insure that outcome goals are being met by looking at the diversity and abundance of native plant species that are supported by project sites as compared to pre-project. The Whiskey Creek, Florida Creek, Roseau River, Skandia WMA, and South Branch of the Buffalo River channel restoration projects in this region will improve in-channel and riparian habitat. We will use metrics that evaluate instream and floodplain habitat to assess our success. For the Lower Sakatah Lake Dam and Lake Sarah Dam fish passage projects, we will use routine fish surveys to gauge changes to the fish community, and compare with pre-project data",,,712000,"National Water Quality Initiative",4038600,83400,,4,DNR,"State Government","The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) will complete six fish passage projects to reconnect reaches of habitat for fish and other aquatic life, restore 71 acres on eight rivers to create over six miles of diverse habitat, and enhance 224 acres of riparian and terrestrial habitat on Aquatic Management Areas. The footprint of fish passage projects is small, but projects will reconnect over 290,000 acres of lake and river habitat. Stream projects were selected from a statewide list, prioritized by factors such as ecological benefit, scale of impact, urgency of completion, and local support.","The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) annually updates a statewide list of stream habitat projects. Submissions come both from MNDNR staff and from partner organizations. Projects are prioritized based on scale-of-impact, urgency, local support, and critical habitat for rare species. Based on this list, MNDNR and our partners are proposing six fish passage projects and eight channel restorations, leveraging over $712,000. Access to different habitats is critical for fish and other aquatic organisms to complete various life stages. The habitats they use to spawn, live as juveniles, over-winter, and feed as adults may all be different. These habitats can be fairly unique, such as high-gradient riffles favored by many spawning fish, and may be miles apart. When dams or other obstructions prevent aquatic life from reaching ideal habitat, they are forced to use less optimal locations that can reduce their success. In some cases this leads to the complete loss of sensitive species upstream of a barrier. Modifying or removing the barriers through our six proposed fish passage projects would have a footprint of 6 acres, but create upstream access to over 290,000 acres of lake and river habitat. This will benefit fish such as Walleye, Northern Pike, and Brook Trout present in these rivers, as well as five mussel species classified as threatened or special concern. Streams naturally form habitat through the meandering of the river. Deeper, slower habitat is created by scour into the bed of the river around the outside of bends, while faster water and a rockier bottom is found in the straight sections in between. Wood, overhanging vegetation, and boulders serve as cover and current breaks for fish. In degraded sections of river, these natural processes are disrupted. Some reaches have been artificially straightened, preventing the meandering that forms diverse habitat. In other places, streams have become surrounded by tall banks that prevent high flows from spilling out onto a floodplain. When floods are trapped within the stream channel, the river erodes the banks. This not only mobilizes tons of sediment that degrades downstream habitat, but results in a wide, shallow channel during low-flow periods that is avoided by adult fish. Channel restoration projects will address these issues by using Natural Channel Design methods, which bases design on a reference location with high-quality habitat. Working with partners, we will restore over 17 miles of habitat on eight streams. These restored reaches also will connect upstream and downstream reaches of quality habitat. We propose to enhance 224 acres of riparian habitat and associated uplands on 33 Aquatic Management Areas (AMA). The DNR manages these lands to protect critical shoreline habitat used by spawning fish, waterfowl, wading birds, reptiles and amphibians. Uplands in these parcels provide a buffer to protect water quality, and habitat for more terrestrial species. Our enhancement work includes shoreline plantings, invasive species control, and prescribed burns. Projects are selected based on management guidance documents that have been written for each AMA.",,2023-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Jamison,Wendel,"Minnesota DNR","500 Lafayette Road ","St. Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5205,jamison.wendel@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Carver, Cass, Clay, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hubbard, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Le Sueur, Marshall, Meeker, Mower, Murray, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Pope, Redwood, Rice, Roseau, Scott, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, Wabasha, Washington, Wilkin, Wright","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-aquatic-habitat-restoration-and-enhancement-phase-11,,,,
10033894,"DNR Forest Enhancement Phase III",2024,1496000,"ML 2023, Ch. 40, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 3(d)","$1,496,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore and enhance forest wildlife habitats on public lands throughout Minnesota. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - The DNR and partner agencies conduct a number of wildlife surveys, including moose, deer, ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, woodcock, and songbird surveys. Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - A number of species are tied to brushland and young aspen forests in these region, including elk, golden-winged warblers, and sharp-tailed grouse. Ongoing surveys and research on these species will allow the DNR to track local and regional responses to these and related efforts. A forest land base that contributes to the habitat picture - These efforts will help manage forests in this region to benefit a range of wildlife species, both game and non-game. Ongoing surveys, especially among songbirds, will track long-term changes in bird populations in this region. Large corridors and complexes of biologically diverse wildlife habitat typical of the unglaciated region are restored and protected - The non-game program is very active in this region with projects assessing wildlife populations. And there are the same ongoing wildlife surveys as in the other regions of the state. Improved condition of habitat on public lands - These efforts will help manage forested locations in this region to benefit a range of wildlife species, both game and non-game. Ongoing surveys, especially among songbirds, will track long-term changes in bird populations in this region",,,,,1463800,32200,,0.13,DNR,"State Government","Minnesota's iconic forests and brushland habitats require enhancement beyond DNR timber harvest practices. Enhancements, such as brushland shearing provide critical wildlife habitat but are not achieved through timber harvest practices. These additional habitat benefits improve the quality of the forests for wildlife, water quality and outdoor recreation. DNR's Conservation Agenda, Wildlife Action Plan, Forest Action Plan, SNA Strategic Land Protection, Fish Habitat Plan, will guide habitat enhancements in this proposal to meet the objectives put forth in these plans.","Minnesota's forest habitats include many different native plant communities in different growth stages. Forests also includes rivers, lakes, sedge meadows, bogs, and brushland. Each of these habitats are home to a wide array with game and non-game species, including multiple Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). Forests provide outdoor recreation, timber products, and support local communities. Forests protect water quality and sequester carbon. However, forests face increasing stress from invasive species, climate change, critical habitat loss, forest conversion, and fragmentation. While timber harvest is an important tool providing habitats in the forest, additional or different enhancements are needed to maximize the diversity for fish and wildlife. For example timber harvest can create a wildlife opening, however other management such as periodic mowing is needed to maintain the opening. We will accomplish strategic and targeted enhancements through contractors to conduct activities which support healthy, diverse and resilient habitats. Activities may include: 1) control invasive species 2) enhance riparian buffers and forest for water quality and fish habitat protection 3) firebreak development and maintenance as well as prescribed burns in fire-dependent forests, brushlands and wetlands 4) remove trees, mow and shear brush 5) maintain/restore open lands and brushland habitats 6) regenerate forests through site preparation, seed procurement/harvest, seeding, and planting. 7) plant trees to reforest and restore habitats, add conifer to the landscape, provide thermal cover, diversify forests, and address ash stand management DNR managers collaborate with other State, Federal, County agencies and many conservation organizations to take a landscape view of forests and manage across administrative units. For example, DNR managers are working together with USFS managers to maintain and enhance rock outcrops that provide spring forage and mast for a variety of wildlife. This request seeks funding to restore 15 acres and enhance over 12,917 acres of habitat on public lands open to hunting, primarily but not limited to, WMA, AMA, SNA and State Forests. Strategic and targeted work will be accomplished through the added capacity of contractors hired to conduct activities that support healthy, diverse and resilient habitats.",,2023-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Ted,Dick,DNR,"1201 East Highway 2 ","Grand Rapids",MN,55744-3296,218-328-8869,ted.dick@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Becker, Carlton, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Dakota, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hennepin, Hubbard, Isanti, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Olmsted, Pine, Rice, Roseau, Scott, St. Louis, Todd, Wabasha, Winona","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-forest-enhancement-phase-iii,,,,
10033939,"DNR Grassland Enhancement Phase 15",2024,3003000,"ML 2023, Ch. 40, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 2(h)","$3,003,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate the restoration and enhancement of prairies, grasslands, and savannas in wildlife management areas, in scientific and natural areas, in aquatic management areas, on lands in the native prairie bank, in bluff prairies on state forest land in southeastern Minnesota, and in waterfowl production areas and refuge lands of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Monitoring will take place with the base level monitoring conducted by DNR staff and staff from other agencies/NGOs. This includes surveys such as pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, and woodcock, which are all dependent on open areas. Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Migratory game and non-game birds will be some of the primary beneficiaries of this work. We hope to continue to strengthen partnerships with the University of Minnesota to incorporate graduate students into research and monitoring work. Core areas protected with highly biologically diverse wetlands and plant communities, including native prairie, Big Woods, and oak savanna - Monitoring will take place with the base level monitoring conducted by DNR staff and staff from other agencies/NGOs. Healthier populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Monitoring will primarily be done through studies conducted by the DNR's Ecological and Water Resources Division of key indicator species such as timber rattlesnakes. Restored and enhanced upland habitats - The multi-agency/NGO Grassland Monitoring Team (GMT) has developed standardized protocols for sampling grassland vegetation and a number of the sites on this request will be sampled over the 5 year period",,,,,2905600,97400,,1.67,DNR,"State Government","Grasslands continue to be the most threatened habitat in the state. This programmatic request will build on the DNR's history of enhancing and restoring grasslands, embedded wetlands, and oak savannas. The Prairie Plan, Pheasant Plan, and Wildlife Action Plan will guide our efforts to ensure we are operating in a strategic and targeted manner. This proposal will enhance and restore grasslands on 5,700 acres parcels that are permanently protected and most open to public hunting using prescribed fire, tree removal, high-diversity seedings, and similar practices.","In many farmland counties less than five percent of the area is in public wildlife lands, often much less. We continue to lose about 200 acres of native prairie per year. While Minnesota does have acres enrolled in CRP as well as state programs such as RIM and CREP, there is still very little grassland left in many counties of the state. As such, we need to make sure the remaining grasslands, especially those open to public recreation are as diverse and productive as possible. These lands provide wildlife habitat as well as pollinator habitat and ecosystem services such as floodwater capture and groundwater recharge. Wildlife and pollinator populations are a fraction of what they were even a decade ago. Water quality, especially nitrate contamination, is a human health and wildlife issue. Restoring and enhancing grasslands are one of the most effective ways to improve all of these issues. Grasslands and embedded wetlands are also very good at sequestering and storing carbon, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change. Grassland and wetland restoration and enhancement, carefully guided by planning, is one of the best ways to address many of these issues. This programmatic request seeks funding to enhance grassland habitat on permanently protected grasslands and prairies, most of which are open to public hunting. Without periodic management to simulate historical disturbance patterns, grassland lose diversity and productivity. Invasive species may increase and woody vegetation will encroach into the grasslands, changing their very character and the species that inhabit the area. The activities listed in this proposal will use BMPs for grassland enhancement and diverse local ecotype seed mixes for restoration. The SNA program will be funding the same Seasonal and Technician positions they have requested in the past. The Prairie Restoration Specialist builds on a program we started with the last appropriation. The DNR and partners have been restoring grasslands with OHF support for over a decade. This provides a unique opportunity to evaluate and assess these projects. Each restoration should be seen as an opportunity to learn and improve the next seeding using adaptive management or continuous improvement models. These staff will focus specifically on OHF funded grassland restorations and developed fine-scale, long-term assessments of these projects. They will communicate these results and refinements to BMPs to the conservation community and be a conduit for information between the science community and restoration practitioners. Using this information, these staff will work with practitioners and vendors to continue to refine seed mixes, planting practices, and post-restoration management.",,2023-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Greg,Hoch,DNR,"500 Lafayette Rd ","St Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5230,greg.hoch@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Becker, Big Stone, Brown, Carlton, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Goodhue, Grant, Houston, Jackson, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Roseau, Sherburne, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Wabasha, Washington, Wilkin, Winona, Yellow Medicine","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-grassland-enhancement-phase-15-0,,,,
10033940,"DNR Roving Crew Phase 2",2024,8732000,"ML 2023, Ch. 40, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(v)","$8,732,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore and enhance fish and wildlife habitat on permanently protected lands throughout Minnesota using the roving crew program of the Department of Natural Resources. A list of restoration and enhancement projects must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Monitoring will take place with the base level monitoring conducted by DNR staff and staff from other agencies/NGOs. This includes surveys such as moose, sharp-tailed and ruffed grouse, and woodcock, which are all dependent on open areas. Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Migratory game and non-game birds will be some of the primary beneficiaries of this work. We hope to continue to strengthen partnerships with the University of Minnesota to incorporate graduate students into research and monitoring work. Core areas protected with highly biologically diverse wetlands and plant communities, including native prairie, Big Woods, and oak savanna - Monitoring will take place with the base level monitoring conducted by DNR staff and staff from other agencies/NGOs. Restored and enhanced upland habitats - The multi-agency/NGO Grassland Monitoring Team (GMT) has developed standardized protocols for sampling grassland vegetation and a number of the sites on this request will be sampled over the 5 year period. They recently published the first results of this project",,,,,8173700,558300,,34.25,DNR,"State Government","Grasslands and wetlands in western Minnesota continues to be the most threatened habitat in the state. At the same time, the DNR continues to work to make the state's forests more productive for wildlife, timber, and other compatible uses. This request will realign and streamline previous funding requests by placing all DNR Roving Crews under a single proposal and appropriation. This proposal will enhance wildlife habitat on permanently protected lands, most of which are open to public hunting. These include DNR WMAs, SNAs, AMAs, NPB easements, State and National Forests, as well as WPAs and NWRs","Roving Crews are fully equipped to conduct a range of habitat projects. The staff on these crews are solely dedicated to habitat enhancement and restoration. They do not work on infrastructure or non-habitat projects. In the prairies and western prairie pothole wetlands, they focus on prescribed burns, tree removal, grassland restorations, removal of old fencing, installing fenceposts for conservation grazing. In wetlands the focus is on wild rice collection and seeding, water control structure repair, wetland restorations with earth moving equipment, invasive species control, cattail spraying, and sediment removal. Forest projects include prescribed burns in fire-dependent forests and brushlands; seed harvesting and planting, seedling planting, protection, and/or release of species such as oak and winter cover such as conifer; mowing and shearing of brushlands; maintenance of wildlife openings; and control of invasive species. While forest harvest is a valuable tool for many types of forest habitat enhancement, there are some habitat enhancements that harvests don't do or enhancements that can be done post-harvest to quickly improve habitat quality for wildlife. This can be especially true for practices such as shearing brushlands, where there isn't a strong economic incentive but numerous species of wildlife require these habitats for all or some stages of life. Prescribed fire can be used more to stimulate oak/acorn production for wildlife and improve pine forests as well as set back invasives. Making these habitat productive and diverse benefits wildlife as well as benefits native pollinators and commercial beekeepers. Enhancing all of these habitats maximizes the ecosystem services these habitats provide such as nitrate filtration, floodwater capture, and groundwater recharge, all in addition to the wildlife benefits. In the farmland region, we continue to lose ground on wetlands and grasslands. Therefore, its critical that the remaining public and protected habitats are in as high a quality as possible to both produce resident wildlife, such as pheasants, and be attractive to migratory wildlife, waterfowl that breed to our north. This proposal will fund the three existing 8 person grassland/wetland Roving Crews located east of Crookston (DNR Region 1), Lac Qui Parle (Region 4), and Rosemount (Region 3). This will also fund the newly established (ML19/FY20 appropriation) 6 person crew south of Fergus Falls and 4 person northeast forest crew (ML20/FY21 appropriation). This will be a total of 34 crew staff. We estimate that on a good to average year the crews will enhance over 28,000 acres of habitat annually, or 56,000 acres over two years, across the state.",,2023-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Greg,Hoch,DNR,"500 Lafayette Rd ","St Paul",MN,55055,651-259-5230,greg.hoch@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Chippewa, Cook, Cottonwood, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Kandiyohi, Lake of the Woods, Lincoln, Lyon, Marshall, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Redwood, Roseau, Stearns, Washington","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-roving-crew-phase-2-0,,,,
10033943,"DNR WMA & SNA Acquisition - Phase 15",2024,2340000,"ML 2023, Ch. 40, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(h)","$2,340,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire in fee and restore and enhance lands for wildlife management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, and to acquire land in fee for scientific and natural area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 5. Subject to the evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Acres of habitat acquired that support endangered, threatened and special concern species and Species in Greatest Conservation Need. Species lists (and numbers where available) of those species observed or documented. Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Acres of habitat acquired that support nesting and migratory habitat and upland birds and Species in Greatest Conservation Need. Species lists (and numbers where available) of those species observed or documented. Key core parcels are protected for fish, game and other wildlife - Acres of grassland/wetland habitat complexes acquired that support upland game birds, migratory waterfowl, big-game, and unique Minnesota species (e.g. endangered, threatened, and special concern species and Species in Greatest Conservation Need). Species lists (and numbers where available) of those species observed or documented",,,,,2323600,16400,,0.14,DNR,"State Government","Acquire approximately 275 acres of high priority habitat for designation as Wildlife Management Area or Scientific and Natural Area in the LSOHC Prairie, Forest/Prairie Transition, and Northern Forest Planning Sections emphasizing Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan, Conservation That Works 3.0, WMA and AMA Acquisition & Management Strategic Plan and SNA Strategic Land Protection Plan with priority given to sites of high and outstanding biodiversity significance by the Minnesota Biological Survey. All lands will be open for public hunting and fishing (a limited number of SNA's are proposed for limited hunting for instance archery only or hunting but no trapping).","Approximately 275 acres of wildlife habitat will be protected through fee title acquisition and development as Wildlife Management Areas or Scientific & Natural Areas. While the state cannot promise leverage or match without first having funding appropriated, previous Outdoor Heritage appropriations to DNR for WMA and SNA acquisitions have been leveraged through donations, Reinvest in Minnesota Critical Habitat Match, and Surcharge (a $6.50 surcharge on small game license sales). Wildlife Management Areas. WMAs protect lands and waters which have a high potential for wildlife production and provide for public hunting, fishing and trapping, and for other compatible outdoor recreational uses such as wildlife viewing and hiking. While highly successful, the current WMA system does not meet all present and future needs for wildlife habitat, wildlife population management, hunter access and wildlife related recreation. This is notably true in the LSOHC Prairie Planning Section where public ownership in many counties is less than 5 percent. DNR Section of Wildlife uses a GIS-based tools to identify the highest priority tracts for potential WMA acquisitions. This quantitative approach scores and ranks acquisition proposals based on a set of weighted criteria and creates a standardized method for evaluating proposed acquisitions on a statewide level. Criteria are periodically reviewed and adapted to changing priorities. Scientific & Natural Areas. The SNA Program will increase public hunting and fishing opportunities while protecting sites with outstanding natural values. Protection is targeted at high priority areas identified in the SNA Strategic Land Protection Plan with emphasis on prairie core areas identified in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. A quantitative system scores and ranks acquisition proposals based on a weighted set of six criteria. Priority is given to sites of high and outstanding biodiversity significance by the Minnesota Biological Survey, high quality native plant communities and habitat for endangered and threatened species. Larger parcels which adjoin other conservation lands, improve habitat management, are under imminent threat and are partially donated are also rated highly. DNR strategic acquisition priorities include, but are not limited to, protection of: Prairies, Grasslands, and associated Wetlands Existing, high quality significant or rare natural resources Water resources Critical pollinator habitat essential for native species and agricultural crops Large blocks of habitat or natural intact communities, that improve riparian and terrestrial connectivity or maintain ecosystem services through protection of climate resilient, high biodiversity areas Potential acquisition opportunities from willing sellers are coordinated with stakeholders and partners to eliminate duplication and identify concerns and support. Coordinating with partners has been successful to ensure we are working cooperatively and on priority parcels. Properties acquired through this appropriation require County Board of Commissioners' written approval in the county of acquisition, will be designated as WMA or SNA through a Commissioner's Designation Order, brought up to minimum DNR standards, and listed on the DNR website. Basic site improvements will include boundary and LSOHC acknowledgement signs and may include any necessary site cleanup and parcel initial development.",,2023-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Jeff,Tillma,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Road ","St. Paul",MN,55110,,jeff.tillma@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Cass, Chisago, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Faribault, Hubbard, Le Sueur, Murray, Otter Tail, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Stearns, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Northern Forest, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-wma-sna-acquisition-phase-15-0,,,,
10035229,"DNR Accelerated Shallow Lakes and Wetland Enhancements - Phase 16",2025,3809000,"ML 2024, Ch. 106, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(e )","$3,809,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to enhance and restore shallow lakes and wetland habitat statewide.","Improved availability and improved condition of habitats that have experienced substantial decline - Intensive wetland management and habitat infrastructure renovation and construction will provide the wetland base called for in numerous prairie, shallow lake and waterfowl plans. Area wildlife staff and/or shallow lakes staff will monitor completed projects to determine success of implementation and to assess the need for future management and/or maintenance. Wetland and upland complexes will consist of native prairies, restored prairies, quality grasslands, and restored shallow lakes and wetlands - Intensive wetland management and habitat infrastructure renovation and construction will provide the wetland base called for in numerous prairie, shallow lake and waterfowl plans. Area wildlife staff and/or shallow lakes staff will monitor completed projects to determine success of implementation and to assess the need for future management and/or maintenance. Protected habitats will hold wetlands and shallow lakes open to public recreation and hunting - Intensive wetland management and habitat infrastructure renovation and construction will provide the wetland base called for in numerous prairie, shallow lake and waterfowl plans. Area wildlife staff and/or shallow lakes staff will monitor completed projects to determine success of implementation and to assess the need for future management and/or maintenance. Protected, restored, and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands - Intensive wetland management and habitat infrastructure renovation and construction will provide the wetland base called for in numerous prairie, shallow lake and waterfowl plans. Area wildlife staff and/or shallow lakes staff will monitor completed projects to determine success of implementation and to assess the need for future management and/or maintenance",,,,,3708000,101000,,2,DNR,"State Government","This proposal will establish shallow lake and wetland enhancement and restoration work on 4,153 acres. This programmatic proposal has two components - (1) Ten projects to engineer and/or construct infrastructure such as water control structures and dikes and other work leading to enhanced or restored wetland habitat, plus aerial spraying of hybrid cattails; (2) Continued funding for two wetland habitat specialists. This work supports the goals of Minnesota habitat and species plans, but specifically supports the Minnesota Long-Range Duck Recovery Plan, Minnesota Duck Action Plan, and Managing Minnesota's Shallow Lakes Plan for Waterfowl and Wildlife.","Minnesota wetlands and shallow lakes, besides being critical for waterfowl, also provide other desirable functions and values - habitat for a wide range of species, groundwater recharge, water purification, flood water storage, shoreline protection, and economic benefits. An estimated 90% of Minnesota's prairie wetlands have been lost and more than 50% of our statewide wetlands. In the wetlands that remain benefits are often compromised by degraded quality. This programmatic proposal will accomplish wetland habitat work throughout Minnesota and is comprised of two components - (1) Projects and (2) Wetland Management Program. 1. CONSTRUCTION/ENGINEERING/MANAGEMENT PROJECTS - Projects identified on the parcel list were proposed and reviewed by DNR Area and Regional Wildlife supervisors and the Shallow Lakes and Wetland Management Programs . Planned work includes adding and improving wetland infrastructure to bring about habitat enhancement, wetland restorations, and direct wetland management activities. Engineering and construction of infrastructure projects will provide enhancement in the counties of Anoka, Le Seuer, Yellow Medicine, Mille Lacs, and Swift. Work will involve replacement or major renovation of water control structures and dikes that will lead to enhanced wetland habitat. Three wetland restoration projects are planned in Freeborn, Mahnomen, and Cottonwood counties. One project will involve survey and design work to prepare for future construction in Meeker County. Herbicide treatments will continue on approximately 2500 acres of dense stands of monotypic hybrid cattails. Specific parcels will be listed in the Final Report. 2.WETLAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM - Numerous plans pertaining to wetlands call for effective management of existing habitat to provide maximum benefits for wildlife. The 2020 Minnesota Duck Action Plan notes the need to expand the Wetland Management Program (WMP) in Minnesota. The WMP assesses wetlands and implements management to improve wetland wildlife habitat. The WMP addresses needed management needed for smaller wetlands that were often overlooked on the landscape including in our Wildlife Management Areas. This proposal will continue funding for two Wetland Management Specialist and allow continued work for three years in the prairie region of Minnesota. Management work includes water level manipulation, removal of undesirable fish and controlling invasive plants, and will be focused in wetland complexes. It is conservatively estimated that each Natural Resource Specialist working in the WMP impacts 600 acres of small wetlands over the life of an appropriation. To improve efficiency and meet mutual goals, projects may be done in cooperation with Duck Unlimited. Parcels may be added, modified, or deleted from the parcel list to accommodate engineering feasibility results, provide resources to new opportunities, or to address the challenges associated with complex shallow lake and wetland projects. All changes shall be in keeping with the scope of the project and will be fully reported in the Final Report.",,2024-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Ricky,Lien,"Minnesota DNR","500 Lafayette Road ","St Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5227,ricky.lien@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Cottonwood, Freeborn, Le Sueur, Mahnomen, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Swift, Yellow Medicine","Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Prairie Region, Forest Prairie Transition, Northern Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-accelerated-shallow-lakes-and-wetland-enhancements-phase-16,,,,
10035232,"DNR Forest Enhancement and Restoration-Phase 4",2025,1727000,"ML 2024, Ch. 106, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 3(d)","$1,727,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore and enhance forest wildlife habitats on public lands throughout Minnesota.","Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - The DNR and partner agencies conduct a number of wildlife surveys, including moose, deer, ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, woodcock, and songbird surveys. Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - A number of species are tied to brushland and young aspen forests in these region, including elk, golden-winged warblers, and sharp-tailed grouse. Ongoing surveys and research on these species will allow the DNR to track local and regional responses to these and related efforts. A forest land base that contributes to the habitat picture - These efforts will help manage forests in this region to benefit a range of wildlife species, both game and non-game. Ongoing surveys, especially among songbirds, will track long-term changes in bird populations in this region. Large corridors and complexes of biologically diverse wildlife habitat typical of the unglaciated region are restored and protected - The non-game program is very active in this region with projects assessing wildlife populations. And there are the same ongoing wildlife surveys as in the other regions of the state. Improved condition of habitat on public lands - These efforts will help manage forests in this region to benefit a range of wildlife species, both game and non-game. Ongoing surveys, especially among songbirds, will track long-term changes in bird populations in this region",,,,,1696400,30600,,None,DNR,"State Government","Minnesota's iconic forests and brushland habitats require enhancement beyond DNR timber harvest practices. Enhancements, such as brushland shearing provide critical wildlife habitat but are not achieved through timber harvest practices. These additional habitat benefits improve the quality of the forests for wildlife, water quality and outdoor recreation. DNR's Conservation Agenda, Wildlife Action Plan, Forest Action Plan, SNA Strategic Land Protection, Fish Habitat Plan, will guide habitat enhancements in this proposal to meet the objectives put forth in these plans.","Minnesota's forest habitats include many different native plant communities in different growth stages. Forests also includes rivers, lakes, sedge meadows, bogs, and brushland. Each of these habitats are home to a wide array with game and non-game species, including multiple Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). Forests provide outdoor recreation, timber products, and support local communities. Forests protect water quality and sequester carbon. However, forests face increasing stress from invasive species, climate change, critical habitat loss, forest conversion, and fragmentation. While timber harvest is an important tool providing habitats in the forest, additional or different enhancements are needed to maximize the diversity for fish and wildlife. For example timber harvest can create a wildlife opening, however other management such as periodic mowing is needed to maintain the opening. We will accomplish strategic and targeted enhancements through contractors to conduct activities which support healthy, diverse and resilient habitats. Activities may include: 1) control invasive species 2) assist with oak regeneration through seeding and tree planting 3) firebreak development and maintenance as well as prescribed burns in fire-dependent forests, brushlands and wetlands 4) remove trees, mow and shear brush 5) maintain/restore open lands and brushland habitats 6) regenerate forests through site preparation, seed procurement/harvest, seeding, and planting 7) plant trees to reforest and restore habitats, add conifer to the landscape, provide thermal cover, diversify forests, and address ash stand management 8) restore floodplain and savanna forest habitat with tree planting, burning and mowing DNR managers collaborate with other State, Federal, County agencies and many conservation organizations to take a landscape view of forests and manage across administrative units. For example, DNR managers are working together with USFS managers to maintain and enhance rock outcrops that provide spring forage and mast for a variety of wildlife. This request seeks funding to restore and enhance habitat on public lands open to hunting, primarily but not limited to, WMA, AMA, SNA and State Forests. Strategic and targeted work will be accomplished through the added capacity of contractors hired to conduct activities that support healthy, diverse and resilient habitats.",,2024-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Ted,Dick,DNR,"1201 East Highway 2 ","Grand Rapids",MN,55744-3296,218-328-8869,ted.dick@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hubbard, Itasca, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake, Le Sueur, Marshall, Meeker, Morrison, Olmsted, Pennington, Sibley, St. Louis, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Winona","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-forest-enhancement-and-restoration-phase-4,,,,
10035233,"DNR Grassland Enhancement - Phase 16",2025,1427000,"ML 2024, Ch. 106, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(e )","$1,427,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate restoration and enhancement of prairies, grasslands, and savannas in wildlife management areas, in scientific and natural areas, in aquatic management areas, on lands in the native prairie bank, in bluff prairies on state forest land in southeastern Minnesota, and in waterfowl production areas and refuge lands of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.","Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Monitoring will take place with the base level monitoring conducted by DNR staff and staff from other agencies/NGOs. This includes surveys such as pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, and woodcock, which are all dependent on open areas. Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Migratory game and non-game birds will be some of the primary beneficiaries of this work. We hope to continue to strengthen partnerships with the University of Minnesota to incorporate graduate students into research and monitoring work. Core areas protected with highly biologically diverse wetlands and plant communities, including native prairie, Big Woods, and oak savanna - Monitoring will take place with the base level monitoring conducted by DNR staff and staff from other agencies/NGOs. Healthier populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Monitoring will primarily be done through studies conducted by the DNR's Ecological and Water Resources Division of key indicator species such as timber rattlesnakes. Restored and enhanced upland habitats - The multi-agency/NGO Grassland Monitoring Team (GMT) has developed standardized protocols for sampling grassland vegetation and a number of the sites on this request will be sampled over the 5 year period",,,,,1363700,63300,,1.36,DNR,"State Government","Grasslands continue to be the most threatened habitat in the state. This programmatic request will build on the DNR's history of enhancing and restoring grasslands. The Prairie Plan and Wildlife Action Plan will guide our efforts to ensure we are operating in a strategic and targeted manner. This proposal will enhance and restore grasslands on 2,856 acres that are permanently protected using prescribed fire, tree removal, high-diversity seedings, and similar practices. Most lands enhanced with these funds are public and open to hunting.","In many farmland counties less than five percent of the area is in public wildlife lands, often much less. We continue to lose about 200 acres of native prairie per year. While Minnesota does have acres enrolled in CRP as well as state programs such as RIM and CREP, there is still very little grassland left in many counties of the state. As such, we need to make sure the remaining grasslands, especially those open to public recreation are as diverse and productive as possible. These lands provide wildlife habitat as well as pollinator habitat and ecosystem services such as floodwater capture and groundwater recharge. Wildlife and pollinator populations are a fraction of what they were even a couple decades ago. Water quality, especially nitrate contamination, is a human health and wildlife issue. Restoring and enhancing grasslands are one of the most effective ways to improve all of these issues. Grasslands and embedded wetlands are also very good at sequestering and storing carbon, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change. These efforts can be an important part of the state's Climate Action Framework. Grassland and wetland restoration and enhancement, carefully guided by planning, is one of the best ways to address many of these issues. This programmatic request seeks funding to enhance grassland habitat on permanently protected grasslands and prairies, most of which are open to public hunting. Without periodic management to simulate historical disturbance patterns, grassland lose diversity and productivity. Invasive species may increase and woody vegetation will encroach into the grasslands, changing their very character and the species that inhabit the area. The activities listed in this proposal will use BMPs for grassland enhancement and diverse local ecotype seed mixes for restoration. These activities will include prescribed fire, installing grazing infrastructure, tree removal, seeding to increase plant diversity, and restoring cropland to grassland.",,2024-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Greg,Hoch,DNR,"500 Lafayette Rd ","St Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5230,greg.hoch@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Becker, Big Stone, Brown, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Cottonwood, Dodge, Douglas, Fillmore, Goodhue, Grant, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Murray, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Roseau, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Wabasha, Waseca, Washington, Wilkin, Winona, Yellow Medicine","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-grassland-enhancement-phase-16,,,,
10035234,"DNR WMA and SNA Acquisition, Phase XVI",2025,1359000,"ML 2024, Ch. 106, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(l)","$1,359,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire in fee and restore and enhance lands for wildlife management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, and to acquire land in fee for scientific and natural area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 5. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie.","Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Acres of habitat acquired that support endangered, threatened and special concern species and Species in Greatest Conservation Need. Species lists (and numbers where available) of those species observed or documented. Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Acres of habitat acquired that support nesting and migratory habitat and upland birds and Species in Greatest Conservation Need. Species lists (and numbers where available) of those species observed or documented. Key core parcels are protected for fish, game and other wildlife - Acres of grassland/wetland habitat complexes acquired that support upland game birds, migratory waterfowl, big-game, and unique Minnesota species (e.g. endangered, threatened, and special concern species and Species in Greatest Conservation Need). Species lists (and numbers where available) of those species observed or documented",,,,,1345500,13500,,0.12,DNR,"State Government","Acquire approximately 140 acres of high priority habitat for designation as Wildlife Management Area or Scientific and Natural Area in the LSOHC Prairie, Forest/Prairie Transition, and Northern Forest Planning Sections emphasizing Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan, Conservation That Works 3.0, WMA and AMA Acquisition & Management Strategic Plan and SNA Strategic Land Protection Plan with priority given to sites of high and outstanding biodiversity significance by the Minnesota Biological Survey. All lands will be open for public hunting and fishing (a limited number of SNA's are proposed for limited hunting for instance archery only or hunting but no trapping).","Approximately 140 acres of wildlife habitat will be protected through fee title acquisition and development as Wildlife Management Areas or Scientific & Natural Areas. While the state cannot promise leverage or match without first having funding appropriated, previous Outdoor Heritage appropriations to DNR for WMA and SNA acquisitions have been leveraged through donations, Reinvest in Minnesota Critical Habitat Match and Surcharge (a $6.50 surcharge on small game license sales). Wildlife Management Areas. WMAs protect lands and waters which have a high potential for wildlife production and provide for public hunting, fishing and trapping, and for other compatible outdoor recreational uses such as wildlife viewing and hiking. While highly successful, the current WMA system does not meet all present and future needs for wildlife habitat, wildlife population management, hunter access and wildlife related recreation. This is notably true in the LSOHC Prairie Planning Section where public ownership in many counties is less than 5 percent. DNR Section of Wildlife uses a GIS-based tools to identify the highest priority tracts for potential WMA acquisitions. This quantitative approach scores and ranks acquisition proposals based on a set of weighted criteria and creates a standardized method for evaluating proposed acquisitions on a statewide level. Criteria are periodically reviewed and adapted to changing priorities. Scientific & Natural Areas. The SNA Program will increase public hunting and fishing opportunities while protecting sites with outstanding natural values. Protection is targeted at high priority areas identified in the SNA Strategic Land Protection Plan with emphasis on prairie core areas identified in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. A quantitative system scores and ranks acquisition proposals based on a weighted set of six criteria. Priority is given to sites of high and outstanding biodiversity significance by the Minnesota Biological Survey, high quality native plant communities and habitat for endangered and threatened species. Larger parcels which adjoin other conservation lands, improve habitat management, are under imminent threat and are partially donated are also rated highly. DNR strategic acquisition priorities include, but are not limited to, protection of: Prairies, Grasslands, and associated Wetlands Existing, high quality significant or rare natural resources Water resources Critical pollinator habitat essential for native species and agricultural crops Large blocks of habitat or natural intact communities, that improve riparian and terrestrial connectivity or maintain ecosystem services through protection of climate resilient, high biodiversity areas Potential acquisition opportunities from willing sellers are coordinated with stakeholders and partners to eliminate duplication and identify concerns and support. Coordinating with partners has been successful to ensure we are working cooperatively and on priority parcels. Properties acquired through this appropriation require County Board of Commissioners' written approval in the county of acquisition, will be designated as WMA or SNA through a Commissioner's Designation Order, brought up to minimum DNR standards, and listed on the DNR website. Basic site improvements will include boundary and LSOHC acknowledgement signs and may include any necessary site cleanup and parcel initial development.",,2024-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Jeff,Tillma,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Road ","St. Paul",MN,55110,,jeff.tillma@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Cass, Faribault, Hubbard, Polk, Red Lake, Redwood","Forest Prairie Transition, Northern Forest, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-wma-and-sna-acquisition-phase-xvi,,,,
10011392,"DNR Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Enhancement, Phase 2",2020,3208000,"ML 2019, 1st Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd, 5(g)","$3,208,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore and enhance aquatic habitat in degraded streams and aquatic management areas and to facilitate fish passage. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"There are 68 species of greatest conservation need that utilize headwaters to large streams, including birds, turtles, frogs, fish, and insects. Stream habitat projects are not designed with one species in mind, but instead are intended to benefit multiple functions and habitats of the river both within the stream and in the riparian area, which will have benefits for rare species. Diverse, healthy, productive habitat is good for a wide range of species. None of this work was targeted at a specific species of wildlife or fish. We used the approach that diverse productive habitats benefit a wide variety of both game and non-game species as well as any threatened or endangered species. In our restorations, we use very diverse seed mixes. This is obviously beneficial for pollinators. However, all those insects also create a food base for a large number of wildlife species. The structural diversity all those plant species create in the habitat allow every species to find an ideal niche in the grass as well as accommodates different life history stages of wildlife. Prairie habitats once covered one-third of the state but presently less than 2% remain and this habitat is key for many threatened and endangered species. Native prairie, other grasslands that provides habitat for wildlife, and wetlands are key components of functional prairie landscapes that have the capacity to adapt to changing environmental conditions. This project enhanced and restored over 250 acres of prairie habitat which will meet the needs of threatened and endangered species that rely on this critical habitat.","A total of 1,306 acres were affected: 54 Restored, 0 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 1,252 in Enhance.",279000,"Buffalo/Red River Watershed District",3200400,7600,,None,DNR,"State Government","This DNR Aquatic Habitat appropriation used a programmatic approach to achieve prioritized aquatic habitat restoration, and enhancement of lakes and streams across all the LSOHC planning regions. Two large stream restoration projects totaling 54 acres were completed with this appropriation. Also, habitat enhancement projects were completed on 51 Aquatic Management Areas, totaling 1252 acres. Stream habitat work for this appropriation and LSOHC-funded projects from other appropriations was aided by funding for a stream restoration coordinator and interns. These positions aided in public outreach, survey work, design, permitting, contracting, and coordination with project partners on these complex projects.","Stream projects were prioritized based on the DNR's Stream habitat Priority List, where projects were ranked based on a number of criteria surrounding support and outcomes. This appropriation funded two stream projects, both of which involved multiple external partners. Individual project details are outlined below. Gorman Creek Stream Restoration. Gorman Creek is a headwaters stream that was historically straightened. As a result, the stream was significantly incised and lacked habitat diversity. This project restored about 2430 feet of Gorman Creek and 2450 feet of the tributary. This project addressed bank and stream bed sources of sediment by applying appropriate dimension, pattern and profile to the mainstream channel. By restoring geomorphic stability of the stream and reconnecting the river with the floodplain, this project enhanced riparian corridors and buffers, improved fish habitat and passage, addressed and reduced bed/bank erosion, and improved water quality. Stony Creek Stream Restoration. The primary purpose of this project was to improve the ecology of the river system by restoring 24,816 feet of a ditched stream to a stable and functioning channel. The project established a natural channel profile, reconnected the stream to the floodplain, and improved riparian habitat by establishing a 340 ft wide vegetated riparian buffer. There are approximately 21 species of fish in the project area that will benefit from improved habitat and water quality. AMA Enhancement: This appropriation includes funding for personnel tasked with assessing habitat needs on Aquatic Management Areas (AMAs), writing management guidance documents that outline projects, and overseeing project implementation. AMA Specialists completed 5 new site assessments, bringing the total number of AMAs assessed since June 2014 to 253. To date, 170 Management Guidance Documents have been completed. An additional 36 Management Guidance Documents are in various stages of review. In this appropriation staff also planned or oversaw enhancement projects on 51 AMAs, totaling 1252 acres. The Stream Restoration Coordinator attended watershed planning meetings and identify critical projects for landscape planning, met with partners discuss scope of project (e.g. dam modification/removal options), attended and presented at public hearings and answer questions from the public, attend various partner meetings (e.g. City Councils, board meetings etc.), developed the project with the partner to ensure the partner supports the project and maximizes ecological gains, advised and coordinated with partners to understand contracted policy requirements both technically and administratively, obtained partner resolutions to proceed with the project, navigated permitting and environmental review needs, called for proposals, ranked projects, developed LSOHC applications, contracts, and reimbursement, conducted design reviews and approval, performed final walk through and project construction sign off, and completed financial reconciliation. NR Specialist been working on culvert data analysis and QA/QC review of the data this summer, digitization of results from formerly surveyed watersheds to be distributed to the National Aquatic Barrier Inventory and for internal DNR use, outreach at various work groups, and aided in various construction projects needs. EWR interns have completed the Crow Wing watershed culvert inventory.",,2019-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Dean,Paron,"MN DNR","525 S Lake Ave Suite 415 Box 20",Duluth,MN,55802,651-259-5205,dean.paron@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Becker, Blue Earth, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chisago, Clay, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hubbard, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Lake, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Mower, Otter Tail, Pope, Redwood, Rice, Scott, St. Louis, Wabasha, Washington, Wright","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-aquatic-habitat-restoration-and-enhancement-phase-2,,,,
10011393,"DNR Grasslands - Phase XI",2020,8861000,"ML 2019, 1st Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd, 2(i)","$8,861,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate restoration and enhancement of prairies, grasslands, and savannas in wildlife management areas, in scientific and natural areas, in aquatic management areas, on lands in the native prairie bank, in bluff prairies on state forest land in southeastern Minnesota, and in waterfowl production areas and refuge lands of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Prairie habitats once covered one-third of the state but presently less than 2% remain. Native prairie, other grasslands that provides habitat for wildlife, and wetlands are key components of functional prairie landscapes that have the capacity to adapt to changing environmental conditions. None of this work was targeted at a specific species of wildlife. We used that approach that diverse productive habitats benefit a wide variety of both game and non-game wildlife species as well as any threatened or endangered species. In our restorations, we use very diverse seed mixes. This is obviously beneficial for pollinators. However, all those insects also create a food base for a large number of wildlife species. The structural diversity all those plant species create in the habitat allow every species to find an ideal niche in the grass as well as accommodates different life history stages of wildlife.","A total of 48,341 acres were affected: 1,690 Restored, 0 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 46,651 in Enhance.",,,7584000,352400,,14.28,DNR,"State Government","We restored and enhanced 48,341 acres with 521 projects on Wildlife Management Areas, Scientific and Natural Areas, and Native Prairie Bank Easements.","We select projects using a number of criteria and reviews to make sure the DNR were spending these funds in the best and most productive ways. We can summarize our results in the following table. Brush removal 3 Interseeding 1,786 Invasives control 437 Prescribed fire 33,876 Prescribed browsing (goats) 137 Woody removal 10,296 Grassland restoration 1,690 TOTAL ACRES 48,431 Originally, this appropriation covered the northwest Roving Crew and added a new, fifth, Roving Crew in west-central Minnesota. The language also included two years of funding for the USFWS's Prescribed Fire program. This was our largest grassland request to date and also the appropriation most affected by Covid. We were unable to hire the west-central Roving Crew in a timely fashion due to state hiring freezes. At the same time, the USFWS received IRA funding and returned their second year of funding. While the DNR was able to put most of these dollars to good use, the acre to dollar ratio for fire is usually much higher compared to hiring contractors for tree removal or similar other enhancements. To use up some of the unspent Roving Crew funds, we moved southeast and southwest Roving Crews to this appropriation for one year. While all of this was happening, we were also trying to transition all the Roving Crews to the stand-alone appropriations. Given those issues, we did not reach our anticipated acreage accomplishment. That said, we still managed to enhance 48,431 acres of grassland. Put another way, that's 75.7 square miles of grassland enhancement, or a strip of habitat 0.3 miles wide stretching from Moorhead to St Paul. The Roving Crews allow the DNR to be very flexible. While they have a list of projects to work on, they can also respond fairly quickly if there's an enhancement opportunity shows up. The DNR and partners continue to host field days each summer to learn about management practices such as prescribed fire, conservation grazing, etc. Finally we were also able to continue experimenting with goat browsing in the SE to control buckthorn. SNA staff will monitor these sites over the coming years. This may provide a way to reduce chemical use and integrate some new and emerging agricultural practices, goats, into habitat management for the benefit of wildlife and the agricultural economy. The DNR has traditionally focused on game species. However, there is increasing interest in pollinators and biodiversity. Fortunately, just about every study out there shows that management and restoration for pollinators and songbirds often creates the best habitat for game species. These projects can also increase the amount of carbon absorbed and stored by the plants and soils on these sites. All of these projects, directly or indirectly, fit within the state's Climate Action Framework and other climate related activities. In our budget table, we prorated our budget for individual projects by the acres accomplished.",,2019-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Greg,Hoch,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Rd ","St Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5230,greg.hoch@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cottonwood, Dakota, Douglas, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Houston, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Washington, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-grasslands-phase-xi,,,,
10006513,"DNR Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Enhancement",2019,2834000,"ML 2018, Ch. 208, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 5(q)","$2,834,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore and enhance aquatic habitat in degraded streams and aquatic management areas and to facilitate fish passage. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"There are 68 species of greatest conservation need that utilize headwaters to large streams, including birds, turtles, frogs, fish, and insects. Stream habitat projects are not designed with one species in mind, but instead are intended to benefit multiple functions and habitats of the river both within the stream and in the riparian area, which will have benefits for rare species.","A total of 872 acres were affected: 23 Restored, 0 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 849 in Enhance.",210000,"US Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA",2736300,90800,,5.0,DNR,"State Government","This DNR Aquatic Habitat appropriation used a programmatic approach to achieve prioritized aquatic habitat restoration, and enhancement of lakes and streams across all the LSOHC planning regions. Two stream restoration projects totaling 23 acres were completed with this appropriation. Also, habitat enhancement projects were completed on 43 Aquatic Management Areas, totaling 849 acres. Stream habitat work for this appropriation and LSOHC-funded projects from other appropriations was aided by funding for a stream restoration coordinator and interns. These positions aided in public outreach, survey work, design, permitting, contracting, and coordination with project partners on these complex projects","Stream projects were prioritized based on the DNR's Stream habitat Priority List, where projects were ranked based on a number of criteria surrounding support and outcomes. This appropriation funded two stream projects, both of which involved multiple external partners. Individual project details are outlined below. Miller Creek Stream Restoration: Miller Creek is a designated trout stream that is located within the city limits of Duluth that was ditched in the 1930's. This project highlights an urban project that was successful in restoring 6100 feet of Miller Creek. This project restored the geomorphic stability of the stream by reconnecting the floodplain and remeandering the stream to a stable channel. This project also enhanced riparian corridors and buffers, improved fish habitat diversity, and addressed the bed and bank erosion. In addition, the project team was able to expand the project to include an important tributary to Miller Creek. This project will provide improved habitat, stability and water quality to the associated tributary and Miller Creek. Funding for the larger overall project of Miller Creek and the tributary has come from various sources USFS ($115,000) and NOAA ($95,000). North Fork of the Zumbro River Stream Restoration: The North form of the Zumbro River was historically dammed near the City of Mazeppa. This damming disconnected the stream and altered the stream channel. This project was successful in restoring 3710 feet of the Zumbro River to a more stable form that is connected to the floodplain. Additionally, this project was able to address the dam remnants that were affecting the river stability, address the high unstable banks and improve instream habitat diversity. This project improved habitat for at least 28 species of fish documented downstream of where the dam was located. Fish will have easier accessibly to 40 miles upstream of the dam location. AMA Enhancement: This appropriation includes funding for personnel tasked with assessing habitat needs on Aquatic Management Areas (AMAs), writing management guidance documents that outline projects, and overseeing project implementation. AMA Specialists completed 6 new site assessments, bringing the total number of AMAs assessed since June 2014 to 247. To date, 170 Management Guidance Documents have been completed. An additional 28 Management Guidance Documents are in various stages of review. Staff also planned or oversaw enhancement projects on 43 AMAs, totaling 849 acres. The Restoration Coordinator has worked on project development for future projects, coordinated project meetings, been involved in design, written grant agreements, processed reimbursements, tracked budgets, and prioritized projects for funding. Additionally, the Restoration Coordinator hired and managed to interns to advance the culvert inventory and prioritization work. The Restoration Coordinator has developed the Natural Resources Specialist position and held interviews. This past year the interns have completed the Crow Wing watershed culvert inventory. They also were able to get a portion of the Zumbro watershed completed too.",,2018-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Jamison,Wendel,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road Box 20","St Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5176,jamison.wendel@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Carver, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Goodhue, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Pine, Pope, Redwood, Scott, St. Louis, Wabasha, Wright","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-aquatic-habitat-restoration-and-enhancement,,,,
10006514,"DNR Grassland Enhancement Ph X",2019,4007000,"ML 2018, Ch. 208, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 2(m)","$4,007,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate restoration and enhancement of prairies, grasslands, and savannas in wildlife management areas, in scientific and natural areas, on lands in the native prairie bank, in bluff prairies on state forest land in southeastern Minnesota, and in waterfowl production areas and refuge lands of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"Prairie habitats once covered one-third of the state but presently less than 2% remain. Native prairie, other grasslands that provides habitat for wildlife, and wetlands are key components of functional prairie landscapes that have the capacity to adapt to changing environmental conditions. While these appropriation only added 838 acres of grassland acres to the state through restoration, these funds enhanced a much larger area. Put another way, we restored and enhanced 24.3 square miles with these funds. That would be a strip of grassland habitat that would equate to a quarter mile wide stretching from Moorhead to Alexandria. None of this work was targeted at a specific species of wildlife. We used that approach that diverse productive habitats benefit a wide variety of both game and non-game wildlife species as well as any threatened or endangered species. In our restorations, we use very diverse seed mixes. This is obviously beneficial for pollinators. However, all those insects also create a food base for a large number of wildlife species. The structural diversity all those plant species create in the habitat allow every species to find an ideal niche in the grass as well as accommodates different life history stages of wildlife.","A total of 15,577 acres were affected: 838 Restored, 0 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 14,739 in Enhance.",,,3632700,198500,,13,DNR,"State Government","We restored and enhanced a total of 15,577 grassland acres with 239 projects on Wildlife Management Areas, Scientific and Natural Areas, and Native Prairie Bank easements.","We select projects using a number of criteria and reviews to make sure the DNR were spending these funds in the best and most productive ways. We can summarize our results in the following table. Brome conversion 6 Interseeding 60 Grassland restoration 838 Prescribed Fire 10,550 Herbaceous Invasive Control 346 Goat Browsing - woody removal 71 Woody Removal 3,492 TOTAL 15,577 This appropriation involved the Southwest Roving Crews. These Crews allow the DNR to be very flexible. While they have a list of projects to work on, they can also respond fairly quickly if there's an enhancement opportunity shows up. For instance, a short dry period in a part of the state may allow them to conduct a late summer prescribed fire which was not in any of the original work plans. Roving Crews have begun experimenting with different burn seasons. The DNR and partners continue to host field days each summer to learn about management practices such as prescribed fire, conservation grazing, etc. We also regularly review the scientific literature to make sure we are applying the most up to date techniques in our management. We were also able to continue our experimenting with goat browsing in the SE to control buckthorn. SNA staff will monitor these sites over the coming years. This may provide a way to reduce chemical use and integrate some new and emerging agricultural practices, goats, into habitat management for the benefit of wildlife and the agricultural economy. The DNR has traditionally focused on game species such as pheasants. However, there is more and more interest in pollinators and biodiversity. Fortunately, just about every study out there shows that management and restoration for pollinators and songbirds often creates the best habitat for game species. Diverse, healthy, productive habitat is good for a wide range of species. These projects can also increase the amount of carbon absorbed and stored by the plants and soils on these sites. All of these projects, directly or indirectly, fit within the state's Climate Action Framework and other climate related activities. As we continue to use these funds, costs for projects will probably increase. In the early years of these funds, we completed a number of simpler or easier projects, the low-hanging fruit. Now we are left with the larger and more challenging projects. In our budget table, we prorated our budget for individual projects by the acres accomplished. Staff funding was combined into one value. Identifying funding for each position would be an accounting challenge so staff funds were combined by DNR Division.",,2018-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Greg,Hoch,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette RD ","St Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5230,greg.hoch@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Becker, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Houston, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Scott, Sibley, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Washington, Watonwan, Winona, Yellow Medicine","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-grassland-enhancement-ph-x,,,,
10031396,"Effects of Conservation Grazing on Solar Sites Managed for Pollinator Habitat",2025,88000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 03z","$88,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Native Landscapes, in partnership with Temple University, to analyze the effects of sheep grazing and mowing on the vegetation and soils of solar sites managed for pollinator habitat and to improve understanding of the environmental outcomes from the colocation of solar panels; grazing; and native, pollinator-friendly vegetation. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2029, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,0.7,"Minnesota Native Landscapes","For-Profit Business/Entity","This research will analyze the effects of sheep grazing and mowing on the vegetation of solar sites that have been managed for pollinator habitat",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2028-12-31,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Daniel,Tix,"Minnesota Native Landscapes","8740 77th St NE",Otsego,MN,55362,"(763) 295-0010",dan.tix@mnlcorp.com,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Benton, Big Stone, Cass, Chippewa, Crow Wing, Douglas, Grant, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Nicollet, Otter Tail, Pope, Renville, Sibley, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wadena, Wilkin, Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, Wright",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/effects-conservation-grazing-solar-sites-managed-pollinator-habitat,,,,
35025,"Enhanced Public Land Grasslands - Phase II",2016,1120000,"ML 2015, First Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(l)","$1,120,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to enhance and restore habitat on public lands. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the final report. ",,"698 Wetland acres Restored.  7,529 Prairie acres Enhanced.  Total of 8,227 acres impacted. ",,156000,"Federal ",1048600,8600,,0.35,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This project will utilize a combination of wetland restoration, invasive tree removal, seeding, and prescribed fire, to improve habitat quality, diversity, and productivity on Wildlife Management Areas and Waterfowl Production Areas within the prairie and metro regions of Minnesota. ",,"Working with area managers at both MN DNR and USFWS, Pheasants Forever requested proposals to complete wetland restoration, invasive tree removal, prairie seeding, and prescribed fire on existing WMA's and WPA's in the Prairie zone. Projects were then ranked based on priorities including, T&E species, Conservation Plan Focus Areas (e.g. the MN Prairie Plan), size of the complex area, water quality benefits, and overall cost to complete. Once projects were selected for funding, Pheasants Forever restoration staff worked closely with area managers in order to develop restoration/enhancement plans. Once those plans were developed they were written into a statement of work that was sent to numerous contractors in order to solicit competitive bids following PF's procurement policy. Once a contractor has been awarded the contract, PF and agency staff monitored the restoration/enhancement work to ensure it was completed adequately. Pheasants Forever had proposed to enhance 7,800 acres of uplands and restore 45 acres of wetlands. We did fall short of our upland goal by enhancing 7,275 acres, as we gave priority to wetland restoration projects. This, however, caused us to far exceed our goal and restore 952 wetland acres, thus over-achieving our total acre goal by 382 acres. Additionally, due to the value of these wetland restoration projects, PF was able to bring more than $156,000 of federal match, specifically from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, to this proposal. There were no significant issues that occurred during the proposal period. As with any work of this kind we anticipated there would be challenges due to weather, contractor difficulties, agency staff changes, etc. but by working closely with our partners we were able to be very successful on our delivery of this important wildlife habitat work. ",2015-07-01,2021-08-10,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Eran,Sandquist,"Pheasants Forever","410 Lincoln Ave S Box 91","South Haven",MN,55382,"(7632421273) -",esandquist@pheasantsforever.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Brown, Carver, Clay, Cottonwood, Douglas, Faribault, Freeborn, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Otter Tail, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Stearns, Stevens, Traverse, Washington, Watonwan","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/enhanced-public-land-grasslands-phase-ii,,,,
10033901,"Enhanced Public Land - Grasslands - Phase VI",2024,2772000,"ML 2023, Ch. 40, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 2(i)","$2,772,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to enhance and restore grassland and wetland habitat on public lands. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Increased waterfowl and upland bird migratory and breeding success - Outcomes will be measured by resource professionals and evaluated by using the best science available to land managers. Outcomes will be measured by resource professionals and evaluated by using the best science available to land managers. Improved condition of habitat on public lands - Outcomes will be measured by resource professionals and evaluated by using the best science available to land managers",,,164700,"PF, PF, Federal and Private",2704400,67600,,0.58,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","6,870 acres of grassland and wetland habitat will be enhanced or restored through this proposal to benefit upland dependent species on Minnesota lands open to public hunting. These include Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA), and National Wildlife Refuges (NWR). We will accomplish this by working with our partners to follow best practices to conduct wetland restorations, conservation grazing, invasive tree removal, prescribed fire, and diversity seeding in the prairie, forest/prairie transition, and metro regions.","Restoration and enhancement of prairie and wetland habitat remains as one of the core strategies of the MN Prairie Conservation Plan. Many native and restored prairies are degraded from lack of disturbance, low diversity and spread of invasive trees. There are wetlands in these landscapes that need be to restored and many previously restored basins that are in need of repair. This proposal aims to build on past investments to improve habitat on WPAs, WMAs, and NWRs so they can reach their full potential for wildlife production. Activities include the following: 1) Wetlands will be restored/enhanced by removing drain tile, constructing/repairing earthen dams and/or water control structures, removing sediment and invasive narrow leaf cattail control. Wetlands targeted for enhancement are vital to providing food, cover, and the space required for breeding waterfowl while being essential to water quality and aquifer recharge. 2) A diverse mixture of native grasses and forbs is ideal for nesting and brood rearing of upland nesting birds and essential for pollinator species. Many WMAs, WPAs, or NWRs were purchased in sub-optimal habitat condition (e.g. monotype of brome grass). We will use a site-specific combination of techniques (e.g. cultivation, tree removal, herbicide, and prescribed fire) to bring back productivity to these public lands. In close collaboration with the land managers, we will seed a diverse mix of native grasses and forbs that are well adapted to site conditions. Mowing will be used as needed to manage annual weed pressure to ensure establishment. 3) Prescribed burning is the primary tool for managing grassland habitat. It increases vigor, sets back invasive woody species, and removes built up residue. 4) Conservation grazing is an important enhancement tool for sites that are difficult to conduct prescribed fires or need to target specific enhancement needs (e.g. cool season grass suppression, tree invasion, etc.). Permanent infrastructure with a lifespan of 30+ years will be installed to conduct conservation grazing plans written to benefit wildlife. 5) Research has shown that invasive trees are detrimental to prairie/grassland wildlife and thus will be removed with this proposal. These trees reduce nesting success and provide perches and dens for predators. These predators are highly effective at predating both nests and nesting birds, especially in fragmented low quality habitat. By creating the best possible habitat on WPAs, NWRs and WMAs, we will strive to help our public land management entities by reducing future investments for management. A RFP and ranking process has been developed in previous phases that allows us to identify, rank and deliver the projects that have the most impact for grassland and wetland wildlife.",,2023-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Becca,Kludt,"Pheasants Forever, Inc.","547 5th St SW ",Perham,MN,56573,218-220-5391,bkludt@pheasantsforever.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Becker, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Carver, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Martin, Meeker, Mower, Murray, Nobles, Otter Tail, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Washington, Watonwan, Wright, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/enhanced-public-land-grasslands-phase-vi,,,,
10017809,"Enhanced Public Land - Grasslands - Phase IV",2021,2280000,"ML 2020, Ch. 104, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 2(m)","$2,280,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to enhance and restore grassland and wetland habitat on public lands. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"Value to T&E species is one of our project ranking criteria as part of our RFP. Projects that directly benefitted T&E species were more likely to be funded. In addition, all projects were carefully planned and monitored to mitigate any negative impact to T&E or SGCN.","A total of 10,115 acres were affected: 50 Restored, 0 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 10,065 in Enhance.",88800,"Federal, Private, PF and PF",2237800,42200,,0.49,"Pheasants Forever ","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This program enhanced 10,064.8 and restored 50.7 acres for a total impact of 10,115.5 acres by restoring wetlands, removing invasive trees, seeding prairies, prescribed burning, and installing infrastructure for conservation grazing. These practices took place on Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA's), and Wildlife Management Areas (WMA's) in the prairie and the forest/prairie transition regions of Minnesota.","Pheasants Forever sent a Request for Proposal (RFP) to wildlife managers within the MN DNR (managing WMA's), and USFWS (managing WPA's), giving them the opportunity to submit projects to be funded under this phase. Eligible practices included wetland restoration, invasive tree removal, upland enhancement/restoration, prescribed fire, and conservation grazing. Projects were ranked based on cost and priorities such as the impact on threatened & endangered species, project location within Conservation Plan Focus Areas, size of the complex, and potential benefit to water quality. For selected projects, PF restoration staff worked with area wildlife managers to develop restoration/enhancement plans and translate those into statements of work (SOW). The SOW was sent along with the Request for Bid to local contractors as part of the solicitation process that is laid out in PF's Procurement Policy. Once awarded, PF and agency staff monitored construction to ensure work was completed to quoted specifications, in time, and on budget.",,2020-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Sabin,Adams,"Pheasants Forever","1783 Buerkle Circle ","St. Paul",MN,55110,,sadams@pheasantsforever.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Clay, Cottonwood, Douglas, Faribault, Freeborn, Grant, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Murray, Nobles, Norman, Otter Tail, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Watonwan, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/enhanced-public-land-grasslands-phase-iv,,,,
10035235,"Enhanced Public Land - Grasslands - Phase VII",2025,1902000,"ML 2024, Ch. 106, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(f)","$1,902,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to enhance and restore grassland and wetland habitat on public lands within the forest prairie transition, metro urban, and prairie ecoregions of Minnesota.","Increased waterfowl and upland bird migratory and breeding success - Outcomes will be measured by resource professionals and evaluated by using the best science available to land managers. Outcomes will be measured by resource professionals and evaluated by using the best science available to land managers. Improved condition of habitat on public lands - Outcomes will be measured by resource professionals and evaluated by using the best science available to land managers",,,111300,"PF and PF/State/Federal",1855700,46300,,0.21,PF,"Non-Profit Business/Entity","In this phase of the Enhanced Public Lands - Grassland program, Pheasants Forever (PF) will enhance or restore 4,000 acres of upland and wetland habitat. The goal of this program is to improve habitat on existing Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs), and National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) that are open to public hunting. PF does this by working with agency partners to develop restoration and enhancement plans and hiring local, private contractors to complete work. Examples of habitat improvements include restoring wetlands, removing invasive trees, conducting conservation grazing, and seeding grasslands with high-diversity native seed mixes.","Grassland-wetland ecosystems require regular disturbance to preserve their functionality and quality to positively impact fish, wildlife, and the public. Lack of disturbance on native and restored prairies has resulted in degraded habitats characterized by low plant diversity, presence of non-native or invasive species, and the spread of voluntary trees into open prairie. Wetlands embedded in these grasslands require restoration to achieve their fullest functionality, or have structures that need repair. The Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan (MPCP) identifies restoration and enhancement as two strategies to combat these issues. In accordance with this plan, Pheasants Forever has created the Enhanced Public Lands - Grasslands program to restore and enhance grassland and wetland habitats on existing WMAs, WPAs, and NWRs (many of which were purchased in sub-optimal conditions) in the prairie, forest/prairie transition, and metro regions. Pheasants Forever will utilize a previously developed Request for Proposals (RFP) and process to evaluate projects submitted by agency partners. Restoration and enhancement activities include the following: 1) Wetland restoration/enhancement: Tools used to accomplish this include removing drain tile, constructing/repairing earthen dams and/or water control structures, removing sediment and invasive narrow leaf cattail control. Wetlands targeted for enhancement are vital to providing food, cover, and the space required for breeding waterfowl while being essential to and landscape resiliency in the face of climate change. 2) Upland Enhancement: We will use a site-specific combination of techniques (e.g. cultivation, tree removal, herbicide, and prescribed fire) to bring back productivity to these public lands. In close collaboration with the land managers, we will seed a diverse mix of native grasses and forbs that are well adapted to site conditions and are ideal for upland nesting bird production and success of pollinator species. Mowing will be used as needed to manage annual weed pressure to ensure establishment. 3) Prescribed burning: This is the primary tool for managing grassland habitat as it is cost effective, increases vigor by removing built up litter, and sets back invasive woody species. 4) Conservation Grazing: This is an important enhancement tool for sites that are difficult to conduct prescribed fires or need to target specific enhancement needs (e.g. cool season grass suppression, tree invasion, etc.). Permanent infrastructure with a lifespan of 30+ years will be installed to conduct conservation grazing plans written to benefit wildlife. 5) Tree Removal: Research has shown that invasive trees are detrimental to prairie/grassland wildlife and thus will be removed with this proposal. These trees reduce nesting success by providing perches for aerial predators, dens for mammalian predators, and increases predator efficiency by creating habitat edges and fragmenting habitat. Predators are highly effective at predating both nests and nesting birds, especially in fragmented low quality habitat. Restoring or enhancing habitat to its highest function in these areas will not only greatly benefit fish and wildlife populations, but also reduce future management costs (by creating robust, better self-regulating ecosystems), and improve the enjoyment of the area by the public.",,2024-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Becca,Kludt,"Pheasants Forever, Inc.","547 5th St SW ",Perham,MN,56573,218-220-5391,bkludt@pheasantsforever.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Becker, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Martin, Meeker, Mower, Murray, Norman, Otter Tail, Pipestone, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Washington, Watonwan, Wright, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/enhanced-public-land-grasslands-phase-vii,,,,
10006517,"Enhanced Public Land - Grasslands - Phase III",2019,2160000,"ML 2018, Ch. 208, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 2(n)"," $2,160,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to enhance and restore grassland and wetland habitat on public lands. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"Value to T&E species is one of our project ranking criteria as part of our RFP. Projects that directly benefitted T&E species were more likely to be funded. In addition, all projects were carefully planned and monitored to mitigate any negative impact to T&E or SGCN.","A total of 10,781 acres were affected: 198 Restored, 0 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 10,583 in Enhance.",45800,"Federal and PF",2129500,29700,,0.39,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This program enhanced 10,583 and restored 198 acres for a total impact of 10,781 acres by restoring wetlands, removing invasive trees, seeding prairies, prescribed burning, and installing infrastructure for conservation grazing. These practices took place on Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA's), and Wildlife Management Areas (WMA's) in the prairie, metro and the forest/prairie transition regions of Minnesota. We exceeded our acre goals in every category, brought $45,768.51 in match funds, and are returning $833.50 in funds.","Pheasants Forever sent a Request for Proposal (RFP) to wildlife managers within the MN DNR (managing WMA's), and USFWS (managing WPA's), giving them the opportunity to submit projects to be funded under this phase. Eligible practices included wetland restoration, invasive tree removal, upland enhancement/restoration, prescribed fire, and conservation grazing. Projects were ranked based on cost and priorities such as the impact on threatened & endangered species, project location within Conservation Plan Focus Areas, size of the complex, and potential benefit to water quality. For selected projects, PF restoration staff worked with area wildlife managers to develop restoration/enhancement plans and translate those into statements of work (SOW). The SOW was sent along with the Request for Bid to local contractors as part of the solicitation process that is laid out in PF's Procurement Policy. Once awarded, PF and agency staff monitored construction to ensure work was completed to quoted specifications, in time, and on budget.",,2018-07-01,2023-09-07,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Sabin,Adams,"Pheasants Forever","14241 Steves Rd SE ",Osakis,MN,56360,,sadams@pheasantsforever.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Blue Earth, Carver, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Douglas, Freeborn, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, McLeod, Mille Lacs, Murray, Nobles, Otter Tail, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Scott, Sherburne, Stearns, Stevens, Traverse, Wright, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/enhanced-public-land-grasslands-phase-iii,,,,
10004563,"Evaluating Insecticide Exposure Risk for Grassland Wildlife on Public Lands",2017,250000,"M.L. 2016, Chp. 186, Sec. 2, Subd. 03n","$250,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to evaluate exposure risks of grassland wildlife to soybean aphid insecticides, to guide grassland management in farmland regions of Minnesota for the protection of birds, beneficial insects, and other grassland wildlife. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2019, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,,,,,"MN DNR","State Government",,,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2016/work_plans_may/_2016_03n.pdf,2016-07-01,2019-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Nicole,Davros,"MN DNR","35365 800th Ave",Madelia,MN,56062,"(507) 642-8478",nicole.davros@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Dodge, Faribault, Freeborn, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Otter Tail, Pipestone, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Waseca, Watonwan, Wilkin, Yellow Medicine",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/evaluating-insecticide-exposure-risk-grassland-wildlife-public-lands,,,,
10031431,"Expanding Youth and Family Fishing Opportunities",2025,1162000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 05t","$1,162,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to expand fishing opportunities in urban areas, teach more youth and families how to fish, and inventory and inform the public about safe and legal shore-fishing sites throughout Minnesota.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,9,"MN DNR","State Government","Expand fishing opportunities in urban areas, teach more kids and families how to fish, and inventory and inform the public about safe and legal shore fishing sites throughout Minnesota.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2027-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Brian,Nerbonne,"MN DNR","1200 Warner Rd.","St. Paul",MN,55106,"(651) 259-5789",brian.nerbonne@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/expanding-youth-and-family-fishing-opportunities,,,,
740,"Fishing: A Cross Cultural Gateway to Environmental Education",2011,155000,"M.L. 2010, Chp. 362, Sec. 2, Subd. 08i","$155,000 is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Association for the Advancement of Hmong Women in Minnesota to provide environmental information and teaching skills to and increase participation of Southeast Asian communities through the gateway of fishing skills. Information on mercury in fish advisories must be included as part of the educational outreach. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2013, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"". Project failed to comply with reporting requirements and was closed out as incomplete in 2013. No final report.","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"". Project failed to comply with reporting requirements and was closed out as incomplete in 2013. No final report.",,,,,,,,"Association for the Advancement of Hmong Women in MN","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The number of people from other cultures and languages is increasing in Minnesota. It is important that they learn the behaviors that will help Minnesota preserve and enhance its natural resources. Yet, communicating and effectively interacting with people across cultures to change behaviors on natural resources, conservation, pollution prevention and stewardship is challenging. Most environmental information is designed for reaching native English readers. Translating and printing information often does not reach the intended audiences, who are often part of an oral culture. This project will develop activities, events, and products to address this growing communication problem. Community outreach through fishing events and educational workshops will be gateways for communicating important environmental information, teaching skills for lifelong outdoor participation and instilling values of stewardship to Southeast Asian immigrant and refugee communities such as the Hmong and Karen. The project goals are to: - Increase participation in year-round fishing opportunities - Provide environmental awareness and education - Increase stewardship of natural resources and water resources in particular - Develop local environmental leadership and capacity in Southeast Asian communities - Increase participation and access to mainstream environmental resources and programs Twenty three day-long trips, including some in winter, will be held to reach 700 Southeast Asian immigrants and refugees across generations over the three years of the project. A full-time multilingual environmental educator will work from inside the communities to recruit participants, conduct and evaluate the trips, and develop fun educational components for the fishing events that address critical environmental concerns. Special outreach on health issues connected with mercury and other contaminants will be targeted to vulnerable women and children. The educator will also develop culturally specific workshops, coordinate special language radio appearances and participate in community events to spread information to thousands more.",,"Work PlanProject failed to comply with reporting requirements and was closed out as incomplete in 2013. No final report.",2010-07-01,2013-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Canceled,,,Ly,Vang,"Association for the Advancement of Hmong Women in MN","1101 N Snelling Ave","St. Paul",MN,55108,"(651) 398-2917",lyvangaahwm@yahoo.com,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/fishing-cross-cultural-gateway-environmental-education,,,,
10006490,"Fisheries Habitat Protection on Strategic North Central Minnesota Lakes - Phase IV",2019,2801000,"ML 2018, Ch. 208, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 5(c )","$2,801,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire lands in fee and permanent conservation easements to sustain healthy fish habitat on coldwater lakes in Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, and Hubbard Counties. Of this amount, $1,005,000 is to the Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation and $1,796,000 is to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $120,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Private shoreline habitat and forested parcels totaling 400 acres will be permanently protected from development and fragmentation through conservation easements. 45 acres acres will protect sensitive shoreland and spawn area for muskellunge and walleye on Leech Lake and Cedar Lake that will maintain high biological integrity. Riparian forest lands under easement will maintain healthy habitat complexes for upland and aquatic species; forest cover will enhance water quality habitat for tullibee lakes. Greater public access for wildlife and outdoors-related recreation will be attained through Fee-Title acquisition open to public for hunting and fishing. Conservation easement properties will protect fish habitat to insure high quality fishing opportunities. .",,,417500,"Landowner donation, Cedar Lake Conservancy",2746000,55000,,0.66,"Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation and Minnesota Land Trust","State Government","The Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation in partnership with the Minnesota Land Trust will protect high priority critical fish habitat and the surrounding watersheds on 30 tullibee ""refuge"" lakes by securing conservation easements and fee title acquisitions. We will permanently protect approximately 445 acres and 1 miles of shoreland in total. If a lake's watershed has less than 25% land disturbance, the lake has a high probability to maintain clean water and healthy lake ecosystem. State reports indicate this region could experience significant water quality and fisheries degradation in the coming decades without direct conservation action. ","Sustaining a strong angling heritage revolves largely around protecting fisheries habitat. Resurging shoreland development pressures and looming climate change are direct threats to Minnesota lakes’ ecology. This project will focus on fisheries habitat protection on lakes that have the best biological integrity for a sustained sport fishery. Our protection efforts are focused on tullibee (aka cisco) a preferred forage fish of walleye, northern pike, muskellunge and lake trout. They require cold, well oxygenated waters, a condition most common in lakes with deep water and healthy watersheds. Minnesota DNR Fisheries researchers studied tullibee lakes and designated 68 lakes in Minnesota as the primary ""refuge lakes"" for tullibee that need protection. We are targeting thirty (30) of these lakes located in Hubbard, Crow Wing, Cass, and Aitkin counties. Many are Minnesota's premier recreational lakes. Fisheries research has shown that healthy watersheds with intact forests are fundamental to good fish habitat. Due to the high level of interest in the program and its great success to date, we are applying for a Phase IV of this effort. In this phase we will protect strategically important lands with both conservation easements and fee title acquisitions. We will protect 400 acres with conservation easements. The conservation easement partners will include County Soil & Water Districts, MNDNR Fisheries, Minnesota Land Trust and LLAWF, with the Minnesota Land Trust holding the easements. This team will conduct outreach to potential landowners and help evaluate the projects to assure we are prioritizing those projects with the greatest conservation outcomes. In addition, to ensure the best conservation return on the state's investment, landowner willingness to donate a portion of the easement value will be a key component of the parcel’s evaluation. We also propose to secure a fee-title acquisitions totaling 45 acres. The acquisition on Cedar Lake is in Aitkin County. The Cedar Lake 45 acre proposed fee tile acquisition includes 3,500 ft of sensitive shoreland, including an intact bulrush bed and heavily vegetated wild rice. MN DNR internal score for this WMA expansion effort was 41, the highest score with this prioritization system. This parcel is surrounded by two MNDNR parcels ( Cedar Lake WMA). The acquisition would result in an an expand (100 acre) of the Cedar Lake WMA that includes a public landing.",,2018-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Lindsey,Ketchel,"Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation","P.O. Box 455 ",Hackensack,MN,56452,"(218) 675-5773",Lindsey@leechlakewatershed.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard","Northern Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/fisheries-habitat-protection-strategic-north-central-minnesota-lakes-phase-iv,,,,
10019623,"Fisheries Habitat Protection on Strategic North Central Minnesota Lakes - Phase VII",2022,2838000,"ML 2021, First Sp. Session, Ch. 1, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(d)","$2,838,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and in permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat to sustain healthy fish habitat on coldwater lakes in Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, and Hubbard counties as follows: $975,000 to Northern Waters Land Trust; and $1,863,000 to Minnesota Land Trust, of which up to $168,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ","Forestlands are protected from development and fragmentation - Private shoreline habitat and forested parcels totaling 334 acres will be permanently protected from development and fragmentation through conservation easements. Riparian forest lands under easement will maintain healthy habitat complexes for upland and aquatic species; forest cover will enhance water quality habitat for tullibee lakes. Conservation easement properties will protect fish habitat to ensure high quality fishing opportunities. Greater public access for wildlife and outdoors-related recreation will be attained through Fee-Title acquisition of properties to be conveyed to either Cass County as forest management lands or to the DNR as AMA's and open to public for hunting",,,213100,"County, lake associations, landowner, Lake associations, landowners and Landowner donation of easement value",2781000,57000,,0.76,"Northern Waters Land Trust; MLT","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Northern Waters Land Trust (NWLT) and Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) will protect critical fish habitat within 48 tullibee ""refuge"" lakes and their minor watersheds by securing conservation easements and fee title acquisitions. These efforts are prioritized toward the 15 highest priority tullibee refuge lakes. Through this Fisheries Habitat Protection program, NWLT and MLT are working to protect 75% of each targeted watershed, a measure that provides a high probability of maintaining clean water and healthy lake ecosystems. We will permanently protect approximately 615 acres and 0.6 miles of shoreline through this grant.","Sustaining a strong angling heritage in North Central Minnesota (along with the local economy it drives) revolves largely around protecting fisheries habitat. Resurging shoreland development pressures and looming climate change are direct threats to the ecology of Minnesota's lakes. Fisheries research has shown that healthy watersheds with intact forests are fundamental to sustaining good fish habitat over the long term; achieving a 75% protection goal for a lake's watershed ensures a highly resilient and healthy lake ecosystem. Our protection efforts are focused on tullibee (aka cisco), a preferred forage fish of walleye, northern pike, muskellunge and lake trout. They require cold, well oxygenated waters, a condition most common in lakes with deep water and healthy watersheds. Minnesota DNR Fisheries researchers studied tullibee lakes and designated 68 lakes in Minnesota as the primary ""refuge lakes"" for tullibee that need protection. Our four county area (Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard) includes 48 of these tullibee refuges. We are prioritizing fifteen of these lakes and their minor watersheds. Many are Minnesota's premier recreational lakes. The Clean Water Critical Habitat Technical Committee evaluated all tullibee lakes in our project area and prioritized 15 lakes and their minor watersheds for action. In assigning priorities, the committee considered: (1) ecological value of the lake, (2) percent of the minor watershed currently protected, (3) number of parcels in the watershed greater than 20 acres in size, (4) partner organizations available for advising on outreach efforts, and (5) investment by other agencies and organizations to protect lands and watersheds. Due to the high level of interest in the program and its great success to date, we are applying for a Phase VII of this effort. In this phase, we will protect 615 strategically important acres of land through conservation easements and fee title acquisitions. Program partners will include County Soil & Water Districts, MNDNR Fisheries, Minnesota Land Trust and NWLT. This team will conduct outreach to potential landowners and help evaluate the projects to assure we are prioritizing those projects with the greatest conservation outcomes. In addition, to ensure the best conservation return on the state's investment, landowner willingness to donate a portion of the easement value will be a key component of the parcel's evaluation. MLT will hold the easements. The proposed fee-title acquisition totals 281 acres. Potential parcels include properties on or within the watersheds of Wabedo Lake, Wabedo/Little Boy/Louise Lakes (which are targeted as a part of a complex to protect for this minor watershed), Washburn Lake, Girl/Woman Lake, and Roosevelt Lake all in Cass County. The parcels would be conveyed to either Cass County as managed forest lands or DNR as Aquatic Management Areas.",,2021-07-01,2025-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Kathy,DonCarlos,"Northern Waters Land Trust","800 Minnesota Ave W PO Box 124",Walker,MN,56484,"(218) 547-4510",kathyd@northernwaterslandtrust.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard","Northern Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/fisheries-habitat-protection-strategic-north-central-minnesota-lakes-phase-vii,,,,
23921,"Fisheries Habitat Protection on Strategic North Central Minnesota Lakes",2015,2130000,"ML 2014, Ch. 256, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(b)","$2,130,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements with the Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation and Minnesota Land Trust to acquire land in fee and permanent conservation easements to sustain healthy fish habitat on lakes in Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, and Hubbard Counties as follows: $1,150,300 to Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation; and $979,700 to Minnesota Land Trust, of which up to $120,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"A total of 765 acres and 8.9 miles of critical shoreland and forest habitat in the watersheds of strategic North Central Minnesota lakes have been protected through the completion of 5 conservation easements and 1 fee title acquisition. The grant leveraged $1,119,000 through landowner donation of easement and fee value and other sources.  ",,1119000,"Private Source ",1786200,,,0.63,"Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation, MN Land Trust","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation and the Minnesota Land Trust collectively protected 765 acres and 8.9 miles of critical shoreland and forest habitat in the watersheds of strategic North Central Minnesota lakes through the completion of 5 conservation easements and 1 fee title acquisition. Acreage protection outcomes exceeded that proposed by 151%; shoreland protected exceeded that proposed by 297%. The grant leveraged $1,119,000 through landowner donation of easement and fee value and other sources, exceeding goals by 134%. ","   ","The primary goal of this program was to ensure protection of coldwater fisheries associated with tullibee refuge lakes in north-central Minnesota. These lakes have the best biological integrity necessary for sustaining a sport fishery in the face of development and a changing climate.    Tullibee (also known as cisco) is the preferred forage fish for the production of quality walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, and lake trout. They require cold, well-oxygenated waters, conditions most common in lakes with deep water and functioning watersheds. Tullibee populations are the “canary in the coalmine” for three significant collective threats to Minnesota’s sport fishery: shoreline development, watershed health, and climate warming. As average summer temperatures have increased, tullibee declines have been observed in some lakes. Deep, cold water tullibee lakes that have high quality, well-oxygenated waters and natural, undisturbed land cover along the shorelines and within their watersheds will have the best chance to sustain tullibee populations in the face of these threats and will serve as a “refuge” for the tullibee if annual temperatures increase.    The program focused on land protection via fee title and conservation easement acquisition within the watersheds of 38 tullibee refuge lakes in Hubbard, Cass, Crow Wing, and Aitkin counties. A project team, including the MN DNR Fisheries Habitat Coordinator and county SWCDs, prioritized projects to maximize outcomes.   Through the Fisheries Habitat Protection on Strategic North Central Minnesota Lakes - Phase I grant, project partners Northern Waters Land Trust (formerly Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation) and Minnesota Land Trust exceeded proposed goals, including: •    Protection of 765 acres of high quality habitat within priority Tullibee watersheds including both in fee (1 property of 105 acres) and via conservation easements (5 properties over 662 acres). Together, these properties protected 8.9 miles of shoreland. Project sheets summarizing each of these projects have been uploaded as part of this final report. •    Grant outcomes exceed by 151% the total acres and by 297% the total amount of shoreland proposed for protection under this grant.  •    The $2,130,000 grant leveraged $1,014,000 in easement value and $105,000 in fee value donated by landowners participating in the program, and raised through other sources. This amount exceeds that proposed by 127%. Protected Properties include: 1.    Woods Bay, Lake Roosevelt – a 105-acre fee purchase on Woods Bay in Lake Roosevelt (a tullibee refuge lake) that protects high quality habitat including intact old growth forest and the adjacent prime muskie spawning area. The property has been transferred to the MN DNR and is managed as the Roosevelt Lake State Aquatic Management Area. 2.    Whitefish Lake (Haddorff) – a 215-acre easement protecting a stunning stretch of natural habitat and 3,200 feet of shoreline along Whitefish Lake. The property also encompasses nearly all of Kutil Lake and its outflow into Whitefish Lake. 3.    Washburn Lake (Gouze) – a 23-acre easement protecting an important natural habitat corridor between Washburn Lake and Lake George. The easement protects extensive shoreland on both lakes and along Saggett Brook. Washburn Lake is a tullibee refuge lake. 4.    Leech Lake (Arnold) – a 45-acre easement protecting the southern tip of Minnesota Island in Leech Lake’s Steamboat Bay. The property contains abundant wetlands interspersed with small sandy and often forested ridges; wild rice beds are common. 5.    Borden Lake (Lavender Springs) – a 105-acre easement protecting heavily forested land with scattered wetlands at the headwaters of Black Bear Creek, a state-designated trout stream and tributary to Borden Lake (a tulibee refuge lake). 6.    Ten Mile Lake (Deer Lodge, LLC) – A 61-acre easement protecting forests and extensive shoreland wetlands adjacent to Ten Mile Lake, a tulibee refuge lake. In addition, project partners established important supporting procedures and practices that have played an essential part in sustaining the Fisheries Habitat Protection program through this and subsequent phases of funding. These included:  •    NWLT created its Clean Water, Critical Habitat program. This program was used to promote and educate landowners on the benefits of conservation easements and acquisitions, greatly facilitating the success achieved through our Phase 1 grant. •    NWLT engaged a University of Minnesota GIS graduate student through the CURA-CAP program to create priority parcel maps for all tullibee refuge lakes in Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, and Aitkin counties. The associated information was used to develop a mailing list used to promote the program to over 1100 landowners and to seek applicants interested in protecting their lands through conservation easements.  •    NWLT and MLT developed and launched an RFP process (modeled after a “reverse bid” approach pioneered by St. John’s University and MLT in the Avon Hills) to seek applications from interested landowners and encourage competition for limited funds.  •    Criteria for prioritizing parcels (including parcel size, shoreline length, sensitive shoreline designation, wetland area, known aquatic and wildlife habit areas, lake inlets and outlets, and adjacency to public and conservation lands) were established to evaluate prospective projects submitted by interested landowners. An interagency technical team was created to review and score applications to make final project selections. Technical team members represent staff from pertinent SWCD’s, Counties, DNR Fisheries and Wildlife, MLT, and NWLT. •    A scoresheet to assist in project selection was developed, along with associated criteria for scoring projects. GIS analyses using existing data, coupled with information stemming from field visits to potential projects, were used to score the projects. This scoring framework has evolved over time as more data has become available and the methodologies tweaked to better fit local circumstances, resulting in a more sophisticated and inclusive system. •    Outreach to landowners through a local organization has proven invaluable in building landowner recognition of the program and overall success. NWLT maintained contact with landowners—answering questions, publishing email newsletters, making site visits, and, if our program didn’t fit their needs, directing them to other conservation programs sponsored by DNR or SWCD’s. ",2014-07-01,2018-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,"Kathy ","DonCarlos ","Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation","PO Box 124",Walker,MN,56484,"(218) 547-4510",kathyd@leechlakewatershed.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard","Northern Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/fisheries-habitat-protection-strategic-north-central-minnesota-lakes,,,,
10033945,"Fisheries Habitat Protection on Strategic North Central Minnesota Lakes - Phase IX",2024,3719000,"ML 2023, Ch. 40, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(g)","$3,719,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and in permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat to sustain healthy fish habitat on coldwater lakes in Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, and Hubbard Counties as follows: $1,777,000 to Northern Waters Land Trust and $1,942,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $168,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Forestlands are protected from development and fragmentation - Private shoreline habitat and forested parcels totaling 476 acres and 1.4 miles of shoreline will be permanently protected from development and fragmentation through conservation easements and fee title acquisitions. Riparian forest lands under easement will maintain healthy habitat complexes for upland and aquatic species; forest cover will enhance water quality habitat for tullibee lakes. Conservation easement properties will protect fish habitat to ensure high quality fishing opportunities. Greater public access for wildlife and outdoors-related recreation will be attained through fee-title acquisition of properties to be conveyed to MN DNR Fish & Wildlife",,,276000,"Landowners, Landowners and Lake Associations",3595000,124000,,0.8,"NWLT, MLT, ","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Northern Waters Land Trust (NWLT) and Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) will protect critical fish habitat within 48 tullibee ""refuge"" lakes and their minor watersheds by securing conservation easements and fee title acquisitions. These efforts are prioritized toward the 23 highest priority tullibee refuge lakes. Through this Fisheries Habitat Protection program, NWLT and MLT are working to protect 75% of each targeted watershed, a measure that provides a high probability of maintaining clean water and healthy lake ecosystems. We will permanently protect approximately 476 acres and 1.4 miles of shoreline through this grant.","Sustaining a strong angling heritage in North Central Minnesota (along with the local economy it drives) revolves around protecting fisheries habitat. Resurging shoreland development pressures and climate change are direct threats to the ecology of Minnesota's lakes. Fisheries research shows that healthy watersheds with intact forests are fundamental to sustaining good fish habitat over the long term; achieving a 75% lake watershed protection goal ensures a resilient and healthy lake ecosystem. Our protection efforts are focused on tullibee (aka cisco), a preferred forage fish of walleye, northern pike, muskellunge and lake trout. They require cold, well oxygenated waters, a condition most common in lakes with deep water and healthy watersheds. Minnesota DNR Fisheries researchers studied tullibee lakes and designated 68 lakes in Minnesota as ""refuge lakes"" for tullibee that need protection. Our four county area (Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard) includes 48 of these tullibee refuges. We are prioritizing 23 of these lakes and their minor watersheds. Many are Minnesota's premier recreational lakes. The Clean Water Critical Habitat Technical Committee evaluated all tullibee lakes in our project area and prioritized 23 lakes and their minor watersheds for action. In assigning priorities, the committee considered: (1) ecological value of the lake, (2) percent of the minor watershed currently protected, (3) number of parcels in the watershed greater than 20 acres in size, (4) partner organizations available for advising on outreach efforts, and (5) investment by other agencies and organizations to protect lands and watersheds. The Clean Water Critical Habitat Technical Committee has also developed a scoring framework to evaluate specific parcels within these priority watersheds (Sign Up Criteria Attachment). This framework takes four factors into consideration: Program Requirements (at least 20 acres in size, within our service area, and on a refuge lake), Ecological Factors (size, quality/condition of the resource, and landscape context), Threat/Urgency (development or disturbance in the minor watershed and the risk classification from water plans), and Cost (cost of project and donative value). These factors are scored on a scale of 0-210, with the highest score indicating the greatest need for conservation action. These scored parcels are made available in a user friendly format on the online Clean Water Critical Habitat map. This map has directly resulted in the protection of numerous high priority parcels Due to the high level of interest in the program and its great success to date, we are applying for a Phase IX of this effort. In this phase, we will protect 476 strategically important acres of land through conservation easements and fee title acquisitions. Program partners will include County Soil & Water Districts, MNDNR Fisheries, MLT and NWLT. This team will conduct outreach to potential landowners and help evaluate the projects to assure we are prioritizing those projects with the greatest conservation outcomes. In addition, to ensure the best conservation return on the state's investment, landowner willingness to donate a portion of the easement value will be a key component of the parcel's evaluation. MLT will hold the easements.",,2023-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Annie,Knight,"Northern Waters Land Trust","800 Minnesota Ave W PO Box 124",Walker,MN,56484,218-547-4510,AnnieK@nwlt-mn.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard","Northern Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/fisheries-habitat-protection-strategic-north-central-minnesota-lakes-phase-ix-0,,,,
10035236,"Fisheries Habitat Protection on Strategic North Central Minnesota Lakes - Phase X",2025,2687000,"ML 2024, Ch. 106, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(g)","$2,687,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and in permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat to sustain healthy fish habitat on coldwater lakes in Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, and Hubbard Counties as follows: $2,252,000 to Northern Waters Land Trust and $435,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $56,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.","Forestlands are protected from development and fragmentation - Forestlands are protected from development and fragmentation ~ Private shoreline habitat and forested parcels totaling 327 acres will be permanently protected from development and fragmentation through conservation easements and fee title acquisitions. Protected riparian forest lands will maintain healthy habitat complexes for upland and aquatic species; forest cover will enhance water quality habitat for tullibee lakes. These lands will also protect fish habitat to ensure high quality fishing opportunities. Fee acquisitions will allow for greater public access and recreation. Lands acquired in fee will be conveyed to a governmental organization to be managed consistent with the agency's land management policies",,,223000,"Landowner donation of easement value, Landowners and Lake Associations",2603000,84000,,0.62,"NWLT, MLT","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Northern Waters Land Trust (NWLT) and Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) will protect critical fish habitat within 48 tullibee ""refuge"" lakes and their minor watersheds by securing conservation easements and fee title acquisitions. These efforts are prioritized toward the 23 highest priority tullibee refuge lakes. Through this Fisheries Habitat Protection program, NWLT and MLT are working to protect 75% of each targeted watershed, a measure that provides a high probability of maintaining clean water and healthy lake ecosystems. We will permanently protect approximately 327 acres of land through this grant.","Sustaining a strong angling heritage in North Central Minnesota (along with the local economy it drives) revolves around protecting fisheries habitat. Resurging shoreland development pressures and climate change are direct threats to the ecology of Minnesota's lakes. Fisheries research shows that healthy watersheds with intact forests are fundamental to sustaining good fish habitat over the long term; achieving a 75% lake watershed protection goal ensures a resilient and healthy lake ecosystem. Our protection efforts are focused on tullibee (aka cisco), a preferred forage fish of walleye, northern pike, muskellunge and lake trout. They require cold, well oxygenated waters, a condition most common in lakes with deep water and healthy watersheds. Minnesota DNR Fisheries researchers studied tullibee lakes and designated 68 lakes in Minnesota as ""refuge lakes"" for tullibee that need protection. Our four-county area (Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard) includes 48 of these tullibee refuges. We are prioritizing 23 of these lakes and their minor watersheds. Many are Minnesota's premier recreational lakes. The Clean Water Critical Habitat Technical Committee evaluated all tullibee lakes in our project area and prioritized 23 lakes and their minor watersheds for action. In assigning priorities, the committee considered: (1) ecological value of the lake, (2) percent of the minor watershed currently protected, (3) number of parcels in the watershed greater than 20 acres in size, (4) partner organizations available for advising on outreach efforts, and (5) investment by other agencies and organizations to protect lands and watersheds. The Clean Water Critical Habitat Technical Committee has also developed a scoring framework to evaluate specific parcels within these priority watersheds (Attachment A). This framework takes four factors into consideration: Program Requirements (at least 20 acres in size, within our service area, and on a refuge lake), Ecological Factors (size, quality/condition of the resource, and landscape context), Threat/Urgency (development or disturbance in the minor watershed and the risk classification from water plans), and Cost (cost of project and donative value). These factors are scored on a scale of 0-210, with the highest score indicating the greatest need for conservation action. These scored parcels are made available in a user-friendly format on the online Clean Water Critical Habitat map. This map has directly resulted in the protection of numerous high priority parcels. Due to the high level of interest in the program and its great success to date, we are applying for a Phase 10 of this effort. In this phase, we will protect 327 strategically important acres of land through conservation easements and fee title acquisitions. Program partners will include County SWCD's, MN DNR, and County land departments. This team will conduct outreach to potential landowners and help evaluate the projects to assure we are prioritizing those projects with the greatest conservation outcomes. In addition, to optimize the state's conservation investment, landowner willingness to donate a portion of the easement or land sale value will be key to evaluation. Both funded partners will have latitude to pursue conservation easements and fee acquisitions through this appropriation.",,2024-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Annie,Knight,"Northern Waters Land Trust","800 Minnesota Ave W PO Box 124",Walker,MN,56484,218-547-4510,AnnieK@nwlt-mn.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard","Northern Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/fisheries-habitat-protection-strategic-north-central-minnesota-lakes-phase-x,,,,
10011420,"Fisheries Habitat Protection on Strategic North Central Minnesota Lakes - Phase V",2020,3365000,"ML 2019, 1st Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd, 5(d)","$3,365,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire lands in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat to sustain healthy fish habitat on coldwater lakes in Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, and Hubbard Counties. Of this amount, $841,000 is to Northern Waters Land Trust and $2,524,000 is to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $192,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Tullibee (aka cisco) is the preferred forage fish for walleye, northern pike, muskellunge and lake trout. They require cold, well oxygenated waters - a condition most common in lakes with deep water and healthy watersheds. Tullibee populations are the ""canary in the coalmine"" for three significant threats to Minnesota's sport fisheries: shoreland development, watershed health and climate warming. Deep, cold water lakes with high quality, well oxygenated waters and natural, undisturbed land cover along the shorelines and within their watersheds will have the best chance to sustain tullibee populations in the face of these threats and will serve as a ""refuge"" for the tullibee if annual temperatures increase. Minnesota DNR Fisheries research studied tullibee lakes and designated 68 lakes in Minnesota as primary ""refuge lakes"" for tullibee that need protection. Sixteen (16) of these lakes representing 23.5% of the designated ""refuge"" lakes are located in Crow Wing, Aitkin, Cass and Hubbard counties. These lakes are premier recreational and sport fishery lakes. Fisheries research has shown that healthy watersheds with intact forest are fundamental to good fish habitat. The MN DNR Fisheries Habitat Plan states near shore fish habitat affected by shoreland disturbance can impact fisheries. Maintaining good water quality is critical to sustaining tullibees as determined by the waters oxygen level and nutrient content. Lakeshore development can negatively impact healthy ecosystems for sport fish and their forage due to increased runoff and physical alteration of shoreland habitat. In Phase V of this program, MLT and NWLT collectively protected 1,114 acres of strategically important lands through both conservation easement (6 projects; 992 acres) and fee title (2 projects; 122 acres) acquisition, achieving 170% of proposed land protection acres. In addition, MLT completed 73 acres of forest enhancement through completion of two projects, achieving 122% of proposed goal.","A total of 1,187 acres were affected: 0 Restored, 122 in Fee Title, 992 in Easements, 73 in Enhance.",473800,"Lake Assoc., Sellers, COLAs and Community Fundraising and Landowner donation of easement value",3097200,74300,,0.61,"Northern Waters Land Trust, MLT","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Project Partners Northern Water Land Trust (NWLT) and Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) successfully concluded this grant, exceeding all proposed acre and leverage goals. Minnesota Land Trust and the Northern Waters Land Trust protected 1,114 acres (170% of goal) of high priority critical fish habitat and 5.61 miles of shoreline associated with priority tullibee ""refuge"" lakes and their associated watersheds through conservation easement and fee title acquisitions, and enhanced 73 acres (122% of goal) of associated forest habitat. The Partnership realized $474,000 in leverage (93% of goal) from lake associations and landowner donation of conservation easement value.","Sustaining a strong angling heritage revolves largely around protecting fisheries habitat. Resurging shoreland development pressures and looming climate change are direct threats to the ecology of Minnesota's lakes. This project focused on fisheries habitat protection on lakes that have the best biological integrity for a sustained sport fishery. Our protection efforts are focused on tullibee (aka cisco), a preferred forage fish of walleye, northern pike, muskellunge and lake trout. They require cold, well-oxygenated waters, a condition most common in deep water lakes with healthy watersheds. Minnesota DNR Fisheries researchers studied tullibee lakes and designated 68 lakes in Minnesota as the primary ""refuge lakes"" for tullibee that need protection. Fisheries research has shown that healthy watersheds with intact forests are fundamental to good fish habitat. The Clean Water Critical Habitat (CWCH) Technical Committee evaluated all tullibee lakes in our project area and prioritized 16 lakes for action based on: ecological value of the lake; percent of the minor watershed currently protected; number of parcels in the watershed >20 acres in size; partner organizations advising on outreach efforts; and investment by other agencies/organizations in land/watershed protection. Landowner willingness to donate a portion of the easement value was a key component of parcel evaluation. NWLT conducted landowner outreach and oversaw the review of applications from landowners. NWLT also negotiated and acquired properties in fee. MLT managed the grant, negotiated and closed all associated conservation easements, and served as project manager for R/E projects. Fee and conservation easement acquisition was facilitated by County SWCDs and MNDNR Fisheries, who both assisted with outreach and evaluation of projects. Six conservation easements were completed by MLT. Each of these is described in more detail in the Project Summary Sheets uploaded into the final report. -Kabekona River (Casson): 192 acres of upland hardwood forest; 4,280 feet of shoreline on the Kabekona River (Kabekona Lake watershed). -Bad Axe Lake (BSA): 112 acres of upland hardwood forest; 3,600 feet of shoreline on Bad Axe Lake (Big Sand Lake watershed). -Shurd Lake (YMCA): 465 acres of upland hardwood forest encompassing Shurd Lake (Woman Lake and Cooper Lake watersheds). -Stony Lake (Patmos): 44 acres of upland forest, wetlands; 2,489 feet of shoreline on Stony Lake (Man-Girl Lake watershed). -Crooked Lake (Posner): 57 acres of upland hardwood forest; 1,647 feet of shoreline on Crooked Lake. -Ten Mile Lake (UCC): 104 acres of upland hardwood forest; 3,102 feet of shoreline on Boy River (Ten Mile Lake watershed). Two properties were protect in fee by NWLT: -Louise Lake AMA: 20 acres added to existing Louise Lake AMA (split-funded: 6 acres/687 feet of shoreline under Phase 5). -Wabedo Lake, Cass County Forest: 116 acres protecting 800 feet of shoreline on Wabedo Lake. Two Enhancement projects were completed by MLT: -Lavender Springs (Borden) easement: 13 acres of invasive woody removal in high-quality mesic hardwood forest at headwaters of Black Bear Creek. -Eleventh Crow Wing Lake (Olander) easement: 60 acres of grassland enhancement adjacent to Paul Bunyan State Forest.",,2019-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Wayne,Ostlie,"Minnesota Land Trust","2356 University Ave W Suite 240","St. Paul",MN,55114,6519176292,wostlie@mnland.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard","Northern Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/fisheries-habitat-protection-strategic-north-central-minnesota-lakes-phase-v,,,,
35060,"Fisheries Habitat Protection on Strategic North Central Minnesota Lakes: Phase II",2017,1425000,"ML 2016, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(d)","$1,425,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements with the Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation and Minnesota Land Trust to acquire land in fee and permanent conservation easements to sustain healthy fish habitat on cold water lakes in Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, and Hubbard Counties as follows: $480,000 to Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation; and $945,000 to Minnesota Land Trust, of which up to $180,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Tullibee (aka cisco) is the preferred forage fish for walleye, northern pike, muskellunge and lake trout. They require cold, well oxygenated waters - a condition most common in lakes with deep water and healthy watersheds. Tullibee populations are the ""canary in the coal mine"" for three significant threats to Minnesota's sport fisheries: shoreland development, watershed health and climate warming. Deep, cold water lakes with high quality, well-oxygenated waters and natural, undisturbed land cover along the shorelines and within their watersheds will have the best chance to sustain tullibee populations in the face of these threats and will serve as a ""refuge"" for the tullibee if annual temperatures increase. Minnesota DNR Fisheries Research scientists studied tullibee lakes and designated 68 lakes in Minnesota as primary ""refuge lakes"" for tullibee that need protection. Forty-eight of these lakes and their minor watersheds are located in Crow Wing, Aitkin, Cass and Hubbard counties. These lakes are premier recreational and sport fishery lakes. Fisheries research has shown that healthy watersheds with intact forest are fundamental to good fish habitat. The MN DNR Fisheries Habitat Plan states near shore fish habitat affected by shoreland disturbance can impact fisheries. Maintaining good water quality is critical to sustaining tullibees as determined by the water's oxygen level and nutrient content. Lakeshore development decreases a lakes ability to function as a healthy ecosystem for sport fish and their forage, due to increased runoff, but also through physical alternation by lakeshore owners.","A total of 630 acres were affected: 0 Restored, 29 in Fee Title, 601 in Easements, 0 in Enhance.",965000,"Landowner Donation and Local Fundrasing and Landowner Donation and local fundraising",1220600,39700,,"0.53 ","Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation and Minnesota Land Trust","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Project partners Northern Water Land Trust (NWLT) and Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) successfully concluded this grant, protecting a combined total of 630 acres (105% of goal) and 25,278 feet of shoreline (188% of goal), while providing $965,000 in leverage to the grant (170% of goal). NWLT purchased the 29-acre Woman Lake Aquatic Management Area in fee and conveyed to the Minnesota DNR. The parcel protects 1,140 feet of shoreline on Broadwater Bay. The Minnesota Land Trust completed four conservation easement projects under this appropriation, protecting a total of 601 acres and 24,854 feet of shoreline.","A recent survey of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported 32 percent of Minnesotans participated in sport fishing, contributing $2.4 billion to the state economy in 2011. Sport fishing is a powerful economic engine in Minnesota and important to its residents' quality of life. Sustaining a strong angling heritage revolves largely around protecting fisheries habitat necessary for healthy sport fish populations in the near- and long-term future with resurging shoreland development pressures and looming climate changes. This project focused on fisheries habitat protection on lakes that have the best biological integrity for a sustained sport fishery in light of these changes. These lakes are known collectively as ""tullibee refuge lakes."" Tullibee (aka cisco) is the preferred forage fish for walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, and lake trout. They require cold, well-oxygenated waters - a condition most common in lakes with deep water and healthy watersheds. Tullibee populations are the ""canary in the coalmine"" for three significant collective threats to Minnesota's sport fishery: shoreline development, watershed health, and climate warming. Deep, cold water tullibee lakes with high quality, well-oxygenated waters and natural, undisturbed land cover along the shorelines and within their watersheds will have the best chance to sustain tullibee populations in the face of these threats and will serve as a ""refuge"" for the tullibee if annual temperatures increase. Minnesota DNR Fisheries researchers studied tullibee lakes and designated 68 lakes in Minnesota as the primary ""refuge lakes"" for tullibee that need protection. Thirty-eight (38) of these refuge lakes - 58 percent - are located in Hubbard, Crow Wing, Cass, and Aitkin counties. Many are also Minnesota's premier recreation lakes. Scope of Project: Minnesota DNR Fisheries research recommends that 75% of a lake's watershed be in permanent protection to ensure sustained water quality. Tullibee refuge lakes near this threshold were the highest priority for protection. In addition, the DNR's Sensitive Shoreland data were used to help identify priority lakes where conservation investments could be maximized. Landowner recruitment was focus on parcels in close proximity to protected land and which also had a high potential to expand upland and aquatic habitat complexes. Landowner applications were evaluated based on criteria established by the project's technical team. To ensure the best conservation return on the state's investment, landowner willingness to donate a portion of the easement value was a key component of the parcel evaluation. Best available data (state and county) was used to prioritize projects and maximize outcomes. The 2013 Minnesota DNR Fish Habitat Plan provided strategic guidance. Per the Fish Habitat Plan, nearshore fish habitat in lakes is largely affected by shoreline disturbance and the water quality habitat is determined by the water's oxygen level and nutrient content. Lakeshore development decreases a lake's ability to function as a healthy ecosystem for sport fish and their forage, not only by allowing increased runoff, but also through physical fish habitat alteration by lakeshore owners. Fisheries research has shown that healthy watersheds with intact forests are fundamental to good fish habitat. If 75% or more of its watershed remains forested and permanently protected, a lake has a high probability of sustaining a healthy lake ecosystem. The 38 tullibee refuge lakes in North Central Minnesota all have less than 25% land disturbance in their watersheds and already have some degree of watershed protection. While fisheries habitat protection was the primary focus of this project, creating strategic conservation complexes was an added benefit of permanent protection of forested, non-riparian lands within a tullibee refuge lake's watershed. A conservation easement or fee title acquisition added adjacent to other protected land will increase the overall conservation impact by creating larger permanently protected complexes of diverse habitat that benefit many species. Fee acquisition and conservation easements were used to achieve permanent conservation of fisheries habitat on strategic parcels primarily in the watersheds of the 38 tullibee refuge lakes in Hubbard, Cass, Crow Wing, and Aitkin counties. Protection was targeted to shoreland parcels and key private forested parcels within these lake watersheds. NWLT's role in the program was focused on targeted landowner recruitment, facilitating the technical team, grant administration, and acquisition of fee projects. MLT provided technical support and worked with landowners to secure conservation easements. Five properties were protected through this grant - one in fee (via NWLT) and four through conservation easements (via MLT). The five completed projects listed below are: NWLT: Woman Lake Aquatic Management Area, Tract 11 - Cass County. The 28.9 acre Lockman Family property was purchased by NWLT and conveyed to the State of Minnesota as part of the Woman Lake Aquatic Management Area. Woman Lake is within the Girl Lake watershed, which is categorized as a cold water tullibee refuge lake. The property has wetlands and sensitive lakeshore with diverse aquatic plants, birds, and other species. MLT: Sucker Brook (Roerick Trust) - Hubbard County. This 76-acre conservation easement is dominated by white cedar swamp and lies adjacent to the 321-acre Lester Lake SNA, Lester Lake AMA and the 100,000+ acre Paul Bunyan State Forest. The centerpiece of the property is the nearly one-mile riparian corridor of Sucker Brook, an important tributary to Kabekona Lake, a designated Tullibee Refuge Lake. MLT: Kabakona River (Hunke) - Hubbard County. The conservation easement protects >7,000 feet of the shoreline along the Kabekona River, a state-designated trout stream, and jack pine woodland communities on the uplands. The river is an important cold-water tributary to Kabekona Lake, an Outstanding Water Resource and a designated Tullibee Refuge Lake. MLT: Eleventh Crow Wing Lake (Olander) - Hubbard. County. This 400-acre property is part of a large landscape of protected natural lands, lying adjacent to the Paul Bunyan State Forest. The property's rolling terrain supports mixed hardwood-conifer forest, restored grasslands, wetlands, and ponds. Six SGCN have been observed here. MLT: Thunder Lake (Steiner) - Cass County. The 49-acre conservation easement contains over one-half mile of shoreline on Thunder Lake, a designated Tullibee Refuge Lake, Lake of Outstanding Biological Significance, and a wild rice lake.",,1970-01-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Annie,Knight,"Northern Waters Land Trust","P.O. Box 124 ",Walker,MN,56484,218-547-4510,AnnieK@nwlt-mn.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Cass, Hubbard","Northern Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/fisheries-habitat-protection-strategic-north-central-minnesota-lakes-phase-ii,,,,
10033393,"Fisheries Habitat Protection on Strategic North Central Minnesota Lakes - Phase VIII",2023,4536000,"ML 2022, Ch. 77, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(l)","$4,536,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat to sustain healthy fish habitat on coldwater lakes in Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, and Hubbard Counties as follows: $1,853,000 to Northern Waters Land Trust; and $2,683,000 to Minnesota Land Trust, of which up to $216,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Forestlands are protected from development and fragmentation - Private shoreline habitat and forested parcels totaling 750 acres and 6,900 feet of shoreline will be permanently protected from development and fragmentation through conservation easements. Riparian forest lands under easement will maintain healthy habitat complexes for upland and aquatic species; forest cover will enhance water quality habitat for tullibee lakes. Conservation easement properties will protect fish habitat to ensure high quality fishing opportunities. Greater public access for wildlife and outdoors-related recreation will be attained through fee-title acquisition of properties to be conveyed to either a County or DNR Forestry and managed consistent with the public entity's land management practices",,,351300,"Landowner, Lake Associations, Local Stakeholders and Landowners",4434300,101700,,0.94,"NWLT; MLT","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Northern Waters Land Trust (NWLT) and Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) will protect critical fish habitat within 48 tullibee ""refuge"" lakes and their minor watersheds by securing conservation easements and fee title acquisitions. These efforts are prioritized toward the 23 highest priority tullibee refuge lakes. Through this Fisheries Habitat Protection program, NWLT and MLT are working to protect 75% of each targeted watershed, a measure that provides a high probability of maintaining clean water and healthy lake ecosystems. We will permanently protect approximately 750 acres and 6,900 feet of shoreline through this grant.","Sustaining a strong angling heritage in North Central Minnesota (along with the local economy it drives) revolves around protecting fisheries habitat. Resurging shoreland development pressures and climate change are direct threats to the ecology of Minnesota's lakes. Fisheries research shows that healthy watersheds with intact forests are fundamental to sustaining good fish habitat over the long term; achieving a 75% lake watershed protection goal ensures a resilient and healthy lake ecosystem. Our protection efforts are focused on tullibee (aka cisco), a preferred forage fish of walleye, northern pike, muskellunge and lake trout. They require cold, well oxygenated waters, a condition most common in lakes with deep water and healthy watersheds. Minnesota DNR Fisheries researchers studied tullibee lakes and designated 68 lakes in Minnesota as ""refuge lakes"" for tullibee that need protection. Our four county area (Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard) includes 48 of these tullibee refuges. We are prioritizing twenty-three of these lakes and their minor watersheds. Many are Minnesota's premier recreational lakes. The Clean Water Critical Habitat Technical Committee evaluated all tullibee lakes in our project area and prioritized 23 lakes and their minor watersheds for action. In assigning priorities, the committee considered: (1) ecological value of the lake, (2) percent of the minor watershed currently protected, (3) number of parcels in the watershed greater than 20 acres in size, (4) partner organizations available for advising on outreach efforts, and (5) investment by other agencies and organizations to protect lands and watersheds. The Clean Water Critical Habitat Technical Committee has also developed a scoring framework to evaluate specific parcels within these priority watersheds (Attachment A). This framework takes four factors into consideration: Program Requirements (at least 20 acres in size, within our service area, and on a refuge lake), Ecological Factors (size, quality/condition of the resource, and landscape context), Threat/Urgency (development or disturbance in the minor watershed and the risk classification from water plans), and Cost (cost of project and donative value). These factors are scored on a scale of 0-210, with the highest score indicating the greatest need for conservation action. These scored parcels are made available in a user friendly format on the online Clean Water Critical Habitat map. This map has directly resulted in the protection of numerous high priority parcels Due to the high level of interest in the program and its great success to date, we are applying for a Phase VIII of this effort. In this phase, we will protect 750 strategically important acres of land through conservation easements and fee title acquisitions. Program partners will include County Soil & Water Districts, MNDNR Fisheries, MLT and NWLT. This team will conduct outreach to potential landowners and help evaluate the projects to assure we are prioritizing those projects with the greatest conservation outcomes. In addition, to ensure the best conservation return on the state's investment, landowner willingness to donate a portion of the easement value will be a key component of the parcel's evaluation. MLT will hold the easements.",,2022-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Annie,Knight,"Northern Waters Land Trust","800 Minnesota Ave W PO Box 124",Walker,MN,56484,218-547-4510,AnnieK@nwlt-mn.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard","Northern Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/fisheries-habitat-protection-strategic-north-central-minnesota-lakes-phase-viii,,,,
20536,"Forestry Best Management Practices for Clean Water",2025,300000,"M.L. 2023, Ch. 40, Article 2, Section 5(g)","$650,000 the first year and $650,000 the second year are for applied research and tools, including maintaining and updating spatial data for watershed boundaries, streams, and water bodies and integrating high-resolution digital elevation data and for assessing the effectiveness of forestry best management practices for water quality. ","In FY25 DNR will complete intensive field monitoring on ~100 timber harvest sites in eleven targeted watersheds in central and northern Minnesota. Aerial image acquisition and landowner contact and efforts to acquire permissions for access are currently underway. Coordination with Minnesota Logger Education Program, Sustainable Forestry Education Cooperative, and agency foresters is also currently underway to deliver trainings and workshops focused on the Minnesota Forest Resources Council Forest Management Guidelines (FMGs). We plan to continue outreach to landowners, managers and loggers about monitoring results and opportunities to improve the implementation of guidelines and reduce water quality risks. We also plan to continue exploring ways in which statewide coverage of the canopy change analysis can feed into assessment of thresholds corresponding to varying levels of risk to water quality (WRAPS) and biodiversity (WHAF). A hydro-geomorphological risk model developed for the entire state will also be released along with appropriate guidance for its use in identifying and mitigating landscape risks through appropriate on-site BMP planning and implementation. The User’s Guide is currently near completion. Four full seasons of data collected using the new data entry system have been fully integrated with data collected since 2009 and will become available this year.   ",,,,,,,,,,,"The Minnesota DNR and the Minnesota Forest Resources Council work with forest landowners, managers and loggers to implement a set of voluntary sustainable forest management guidelines that include water quality best management practices (BMPs) to ensure sustainable habitat, clean water, and productive forest soils, all contributing to healthy watersheds. This project will monitor the implementation of these forest management guidelines and BMPs on forested watersheds in MN. Additionally, this project will identify timber harvest frequency and distribution as well as significant change to forest area including conversion of forests to other land uses, large fires, and blowdown events. An evaluation of the guideline implementation rates, watershed characteristics, and the frequency and distribution of forest change will be used to identify risks to water quality as well as strategies to reduce these risks, with the goal of maintaining high quality forested watersheds in MN. Outreach programs will be developed for forest landowners, managers and loggers throughout the target watersheds aimed at mitigating these risks such as improved implementation of specific BMPs. ","Forested watersheds in MN generally produce an abundance of high quality water. Much of our forested landscape is managed as productive forest land providing timber products as well recreational opportunities and abundant wildlife. Sustainable timber harvesting in combination with application of voluntary water quality BMP's has helped to maintain water quality in Minnesota's managed forest lands. However, risks to water quality in these landscapes still remain, with rates of BMP implementation, harvesting patterns, and watershed characteristics influencing the potential for impacts to occur at any given time or place. Also, recent trends in forestland development and loss in Minnesota has increased the risk of impacts to water quality in forested landscapes. Evaluation of BMP implementation and quantification of risk factors by watershed, combined with effective outreach programs, will allow for continued utilization of working forests while maintaining functioning, healthy watersheds that produce clean water. ",,2013-07-01,,"Clean Water Fund","In Progress",,,Lila,Westreich,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,,lila.westreich@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Monitoring","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Roseau, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Winona",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/forestry-best-management-practices-clean-water,,,,
20536,"Forestry Best Management Practices for Clean Water",2024,300000,"M.L. 2023, Ch. 40, Article 2, Section 5(g)","$650,000 the first year and $650,000 the second year are for applied research and tools, including maintaining and updating spatial data for watershed boundaries, streams, and water bodies and integrating high-resolution digital elevation data and for assessing the effectiveness of forestry best management practices for water quality. "," In FY24 DNR will complete intensive field monitoring on ~100 timber harvest sites in eleven targeted watersheds in central and northern Minnesota. Aerial image acquisition and landowner contact and efforts to acquire permissions for access are currently underway. Coordination with Minnesota Logger Education Program, Sustainable Forestry Education Cooperative, and agency foresters is also currently underway to deliver trainings and workshops focused on the Minnesota Forest Resources Council Forest Management Guidelines (FMGs). We plan to continue outreach to landowners, managers and loggers about monitoring results and opportunities to improve the implementation of guidelines and reduce water quality risks. We also plan to continue exploring ways in which statewide coverage of the canopy change analysis can feed into assessment of thresholds corresponding to varying levels of risk to water quality (WRAPS) and biodiversity (WHAF). A hydro-geomorphological risk model developed for the entire state will also be released along with appropriate guidance for its use in identifying and mitigating landscape risks through appropriate on-site BMP planning and implementation. The User’s Guide is currently near completion. Four full seasons of data collected using the new data entry system have been fully integrated with data collected since 2009 and will become available this year. ","In FY24, DNR completed intensive field monitoring on 79 timber harvest sites in three targeted watersheds in northern and central Minnesota. Sampling monitored water quality best management practices (BMPs) and other sustainable forest management guidelines. Low private landowner interest and increased contracting costs ($30K+ increase over previous year) led to lower number of monitoring sites across watersheds. Our monitoring identified certain areas where further education is recommended, such as RMZs, filter strips, erosion control, and road and landing placements. Due to issues with data quality, sites may be re-measured in winter 2024 and spring 2025 to ensure data quality is available to create a 1-year report on watershed data in early 2025. A regional report inclusive of all surveyed watersheds over the last 5 years will be published in late 2025. The Guideline Monitoring Program also assisted with four logger education trainings collaborated with UMN Extension, MFRC, MLEP, and DNR held in central and northern areas of the state during FY24, with plans to expand trainings to all other parts of Minnesota over the next 2 years. ",,,,275556,,,1,,,"The Minnesota DNR and the Minnesota Forest Resources Council work with forest landowners, managers and loggers to implement a set of voluntary sustainable forest management guidelines that include water quality best management practices (BMPs) to ensure sustainable habitat, clean water, and productive forest soils, all contributing to healthy watersheds. This project will monitor the implementation of these forest management guidelines and BMPs on forested watersheds in MN. Additionally, this project will identify timber harvest frequency and distribution as well as significant change to forest area including conversion of forests to other land uses, large fires, and blowdown events. An evaluation of the guideline implementation rates, watershed characteristics, and the frequency and distribution of forest change will be used to identify risks to water quality as well as strategies to reduce these risks, with the goal of maintaining high quality forested watersheds in MN. Outreach programs will be developed for forest landowners, managers and loggers throughout the target watersheds aimed at mitigating these risks such as improved implementation of specific BMPs. ","Forested watersheds in MN generally produce an abundance of high quality water. Much of our forested landscape is managed as productive forest land providing timber products as well recreational opportunities and abundant wildlife. Sustainable timber harvesting in combination with application of voluntary water quality BMP's has helped to maintain water quality in Minnesota's managed forest lands. However, risks to water quality in these landscapes still remain, with rates of BMP implementation, harvesting patterns, and watershed characteristics influencing the potential for impacts to occur at any given time or place. Also, recent trends in forestland development and loss in Minnesota has increased the risk of impacts to water quality in forested landscapes. Evaluation of BMP implementation and quantification of risk factors by watershed, combined with effective outreach programs, will allow for continued utilization of working forests while maintaining functioning, healthy watersheds that produce clean water. ",,2013-07-01,,"Clean Water Fund","In Progress",,,Lila,Westreich,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,,lila.westreich@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Monitoring","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Roseau, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Winona",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/forestry-best-management-practices-clean-water,,,,
20536,"Forestry Best Management Practices for Clean Water",2023,250000,"M.L. 2021 First Special Session Ch. 1 Art. 2 Sec. 5(g)","$535000 the first year and $530000 the second year are for applied research and tools including watershed hydrologic modeling; maintaining and updating spatial data for watershed boundaries streams and water bodies and integrating high-resolution digital elevation data; and assessing effectiveness of forestry best management practices for water quality. ","DNR will complete intensive field monitoring on ~100 timber harvest sites in eleven targeted watersheds in central and southeastern Minnesota. Aerial image acquisition and landowner contact and efforts to acquire permissions for access are currently underway. Coordination with Minnesota Logger Education Program, Sustainable Forestry Education Cooperative, and agency foresters is also currently underway to deliver trainings and workshops focused on the Minnesota Forest Resources Council Forest Management Guidelines (FMGs). We plan to continue outreach to landowners, managers and loggers about monitoring results and opportunities to improve the implementation of guidelines and reduce water quality risks. We also plan to continue exploring ways in which statewide coverage of the canopy change analysis can feed into assessment of thresholds corresponding to varying levels of risk to water quality (WRAPS) and biodiversity (WHAF). A hydro-geomorphological risk model developed for the entire state will also be released along with appropriate guidance for its use in identifying and mitigating landscape risks through appropriate on-site BMP planning and implementation. The User’s Guide is currently near completion. Three full seasons of data collected using the new data entry system have been fully integrated with data collected since 2009 and will become available this year. "," In FY23 DNR completed intensive field monitoring on 70 timber harvest sites in ten targeted watersheds in central and southeastern Minnesota. Sampling was conducted proportionately to the number of timber harvests in each ownership class (County, Federal, Industry, NIPF, State, Tribal). We monitored water quality best management practice (BMP) and other sustainable forest management implementation. Lower private landowner participation and increased contracting costs resulted in a smaller than anticipated sample this year. Analysis of data collected in recent years of monitoring has allowed us to begin looking for spatial trends in BMP implementation and to deliver outreach to improve those trends. Examples include identification of watersheds where placement of infrastructure on top of filter strips has been observed, use of erosion control practices, trends in riparian management zone use, leave tree and coarse woody debris retention, and rutting on roads skid trails and approaches. A two-year report on watershed sample unit FMG implementation will be released in February of 2024. We also completed our first Forest Management Guideline (FMG) training with representatives from BWSR, MFRC, UMN, and DNR at the Cloquet Forestry Center as part of a restart of the guideline training program’s in-person events. ",,,,210369,5890,,1,,,"The Minnesota DNR and the Minnesota Forest Resources Council work with forest landowners, managers and loggers to implement a set of voluntary sustainable forest management guidelines that include water quality best management practices (BMPs) to ensure sustainable habitat, clean water, and productive forest soils, all contributing to healthy watersheds. This project will monitor the implementation of these forest management guidelines and BMPs on forested watersheds in MN. Additionally, this project will identify timber harvest frequency and distribution as well as significant change to forest area including conversion of forests to other land uses, large fires, and blowdown events. An evaluation of the guideline implementation rates, watershed characteristics, and the frequency and distribution of forest change will be used to identify risks to water quality as well as strategies to reduce these risks, with the goal of maintaining high quality forested watersheds in MN. Outreach programs will be developed for forest landowners, managers and loggers throughout the target watersheds aimed at mitigating these risks such as improved implementation of specific BMPs. ","Forested watersheds in MN generally produce an abundance of high quality water. Much of our forested landscape is managed as productive forest land providing timber products as well recreational opportunities and abundant wildlife. Sustainable timber harvesting in combination with application of voluntary water quality BMP's has helped to maintain water quality in Minnesota's managed forest lands. However, risks to water quality in these landscapes still remain, with rates of BMP implementation, harvesting patterns, and watershed characteristics influencing the potential for impacts to occur at any given time or place. Also, recent trends in forestland development and loss in Minnesota has increased the risk of impacts to water quality in forested landscapes. Evaluation of BMP implementation and quantification of risk factors by watershed, combined with effective outreach programs, will allow for continued utilization of working forests while maintaining functioning, healthy watersheds that produce clean water. ",,2013-07-01,,"Clean Water Fund","In Progress",,,Lila,Westreich,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,,lila.westreich@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Monitoring","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Roseau, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Winona",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/forestry-best-management-practices-clean-water,,,,
20536,"Forestry Best Management Practices for Clean Water",2022,250000,"M.L. 2021 First Special Session Ch. 1 Art. 2 Sec. 5(g)","$535000 the first year and $530000 the second year are for applied research and tools including watershed hydrologic modeling; maintaining and updating spatial data for watershed boundaries streams and water bodies and integrating high-resolution digital elevation data; and assessing effectiveness of forestry best management practices for water quality. ","DNR will complete intensive field monitoring on ~100 timber harvest sites in ten targeted watersheds in northern and central Minnesota. Aerial image acquisition and landowner contact and efforts to acquire permissions for access are currently underway. Coordination with Minnesota Logger Education Program Sustainable Forestry Education Cooperative and agency foresters is also currently underway to plan trainings and workshops focused on the Minnesota Forest Resources Council Forest Management Guidelines (FMGs). We plan to continue outreach to landowners managers and loggers about monitoring results and opportunities to improve the implementation of guidelines and reduce water quality risks to the extent possible given COVID-19 mitigation guidelines and restrictions. We plan to continue exploring ways in which statewide coverage of the canopy change analysis can feed into assessment of thresholds corresponding to varying levels of risk to water quality (WRAPS) and biodiversity (WHAF). A hydro-geomorphological risk model developed for the entire state will also be released along with appropriate guidance for its use in identifying and mitigating landscape risks through appropriate on-site BMP planning and implementation. The User's Guide is currently near completion. Two full seasons of data collected using the new data entry system are now available. This will allow GMP staff to complete a two-year report on watershed sample unit FMG implementation in early February of 2022. ","DNR completed intensive field monitoring on 75 timber harvest sites in ten targeted watersheds in northern and central Minnesota. Sampling was conducted proportionately to the number of timber harvests in each ownership class (County, Federal, Industry, NIPF, State, Tribal). We monitored water quality best management practice (BMP) and other sustainable forest management implementation. Lower private landowner participation and increased contracting costs resulted in a smaller than anticipated sample this year. During FY22, we further refined our new data entry system for GMP, utilizing ArcGIS Portal, Collector, and Survey123 for collection and storage of spatial and survey data related to monitored harvest sites. We also developed scripted data compilation and reporting methods using this new system. Analysis of data collected in recent years of monitoring has allowed us to begin looking for spatial trends in BMP implementation and to deliver outreach to improve those trends. Examples include identification of watersheds where placement of infrastructure on top of filter strips has been observed, use of erosion control practices, trends in riparian management zone use, leave tree and coarse woody debris retention, and rutting on roads skid trails and approaches. A two-year report on watershed sample unit FMG implementation was released in February of 2022. ",,,,244317,4773,,1,,,"The Minnesota DNR and the Minnesota Forest Resources Council work with forest landowners, managers and loggers to implement a set of voluntary sustainable forest management guidelines that include water quality best management practices (BMPs) to ensure sustainable habitat, clean water, and productive forest soils, all contributing to healthy watersheds. This project will monitor the implementation of these forest management guidelines and BMPs on forested watersheds in MN. Additionally, this project will identify timber harvest frequency and distribution as well as significant change to forest area including conversion of forests to other land uses, large fires, and blowdown events. An evaluation of the guideline implementation rates, watershed characteristics, and the frequency and distribution of forest change will be used to identify risks to water quality as well as strategies to reduce these risks, with the goal of maintaining high quality forested watersheds in MN. Outreach programs will be developed for forest landowners, managers and loggers throughout the target watersheds aimed at mitigating these risks such as improved implementation of specific BMPs. ","Forested watersheds in MN generally produce an abundance of high quality water. Much of our forested landscape is managed as productive forest land providing timber products as well recreational opportunities and abundant wildlife. Sustainable timber harvesting in combination with application of voluntary water quality BMP's has helped to maintain water quality in Minnesota's managed forest lands. However, risks to water quality in these landscapes still remain, with rates of BMP implementation, harvesting patterns, and watershed characteristics influencing the potential for impacts to occur at any given time or place. Also, recent trends in forestland development and loss in Minnesota has increased the risk of impacts to water quality in forested landscapes. Evaluation of BMP implementation and quantification of risk factors by watershed, combined with effective outreach programs, will allow for continued utilization of working forests while maintaining functioning, healthy watersheds that produce clean water. ",,2013-07-01,,"Clean Water Fund","In Progress",,,Lila,Westreich,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,,lila.westreich@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Monitoring","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Roseau, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Winona",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/forestry-best-management-practices-clean-water,,,,
20536,"Forestry Best Management Practices for Clean Water",2021,250000,"M.L. 2019 First Special Session Ch. 2 Art. 2 Sec. 6(g)","$700000 the first year and $700000 the second year are for applied research and tools including watershed hydrologic modeling; maintaining and updating spatial data for watershed boundaries streams and water bodies and integrating high-resolution digital elevation data; and assessing effectiveness of forestry best management practices for water quality.","DNR will complete intensive field monitoring on ~100 timber harvest sites in seven targeted watersheds in northern and central Minnesota. Aerial image acquisition and landowner contact and efforts to acquire permissions for access are currently underway. Coordination with DNR Private Forest Management Foresters (PFM) to help us connect with private landowners and future workshops is in progress. We plan to continue outreach to landowners managers and loggers about monitoring results and opportunities to improve the implementation of guidelines and reduce water quality risks to the extent possible given COVID-19 mitigation guidelines and restrictions. We plan to continue exploring ways in which statewide coverage of the canopy change analysis can feed into assessment of thresholds corresponding to varying levels of risk to water quality (WRAPS) and biodiversity (WHAF). A hydrogeomorphological risk model developed for the entire state will also be released along with appropriate guidance for its use in identifying and mitigating landscape risks through appropriate on-site BMP planning and implementation. A full season of data collected using the new data entry system will become available allowing GMP staff to develop scripted methods to integrate new monitoring observations with historic data sets and begin providing site-level and watershed/ownership summary reports via the online reporting application described in FY20 Outcomes.","DNR completed intensive field monitoring on 92 timber harvest sites in seven targeted watersheds in northern and central Minnesota. Direct GMP contact with non-industrial private forest owners allowed us to achieve a good sample of this important demographic this year. We monitored water quality best management practice (BMP) and other sustainable forest management implementation. During FY21 we further refined our new data entry system for GMP utilizing ArcGIS Portal Collector and Survey123 for collection and storage of spatial and survey data related to monitored harvest sites. We also developed scripted data compilation and reporting methods using this new system. The Beta version of an online reporting application continues to contribute to summarization and reporting of monitoring results. Analysis of data collected in recent years of monitoring has allowed us to begin looking for spatial trends in BMP implementation and to deliver outreach to improve those trends. Examples include identification of watersheds where placement of infrastructure on top of filter strips has been observed use of erosion control practices trends in riparian management zone use leave tree and coarse woody debris retention and rutting on roads skid trails and approaches. We are currently working with MNIT to identify a hosting solution for the reporting application.",,,,260654,4540,,1.2,,,"The Minnesota DNR and the Minnesota Forest Resources Council work with forest landowners, managers and loggers to implement a set of voluntary sustainable forest management guidelines that include water quality best management practices (BMPs) to ensure sustainable habitat, clean water, and productive forest soils, all contributing to healthy watersheds. This project will monitor the implementation of these forest management guidelines and BMPs on forested watersheds in MN. Additionally, this project will identify timber harvest frequency and distribution as well as significant change to forest area including conversion of forests to other land uses, large fires, and blowdown events. An evaluation of the guideline implementation rates, watershed characteristics, and the frequency and distribution of forest change will be used to identify risks to water quality as well as strategies to reduce these risks, with the goal of maintaining high quality forested watersheds in MN. Outreach programs will be developed for forest landowners, managers and loggers throughout the target watersheds aimed at mitigating these risks such as improved implementation of specific BMPs. ","Forested watersheds in MN generally produce an abundance of high quality water. Much of our forested landscape is managed as productive forest land providing timber products as well recreational opportunities and abundant wildlife. Sustainable timber harvesting in combination with application of voluntary water quality BMP's has helped to maintain water quality in Minnesota's managed forest lands. However, risks to water quality in these landscapes still remain, with rates of BMP implementation, harvesting patterns, and watershed characteristics influencing the potential for impacts to occur at any given time or place. Also, recent trends in forestland development and loss in Minnesota has increased the risk of impacts to water quality in forested landscapes. Evaluation of BMP implementation and quantification of risk factors by watershed, combined with effective outreach programs, will allow for continued utilization of working forests while maintaining functioning, healthy watersheds that produce clean water. ",,2013-07-01,,"Clean Water Fund","In Progress",,,Lila,Westreich,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,,lila.westreich@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Monitoring","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Roseau, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Winona",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/forestry-best-management-practices-clean-water,,,,
20536,"Forestry Best Management Practices for Clean Water",2020,250000,"M.L. 2019 First Special Session Ch. 2 Art. 2 Sec. 6(g)","$700000 the first year and $700000 the second year are for applied research and tools including watershed hydrologic modeling; maintaining and updating spatial data for watershed boundaries streams and water bodies and integrating high-resolution digital elevation data; and assessing effectiveness of forestry best management practices for water quality.","DNR will complete intensive field monitoring on ~100 timber harvest sites in five targeted watersheds in northern and central Minnesota. Aerial image acquisition and landowner contact and efforts to acquire permissions for access are currently underway. Coordination with DNR Private Forest Management Foresters (PFM) to help us connect with private landowners and future workshops is in progress. We have also begun exploring ways in which statewide coverage of the canopy change analysis can feed into assessment of thresholds corresponding to varying levels of risk to water quality (WRAPS) and biodiversity (WHAF). Testing and final deployment of the new data entry system is currently underway and will be completed by May 2020. Reporting for monitoring data collected in FY18-19 will be completed in FY20 and synthesis of data from the past cycle of monitoring will be made available to stakeholders in the form of written reports watershed maps interactive summaries targeted outreach and BMP training events. Analysis of data collected over the past five years of monitoring across the entire forested landscape has allowed us to begin looking for spatial trends in BMP implementation and to deliver outreach and training in an attempt to improve those trends. Examples include identification of: watersheds where placement of infrastructure on top of filter strips has been observed trends in riparian management zone use leave tree and coarse woody debris retention rutting on roads skid trails and approaches and other issues pertinent to water quality and other forest resources and will be completed in February 2020.","In FY20 DNR completed intensive field monitoring on 89 timber harvest sites in five targeted watersheds in northern and central Minnesota. Coordination with DNR Private Forest Management Foresters (PFM) helped us to connect with private landowners. We managed monitoring of water quality best management practice (BMP) and other sustainable forest management implementation. During FY20 we also completed testing and final deployment of a new data entry system for GMP utilizing ArcGIS Portal Collector and Survey123 for collection and storage of spatial and survey data related to monitored harvest sites. The Beta version of an online reporting application contributed substantially to summarization and reporting of monitoring results. Tabular reports from the application have contributed substantially to development of both the 2018 Guideline Monitoring Report and the 2014-2018 Summary Report. Analysis of data collected in recent years of monitoring has allowed us to begin looking for spatial trends in BMP implementation and to deliver outreach and training in an attempt to improve those trends. Examples include identification of watersheds where placement of infrastructure on top of filter strips has been observed trends in riparian management zone use leave tree and coarse woody debris retention and rutting on roads skid trails and approaches. ",,,,237786,3054,,0.6,,,"The Minnesota DNR and the Minnesota Forest Resources Council work with forest landowners, managers and loggers to implement a set of voluntary sustainable forest management guidelines that include water quality best management practices (BMPs) to ensure sustainable habitat, clean water, and productive forest soils, all contributing to healthy watersheds. This project will monitor the implementation of these forest management guidelines and BMPs on forested watersheds in MN. Additionally, this project will identify timber harvest frequency and distribution as well as significant change to forest area including conversion of forests to other land uses, large fires, and blowdown events. An evaluation of the guideline implementation rates, watershed characteristics, and the frequency and distribution of forest change will be used to identify risks to water quality as well as strategies to reduce these risks, with the goal of maintaining high quality forested watersheds in MN. Outreach programs will be developed for forest landowners, managers and loggers throughout the target watersheds aimed at mitigating these risks such as improved implementation of specific BMPs. ","Forested watersheds in MN generally produce an abundance of high quality water. Much of our forested landscape is managed as productive forest land providing timber products as well recreational opportunities and abundant wildlife. Sustainable timber harvesting in combination with application of voluntary water quality BMP's has helped to maintain water quality in Minnesota's managed forest lands. However, risks to water quality in these landscapes still remain, with rates of BMP implementation, harvesting patterns, and watershed characteristics influencing the potential for impacts to occur at any given time or place. Also, recent trends in forestland development and loss in Minnesota has increased the risk of impacts to water quality in forested landscapes. Evaluation of BMP implementation and quantification of risk factors by watershed, combined with effective outreach programs, will allow for continued utilization of working forests while maintaining functioning, healthy watersheds that produce clean water. ",,2013-07-01,,"Clean Water Fund","In Progress",,,Lila,Westreich,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,,lila.westreich@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Monitoring","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Roseau, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Winona",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/forestry-best-management-practices-clean-water,,,,
20536,"Forestry Best Management Practices for Clean Water",2019,250000,"M.L. 2017 Regular Session Ch. 91 Art. 2 Sec. 6(g)","$675000 the first year and $675000 the second year are for applied research and tools including watershed hydrologic modeling; maintaining and updating spatial data for watershed boundaries streams and water bodies and integrating high-resolution digital elevation data; and assessing effectiveness of forestry best management practices for water quality.","In FY19 the DNR will complete intensive field monitoring of 93 timber harvest sites in eight targeted watersheds in northern Minnesota. For these eight watersheds during the summer we will oversee monitoring of water quality best management practice (BMP) implementation and implementation of other sustainable forest management guidelines on 93 timber harvest sites. We will continue outreach to landowners managers and loggers. This work will include: 1) site-specific feedback about monitoring results and opportunities to improve the implementation of guidelines and reduce water quality risks; 2) working with DNR Private Forest Management foresters and Soil & Water Conservation Districts to develop strategies for outreach to private landowners in monitored watersheds; and 3) contributing to watershed restoration and protection strategies (WRAPS) and watershed planning. Also in FY19 we will begin overhauling our Guideline Monitoring application. We will also review the past five years of monitoring which has covered the entire forested landscape looking for adverse trends and deliver outreach and training in an attempt to change those trends. ","DNR completed intensive field monitoring of 83 timber harvest sites in eight targeted watersheds in northern Minnesota. For these eight watersheds we managed monitoring of water quality best management practice (BMP) and other sustainable forest management implementation. We continued outreach to landowners managers and loggers including: 1) site-specific feedback about monitoring results and opportunities to improve the implementation of guidelines and reduce water quality risks; 2) working with DNR Private Forest Management foresters and Soil & Water Conservation Districts to develop strategies for outreach to private landowners in monitored watersheds; and 3) contributing to watershed restoration and protection strategies (WRAPS) and watershed planning. Additional work was coordinated with researchers at the University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources to manage our field data compile historic trends and develop a Beta version of an online reporting application capable of summarizing data collected by the Program since 2009. The reporting application uses a selected set of thematic filters including watershed sample units MFRC landscape regions counties and land ownership to summarize monitoring results. Reporting is provided in tabular form consistent with recent written reports. Additional spatial analyses relating land use forest cover and hydrologic features on a watershed sample unit basis are also made available.",,,,232858,,,,,,"The Minnesota DNR and the Minnesota Forest Resources Council work with forest landowners, managers and loggers to implement a set of voluntary sustainable forest management guidelines that include water quality best management practices (BMPs) to ensure sustainable habitat, clean water, and productive forest soils, all contributing to healthy watersheds. This project will monitor the implementation of these forest management guidelines and BMPs on forested watersheds in MN. Additionally, this project will identify timber harvest frequency and distribution as well as significant change to forest area including conversion of forests to other land uses, large fires, and blowdown events. An evaluation of the guideline implementation rates, watershed characteristics, and the frequency and distribution of forest change will be used to identify risks to water quality as well as strategies to reduce these risks, with the goal of maintaining high quality forested watersheds in MN. Outreach programs will be developed for forest landowners, managers and loggers throughout the target watersheds aimed at mitigating these risks such as improved implementation of specific BMPs. ","Forested watersheds in MN generally produce an abundance of high quality water. Much of our forested landscape is managed as productive forest land providing timber products as well recreational opportunities and abundant wildlife. Sustainable timber harvesting in combination with application of voluntary water quality BMP's has helped to maintain water quality in Minnesota's managed forest lands. However, risks to water quality in these landscapes still remain, with rates of BMP implementation, harvesting patterns, and watershed characteristics influencing the potential for impacts to occur at any given time or place. Also, recent trends in forestland development and loss in Minnesota has increased the risk of impacts to water quality in forested landscapes. Evaluation of BMP implementation and quantification of risk factors by watershed, combined with effective outreach programs, will allow for continued utilization of working forests while maintaining functioning, healthy watersheds that produce clean water. ",,2013-07-01,,"Clean Water Fund","In Progress",,,Lila,Westreich,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,,lila.westreich@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Monitoring","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Roseau, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Winona",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/forestry-best-management-practices-clean-water,,,,
20536,"Forestry Best Management Practices for Clean Water",2018,250000,"M.L. 2017 Regular Session Ch. 91 Art. 2 Sec. 6(g)","$675000 the first year and $675000 the second year are for applied research and tools including watershed hydrologic modeling; maintaining and updating spatial data for watershed boundaries streams and water bodies and integrating high-resolution digital elevation data; and assessing effectiveness of forestry best management practices for water quality.","In FY18 the DNR will complete intensive field monitoring of 98 timber harvest sites in nine targeted watersheds in northern Minnesota. We will also analyze the distribution of timber harvest and forest change on forest land in eight northern Minnesota watersheds. For these eight watersheds during the summer we will oversee monitoring of water quality best management practice (BMP) implementation and implementation of other sustainable forest management guideline on 80 to 100 timber harvest sites. We will continue activities to reach out to forest landowners managers and loggers including: - Site-specific feedback about monitoring results and opportunities to improve the implementation of guidelines and reduce water quality risks. - Working with DNR Private Forest Management foresters and Soil & Water Conservation Districts to develop strategies for outreach to small private landowners in monitored watersheds. - Contributing to developing strategies for the Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies process in forested watersheds. In February we will submit our biennial Guideline Implementation Monitoring Report to the MN Forest Resource Council (MFRC). The report will summarize results from implementation monitoring on 169 sites in 19 watersheds during the summer and fall of FY16 and FY17. DNR and MFRC staff will use this information to continue identifying water quality risk factors and developing strategies to reduce risks in targeted watersheds.","In FY18 the DNR completed intensive field monitoring of 98 timber harvest sites in nine targeted watersheds in northern Minnesota and began monitoring water quality best management practice (BMP) implementation and implementation of other sustainable forest management guidelines on 93 timber harvest sites in northern Minnesota. In February 2018 we submitted our biennial Guideline Implementation Monitoring Report to the MN Forest Resource Council (MFRC). The report summarized results from implementation monitoring of 169 sites in 19 watersheds during the summer and fall of FY16 and FY17. DNR and MFRC staff use this information to continue identifying water quality risk factors and developing strategies to reduce risks in targeted watersheds and presented this information at several venues in FY18. They also shared results with landowners and land managers whose sites were monitored and helped them identify opportunities to better implement guidelines and reduce water quality risks. DNR Private Forest Management Foresters helped us connect with private land owners to improve access for monitoring private forest lands and pave the way for future workshops to improve the implementation of guidelines and water quality BMPs.",,,,170093,,,0.1,,,"The Minnesota DNR and the Minnesota Forest Resources Council work with forest landowners, managers and loggers to implement a set of voluntary sustainable forest management guidelines that include water quality best management practices (BMPs) to ensure sustainable habitat, clean water, and productive forest soils, all contributing to healthy watersheds. This project will monitor the implementation of these forest management guidelines and BMPs on forested watersheds in MN. Additionally, this project will identify timber harvest frequency and distribution as well as significant change to forest area including conversion of forests to other land uses, large fires, and blowdown events. An evaluation of the guideline implementation rates, watershed characteristics, and the frequency and distribution of forest change will be used to identify risks to water quality as well as strategies to reduce these risks, with the goal of maintaining high quality forested watersheds in MN. Outreach programs will be developed for forest landowners, managers and loggers throughout the target watersheds aimed at mitigating these risks such as improved implementation of specific BMPs. ","Forested watersheds in MN generally produce an abundance of high quality water. Much of our forested landscape is managed as productive forest land providing timber products as well recreational opportunities and abundant wildlife. Sustainable timber harvesting in combination with application of voluntary water quality BMP's has helped to maintain water quality in Minnesota's managed forest lands. However, risks to water quality in these landscapes still remain, with rates of BMP implementation, harvesting patterns, and watershed characteristics influencing the potential for impacts to occur at any given time or place. Also, recent trends in forestland development and loss in Minnesota has increased the risk of impacts to water quality in forested landscapes. Evaluation of BMP implementation and quantification of risk factors by watershed, combined with effective outreach programs, will allow for continued utilization of working forests while maintaining functioning, healthy watersheds that produce clean water. ",,2013-07-01,,"Clean Water Fund","In Progress",,,Lila,Westreich,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,,lila.westreich@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Monitoring","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Roseau, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Winona",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/forestry-best-management-practices-clean-water,,,,
20536,"Forestry Best Management Practices for Clean Water",2017,250000,"M.L. 2015 First Special Session Ch. 2 Art. 2 Sec. 6(g)","(g) $675000 the first year and $675000the second year are for applied research and tools including watershed hydrologic modeling; maintaining and updating spatial data for watershed boundaries streams and water bodies and integrating high-resolution digital elevation data; assessing effectiveness of forestry best management practices for water quality; and developing a biomonitoring database.","In FY17 the DNR will complete intensive field monitoring of 80 timber harvest sites in 12 targeted watersheds in central and southeastern Minnesota. We will analyze the distribution of timber harvest and forest change on forestland in 38 forested watersheds across the state in order to select 10 watersheds for additional intensive monitoring of timber harvest sites. For these 10 watersheds we will execute a contract to begin monitoring the implementation of water quality best management practices (BMPs) and other sustainable forest management guidelines on 80 to 100 timber harvest sites.","In FY17 the DNR completed intensive field monitoring of 80 timber harvest sites in 12 targeted watersheds in central and southeastern Minnesota and identified 100 additional timber harvest sites in nine forested watersheds for intensive monitoring to be completed in FY18. We also analyzed the distribution of timber harvest and forest change on 38 selected major watersheds in northern Minnesota while developing focused information on nine target watersheds. The resulting information documents how well water quality best management practices (BMPs) and other sustainable forest management guidelines have been implemented. Staff also continued using this information to identify water quality risk factors and develop strategies to reduce risks in targeted watersheds. They presented this information at several venues. They also shared results with landowners and land managers whose sites were monitored and helped them identify opportunities to better implement guidelines and reduce water quality risks. Staff utilized the DNR’s Private Forest Management Foresters to better connect with small private land owners to improve access to monitoring private forest lands and to pave the way for future workshops addressing ways to improve the implementation of guidelines and water quality BMPs.",,,,186321,,,0.9,,,"The Minnesota DNR and the Minnesota Forest Resources Council work with forest landowners, managers and loggers to implement a set of voluntary sustainable forest management guidelines that include water quality best management practices (BMPs) to ensure sustainable habitat, clean water, and productive forest soils, all contributing to healthy watersheds. This project will monitor the implementation of these forest management guidelines and BMPs on forested watersheds in MN. Additionally, this project will identify timber harvest frequency and distribution as well as significant change to forest area including conversion of forests to other land uses, large fires, and blowdown events. An evaluation of the guideline implementation rates, watershed characteristics, and the frequency and distribution of forest change will be used to identify risks to water quality as well as strategies to reduce these risks, with the goal of maintaining high quality forested watersheds in MN. Outreach programs will be developed for forest landowners, managers and loggers throughout the target watersheds aimed at mitigating these risks such as improved implementation of specific BMPs. ","Forested watersheds in MN generally produce an abundance of high quality water. Much of our forested landscape is managed as productive forest land providing timber products as well recreational opportunities and abundant wildlife. Sustainable timber harvesting in combination with application of voluntary water quality BMP's has helped to maintain water quality in Minnesota's managed forest lands. However, risks to water quality in these landscapes still remain, with rates of BMP implementation, harvesting patterns, and watershed characteristics influencing the potential for impacts to occur at any given time or place. Also, recent trends in forestland development and loss in Minnesota has increased the risk of impacts to water quality in forested landscapes. Evaluation of BMP implementation and quantification of risk factors by watershed, combined with effective outreach programs, will allow for continued utilization of working forests while maintaining functioning, healthy watersheds that produce clean water. ",,2013-07-01,,"Clean Water Fund","In Progress",,,Lila,Westreich,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,,lila.westreich@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Monitoring","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Roseau, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Winona",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/forestry-best-management-practices-clean-water,,,,
20536,"Forestry Best Management Practices for Clean Water",2016,250000,"M.L. 2015 First Special Session Ch. 2 Art. 2 Sec. 6(g)","(g) $675000 the first year and $675000the second year are for applied research and tools including watershed hydrologic modeling; maintaining and updating spatial data for watershed boundaries streams and water bodies and integrating high-resolution digital elevation data; assessing effectiveness of forestry best management practices for water quality; and developing a biomonitoring database.","In FY16 the DNR will identify the distribution of timber harvest and forest change on 12 selected HUC8 watershed units (see below). The DNR will check logging sites to make sure sustainable forest management guidelines and water quality BMPs are properly carried out. We will look at specific watershed characteristics to identify water quality risk factors on the selected areas and we will develop strategies to reduce risks in the targeted watersheds. We will continue and further develop outreach to forest landowners managers and loggers to implement strategies including: -A comprehensive report on sustainable forest management guideline implementation -Continued site-specific feedback to land owners/managers and loggers of sites monitored during summer of 2014 and 2015. Feedback will address results of site monitoring and identification of opportunities for improvement of guideline implementation and water quality risk reduction -Work with the recently rebuilt Cooperative Forest Management Program to better connect with small private forest land owners -Continued interaction and contribution to Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies Work with the Minnesota Forest Recourses Council (MFRC) Region Landscape Planning program to address the risk factors that were identified in the watershed analyses and to improve how BMPs are carried out.","In FY16 the DNR completed intensive field monitoring on 79 timber harvest sites in seven northern Minnesota watersheds and identified 80 additional timber harvest sites in 12 central and southeastern Minnesota watersheds for intensive monitoring to be done in FY17. The resulting information documents how well water quality best management practices (BMPs) and other sustainable forest management guidelines have been implemented. Staff completed a comprehensive report on sites monitored in calendar years 2014 and 2015 available at http://mn.gov/frc/site-level-forest-management-reports.html. Staff continued to use information from these reports to identify water quality risk factors and develop strategies to reduce risks in targeted watersheds. They presented this information at several venues. They shared results with landowners and land managers whose sites were monitored and helped them identify opportunities to better implement guidelines and reduce water quality risks. DNR Cooperative Forest Management foresters collaborated with Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) to better connect with small private landowners in targeted watersheds improving access to monitoring sites and paving the way for workshops on improved implementation of guidelines. Staff worked with the Minnesota Logger Education Program to develop this type of workshop for logging professionals. Staff collaborated with the Minnesota Forest Resources Council on strategies for outreach and education to improve implementation of guidelines and aid the development of regional landscape plans. Finally staff continued to contribute information from reports to the development of Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS).",,,,217597,,,0.9,,,"The Minnesota DNR and the Minnesota Forest Resources Council work with forest landowners, managers and loggers to implement a set of voluntary sustainable forest management guidelines that include water quality best management practices (BMPs) to ensure sustainable habitat, clean water, and productive forest soils, all contributing to healthy watersheds. This project will monitor the implementation of these forest management guidelines and BMPs on forested watersheds in MN. Additionally, this project will identify timber harvest frequency and distribution as well as significant change to forest area including conversion of forests to other land uses, large fires, and blowdown events. An evaluation of the guideline implementation rates, watershed characteristics, and the frequency and distribution of forest change will be used to identify risks to water quality as well as strategies to reduce these risks, with the goal of maintaining high quality forested watersheds in MN. Outreach programs will be developed for forest landowners, managers and loggers throughout the target watersheds aimed at mitigating these risks such as improved implementation of specific BMPs. ","Forested watersheds in MN generally produce an abundance of high quality water. Much of our forested landscape is managed as productive forest land providing timber products as well recreational opportunities and abundant wildlife. Sustainable timber harvesting in combination with application of voluntary water quality BMP's has helped to maintain water quality in Minnesota's managed forest lands. However, risks to water quality in these landscapes still remain, with rates of BMP implementation, harvesting patterns, and watershed characteristics influencing the potential for impacts to occur at any given time or place. Also, recent trends in forestland development and loss in Minnesota has increased the risk of impacts to water quality in forested landscapes. Evaluation of BMP implementation and quantification of risk factors by watershed, combined with effective outreach programs, will allow for continued utilization of working forests while maintaining functioning, healthy watersheds that produce clean water. ",,2013-07-01,,"Clean Water Fund","In Progress",,,Lila,Westreich,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,,lila.westreich@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Monitoring","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Roseau, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Winona",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/forestry-best-management-practices-clean-water,,,,
20536,"Forestry Best Management Practices for Clean Water",2015,250000,"M.L. 2013 Ch. 137 Art. 2 Sec. 6(g)","$675000 the first year and $675000 the second year are for applied research and tools including watershed hydrologic modeling; maintaining and updating spatial data for watershed boundaries streams and water bodies and integrating high-resolution digital elevation data; assessing effectiveness of forestry best management practices for water quality; and developing an ecological monitoring database. ","In FY 15 the DNR will detect where timber harvest and other forest changes took place on all forested watersheds statewide. We will monitor the implementation of sustainable forest management guidelines and water quality BMPs on timber harvest sites across the four watersheds selected in FY14 and an additional seven selected in FY15. The combined information along with specific watershed characteristics will be used to identify water quality risk factors (based on timber harvesting frequency and distribution level of BMP implementation and additional watershed characteristics) within target watersheds for FY14 &15. We will develop strategies to reduce risks in the targeted watersheds. We will develop outreach programs geared toward implementing those strategies for forest landowners managers and loggers. These programs will include: 1) workshops addressing erosion control on forest access roads and timber harvesting sites; 2) feedback to land managers and loggers of sites monitored in FY14 (results of site monitoring and identifying opportunities for improvement) 3) a BMP field manual for loggers and land managers.","In FY 15 the DNR identified that forests were disturbed in a total of 38 watersheds (HUC 8) and 27 counties in Minnesota. We selected 80 harvest sites in a subset of seven watersheds for monitoring the implementation of sustainable forest management guidelines and water quality BMPs.* We hired contractors to collect monitoring data which we will analyze in FY16. We also completed field monitoring at an additional 59 sites that were started in FY2014 sites in the Mississippi Headwaters Rum River Lake Superior South and Lake Superior North watersheds. We synthesized data for these sites and evaluated them for guideline compliance. We presented the information to various groups (see below). The final report will be done in February of 2016. In collaboration with the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Logger Education Program we conducted two workshops addressing erosion control on forest access roads and timber harvesting sites in fall/winter of 2014. We also made several presentations to disseminate Guideline Monitoring results including talking to land managers at the monitoring sites in an ongoing process providing feedback. We also helped develop a BMP field manual for loggers and land managers. We evaluated forest disturbance/change between the years 2000 to 2015 on all forested watersheds in Minnesota. We looked at specific watershed characteristics to identify water quality risk factors including: proximity of forest disturbances to water features roads and road crossings; soil drainage type texture and erodibility; current and past land cover and land use change; and topographic characteristics (slope flow direction and accumulation). We used these data layers along with several from the DNR’s Watershed Health Assessment Framework to create a preliminary risk index.",,,,171589,,,1.0,,,"The Minnesota DNR and the Minnesota Forest Resources Council work with forest landowners, managers and loggers to implement a set of voluntary sustainable forest management guidelines that include water quality best management practices (BMPs) to ensure sustainable habitat, clean water, and productive forest soils, all contributing to healthy watersheds. This project will monitor the implementation of these forest management guidelines and BMPs on forested watersheds in MN. Additionally, this project will identify timber harvest frequency and distribution as well as significant change to forest area including conversion of forests to other land uses, large fires, and blowdown events. An evaluation of the guideline implementation rates, watershed characteristics, and the frequency and distribution of forest change will be used to identify risks to water quality as well as strategies to reduce these risks, with the goal of maintaining high quality forested watersheds in MN. Outreach programs will be developed for forest landowners, managers and loggers throughout the target watersheds aimed at mitigating these risks such as improved implementation of specific BMPs. ","Forested watersheds in MN generally produce an abundance of high quality water. Much of our forested landscape is managed as productive forest land providing timber products as well recreational opportunities and abundant wildlife. Sustainable timber harvesting in combination with application of voluntary water quality BMP's has helped to maintain water quality in Minnesota's managed forest lands. However, risks to water quality in these landscapes still remain, with rates of BMP implementation, harvesting patterns, and watershed characteristics influencing the potential for impacts to occur at any given time or place. Also, recent trends in forestland development and loss in Minnesota has increased the risk of impacts to water quality in forested landscapes. Evaluation of BMP implementation and quantification of risk factors by watershed, combined with effective outreach programs, will allow for continued utilization of working forests while maintaining functioning, healthy watersheds that produce clean water. ",,2013-07-01,,"Clean Water Fund","In Progress",,,Lila,Westreich,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,,lila.westreich@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Monitoring","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Roseau, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Winona",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/forestry-best-management-practices-clean-water,,,,
20536,"Forestry Best Management Practices for Clean Water",2014,250000,"M.L. 2013 Ch. 137 Art. 2 Sec. 6(g)","$675000 the first year and $675000 the second year are for applied research and tools including watershed hydrologic modeling; maintaining and updating spatial data for watershed boundaries streams and water bodies and integrating high-resolution digital elevation data; assessing effectiveness of forestry best management practices for water quality; and developing an ecological monitoring database. ","In FY 14 DNR will monitor the implementation of sustainable forest management guidelines and water quality BMPs on 80 – 100 timber harvest sites across 4 forested watersheds. Distribution of timber harvest and other forest changes will also be identified in these watersheds. The combined information along with specific watershed characteristics will be used to identify water quality risk factors within target watersheds and strategies to reduce those risks. Outreach programs will then be developed to work with forest landowners managers and loggers to implement strategies. Specific outcomes include: -Establishment of a protocol for identifying forest change at the watershed level that can also be applied statewide. -Identify the distribution of timber harvest and forest change in four watersheds including Mississippi Headwaters Rum River North Lake Superior and South Lake Superior. -Monitor the implementation of forest management guidelines and water quality BMPs through on-site investigation on a total of 80-100 sites across these 4 watersheds. -Progress in development of a protocol for identifying level of risk to water quality due to timber harvesting frequency and distribution level of BMP implementation and additional watershed characteristics Outreach programs based on above data will be developed in FY15.","In FY14 DNR foresters identified the distribution of timber harvest and forest change in four watersheds: Mississippi Headwaters Rum River Lake Superior South and Lake Superior North. DNR established a protocol for identifying forest change at the watershed level; this protocol will be refined to better differentiate among various forest change types. For example some partial harvesting is difficult to distinguish from wind damage. Also time sequence is required to detect difference between forest harvesting and some land conversions such as pasturing. In the four target watersheds foresters monitored 34 sites for implementation of forest management guidelines and water quality best management practices. About 1/3 of the sites planned for monitoring in FY14 were completed; the remainder will be completed by Sept 31 2014. Contract work was delayed due to length of time required to get contract approvals. DNR is also developing a protocol for identifying level of risk to water quality due to timber harvesting frequency and distribution level of BMP implementation and additional watershed characteristics. The primary progress on this task was hiring a Research Analysis Specialist whose responsibilities will be focused development of this protocol. The hiring process was completed in early FY15 and significant progress will be made on this protocol in the coming year. Outreach development in FY14 included curriculum and video development for erosion control workshops to be held in the fall of 2014 and help creating a user-friendly field guide focused on forestry water quality BMPs which will be completed in FY15.",,,,41296,,,0.1,,,"The Minnesota DNR and the Minnesota Forest Resources Council work with forest landowners, managers and loggers to implement a set of voluntary sustainable forest management guidelines that include water quality best management practices (BMPs) to ensure sustainable habitat, clean water, and productive forest soils, all contributing to healthy watersheds. This project will monitor the implementation of these forest management guidelines and BMPs on forested watersheds in MN. Additionally, this project will identify timber harvest frequency and distribution as well as significant change to forest area including conversion of forests to other land uses, large fires, and blowdown events. An evaluation of the guideline implementation rates, watershed characteristics, and the frequency and distribution of forest change will be used to identify risks to water quality as well as strategies to reduce these risks, with the goal of maintaining high quality forested watersheds in MN. Outreach programs will be developed for forest landowners, managers and loggers throughout the target watersheds aimed at mitigating these risks such as improved implementation of specific BMPs. ","Forested watersheds in MN generally produce an abundance of high quality water. Much of our forested landscape is managed as productive forest land providing timber products as well recreational opportunities and abundant wildlife. Sustainable timber harvesting in combination with application of voluntary water quality BMP's has helped to maintain water quality in Minnesota's managed forest lands. However, risks to water quality in these landscapes still remain, with rates of BMP implementation, harvesting patterns, and watershed characteristics influencing the potential for impacts to occur at any given time or place. Also, recent trends in forestland development and loss in Minnesota has increased the risk of impacts to water quality in forested landscapes. Evaluation of BMP implementation and quantification of risk factors by watershed, combined with effective outreach programs, will allow for continued utilization of working forests while maintaining functioning, healthy watersheds that produce clean water. ",,2013-07-01,,"Clean Water Fund","In Progress",,,Lila,Westreich,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,,lila.westreich@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Monitoring","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Roseau, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Winona",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/forestry-best-management-practices-clean-water,,,,
10031379,"Foundational Data for Moth and Butterfly Conservation",2025,195000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 03i","$195,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to perform field surveys and consolidate existing data to create the first comprehensive list of Minnesota moths and butterflies. This appropriation is also to conduct outreach to inform land managers and to facilitate public appreciation of these species.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,1.8,"MN DNR","State Government","This project will build the first comprehensive list of Minnesota moths and butterflies. Information gained through surveys and outreach efforts will inform land managers and inspire public appreciation.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2027-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Gerda,Nordquist,"MN DNR","MN Dept. of Natural Resources - EWR 500 Lafayette Road, Box 25","St. Paul",MN,55155-4025,"(651) 259-5124",gerda.nordquist@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/foundational-data-moth-and-butterfly-conservation,,,,
802,"Fountain Lake Fish Barriers, Phase 1",2010,655000,"ML 2009, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(f)","$655,000 in fiscal year 2010 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Shell Rock River Watershed District to construct fish barriers at three locations on Fountain Lake. Land acquisition necessary for fish barrier construction is permitted. A list of proposed projects, describing the types and locations of barriers, must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The commissioner of natural resources must agree to each proposed barrier.",,"Restored 3 shallow lakes, protect 20 miles of habitat buffers along streams",,295000,"local option 2009 sales tax ",655000,,,1,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","Local/Regional Government","This program will install fish barriers at (3) three locations on in the Watershed District to exclude carp and other rough fish that destroy fish habits and aquatic vegetation and stir-up phosphorous rich sediments that cause algal blooms and cause water quality impairments. The project will allow for effective carp control in an effort to improve fish habitat, fish spawning and habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. Improving the fish habitat has a clear and measurable residual value in improving water quality and aquatic vegetation. These projects are provided for in the Districts Ten year plan and complement the work completed on the Edgewater Land-fill project and provide a crucial step in the overall lake management of Fountain Lake and Albert Lea Lake. ","The Districts Chain of Lakes are highly visible, heavily used urban lake that forms the center of the City of Albert Lea.? The Chain of Lakes in these project forms the upper headwater area of the Shell Rock River Watershed.? The District is the headwater for the impaired waters of the Shell Rock River, which eventually drains into the Mississippi River.? The Shell Rock River Watershed District Clean Water Initiative encompasses 246 square miles in Freeborn ounty and includes 11 lakes that drain to the Shell Rock River which flows into the Cedar River.? Water Qaulity in mahy of the Lakes and waterways is poor due to high turbidity largely caused by carp. Water quality in this Chain of Lakes has been assessed to be poor due to high turbidity, excessive nutrients and the lack of rooted aquatic vegetation resulting in algai blooms, oxygen depletion and water quality impairments.? Studies conducted in similar shallow lakes and fish population assessments in these lakes have shown that high populations of Common Carp, other species and bottom feeding rough fish consume rooted aquatic vegetation, stir up phosphorous ruch sediments and increases turbidity, reduce light penetratio and cause algae blooms responsible for oxygen delpetion.? Assessments of these lakes's carp population has determined that the large population of foraging rough fish is detrimental to the ecolocy of the lake having adverse affects on shoreline and littoral habitat for destroying hydrophytic vegetation, game fish, spawning habitat, waterfowl nesting, breeding and feeding habitat and is adversely affecting fish, migratory bird and waterfowl, mammal and invertebrate populations in the entore area.? The project proposed to control carp by preventing upstream and downstream migration of the fish by installing fish barriers.? The SRRWD project would install electrical fish barriers at the two inlets for Fountain Lake located at the Wedge Creek inlet and White Lake inlet.? Installing mechanical fish barrier at the utlet of Fountain Lake in Downtown Alber Lea. Controling the carp population will also enhance the fisheries of the lakes.? The increase in nutrients and algai growth caused by the actions of carp can cause the bottom waters of lakes to lose oxygem during both the sumer and winter months.? Thsi can cause stress in native fish species and even fish kills where entire populations are destroyed.? Controlling the carp population can help reduce the stress on the naive fish species.? Upon installation of the barriers, a treatment will be applied and water clarity will increase from a few inches to meters.? The lake will then be stocked with fame fish.? The Fountain Lake fish barriers will complement similar fish barriers installed in 2008 on Mud Lake, up-gradient of Fountain Lake. The anticipated outcomes will restore and enhance the water quality, rooted aquatic vegetation, fish and widlife habitat and will increase and enhance the community use of this important recreational resource in the center of Albert Lea.? The strategy of carp/rough fish control and exclusion is know to be effective and is a program endorsed and being conducted with technical assistance and cooperation with DNR Fisherie and Wildlife Divisions and the MN PCA.? he fish barriers will be installed in cooperation with the City of Albert Lea and MN DNR efforst to eradicate the existig carp population and re-indroduce game fish (sunfish, crappie, bass, and northerns).? Water quality improvements and habitat restoration and enhancements are anticipated as soon as the carp are eradicated and prevented from re-entering Fountain Lake.? Visible and measurable effects are anticipated within 2-3 years. Fountain Lake has public access and is open to public fishing, hunting and trapping during the regular open season.? The fish barrier project has been identified as a high priority in the SRRWD Management Plan, a plan developed with public participation nod subject to public review and approval by the SRRWD Board.? There are no known opponents or anticipated barriers to completion of the project.? The project will be highly visible and is seen as a benefit to the entire community. ? ","Final Accomplishment Plan Report ",2009-07-01,2012-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",None,,,Brett,Behnke,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","411 S. Broadway ","Albert Lea",None,56007,"(507) 377-5785",brett.behnke@co.freeborn.mn.us,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Freeborn,"Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/fountain-lake-fish-barriers,,,,
21783,"Frogtown Farm and Park Acquisition",2014,1500000,"M.L. 2013, Chp. 52, Sec. 2, Subd. 04k","$1,500,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Trust for Public Land to acquire a portion of 12 acres for Frogtown Farm and Park to be established as a St. Paul city park.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,1500000,,,11.28,"The Trust for Public Land","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Frogtown area of St. Paul is a culturally diverse, low-income neighborhood having less green space per child than any other neighborhood in the city and was recently identified as an area in need of a new park. This appropriation is being used by The Trust for Public Land, in partnership with the City of St. Paul, to acquire a portion of twelve acres of a currently vacant space in the area to establish the multi-purpose Frogtown Farm and Park. The vision for the space is to provide a safe space for neighborhood children to experience nature and families to recreate while simultaneously acting as a demonstration urban farm for community members to learn about growing food locally as a vehicle for advancing self-sufficiency, environmental stewardship, healthy living, and community collaboration.",,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2013/work_plans/2013_04k.pdf,2013-07-01,2015-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Robert,McGillivray,"The Trust for Public Land","2610 University Ave W, Ste 300","St. Paul",MN,55114,"(651) 999-5307",rjm@tpl.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Ramsey,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/frogtown-farm-and-park-acquisition,,,,
10031397,"Genetic Detection of Endangered Mussels in the Mississippi",2025,241000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 03aa","$241,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the United States Geological Survey, Ohio Water Microbiology Lab, to create, optimize, and use eDNA assays to detect the presence of endangered or threatened mussel species around Buffalo Slough near the Prairie Island Indian Community.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,,"US Geological Survey, Ohio Water Microbiology Lab","Federal Government","This project will create and optimize eDNA assays to detect the presence of 8 endangered or threatened mussel species around Buffalo Slough near Prairie Island Indian Community.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2027-12-31,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Lauren,Lynch,"US Geological Survey, Ohio Water Microbiology Lab","6460 Busch Blvd",Columbus,MN,43229,"(614) 254-4064",llynch@usgs.gov,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/genetic-detection-endangered-mussels-mississippi,,,,
736,"Get Outside - Urban Woodland for Kids",2011,218000,"M.L. 2010, Chp. 362, Sec. 2, Subd. 08e","$218,000 is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the city of St. Paul, Department of Parks and Recreation, to restore and develop an outdoor classroom for ecological education and historical interpretation at Como Regional Park in St. Paul. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2013, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,,,,,"City of Saint Paul, Dept of Parks and Recreation","Local/Regional Government","PROJECT OVERVIEW Outdoor classrooms provide students and community members with an opportunity to have hands-on experiences learning about the environment and about core subjects like science, math, and social studies using nature as the base context. This appropriation will help the city of St Paul develop an outdoor classroom at Como Regional Park that will provide environmental education, historical interpretation, and habitat for native wildlife in an inner-city community where environmental learning opportunities are rare. The development plan calls for control of invasive species for the 17 acre area, gravel pathways and signs to help visitors travel and interpret the site, and outdoor study areas featuring coniferous forest, oak savanna, tall-grass prairie, sedge meadow, transitional woodland, and propagation gardens for native plants. Site planners will work to establish the area as a MN DNR School Forest. PROJECT OVERVIEW Trends amongst youth are showing decreasing interest in the nature world and declining involvement in outdoor recreation. Some attribute these changes to increased usage of computers and other technology that compete for the attention of young people. Through this appropriation, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is partnering with several organizations to build on this potential contributing factor as being part of a possible solution by expanding a successfully piloted environmental education program that uses digital photography as a bridge between technology and outdoor experiences. Outdoor nature photography workshops for at least 1,000 teachers and naturalists are being conducted throughout the state that provide guidance on how to use outdoor digital photography to enhance student learning on classroom subjects including math, science, geography, arts, and language arts. OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS The City of Saint Paul developed a 17.65 acre outdoor classroom in Como Regional Park to provide environmental education, historical interpretation, and habitat for native wildlife in an inner-city community where environmental learning opportunities are rare. The woodland is located within five miles of over 75 public and private schools. To date, the Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom has been utilized by 2,103 students and educators. It has become the School Forest for Great River School and Crossroads Elementary School through the MN DNR's School Forest Program. The Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund's investment in the Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom has resulted in the development of outdoor study areas featuring coniferous woodland, oak savanna, tallgrass prairie, shortgrass prairie, transitional woodland, and terrace forest plant communities. Additionally, a propagation garden area has been constructed within the Classroom that will serve as a native plant demonstration garden for the public and will be utilized by students to grow native plants for the Classroom. ENRTF funds were also utilized to install 2,525 feet of ADA accessible gravel trails within the Classroom. Funds were used to install four entry signs at each of the major entrances to the Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom. 27 numbered, interpretative posts were installed at key locations throughout the site. The City of Saint Paul has received $17,000 from the Minnesota Historical Society and is in the final stages of developing a guide book to the cultural and natural history of the site, referencing these numbered posts. When published, the guide book will be an invaluable resource for educators wishing to bring students to the Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom. Community volunteers were engaged throughout the restoration process. 2,005 volunteers participated in restoration activities, including planting, invasive species removal, and trail construction.PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION Our advisory committee, the Como Woodland Advisory Committee, has set up a website dedicated to the classroom: http://www.comowoodland.org/.. Progress about our project has been shared with the general public through our blog (http://restoresaintpaul.blogspot.com/.) and our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/saintpaulnaturalresources). Community volunteer events taking place in the classroom are highlighted on the City's website (http://www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?NID=1043). The Minnesota Lottery recently highlighted the Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom in their newly launched blog: http://blog.mnlottery.com/blog/2014/07/24/64/where_the_money_goes_como_woodland_outdoor_classroom.",,"FINAL REPORT",2010-07-01,2014-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Bryan,Murphy,"City of Saint Paul, Dept of Parks and Recreation","50 W Kellogg Blvd, Ste 840","St. Paul",MN,55102,"(651) 266-6411",bryan.murphy@ci.stpaul.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Ramsey,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/get-outside-urban-woodland-kids,,,,
10000087,"Goose Prairie",2018,600000,"ML 2017, Ch. 91, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(c)","$600,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Wild Rice Watershed District, in cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources, to enhance aquatic and upland habitat within and adjacent to the Goose prairie Marsh Wildlife Management Area in Clay County. A list of proposed land enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"The Goose Prairie Marsh is almost entirely contained within Goose Prairie WMA. The WMA is 490 acres and consists of approximately 318 acres of wetlands and 172 acres of upland grassland and forest. Native northern dry prairie has been identified on 23.5 acres of the WMA by MN DNR Division of Ecological and Water Resources. In addition, the Goose Prairie WMA is part of a large habitat complex in the general area. Within five miles of the Goose Prairie WMA, there are approximately 1,420 acres of WMA, 5,520 acres of WPA, and 120 acres of Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) easements. This project will protect approximately an additional 270 acres of wetland and upland habitats adjacent to the WMA. Goose Prairie WMA is rated a moderate biodiversity significance rating by the Minnesota Biological Survey meaning that the site contains occurrences of rare species and/or moderately disturbed native plant communities, and/or landscapes that have a strong potential for recovery.","A total of 490 acres were affected: 0 Restored, 0 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 490 in Enhance.",227000,"Wild Rice Watershed District",600000,,,None,"Wild Rice Watershed District","Local/Regional Government","The Goose Prairie Marsh Enhancement Project was completed to allow resource mangers the capacity to manage water levels in Goose Prairie Marsh through installation of a water control structure and a new outlet channel from the marsh to the control structure. The primary purpose of the project was to improve habitat conditions within the shallow lake and the associated upland habitats within and adjacent to the existing WMA. Secondary benefits included additional protections of lands adjacent to the WMA, improved water quality, and spring flood risk reduction downstream.","The Goose Prairie Marsh Enhancement project is located approximately 2 miles northeast of Hitterdal, MN in Goose Prairie Township, Clay County. The marsh is part of the Goose Prairie Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Clay County Ditch 18 (CD 18) was constructed through this area in about 1915. As a result, prior the project, water levels in Goose Prairie Marsh could not be managed to improve wildlife habitat using the lake's natural outlet. Since the early 1990's the lake had been at historically high levels due to above average precipitation and constricted flow through the historic outlet channel due to a buildup of sediment and cattails. These high-water levels resulted in substantially degraded habitat conditions in the marsh. The Goose Prairie Marsh Enhancement project consisted of three primary components: installation of a water control structure, realignment of the outlet channel from the marsh to the water control structure, and land acquisition adjacent to the existing WMA. Each are described in more detail in the following sections. 1) Water control structure - The water control structure was constructed of reinforced concrete with six, 5-foot stoplog bays to allow water level manipulation between from 1203.6 and 1208.5 feet (NAVD 88). The water control structure is located near the center of Section 22, T141, R44W adjacent to 115th Avenue North. A reinforced concrete outlet pipe was installed to convey water leaving the structure under the road. 2) Realignment of the existing outlet channel - The project constructed a new channel between the Goose Prairie Marsh and the water control structure. The new channel effectively conveys water from the marsh to the new outlet and will avoids future wetland impacts and habitat loss associated with cleaning out the previous channel (CD18).",,2017-07-01,2023-07-31,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Tara,Jensen,"Wild Rice Watershed District","11 5th Ave E ",Ada,MN,56510,"(218) 784-5501",tara@wildricewatershed.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Clay,"Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/goose-prairie,,,,
20686,"Groundwater Management Areas",2017,,"M.L. 2013 Ch. 137 Art. 2 Sec. 6(j)","$1808000 the first year is for beginning to develop and designate groundwater management areas under Minnesota Statutes section 103G.287 subdivision 4. The commissioner in consultation with the commissioners of the Pollution Control Agency health and agriculture shall establish a uniform statewide hydrogeologic mapping system that will include designated groundwater management areas. The mapping system must include wellhead protection areas special well construction areas groundwater provinces groundwater recharge areas and other designated or geographical areas related to groundwater. This mapping system shall be used to implement all groundwater-related laws and for reporting and evaluations. This appropriation is available until June 30 2017. Note: Amount was amended in M.L. 2015 First Special Session Ch. 172 Art. 2 Sec. 6.","In FY17 the DNR will finalize and adopt the remaining plans and begin implementing the actions identified. The DNR will also start the process of developing a groundwater model for the Bonanza Valley Groundwater Management Area.","In FY17 the DNR completed and adopted Groundwater Management Area Plans for the Straight River and Bonanza Valley. The DNR substantially completed the development of a transient groundwater model for the North and East Metro.",,,,250690,10793,,1.5,,,"Minnesota’s use of groundwater has increased over the last two decades. An increasing reliance on groundwater may not be a sustainable path for continued economic growth and development. The DNR is establishing three pilot groundwater management areas (GWMA) to help improve groundwater appropriation decisions and help groundwater users better understand and plan for future groundwater needs associated with economic development. The three areas include: the North and East Metropolitan Region, which includes all of Ramsey and Washington Counties, and the southern portion of Anoka County; the second area includes the Straight River, near Park Rapids; and the third area includes portions of Pope, Stearns, and Kandiyohi counties, known as Bonanza Valley, which includes the towns of Glenwood, Brooten, Belgrade, Elrosa and other communities. Clean Water Funds are used to hire project managers, meeting facilitators and support stakeholder engagement to inform and advise the planning process.","Water is crucial to Minnesota’s economies and ecosystems. Minnesota has a well-deserved image of having abundant water resources, nevertheless, water is not evenly distributed across the state. Despite our popular image, water is becoming scarce in parts of Minnesota. Unprecedented water use conflicts are arising between businesses, towns, and residents. In most areas of the state, we are not yet in “crisis” mode when it comes to water availability. We have time to address these issues and ensure that Minnesota’s economies and ecosystems have adequate water supplies in the future. Each of the selected pilot Groundwater Management Areas has been experiencing increased use and reliance on groundwater to meet public or private needs. The purpose of a groundwater management area is to organize resources and people to better understand the risk of overuse and contamination in these areas, and to develop a plan that the Department of Natural Resources can implement to ensure sustainable use of water. ",,2013-07-01,2017-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Jason,Moeckel,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","Saint Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5240",jason.moeckel@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Inventory, Mapping, Planning, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Modeling, Technical Assistance, Demonstration/Pilot Project","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Clearwater, Douglas, Meeker, Swift, Wadena, Anoka, Becker, Hubbard, Pope, Ramsey, Stearns, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/groundwater-management-areas,,,,
20686,"Groundwater Management Areas",2016,,"M.L. 2013 Ch. 137 Art. 2 Sec. 6(j)","$1808000 the first year is for beginning to develop and designate groundwater management areas under Minnesota Statutes section 103G.287 subdivision 4. The commissioner in consultation with the commissioners of the Pollution Control Agency health and agriculture shall establish a uniform statewide hydrogeologic mapping system that will include designated groundwater management areas. The mapping system must include wellhead protection areas special well construction areas groundwater provinces groundwater recharge areas and other designated or geographical areas related to groundwater. This mapping system shall be used to implement all groundwater-related laws and for reporting and evaluations. This appropriation is available until June 30 2017. Note: Amount was amended in M.L. 2015 First Special Session Ch. 172 Art. 2 Sec. 6.","The DNR will finalize three Groundwater Management Area (GWMA) plans that can be approved by the commissioner. The DNR will form new advisory committee’s to advise the agency during plan implementation. Implementation will include coordinating with other agencies and local units of government and developing new information to evaluate sustainability of current and projected water use. ","In FY16 the DNR worked with stakeholder advisory committees to complete draft plans for each of the three Groundwater Management Areas (GWMAs). The plan for the North and East Metro Area was finalized and approved by the DNR Commissioner. Plans for the Bonanza Valley and Straight River were nearing completion and approval. ",,,,256899,83660,,2.3,,,"Minnesota’s use of groundwater has increased over the last two decades. An increasing reliance on groundwater may not be a sustainable path for continued economic growth and development. The DNR is establishing three pilot groundwater management areas (GWMA) to help improve groundwater appropriation decisions and help groundwater users better understand and plan for future groundwater needs associated with economic development. The three areas include: the North and East Metropolitan Region, which includes all of Ramsey and Washington Counties, and the southern portion of Anoka County; the second area includes the Straight River, near Park Rapids; and the third area includes portions of Pope, Stearns, and Kandiyohi counties, known as Bonanza Valley, which includes the towns of Glenwood, Brooten, Belgrade, Elrosa and other communities. Clean Water Funds are used to hire project managers, meeting facilitators and support stakeholder engagement to inform and advise the planning process.","Water is crucial to Minnesota’s economies and ecosystems. Minnesota has a well-deserved image of having abundant water resources, nevertheless, water is not evenly distributed across the state. Despite our popular image, water is becoming scarce in parts of Minnesota. Unprecedented water use conflicts are arising between businesses, towns, and residents. In most areas of the state, we are not yet in “crisis” mode when it comes to water availability. We have time to address these issues and ensure that Minnesota’s economies and ecosystems have adequate water supplies in the future. Each of the selected pilot Groundwater Management Areas has been experiencing increased use and reliance on groundwater to meet public or private needs. The purpose of a groundwater management area is to organize resources and people to better understand the risk of overuse and contamination in these areas, and to develop a plan that the Department of Natural Resources can implement to ensure sustainable use of water. ",,2013-07-01,2017-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Jason,Moeckel,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","Saint Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5240",jason.moeckel@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Inventory, Mapping, Planning, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Modeling, Technical Assistance, Demonstration/Pilot Project","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Clearwater, Douglas, Meeker, Swift, Wadena, Anoka, Becker, Hubbard, Pope, Ramsey, Stearns, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/groundwater-management-areas,,,,
20686,"Groundwater Management Areas",2015,,"M.L. 2013 Ch. 137 Art. 2 Sec. 6(j)","$1808000 the first year is for beginning to develop and designate groundwater management areas under Minnesota Statutes section 103G.287 subdivision 4. The commissioner in consultation with the commissioners of the Pollution Control Agency health and agriculture shall establish a uniform statewide hydrogeologic mapping system that will include designated groundwater management areas. The mapping system must include wellhead protection areas special well construction areas groundwater provinces groundwater recharge areas and other designated or geographical areas related to groundwater. This mapping system shall be used to implement all groundwater-related laws and for reporting and evaluations. This appropriation is available until June 30 2017. Note: Amount was amended in M.L. 2015 First Special Session Ch. 172 Art. 2 Sec. 6.","The DNR will conduct technical analysis of existing information in each GWMA and finalize a plan that can be approved by the DNR Commissioner and implemented over the next 5 years within these areas. Each plan will include specific actions that the DNR will take to: ensure groundwater use does not harm aquifers and ecosystems and does not negatively impact surface waters; ensure that groundwater use is reasonable efficient and complies with water conservation requirements; ensure groundwater use will not degrade water quality; ensure groundwater use does not create unresolved well interferences or water use conflicts; and ensure all groundwater users have the necessary permits to use groundwater. For complete information see the GWMAs webpage at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/gwmp/areas.html ","The DNR continued technical analysis and worked with stakeholders to develop draft plans for the three proposed groundwater management areas. The areas include: the North and East Metro Bonanza Valley (Glenwood to Paynesville) and the Straight River (near Park Rapids). The draft plans include specific actions the DNR will take to ensure that water use is sustainable. ",,,,379861,93329,,3.2,,,"Minnesota’s use of groundwater has increased over the last two decades. An increasing reliance on groundwater may not be a sustainable path for continued economic growth and development. The DNR is establishing three pilot groundwater management areas (GWMA) to help improve groundwater appropriation decisions and help groundwater users better understand and plan for future groundwater needs associated with economic development. The three areas include: the North and East Metropolitan Region, which includes all of Ramsey and Washington Counties, and the southern portion of Anoka County; the second area includes the Straight River, near Park Rapids; and the third area includes portions of Pope, Stearns, and Kandiyohi counties, known as Bonanza Valley, which includes the towns of Glenwood, Brooten, Belgrade, Elrosa and other communities. Clean Water Funds are used to hire project managers, meeting facilitators and support stakeholder engagement to inform and advise the planning process.","Water is crucial to Minnesota’s economies and ecosystems. Minnesota has a well-deserved image of having abundant water resources, nevertheless, water is not evenly distributed across the state. Despite our popular image, water is becoming scarce in parts of Minnesota. Unprecedented water use conflicts are arising between businesses, towns, and residents. In most areas of the state, we are not yet in “crisis” mode when it comes to water availability. We have time to address these issues and ensure that Minnesota’s economies and ecosystems have adequate water supplies in the future. Each of the selected pilot Groundwater Management Areas has been experiencing increased use and reliance on groundwater to meet public or private needs. The purpose of a groundwater management area is to organize resources and people to better understand the risk of overuse and contamination in these areas, and to develop a plan that the Department of Natural Resources can implement to ensure sustainable use of water. ",,2013-07-01,2017-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Jason,Moeckel,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","Saint Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5240",jason.moeckel@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Inventory, Mapping, Planning, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Modeling, Technical Assistance, Demonstration/Pilot Project","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Clearwater, Douglas, Meeker, Swift, Wadena, Anoka, Becker, Hubbard, Pope, Ramsey, Stearns, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/groundwater-management-areas,,,,
20686,"Groundwater Management Areas",2014,1808000,"M.L. 2013 Ch. 137 Art. 2 Sec. 6(j)","$1808000 the first year is for beginning to develop and designate groundwater management areas under Minnesota Statutes section 103G.287 subdivision 4. The commissioner in consultation with the commissioners of the Pollution Control Agency health and agriculture shall establish a uniform statewide hydrogeologic mapping system that will include designated groundwater management areas. The mapping system must include wellhead protection areas special well construction areas groundwater provinces groundwater recharge areas and other designated or geographical areas related to groundwater. This mapping system shall be used to implement all groundwater-related laws and for reporting and evaluations. This appropriation is available until June 30 2017. Note: Amount was amended in M.L. 2015 First Special Session Ch. 172 Art. 2 Sec. 6.","In FY14 the DNR will lead a year-long effort in three proposed Groundwater Management Areas: the North and East Metro GWMA the Bonanza Valley GWMA and the Straight River GWMA. A series of stakeholder meetings will be held and Preliminary Assessment Reports will be completed for all three GWMAs.","In FY14 the DNR initiated planning projects and stakeholder involvement efforts to establish three groundwater management areas (GWMA’s). DNR formed a project advisory team (PAT) for each of these areas to provide advice and feedback during the GWMA planning process. The project advisory team includes cities permitted users business people conservation districts and other state agencies. DNR completed preliminary assessments of technical information and shared that information with the PAT’s over a series of monthly meetings. Discussions about potential actions are ongoing and will inform plan development. For complete information see the GWMAs webpage at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/gwmp/areas.html ",,,,267151,62179,,2.5,,,"Minnesota’s use of groundwater has increased over the last two decades. An increasing reliance on groundwater may not be a sustainable path for continued economic growth and development. The DNR is establishing three pilot groundwater management areas (GWMA) to help improve groundwater appropriation decisions and help groundwater users better understand and plan for future groundwater needs associated with economic development. The three areas include: the North and East Metropolitan Region, which includes all of Ramsey and Washington Counties, and the southern portion of Anoka County; the second area includes the Straight River, near Park Rapids; and the third area includes portions of Pope, Stearns, and Kandiyohi counties, known as Bonanza Valley, which includes the towns of Glenwood, Brooten, Belgrade, Elrosa and other communities. Clean Water Funds are used to hire project managers, meeting facilitators and support stakeholder engagement to inform and advise the planning process.","Water is crucial to Minnesota’s economies and ecosystems. Minnesota has a well-deserved image of having abundant water resources, nevertheless, water is not evenly distributed across the state. Despite our popular image, water is becoming scarce in parts of Minnesota. Unprecedented water use conflicts are arising between businesses, towns, and residents. In most areas of the state, we are not yet in “crisis” mode when it comes to water availability. We have time to address these issues and ensure that Minnesota’s economies and ecosystems have adequate water supplies in the future. Each of the selected pilot Groundwater Management Areas has been experiencing increased use and reliance on groundwater to meet public or private needs. The purpose of a groundwater management area is to organize resources and people to better understand the risk of overuse and contamination in these areas, and to develop a plan that the Department of Natural Resources can implement to ensure sustainable use of water. ",,2013-07-01,2017-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Jason,Moeckel,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","Saint Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5240",jason.moeckel@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Inventory, Mapping, Planning, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Modeling, Technical Assistance, Demonstration/Pilot Project","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Clearwater, Douglas, Meeker, Swift, Wadena, Anoka, Becker, Hubbard, Pope, Ramsey, Stearns, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/groundwater-management-areas,,,,
2938,"HCP VII - Wild Rice/Waterfowl Habitat: Enhancement & Long-term Monitoring (2e)",2012,25000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 04j2e","$1,737,000 the first year and $1,738,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $125,000 the first year and $125,000 the second year are to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $3,225,000 is for agreements as follows: $637,000 the first year and $638,000 the second year with Ducks Unlimited, Inc.; $38,000 the first year and $37,000 the second year with Friends of Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District; $25,000 the first year and $25,000 the second year with Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe; $225,000 the first year and $225,000 the second year with Minnesota Land Trust; $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $242,000 the first year and $243,000 the second year with Pheasants Forever, Inc.; and $245,000 the first year and $245,000 the second year with The Trust for Public Land to plan, restore, and acquire fragmented landscape corridors that connect areas of quality habitat to sustain fish, wildlife, and plants. The United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, is an authorized cooperating partner in the appropriation. Expenditures are limited to the project corridor areas as defined in the work program. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum habitat and facility management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of habitable residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program. An entity who acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work program. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,12980,,25000,,,0.37,"Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe","Local/Regional Government","The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe is working within the Leech Lake Reservation boundaries to address loss and degradation of aquatic habitat for wild rice and waterfowl. Efforts will include regulating water levels on shallow lakes by controlling beaver activity and conducting periodic water level draw-downs, reseeding of approximately 200 acres of wild rice, and implementing adaptive management based on analysis of wild rice productivity.OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS The purpose of this project was to collect data on selected wild rice beds located on the Leech Lake Reservation and, using GIS, develop a method of quantifying the abundance from aerial photographs. Data collected from this work was then compared to fall waterfowl abundance data collected by the MN DNR to determine if a correlation existed. We were able to develop the methodology for quantifying rice abundance from high resolution photographs into some broad categories, but were unable to statistically correlate this with fall duck abundance. Either the rice quantification methods or waterfowl counts are not refined enough to make a statistically valid determination or, more likely, waterfowl will still make use of rice even if it is not abundant, provided it contains sufficient cover. Even though we were unable to make a correlation between rice abundance and fall waterfowl numbers the methodology developed for quantifying rice from aerial photographs will be valuable to us and other managers in the future. This project also had two smaller components. The first was to manage, maintain, and enhance some of the waterfowl impoundments and other waters that are located on the Leech Lake Reservation. Over the period of this grant we focused on five impoundments and other waterways to enhance these areas for waterfowl and other species that utilize these habitats. On impoundments water levels were managed and dike and control structures were repaired and maintained. Beaver plugging is an ongoing problem on many of these waterways so dam material was removed as needed, Clemson Levelers were installed, and in some cases beaver removal was utilized to reduce the problem. A second aspect of this project was to enhance waterfowl food supply by planting wild rice. Wild rice has been degraded in some locations due to inappropriate water levels, damage from wind storms, and human activities. Two hundred acres of Natures Lake was reseeded with rice under this grant in an effort to reestablish rice in areas where it had historically occurred. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION The methodology and techniques used to quantify wild rice beds from aerial photographs will be available to other resource managers if they would like to use them to evaluate their rice beds.",,"Final Report",2011-07-01,2014-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Steve,Mortenson,"Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe","115 - 6th Street NW","Cass Lake",MN,56633,"(218) 335-7421",smortensen@lldrm.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Beltrami, Cass, Hubbard, Itasca",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/hcp-vii-wild-ricewaterfowl-habitat-enhancement-long-term-monitoring-2e,,,,
2938,"HCP VII - Wild Rice/Waterfowl Habitat: Enhancement & Long-term Monitoring (2e)",2013,25000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 04j2e","$1,737,000 the first year and $1,738,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $125,000 the first year and $125,000 the second year are to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $3,225,000 is for agreements as follows: $637,000 the first year and $638,000 the second year with Ducks Unlimited, Inc.; $38,000 the first year and $37,000 the second year with Friends of Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District; $25,000 the first year and $25,000 the second year with Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe; $225,000 the first year and $225,000 the second year with Minnesota Land Trust; $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $242,000 the first year and $243,000 the second year with Pheasants Forever, Inc.; and $245,000 the first year and $245,000 the second year with The Trust for Public Land to plan, restore, and acquire fragmented landscape corridors that connect areas of quality habitat to sustain fish, wildlife, and plants. The United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, is an authorized cooperating partner in the appropriation. Expenditures are limited to the project corridor areas as defined in the work program. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum habitat and facility management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of habitable residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program. An entity who acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work program. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,25000,,,0.37,"Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe","Local/Regional Government","The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe is working within the Leech Lake Reservation boundaries to address loss and degradation of aquatic habitat for wild rice and waterfowl. Efforts will include regulating water levels on shallow lakes by controlling beaver activity and conducting periodic water level draw-downs, reseeding of approximately 200 acres of wild rice, and implementing adaptive management based on analysis of wild rice productivity.OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS The purpose of this project was to collect data on selected wild rice beds located on the Leech Lake Reservation and, using GIS, develop a method of quantifying the abundance from aerial photographs. Data collected from this work was then compared to fall waterfowl abundance data collected by the MN DNR to determine if a correlation existed. We were able to develop the methodology for quantifying rice abundance from high resolution photographs into some broad categories, but were unable to statistically correlate this with fall duck abundance. Either the rice quantification methods or waterfowl counts are not refined enough to make a statistically valid determination or, more likely, waterfowl will still make use of rice even if it is not abundant, provided it contains sufficient cover. Even though we were unable to make a correlation between rice abundance and fall waterfowl numbers the methodology developed for quantifying rice from aerial photographs will be valuable to us and other managers in the future. This project also had two smaller components. The first was to manage, maintain, and enhance some of the waterfowl impoundments and other waters that are located on the Leech Lake Reservation. Over the period of this grant we focused on five impoundments and other waterways to enhance these areas for waterfowl and other species that utilize these habitats. On impoundments water levels were managed and dike and control structures were repaired and maintained. Beaver plugging is an ongoing problem on many of these waterways so dam material was removed as needed, Clemson Levelers were installed, and in some cases beaver removal was utilized to reduce the problem. A second aspect of this project was to enhance waterfowl food supply by planting wild rice. Wild rice has been degraded in some locations due to inappropriate water levels, damage from wind storms, and human activities. Two hundred acres of Natures Lake was reseeded with rice under this grant in an effort to reestablish rice in areas where it had historically occurred. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION The methodology and techniques used to quantify wild rice beds from aerial photographs will be available to other resource managers if they would like to use them to evaluate their rice beds.",,"Final Report",2011-07-01,2014-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Steve,Mortenson,"Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe","115 - 6th Street NW","Cass Lake",MN,56633,"(218) 335-7421",smortensen@lldrm.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Beltrami, Cass, Hubbard, Itasca",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/hcp-vii-wild-ricewaterfowl-habitat-enhancement-long-term-monitoring-2e,,,,
2942,"HCP VII - Shoreland Protection Program (3a)",2012,225000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 04j3a","$1,737,000 the first year and $1,738,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $125,000 the first year and $125,000 the second year are to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $3,225,000 is for agreements as follows: $637,000 the first year and $638,000 the second year with Ducks Unlimited, Inc.; $38,000 the first year and $37,000 the second year with Friends of Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District; $25,000 the first year and $25,000 the second year with Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe; $225,000 the first year and $225,000 the second year with Minnesota Land Trust; $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $242,000 the first year and $243,000 the second year with Pheasants Forever, Inc.; and $245,000 the first year and $245,000 the second year with The Trust for Public Land to plan, restore, and acquire fragmented landscape corridors that connect areas of quality habitat to sustain fish, wildlife, and plants. The United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, is an authorized cooperating partner in the appropriation. Expenditures are limited to the project corridor areas as defined in the work program. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum habitat and facility management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of habitable residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program. An entity who acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work program. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,225000,,,2.31,"Minnesota Land Trust","Non-Profit Business/Entity","With this appropriation, the Minnesota Land Trust plans to protect approximately 500 acres of critical shoreline habitat along Minnesota's lakes, wetlands, rivers, and streams by securing permanent conservation easements and dedicating funds for their perpetual monitoring, management, and enforcement. Lands being considered for permanent protection in this round of funding are located in Becker, Beltrami, Blue Earth, Itasca, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Le Sueur, Otter Tail, Pope, and Wabasha counties.OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTSIn the seventh phase of our Shorelands Protection project, the Minnesota Land Trust continued to work with landowners to secure permanent conservation easements on quality habitat along or containing critical riparian lands. We initiated or continued contact with more than 30 landowners and completed eight conservation easements. Collectively, these easements preserve approximately 700 acres of land - exceeding our original goal of 400 to 600 acres - and protect nearly 34,172 linear feet of fragile shoreline. Highlights from the eight completed projects include:One donated easement over 30 acres in Kandiyohi County that protected over 2,600 feet of natural shoreline along the Middle Fork of the Crow River.A complex of five easements surrounding five lakes in Becker County that protected approximately 474 acres and over 3 miles of undeveloped shoreline. Four of the five easements were donated to the Land Trust.One donated easement in Otter Tail County that protected 48 acres and over 2,900 feet of shoreline along Blanche Lake, immediately adjacent to Glendalough State Park.Another donated easement that protected 145 acres of forest and wetlands in Beltrami County and preserved almost two miles of shoreline along Black Lake and Three Island Lake.Overall, this phase of the grant program protected 269 acres of forest, 183 acres of wetlands, and over 6 miles of undeveloped shoreline.All eight projects met the following selection criteria:Habitat: quality and quantity of existing habitat on site; protects riparian areas and buffers water resourcesContext: proximity and relationship to other protected landsOpportunity: cost-benefit ratio: landowners willingness and readiness to participate nowOther Benefits: meeting multiple objectives, including visual and physical access, forestry goals, water quality, etc.Additionally, the Land Trust prepared baseline property reports for each easement, detailing the condition of the property for future monitoring and enforcement. To fund this required perpetual obligation, the Land Trust dedicated funds to its segregated Stewardship and Enforcement Fund for several completed projects. For these projects, we estimated the anticipated annual expenses of each project and the investment needed to generate annual income sufficient to cover these expenses in perpetuity - all in accordance with our internal policies and procedures as approved by LCCMR. We will report to LCCMR annually on the status of the Stewardship and Enforcement Fund and the easements acquired with funds from this grant. All but one of the eight easements completed under this grant were entirely donated. The value is known for only two of the donated easements, which together total $204,000 in appraised donated value under this grant. The Land Trust purchased one of the Fischer Lakes easements for the appraised value of $170,000. The cost to the State of Minnesota to complete the eight projects completed under this phase of the grant was just under $600 per acre. Cumulatively, across all phases of the HCP program, the Land Trust has completed 89 conservation easements, protecting 8,245 acres of critical habitat and more than 258,000 feet of shoreline, at a cost to the State of approximately $320 per acre. The Land Trust's work on this project continues to demonstrate the cost effectiveness of working with conservation easements to protect natural and scenic resources along Minnesota's lakes, rivers, and streams, as the cost to the State was well below the cost to purchase land along our increasingly threatened shorelines. This grant continued to generate interest among landowners, and therefore, ongoing funding will be important to sustained success. Additionally, our experiences during this phase of the grant indicate that funds to purchase easements will be necessary in the future as work becomes more targeted, selective, and focused on building complexes of protected land. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION The Land Trust disseminated information about the specific land protection projects completed under this grant though our newsletter, email updates, web site, and press releases. The Land Trust also shared information about conservation easements generally and our experience with our partner organizations, other easement holders, local communities, as well as policy makers including members of the LCCMR and LSOHC.",,"Final Report",2011-07-01,2014-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Sarah,Strommen,"Minnesota Land Trust","2356 University Ave W, Ste 240","St Paul",MN,55114,"(651) 647-9590",sstrommen@mnland.org,"Land Acquisition, Monitoring","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Beltrami, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Cass, Clay, Douglas, Faribault, Freeborn, Grant, Hubbard, Itasca, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Meeker, Otter Tail, Pope, Rice, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Todd, Waseca, Wright",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/hcp-vii-shoreland-protection-program-3a,,,,
2942,"HCP VII - Shoreland Protection Program (3a)",2013,225000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 04j3a","$1,737,000 the first year and $1,738,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $125,000 the first year and $125,000 the second year are to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $3,225,000 is for agreements as follows: $637,000 the first year and $638,000 the second year with Ducks Unlimited, Inc.; $38,000 the first year and $37,000 the second year with Friends of Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District; $25,000 the first year and $25,000 the second year with Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe; $225,000 the first year and $225,000 the second year with Minnesota Land Trust; $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $242,000 the first year and $243,000 the second year with Pheasants Forever, Inc.; and $245,000 the first year and $245,000 the second year with The Trust for Public Land to plan, restore, and acquire fragmented landscape corridors that connect areas of quality habitat to sustain fish, wildlife, and plants. The United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, is an authorized cooperating partner in the appropriation. Expenditures are limited to the project corridor areas as defined in the work program. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum habitat and facility management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of habitable residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program. An entity who acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work program. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,225000,,,2.31,"Minnesota Land Trust","Non-Profit Business/Entity","With this appropriation, the Minnesota Land Trust plans to protect approximately 500 acres of critical shoreline habitat along Minnesota's lakes, wetlands, rivers, and streams by securing permanent conservation easements and dedicating funds for their perpetual monitoring, management, and enforcement. Lands being considered for permanent protection in this round of funding are located in Becker, Beltrami, Blue Earth, Itasca, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Le Sueur, Otter Tail, Pope, and Wabasha counties.OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTSIn the seventh phase of our Shorelands Protection project, the Minnesota Land Trust continued to work with landowners to secure permanent conservation easements on quality habitat along or containing critical riparian lands. We initiated or continued contact with more than 30 landowners and completed eight conservation easements. Collectively, these easements preserve approximately 700 acres of land - exceeding our original goal of 400 to 600 acres - and protect nearly 34,172 linear feet of fragile shoreline. Highlights from the eight completed projects include:One donated easement over 30 acres in Kandiyohi County that protected over 2,600 feet of natural shoreline along the Middle Fork of the Crow River.A complex of five easements surrounding five lakes in Becker County that protected approximately 474 acres and over 3 miles of undeveloped shoreline. Four of the five easements were donated to the Land Trust.One donated easement in Otter Tail County that protected 48 acres and over 2,900 feet of shoreline along Blanche Lake, immediately adjacent to Glendalough State Park.Another donated easement that protected 145 acres of forest and wetlands in Beltrami County and preserved almost two miles of shoreline along Black Lake and Three Island Lake.Overall, this phase of the grant program protected 269 acres of forest, 183 acres of wetlands, and over 6 miles of undeveloped shoreline.All eight projects met the following selection criteria:Habitat: quality and quantity of existing habitat on site; protects riparian areas and buffers water resourcesContext: proximity and relationship to other protected landsOpportunity: cost-benefit ratio: landowners willingness and readiness to participate nowOther Benefits: meeting multiple objectives, including visual and physical access, forestry goals, water quality, etc.Additionally, the Land Trust prepared baseline property reports for each easement, detailing the condition of the property for future monitoring and enforcement. To fund this required perpetual obligation, the Land Trust dedicated funds to its segregated Stewardship and Enforcement Fund for several completed projects. For these projects, we estimated the anticipated annual expenses of each project and the investment needed to generate annual income sufficient to cover these expenses in perpetuity - all in accordance with our internal policies and procedures as approved by LCCMR. We will report to LCCMR annually on the status of the Stewardship and Enforcement Fund and the easements acquired with funds from this grant. All but one of the eight easements completed under this grant were entirely donated. The value is known for only two of the donated easements, which together total $204,000 in appraised donated value under this grant. The Land Trust purchased one of the Fischer Lakes easements for the appraised value of $170,000. The cost to the State of Minnesota to complete the eight projects completed under this phase of the grant was just under $600 per acre. Cumulatively, across all phases of the HCP program, the Land Trust has completed 89 conservation easements, protecting 8,245 acres of critical habitat and more than 258,000 feet of shoreline, at a cost to the State of approximately $320 per acre. The Land Trust's work on this project continues to demonstrate the cost effectiveness of working with conservation easements to protect natural and scenic resources along Minnesota's lakes, rivers, and streams, as the cost to the State was well below the cost to purchase land along our increasingly threatened shorelines. This grant continued to generate interest among landowners, and therefore, ongoing funding will be important to sustained success. Additionally, our experiences during this phase of the grant indicate that funds to purchase easements will be necessary in the future as work becomes more targeted, selective, and focused on building complexes of protected land. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION The Land Trust disseminated information about the specific land protection projects completed under this grant though our newsletter, email updates, web site, and press releases. The Land Trust also shared information about conservation easements generally and our experience with our partner organizations, other easement holders, local communities, as well as policy makers including members of the LCCMR and LSOHC.",,"Final Report",2011-07-01,2014-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Sarah,Strommen,"Minnesota Land Trust","2356 University Ave W, Ste 240","St Paul",MN,55114,"(651) 647-9590",sstrommen@mnland.org,"Land Acquisition, Monitoring","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Beltrami, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Cass, Clay, Douglas, Faribault, Freeborn, Grant, Hubbard, Itasca, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Meeker, Otter Tail, Pope, Rice, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Todd, Waseca, Wright",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/hcp-vii-shoreland-protection-program-3a,,,,
3245,"Heartland State Trail - Crow Wing River Bridge/Akeley",2010,,"M.L. 2009 Ch. 172 Art. 3 Sec. 2(3)",,"Replacement of the former railroad bridge which carried the Heartland State Trail over the Crow Wing River at the Town of Akeley. The former wood pile railroad bridge was approximately 100 years old had been inspected and recommended for replacement given advanced deterioriation.","The demolition of the 312' long former railroad trestle bridge over the Crow Wing River at Akeley was completed during August. A new 160' single span steel trail bridge with a concrete deck was open for use in late October 2010.",,,,,,,,,,"Replacement of State Trail Bridge over the Crow Wing River in the Community of Akeley.","Demolition and replacement of former railroad bridge that had been previously converted to recreational trail use. Construction of the replacement bridge was completed during October 2010.",,2010-03-01,2010-11-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Kent,Skaar,"MNDNR Division of Parks and Trails","500 Lafayette Rd","St Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5636",kent.skaar@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Hubbard,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/heartland-state-trail-crow-wing-river-bridgeakeley,,,,
10003504,"Imperiled Prairie Butterfly Conservation, Research and Breeding Program",2015,245000,"M.L. 2014, Chp. 226, Sec. 2, Subd. 05j2","$380,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Minnesota Zoological Garden and $245,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to prevent the extirpation and possible extinction of imperiled native Minnesota butterfly species through breeding, genetics and mortality research, inventory, monitoring, and public education. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2017, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,245000,,,3.09,"MN DNR","State Government","With only 1% of Minnesota’s native prairie remaining, many prairie plant and animal species have dramatically declined. Of the 12 butterfly species native to Minnesota prairies, two species, the Poweshiek skipperling and the Dakota skipper, have already largely disappeared from the state and are proposed for listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act despite being historically among the most common prairie butterflies and having their historic ranges concentrated in Minnesota. The Minnesota Zoo and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are using this appropriation to conduct efforts aimed at preventing the extirpation and possible extinction of these butterfly species in Minnesota. Efforts will include expansion of both a butterfly research and conservation breeding program and ongoing butterfly survey and monitoring programs. Because of the ecological role of butterflies as pollinators and a food source for wildlife, analysis should also reveal important information about the greater prairie ecosystem and guide actions to be taken to protect it.",,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2014/work_plans/2014_05j2.pdf,2014-07-01,2017-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Robert,Dana,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Rd, Box 32","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5086",robert.dana@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Dodge, Douglas, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Marshall, McLeod, Murray, Nobles, Norman, Pipestone, Polk, Rock, Roseau, Sibley, Stearns, Swift, Traverse, Yellow Medicine",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/imperiled-prairie-butterfly-conservation-research-and-breeding-program-2,,,,
10013281,"Implement a Pilot Credit-Trading System for Storm Water in Shell Rock River Watershed to Improve Water Quality",2019,300000,"M.L. 2018, Chp. 214, Art. 4, Sec. 2, Subd. 04k","$300,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Shell Rock River Watershed District to develop and implement a pilot water-quality credit-trading program for storm water that provides voluntary and cost-effective options to reduce pollution on a watershed scale.","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,,,,,"Shell Rock River Watershed District",,"This project will develop and implement a model stormwater water quality credit trading framework. The purpose is to provide voluntary, cost effective, pollutant reductions on a watershed scale.",,"Work Plan",2018-07-01,2021-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Courtney,Phillips,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","214 West Main St","Albert Lea",MN,56007,"(507) 377-5785",courtney.phillips@co.freeborn.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Freeborn,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/implement-pilot-credit-trading-system-storm-water-shell-rock-river-watershed-improve-water,,,,
10031436,"Implementing Innovative Techniques to Manage Low-Density Invasive Carp",2025,634000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 06c","$634,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to implement new and innovative methods and to enhance ongoing efforts to detect, monitor, and remove invasive carp and to evaluate watershed boundaries for potential breaches to avoid invasive carp establishment in Minnesota.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,5.7,"MN DNR","State Government","This project will enhance the current program, integrating new invasive carp control and detection methods to monitor and remove invasive carp to avoid establishment in Minnesota.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2027-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Brian,Nerbonne,"MN DNR","1200 Warner Road","St. Paul",MN,55106,"(651) 259-5789",brian.nerbonne@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/implementing-innovative-techniques-manage-low-density-invasive-carp,,,,
33207,"Improving Community Forests Through Citizen Engagement",2016,800000,"M.L. 2015, Chp. 76, Sec. 2, Subd. 08h","$800,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to design and pilot a program, including grants to communities, to mobilize citizen volunteers to protect, improve, and maintain local forests in communities around the state. Participation is open to any municipality in the state and participating municipalities will be selected through a competitive proposal process that will include representation from both metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas of the state. Trees planted using this appropriation must be species that are native to Minnesota. A participating municipality must provide a match of not less than 25 percent, up to half of which may be in the form of in-kind support. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2018, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,,,,,"Minnesota Pollution Control Agency","State Government",,,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2015/work_plans_may/_2015_08h.pdf,2015-07-01,2019-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Valerie,McClannahan,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Rd","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5283",valerie.mcclannahan@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Blue Earth, Le Sueur, Nicollet, Olmsted, Ramsey, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/improving-community-forests-through-citizen-engagement,,,,
10004518,"Increasing Diversity in Environmental Careers",2017,1500000,"M.L. 2016, Chp. 186, Sec. 2, Subd. 03e","$1,500,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to complete the update and enhancement of wetland inventory maps for counties in central and northwestern Minnesota. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2019, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,,,,,"MN DNR","State Government",,,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2016/work_plans_may/_2016_03e.pdf,2016-07-01,2019-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Steve,Kloiber,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Rd, Box 25","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5164",steve.kloiber@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Clay, Clearwater, Douglas, Grant, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Roseau, Stevens, Traverse, Wilkin",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/increasing-diversity-environmental-careers-0,,,,
10031378,"Investigating Life History Characteristics of Minnesota Elk",2025,933000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 03h","$933,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to assess Minnesota elk herd health and genetic diversity, movements, survival, and causes of mortality and to develop a noninvasive, safer, and more accurate method to estimate population size. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,14.7,"MN DNR","State Government","We will assess movements, survival, and causes of mortality of Minnesota elk while developing a non-invasive, safer method to estimate population size. This information is important for long-term management efforts.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2027-12-31,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Eric,Michel,"MN DNR","35365 800th Avenue",Madelia,MN,56062,"(507) 621-8918",eric.michel@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Beltrami, Clay, Clearwater, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/investigating-life-history-characteristics-minnesota-elk,,,,
18204,"Itasca State Park replace security cameras",2011,,"M.L. 2009 Ch. 172 Art. 3 Sec. 2(3)",,,,,,,,,,,,,"Security camera system was replaced at Itasca State Park","For continuous safety of the public and staff at the park the system was upgraded to better fulfill survelance needs.",,2011-07-01,2014-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Michael,Kovacovich,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","2115 Birchmont Beach Rd. NW",Bemidji,MN,56601,"(218) 308-2652",michael.kovacovich@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Hubbard,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/itasca-state-park-replace-security-cameras,,,,
32151,"Itasca State Park water and sewer system condition study",2014,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"This study investigated the entire water and sewer system servicing Itasca State Park. A condition report was created that proposes a 12-year rehabilitation schedule. Itasca is Minnesota's oldest park at almost 100 years old. It's water and sewer infrastructure is in dire need of rehab. Failure of this system would be most likely when the park is being heavily visited. Until now, a comprehensive inventory of the entire water and sewer system did not exist. This report forms the basis for the DNR's 2016 bonding request for funding to begin long-needed rehabilitation within this park.",,,2014-05-01,2015-05-29,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Deb,Boyd,"MNDNR Division of Parks and Trails","500 Lafayette Rd","St Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5595",deb.boyd@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Hubbard,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/itasca-state-park-water-and-sewer-system-condition-study,,,,
32151,"Itasca State Park water and sewer system condition study",14,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"This study investigated the entire water and sewer system servicing Itasca State Park. A condition report was created that proposes a 12-year rehabilitation schedule. Itasca is Minnesota's oldest park at almost 100 years old. It's water and sewer infrastructure is in dire need of rehab. Failure of this system would be most likely when the park is being heavily visited. Until now, a comprehensive inventory of the entire water and sewer system did not exist. This report forms the basis for the DNR's 2016 bonding request for funding to begin long-needed rehabilitation within this park.",,,2014-05-01,2015-05-29,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Deb,Boyd,"MNDNR Division of Parks and Trails","500 Lafayette Rd","St Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5595",deb.boyd@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Hubbard,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/itasca-state-park-water-and-sewer-system-condition-study,,,,
32157,"Itasca State Park design of phase II of the bike trail",2014,,"M.L. 2013 Ch. 137 Art. 3 Sec. 3(a)(2)","$16821000 the first year and $16953000 the second year are for state parks recreation areas and trails to: (1) connect people to the outdoors; (2) acquire land and create opportunities; (3) maintain existing holdings; and (4) improve cooperation by coordinating with partners to implement the 25-year long-range parks and trails legacy plan. ",,,,,,,,,,,,"This project accomplished the design of the next phase of the new bike trail at Itasca State Park, from the Mississippi Rover to the Oziwindib group center. Portions of the bike trail follow the park road, which is a very dangerous situation for both bikers and motorists. This project will remove this safety risk. The DNR will seek 2016 bonding to construct Phase II.",,,2014-09-01,2015-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Deb,Boyd,"MNDNR Division of Parks and Trails","500 Lafayette Rd","St Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5595",deb.boyd@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Hubbard,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/itasca-state-park-design-phase-ii-bike-trail,,,,
35077,"Jack Pine Forest/Crow Wing River Watershed Habitat Acquisition",2017,3355400,"ML 2016, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 3(b)","$3,570,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association to acquire in fee and restore and enhance forest habitat lands in Cass and Hubbard Counties for county forest purposes. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"Protected 2,280 acres (in fee without state PILT liability) ",,,,3355400,,,0.31,"MN Deer Hunters Association","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This project protected in fee approximately 1,960 acres in Cass County and 320 acres in Hubbard County of forest habitat that are at significant risk of conversion to row crop agriculture. The project also restored 92 acres jack pine, an increasingly rare tree species, in the project area. ",,"During past decade there has been a significant loss of forest habitat within the Crow Wing River Watershed due to the conversion of that habitat to row crop agriculture and other development. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) estimates that about 42 square miles of pine forest have been cleared or are at elevated risk of being cleared and converted to croplands.  To slow the loss of forest lands and they habitat provided by them, the project protected by acquisition in fee 2,280 acres of high priority habitat within the Crow Wing River Watershed. To achieve the project goals, the acquired fee parcels were transferred to Cass and Hubbard Counties to hold in fee and manage. This project also funded the restoration of 92 acres of jack pine to the landscape. The amount of jack pine within the project area has been significantly reduced through a combination of conversion to row crop agriculture or replacement with other forest cover types such as red pine plantation.  Jack pine is a relatively rare forest type in Minnesota and provides habitat for many unique species. It is well-suited to the sandy soil types in the Crow Wing River Watershed. This project used several forest management tools to restore the jack pine that included site preparation, planting, bud capping and brush control. No herbicides were used for site preparation and brush control. The acquisition of these parcels and the restoration of jack pine forest has provided significant value beyond the protection of key forest habitat. The project will also benefit water quality by conserving forest cover that helps to filter pollutants from percolating through the sandy soils that are prevalent in the Crow Wing River Watershed. It had provided increased public access for hunting and recreational activities. It has also enabled land managers of adjacent state and county lands to easily access those lands for forest management while providing wood fiber from the land to supply local mills. Water quality in the Crow Wing Watershed has become a top priority as a significant number of acres of forestland within the watershed has been converted to row crop agriculture and several irrigation pivots have been installed.  By protecting these lands from conversion, this project will provide increased protection of the surface and ground water, as well as provide sufficient wildlife habitat throughout the area. The Byron Township Land acquisition included approximately 686 acres. Through consolidation of lands into larger blocks, better habitat can be created. Combining these lands with the adjoining County and State management forest lands, a habitat block of nearly 5,800 acres has been permanently protected.   The Poplar Township Land acquisition included approximately 1,274 acres. Combining these lands with the adjoining County and State management forest lands, another habitat block of nearly 4,300 acres has been permanently protected.  Approximately  1.25 miles of Farnham Creek habitat flows through the property. The acquisition also adjoins and buffers the Dry Sand Lake Wildlife Management Area The Badoura Township land acquisition included approximately 240 acres and connects two large blocks of county and state lands, including the Crow Wing Chain W. M. A., providing permanent protection to over 7,500 acres of quality wildlife habitat. The Lake George Township land acquisition included approximately 80 acres of remote forestland that is completely surrounded by existing county-managed lands.  This acquisition protects the 80 acre parcel from potential fragmentation and loss of public recreation. ",,2021-02-25,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Craig,Engwall,"MN Deer Hunters Association","460 Peterson Road ","Grand Rapids",MN,55744,"(218) 327-1103",craig.engwall@mndeerhunters.com,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Cass, Hubbard","Northern Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/jack-pine-forestcrow-wing-river-watershed-habitat-acquisition,,,,
10031412,"Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Supplemental Teaching Staff",2025,410000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 05a","$410,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the city of Austin to continue providing environmental education opportunities at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center for learners from outside the city of Austin.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,6,"City of Austin","Local/Regional Government","This project sustains momentum from the pilot project funded previously by the ENRTF for growing environmental education opportunities for learners from outside of Austin.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2027-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Luke,Reese,"City of Austin","PO Box 673",Austin,MN,55912,"(507) 437-7519",luke.reese@hormelnaturecenter.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Blue Earth, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Le Sueur, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, Winona",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/jay-c-hormel-nature-center-supplemental-teaching-staff-0,,,,
18273,"Kensington Rune Stone Park",2013,337000,"M.L. 2011 First Special Session Ch. 6 Art. 3 Sec. 3(c) (1) & M.S. 85.535","$7331000 the first year and $7686000 the second year are for grants under Minnesota Statutes section 85.535 to acquire develop improve and restore parks and trails of regional or statewide significance outside of the metropolitan area as defined in Minnesota Statutes section 473.121 subdivision 2.",,,,,,,,,,"Douglas County",,"Acquire approximately 84.4-acre addition to existing 305-acre regional park.",,,2013-01-03,2015-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Joe,Hiller,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5538",joe.hiller@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Douglas,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/kensington-rune-stone-park,,,,
9460,"Kensington Runestone Park",2012,261475,"M.L. 2011 First Special Session Ch. 6 Art. 3 Sec. 3(c) (1) & M.S. 85.535","$7331000 the first year and $7686000 the second year are for grants under Minnesota Statutes section 85.535 to acquire develop improve and restore parks and trails of regional or statewide significance outside of the metropolitan area as defined in Minnesota Statutes section 473.121 subdivision 2.",,,,,,,,,,"Douglas County",,"Multi-use trails including 640 feet of elevated boardwalk, new park entrance including 1800 feet of entrance road.",,,2012-04-19,2014-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Joe,Hiller,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5538",joe.hiller@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Douglas,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/kensington-runestone-park,,,,
9423,"Lake Brophy Park Addition",2010,375000,"M.L 2009 Ch. 172 Art. 3 Sec 2d & M.S. 85.535.","$3970000 the first year and $4900000 the second year are for grants under new Minnesota Statutes section 85.535 to parks and trails recognized as meeting the constitutional requirement of being a park or trail of regional or statewide significance. Grants under this section must be used only for acquisition development restoration and maintenance. Of this amount $500000 the first year and $600000 the second year are for grants for solar energy projects. Up to 2.5 percent of this appropriation may be used for administering the grants.",,,,,,,,,,"Douglas County",,"Acquire 26-acres with 8,000 feet of lake shore located 2 miles west of the city of Alexandria. This will be the first phase of a larger acquisition totaling 136 acres. The property is bisected by the Central Lakes Trail and contains unimproved uplands, high hills, scenic vistas, small wood lots and wetlands.",,,2010-10-12,2013-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Joe,Hiller,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5538",joe.hiller@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Douglas,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/lake-brophy-park-addition,,,,
9459,"Lake Brophy County Park",2012,500000,"M.L. 2011 First Special Session Ch. 6 Art. 3 Sec. 3(c) (1) & M.S. 85.535","$7331000 the first year and $7686000 the second year are for grants under Minnesota Statutes section 85.535 to acquire develop improve and restore parks and trails of regional or statewide significance outside of the metropolitan area as defined in Minnesota Statutes section 473.121 subdivision 2.",,,,,,,,,,"Douglas County",,"Acquire approximately 40 acres to expand existing regional park.",,,2012-01-26,2014-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Joe,Hiller,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5538",joe.hiller@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Douglas,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/lake-brophy-county-park,,,,
2925,"LaSalle Lake State Recreation Area Acquisition",2012,1000000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 04f","$1,000,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Trust for Public Land to acquire approximately 190 acres to be designated as a state recreation area as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 3, on LaSalle Lake adjacent to the upper Mississippi River. If this acquisition is not completed by July 15, 2012, then the appropriation is available to the Department of Natural Resources for other state park and recreation area acquisitions on the priority list. Up to $10,000 may be retained by the Department of Natural Resources at the request of The Trust for Public Land for transaction costs, associated professional services, and restoration needs.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,1000000,,,7.54,"The Trust for Public Land","Non-Profit Business/Entity","PROJECT OVERVIEW LaSalle Lake, a 211 acre lake in northwestern Hubbard County, is the second deepest lake in the state at 213 feet. It is surrounded by thousands of acres of natural areas that include rare species, high-quality forest and wetlands, coldwater stream, and portions of the Upper Mississippi River. In partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Trust for Public Land is coordinating a multi-phase effort to permanently protect a total of 980 acres surrounding LaSalle Lake for the creation of LaSalle State Recreation Area, making the area available for public enjoyment for generations to come. This appropriation is being used to purchase a 190 acre portion of the total acreage that includes some of the highest quality habitat and biodiversity as identified by the Minnesota County Biological Survey. OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTSOn October 27, 2011, The Trust for Public Land acquired 721 acres on La Salle Lake in Hubbard County and immediately conveyed the property to the DNR. Funding for approximately 94 of these acres was provided by the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Combined with 269 acres previously acquired on December 22, 2010, the land now forms the new La Salle Lake State Recreation Area. Funding for the acquisition of this property was as follows:Funding SourceAllocated AcreageAmountEnvironment and Natural Resources Trust Fund94$990,000Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund528$5,547,000Parks and Trails Fund99$1,953,000TOTAL(puchase price and appraised value)721$8,490,000In addition to the land acquisition capital noted above, the following amounts were appropriated for DNR land acquisition costs, initial site development and restoration: Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund $10,000; Outdoor Heritage Fund $85,000; and Parks and Trails Fund $147,000. The DNR has used these funds to conduct a number of activities on the site including restoration of areas to native species, invasive species control, trail system establishment, fencing removal, and reforestation of areas damaged by a major blowdown in 2012. Protection of the La Salle Lake property was a high priority for multiple stakeholders. It was the number one priority for the DNR Northwest Region in 2010-2011, which had sought to protect it for over a decade. The acquisition also enjoyed strong local support including unanimous approval from the Hubbard County Board. Numerous organizations and individuals provided letters of support including: the Park Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, the Hubbard County Coalition of Lake Associations (COLA), the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, Trout Unlimited, and the Audubon Society. Acquisition of the La Salle Lake property successfully seized a rare opportunity to protect a large area of habitat of regional and statewide significance that includes the entirety of Minnesota's second deepest lake, a coldwater stream, high-quality forest and wetlands, and over a half mile of Mississippi River shoreline. The property is ranked as having Outstanding Biodiversity Significance by the Minnesota County Biological Survey (MCBS). It also provides excellent recreational opportunities for hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and wildlife observation. The acquisition furthers the goals of multiple state conservation plans and connects large parcels of land already in public ownership preventing forest fragmentation and guaranteeing wildlife large landscapes in which to roam. This unique and important habitat was at risk of development and was listed for sale until The Trust for Public Land obtained an option to purchase the property and ultimately conveyed it to the DNR for permanent stewardship. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION< Information about this project has been widely disseminated in a variety of ways. The Trust for Public Land has publicized it on its website, http://www.tpl.org/what-we-do/where-we-work/minnesota/la-salle-lake.html, in broadcast emails to its list serve members, and in other Trust for Public Land publications. The DNR issued a press release on the acquisition, which many news providers covered including the Pioneer Press, MPR, the Park Rapids Enterprise and a number of other papers through the AP wire. Television coverage was provided by Channel 9 TV and Channel 11 TV. The DNR further did a story on this project in its Conservation Volunteer magazine, and has a great deal of information about it on its website. See the following link: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/la_salle_lake/index.html",,"FINAL REPORT",2011-07-01,2014-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Susan,Schmidt,"The Trust for Public Land","2610 University Ave W, Ste 300","St Paul",MN,55114,"(651) 999-5317",susan.schmidt@tpl.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Hubbard,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/lasalle-lake-state-recreation-area-acquisition,,,,
730,"Linking Habitat Restoration to Bioenergy and Local Economies",2011,600000,"M.L. 2010, Chp. 362, Sec. 2, Subd. 07c","$600,000 is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to restore high quality native habitats and expand market opportunities for utilizing postharvest restoration as a bioenergy source. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2013, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,,,,,DNR,"State Government","PROJECT OVERVIEW More than 7,000 acres of public and private lands needing restoration have been identified within 75 miles of St. Paul. Given the various emerging markets for woody biomass, a unique opportunity has been identified. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will use this appropriation to continue development of an innovative approach to improving lands by harvesting ecologically inappropriate woody vegetation and working with local markets to turn the resulting biomass into marketable products such as mulch, animal bedding, firewood, and wood pellets for energy generation. Funds raised from the sale of these products could then be used to expand this type of model into other areas of Minnesota. In addition to helping stimulate local economies, benefits of this approach also include enhanced biodiversity and effective utilization of woody material traditionally burned or landfilled. OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS This innovative project helped restore 385 acres of critical habitat and high quality native plant communities by removing ecologically inappropriate woody vegetation (exotic and/or native species) while stimulating local economies through jobs and strategic utilization of the biomass material for bioenergy and other products. This project facilitated habitat restoration efforts that might not have otherwise occurred while making the woody material, traditionally burned or landfilled, available to established and emerging woody biomass markets. Of the $600,000 appropriation, $490,666 was spent on eleven projects. Seven non-DNR public and private landowners received a total of $324,530 granted through a competitive process. Four DNR projects received a total of $166,136. A variety of types of projects (based on restoration goals, species/type of woody biomass material, density, distance, land ownership, utilization opportunity, etc.) were completed. Projects were selected based on critical requirements including ecological value and recovery potential of the project site, current ecologically-based management plan, project-specific harvest plan, post-harvest restoration plan, and demonstrated capacity and long-term commitment to effectively manage the site to achieve and maintain restoration goals. Viable markets were identified prior to project implementation. Utilization of the woody biomass resulted in 291 semi-truck loads or 5,280 tons for bioenergy, 242 semi-truck loads of commercial mulch, 450 cords of pine sawlogs, 6 log loads of cottonwood for pallets, and pine cabin logs. Biomass material was either sold separately from the harvest with revenue collected, or in conjunction with the harvest where contractors valued the material (deducted from the harvest bid) and were responsible for final utilization. Revenues collected ($11,100) and values attributed ($4,000) were reinvested for further purposes of the project. This project demonstrated that there are opportunities to sell or properly utilize ecologically inappropriate woody vegetation removed through habitat restoration activities. The long-term vision for this effort is to achieve an ecologically sound and systematic approach that addresses: current and future issues of habitat restoration and enhancement; renewable energy and climate change; invasive species, and natural resources conservation planning and implementation - all of which are effected, to some degree, by the impacts and opportunities of woody biomass. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION The webpage ""Linking Habitat Restoration to Bioenergy and Local Economies"" located at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/habitat_biomass.htmlprovides an overview of the entire project, the project fact sheet, the LCCMR-approved Work Program, and the final report. Project data were compiled and regularly updated for the DNR's Grant Outcomes webpage to provide project descriptions, funding information, indicators, targets and outcomes information. The website is located at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/outcomes/index.html. Project information was shared at public workshops, conferences and meetings through formal presentations, panel discussions, informal conversations and handouts, such as the project fact sheet and other printed materials, targeted for the audience. Project information was also shared with DNR staff through staff meetings, project coordination, formal presentations, and informal discussions. Telephone conversations and meetings were convened with land managers/owners, harvest contractors, and biomass market industry representatives to discuss the project, garner insights for improvements to implementing this project, identify challenges and opportunities to move this effort forward and to facilitate connections between landowners, contractors, and biomass end-users.The key messages were:For land managers/owners conducting habitat restoration projects: explore and implement the option to utilize the biomass material removed versus piling and burning or landfilling;For contractors: provide the combined service of harvest and utilization of the material; andFor end-users: acknowledge habitat restoration projects as a potential significant source of material and to seek this opportunity.",,"FINAL REPORT",2010-07-01,2013-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Barb,Spears,DNR,"1200 Warner Rd","St. Paul",MN,55106,"(651) 259-5849",barb.spears@dnr.state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Benton, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Dodge, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Le Sueur, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Nicollet, Olmsted, Pine, Ramsey, Rice, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/linking-habitat-restoration-bioenergy-and-local-economies,,,,
10006480,"Living Shallow Lake Enhancement & Wetland Restoration Initiative - Phase VII",2019,3740000,"ML 2018, Ch. 208, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 4(f)"," $3,740,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to restore and enhance shallow lakes and wetlands on public lands and wetlands under permanent conservation easement for wildlife management. A list of proposed shallow lake enhancements and wetland restorations must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Enhanced shallow lake productivity - Shallow lakes enhanced via temporary water level draw-downs made possible by DU-engineered and installed water control structures will be assessed by Minnesota DNR shallow lakes program surveys both before and after draw-downs to document improvements in water clarity, abundance of aquatic plants, and overall improvements in the aquatic ecology of each basin. Minnesota DNR and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service field staff also conduct periodic counts of waterfowl and other wildlife using these basins in both spring and fall, along with hunters, and thus wildlife and human use is also monitored on a more informal basis..",,,140000,"DU private and future federal NAWCA",3670000,70000,,7,"Ducks Unlimited","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This Phase 6 request for Ducks Unlimited’s Living Lakes program will enhance 1,000 acres of shallow lakes and restore 50 acres of small wetlands by engineering and installing water control structures for Minnesota DNR and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on public lands and wetlands under easement. Structures will be used by DNR and Service partners to restore wetland hydrology and actively manage shallow lake water levels to enhance their ecology for ducks, other birds, and hunters in the Prairie Region of Minnesota. DU will engineer structures and contract with private sector firms for construction and earth-moving work.","This is Phase 6 of Ducks Unlimited's ongoing shallow lake enhancement and prairie wetland restoration conservation program, and will enhance 1,000 acres of shallow lakes and restore 50 acres of small wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region of SW Minnesota. DU provides wetland engineering services to the Minnesota DNR and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) to survey, design, and install water level control structures to enhance degraded shallow lakes and restore drained wetlands on public land and under easement. Water control structures will be used to conduct temporary water level draw-downs to rejuvenate shallow lake ecology and productivity. DU engineers will survey and design water control structures, and will manage their construction by private sector firms contracted by DU.Shallow lake enhancement and wetland restoration are top priority actions in all major conservation plans for Minnesota. Our work addresses the habitat goals identified in North American Waterfowl Management Plan, Minnesota’s Prairie Conservation Plan, and Minnesota’s Duck Recovery Plan which calls for the active management of 1,800 shallow lakes and adding 64,000 wetlands to Minnesota’s landscape. This work is time-sensitive because complex shallow lake enhancement projects take several years to design and implement, and because wetlands restorations are critically needed for breeding waterfowl. Healthy and abundant wetlands are required to sustain breeding and migrating waterfowl. Minnesota has lost approximately 90% of our prairie wetlands along with 99% of native prairie uplands around them. This has had a profound negative impact on breeding ducks and other prairie wetland wildlife here. Shallow lakes and wetlands that remain are often those that were too deep to drain years ago, and they now function as the core of Minnesota’s remaining waterfowl habitat complexes. Unfortunately, these remaining wetland basins now often receive the excessive nutrient-laden water runoff from an intensively drained and interconnected landscape through which invasive fish such as carp have improved access. As a result, many of our remaining wetlands and shallow lakes are turbid and degraded due to highly drained watersheds, high and stable water levels in which nutrients collect and carp and other invasive fish proliferate. The result is that aquatic ecology functions stagnate and wetland productivity declines, and wetland basins with few aquatic plants and invertebrates result. This is especially detrimental to diving ducks and other species that rely exclusively on aquatic plant and invertebrate foods within wetlands and shallow lakes to survive. These factors have caused a decline in Minnesota’s diverse waterfowl resources, and in Minnesota’s rich waterfowling tradition too.This funding request will support DU projects that biologists and wetland engineering staff assess shallow lake and wetland restoration project feasibility, and design and manage construction of water control structures and fish barriers required to improve public water shallow lakes and restore wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region of SW Minnesota. Funding will support ongoing shallow lake technical assistance from DU biologists and engineers to assess, survey, and design future projects for implementation under future OHF appropriations for this program.",,2018-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Jon,Schneider,"Ducks Unlimited","311 East Lake Geneva Road ",Alexandria,MN,56308,"(3207629916) -",jschneider@ducks.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Cottonwood, Douglas, Freeborn, Grant, Jackson, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Otter Tail, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Sibley, Swift, Watonwan, Yellow Medicine","Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/living-shallow-lake-enhancement-wetland-restoration-initiative-phase-vii,,,,
10019627,"Living Shallow Lake Enhancement & Wetland Restoration Initiative - Phase VII",2022,3960000,"ML 2021, First Sp. Session, Ch. 1, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 4(g) ","$3,960,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to restore and enhance shallow lakes and wetlands on public lands and wetlands under permanent conservation easements for wildlife management. A list of proposed shallow lake enhancements and wetland restorations must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Wetland and upland complexes will consist of native prairies, restored prairies, quality grasslands, and restored shallow lakes and wetlands - This program will restore and enhance wetlands on federal Waterfowl Production Areas and USFWS Habitat easements, and similar wetlands for MNDNR, each of which will be selected strategically by USFWS and MNDNR to benefit existing wetland complexes and migratory birds for both breeding and migration habitat, and which will be monitored by USFWS and MNDNR. Enhanced shallow lake productivity - Wetland and shallow lakes restored or enhanced via temporary water level draw-downs by DU-engineered and installed water control structures will be assessed by Minnesota DNR shallow lakes program surveys both before and after draw-downs to document improvements in water clarity, abundance of aquatic plants, and overall improvements in the aquatic ecology of each basin. Minnesota DNR and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service field staff also conduct periodic counts of waterfowl and other wildlife using these basins in both spring and fall, along with hunters, and thus wildlife and human use is also monitored on a more informative opportunistic basis",,,375000," and DU private and federal NAWCA funds",3905000,55000,,1.9,"Ducks Unlimited","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This Phase 7 request for Ducks Unlimited's Living Lakes program will enhance 1,160 acres of shallow lakes and restore 120 acres of small wetlands by engineering and installing water control structures for Minnesota DNR and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on public lands and wetlands under easement. Structures will help DNR and Service agency partners restore wetland hydrology and actively manage shallow lake water levels to enhance their ecology for ducks, other birds, and hunters in Minnesota's Prairie Pothole Region. DU will engineer and design projects, and hire private contractors to restore wetlands and construct water control structures.","This is Phase 7 of Ducks Unlimited's ongoing shallow lake enhancement and prairie wetland restoration conservation program, and will enhance shallow lakes, enhance wetlands, and restore wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region of SW Minnesota. DU provides wetland engineering services to the Minnesota DNR and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) to survey, design, and install water level control structures to enhance degraded shallow lakes and restore drained wetlands on public land and under easement. Water control structures will be used to conduct temporary water level draw-downs to rejuvenate shallow lake ecology and productivity. DU engineers will survey and design water control structures, and will manage their construction by private sector firms contracted by DU. Shallow lake enhancement and wetland restoration are top priority actions in all major conservation plans for Minnesota. Our work addresses the habitat goals identified in North American Waterfowl Management Plan, Minnesota's Prairie Conservation Plan, and Minnesota's Duck Recovery Plan which calls for the active management of 1,800 shallow lakes and adding 64,000 wetlands to Minnesota's landscape. This work is time-sensitive because complex shallow lake enhancement projects take several years to design and implement, and because wetland restorations are critically needed for breeding waterfowl. Healthy and abundant wetlands are required to sustain breeding and migrating waterfowl. Minnesota has lost approximately 90% of our prairie wetlands along with 99% of native prairie uplands around them. This has had a profound negative impact on breeding ducks and other prairie wetland wildlife here. Shallow lakes and wetlands that remain are often those that were too deep to drain years ago, and they now function as the core of Minnesota's remaining waterfowl habitat complexes. Unfortunately, these remaining wetland basins now often receive the excessive nutrient-laden water runoff from an intensively drained and interconnected landscape through which invasive fish such as carp have improved access. As a result, many of our remaining wetlands and shallow lakes are turbid and degraded due to highly drained watersheds, high and stable water levels in which nutrients collect and carp and other invasive fish proliferate. The result is that aquatic ecology functions stagnate and wetland productivity declines, and wetland basins with few aquatic plants and invertebrates result. This is especially detrimental to diving ducks and other species that rely exclusively on aquatic plant and invertebrate foods within wetlands and shallow lakes to survive. These factors have caused a decline in Minnesota's diverse waterfowl resources, and in Minnesota's rich waterfowling tradition. This funding request will support DU projects that biologists and wetland engineering staff assess for shallow lake and wetland restoration project feasibility, and design and manage construction of water control structures and fish barriers required to improve public water shallow lakes and restore wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region of SW Minnesota. Funding will support ongoing shallow lake technical assistance from DU biologists and engineers to assess, survey, and design future projects for implementation under future OHF appropriations for this program.",,2021-07-01,2025-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Jon,Schneider,"Ducks Unlimited","311 East Lake Geneva Road ",Alexandria,MN,56308,3207629916,jschneider@ducks.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Cottonwood, Douglas, Freeborn, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Mahnomen, Martin, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Otter Tail, Redwood, Renville, Sibley, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Watonwan, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/living-shallow-lake-enhancement-wetland-restoration-initiative-phase-vii-0,,,,
9815,"Living Shallow Lakes and Wetlands Initiative, Phase 2",2013,4490000,"ML 2012, Ch. 264, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(d)","$4,490,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to assess, restore, and enhance shallow lakes and wetlands, including technical assistance, survey, design, and engineering to develop new enhancement and restoration projects for future implementation. A list of proposed restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Restored 150 acres and Enhanced 2,936 acres of wetlands",,839300,"Ducks Unlimited private funds and federal funds",4490000,24000,,2.3,"Ducks Unlimited","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Phase 2 of Ducks Unlimited's ongoing engineering program restored and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands by installing water level control structures to improve aquatic plant abundance and water clarity in partnership with the Minnesota DNR and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  Ducks Unlimited engineered and completed 20 projects, including 3 wetland restorations and 17 shallow lake enhancements.  In all, this work restored 150 wetland acres and enhanced 2,936 shallow lake acres for a total of 3,086 wetland acres completed, surpassing our goals and spending all the state funds appropriated while providing $839,300 in non-state funding as leverage, well-beyond our proposal.",,"This grant was Phase 2 of Ducks Unlimited's ongoing engineering program restored and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands by installing water level control structures to improve aquatic plant abundance and water clarity in partnership with the Minnesota DNR and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  Ducks Unlimited engineered and successfully completed 20 wetland projects through this appropriation, including 3 wetland restorations and 17 shallow lake enhancements.  In all, this work restored 150 wetland acres and enhanced 2,936 shallow lake acres for a total of 3,086 wetland acres completed, surpassing our goals and spending all the state funds appropriated while providing $839,300 in non-state funding as leverage, well-beyond the goals in our proposal and accomplishment plan.Minnesota has lost approximately 90% of our prairie wetlands, and many wetlands in other ecoregions of the state, to drainage. The shallow lakes and large marshes that remain now serve as the core of Minnesota’s remaining waterfowl habitat complexes, and are often those basins that were too deep to drain. These remaining wetlands now receive excessive water and nutrient runoff from a highly altered and intensively drained landscape, and are easily accessed by invasive fish such as common carp. As a result, many basins are now turbid and degraded due to high, stable water levels that allow carp and other invasive fish to proliferate and aquatic ecology to stagnate. The results is a lack of aquatic plants and invertebrates required to sustain migrating and breeding waterfowl, especially those species that rely on aquatic foods exclusively such as diving ducks.As a result, ducks migrating through Minnesota on their way north to breed in spring find sparse aquatic food resources, much to their detriment further north, and also again in the fall when their passage through Minnesota appears briefer each year. Those waterfowl that remain here to breed find poor brood-rearing habitat, as shallow lakes and marshes have a paucity of high quality wetland habitat with abundant aquatic plants and invertebrate food resources on which young ducks rely. These factors have contributed to a decline in Minnesota’s diverse waterfowl resources and, unfortunately, a decline in Minnesota’s rich waterfowling traditions.To remedy this situation, Ducks Unlimited’s “Living Lakes Initiative” assists the Minnesota DNR, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and other conservation partners to enhance and restore Minnesota’s shallow lakes and wetlands. This grant supported Phase 2 of Ducks Unlimited's biological and engineering work to design and construct water control structures and fish barriers. DU biologists worked closely with Minnesota DNR Shallow Lakes Program biologists to assess wetland conditions and identify possible management solutions. DU biologists and engineers surveyed, designed, and constructed the water control infrastructure necessary for state and federal agency staff to actively manage water levels. Funding in this request also supported ongoing shallow lake technical assistance from DU biologists and engineers to assess, survey, and design future projects for implementation under future OHF appropriations.Most enhancement work occured in the Prairie Region by design, as that is where waterfowl are in most need of habitat improvements.  Structures are used by agency managers to simulate natural temporary drought cycles in shallow lakes and wetlands that rejuvenate the aquatic ecological process that produces abundant aquatic plants and invertebrates. These structures last for 30 or more years and are generally use by agency staff every 5-7 years to conduct periodic temporary draw-downs that are key to enhancing and maintaining highly productive wetlands. Importantly, DU also restored smaller wetlands on public and other protected land near shallow lakes. Shallow lakes were selected for enhancement by DNR and FWS managers, and generally enjoy strong support from the public for improvement. The Minnesota DNR holds public meetings to share information on the current condition and management plan for shallow lakes designated for wildlife management purposes.PlanningEvery statewide conservation plan recognizes the need for improving and protecting Minnesota’s shallow lakes and associated wetlands for optimal wildlife habitat. The Minnesota DNR’s Duck Recovery Plan is the most specific, calling for the active management of 1,800 shallow lakes and adding 64,000 restored wetlands to Minnesota’s landscape. DU’s Living Lakes Initiative supports this plan through a goal of improving 300 Minnesota shallow lakes in 10 years. Shallow lakes and wetlands are identified as critical habitat for several “Species of Greatest Conservation Need” listed in Minnesota’s “Tomorrow’s Habitat for the Wild & Rare: An Action Plan for Minnesota Wildlife”, including lesser scaup, northern pintail, and trumpeter swan.Importantly, Ducks Unlimited’s Living Lakes Initiative directly address Minnesota’s Statewide Conservation & Preservation Plan Habitat Recommendations #4 and #5 on pages 78 and 80, respectively, which calls for the restoration and protection of shallow lakes (page 78) and the restoration of land, wetlands, and watersheds (page 80). This program addresses the LSOHC priorities of wetland and shallow lake restoration and enhancement in the Prairie and Forest-Prairie Transition sections. Finally, the North American Waterfowl Management Plan’s Prairie Pothole Joint Venture prioritizes the restoration and management of wetlands and shallow lakes through goals and objectives for improved brood-rearing and migration habitat for ducks. Many of the shallow lakes and wetlands prioritized for enhancement by DU are located within wetland habitat complexes identified by the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s Strategic Habitat Conservation model and are high priority basins for both Service and Minnesota DNR field managers. DU shallow lake and wetland enhancement work is performed in close coordination and collaboration with either the Minnesota DNR or U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and these agencies assume all future management and operation responsibilities for water control structures designed and installed by DU.",2012-07-01,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Jon,Schneider,"Ducks Unlimited","311 East Lake Geneva Road",Alexandria,MN,56308,"(320) 762-9916",jschneider@ducks.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Cottonwood, Freeborn, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Murray, Otter Tail, Sibley, Stearns, Wadena, Wright","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/living-shallow-lakes-and-wetlands-initiative-phase-2,,,,
23904,"Living Shallow Lakes & Wetlands Initiative Phase IV",2015,4888300,"ML 2014, Ch. 256, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(c )","$4,910,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to assess, enhance, and restore shallow lakes and wetlands, including bioengineering, technical assistance, feasibility investigation, survey, and design to develop new enhancement and restoration projects for future implementation. A list of proposed enhancements and restorations to be constructed through this appropriation must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"Restored 59 acres, enhanced 5,952 acres for a total of 6,011 acres ",,731000,"Federal NAWCA and DU private ",4799900,70000,,4.0,"Ducks Unlimited","Non-Profit Business/Entity","In this Phase 4 of our ongoing ""Living Lakes"" program to enhance shallow lakes and restore wetlands, DU successfully enhanced 5,952 acres of shallow lakes and wetlands and restored 59 acres of wetlands by completing 16 separate projects for waterfowl and other wildlife in the Prairie, Transition, and Metro Sections in partnership with Minnesota DNR, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and private landowners.  These accomplishments significantly exceeded our goal of 4,000 acres, and included $731,000 in non-state funds as leverage, far exceeding our pledge of providing at least $110,000 in non-state leverage funds. ",,"Minnesota has lost approximately 90% of Prairie wetlands, and many wetlands in other parts of the state, to drainage.  The prairie shallow lakes and wetland that remain are often those that were too deep to drain years ago, and they now function as the core of Minnesota’s remaining waterfowl habitat complexes.  However, these remaining wetlands now receive excessive water and nutrient runoff from a highly interconnected, drained landscape through which invasive fish have easy access.  As a result, most of our remaining wetland and shallow lake basins are turbid and degraded due to high, stable water levels in which nutrients collect, carp and other invasive fish proliferate. Natural water level fluctuations no longer occur, fish winterkill events are rare, and aquatic ecology functions stagnate.  The result is a lack of aquatic plants and invertebrates required to sustain migrating and breeding waterfowl and other wetland-dependent birds, especially those species such as diving ducks that exclusively rely on aquatic plant and invertebrate foods within wetlands and shallow lakes to survive. Nongame wildlife such as shorebirds and wading birds suffer too. As a result, ducks migrating through Minnesota on their way north in spring find sparse aquatic food resources, much to their detriment when they stop to breed further north due to the importance of nutrient reserves required for egg laying.  Those waterfowl that remain here to breed encounter poor brood-rearing habitat, as few shallow lakes and marshes here have high quality wetland habitat with abundant aquatic plants and invertebrate food resources on which young ducks rely.  These factors have contributed to a decline in Minnesota’s diverse waterfowl resources and, unfortunately, a decline in Minnesota’s rich waterfowling traditions. To remedy this situation, this grant helped fund the ongoing delivery of Ducks Unlimited's “Living Lakes Initiative” conservation program to provide bio-engineering services to assist the Minnesota DNR, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), and private landowner partners to enhance, restore, and protect Minnesota’s shallow lakes and wetlands.  This Phase 4 program funded Ducks Unlimited bio-engineering staff that assessed, designed, and constructed water control structures and fish barriers to improve wetlands on public land.  DU biologists worked closely with Minnesota DNR Shallow Lakes Program biologists to assess wetland conditions and identify possible management solutions, and assisted DNR in garnering private landowner and public stakeholder support for project implementation, including permits and easements.  DU surveyed, designed, and constructed the infrastructure necessary to actively manage public water wetland water levels.  This grant also supported ongoing shallow lake technical assistance from DU staff and consultant biologists and engineers to assess, survey, and design future projects for implementation under future OHF appropriations for this ongoing, programmatic conservation initiative once permits and easements are acquired by DNR and FWS. Finally, this grant also paid for DU costs to administer this grant. Most wetland enhancements and restorations occurred in the Prairie Section and supported the state’s Prairie Conservation Plan, along with a couple projects in the Metro and Transition Sections too.  Water control structures will be used by agency managers to simulate natural temporary drought cycles in shallow lakes and wetlands that rejuvenate the aquatic ecological process that produce abundant aquatic plants and invertebrates for waterfowl and other wetland wildlife.  These structures last for 30 or more years and are generally used by agency staff every 5-7 years to conduct periodic temporary draw-downs that are key to enhancing and maintaining highly productive wetlands.  During draw-downs, mudflat conditions will provide critical habitat for migrating shorebirds, and shallow emergent marshes resulting from draw-downs will benefit many wading bird and tern species too. DU may also survey, design and restore smaller wetlands on public and other protected land near shallow lakes when opportunities to do so arise. Shallow lakes were selected for enhancement by DNR and FWS managers in consultation with DU field biologists, and generally enjoy strong support from the public for improvement.  Minnesota DNR held public meetings to share information on current conditions and management plans for shallow lakes designated for wildlife management purposes.  Every statewide conservation plan recognizes the need for improving and protecting Minnesota’s shallow lakes and associated wetlands for optimal wildlife habitat. The Minnesota DNR’s Duck Recovery Plan is the most specific, calling for the active management of 1,800 shallow lakes and adding 64,000 wetlands to Minnesota’s landscape.  DU’s Living Lakes Initiative supports this plan through a goal of improving 300 Minnesota shallow lakes in 10 years.  Shallow lakes and wetlands are identified as critical habitat for several “Species of Greatest Conservation Need” listed in Minnesota’s “Tomorrow’s Habitat for the Wild & Rare: An Action Plan for Minnesota Wildlife”, including lesser scaup, northern pintail, and trumpeter swan. Ducks Unlimited’s Living Lakes Initiative directly addresses Minnesota’s Statewide Conservation & Preservation Plan Habitat Recommendations #4 and #5 on pages 78 and 80, respectively, which calls for the restoration and protection of shallow lakes (page 78) and the restoration of land, wetlands, and watersheds (page 80).  Finally, the North American Waterfowl Management Plan’s Prairie Pothole Joint Venture prioritizes the restoration and management of wetlands and shallow lakes through goals and objectives for improved brood-rearing and migration habitat for ducks.  Many shallow lakes and wetlands prioritized for enhancement by DU are located within wetland habitat complexes identified by the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s Strategic Habitat Conservation model and are high priority basins for both FWS and Minnesota DNR wildlife managers.  Shallow lakes and wetlands which undergo temporary water level draw-downs will provide excellent mudflat habitat for shorebirds and excellent shallow water and emergent marsh habitat for non-game wading birds and terns as called for by national and regional shore and wading bird conservation plans, in addition to improving waterfowl habitat.  DU shallow lake and wetland enhancement work is performed in close coordination and collaborative partnership with the Minnesota DNR, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, other government agencies, and private landowners. ",2014-07-01,2019-11-15,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Jon,Schneider,"Ducks Unlimited","311 East Lake Geneva Road ",Alexandria,MN,56308,"(3207629916) -",jschneider@ducks.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Cottonwood, Douglas, Freeborn, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Mahnomen, Otter Tail, Stevens, Wright","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/living-shallow-lakes-wetlands-initiative-phase-iv,,,,
10033950,"Living Shallow Lakes & Wetlands Enhancement & Restoration Initiative - Phase IX",2024,6634000,"ML 2023, Ch. 40, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 4(f)","$6,634,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to restore and enhance shallow lakes, wetlands, and grasslands on public lands and wetlands and grasslands under permanent conservation easement for wildlife management. A list of proposed shallow-lake enhancements and wetland restorations must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","DU will enhance shallow lakes and wetlands to make them more productive for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent wildlife, which is a statewide concern due to statewide wetland loss and degradation. Wildlife response to wetland project improvements will be monitored, measured, and evaluated by conservation agency partner biologists including Minnesota DNR, USFWS, and Tribal Department of Natural Resource staff biologists. Wetland and upland complexes will consist of native prairies, restored prairies, quality grasslands, and restored shallow lakes and wetlands - This program will restore and enhance wetlands and grasslands on federal Waterfowl Production Areas and USFWS Habitat easements, and similar wetlands for MNDNR, each of which will be selected strategically by USFWS and MNDNR to benefit existing wetland complexes and migratory birds for both breeding and migration habitat, and which will be monitored by USFWS and MNDNR. Game lakes are significant contributors of waterfowl, due to efforts to protect uplands adjacent to game lakes - DU will enhance and restore shallow lakes and wetlands on the Minnesota Valley NWR and federal Waterfowl Production Areas perpetually protected, managed, monitored, and evaluated annually by highly-trained U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service wildlife biologists. Service staff will guide the enhancement and restoration work by DU, and will evaluate wetland habitat outcomes annually to guide future management actions. Enhanced shallow lake productivity - Wetland and shallow lakes restored or enhanced via temporary water level draw-downs by DU-engineered and installed water control structures will be assessed by Minnesota DNR shallow lakes program surveys both before and after draw-downs to document improvements in water clarity, abundance of aquatic plants, and overall improvements in the aquatic ecology of each basin. Minnesota DNR and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service field staff also conduct periodic counts of waterfowl and other wildlife using these basins in both spring and fall, along with hunters, and thus wildlife and human use is also monitored on a more informative opportunistic basis",,,584300,"DU Private & federal NAWCA, MBCF, and Circle of Flight, Federal NAWCA and DU Private and Federal USFWS Migratory Bird Conservation Funds",6579000,55000,,1.76,DU,"Non-Profit Business/Entity","This Phase 9 request for Ducks Unlimited's Living Lakes program will enhance or restore 1,440 acres of wetlands and adjacent prairie grasslands for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Minnesota DNR on public lands and private lands under permanent easement. DU biologists and engineers will design wetland restorations and water control structures for active management of shallow lake water levels to enhance their ecology for ducks, other wildlife, and people, primarily in SW Minnesota's Prairie Pothole Region. While DU staff will design restoration and enhancement projects, DU will hire private contractors to conduct restoration and enhancement","This Phase 9 of Ducks Unlimited's ongoing shallow lake enhancement and wetland restoration conservation program will enhance or restore at least 1,440 acres of shallow lakes, wetlands, and prairie grasslands, primarily in the Prairie Pothole Region of SW Minnesota. DU biologists work with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) and Minnesota DNR field staff to restore and enhance wetlands on public land and under easement, and DU engineers design water level control structures to enhance degraded shallow lakes for DNR. Water control structures are used for temporary water level draw-downs to rejuvenate shallow lake ecology and productivity for wildlife. Restoration work and structures are constructed by private sector firms hired by DU and are managed by FWS/DNR. Adjacent grasslands may be enhanced with tree removal. Shallow lake enhancement and wetland restoration are top priority actions in all major conservation plans for Minnesota. Our work addresses the habitat goals identified in North American Waterfowl Management Plan, Minnesota's Prairie Conservation Plan, and Minnesota's Duck Recovery Plan which calls for the active management of 1,800 shallow lakes and restoring 64,000 wetlands to Minnesota's landscape. This work is time-sensitive because complex shallow lake enhancement projects take several years to design and implement, and because wetland restorations are critically needed for breeding waterfowl. Healthy and abundant wetlands are required to sustain breeding and migrating waterfowl. Minnesota has lost approximately 90% of our prairie wetlands and 99% of native prairie grasslands around them. This has had a profound negative impact on breeding ducks and other prairie wetland wildlife here. Our remaining shallow lakes and wetlands are often those that were too deep to drain years ago, and now function as the core of Minnesota's remaining waterfowl habitat complexes. Unfortunately, these remaining wetland basins now receive the excessive nutrient-laden water runoff from an intensively drained and interconnected landscape through which invasive fish such as carp have improved access. As a result, many of our remaining wetlands and shallow lakes are turbid and degraded due to drainage they received and high, stabilized water levels in which nutrients collect and invasive fish proliferate. This results in stagnated aquatic wetland ecology and productivity, and wetland basins with few aquatic plants and invertebrates for birds to eat. This is especially detrimental to diving ducks and other wetland-dependent species that rely exclusively on aquatic plant and invertebrate foods within wetlands and shallow lakes to survive. These factors have caused a significant decline in Minnesota's once diverse waterfowl population, and as a result, in Minnesota's rich waterfowling traditions. This funding request will support DU staff biologists and engineers who survey, design, and manage construction of shallow lake enhancement and wetland restoration projects to improve public water shallow lakes and restore wetlands and grasslands, primarily in the Prairie Pothole Region of SW Minnesota. Funding will also support ongoing shallow lake technical assistance from DU staff to assess, survey, and design future enhancement and wetland projects for implementation under future OHF appropriations for this program.",,2023-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,John,Lindstrom,"Ducks Unlimited","c/o U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Litchfield WMD Office 22274 615th Avenue",Litchfield,MN,55355,3206932849ext-8,jlindstrom@ducks.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Cottonwood, Douglas, Faribault, Freeborn, Grant, Hennepin, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Morrison, Murray, Nobles, Otter Tail, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Washington, Watonwan, Wright, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/living-shallow-lakes-wetlands-enhancement-restoration-initiative-phase-ix-0,,,,
10035242,"Living Shallow Lakes and Wetlands Enhancement & Restoration Initiative - Phase X",2025,7867000,"ML 2024, Ch. 106, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(h)","$7,867,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to restore and enhance shallow lakes and wetlands on public lands and wetlands under permanent conservation easement for wildlife management.","DU will enhance shallow lakes and wetlands to make them more productive for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent wildlife, which is a statewide concern due to statewide wetland loss and degradation. Wildlife response to wetland project improvements will be monitored, measured, and evaluated by conservation agency partner biologists including Minnesota DNR, USFWS, and Tribal Department of Natural Resource staff biologists. Wetland and upland complexes will consist of native prairies, restored prairies, quality grasslands, and restored shallow lakes and wetlands - This program will restore and enhance wetlands and grasslands on federal Waterfowl Production Areas and USFWS Habitat easements, and similar wetlands for MNDNR, each of which will be selected strategically by USFWS and MNDNR to benefit existing wetland complexes and migratory birds for both breeding and migration habitat, and which will be monitored by USFWS and MNDNR. Game lakes are significant contributors of waterfowl, due to efforts to protect uplands adjacent to game lakes - DU will enhance and restore shallow lakes and wetlands on the Three Rivers Park District, Sherburne NWR, and Minnesota Valley NWR and federal Waterfowl Production Areas perpetually protected, managed, monitored, and evaluated annually by highly-trained U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service wildlife biologists. Park and service staff will guide the enhancement and restoration work by DU, and will evaluate wetland habitat outcomes annually to guide future management actions. Enhanced shallow lake productivity - Wetland and shallow lakes restored or enhanced via temporary water level draw-downs by DU-engineered and installed water control structures will be assessed by Minnesota DNR shallow lakes program surveys both before and after draw-downs to document improvements in water clarity, abundance of aquatic plants, and overall improvements in the aquatic ecology of each basin. Minnesota DNR and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service field staff also conduct periodic counts of waterfowl and other wildlife using these basins in both spring and fall, along with hunters, and thus wildlife and human use is also monitored on a more informative opportunistic basis",,,581000,"DU Private & federal NAWCA grants, DU Private & federal NAWCA, MBCF, and Circle of Flight and Federal USFWS Migratory Bird Con. Fund",7768000,99000,,3.33,DU,"Non-Profit Business/Entity","This Phase 10 request for Ducks Unlimited's Living Lakes program will enhance or restore 1,325 acres of wetlands and adjacent prairie grasslands for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Minnesota DNR on public lands and private lands under permanent easement. DU biologists and engineers will design wetland restorations and water control structures for active management of shallow lake water levels to enhance their ecology for ducks, other wildlife, and people, primarily in SW Minnesota's Prairie Pothole Region. While DU staff will design restoration and enhancement projects, DU will hire private contractors to conduct restoration and enhancement.","This Phase 10 of Ducks Unlimited's ongoing shallow lake enhancement and wetland restoration conservation program will enhance or restore at least 1,325 acres of shallow lakes, wetlands, and prairie grasslands, primarily in the Prairie Pothole Region of SW Minnesota. DU biologists work with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) and Minnesota DNR field staff to restore and enhance wetlands on public land and under easement and DU engineers design water level control structures to enhance degraded shallow lakes for DNR and other partners. Water control structures are used for temporary water level draw-downs to rejuvenate shallow lake ecology and productivity for wildlife. Restoration work and structures are constructed by private sector firms hired by DU and are managed by FWS/DNR. Adjacent grasslands may be enhanced with tree removal. Shallow lake enhancement and wetland restoration are top priority actions in all major conservation plans for Minnesota. Our work addresses the habitat goals identified in North American Waterfowl Management Plan, Minnesota's Prairie Conservation Plan, and Minnesota's Duck Recovery Plan which calls for the active management of 1,800 shallow lakes and restoring 64,000 wetlands to Minnesota's landscape. This work is time-sensitive because complex shallow lake enhancement projects take several years to design and implement, and because wetland restorations are critically needed for breeding waterfowl. Healthy and abundant wetlands are required to sustain breeding and migrating waterfowl. Minnesota has lost approximately 90% of our prairie wetlands and 99% of native prairie grasslands around them. This has had a profound negative impact on breeding ducks and other prairie wetland wildlife here. Our remaining shallow lakes and wetlands are often those that were too deep to drain years ago and now function as the core of Minnesota's remaining waterfowl habitat complexes. Unfortunately, these remaining wetland basins now receive the excessive nutrient-laden water runoff from an intensively drained and interconnected landscape through which invasive fish such as carp have improved access. As a result, many of our remaining wetlands and shallow lakes are turbid and degraded due to drainage they received and high, stabilized water levels in which nutrients collect and invasive fish proliferate. This results in stagnated aquatic wetland ecology and productivity and wetland basins with few aquatic plants and invertebrates for birds to eat. This is especially detrimental to diving ducks and other wetland-dependent species that rely exclusively on aquatic plant and invertebrate foods within wetlands and shallow lakes to survive. These factors have caused a significant decline in Minnesota's once diverse waterfowl population, and as a result, in Minnesota's rich waterfowling traditions. This funding request will support DU staff biologists and engineers who survey, design, and manage construction of shallow lake enhancement and wetland restoration projects to improve public water shallow lakes and restore wetlands and grasslands. Funding will also support ongoing shallow lake technical assistance from DU staff to assess, survey, and design future enhancement and wetland projects for implementation under future OHF appropriations for this program.",,2024-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,John,Lindstrom,"Ducks Unlimited, Inc.","c/o U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Litchfield WMD Office 22274 615th Avenue",Litchfield,MN,55355,3206932849ext-8,jlindstrom@ducks.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Douglas, Faribault, Freeborn, Grant, Hennepin, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Morrison, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Otter Tail, Polk, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Washington, Watonwan, Wright, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/living-shallow-lakes-and-wetlands-enhancement-restoration-initiative-phase-x,,,,
10033396,"Living Shallow Lake Enhancement & Wetland Restoration Initiative - Phase VIII",2023,5155000,"ML 2022, Ch. 77, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 4(f)","$5,155,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to restore and enhance shallow lakes and wetlands on public lands and wetlands under permanent conservation easement for wildlife management. A list of proposed shallow lake enhancements and wetland restorations must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","DU will enhance shallow lakes and wetlands to make them more productive for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent wildlife, which is a statewide concern due to statewide wetland loss and degradation. Wildlife response to wetland project improvements will be monitored, measured, and evaluated by conservation agency partner biologists including Minnesota DNR, USFWS, and Tribal Department of Natural Resource staff biologists. Wetland and upland complexes will consist of native prairies, restored prairies, quality grasslands, and restored shallow lakes and wetlands - This program will restore and enhance wetlands and grasslands on federal Waterfowl Production Areas and USFWS Habitat easements, and similar wetlands for MNDNR, each of which will be selected strategically by USFWS and MNDNR to benefit existing wetland complexes and migratory birds for both breeding and migration habitat, and which will be monitored by USFWS and MNDNR. Specifically, the USFWS Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET) works with federal Wetland Management District staff and partners such as MNDNR and DU to continually assess and refine habitat restoration and management strategies to optimize wildlife habitat. Game lakes are significant contributors of waterfowl, due to efforts to protect uplands adjacent to game lakes - DU will enhance and restore shallow lakes and wetlands on the Minnesota River NWR and/or Three Rivers Park District that are perpetually protected, managed, monitored, and evaluated annually by highly-trained U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service or Park District wildlife biologists. Service and Park District staff will guide the enhancement and restoration work by DU, and will evaluate wetland habitat outcomes annually to guide future management actions. Enhanced shallow lake productivity - Wetland and shallow lakes restored or enhanced via temporary water level draw-downs by DU-engineered and installed water control structures will be assessed by Minnesota DNR shallow lakes program surveys both before and after draw-downs to document improvements in water clarity, abundance of aquatic plants, and overall improvements in the aquatic ecology of each basin. Minnesota DNR and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service field staff also conduct periodic counts of waterfowl and other wildlife using these basins in both spring and fall, along with hunters, and thus wildlife and human use is also monitored on a more informative opportunistic basis",,,450000,"DU private and federal NAWCA grants, USFWS federal Migratory Bird Fund, USFWS, NAWCA and & Private DU",5075000,80000,,3.05,"Ducks Unlimited","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This Phase 8 request for Ducks Unlimited's Living Lakes program will enhance or restore 1,070 acres of wetlands and adjacent prairie grasslands for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Minnesota DNR on public lands and private lands under permanent USFWS easement. Where required, DU engineers will design water control structures to restore wetland hydrology and allow active management of shallow lake water levels to enhance their ecology for ducks, other wildlife, and people, primarily in Minnesota's Prairie Pothole Region. While DU staff design restoration and enhancement projects, DU hires private contractors to implement enhancement and restoration activities.","This Phase 8 of Ducks Unlimited's ongoing shallow lake enhancement and prairie wetland restoration conservation program will strive to enhance 860 acres of shallow lakes and grasslands, and restore 210 acres of wetlands and grasslands, primarily in the Prairie Pothole Region of SW Minnesota. DU partners with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) and Minnesota DNR to design water control structures with fish barriers to enhance degraded shallow lakes and restore drained wetlands on public land and under easement. Water control structures are used to conduct temporary water level draw-downs to rejuvenate shallow lake ecology and productivity for wildlife. Structures are constructed by private sector firms hired by DU and are managed by FWS or DNR. Adjacent grasslands will be restored/enhanced to buffer wetlands. Shallow lake enhancement and wetland restoration are top priority actions in all major conservation plans for Minnesota. Our work addresses the habitat goals identified in North American Waterfowl Management Plan, Minnesota's Prairie Conservation Plan, and Minnesota's Duck Recovery Plan which calls for the active management of 1,800 shallow lakes and restoring 64,000 wetlands to Minnesota's landscape. This work is time-sensitive because complex shallow lake enhancement projects take several years to design and implement, and because wetland restorations are critically needed for breeding waterfowl. Healthy and abundant wetlands are required to sustain breeding and migrating waterfowl. Minnesota has lost approximately 90% of our prairie wetlands and 99% of native prairie grasslands around them. This has had a profound negative impact on breeding ducks and other prairie wetland wildlife here. Our remaining shallow lakes and wetlands are often those that were too deep to drain years ago, and now function as the core of Minnesota's remaining waterfowl habitat complexes. Unfortunately, these remaining wetland basins now receive the excessive nutrient-laden water runoff from an intensively drained and interconnected landscape through which invasive fish such as carp have improved access. As a result, many of our remaining wetlands and shallow lakes are turbid and degraded due to drainage they received and high, stabilized water levels in which nutrients collect and invasive fish proliferate. This results in stagnated aquatic wetland ecology and productivity, and wetland basins with few aquatic plants and invertebrates for birds to eat. This is especially detrimental to diving ducks and other wetland-dependent species that rely exclusively on aquatic plant and invertebrate foods within wetlands and shallow lakes to survive. These factors have caused a significant decline in Minnesota's once diverse waterfowl population, and as a result, in Minnesota's rich waterfowling traditions. This funding request will support DU staff biologists and engineers who survey, design, and manage construction of shallow lake enhancement and wetland restoration projects to improve public water shallow lakes and restore wetlands and grasslands, primarily in the Prairie Pothole Region of SW Minnesota. Funding will also support ongoing shallow lake technical assistance from DU staff to assess, survey, and design future enhancement and wetland projects for implementation under future OHF appropriations for this program.",,2022-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,John,Lindstrom,"Ducks Unlimited","c/o USFWS Litchfield WMD 22274 615th Avenue",Litchfield,MN,55355,3206932849,jlindstrom@ducks.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Brown, Carver, Cottonwood, Douglas, Freeborn, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Morrison, Murray, Nobles, Otter Tail, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Watonwan, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/living-shallow-lake-enhancement-wetland-restoration-initiative-phase-viii,,,,
10031460,"Local Parks, Trails, and Natural Areas Grant Programs",2025,4791000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 09b","$4,791,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to solicit and rank applications and fund competitive matching grants for local parks, trail connections, and natural and scenic areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 85.019. This appropriation is for local nature-based recreation, connections to regional and state natural areas, and recreation facilities and may not be used for athletic facilities, such as sport fields, courts, or playgrounds.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,0.75,"MN DNR","State Government","Provide approximately 15 matching grants for local parks, trail, acquisition of natural areas and trails to connect people safety to desirable community locations and regional or state facilities.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2027-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Jenni,Bubke,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155-4039,"(651) 259-5638",jennifer.bubke@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/local-parks-trails-and-natural-areas-grant-programs-2,,,,
9430,"Maplewood Nature Center PV Project",2010,30000,"M.L 2009 Ch. 172 Art. 3 Sec 2d & M.S. 85.535.","$3970000 the first year and $4900000 the second year are for grants under new Minnesota Statutes section 85.535 to parks and trails recognized as meeting the constitutional requirement of being a park or trail of regional or statewide significance. Grants under this section must be used only for acquisition development restoration and maintenance. Of this amount $500000 the first year and $600000 the second year are for grants for solar energy projects. Up to 2.5 percent of this appropriation may be used for administering the grants.",,,,,,,,,,"City of Maplewood",,"to install a 1.4 kW solar PV array, one solar mobile PV, and solar educational signage at the Maplewood Nature Center",,,2010-09-27,2011-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Traci,Vibo,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","Saint Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5619",traci.vibo@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Ramsey,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/maplewood-nature-center-pv-project,,,,
2136,"MeCC V - Restore & Enhance Significant Watershed Habitat (2.3)",2010,90000,"M.L. 2009, Chp. 143, Sec. 2, Subd. 04f2.3","$3,375,000 is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the fifth appropriation for acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $2,185,000 is for Department of Natural Resources agency programs and $1,190,000 is for agreements as follows: $380,000 with the Trust for Public Land; $90,000 with Friends of the Mississippi River; $155,000 with Great River Greening; $250,000 with Minnesota Land Trust; $225,000 with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; and $90,000 with Friends of the Minnesota Valley for the purposes of planning, restoring, and protecting important natural areas in the metropolitan area, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2, and portions of the surrounding counties, through grants, contracted services, technical assistance, conservation easements, and fee title acquisition. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. Expenditures are limited to the identified project corridor areas as defined in the work program. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program. All funding for conservation easements must include a long-term stewardship plan and funding for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. To the maximum extent practical, consistent with contractual easement or fee acquisition obligations, the recipients shall utilize staff resources to identify future projects and shall maximize the implementation of biodiverse, quality restoration projects in the project proposal into the first half of the 2010 fiscal year.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,80000,,,,,,"Friends of the Mississippi River","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Project Outcome and Results The Twin Cities contains significant habitat areas. There is a concerted effort to protect, improve and link these areas. FMR's goal with this project was to partner with landowners to restore and enhance habitat at a number of these areas. During this phase of the MeCC project, FMR conducted activities at 9 distinct sites resulting in the restoration of a total of 287 acres, including 179 acres using Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund funds and 108 acres using leveraged funds. A management plan exists for each site, which served as guide for the restoration and enhancement activities. These sites included: Pine Bend Bluffs Natural Area: Spot treated weeds on a 17-acre restored prairie and conducted exotic brush control on 28 acres of woodland. Conducted follow up buckthorn control on 3-acres of woodland. Sand Coulee Prairie. Conducted prescribed burns, mowing, and spot-spraying on 83- acres. Volunteers assisted in collecting seeds and removing weeds. Rosemount Wildlife Preserve. Conducted a prescribed burn on 16 acres of woodland. Wilmar. Mowed a 25-acre prairie restoration & treated exotic invasive plans in a 15-acre woodland. Mississippi River Gorge. Volunteers installed native tree and shrubs on 2-acre and installed prairie plants to enhance a 4-acre prairie restoration within Crosby Park. Volunteers also hand weeded the site. At the Riverside Park in Minneapolis, volunteers installed native plants within 4-acre of woodland. Hastings Riverflats Park. Applied basal bark treatment to buckthorn on 27 acres of floodplain forest. Gores Pool Wildlife Management Area and Aquatic Management Area. Exotic brush was removed and sprouts treated on 67 acres of woodland. Native grass seed was broadcasted over this woodland. Prairie restoration activities took place on a 4-acre old field. A 4-acre reed canary grassland was treated as part of a re-forestation effort. Ravenna Block Greenway-Dakota County. Buckthorn was removed from 12 acres of woodland, while a prescribed burn was conducted and native prairie seed was broadcasted on a 24-acre grassland. Emrick. 22 acres of a former farm field were seeded to prairie, followed by a mowing. Nine acres of exotic dominated woodland were removed and chipped for biofuels. Project Results Use and Dissemination FMR organizes many tours and stewardship events at the sites where we conduct restoration activities. We share information about this project with the participants of these events. FMR also occasionally publishes articles in its paper and electronic newsletters regarding restoration projects that it is involved in. ",,"Final Report ",2009-07-01,2011-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Tom,Lewanski,"Friends of the Mississippi River","360 N Robert St, Ste 400","St. Paul",MN,55101,"651-222-2193 x1",tlewanski@fmr.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mecc-v-restore-enhance-significant-watershed-habitat-23,,,,
2139,"MeCC V - Restore & Enhance Significant Habitat (2.5)",2010,155000,"M.L. 2009, Chp. 143, Sec. 2, Subd. 04f2.5","$3,375,000 is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the fifth appropriation for acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $2,185,000 is for Department of Natural Resources agency programs and $1,190,000 is for agreements as follows: $380,000 with the Trust for Public Land; $90,000 with Friends of the Mississippi River; $155,000 with Great River Greening; $250,000 with Minnesota Land Trust; $225,000 with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; and $90,000 with Friends of the Minnesota Valley for the purposes of planning, restoring, and protecting important natural areas in the metropolitan area, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2, and portions of the surrounding counties, through grants, contracted services, technical assistance, conservation easements, and fee title acquisition. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. Expenditures are limited to the identified project corridor areas as defined in the work program. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program. All funding for conservation easements must include a long-term stewardship plan and funding for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. To the maximum extent practical, consistent with contractual easement or fee acquisition obligations, the recipients shall utilize staff resources to identify future projects and shall maximize the implementation of biodiverse, quality restoration projects in the project proposal into the first half of the 2010 fiscal year.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,300000,,,,,,"Great River Greening","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Project Outcome and Results Great River Greening, along with our volunteers and partners, restored and enhanced a total of 204 acres of habitat with Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund dollars, exceeding our goal of 155 acres, and an additional 140 acres with over $153,000 in leveraged non-state funds. Habitats included prairie, savanna, and forest, including nine native plant communities with biodiversity of statewide significance (as rated by Minnesota County Biological Survey), and habitat for 18 documented rare plant species (1 invertebrate, 2 bird, and 15 plant species). Restorations/enhancements also occurred at sites in priority watersheds rich with rare terrestrial and aquatic rare species, including the St. Croix, Mississippi, and Minnesota; as well as Valley Creek and Eagle Creek trout stream watersheds. A total of 15 different sites were restored/enhanced. Enhancement of native plant communities with existing significant biodiversity occurred at: Arcola Mills Historic Foundation (Stillwater); St Croix Valley Early Detection/Rapid Response Garlic Mustard (Taylors Falls and Marine locations); Spring Lake Regional Park (Scott Co); Spring Lake Park Reserve (Dakota Co); Hidden Valley Park (Savage); Snail Lake Regional Park (Shoreview); St. Croix Savanna SNA (Bayport); Lost Valley Prairie SNA (Denmark Township); and Pond Dakota Mission (Bloomington).   Restoration/enhancement of habitats in important and strategic locations were: prairie/savanna establishment at Pilot Knob Hill (Mendota Heights), located in an area identified by DNR as a top-tier township for habitat for Species of Greatest Conservation Need; a large prairie/savanna restoration/enhancement at Belwin Conservancy's Lake Edith site (Afton), in the Valley Creek watershed; early detection and control of garlic mustard at a Valley Creek watershed location; prairie restoration/enhancement at Central Corridor (Woodbury and Cottage Grove), historically connected to Lost Valley Prairie SNA; savanna maintenance at Eagle Creek AMA (Savage), a metro trout stream;/li>; floodplain forest enhancement at Heritage Village Park (Inver Grove Heights) to expand on existing significant floodplain forest on the banks of the Mississippi River; and a prairie reconstruction burn at OH Anderson Elementary (Mahtomedi), habitat that is also used extensively in classroom studies. Volunteers contributed over 2500 hours to these habitat projects. Project Results Use and Dissemination In January, 2010, Great River Greening included a feature article on the ENRTF, LCCMR, and the Metro Conservation Corridors program and projects in our e-postcard, circulation 3200. A write up on the Metro Conservation Corridors program with features of select projects was included in our Spring 2011 Newsletter, and an article featuring the Pond Dakota Mission restoration was featured in our Fall 2010 newsletter. These are available for continued viewing at http://www.greatrivergreening.org/news.asp. In addition, project descriptions are included in our volunteer recruitment efforts to all the volunteers in our database. In addition, Greening is in active partnership with landowners and other land managers, resulting in a dynamic and timely exchange of information and results. ",,"Final Report ",2009-07-01,2011-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Wiley,Buck,"Great River Greening","35 W Water St, Ste 201","St. Paul",MN,55107,651-665-9500,wbuck@greatrivergreening.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Le Sueur, Nicollet, Ramsey, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Washington, Wright",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mecc-v-restore-enhance-significant-habitat-25,,,,
2142,"MeCC V - Metro SNA Acquisition, Restoration & Enhancement (2.7/3.6)",2010,410000,"M.L. 2009, Chp. 143, Sec. 2, Subd. 04f2.7/3.6","$3,375,000 is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the fifth appropriation for acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $2,185,000 is for Department of Natural Resources agency programs and $1,190,000 is for agreements as follows: $380,000 with the Trust for Public Land; $90,000 with Friends of the Mississippi River; $155,000 with Great River Greening; $250,000 with Minnesota Land Trust; $225,000 with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; and $90,000 with Friends of the Minnesota Valley for the purposes of planning, restoring, and protecting important natural areas in the metropolitan area, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2, and portions of the surrounding counties, through grants, contracted services, technical assistance, conservation easements, and fee title acquisition. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. Expenditures are limited to the identified project corridor areas as defined in the work program. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program. All funding for conservation easements must include a long-term stewardship plan and funding for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. To the maximum extent practical, consistent with contractual easement or fee acquisition obligations, the recipients shall utilize staff resources to identify future projects and shall maximize the implementation of biodiverse, quality restoration projects in the project proposal into the first half of the 2010 fiscal year.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,,,,,"MN DNR","State Government","Project Outcome and Results Nearly 150 acres of high quality native habitat threatened by urban development was acquired and added to two metro Scientific and Natural Areas (SNAs). First, 80 acres were acquired (36.7 acres pro-rated to this appropriation) and added to the Hastings Sand Coulee SNA. The addition contains native oak savanna and prairie and increases this SNA to 267 acres. Thus, more than half of this largest remaining prairie complex in Dakota County is protected for its 13 resident rare species (including 3 snake and 2 butterfly species) and for public use, including hiking and nature observation. Second, about 70 acres - including public fishing frontage on the Credit River - was acquired (6.2 acres pro-rated to this appropriation) and added to the Savage Fen SNA in Scott County. These sites offer urban residents close-to-home nature-based recreation, including a new archery hunting opportunity on 300 acres at Savage Fen SNA. SNA restoration and enhancement activities were completed on 187 acres at 13 SNAs in 7 counties in the greater metropolitan area. For example, a 55-acre prairie was reconstructed (restored) at Lost Valley Prairie SNA with the help of volunteers and a Sentence-to-Serve crew using seed collected on site by hand and mechanically harvested by the SNA crew. Almost 100 acres was prescribed burned at 5 SNAs. About 34 acres received invasive species control actions, including work by Conservation Corps Minnesota. These activities result in better habitat for the SNAs' rare features and improved quality for users of SNAs. Project Results Use and Dissemination Information about Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) sites, including those SNAs with new acquisition, restoration, enhancement and development activities through this appropriation, is available on the DNR website (www.mndnr.gov/snas). DNR-sponsored volunteer events, such as those involved in the Lost Valley Prairie, are regularly posted at: www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteering/sna/index. Both of the acquisition projects received publicity in local newspapers and in partner organization newsletters. Specifically, Savage Fen SNA acquisition was publicized in the Shakopee Valley News and in the Trust for Public Land's electronic newsletter and electronic invite. The Hastings Sand Coulee SNA acquisition was referenced in articles in the Hastings Gazette and the Friends of the Mississippi River website. ",,"Final Report ",2009-07-01,2011-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,"Peggy ",Booth,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Rd, Box 25","St. Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5088,peggy.booth@state.mn.us,"Capital Development/Rehabilitation, Land Acquisition, Planning, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Le Sueur, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, Wright",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mecc-v-metro-sna-acquisition-restoration-enhancement-2736,,,,
2145,"MeCC V - Protect Significant Habitat by Acquiring Conservation Easements (3.2)",2010,250000,"M.L. 2009, Chp. 143, Sec. 2, Subd. 04f3.2",,"Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,,,,,"Minnesota Land Trust","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Project Outcome and Results During the fifth phase of the Metro Corridors project, the Minnesota Land Trust continued to work with landowners throughout the greater metropolitan area to permanently protect lands that are key components of Minnesota's remaining natural areas in the region. Eight perpetual conservation easements were completed that collectively protect 765 acres of land and more than 13,000 feet of shoreline. Three easements were purchased, and the remaining five easements were donated. While two of the purchased easements used both 2009 and 2010 ENRTF funding, we are reporting the accomplishments as part of our 2009 report. We will not report these acres in future 2010 reports to avoid double-counting. All eight projects represent unique opportunities to protect high quality natural habitat, riparian areas, and to build upon prior land protection work by the Land Trust at several priority sites. The specific project sites of the conservation easements include: 45 acres, including 1,095 feet of shoreline, along Deer Lake in Anoka County (purchased using both ML 2009 and ML 2010 ENRTF appropriations); 148 acres, including 2,527 feet of shoreline, along Elk River in Sherburne County (donated); 44 acres, including 3,065 feet of shoreline, on Kingswood Pond in Hennepin County (purchased using both ML 2009 and ML 2010 ENRTF appropriations); 157 acres near Hardwood Creek in Washington County (donated); 5 acres in Scandia in Washington County (donated); 126 acres near the headwaters of Valley Creek in Washington County (donated); 39 acres adjacent to Wild River State Park in Chisago County (purchased using ML 2009 ENRTF appropriation only); 201 acres near Baypoint Park in Goodhue County (donated). Additionally, the Land Trust prepared baseline property reports for each easement, detailing the condition of the property for future monitoring and enforcement. To fund this required perpetual obligation, the Land Trust dedicated ENRTF and other funds to its segregated Stewardship and Enforcement Fund for all completed projects. We estimated the anticipated annual expenses of each project and the investment needed to generate annual income sufficient to cover these expenses in perpetuity - all in accordance with our internal policies and procedures as approved by LCCMR. We will report to LCCMR annually on the status of the Stewardship and Enforcement Fund and the easements acquired with funds from this grant. Values are known for only five of the eight easements acquired, and this value totals $854,500, with a known donated value of $413,500. The cost to the State of Minnesota to complete these projects was just over $326 per acre. Cumulatively, across phases I-V of the Metro Corridors program, the Land Trust has protected 3,298 acres of critical habitat and more than 75,000 feet of shoreline, at a cost to the State of $520 per acre. The Minnesota Land Trust's work on this project continues to demonstrate the cost effectiveness of working with conservation easements to protect natural and scenic resources within developed and developing areas, as the cost to the State was well below the cost to purchase land in the Twin Cities region. This grant continued to generate interest among landowners, and therefore, ongoing funding will be important to sustained success. Additionally, our experiences during this phase of the grant continue to indicate that funds to purchase easements, as opposed to obtaining donated easements, will be necessary in the future as work becomes more targeted, selective, and focused on building complexes of protected land. Project Results Use and Dissemination The Minnesota Land Trust disseminated information about the specific land protection projects completed under this grant though our newsletter, email updates, web site, and press releases. The Land Trust also shared information about conservation easements generally and our experience with our partner organizations, other easement holders, local communities, as well as policy makers including members of the LCCMR and L-SOHC. ",,"Final Report ",2009-07-01,2011-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Sarah,Strommen,"Minnesota Land Trust","2356 University Ave W, Ste 240","St. Paul",MN,55114,651-647-9590,sstrommen@mnland.org,"Land Acquisition, Monitoring, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Le Sueur, Nicollet, Ramsey, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Washington, Wright",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mecc-v-protect-significant-habitat-acquiring-conservation-easements-32,,,,
21752,"MeCC VII - 2.1 & 3.4: Protect, Restore and Enhance Significant Watershed Habitat",2014,,"M.L. 2013, Chp. 52, Sec. 2, Subd. 04d2.1/3.4","$2,000,000 the first year is from the trust fund for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $10,000 is to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $1,990,000 is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements as follows: $304,000 with Friends of the Mississippi River; $368,000 with Dakota County; $208,000 with Great River Greening; $310,000 with Minnesota Land Trust; $400,000 with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; and $400,000 with the Trust for Public Land for planning, restoring, and protecting priority natural areas in the metropolitan area, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2, and portions of the surrounding counties, through contracted services, technical assistance, conservation easements, and fee title acquisition. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. Expenditures are limited to the identified project corridor areas as defined in the work plan. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of habitable residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work plan. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work plan. Lands that would require payments in lieu of taxes under Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.061 or 477A.12, shall not be acquired with money from this appropriation. Up to $54,000 is for use by Minnesota Land Trust in a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the work plan and subject to subdivision 16. An entity that acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work plan. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2016, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,304000,,,3.16,"Friends of the Mississippi River","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Friends of the Mississippi is using this appropriation to permanently protect six acres through fee title acquisition for addition to Fish Creek Natural Area near Maplewood, MN, and to restore and enhance approximately 134 acres of permanently protected prairie, savanna, wetland, and forest habitat in Dakota, Washington, Ramsey, and Hennepin counties. Specific restoration and enhancement activities will include updating management plans, soil preparation, prescribed burning, native vegetation installation, woody encroachment removal, and invasive species control.",,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2013/work_plans/2013_04d2-1_3-4.pdf,2013-07-01,2016-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Tom,Lewanski,"Friends of the Mississippi River","360 Robert St N, Ste 400","St. Paul",MN,55101,"(651) 222-2193",tlewanski@fmr.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mecc-vii-21-34-protect-restore-and-enhance-significant-watershed-habitat,,,,
21753,"MeCC VII - 2.3: Restoring Our Lands and Waters",2014,,"M.L. 2013, Chp. 52, Sec. 2, Subd. 04d2.3","$2,000,000 the first year is from the trust fund for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $10,000 is to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $1,990,000 is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements as follows: $304,000 with Friends of the Mississippi River; $368,000 with Dakota County; $208,000 with Great River Greening; $310,000 with Minnesota Land Trust; $400,000 with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; and $400,000 with the Trust for Public Land for planning, restoring, and protecting priority natural areas in the metropolitan area, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2, and portions of the surrounding counties, through contracted services, technical assistance, conservation easements, and fee title acquisition. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. Expenditures are limited to the identified project corridor areas as defined in the work plan. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of habitable residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work plan. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work plan. Lands that would require payments in lieu of taxes under Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.061 or 477A.12, shall not be acquired with money from this appropriation. Up to $54,000 is for use by Minnesota Land Trust in a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the work plan and subject to subdivision 16. An entity that acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work plan. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2016, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,208000,,,3.77,"Great River Greening","Non-Profit Business/Entity","These funds will enable Great River Greening to restore approximately 90 acres of permanently protected forests, savanna, prairie, and wetland habitat and 0.18 miles of shoreland habitat while engaging hundreds of volunteers in the stewardship of the Metropolitan area's remaining natural areas. Specific activities include invasive species control, seeding/planting, prescribed burning, and other associated activities.",,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2013/work_plans/2013_04d2-3.pdf,2013-07-01,2016-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Wiley,Buck,"Great River Greening","251 Starkey St, Ste 220","St. Paul",MN,55107,"(651) 665-9500",wbuck@greatrivergreening.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mecc-vii-23-restoring-our-lands-and-waters,,,,
21756,"MeCC VII - 3.2: Protect Signifcant Habitat by Acquiring Conservation Easements",2014,,"M.L. 2013, Chp. 52, Sec. 2, Subd. 04d3.2","$2,000,000 the first year is from the trust fund for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $10,000 is to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $1,990,000 is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements as follows: $304,000 with Friends of the Mississippi River; $368,000 with Dakota County; $208,000 with Great River Greening; $310,000 with Minnesota Land Trust; $400,000 with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; and $400,000 with the Trust for Public Land for planning, restoring, and protecting priority natural areas in the metropolitan area, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2, and portions of the surrounding counties, through contracted services, technical assistance, conservation easements, and fee title acquisition. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. Expenditures are limited to the identified project corridor areas as defined in the work plan. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of habitable residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work plan. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work plan. Lands that would require payments in lieu of taxes under Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.061 or 477A.12, shall not be acquired with money from this appropriation. Up to $54,000 is for use by Minnesota Land Trust in a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the work plan and subject to subdivision 16. An entity that acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work plan. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2016, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,300000,,,2.57,"Minnesota Land Trust","Non-Profit Business/Entity","With this appropriation, the Minnesota Land Trust plans to protect 100 acres of high quality forest, prairie, wetland, or shoreline habitat by securing permanent conservation easements and dedicating funds for their perpetual monitoring, management, and enforcement. Lands being considered for permanent protection in this round of funding are located in Chisago, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, and Washington counties.",,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2013/work_plans/2013_04d3-2.pdf,2013-07-01,2016-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Wayne,Ostlie,"Minnesota Land Trust","2345 University Ave W, Ste 400","St. Paul",MN,55114,"(651) 647-9590",wostlie@mnland.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Le Sueur, Nicollet, Ramsey, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Washington, Wright",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mecc-vii-32-protect-signifcant-habitat-acquiring-conservation-easements,,,,
2928,"MeCC VI - Coord., Mapping & Outreach & Mapping & Database Work (1.1/1.2)",2012,20000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 04i1.1/1.2","$1,737,000 the first year and $1,738,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year are to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $3,175,000 is for the agreements as follows: $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year with Friends of the Mississippi River; $517,000 the first year and $518,000 the second year with Dakota County; $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year with Great River Greening; $220,000 the first year and $220,000 the second year with Minnesota Land Trust; $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; and $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year with The Trust for Public Land for planning, restoring, and protecting priority natural areas in the metropolitan area, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2, and portions of the surrounding counties, through contracted services, technical assistance, conservation easements, and fee title acquisition. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. Expenditures are limited to the identified project corridor areas as defined in the work program. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of habitable residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program. An entity that acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work program. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,20000,,,0.29,"Minnesota Land Trust","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Minnesota Land Trust provides coordination, mapping, and data management for the Metropolitan Conservation Corridors partnership. Funds are being used to coordinate the partnership, guide strategic outreach and implementation efforts, manage project data, and provide reporting and mapping of accomplishments.",,"Work Plan",2011-07-01,2015-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Sarah,Strommen,"Minnesota Land Trust","2356 University Ave W, Ste 240","St Paul",MN,55114,"(651) 647-9590",sstrommen@mnland.org,"Digitization/Online Information Access, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Mapping, Planning","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Le Sueur, Nicollet, Ramsey, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Washington, Wright",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mecc-vi-coord-mapping-outreach-mapping-database-work-1112,,,,
2928,"MeCC VI - Coord., Mapping & Outreach & Mapping & Database Work (1.1/1.2)",2013,20000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 04i1.1/1.2","$1,737,000 the first year and $1,738,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year are to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $3,175,000 is for the agreements as follows: $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year with Friends of the Mississippi River; $517,000 the first year and $518,000 the second year with Dakota County; $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year with Great River Greening; $220,000 the first year and $220,000 the second year with Minnesota Land Trust; $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; and $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year with The Trust for Public Land for planning, restoring, and protecting priority natural areas in the metropolitan area, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2, and portions of the surrounding counties, through contracted services, technical assistance, conservation easements, and fee title acquisition. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. Expenditures are limited to the identified project corridor areas as defined in the work program. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of habitable residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program. An entity that acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work program. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,20000,,,0.29,"Minnesota Land Trust","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Minnesota Land Trust provides coordination, mapping, and data management for the Metropolitan Conservation Corridors partnership. Funds are being used to coordinate the partnership, guide strategic outreach and implementation efforts, manage project data, and provide reporting and mapping of accomplishments.",,"Work Plan",2011-07-01,2015-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Sarah,Strommen,"Minnesota Land Trust","2356 University Ave W, Ste 240","St Paul",MN,55114,"(651) 647-9590",sstrommen@mnland.org,"Digitization/Online Information Access, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Mapping, Planning","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Le Sueur, Nicollet, Ramsey, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Washington, Wright",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mecc-vi-coord-mapping-outreach-mapping-database-work-1112,,,,
2929,"MeCC VI - Restore and Enhance Significant Watershed Habitat (2.1)",2012,100000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 04i2.1","$1,737,000 the first year and $1,738,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year are to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $3,175,000 is for the agreements as follows: $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year with Friends of the Mississippi River; $517,000 the first year and $518,000 the second year with Dakota County; $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year with Great River Greening; $220,000 the first year and $220,000 the second year with Minnesota Land Trust; $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; and $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year with The Trust for Public Land for planning, restoring, and protecting priority natural areas in the metropolitan area, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2, and portions of the surrounding counties, through contracted services, technical assistance, conservation easements, and fee title acquisition. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. Expenditures are limited to the identified project corridor areas as defined in the work program. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of habitable residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program. An entity that acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work program. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,100000,,100000,,,1.14,"Friends of the Mississippi River","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Friends of the Mississippi is using this appropriation to restore and enhance approximately 163 acres of permanently protected prairie and forest lands in Dakota, Washington, Ramsey, and Hennepin counties in order increase the amount of high quality habitat within designated conservation corridors. Specific activities will include updating management plans, soil preparation, prescribed burning, native vegetation installation, woody encroachment removal, and invasive species control.Project Outcome and Results High quality habitat within the Metro area is important for both resident and migratory species. The Metro Conservation Corridors partnership is working to establish a system of habitat corridors that also provide open space and water quality benefits for the residents of the area. One goal of this project was to increase the amount of high quality habitat within designated conservation corridors. During this project, FMR installed 86 acres of prairie, besting the projected amount by 31 acres. This prairie restoration took place at the Emrick property, Gores Pool WMA, Heritage Village Park, Pine Bend Bluffs SNA, and Mississippi River Gorge sites. FMR conducted woodland restoration activities on 2 acres at Mounds Park and Heritage Village Park, falling short by 3 acres of the proposed goal. Uncommon flooding at Gores Pool WMA prevented woodland restoration at the site. Activities associated with this restoration included updating management plans, soil preparation, seed/plant installation, mowing, and weed control. These additional acres of natural communities will provide critical habitat for many species that rely on prairie and woodland, some of which are rare or in decline. A second goal was to enhance the quality of existing habitat areas. We conducted enhancement activities, mostly exotic invasive plant control and burning, on 275.8 acres, exceeding the number of acres committed to in the work program by 172.8. The third goal achieved was to develop a list of potential future restoration and acquisition projects within the corridors by reaching out to 27 landowners. This outreach has lead to meetings and site visits with landowners interested in learning more about the natural resources on their property. In other cases, the follow up contact is still taking place. This outreach centered around existing conservation areas, including Gores Pool Wildlife Management Area, Mississippi River riparian area, Sand Coulee SNA, Pine Bend Bluffs Natural Area & the Vermillion River. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION FMR organizes many tours and stewardship events at the sites where we conduct restoration activities. We share information about this project with the participants of these events. FMR also occasionally publishes articles in its paper and electronic newsletters regarding restoration projects that it is involved in.",,"Final Report",2011-07-01,2014-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Tom,Lewanski,"Friends of the Mississippi River","360 N Robert St, Ste 400","St Paul",MN,55101,"(651) 222-2193 x1",tlewanski@fmr.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mecc-vi-restore-and-enhance-significant-watershed-habitat-21,,,,
2929,"MeCC VI - Restore and Enhance Significant Watershed Habitat (2.1)",2013,100000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 04i2.1","$1,737,000 the first year and $1,738,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year are to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $3,175,000 is for the agreements as follows: $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year with Friends of the Mississippi River; $517,000 the first year and $518,000 the second year with Dakota County; $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year with Great River Greening; $220,000 the first year and $220,000 the second year with Minnesota Land Trust; $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; and $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year with The Trust for Public Land for planning, restoring, and protecting priority natural areas in the metropolitan area, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2, and portions of the surrounding counties, through contracted services, technical assistance, conservation easements, and fee title acquisition. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. Expenditures are limited to the identified project corridor areas as defined in the work program. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of habitable residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program. An entity that acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work program. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,100000,,,1.14,"Friends of the Mississippi River","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Friends of the Mississippi is using this appropriation to restore and enhance approximately 163 acres of permanently protected prairie and forest lands in Dakota, Washington, Ramsey, and Hennepin counties in order increase the amount of high quality habitat within designated conservation corridors. Specific activities will include updating management plans, soil preparation, prescribed burning, native vegetation installation, woody encroachment removal, and invasive species control.Project Outcome and Results High quality habitat within the Metro area is important for both resident and migratory species. The Metro Conservation Corridors partnership is working to establish a system of habitat corridors that also provide open space and water quality benefits for the residents of the area. One goal of this project was to increase the amount of high quality habitat within designated conservation corridors. During this project, FMR installed 86 acres of prairie, besting the projected amount by 31 acres. This prairie restoration took place at the Emrick property, Gores Pool WMA, Heritage Village Park, Pine Bend Bluffs SNA, and Mississippi River Gorge sites. FMR conducted woodland restoration activities on 2 acres at Mounds Park and Heritage Village Park, falling short by 3 acres of the proposed goal. Uncommon flooding at Gores Pool WMA prevented woodland restoration at the site. Activities associated with this restoration included updating management plans, soil preparation, seed/plant installation, mowing, and weed control. These additional acres of natural communities will provide critical habitat for many species that rely on prairie and woodland, some of which are rare or in decline. A second goal was to enhance the quality of existing habitat areas. We conducted enhancement activities, mostly exotic invasive plant control and burning, on 275.8 acres, exceeding the number of acres committed to in the work program by 172.8. The third goal achieved was to develop a list of potential future restoration and acquisition projects within the corridors by reaching out to 27 landowners. This outreach has lead to meetings and site visits with landowners interested in learning more about the natural resources on their property. In other cases, the follow up contact is still taking place. This outreach centered around existing conservation areas, including Gores Pool Wildlife Management Area, Mississippi River riparian area, Sand Coulee SNA, Pine Bend Bluffs Natural Area & the Vermillion River. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION FMR organizes many tours and stewardship events at the sites where we conduct restoration activities. We share information about this project with the participants of these events. FMR also occasionally publishes articles in its paper and electronic newsletters regarding restoration projects that it is involved in.",,"Final Report",2011-07-01,2014-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Tom,Lewanski,"Friends of the Mississippi River","360 N Robert St, Ste 400","St Paul",MN,55101,"(651) 222-2193 x1",tlewanski@fmr.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mecc-vi-restore-and-enhance-significant-watershed-habitat-21,,,,
2930,"MeCC VI - Restoring Our Lands and Waters (2.3)",2012,200000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 04i2.3","$1,737,000 the first year and $1,738,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year are to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $3,175,000 is for the agreements as follows: $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year with Friends of the Mississippi River; $517,000 the first year and $518,000 the second year with Dakota County; $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year with Great River Greening; $220,000 the first year and $220,000 the second year with Minnesota Land Trust; $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; and $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year with The Trust for Public Land for planning, restoring, and protecting priority natural areas in the metropolitan area, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2, and portions of the surrounding counties, through contracted services, technical assistance, conservation easements, and fee title acquisition. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. Expenditures are limited to the identified project corridor areas as defined in the work program. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of habitable residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program. An entity that acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work program. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".",,120000,,200000,,,3.54,"Great River Greening","Non-Profit Business/Entity","These funds will enable Great River Greening to restore approximately 121 acres of permanently protected forests, savanna, prairie, and wetland habitat and 0.18 miles of shoreland habitat while engaging hundreds of volunteers in the stewardship of the Metropolitan area's remaining natural areas. Specific activities include invasive species control, seeding/planting, prescribed burning, and other associated activities.",,"Work Plan",2011-07-01,2015-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Wiley,Buck,"Great River Greening","35 W Water St, Ste 201","St Paul",MN,55107,"(651) 665-9500",wbuck@greatrivergreening.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mecc-vi-restoring-our-lands-and-waters-23,,,,
2930,"MeCC VI - Restoring Our Lands and Waters (2.3)",2013,200000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 04i2.3","$1,737,000 the first year and $1,738,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year are to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $3,175,000 is for the agreements as follows: $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year with Friends of the Mississippi River; $517,000 the first year and $518,000 the second year with Dakota County; $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year with Great River Greening; $220,000 the first year and $220,000 the second year with Minnesota Land Trust; $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; and $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year with The Trust for Public Land for planning, restoring, and protecting priority natural areas in the metropolitan area, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2, and portions of the surrounding counties, through contracted services, technical assistance, conservation easements, and fee title acquisition. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. Expenditures are limited to the identified project corridor areas as defined in the work program. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of habitable residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program. An entity that acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work program. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,200000,,,3.54,"Great River Greening","Non-Profit Business/Entity","These funds will enable Great River Greening to restore approximately 121 acres of permanently protected forests, savanna, prairie, and wetland habitat and 0.18 miles of shoreland habitat while engaging hundreds of volunteers in the stewardship of the Metropolitan area's remaining natural areas. Specific activities include invasive species control, seeding/planting, prescribed burning, and other associated activities.",,"Work Plan",2011-07-01,2015-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Wiley,Buck,"Great River Greening","35 W Water St, Ste 201","St Paul",MN,55107,"(651) 665-9500",wbuck@greatrivergreening.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mecc-vi-restoring-our-lands-and-waters-23,,,,
2933,"MeCC VI - TPL’s Critical Land Protection Program (3.1)",2012,250000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 04i3.1","$1,737,000 the first year and $1,738,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year are to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $3,175,000 is for the agreements as follows: $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year with Friends of the Mississippi River; $517,000 the first year and $518,000 the second year with Dakota County; $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year with Great River Greening; $220,000 the first year and $220,000 the second year with Minnesota Land Trust; $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; and $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year with The Trust for Public Land for planning, restoring, and protecting priority natural areas in the metropolitan area, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2, and portions of the surrounding counties, through contracted services, technical assistance, conservation easements, and fee title acquisition. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. Expenditures are limited to the identified project corridor areas as defined in the work program. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of habitable residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program. An entity that acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work program. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,250000,,,1.9,"The Trust for Public Land","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Trust for Public Land is using this appropriation to purchase approximately 30 acres of land and 0.3 miles of shoreline with high ecological value and then convey the land to state or local governments for long-term stewardship and protection. Lands being considered for permanent protection in this round of funding include areas around the Rum River and Rice Creek in Anoka County, Lindstrom Natural Area in Chisago County, Savage Fen Scientific and Natural Area and Pike Lake in Scott County, and St. Croix/Fraconia-Scandia Scientific and Natural Area in Washington County.",,"Work Plan",2011-07-01,2015-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Robert,McGillivray,"The Trust for Public Land","2610 University Ave W, Ste 300","St Paul",MN,55114,"(651) 999-5307",rjm@tpl.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Le Sueur, Nicollet, Ramsey, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Washington, Wright",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mecc-vi-tpl-s-critical-land-protection-program-31,,,,
2933,"MeCC VI - TPL’s Critical Land Protection Program (3.1)",2013,250000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 04i3.1","$1,737,000 the first year and $1,738,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year are to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $3,175,000 is for the agreements as follows: $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year with Friends of the Mississippi River; $517,000 the first year and $518,000 the second year with Dakota County; $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year with Great River Greening; $220,000 the first year and $220,000 the second year with Minnesota Land Trust; $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; and $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year with The Trust for Public Land for planning, restoring, and protecting priority natural areas in the metropolitan area, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2, and portions of the surrounding counties, through contracted services, technical assistance, conservation easements, and fee title acquisition. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. Expenditures are limited to the identified project corridor areas as defined in the work program. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of habitable residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program. An entity that acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work program. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,250000,,,1.9,"The Trust for Public Land","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Trust for Public Land is using this appropriation to purchase approximately 30 acres of land and 0.3 miles of shoreline with high ecological value and then convey the land to state or local governments for long-term stewardship and protection. Lands being considered for permanent protection in this round of funding include areas around the Rum River and Rice Creek in Anoka County, Lindstrom Natural Area in Chisago County, Savage Fen Scientific and Natural Area and Pike Lake in Scott County, and St. Croix/Fraconia-Scandia Scientific and Natural Area in Washington County.",,"Work Plan",2011-07-01,2015-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Robert,McGillivray,"The Trust for Public Land","2610 University Ave W, Ste 300","St Paul",MN,55114,"(651) 999-5307",rjm@tpl.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Le Sueur, Nicollet, Ramsey, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Washington, Wright",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mecc-vi-tpl-s-critical-land-protection-program-31,,,,
2934,"MeCC VI - Protect Significant Habitat by Acquiring Cons. Easements (3.2)",2012,200000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 04i3.2","$1,737,000 the first year and $1,738,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year are to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $3,175,000 is for the agreements as follows: $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year with Friends of the Mississippi River; $517,000 the first year and $518,000 the second year with Dakota County; $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year with Great River Greening; $220,000 the first year and $220,000 the second year with Minnesota Land Trust; $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; and $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year with The Trust for Public Land for planning, restoring, and protecting priority natural areas in the metropolitan area, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2, and portions of the surrounding counties, through contracted services, technical assistance, conservation easements, and fee title acquisition. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. Expenditures are limited to the identified project corridor areas as defined in the work program. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of habitable residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program. An entity that acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work program. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,200000,,,2.09,"Minnesota Land Trust","Non-Profit Business/Entity","With this appropriation, the Minnesota Land Trust plans to protect 150 acres of high quality forest, prairie, or wetland habitat by securing permanent conservation easements and dedicating funds for their perpetual monitoring, management, and enforcement. Lands being considered for permanent protection in this round of funding are located in Anoka, Carver, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Washington, and Wright counties.",,"Work Plan",2011-07-01,2015-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Sarah,Strommen,"Minnesota Land Trust","2356 University Ave W, Ste 240","St Paul",MN,55114,"(651) 647-9590",sstrommen@mnland.org,"Land Acquisition, Monitoring","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Le Sueur, Nicollet, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Washington, Wright",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mecc-vi-protect-significant-habitat-acquiring-cons-easements-32,,,,
2934,"MeCC VI - Protect Significant Habitat by Acquiring Cons. Easements (3.2)",2013,200000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 04i3.2","$1,737,000 the first year and $1,738,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year are to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $3,175,000 is for the agreements as follows: $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year with Friends of the Mississippi River; $517,000 the first year and $518,000 the second year with Dakota County; $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year with Great River Greening; $220,000 the first year and $220,000 the second year with Minnesota Land Trust; $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; and $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year with The Trust for Public Land for planning, restoring, and protecting priority natural areas in the metropolitan area, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2, and portions of the surrounding counties, through contracted services, technical assistance, conservation easements, and fee title acquisition. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. Expenditures are limited to the identified project corridor areas as defined in the work program. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of habitable residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program. An entity that acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work program. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,200000,,,2.09,"Minnesota Land Trust","Non-Profit Business/Entity","With this appropriation, the Minnesota Land Trust plans to protect 150 acres of high quality forest, prairie, or wetland habitat by securing permanent conservation easements and dedicating funds for their perpetual monitoring, management, and enforcement. Lands being considered for permanent protection in this round of funding are located in Anoka, Carver, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Washington, and Wright counties.",,"Work Plan",2011-07-01,2015-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Sarah,Strommen,"Minnesota Land Trust","2356 University Ave W, Ste 240","St Paul",MN,55114,"(651) 647-9590",sstrommen@mnland.org,"Land Acquisition, Monitoring","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Le Sueur, Nicollet, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Washington, Wright",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mecc-vi-protect-significant-habitat-acquiring-cons-easements-32,,,,
10031418,"Mentoring Next Generation of Conservation Professionals - Phase 2",2025,793000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 05g","$793,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc. to provide paid internships and apprenticeships for diverse young people to learn about careers in the conservation field from United States Fish and Wildlife Service professionals while working at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Wetland Management District.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,16,"Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust Inc","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The ENRTF grant will introduce 12 young people to conservation careers through full-time, paid internships and apprenticeships on the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge (16 FTEs over 2 years).",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2026-08-31,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Deborah,Loon,"Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust Inc","3815 East American Boulevard",Bloomington,MN,55425,"(612) 801-1935",dloon@mnvalleytrust.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mentoring-next-generation-conservation-professionals-phase-2,,,,
10019632,"Metro Big Rivers Phase 11",2022,4229000,"ML 2021, First Sp. Session, Ch. 1, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(b)","$4,229,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance natural habitat systems associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix Rivers and their tributaries in the metropolitan area as follows: $675,000 to Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $220,000 to Friends of the Mississippi River; $684,000 to Great River Greening; $800,000 to The Trust for Public Land; and $1,850,000 to Minnesota Land Trust, of which up to $192,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed land acquisitions and permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","A network of natural land and riparian habitats will connect corridors for wildlife and species in greatest conservation need - Partners work together to identify priority lands using existing data and public plans, then coordinate protection, restoration and enhancement activities in those priority areas. Work builds upon prior phases and is intended to continue into the future for maximum impact. Mapping shows progress in connecting corridors. Species collections and counts measure impact of activities over time on wildlife and Species in Greatest Conservation Need",,,806600,"Carver, Crystal, Great River Greening, MN DNR, MN DNR, Macalester College, Volunteers, MN Valley Trust, Private, Private landowners, RIM and Private",4114200,114800,,1.72,"MVNW Refuge Trust Inc; FMR; GRG; MLT; TPL","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Metro Big Rivers Phase 11 will protect 185 acres in fee title and 222 acres in permanent conservation easement, restore 49 acres and enhance 187 acres of priority habitat in the big rivers corridors in the Metropolitan Urbanizing Area (643 acres total). The partnership will leverage the OHF grants at least 19% with partner funds, private funds, local government contributions, and landowner donations of easement value. Significant volunteer engagement will be invested in habitat enhancement activities. Metro Big Rivers projects will benefit wildlife and species in greatest need of conservation (SGCN) and provide increased public access for wildlife-based recreation.","Metro Big Rivers Phase 11 will protect, restore and enhance prioritized wildlife habitat in the Metropolitan Urbanizing Area, with an emphasis on the Mississippi, Minnesota and St.Croix Rivers and their tributaries. By expanding, connecting and improving public conservation lands, Metro Big Rivers benefits wildlife and species in greatest need of conservation (SGCN) and provides increased public access for wildlife-based recreation. See brief descriptions below and attachments for detail. **Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) will restore 10 acres and enhance 70 acres at two sites. Projects include removal of invasive woody and herbaceous plants, planting climate-adapted shrub and tree species, seeding with diverse native species mixes, establishment mowing, spot-spraying, and prescribed burns. - Katharine Ordway Natural History Study Area: Enhance 30 acres of degraded floodplain forest, 20 acres of oak woodland and 2 acres of prairie. - Vermillion River Aquatic Management Area, Kamen Parcel: Restore 10 acres prairie, enhance 7 acres degraded riparian habitat on a trout stream and 11 acres lowland habitat. **Great River Greening (GRG) will restore 16 acres and enhance 117 acres across 8 sites. Projects will include removal of invasive woody and herbaceous species, mowing, spot spraying, seeding and planting. - Creekside Park: Restore riparian habitat along 3/4 mile of Carver Creek. - Valley Park Phase II: Enhance oak woodland habitat. - Garlough & Marthaler Parks: Enhance oak savanna. - Bassett Creek Park: Restore turf to native prairie. - Bass Lake Preserve: Enhance riparian forest around Bass Lake. - Hidden Falls Regional Park: Enhance floodplain forest habitat. - Spring Lake Park (Scott County): Enhance oak forest habitat. - Wind in the Pines Nature Preserve: Enhance forest habitat along the St. Croix River. **Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) will protect through perpetual conservation easement 222 acres of priority habitat, including riparian lands, forests, wetlands and grasslands. Projects will be selected through a competitive process that ranks proposals based on ecological significance and cost (criteria attached). MLT will restore/enhance 23 acres on lands protected through permanent conservation easement. Prioritized properties will be of high ecological significance, adjacent or close to public conservation investments and owned by landowners committed to conservation. **Minnesota Valley Trust (MVT) will protect in fee 135 acres of river frontage, floodplain forest, wetland and upland habitat in the Minnesota River Valley to expand the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. All prospective lands have been prioritized by the USFWS and will be restored/enhanced, then open to the public for wildlife-based recreation, including hunting and fishing. **The Trust for Public Land (TPL) will protect in fee 50 acres of priority wildlife habitat, including riparian, forest, wetland and grassland habitat. Potential properties are prioritized in state, regional, and local natural resource plans. Lands will be managed by public partners (DNR and/or local units of government) and open to the public for wildlife-based recreation, including hunting and fishing.",,2021-07-01,2025-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Deborah,Loon,"MN Valley Trust (Metro Big Rivers)","3815 East American Boulevard ",Bloomington,MN,55425,"(612) 801-1935",DLoon@mnvalleytrust.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Sibley, Washington","Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-big-rivers-phase-11,,,,
10017817,"Metro Big Rivers Phase 10",2021,6473000,"ML 2020, Ch. 104, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 5(b)","$6,473,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire lands in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance natural habitat systems associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix Rivers and their tributaries in the metropolitan area. Of this amount, $801,000 is to Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust Inc., $300,000 is to Friends of the Mississippi River, $366,000 is to Great River Greening, $3,406,000 is to The Trust for Public Land, and $1,600,000 is to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $144,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to subdivision 17. A list of proposed land acquisitions and permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ","A network of natural land and riparian habitats will connect corridors for wildlife and species in greatest conservation need - Partners work together to identify priority lands using existing data and public plans, then coordinate protection, restoration and enhancement activities in those priority areas. Work builds upon prior phases and is intended to continue into the future for maximum impact. Mapping shows progress in connecting corridors. Species collections and counts measure impact of activities over time on wildlife and species of greatest conservation need",,,777400,"3M Foundation, Flint Hills Resources, Great River Greening, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, Three Rivers Park District, City of Andover, Minnesota Valley Trust or other private, Private, Private Landowners, RIM, Vadnais Lake Area Watershed Management Organization, Washington County Parks and Flint Hills Resources",6347900,125100,,1.68,"MN VNWT, FMR, GRG, TPL, MLT ","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Metro Big Rivers Phase 10 will protect 535 acres in fee title and 157 acres in permanent conservation easement, restore 123 acres and enhance 295 acres of priority habitat in the big rivers corridors in the Metropolitan Urbanizing Area (MUA). Metro Big Rivers partners will leverage the OHF funds at least 10% with partner funds, private funds, local government contributions, and landowner donations of easement value. In addition, significant volunteer engagement will be invested in habitat enhancement activities, although not technically counted as leverage.","Metro Big Rivers Phase 10 will protect, restore and enhance prioritized wildlife habitat in the Metro Urbanizing Area, with an emphasis on the Mississippi, Minnesota and St.Croix Rivers and their tributaries. By expanding, connecting and improving public conservation lands, Metro Big Rivers benefits wildlife and species in greatest need of conservation (SGCN) and provides increased public access for wildlife-based recreation. See brief descriptions below and attachments for detail. Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) will enhance 220 acres at three sites on or near the Mississippi River. Projects include removal of invasive woody and herbaceous plants, spot-mowing, spot-spraying, prescribed burns and seeding. *Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park, Washington County: Enhance 116 acres of oak forest, 5 acres of native bluff prairie and 1 acre of restored prairie. *Riverside Park, Washington County: Enhance 13 acres of oak forest and 1 acre of savanna. *Pine Bend Bluffs Natural Area, Dakota County: Enhance 50 acres of oak forest, 20 acres of restored prairie and 14 acres of native prairie. Great River Greening (GRG) will restore 23 acres and enhance 75 acres across five sites. Projects will include removal of invasive woody and herbaceous species, mowing and spot spraying, seeding and planting. *Minnehaha Greenway - Methodist Easement, Hennepin County: Enhance 15 acres of riparian land along Minnehaha Creek, recently re-meandered by the watershed district. *Mississippi River Bluff Corridor, Hennepin County: Restore 18 acres of old agricultural field to prairie. *Strootman Park, Anoka County: Enhance 10 acres of woodland. *Timber River Park, Anoka County: Restore 5 acres of a ballfield to native prairie and woodland habitat. Enhance another 5 acres of woodland and native prairie. *Vadnais / Sucker Lake, Ramsey County: Enhance 45 acres of wetlands. Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) will protect through perpetual conservation easement 157 acres of priority wildlife habitat, including riparian lands, forests, wetlands and grasslands. Projects will be selected through a competitive RFP process that ranks proposals based on ecological significance and cost (criteria attached). MLT also will restore 100 acres on private lands already protected through permanent conservation easement. Prioritized properties will be of high ecological significance, adjacent or close to public conservation investments and owned by landowners committed to conservation. Minnesota Valley Trust (MVT) will protect in fee 300 acres of river frontage, floodplain forest, wetland and upland habitat in the Minnesota River Valley to expand the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Of the total, 60 acres will be acquired with other non-state funds. All prospective lands have been prioritized by the USFWS and will be restored/enhanced, then open to the public for wildlife-based recreation, including hunting and fishing. The Trust for Public Land (TPL) will protect in fee 235 acres of priority wildlife habitat, including riparian, forest, wetland, and grassland habitat. The potential properties have been identified and prioritized in state, regional and local natural resource plans. Lands acquired will be managed by TPL's public partners (MN DNR and local units of government) and will be open to the public for wildlife-based recreation, including hunting and fishing.",,2020-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Deborah,Loon,"MN Valley Trust (Metro Big Rivers)","3815 East American Boulevard ",Bloomington,MN,55425,"(612) 801-1935",DLoon@mnvalleytrust.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Sherburne","Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-big-rivers-phase-10,,,,
10004453,"Metro Conservation Corridors Phase VIII - Enhancing Restoration Techniques for Improved Climate Resilience and Pollinator Conservation",2016,400000,"M.L. 2015, Chp. 76, Sec. 2, Subd. 08f","$400,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Great River Greening for Phase VIII of the Metro Conservation Corridors partnership to pilot and evaluate innovative restoration techniques aimed at improving the resilience of bur oak communities to changing climate conditions and enhancing prairie management to benefit pollinators with the help and engagement of citizen volunteers. Expenditures on restoration efforts are limited to the identified project corridor areas as defined in the work plan. A list of proposed restorations must be provided as part of the required work plan. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2018, by which point the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,,,,,"Great River Greening","Non-Profit Business/Entity",,,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2015/work_plans_may/_2015_08f.pdf,2015-07-01,2018-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Wiley,Buck,"Great River Greening","251 Starkey St, Ste 220","St. Paul",MN,55107,"(651) 665-9500",wbuck@greatrivergreening.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-conservation-corridors-phase-viii-enhancing-restoration-techniques-improved-climate,,,,
20708,"Metro Big Rivers Phase 4",2014,1720000,"ML 2013, Ch. 137, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(d)","$1,720,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and as permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance natural systems associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix Rivers as follows: $450,000 to the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $160,000 to the Friends of the Mississippi; $210,000 to the Great River Greening; $450,000 to the Minnesota Land Trust; and $450,000 to the Trust for Public Land. Up to $80,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund, as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed land acquisitions and permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"A network of natural land and riparian habitats will connect corridors for wildlife and species in greatest conservation need. Protected habitats will hold wetlands and shallow lakes open to public recreation and hunting. Core areas protected with highly biologically diverse wetlands and plant communities, including native prairie, Big Woods, and oak savanna. ",,800300,"Private Source, FMR, Federal, state, local and/or private, City of St. Paul, City of St. Paul, City of Andover ",817100,,,1.566,"MN VNWR Trust, Friends of Miss, GRG, MLT, TPL","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Metro Big Rivers' restoration and enhancement partners (FMR and GRG) achieved their goals, converting through restoration a former rail yard in the urban core to 32 acres of prairie and enhancing 98 acres of prairie and forest at four other public conservation sites in the metropolitan area. The easement partner (MLT) exceeded goals and permanently protected 131 acres under two conservation easements in Washington County. The fee title acquisition partners (MVT and TPL) were unable to complete the major acquisition they pursued together for the MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge due to landowner change of mind. The OHF grant funds spent were leveraged almost 1:1 with $800,350 in other, mostly non-state funds. ",,"Metro Big Rivers partners’ Phase 4 accomplishments, process and methods are described below. Additional information, photos and site maps are provided in attachments about each project accomplished. Friends of Mississippi River (FMR) enhanced forest and prairie habitat on 54 acres in Dakota and Washington Counties. These sites are situated within the Mississippi River corridor and provide important habitat for a variety of wildlife. Over 320 species of birds use the corridor for spring and fall migration, and need stopover sites like these two natural areas for refueling. In addition, with populations of pollinator species declining, there is need to  increase the quality and quantity of pollinator-friendly habitat, even with small habitat patches, to prevent further declines. These sites are also near or adjacent to other protected natural areas, adding important benefits of habitat linkages for wildlife. FMR’s work included $31,400 in leverage funds and in-kind support from local partners and high school students to complete the following activities: ·       Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park - FMR enhanced 35 acres of oak forest, 3 acres of remnant bluff prairie, and 1 acre of prairie at this natural area in Cottage Grove. Activities included forestry mowing and hand-cutting invasive woody vegetation, foliar treatments for re-sprouting stems, broadcasting native seed and conducting prescribed burns.  ·       Vermillion Linear Park - FMR enhanced 6 acres of riparian forest and 9 acres of prairie at this natural area on the Vermillion River in Hastings. Activities included hand-cutting invasive woody vegetation across the entire project area, foliar treatments for re-sprouting woody stems and herbaceous invasives, broadcasting native seed, and planting native trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and sedges. Additional prairie-specific activities included grassland prep (sprays, burn, tilling, and harrowing), native seeding, mowing, spot treatments and a prescribed burn.  Great River Greening (GRG) exceeded its original goals by restoring and enhancing 76 acres total in Anoka and Ramsey Counties (66 acres were proposed). Leverage funds of $131,950 helped GRG restore 32 acres of prairie, enhance another 5 acres prairie and enhance 39 acres forest, as follows:    ·       Martins Meadows - GRG enhanced 39 acres of forest habitat on this City of Andover Open Space site situated  on the Rum River (29 acres were proposed).  Activities included removal of woody invasives (common buckthorn, honeysuckle, amur maple), tree thinning, woody encroachment removal, mowing, seeding and planting.  The improved habitat will benefit Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), including red-shouldered hawk, blanding’s turtle and gopher snake, all of which have documented occurrences just up and down stream of the site. ·       Trout Brook Nature Sanctuary (Trillium Nature Preserve) - This former rail yard on St Paul’s east side was transformed through a major restoration effort into a new naturalized area that reflects its original state.  Over the course of the project, 32 acres were restored to prairie and an additional 5 prairie acres were enhanced through woody invasives removal.  Activities included mowing, herbicide application, tree thinning, tree planting and prairie seeding. The restoration of this site presented unique challenges because removal of contaminated soil required use of heavy equipment, thereby compacting the soils and requiring additional seeding preparation work to establish vegetation. The nature sanctuary is a refuge for wildlife in an otherwise urban complex.  It also offers residents who are otherwise underserved in this part of St Paul access to natural space and wildlife. Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) exceeded its goals by closing on two perpetual conservation easements within the St. Croix River corridor in Washington County. In total, 131 acres of high-quality habitat were protected by permanent easement under MBR 4, surpassing the 120-acre goal. MLT leveraged $637,000 in donated value across both easement acquisitions, a 2:1 ratio relative to acquisition funding provided by the OHF grant. The two properties protected under permanent conservation easements are:   ·       Old Mill Stream (Kingston) -- This 44-acre easement protects high-quality wetlands, forest and grasslands along 5,920 feet of Old Mill Stream, a state-designated trout stream in Washington County with a viable population of brook trout. The easement is abutted by William O’Brien State Park on three sides. Approximately 22 acres of the property are characterized as a Site of Moderate Biodiversity Significance by the DNR due to the presence of rare species and moderate quality natural communities, which provides key habitat for a variety of Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), including red-shouldered hawk, northern long-eared bat and least weasel.  This property is located within the Audubon Society’s St. Croix Bluffs Important Bird Area (IBA), which functions as a vital migratory corridor. In particular, it is important nesting grounds for great blue heron and bald eagle. ·       St. Croix River (Docksteader Trust) -- This 87-acre easement protects high-quality mesic hardwood forest along the bluffs of the St. Croix River Valley in Washington County.  The protected property is directly adjacent to a scenic easement held by the National Park Service, which is part of a connected corridor of scenic easements extending 11 miles along the St. Croix River north of Stillwater.  The protected property lies within an Important Bird Area (IBA) of global importance identified by the Audubon Society, and provides important habitat for a variety of Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN).   Minnesota Valley Trust (MVT) & Trust for Public Land (TPL): MVT and TPL were unable to acquire a large, high-priority property in Hennepin County for the Upgrala Unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Unfortunately, negotiations that were moving forward ended when a member of the landowner group (a hunting club) changed their mind about selling. Club rules required two-thirds of shareholders to agree to the sale and did not allow the property to be divided. Consequently, MVT and TPL did not expend funds from this appropriation.   ",2013-07-01,2018-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Deborah,Loon,"MN Valley Trust (Metro Big Rivers)","3815 East American Boulevard ",Bloomington,MN,55425,"(612) 801-1935",DebLoon@comcast.net,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Washington","Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-big-rivers-phase-4,,,,
3613,"Metro Area Groundwater Monitoring",2021,,N/A,,"This appropriation has now ended. Remaining funds were cancelled due to the May 2020 projected budget shortfall.",,,,,,,,,,,"This project will establish a groundwater monitoring network in the 11 county metropolitan area. The network will provide information about aquifer characteristics and natural water trends by monitoring healthy aquifers (non-stressed systems). The project will also develop an automated system that captures groundwater level and water use data. This system will enhance evaluation of changes in aquifers that are stressed by pumping from existing wells.","Many Twin Cities communities rely heavily on groundwater from aquifers for drinking water supplies and other domestic and industrial uses. Some aquifers are showing signs of stress; water use is exceeding aquifer recharge. Monitoring wells are the only way to get the information needed to understand the effect of pumping and land use changes so that these aquifers can be managed sustainably into the future. ",,2010-07-01,2020-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Joy,Loughry,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","325 Randolph Ave, Suite 500","Saint Paul",MN,55102,"(651) 539-2109",joy.loughry@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Monitoring, Research","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Washington, Wright, Sherburne",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-area-groundwater-monitoring,,,,
3613,"Metro Area Groundwater Monitoring",2020,,N/A,,"In FY20 the DNR proposes to drill two additional wells monitoring deep bedrock aquifers install two additional data loggers for continuous groundwater level monitoring. DNR will continue to review and publish annual continuous records for the groundwater level monitoring wells in the metro area. DNR will continue to work with SWCD’s in the 11 County Metro Area to aid in our enhanced groundwater monitoring efforts. Plans also include website upgrades to provide data to the website directly from the new hydrologic database. ","In FY20 the DNR acquired 3 shallow aquifer wells from the USGS. Three new data loggers were installed for continuous groundwater level monitoring. DNR reviewed and published continuous water level records for monitoring wells in the metro area. All SWCD’s in the 11 County Metro Area participated in the enhanced groundwater monitoring efforts and uploaded data into the new DNR/PCA cooperative water quantity data management system. The website was upgraded to connect with the new hydrologic database. ",,,,174357,,,2,,,"This project will establish a groundwater monitoring network in the 11 county metropolitan area. The network will provide information about aquifer characteristics and natural water trends by monitoring healthy aquifers (non-stressed systems). The project will also develop an automated system that captures groundwater level and water use data. This system will enhance evaluation of changes in aquifers that are stressed by pumping from existing wells.","Many Twin Cities communities rely heavily on groundwater from aquifers for drinking water supplies and other domestic and industrial uses. Some aquifers are showing signs of stress; water use is exceeding aquifer recharge. Monitoring wells are the only way to get the information needed to understand the effect of pumping and land use changes so that these aquifers can be managed sustainably into the future. ",,2010-07-01,2020-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Joy,Loughry,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","325 Randolph Ave, Suite 500","Saint Paul",MN,55102,"(651) 539-2109",joy.loughry@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Monitoring, Research","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Washington, Wright, Sherburne",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-area-groundwater-monitoring,,,,
3613,"Metro Area Groundwater Monitoring",2019,,N/A,,"In FY19 the DNR proposes to drill two additional wells in the deep aquifers and install five additional data loggers for continuous groundwater level monitoring. The DNR will continue to refine and expand the groundwater animations to visualize the continuously changing groundwater levels providing a better understanding of water use and aquifer responses in the 11-County Metro Area. DNR will continue to review and publish the annual continuous records for the groundwater level monitoring wells in the metro area.","In FY19 the DNR installed 2 deep aquifer bedrock wells. Thirteen new data loggers were installed for continuous groundwater level monitoring. DNR reviewed and published continuous water level records for monitoring wells in the metro area. All SWCD’s in the 11 County Metro Area participated in the enhanced groundwater monitoring efforts and uploaded data into the new DNR/PCA cooperative water quantity data management system.",,,,252276,74014,,2.4,,,"This project will establish a groundwater monitoring network in the 11 county metropolitan area. The network will provide information about aquifer characteristics and natural water trends by monitoring healthy aquifers (non-stressed systems). The project will also develop an automated system that captures groundwater level and water use data. This system will enhance evaluation of changes in aquifers that are stressed by pumping from existing wells.","Many Twin Cities communities rely heavily on groundwater from aquifers for drinking water supplies and other domestic and industrial uses. Some aquifers are showing signs of stress; water use is exceeding aquifer recharge. Monitoring wells are the only way to get the information needed to understand the effect of pumping and land use changes so that these aquifers can be managed sustainably into the future. ",,2010-07-01,2020-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Joy,Loughry,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","325 Randolph Ave, Suite 500","Saint Paul",MN,55102,"(651) 539-2109",joy.loughry@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Monitoring, Research","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Washington, Wright, Sherburne",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-area-groundwater-monitoring,,,,
3613,"Metro Area Groundwater Monitoring",2018,,N/A,,"In FY18 DNR proposes to drill five additional wells in the shallow aquifers and install five additional data loggers for continuous groundwater level monitoring. The DNR will continue to refine and expand the groundwater animations to visualize the continuously changing groundwater levels and provide a better understanding of water use and aquifer responses in the 11 County Metro Area. All SWCDs in the 11 County Area will participate in the pilot monitoring partnership in FY18 and a new data system will come on line.","In FY18 the DNR reviewed and published continuous water level records for monitoring wells in the metro area. DNR also developed a metro area water level animation to show monthly changes from 2012-2017. All SWCDs in the 11 County Area participate in the enhanced groundwater monitoring efforts and upload the data into the new DNR/PCA cooperative water quantity data management system. No wells were added to the network in the metro area in FY18 due to limited availability of public property in priority areas.",,,,257210,,,2.7,,,"This project will establish a groundwater monitoring network in the 11 county metropolitan area. The network will provide information about aquifer characteristics and natural water trends by monitoring healthy aquifers (non-stressed systems). The project will also develop an automated system that captures groundwater level and water use data. This system will enhance evaluation of changes in aquifers that are stressed by pumping from existing wells.","Many Twin Cities communities rely heavily on groundwater from aquifers for drinking water supplies and other domestic and industrial uses. Some aquifers are showing signs of stress; water use is exceeding aquifer recharge. Monitoring wells are the only way to get the information needed to understand the effect of pumping and land use changes so that these aquifers can be managed sustainably into the future. ",,2010-07-01,2020-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Joy,Loughry,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","325 Randolph Ave, Suite 500","Saint Paul",MN,55102,"(651) 539-2109",joy.loughry@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Monitoring, Research","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Washington, Wright, Sherburne",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-area-groundwater-monitoring,,,,
3613,"Metro Area Groundwater Monitoring",2017,,N/A,,"In FY17 the DNR will continue enhancing the processing and accessibility of groundwater network data. Enhancements will include streamlining the gathering storage and online accessibility of data for required groundwater monitoring permits in the 11-county metro and outstate areas with high groundwater appropriation volumes. Additional wells will fill some of the few remaining gaps in the metro groundwater monitoring network and a large effort will begin to transfer data into a new system better equipped to handle these large data sets.","In FY17 DNR installed 15 wells in the metro area including 12 to measure water levels in the deeper aquifers. Twenty new data loggers were installed to continuously measure groundwater levels bringing the total number of instrumented wells in the 11 county area to 216. Our local partner pilot program now includes 10 of the 11 metro county Soil and Water Conservations Districts (SWCD). These partnering SWCDs assist the state in measuring and downloading data in many of the wells in the metro area. The DNR compiled 134 continuous records of groundwater levels and developed a process to show animated changing groundwater levels in the area. The current animation shows monthly changes from 2012-2016. Work began to migrate all groundwater related data to a new data management system.",,,,544050,,,2.9,,,"This project will establish a groundwater monitoring network in the 11 county metropolitan area. The network will provide information about aquifer characteristics and natural water trends by monitoring healthy aquifers (non-stressed systems). The project will also develop an automated system that captures groundwater level and water use data. This system will enhance evaluation of changes in aquifers that are stressed by pumping from existing wells.","Many Twin Cities communities rely heavily on groundwater from aquifers for drinking water supplies and other domestic and industrial uses. Some aquifers are showing signs of stress; water use is exceeding aquifer recharge. Monitoring wells are the only way to get the information needed to understand the effect of pumping and land use changes so that these aquifers can be managed sustainably into the future. ",,2010-07-01,2020-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Joy,Loughry,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","325 Randolph Ave, Suite 500","Saint Paul",MN,55102,"(651) 539-2109",joy.loughry@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Monitoring, Research","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Washington, Wright, Sherburne",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-area-groundwater-monitoring,,,,
3613,"Metro Area Groundwater Monitoring",2016,,N/A,,"In FY16 the DNR will continue to refine processes and compile continuous records for wells with data loggers. We will replace older model monitoring equipment with state of the art continuous monitoring equipment install additional wells and expand automated Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) data gathering with metro communities focusing on the northeast metro. SCADA information is continuous groundwater use and water level data from a community’s production and monitoring wells managed by a computerized control system. SCADA systems are water supply management systems already in place in most communities. The fact that the DNR can now get this data automatically means that we get better reporting of community water use we can use existing data networks which saves the state money on monitoring costs and that we better understand groundwater use from multiple communities in localized areas.","In FY16 all continuous monitoring equipment was upgraded at existing locations and an additional 132 wells were instrumented with new equipment. Upgrades to the data importing system allowed a more consistent and streamlined process for data entry and storage. The data processing upgrades now allow public access to raw data gathered from the field within two days of data downloads. One additional SCADA system was added to the metro monitoring system. This further enhances the reporting of community water use and reduces monitoring costs through the use of existing community groundwater monitoring.",,,,250690,10793,,2.7,,,"This project will establish a groundwater monitoring network in the 11 county metropolitan area. The network will provide information about aquifer characteristics and natural water trends by monitoring healthy aquifers (non-stressed systems). The project will also develop an automated system that captures groundwater level and water use data. This system will enhance evaluation of changes in aquifers that are stressed by pumping from existing wells.","Many Twin Cities communities rely heavily on groundwater from aquifers for drinking water supplies and other domestic and industrial uses. Some aquifers are showing signs of stress; water use is exceeding aquifer recharge. Monitoring wells are the only way to get the information needed to understand the effect of pumping and land use changes so that these aquifers can be managed sustainably into the future. ",,2010-07-01,2020-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Joy,Loughry,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","325 Randolph Ave, Suite 500","Saint Paul",MN,55102,"(651) 539-2109",joy.loughry@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Monitoring, Research","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Washington, Wright, Sherburne",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-area-groundwater-monitoring,,,,
3613,"Metro Area Groundwater Monitoring",2015,,N/A,,"In FY15 DNR hydrologists will continue to grow the 11-county monitoring well network by installing 21 monitoring wells 16 of which will be deep wells in bedrock. Additional data analysis will result in better information about aquifer characteristics and trends to be used in groundwater management decisions. The DNR also proposes to add an additional municipality into the automated groundwater data collection project.","In FY15 the DNR installed equipment at White Bear Lake to provide real time water level rain fall and ground water levels from five groundwater observation wells surrounding the lake. These data will provide the public with up to date water level information and improve the understanding of surface and groundwater interactions in the Northeast Metro. We also installed 27 deep aquifer wells instrumented 59 monitoring wells with continuous water level monitoring equipment and compiled 118 annual records for groundwater level monitoring. These records improve understanding about groundwater levels interaction between aquifers and how aquifer levels respond to groundwater use in the 11 County Metro Area – information that is essential for providing sustainable water supplies for people and ecosystems.",,,,410268,,,2.5,,,"This project will establish a groundwater monitoring network in the 11 county metropolitan area. The network will provide information about aquifer characteristics and natural water trends by monitoring healthy aquifers (non-stressed systems). The project will also develop an automated system that captures groundwater level and water use data. This system will enhance evaluation of changes in aquifers that are stressed by pumping from existing wells.","Many Twin Cities communities rely heavily on groundwater from aquifers for drinking water supplies and other domestic and industrial uses. Some aquifers are showing signs of stress; water use is exceeding aquifer recharge. Monitoring wells are the only way to get the information needed to understand the effect of pumping and land use changes so that these aquifers can be managed sustainably into the future. ",,2010-07-01,2020-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Joy,Loughry,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","325 Randolph Ave, Suite 500","Saint Paul",MN,55102,"(651) 539-2109",joy.loughry@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Monitoring, Research","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Washington, Wright, Sherburne",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-area-groundwater-monitoring,,,,
3613,"Metro Area Groundwater Monitoring",2014,,N/A,,"In FY14 DNR scientists will continue to grow the 11-county monitoring well network by installing 15 monitoring wells 7 of which will be deep wells in bedrock. Additional data analysis will result in better information about aquifer characteristics and trends to be used in groundwater management decisions. The DNR also proposes to further identify the flow patterns and aquifer characteristics within the 11 County Metro through water chemistry sampling and hydraulic testing a subset of the monitoring wells.","In FY14 DNR scientists installed 15 aquifer monitoring wells including 10 in deep bedrock aquifers. Through the well installation process scientists were able to gather valuable information about the bedrock geology and aquifers in the Twin Cities Metro Area. DNR scientists also equipped these 15 new wells with continuous data loggers to collect groundwater level data. Scientist compiled and completed continuous water level records for 36 wells with continuous data loggers. These wells and data provide information about regionally important aquifers that will improve future management decisions. In FY 14 scientists completed the migration of groundwater data into a state cooperative water data system. The pilot project to test the collection of real-time automated municipal groundwater data continued adding an additional municipality (water level and pumping data from 21 municipal wells used in the community). The public display of these data is under development. When established this public display of groundwater level information will help state scientists and communities better understand local and regional water use and manage future needs.",,,,246082,15045,,2.5,,,"This project will establish a groundwater monitoring network in the 11 county metropolitan area. The network will provide information about aquifer characteristics and natural water trends by monitoring healthy aquifers (non-stressed systems). The project will also develop an automated system that captures groundwater level and water use data. This system will enhance evaluation of changes in aquifers that are stressed by pumping from existing wells.","Many Twin Cities communities rely heavily on groundwater from aquifers for drinking water supplies and other domestic and industrial uses. Some aquifers are showing signs of stress; water use is exceeding aquifer recharge. Monitoring wells are the only way to get the information needed to understand the effect of pumping and land use changes so that these aquifers can be managed sustainably into the future. ",,2010-07-01,2020-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Joy,Loughry,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","325 Randolph Ave, Suite 500","Saint Paul",MN,55102,"(651) 539-2109",joy.loughry@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Monitoring, Research","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Washington, Wright, Sherburne",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-area-groundwater-monitoring,,,,
3613,"Metro Area Groundwater Monitoring",2013,,N/A,,"In FY13 DNR scientists will continue to grow the 11-county monitoring well network by installing 20 monitoring wells 10 of which will be deep wells in bedrock. Additional data analysis will result in better information about aquifer characteristics and trends to be used in groundwater management decisions.","In FY13 DNR scientists installed 15 aquifer monitoring wells including 4 in deep bedrock aquifers. A change in the field manager for this project resulted in a decrease in well installation from the FY13 target. Through the well installation process scientists were able to gather valuable information about the bedrock geology and aquifers in the Twin Cities Metro Area. Staff also equipped 25 new and existing wells with continuous data loggers to collect groundwater level data. These wells and data provide information about regionally important aquifers that will improve future management decisions. In FY 13 work continued on the migration of groundwater data into a state cooperative water data system. The pilot project to test the collection of real-time automated municipal groundwater data was completed with one municipality (water level and pumping data from 9 municipal wells) and initiated with a second municipality. The public display of these data is under development. When established this public display of groundwater level information will help state scientists and communities better understand local and regional water use and manage future needs.",,,,516651,74970,,2.3,,,"This project will establish a groundwater monitoring network in the 11 county metropolitan area. The network will provide information about aquifer characteristics and natural water trends by monitoring healthy aquifers (non-stressed systems). The project will also develop an automated system that captures groundwater level and water use data. This system will enhance evaluation of changes in aquifers that are stressed by pumping from existing wells.","Many Twin Cities communities rely heavily on groundwater from aquifers for drinking water supplies and other domestic and industrial uses. Some aquifers are showing signs of stress; water use is exceeding aquifer recharge. Monitoring wells are the only way to get the information needed to understand the effect of pumping and land use changes so that these aquifers can be managed sustainably into the future. ",,2010-07-01,2020-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Joy,Loughry,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","325 Randolph Ave, Suite 500","Saint Paul",MN,55102,"(651) 539-2109",joy.loughry@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Monitoring, Research","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Washington, Wright, Sherburne",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-area-groundwater-monitoring,,,,
3613,"Metro Area Groundwater Monitoring",2012,1000000,"M.L. 2011 First Special Session Chp. 6 Art. 2 Sec. 6(i)","$1000000 the first year is for implementation of the metropolitan groundwater monitoring and protection activities under Minnesota Laws 2010 chapter 361 article 2 section 4 subdivision 2.","In FY12 DNR scientists will continue establishing a network of monitoring wells in the 11-county metropolitan area to provide information about aquifer characteristics and trends. Staff will install 20 new wells and equip 40 new and existing wells with continuous data loggers to collect groundwater level data. DNR will also grow our ability to evaluate changes in aquifers that are stressed by pumping from existing wells by installing deep aquifer monitoring wells in the Mt. Simon Aquifer when opportunities arise. The goal for this work is one well per year. Another goal for this program is to complete development of and implement a new automated data management system that will provide better data management and integrate groundwater and surface water data. ","In FY12 DNR scientists installed 28 aquifer monitoring wells including 14 in deep aquifers (installed in bedrock). Through the well installation process scientists were able to gather more and better valuable information about bedrock geology in the Twin Cities Metro Area. Staff equipped 146 new and existing wells with continuous data loggers to collect groundwater level data. These wells and data loggers provide information about aquifers stressed from pumping providing managers with better information for management decisions. Work began on the migration of data from observations wells (groundwater data) into the surface water data system in order to integrate these two important data sets. A pilot project is underway to test real time automated data collection storage and public display of groundwater data.",,,,570997,142026,,2.5,,,"This project will establish a groundwater monitoring network in the 11 county metropolitan area. The network will provide information about aquifer characteristics and natural water trends by monitoring healthy aquifers (non-stressed systems). The project will also develop an automated system that captures groundwater level and water use data. This system will enhance evaluation of changes in aquifers that are stressed by pumping from existing wells.","Many Twin Cities communities rely heavily on groundwater from aquifers for drinking water supplies and other domestic and industrial uses. Some aquifers are showing signs of stress; water use is exceeding aquifer recharge. Monitoring wells are the only way to get the information needed to understand the effect of pumping and land use changes so that these aquifers can be managed sustainably into the future. ",,2010-07-01,2020-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Joy,Loughry,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","325 Randolph Ave, Suite 500","Saint Paul",MN,55102,"(651) 539-2109",joy.loughry@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Monitoring, Research","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Washington, Wright, Sherburne",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-area-groundwater-monitoring,,,,
3613,"Metro Area Groundwater Monitoring",2011,4000000,"M.L. 2010 Ch. 361 Art. 2 Sec. 4","The $5000000 appropriated in Laws 2009 chapter 172 article 2 section 4 paragraph (m) for activities relating to groundwater protection or prevention of groundwater degradation is canceled and $4000000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2011 to the commissioner of natural resources for the following purposes: (1) establish a groundwater monitoring network in the 11-county metropolitan area that monitors non-stressed systems to provide information on aquifer characteristics and natural water level trends; and (2) develop an automated data system to capture groundwater level and water use data to enhance the evaluation of water resource changes in aquifer systems that are stressed by pumping of existing wells. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until spent. The base funding for this program in fiscal year 2012 is $1000000 and $0 in fiscal year 2013.","In FY11 DNR scientists will establish a network of monitoring wells in the 11-county metropolitan area to provide information about aquifer characteristics and trends. Staff will equip 70 new and existing wells with continuous data loggers to collect groundwater level data. DNR will also grow our ability to evaluate changes in aquifers that are stressed by pumping from existing wells by installing deep aquifer monitoring wells in the Mt. Simon Aquifer when opportunities arise. The goal for this work is one well per year. Another goal for this program is setting up a new automated data management system that will provide better data management and integrate groundwater and surface water data.","In FY11 DNR scientists installed 14 new monitoring wells in the 11-county metropolitan area and equipped 70 new and existing wells with continuous data loggers to collect groundwater level data. The DNR installed 3 deep aquifer monitoring wells in the Mt. Simon Aquifer. The DNR began work on moving observation well database to a new data system and acquired a new data system to provide store and process groundwater data for use by state and local agencies. This is a cooperative effort between MPCA and the DNR. Initiated pilot project with the Cities of New Brighton Lakeville and Lakeland to develop a mechanism to collect automated water use and ground water level data to provide better water use and availability information for local communities and state needs. ",,,,488836,32400,,,,,"This project will establish a groundwater monitoring network in the 11 county metropolitan area. The network will provide information about aquifer characteristics and natural water trends by monitoring healthy aquifers (non-stressed systems). The project will also develop an automated system that captures groundwater level and water use data. This system will enhance evaluation of changes in aquifers that are stressed by pumping from existing wells.","Many Twin Cities communities rely heavily on groundwater from aquifers for drinking water supplies and other domestic and industrial uses. Some aquifers are showing signs of stress; water use is exceeding aquifer recharge. Monitoring wells are the only way to get the information needed to understand the effect of pumping and land use changes so that these aquifers can be managed sustainably into the future. ",,2010-07-01,2020-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Joy,Loughry,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","325 Randolph Ave, Suite 500","Saint Paul",MN,55102,"(651) 539-2109",joy.loughry@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Monitoring, Research","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Washington, Wright, Sherburne",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-area-groundwater-monitoring,,,,
803,"Metro Big Rivers Habitat Program, Phase 1",2011,2397000,"ML 2010, Ch. 361, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(a)","$2,397,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements for projects to protect, restore, and enhance natural systems of the Minnesota River, St. Croix River, Mississippi River, and their major tributaries as follows: $500,000 with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc. for fee title land acquisition; $1,500,000 with the Trust for Public Land for fee title land acquisition; $227,300 with the Friends of the Mississippi River for restoration, enhancement, and conservation easement acquisition; and $169,700 with Great River Greening for restoration and enhancement. The accomplishment plan must include an easement stewardship plan. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph(b).",,"Restore 11 acres of Forest; Protect in Fee 76 acres of wetlands, 38 acres of prairie, 59 acres of forest; Protect in Easement 1 acres of wetland, 2 acres of prairie, 18 acres of Forest. ",,,,2397000,,,,"MN National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc., Trust for Public Land, Friends of the Mississippi River, Great River Greening","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Metro Big Rivers Habitat partnership will work within the Minnesota, Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers and key tributaries of the Metro Urbanizing Area to expand and improve critical habitat for game and non-game wildlife and increase public access to outdoor recreation opportunities. The partnership will use the OHF grant to protect 249 acres (175 acres by fee title acquisition and 74 acres by conservation easement) and restore / enhance 158 acres with OHF and leveraged funds. ","The three Big Rivers in the Metro Urbanizing Area provide critical habitat that must be protected and improved for resident wildlife and migrating wildlife, both game and non-game species. The Metro Big Rivers Habitat partnership will protect 249 acres and restore / enhance 144 acres with the OHF grant to significantly expand and improve wildlife habitat. It will protect an addition 251 acres and restore / enhance an additional 42 acres with leveraged funding. The nearly 4 million Minnesotans that live in the Metro Urbanizing Area need and want increased access to hunting, fishing and other wildlife-dependent outdoor recreational opportunities close to home. The public will have access to all of the land protected through this program for outdoor recreation. The land protected through fee title acquisition will be open for public hunting and fishing on a limited or unlimited basis. The land protected through conservation easement will be open to the public for other forms of outdoor recreation. These resources are under extreme development pressure because of population growth and the high amenity values associated with most, if not all, of these lands. We have the opportunity now to protect these lands because the economic recession has driven down some land values and slowed development pressure. Some landowners are more interested in selling for conservation than might be the case under different economic circumstances. This program will work because the partners have extensive experience both individually and collectively. In addition to the four partners named on the project, a number of other public and private organizations will be involved, including the MN Department of Natural Resources, numerous metro area counties and cities, and the MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. All lands to be protected have been identified as high priorities through public planning processes by the public entities that will eventually own the properties or hold the easement, as follows: 1) MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS) for the Refuge lands to be acquired; 2) Local units of government (and, in one instance, possibly the DNR) for the lands to be acquired and transferred to long-term stewards by TPL; and 3) Dakota County and MN DNR for the conservation easement to be acquired to expand the Pine Bend Bluffs SNA. All lands to be restored and/or enhanced are already under public ownership. The restoration and enhancement work to be completed on these lands is a high priority of the public entities that own the land, as follows ? MN DNR for the Pine Bend Bluffs SNA enhancement work, City of St. Paul (Parks and Recreation) for the restoration on the Mississippi blufflands at Indian Mounds and Cherokee Bluff, MN DNR for restoration at the Savage and Seminary Fens, and MN DNR for enhancement of the SNAs within the Franconia-Scandia St. Croix corridors. For each of the projects listed, the Metro Big Rivers Habitat partners have secured informal support and / or will secure the formal support of the local government when and if required when land protection projects move into the contractual stage. Restoration in all instances is supported by the local community and, in some cases, involves the involvement of local volunteers from community and sporting groups ","Final Report",2010-07-01,2015-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",None,,,Deborah,Loon,"Minnesota National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.","3815 East American Boulevard ",Bloomington,None,55425,"(612) 801-1935",dloon@mnvalleytrust.org,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Ramsey, Scott, Scott","Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-big-rivers-habitat-program,,,,
9819,"Metro Big Rivers Habitat Phase 3",2013,3680000,"ML 2012, Ch. 264, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(b)","$3,680,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire interests in land in fee or permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance natural systems associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix Rivers as follows: $1,000,000 to the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $375,000 to the Friends of the Mississippi; $375,000 to Great River Greening; $930,000 to The Minnesota Land Trust; and $1,000,000 to The Trust for Public Land. A list of proposed = acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The accomplishment plan must include an easement stewardship plan. Up to $51,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund and a description of annual monitoring and enforcement activities.",,"Restored 8 acres of prairie, protected in fee 67 acres, and enhanced 495 acres. ",,27500,"City of Fridley, Maplewood, and Mahtomedi ",1353100,,,1.48,"MN Valley NWR Trust, Friends of Mississippi River, Great River Greening, MN Land Trust, Trust for Pulbic Land","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Metro Big Rivers Phase 3 protected 67 acres of significant habitat along more than 1 mile of the Mississippi River, restored 8 acres of prairie and enhanced 495 acres of priority habitat (47 wetland acres, 50 prairie acres and 398 forest acres) in the Metropolitan Urbanizing Area.",,"Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) completed restoration and enhancement activities on 314 acres, exceeding its original 166 grant acres. FMR restored 8 acres of prairie and enhanced 30 acres prairie, 47 acres of wetland and 237 acres of forest on three sites in Dakota County and one in Washington County, as follows:• Gores Pool Wildlife Management Area (Freitag Tract) -- Gores Pool WMA is a 6,449-ac complex of floodplain forest, marshland and backwater along the Mississippi River and Vermillion River Bottoms in Dakota County. Most of the area is designated as outstanding biodiversity significance and constitutes one of the largest expanses of floodplain native plant communities in southeast Minnesota. It is also one of the top four sites in the state for rare forest birds. The 300 acre Freitag Tract was purchased in 2008 by the DNR in partnership with Dakota County and the City of Hastings. With this Phase 3 grant, FMR continued its activities at the WMA in partnership with the DNR, enhancing 47 acres of wet meadow, 125 acres of forest, and 5 acres of prairie. Methods included cutting and treating invasive woody and herbaceous species, prescribed burning, installing cottonwood livestakes, and planting native shrubs.• Hastings Sand Coulee Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) - This SNA is identified as significant by the Dakota County Farmland and Natural Area Program and the County Biological Survey. In addition to containing an intermittent stream that flows to the Vermillion River, this site contains rare dry prairie and associated oak woodland. Fourteen rare species have been documented at this SNA. FMR’s work with Phase 3 restored 8 acres of prairie, enhanced 23 acres of prairie by removing woody species and conducting prescribed burns and enhanced 51 acres of oak woodland by controlling exotic invasive species and conducting prescribed burns.• Hastings Scientific and Natural Area -- This 69-acre SNA, designated in the 1970s, is situated along the Mississippi – Vermillion River floodplain and blufflands in Hastings, Dakota County. It contains wetland, maple-basswood forest and floodplain forest. FMR developed a Natural Resource Management Plan for this SNA in 2011 in partnership with the DNR. With Phase 3 funds, FMR conducted exotic invasive woody plant control on 35 acres of forest by cutting and stump-treating. These activities improved the habitat for the both rare species and all the plant and animal members of these forest communities.• Camel’s Hump / Gateway North Open Space Area -- This 34-acre site sits on a high ancient river terrace of sandstone and limestone within Cottage Grove (Washington County). The natural communities located on this site include oak forest, bedrock bluff prairie and lowland hardwood forest. Through this Phase 3 grant, FMR prepared a Natural Resource Management Plan, then conduct woody plant removal and a prescribed burn on approximately 2-acres of prairie and exotic plant control on approximately 26 acres of forest by cutting and treating woody plants and prescribed burns. Seed collected from the prairie on-site was used to enhance other areas on-site.Great River Greening (GRG) also exceeded its original grant acres. GRG conducted enhancement activities on 179 acres (141 acres were originally proposed), as follows:• Katherine Abbott Park: 6 acres prairie enhancement, and16 acres forest enhancement. Work included: removal of invasive common and glossy buckthorn, honeysuckle, black locust and Siberian elm; woody encroachment removal from the native prairie; and reed canary grass control in the wet prairie area. The enhancement at Katherine Abbott is continuing with Trust Fund support and City support. This site now hosts remnant prairie, oak savanna, enhanced forest habitat, and enhanced wetland habitats. Acreage and habitat goals were met; with City funds, summer and fall 2017 burns are being developed for the oak woodland communities to control buckthorn and promote the remnant understory. • Fish Creek Open Space: 75 acres of dry-mesic prairie oak savannah were enhanced. Work included woody invasive removal, tree planting, and prairie seeding. Oak savanna was restored using an oak grove design, and the timing of seeding was selected carefully to encourage forb establishment for better pollinator habitat and floristic diversity, as well as a robust prairie grass component. The establishment has included mowing to promote prairie perennials over weedy annuals and biennials, and spot treatment (pulling, spraying) of more problematic non-native invasive species. Restorations involved Greening’s Summer Youth Job Corps (a partnership with Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa, providing hands-on natural resource experience to underserved youth), students and faculty, volunteer citizens, contractors, and Greening staff. Fish Creek now hosts prairie habitat, oak savanna habitat, and enhanced forest habitat. This location in the Mississippi flyway is proving to continue to leverage volunteer services for enhancement and maintenance, and is also a pollinator citizen science project location with Trust Fund support. Acreage goals were met and maintenance program is robust and underway.• Springbrook Nature Center: 82 acres enhanced (66 acres proposed), 70 acres of forest and 12 acres of prairie, through woody invasive removal and treatment and several rounds of prescribed burns. Work was conducted by Greening’s Summer Youth Job Corps (see Fish Creek description), citizen volunteers, contractors, and Greening staff.With this grant, the Trust for Public Land (TPL) acquired 66 acres of a larger 335 acre acquisition of significant habitat in Elk River (Sherburne County) with over a mile of Mississippi River shoreline at the confluence of the Elk River and Mississippi Rivers. The full 335 acres were acquired with the balance of TPL’s Phase 2 grant and $610,000 of this Phase 3 grant. The land provides habitat for a variety of species and the shoreline affords access to an excellent smallmouth bass fishery. The property was conveyed to the City of Elk River to be managed in a manner similar to a state Wildlife Management Area. Public hunting and fishing will be allowed according to DNR guidelines. Restoration and enhancement of the habitat on this property is being completed under Metro Big Rivers Phase 5 by Friends of the Mississippi River.",2012-07-01,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Deborah,Loon,"MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.","3815 East American Boulevard",Bloomington,MN,55425,612-801-1935,dloon@mnvalleytrust.org,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Sibley, Washington, Wright","Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-big-rivers-habitat-phase-3,,,,
2551,"Metro Big Rivers Habitat, Phase 2",2012,5000000,"ML 2011, First Special Session, Ch. 6, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(d)","$5,000,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire interests in land in fee or permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance natural systems associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix Rivers as follows: $960,000 to the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $150,000 to Great River Greening; $840,000 to Minnesota Land Trust; $150,000 to Friends of the Mississippi River; and $2,900,000 to The Trust for Public Land. A list of proposed projects, describing types and locations of acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements, must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The accomplishment plan must include an easement monitoring and enforcement plan. Money appropriated from the outdoor heritage fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to subdivision 15. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund.",,"Restore 15 acres, Protect in Fee 776, Protect in Easement 654 acres and and Enhance 178 acres in total 1,623 acres were impacted.",,1504700,"FMR, landowner, local, state and federal, donated easeemnt, private donations ",4837200,,,.79,"Great River Greening, MN Land Trust, Friends of Mississippi River, Trust for Public Land, MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.","Non-Profit Business/Entity","With this final report, Metro Big Rivers Phase 2 is complete and significantly exceeded its original acreage targets of protecting, restoring and enhancing priority wildlife habitat within the three big rivers corridors in the Metropolitan Urbanizing Area. Specifically: * Metro Big Rivers 2 planned to protect 733 acres, but actually protected 1,430 acres. * Metro Big Rivers 2 planned to restore 15 acres and enhance 135 acres, but actually restored 15 acres and enhanced 178 acres. ",,"Accomplishment Plan: http://www.lsohc.leg.mn/FY2012/accomp_plan/5d.pdf Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) completed the project by restoring 8 acres of prairie, enhancing 8 acres of prairie, restoring 7 acres of wet meadow and enhancing 101 acres of forest, exceeding our goals for the project. The details for the 2 sites follow: •Gores WMA: FMR completed this project and met the project goals by restoring an 8-acre grassland to native prairie; enhancing a 3-acre restored prairie by conducting invasive species control; restoring a 7-acre grassland to native wet meadow species by controlling reed canary grass; and enhancing 90- acres of floodplain and upland forest by removing exotic invasive woody plants. The prairie restoration included seeding 11 native grass species and 35 native forbs, focused on species important for pollinators. Annual breeding bird surveys at the forested area showed significant increases in the number of species and the number of birds between 2010 and 2015. Annual breeding bird surveys showed substantial increases in the number of species recorded at restored/enhanced areas, with ten species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) noted. •Rosemount Wildlife Preserve: FMR completed enhancement activities on 5 acres of prairie and 11 acres of forest through treatment of exotic invasive species and prescribed burns. Annual breeding bird surveys at the forested area showed significant increases in the number of species and the number of birds between 2010 and 2015. Great River Greening (GRG) exceeded its original grant acres target 7-fold. GRG conducted enhancement activities on 69 acres (10 acres were originally proposed), as follows: •Crosby Park: 52 acres of habitat were enhanced through woody invasive species eradication within floodplain forest and installation of practices to address erosion impacting Crosby Lake. The project is complete and exceeds the proposed acreage goals. •Seminary Fen SNA: Supplemental funding from this grant was used to complete the full spectrum of enhancement activities at Seminary Fen SNA initiated under the Metro Big Rivers Phase 1 grant. Invasive species management was conducted across 1 acre of the fen through prescribed fire. The project is complete. •Savage Fen SNA: Supplemental funding from this grant was used to complete the full spectrum of enhancement activities at Seminary Fen SNA initiated under the Metro Big Rivers Phase 1 grant. Invasive species management was conducted across 1 acre of the fen through prescribed fire. The project is complete. •Fish Creek Open Space: Forest enhancement work was completed through the removal invasive woody species over 10 acres of a grassland portion of the forest mosaic. We have released oaks, and removed planted pines and overabundant box elder. The project – as funded through this grant – is complete, but additional activity funded through MBR Phase 3 continues at this site. •Springbrook Nature Center: Extensive woody invasive species control and forest thinning was completed across 5 acres of oak woodland and savanna habitat at the site. The project is – as funded through this grant – is complete, but additional activity funded through MBR Phase 3 continues at this site. Additional matching funds leveraged for the project includes gifts from the 3M Foundation, Xcel Foundation, Brookfield Renewable, and Buuck Family Foundation. Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) exceeded its target acres significantly. The original target was 300 acres, but MLT was able to complete three easements on 654 acres with the grant, thanks to significant donations of value by landowners. MLT also protected a total of approximately 10,999 linear feet of shoreline along rivers, lakes and ponds. The following easements were completed with the MBR 2 grant: •The 80-acre Sherburne Hardwoods (Anderson) tract, located in Becker Township in Sherburne County, is adjacent to the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge and is in an area designated as a state Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. The property consists of approximately 48 acres of deciduous forest, 30 acres of grassland, and 2 acres of wetland. The landowner is currently in the process of restoring the grasslands and the wetlands on the property. The forest, wetland, and grassland habitats contained within the property provide habitat for a variety of species in greatest conservation need, including bald eagle, American woodcock, and whip-poor-will. •26 acres at the confluence of the Mississippi and Elk Rivers with 2,591 feet of shoreline along the Elk River and 493 feet of shoreline along the Mississippi River, a state Wild and Scenic River and state water trail. •548 acres of forest, wetlands, grasslands and open water on Stickney Lake in Sherburne County, approximately 3 miles northwest of Clear Lake, Minnesota. This easement includes approximately 2,400 feet of shoreline on Stickney Lake (a shallow lake) and approximately 5,515 feet of shoreline on unnamed ponds. These natural features provide key habitats for a variety of Species in Greatest Conservation Need, including the northern pintail and the sharp-tailed grouse. Minnesota Valley Trust (MVT) completed fee title acquisition on 444 acres of priority habitat for the Blakely Unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Of the 444 acres, 384 acres were acquired with the Outdoor Heritage Fund grant through Metro Big Rivers Phase 2. The other 60 acres were acquired with other, non-state funds. Trust for Public Land (TPL) completed fee title acquisition of 335 acres of land with over a mile of Mississippi River shoreline at the confluence of the Elk and Mississippi Rivers on December 16, 2014. This acquisition was completed with the balance of TPL’s Phase 2 grant and part of its Phase 3 grant. The land provides habitat for a variety of species and the shoreline affords access to an excellent smallmouth bass fishery. The property was conveyed to the City of Elk River to be managed in a manner similar to a state Wildlife Management Area. Public hunting and fishing will be allowed according to DNR guidelines. TPL also completed fee title acquisition on 128 acres of the Blakely Bluffs area for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Of the 128 acres, 123 were acquired with the Outdoor Heritage Fund grant through Metro Big Rivers Phase 2. The other 5 acres were acquired with other DNR funds.",2011-07-20,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Deborah,Loon,"Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.","3815 East American Blvd.",Bloomington,MN,55425,612-801-1935,DLoon@mnvalleytrust.org,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Washington","Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-big-rivers-habitat-phase-2,,,,
23933,"Metro Big Rivers Phase V",2015,1210700,"ML 2014, Ch. 256, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(d)","$2,650,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance natural systems associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix Rivers as follows: $600,000 to Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $160,000 to Friends of the Mississippi River; $400,000 to Great River Greening; $590,000 to Minnesota Land Trust, of which up to $77,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17; and $900,000 to The Trust for Public Land. Lands acquired or lands with easements acquired with this appropriation may not be used for emergency haying and grazing in response to federal or state disaster declarations. Conservation grazing under a management plan that is already being implemented may continue. A list of proposed land acquisitions and permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"32 acres protected in fee without state PILT liability and 277 enhanced acres for a total of 309 acres  ",,1343100,"Cities of Apple Valley, Bloomington, Burnsville, and St. Paul, Patagonia, Three Rivers Park District, Three Rivers Community Foundation, Friends of Houlton, MN Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund, City of Elk River, Private Source, St. Paul Garden Club, and 3M Foundation ",1210700,,,.34,"MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust Inc; Friends of the Mississippi River, Great River Greening, MN Land Trust, Trust for Public Land","Non-Profit Business/Entity","In Phase 5, Friends of the Mississippi River and Great River Greening enhanced 277 acres at six sites, exceeding their goals by 48 acres (21%). The Minnesota Valley Trust acquired fee title to 32.4 acres for two high-priority additions to the Rapids Lake Unit, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The Minnesota Land Trust and the Trust for Public Land were unable to finalize their easement and fee title acquisitions when landowners changed their minds. OHF grant funds spent were leveraged more than 110% with $1,343,128 in other funds. ",,"Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) exceeded its acreage objectives by enhancing 90 acres at the W.H. Houlton Conservation Area (70 acres were proposed). This forest enhancement project at the confluence of the Elk and Mississippi Rivers in Sherburne County was on part of the land acquired with OHF funds by the Trust for Public Land (MBR Phases 2 and 3 / ML 2011 and 2012). A total of 90 acres were enhanced (exceeding the goal of 70 acres) through woody invasive species management, including forestry mowing, multiple herbicide treatments and native woodland grass and sedge seeding. These efforts dramatically transformed this site, which initially had such a dense sub-canopy of buckthorn that it prevented the regeneration of most other shrubs and trees. OHF funds were leveraged with $34,595 in other funds.  FMR is restoring and enhancing other parts of the Houlton Conservation Area through MBR phases 7 (restoration of 180 acre agricultural field) and MBR 8 (enhancement of 80 acres forest).     Great River Greening (GRG) exceeded its original goals by restoring and enhancing 187 acres total in Carver, Dakota, Hennepin and Ramsey Counties (159 acres were proposed). Leverage funds of $179,000 helped GRG enhance 30 acres of prairie and 157 acres, as follows:  •  Alimagnet Park - This forest enhancement project in Dakota County is complete and deliverables were met. A total of 20 acres of forest were enhanced through selective timber harvest, cutting of woody invasives, and multiple herbicide treatments on buckthorn and other invasive species. •  Carver Park Preserve - Goals were exceeded on this forest enhancement project in Carver County. A total of 90 acres of forest were enhanced (exceeding the goal by 20 acres) through woody invasive species management, including forestry mowing, herbicide applications and prescribed burning.   •  Pond Dakota Mission Park & Minnesota River Valley (City of Bloomington property) - This project along the Minnesota River in Hennepin County concluded in the spring of 2018 after crews completed a selective thinning of the forest canopy and removal of exotic tree and shrub species (buckthorn and honeysuckle).  Large material was hauled out of the valley while smaller material was piled and burned.  Over the course of the project, 22 acres were enhanced.   •  Terrace Oak Park - This forest enhancement project in Dakota County is complete and deliverables were met. A total of 19 acres of forest were enhanced through woody invasive species management, including forestry mowing and multiple herbicide treatments.   •  Trout Brook Nature Preserve - This prairie enhancement project in the Trout Brook Greenway in St. Paul was completed at the end of September 2017 and deliverables were met. 30 prairie acres were enhanced through woody invasive species removal, prairie establishment maintenance, woodland tree and shrub planting, and prairie pollinator nursery plot plantings.   The Minnesota Valley Trust (MVT) added 32.4 acres to the Rapids Lake Unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge through two high-priority fee title acquisitions. Both parcels are adjacent to the Refuge and a DNR Wildlife Management Area that is managed by the USFWS.   These acquisitions protected significant oak savanna, remnant prairie, oak basswood forest and seasonal ephemeral wetlands from residential development. An initial BioBlitz in 2018 identified more than 200 species, including the endangered Henslow’s Sparrow, Bloodroot, Pasqueflower, Kittentail (a state threatened species), Buffalo Bean, Bergamot and Common, Whorled and Green Milkweeds. Bur Oaks with wide branching limbs are indicative of historic oak savanna.   The OHF grant of $600,000 was leveraged with (1) $679,863 in other, private funds to complete the 20.56-acre acquisition and (2) $449,345 in other, private funds to acquire the 11.83-acre parcel. Total leverage was $1,129,208.   Habitat restoration and enhancement will include removal of invasive woody species, seeding the former building sites and prescribed fire. After restoration, the property will be transferred to the USFWS and opened to the public for hunting and other wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities. The Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) and its partner, Washington County, were not successful in securing a conservation easement on property owned by the Manitou Fund at Terrapin Lake in Washington County. Discussions with the landowner took a step backward in fall 2017, prompting all parties to look for alternative ways to realize the mutual desires of ensuring long-term conservation of this important resource. In early 2018, the landowner approached MLT and Washington County with renewed interest but backed away again from the project. All of the funding through this grant to MLT was earmarked for this high-priority project. With the project not being finalized, we were unable to secure any deliverables for the grant and returned the majority of funding to the State.   The Trust for Public Land (TPL) was unable to spend most of this appropriation, as the owners of the prospective 194-acre addition to Bayport WMA unexpectedly changed their minds and signed a contract to sell the land to a developer. $20,000 in DNR Land Acquisition Costs was released to the DNR for their appraisal and administrative costs related to this project. ",2014-07-01,2019-11-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Deborah,Loon,"MN Valley Trust (Metro Big Rivers)","3815 East American Boulevard ",Bloomington,MN,55425,"(612) 801-1935",DLoon@mnvalleytrust.org,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Sherburne","Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-big-rivers-phase-v,,,,
35076,"Metro Big Rivers Habitat Phase 7",2017,4000000,"ML 2016, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(b)","$4,000,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance natural systems associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix Rivers within the metropolitan area as follows: $500,000 to Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $430,000 to Friends of the Mississippi River; $1,170,000 to Great River Greening; $800,000 to The Trust for Public Land; and $1,100,000 to Minnesota Land Trust, of which up to $60,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed land acquisitions and permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Metro Big Rivers projects improved habitat values for wildlife and SGCN, including birds using the Mississippi River migratory corridor, pollinators, wildlife, and an array of rare and endangered species. FMR converted crop field to diverse prairie and restored forest at two sites on the Mississippi and Elk Rivers in Sherburne County. The restoration provides critical habitat for resident and migrant birds (including five SGCNs surveyed post-restoration), native pollinators, and mammals. The sites are partially located in the high potential zone for Rusty Patched bumblebee. Post-restoration surveys documented increases in pollinator abundance and diversity. GRG worked on public conservation lands to improve habitat values for wildlife and SGCN, including birds using the Mississippi River migratory corridor and pollinators. Work restored and enhanced riverine, forest, oak savanna, prairie, and wetland habitat at seven conservation sites. MLT prevented fragmentation around lakes experiencing development pressure (Pickerel and Fish Lakes), as well as areas of biological significance (Medvecky Woods). MLT conservation easements also protected two miles of shoreline and associated riparian habitat on Pickerel, Fish, and Oak Lakes. Over six bird species designated as SGCN have been identified on the Oak Lake conservation easement alone. MVT acquired lands identified through the USFWS Comprehensive Conservation Plan, which prioritizes lands for high biodiversity, connectivity, and ability to preserve habitat for SGCN. MVT?s acquisition protected oak savanna, remnant prairie, oak basswood forest and seasonal ephemeral wetlands. A bioblitz identified more than 200 species, including the endangered Henslow?s sparrow, bloodroot, pasqueflower, kittentail (state threatened species), buffalo bean, bergamot, common milkweed, whorled milkweed, green milkweed and bur oak. Restoration created habitat for grassland and savanna-dependent birds, other wildlife and pollinators, including the endangered Rusty Patched bumble bee and monarch. TPL acquired land prioritized in Minnesota?s Wildlife Action Plan (WAP) due to its high biodiversity significance, connectivity to existing public lands, and ability to preserve habitat for SGCN. Acquisition for the Janet Johnson Memorial WMA protected two habitat types identified within the WAP?s St. Croix River Watershed Conservation Focus Area and key wildlife habitat utilized by 67 listed SGCN within the Anoka Sand Plain ecological subsection.","A total of 1,199 acres were affected: 241 Restored, 145 in Fee Title, 194 in Easements, 619 in Enhance.",1962900,"City of Elk River, City of Elk River, FMR, Greening, IWLA, SWWD, Dakota County, MCWD, Landowner donated value, MCWD, St. Louis Park, MVT - Private, Private funds, SWWD, South Washington Watershed District, Vail Resorts, Various state and local and private funds",3913500,48300,,0.59,"MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust Inc; Friends of the Mississippi River, Great River Greening, MN Land Trust, Trust for Public Land","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Metro Big Rivers (MBR) partners successfully completed their work with the Phase 7 / ML2016 OHF appropriation. MBR exceeded original acreage goals by 14% and completed work on a total of 1,199 acres. Partners protected 145 acres through fee title acquisition and 194 acres through permanent conservation easement, restored 241 acres and enhanced 619 acres. MBR 7 expended 99% of the OHF funds granted and leveraged the grant by 49% with almost $2 million in other funds.","Brief summaries of the work completed under this phase of Metro Big Rivers are provided below. More in-depth information of projects completed is provided in attachments to this final report. Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) completed its work under this grant as of June 30, 2022. FMR restored habitat at 197 acres at 2 sites, exceeding its original plan of 160 acres. FMR was able to expand its planned work area at the William H. Houlton Conservation Area and add the adjacent Bailey Point Nature Preserve to its work under this grant. Great River Greening (GRG) concluded its restoration and enhancement work as of June 30, 2021. Through this grant, GRG restored 4 acres and enhanced 619 acres of habitat (623 acres total) at 7 sites in the metro region, slightly exceeding its original goal. The project sites were Izaak Walton League Minnesota Valley Gateway, Lebanon Hills Regional Park Phase 1, Lilydale Bluffs, Minnehaha Creek Greenway, Pond Dakota Mission, Rum River Regional Park & Cedar Creek Conservation Area, and Trout Brook Afton Phase 1 (5 are detailed in the attachment). Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) concluded its land protection work associated with this grant in June 2019. MLT protected 3 sites under conservation easement and exceeded its projected goals for the grant, protecting 194 acres (relative to the 100 acres proposed) and 2.18 miles of shoreline. MLT leveraged $1,055,000 in landowner donations of easement value through this grant. MLT easement projects completed in this phase are: ?Medvecky Woods (Baker) - An 80-acre property protecting high-quality oak-maple-basswood forest, tamarack swamp, and hardwood swamp. The property lies within the Medvecky Woods Site of Outstanding Biodiversity Significance and adjacent to Cedar Creek Natural History Area and conservation easements held by the Land Trust. ?Pickerel Lake (Imholte) - This 42-acre property is dominated by oak forest and lies along the shorelines of Pickerel and Fish Lakes. The property lies adjacent to another conservation easement held by the Land Trust. ?Oak Lake (Phyllis Wheatly Community Center) - This 83-acre property (72 acres funded through this grant) contains a DNR-designated Big Woods Heritage Forest and nearly 1.5 miles of shoreline on Oak Lake. The conservation easement forever protects high quality habitat within Camp Katherine Parsons, one of the nation?s earliest camps focused on serving the needs of African-American youth. Minnesota Valley Trust (MVT) completed its work under this grant as of December 31, 2022. With about half of the grant, MVT protected through fee title acquisition 26 acres of a high-priority 77-acre parcel for the Rapids Lake Unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The balance of the site was acquired with the MBR 6 / ML 2015 grant and $794,462 in other, private funds. MVT then used the balance of the MBR 7 grant to complete the initial habitat restoration of 40 acres of the acquired parcel, converting the building site and crop field to prairie and wetland. Simultaneously, MN Land Trust conducted initial restoration of 35 acres of degraded oak savanna on the site through MBR 6 / ML 2015. Follow-up treatments to maintain and enhance the restored 77 acres will be completed by MVT and USFWS under the MBR 9 / ML2019 grant. The Trust for Public Land (TPL) concluded its land protection work associated with this grant in January 2018, when it acquired a 119-acre addition to the Janet Johnson WMA. TPL exceeded its target of protecting 80 acres.",,2016-07-01,2023-03-28,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Deborah,Loon,"Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc. (Metro Big Rivers)","3815 East American Boulevard ",Bloomington,MN,55425,"(612) 801-1935",dloon@mnvalleytrust.org,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Sherburne, Washington","Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-big-rivers-habitat-phase-7,,,,
10033995,"Metro Big Rivers Phase 13",2024,15339000,"ML 2023, Ch. 40, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(j)","$15,339,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance natural habitat systems associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix Rivers and their tributaries in the metropolitan area as follows: $700,000 to Minnesota Valley Trust; $540,000 to Friends of the Mississippi River; $928,000 to Great River Greening; $11,171,000 to Trust for Public Land; and $2,000,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $192,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed land acquisitions and permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","A network of natural land and riparian habitats will connect corridors for wildlife and species in greatest conservation need - Partners work together to identify priority lands using existing data and public plans, then coordinate protection, restoration and enhancement activities in those priority areas. Work builds upon prior phases and is intended to continue into the future for maximum impact. Mapping shows progress in connecting corridors. Species collections and counts measure impact of activities over time on wildlife and Species in Greatest Conservation Need",,,4968500,"Cities, foundations, FMR members/donors, City of Chanhassen, Nine Mile Creek Watershed District, Private Funders, In-Kind, Nine Mile Creek Watershed District, Private, Private Funders, Private Landowners and Washington County",15193000,146000,,1.31,"MVT, FMR, GRG, TPL, MLT","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Metro Big Rivers Phase 13 will protect 875 acres in fee title and 180 acres in permanent conservation easement, restore 24 acres and enhance 170 acres of priority habitat in the big rivers corridors in the Metropolitan Urbanizing Area (1,249 acres total). Partners will leverage OHF grants 32% with partner funds, private donations, local government contributions, and landowner donations of easement value. Significant volunteer engagement will be invested in habitat enhancement activities. MBR projects benefit wildlife and species in greatest need of conservation (SGCN) and provide increased public access and nature connections for metro residents.","Metro Big Rivers Phase 13 will protect, restore and enhance prioritized wildlife habitat in the MUA, with an emphasis on the Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix Rivers and tributaries. Metro Big Rivers' work benefits wildlife and species in greatest need of conservation (SGCN), improves water quality and in-stream food (insect) availability, increases public access for wildlife-based recreation (hunting and fishing) and connects all metro residents with nature near them. Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) will restore/enhance 145 acres at 5 sites. Projects include removing invasive woody and herbaceous plants, planting, seeding, mowing, spot-spraying, and prescribed burning. - Applewood Preserve: Restore 5 acres prairie and enhance 20 acres forest - Carver Preserve: Restore 10 acres prairie and enhance 15 acres woodland - Vermillion River AMA (2 sites): Enhance 50 acres riparian forest - Hastings Sand Coulee SNA: Enhance 29 acres forest and 11 acres of remnant native prairie - Davis Farm Park: Create management plan for 16 acres, enhance 8 acres forest Great River Greening (GRG) will restore/enhance 49 acres and 3.5 miles shoreline across 3 sites. Projects include restoration and stabilization of 2 miles of stream bank (1 mile both sides) and 1.5 miles lakeshore, as well as removing invasive woody and herbaceous species, mowing, spot spraying, seeding and planting. - Lake Ann Park: Enhance 35 acres forest along 1 mile lakeshore - South Fork of 9 Mile Creek: Restore and stabilize 2 miles of stream bank - Loeb Lake Shoreline: Restore and stabilize 0.5 miles of shoreline and buffer around Loeb Lake Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) will protect through perpetual conservation easement 180 acres of priority habitat, including riparian lands, forests, wetlands and grasslands. Projects will be selected through a competitive process that ranks proposals based on ecological significance and cost (criteria attached). Minnesota Valley Trust (MVT) will protect through fee acquisition 175 acres of river frontage, floodplain forest, wetland and upland habitat to expand the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Prospective lands have been prioritized by the USFWS and will be restored/enhanced, then open for wildlife-based recreation, including hunting and fishing. The Trust for Public Land (TPL) will protect through fee acquisition 700 acres of priority wildlife habitat. Prospective sites are prioritized in state, regional, and local natural resource plans. Lands will be managed by public partners and open for wildlife-based recreation, including hunting and fishing. A priority project would create a significant new WMA in the metro area - Keystone Woods, Washington County. This 2,600+ acre property has high biodiversity, numerous lakes and excellent habitat for wildlife, waterfowl and fish. Protecting it will create a habitat conservation corridor to the St. Croix River and provide quality close-to-home hunting and fishing opportunities for metro area residents. Of the 2,600 acres, TPL will acquire 1,840 acres with OHF through the Metro Big Rivers and St. Croix programs (700 acres with this grant). Washington County will acquire 760 acres with other funds, thus leveraging over $10 million of non-OHF funds.",,2023-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Deborah,Loon,"MN Valley Trust (Metro Big Rivers)","3815 East American Boulevard ",Bloomington,MN,55425,612-801-1935,DLoon@mnvalleytrust.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sibley, Washington, Wright","Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-big-rivers-phase-13-5,,,,
10035277,"Metro Big Rivers Phase 14",2025,8123000,"ML 2024, Ch. 106, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(o)","$8,123,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance natural habitat systems associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix Rivers and their tributaries within the metropolitan area as follows: $1,250,000 to Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $420,000 to Friends of the Mississippi River; $803,000 to Great River Greening; $2,750,000 to Trust for Public Land; and $2,900,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $224,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.","A network of natural land and riparian habitats will connect corridors for wildlife and species in greatest conservation need - Partners work together to identify priority lands using existing data and public plans, then coordinate protection, restoration and enhancement activities in those priority areas. Work builds upon prior phases and is intended to continue into the future for maximum impact. Mapping shows progress in connecting corridors. Species collections and counts measure impact of activities over time on wildlife and Species in Greatest Conservation Need",,,812900,"Cities, foundations, FMR, Foundations, MVT, Private and Private landowners",7878300,244700,,1.82,"MVT, TPL, MLT, FMR, GRG","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Metro Big Rivers Phase 14 will protect 350 acres in fee title and 191 acres in permanent conservation easement, restore 807 acres and enhance 493 acres of priority habitat in the big rivers corridors in the Metropolitan Urbanizing Area (1,841 acres total). Partners will leverage OHF grants at least 10% with partner funds, private donations, local government contributions, and landowner donations of easement value. Significant volunteer engagement will be invested in habitat enhancement activities. MBR projects benefit wildlife and species in greatest need of conservation (SGCN) and provide increased public access and nature connections for metro residents.","Metro Big Rivers Phase 14 will protect, restore and enhance prioritized wildlife habitat in the MUA, with an emphasis on the Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix Rivers and tributaries. Metro Big Rivers' work benefits wildlife and species in greatest need of conservation (SGCN), improves water quality and in-stream food availability, increases wildlife-based recreational opportunities, and connects metro residents with nature. Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) will enhance 216 acres to increase native plant diversity, improve pollinator and wildlife habitat, bolster water quality, and improve public access to natural spaces. Projects include invasive plant removal, seeding and planting native prairie species, mowing, spot-spraying, and prescribed burning. 147 acres of enhancement occur on native prairie. -Hastings Sand Coulee SNA: Enhance 160 acres prairie -Camp Cozy Park: Enhance 16 acres prairie -River Oaks Park: Enhance 1 acre prairie and 1 acre forest -Bailey Point Nature Preserve: Enhance 17 acres prairie -Vermillion River Linear Park: Enhance 21 acres prairie Great River Greening (GRG) will restore and enhance 114 acres of forest habitat. Projects include invasive tree removal, tree stand thinning, onsite biochar processing, planting and seeding native grass and wildflowers, planting climate-resilient large stock and bareroot tree and shrubs, understory management, herbicide application and spot-spraying, and prescribed burning. GRG will be implementing use of a mobile biochar system to process biomass, reduce offsite disposal, minimize environmental impacts of pile burning, and incorporate biochar onsite to promote healthier soil. -Lake Ann Park phase 2: Enhance 60 acres forest -Medina Lake Nature Preserve: Restore 14 acres forest -Wood Lake Nature Center: Enhance 21 acres forest -Floral Park: Restore 13 acres oak woodland -Wayzata Nature Center: Enhance 6 acres wetland forest Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) will protect 191 acres through perpetual conservation easement and restore 110 acres of priority habitat on permanently-protected lands, including riparian lands, forests, wetlands and grasslands. Protection projects will be selected through a process that ranks proposals based on ecological significance and cost (criteria attached). Minnesota Valley Trust (MVT) will protect through fee acquisition 250 acres of river frontage, floodplain forest, wetland and upland habitat to expand the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Prospective lands are prioritized by the USFWS and will be restored/enhanced, then open for wildlife-based recreation. The Trust for Public Land (TPL) will protect through fee acquisition 100 acres of priority wildlife habitat and restore/enhance 860 acres of prairie and forest habitat on a recently-acquired WMA complex. Prospective acquisition sites are prioritized in state, regional, and local natural resource plans. Lands will be managed by public partners and open for wildlife-based recreation.",,2024-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Neal,Feeken,"MN Valley Trust (Metro Big Rivers)","3815 East American Boulevard ",Bloomington,MN,55425,952-207-0247,nfeeken@mnvalleytrust.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Washington","Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-big-rivers-phase-14-0,,,,
10011387,"Metro Big Rivers Phase 9",2020,4163000,"ML 2019, 1st Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd, 5(b)","$4,163,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire lands in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance natural habitat systems associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix Rivers and their tributaries in the metropolitan area. Of this amount, $820,000 is to Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust Inc., $532,000 is to Friends of the Mississippi River, $1,061,000 is to Great River Greening, and $1,750,000 is to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $144,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed land acquisitions and permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Metro Big Rivers Phase 9 projects improved habitat values for wildlife and SGCN, including birds using the Mississippi River migratory corridor, pollinators, wildlife, and an array of rare and endangered species. FMR restored prairie and forest habitat at 7 sites located on our near the Mississippi River and its important tributaries. Many of the sites occurred within the Mississippi River flyway, the metro conservation corridors, and the high potential zone for the rusty patched bumblebee. These restoration and enhancement projects provided critical habitat for resident and migrant birds (including many SGCNs surveyed post-restoration), native pollinators, and mammals. Post-restoration surveys also documented increases in pollinator abundance and diversity. GRG also worked on public conservation lands at 7 sites to improve habitat values for wildlife and SGCN, including birds using the Mississippi River migratory corridor and pollinators. Work restored and enhanced riverine, forest, oak savanna, prairie, and wetland habitat. MLT protected 4 properties with high-quality habitat, 3 within Washington County ""Top 10"" priority conservation corridors. These properties fell within Sites of Biodiversity Significance, were located along and provided protection to state-designated trout streams or were selected for other important factors. In addition, MLT restored and enhanced 70 acres of habitat along Valley Creek in Washington County - a Washington County ""Top 10"" priority conservation corridor and heritage brook trout stream - and near Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. These land protection and R/E activities provided habitat for a large number of SGCN. MVT restored and enhanced lands on the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Wetland Management District, which had been protected for their ability to provide high biodiversity and connectivity, and to provide habitat for SGCN. The work restored wetlands and enhanced previously-restored agricultural fields and degraded habitats to high-quality prairie, wetlands, oak savanna and oak basswood forest.","A total of 1,723 acres were affected: 50 Restored, 0 in Fee Title, 207 in Easements, 1,466 in Enhance.",2007000,"City of Cottage Grove, Dakota County, South Washington Watershed District, Cities of Fridley and Mendota Heights, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, GRG Funders, Hastings High School, FMR, City of Hastings, City of Cottage Grove, Tecla Karpen Fund, Landowner donation of easement value, Washington County, MN Valley Trust, Conservation Partners of America, NEEF Grant, SPAAR, South Washington Watershed District and USFWS",3837000,74800,,2.32,"MVNWR Trust, FMR, GRG, MLT","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Metro Big Rivers successfully completed work with the Phase 9 / ML2019 OHF appropriation, exceeding acreage goals by 55% and completing work on 1,723 acres (goal was 1,115 acres). Partners protected 207 acres through permanent conservation easement, restored 50 acres and enhanced 1,466 acres. MBR 9 expended 94% of the OHF funds granted and leveraged the grant 51% with over $2.0 million in other funds, landowner donation of easement value, and in-kind work by the USFWS. Brief summaries of work completed are provided below. More information on all projects is provided in partner attachments.","Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) enhanced 335 acres at 7 sites, exceeding its 319-acre goal. Project sites were Settler's Island, Camel's Hump Park and Open Space, Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park, Gores Pool WMA, Vermillion River Linear Park, Hastings River Flats, and Hastings Sand Coulee SNA. Work at all sites went according to plan. Deliverables were ahead of schedule or on time. Repeated drought years slowed some seed germination and establishment and necessitated subsequent watering of tree and shrub plantings. Volunteers, CCMI crews, and project partners were instrumental in helping navigate those challenges. Great River Greening (GRG) restored and enhanced 211 acres across 7 project sites, exceeding acreage goals. Project sites were Trout Brook - Afton (Phase III), Lebanon Regional Park (Phase III), Lilydale Bluffs, Springbrook Nature Center (Phase III), Minnehaha Creek Big Woods, Minnehaha Creek Floodplain Meadow Buffer, and Valley Park. All proposed work was accomplished. Covid pandemic, inflation and droughts impacted progress but were overcome. Inflation associated with supplies was felt and, in some cases, resulted going with smaller plant stock or rethinking species lists in seed mixes. Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) protected 4 properties through conservation easement totaling 207 acres (195 acres proposed): -Keystone Woods (Haas) - a 69-acre property within one of Washington County's ""Top Ten"" priority conservation corridors. A Site of Moderate Biodiversity Significance, the property comprises oak-red maple woodland, northern mixed cattail marsh, and willow-dogwood shrub swamp native plant communities. -Saint Croix River (SMM) - 129-acres in Washington County protecting a Site of High Biodiversity Significance along the St. Croix River, with rich hardwood forest, tamarack swamp, rich fen, mixed hardwood swamp, floodplain forest, restored prairie, wetlands, a boiling sand spring, and a cold-water stream that supports brook trout. -Sand Creek (Norris) - an 84-acre donated easement in Scott County protecting sugar maple-basswood-bitternut hickory forest, southern mesic hardwood forest, and 1,500 feet shoreline along a stream tributary to Sand Creek and the Minnesota River. -Valley Creek (Berggren) - 18-acres in Washington County protecting forested hills, floodplain, ponds, and shoreline on Valley Creek, a state-designated trout stream. MLT completed 2 enhancement projects over 70 acres on properties protected by MLT conservation easements: -Valley Creek (Johnson) - 15 acres of oak woodland were enhanced on property adjacent to the St. Croix River and Valley Creek (a heritage brook trout stream) in Washington County. -Hunter Lake (Jannusch) - 55 acres of oak savanna were enhanced on property near Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. Minnesota Valley Trust (MVT) and US Fish and Wildlife Service teamed up to restore 23 acres and enhance 877 acres over 12 sites on the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Wetland Management District (323 acres proposed). Methods included invasive species removal and treatment, seeding, mowing, prescribed burns, and wetland restoration. All sites already support a wider variety of insects, birds, pollinators, waterfowl and other wildlife species. Some work had to be postponed due to extremely wet conditions in spring 2024, resulting in the grant not being fully expended.",,2019-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Deborah,Loon,"MN Valley Trust (Metro Big Rivers)","3815 East American Boulevard ",Bloomington,MN,55425,612-801-1935,dloon@mnvalleytrust.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Washington","Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-big-rivers-phase-9,,,,
35024,"Metro Big Rivers - Phase VI",2016,2000000,"ML 2015, First Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(b)","$2,000,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and in permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance natural systems associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix Rivers as follows: $475,000 to Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $275,000 to Friends of the Mississippi River; $400,000 to Great River Greening; $375,000 to Minnesota Land Trust; and $475,000 to The Trust for Public Land. Up to $60,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed land acquisitions and permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"Metro Big Rivers Partnership projects improved habitat values for wildlife and Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), including birds using the Mississippi River migratory corridor, pollinators, wildlife, and an array of rare and endangered species. The restoration/enhancement partners (FMR and GRG) worked on already-protected conservation lands to significantly improve habitat values for wildlife and SGCN. Work restored restore prairie and enhance forest, oak savanna and prairie at four conservation sites. The easement partner (MLT) permanently limited development and prevented fragmentation of wildlife habitats and undeveloped shoreline. Restricting shoreline development prevented negative impacts to terrestrial and aquatic habitats that support a number of fish and wildlife species, especially SGCN. The fee title partners (MVT and TPL) acquired lands prioritized through federal, state, regional and local natural resource plans due to their high biodiversity, connectivity, and ability to preserve habitat for SGCN. The acquisitions and subsequent habitat restoration and enhancement work increased breeding and migratory habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, neo-tropical migrants, and non-migratory resident species, protected the diversity of native ecosystems, and improved connectivity and resilience.","A total of 1,078 acres were affected: 88 Restored, 167 in Fee Title, 318 in Easements, 505 in Enhance.",1140900,"City of St. Paul, National Wild Turkey Federation, Great River Greening, Scott County, Friends of Mississippi River, Landowner donation, Minnesota Valley Trust, Private and Private Foundation Grant",1976700,10000,,1.38,"MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust Inc; Friends of the Mississippi River, Great River Greening, MN Land Trust, Trust for Public Land","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Metro Big Rivers (MBR) Partnership successfully completed its work under the Phase 6 / ML2015 OHF appropriation, protecting 485 acres across 5 projects (198% of proposed) and restoring and enhancing a total of 1,055 acres (185% of proposed). The Partnership expended 99% of the OHF funds granted awarded to it and leveraged the grant by 57% with nearly $1,141,000 in other funds. ","Brief summaries of the work completed under this Metro Big Rivers Phase 6 grant are provided below. More in-depth information of projects completed is provided in project summary attachments to this final report. Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) completed its work under this grant, enhancing 365 acres within two DNR Scientific & Natural Area (SNA) units in the Twin Cities Metro area. Working with SNA staff, FMR enhanced 175 acres of forest and 40 acres of bluffland prairie at Pine Bend Bluffs SNA. At the Hastings Sand Coulee SNA, FMR enhanced 70 acres of forest and 80 acres of prairie. Forest acres were enhanced through invasive woody removal, including by both forestry mowing and cut-and-paint removal, with two years of follow-up treatments. Prairie acres including 87 acres of native remnant prairie were enhanced through a combination of activities including herbaceous and woody species removal, seeding, and prescribed burns. Volunteers participated in the enhancement through yearly invasive removal and seed collection events. Great River Greening (GRG) completed its work under this grant, restoring and enhancing 95 acres of prairie and 110 acres of forest. Working with Scott County staff at Doyle-Kennefick Regional Park, GRG restored 88 acres of prairie from former agricultural land and enhanced 7 acres of oak savanna. At Victoria Park and Crosby Farm Regional Park, GRG worked with the City of St Paul to enhance 110 acres through prairie planting, tree planting, invasive species removal and shelter pocket clearing and planting. Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) completed 3 conservation easements, protecting 318 acres of high quality habitat and 2.35 miles of shoreland. These included: 1) Hunter Lake (Jannusch) protected 201 acres of hardwood forest, oak savanna, pothole wetlands, extensive lake shoreline, and a glacial esker in Sherburne County. The landowner generously donated the entire value of the conservation easement, which appraised at over $380,000. 2) Medvecky Woods (DeCorsey) protected 40 acres of hardwood forest and wetlands in a Minnesota Biological Survey-designated site of Outstanding Biodiversity Significance in Isanti County. The property is contiguous with another MLT easement and nearby the 5,700-acre Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve. 3) Tennyson Lake (Barrett 2) protected 77 acres of habitat on Tennyson Lake in Isanti County, a favorite stopover of trumpeter swans and migratory bird species. The easement adds on to 80 acres of existing protected property directly to the north at the inflow of the lake. Funds remaining after completing protection work allowed MLT to work with the Minnesota Valley Trust (MVT) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to complete an oak savanna restoration on the Rapids Lake Unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Carver County. This spectacular project is part of a large complex of public lands with a rich multitude of habitats overlooking the Minnesota River Valley. Minnesota Valley Trust (MVT) completed its work under this grant as of September 2018 when it protected through fee title acquisition 51 acres of a high-priority 77-acre parcel for the Rapids Lake Unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The balance of the site was acquired with half of the MBR 7 / ML 2016 grant and $794,462 in other, private funds. After acquisition, MVT used the balance of its MBR 7 / ML 2016 grant to complete the initial habitat restoration over 40 acres, which included converting the building site and crop field to prairie and wetland. Simultaneously, the MN Land Trust conducted initial restoration of 23 acres of degraded oak savanna on the site with the balance of its MBR 6 / ML 2015. Follow-up treatments to maintain and enhance the restored 77 acres will be completed by MVT and USFWS under the MBR 9 / ML2019 grant. The Trust for Public Land (TPL) acquired 116 acres of land which was added to the existing Grass Lake Wildlife Management Area in Wright County. The land contains wetlands, rolling hills and forested areas, and approximately 37 acres of agricultural land that were restored to tallgrass prairie through this grant. Acquisition was the first step in the restoration of a drained wetland, helping to improve water quality and provide aquatic habitat, while also protecting a portion of Grass Lake, an identified shallow lake. Additionally, the acquisition connected separate WMA parcels and increased the size of the existing WMA by 25 percent to over 450 acres. Within a 45-minute drive of over half the State's population, Grass Lake WMA provides numerous outdoor recreation and wildlife observation opportunities to the general public in the Metro Area. ",,2015-07-01,2023-04-11,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Deborah,Loon,"MN Valley Trust (Metro Big Rivers)","3815 East American Boulevard ",Bloomington,MN,55425,"(612) 801-1935",dloon@mnvalleytrust.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Carver, Dakota, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Wright","Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-big-rivers-phase-vi,,,,
10033399,"Metro Big Rivers Phase 12",2023,8200000,"ML 2022, Ch. 77, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(j)","$8,200,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance natural habitat systems associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix Rivers and their tributaries within the metropolitan area as follows: $1,100,000 to Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $643,000 to Friends of the Mississippi River; $742,000 to Great River Greening; $2,927,000 to Trust for Public Land; and $2,788,000 to Minnesota Land Trust, of which up to $216,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed land acquisitions and permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","A network of natural land and riparian habitats will connect corridors for wildlife and species in greatest conservation need - Partners work together to identify priority lands using existing data and public plans, then coordinate protection, restoration and enhancement activities in those priority areas. Work builds upon prior phases and is intended to continue into the future for maximum impact. Mapping shows progress in connecting corridors. Species collections and counts measure impact of activities over time on wildlife and Species in Greatest Conservation Need",,,1184500,"Cities, foundations, Dakota County, Stillwater, Shakopee, Maplewood, Crystal, Scott County, Private, Private, Private landowners, RIM and Private",8048100,151900,,1.74,"MVWRT; FMR; GRG; TPL; MLT","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Metro Big Rivers Phase 12 will protect 622 acres in fee title and 319 acres in permanent conservation easement, restore 53 acres and enhance 587 acres of priority habitat in the big rivers corridors in the Metropolitan Urbanizing Area (1,558 acres total). Partners will leverage OHF grants at least 14% with partner funds, private donations, local government contributions, and landowner donations of easement value. Significant volunteer engagement will be invested in habitat enhancement activities. MBR projects benefit wildlife and species in greatest need of conservation (SGCN) and provide increased public access and nature connections for metro residents.","Metro Big Rivers Phase 12 will protect, restore and enhance prioritized wildlife habitat in the MUA, with an emphasis on the Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix Rivers and their tributaries. Metro Big Rivers' work in the metro area benefits wildlife and species in greatest need of conservation (SGCN), provides increased public access for wildlife-based recreation and connects the diversity of metro residents with nature near them. Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) will restore/enhance 433 acres at 4 sites on or near the Mississippi River. Projects include removing invasive woody and herbaceous plants, planting, seeding, mowing, spot-spraying, and prescribed burns. ?Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park: Enhance 104 acres oak forest and 7 acres prairie ?Pine Bend Bluffs Natural Area: Enhance 180 acres oak forest, 15 acres restored prairie, and 4 acres native prairie ?Vermillion Falls Park: Restore 4 acres prairie and enhance 13 acres forest ?William H. Houlton Conservation Area: Enhance 90 acres oak forest Great River Greening (GRG) will restore/enhance 157 acres across 7 sites. Projects include removing invasive woody and herbaceous species, mowing, spot spraying, seeding and planting. ?Bassett Creek Park: Enhance 22 acres forest ?Lebanon Hills Regional Park Phase IV: Enhance 50 acres oak savanna/woodland and prairie ?Spring Lake Park (Scott County): Enhance 10 acres oak savanna ?LumberJack Landing: Restore 15 acres of forest and .25 miles of shoreline restoration of new public open space along the St Croix River ?Huber Park: Restore 9 acres of degraded floodplain forest along the Minnesota River ?Jim's Prairie: Enhance 11 acres of prairie ?Falls Creek SNA: Enhance 40 acres forest Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) will protect through perpetual conservation easement 319 acres of priority habitat, including riparian lands, forests, wetlands and grasslands. Projects will be selected through a competitive process that ranks proposals based on ecological significance and cost (criteria attached). MLT also will restore/enhance 50 acres on lands protected through permanent conservation easement. Prioritized properties will be of high ecological significance, adjacent or close to public conservation investments and owned by landowners committed to conservation. Minnesota Valley Trust (MVT) will protect through fee acquisition 352 acres of river frontage, floodplain forest, wetland and upland habitat to expand the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. All prospective lands have been prioritized by the USFWS and will be restored/enhanced, then open for wildlife-based recreation, including hunting and fishing. The Trust for Public Land (TPL) will protect through fee acquisition 270 acres of priority wildlife habitat, including riparian, forest, wetland and grassland habitat. Potential properties are prioritized in state, regional, and local natural resource plans. Lands will be managed by public partners (DNR and/or local government) and open for wildlife-based recreation, including hunting and fishing.",,2022-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Neal,Feeken,"MN Valley Trust (Metro Big Rivers)","3815 East American Boulevard ",Bloomington,MN,55425,952-207-0247,nfeeken@mnvalleytrust.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Washington, Wright","Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/metro-big-rivers-phase-12,,,,
10031438,"Minimizing Minnesota's Landfill Problem by Expanding Waste Diversion",2025,2318000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 07a","$2,318,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Better Futures Minnesota to establish a statewide network for sourcing reclaimed building materials; create a tool for cities, counties, and businesses to report environmental impacts of waste diversion; and divert waste from landfills through collections, deconstructing buildings, and converting waste into finished goods. Net income generated by Better Futures Minnesota as part of this appropriation may be reinvested in the project if a plan for reinvestment is approved in the work plan.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,37.12,"Better Futures Minnesota","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Expanding waste diversion practices across the state this project will: create 16 jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide data to measure the social, economic, and environmental benefits of waste diversion.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2027-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Jason,Allen,"Better Futures Minnesota","2620 Minnehaha Ave S",Minneapolis,MN,55406,"(612) 428-7607",jallen@betterfutures.net,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/minimizing-minnesotas-landfill-problem-expanding-waste-diversion,,,,
10006505,"Minnesota Forests for the Future Phase VI",2019,1473000,"ML 2018, Ch. 208, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 3(c )","$1,473,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire lands in fee and to acquire easements for forest, wetland, and shoreline habitat through working forest permanent conservation easements under the Minnesota forests for the future program according to Minnesota Statutes, section 84.66. A conservation easement acquired with money appropriated under this paragraph must comply with Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 13. The accomplishment plan must include an easement monitoring and enforcement plan. Of this amount, up to $25,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. A list of permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the final report. ",,"The project area provides a wide diversity of habitats to many fish, game and non-game wildlife species found in northeastern and north central Minnesota including moose, gray wolf, black bear, Canada lynx, white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, spruce grouse, waterfowl, forest songbirds, and trout and other fish. With areas of shoreline on trout streams, other streams, ponds, small lakes and numerous wetlands the project area provides the critical shoreland habitats that are essential to many fish and wildlife populations. The project area lies in the transition area between the conifer dominated boreal forests of the north and deciduous forest to the south that together with the array of streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands provides a rich mosaic of habitats that support these species. Over 80 species in greatest conservation need are known or predicted to occur in either the North Shore highlands and/or Toimi Uplands landscapes. Nearly half the project area is identified by the MCBS as high/moderate sites of biodiversity significance.","A total of 1,947 acres were affected: 0 Restored, 469 in Fee Title, 1,478 in Easements, 0 in Enhance.",153300,"The Nature Conservancy",1467300,,,0.1,DNR,"State Government","This Minnesota Forests for the Future project protected 1,947 acres of forest and forested wetlands with 1,478 acres of perpetual working forest conservation easements and 469 acres of fee title acquisition in Cass, Hubbard, Lake and Morrison Counties; ensuring public benefits, management access and sustainable managed forests.","Forest land ownership changes within recent years, primarily within the industrial forest ownerships, are occurring as the timber industry restructures and looks to obtain value from their land through real estate sales and recreational leases. These sales can result in forest fragmentation or even outright conversion of forest lands, impact public recreational access including recreational trail routes, affect forest management access by public agencies across the impacted lands, degrade wildlife habitat and decrease the use of sustainable forestry practices. The current project has targeted a total of four properties in these three categories: 1) a large industrial ownership located in northeastern Minnesota whose property adjoins and is commingled with thousands of acres of other public forests including those owned and managed by the state, Lake County and the Superior National Forest; 2) a large industrial ownership publicly accessible in north central Minnesota adjoining thousands of acres of other public forests owned and managed by the state and Hubbard County; and 3) two family owned properties located in Morrison and Cass Counties, adjacent to public land, in areas of high forest conversion threat and in areas identified as priorities for land protection through local watershed analysis and planning. LSOHC appropriations target priority projects as determined by the scoring criteria developed in consultation with the Minnesota Forests for the Future Advisory Committee (stakeholder group). Projects may need to be scaled back or phased to accommodate the available funding. Each project included in this report were located within program priority areas as identified by a GIS model that integrates recreational, ecological and economic data. These projects addressed forest fragmentation, habitat degradation, recreational and management access and sustainable forestry through perpetual conservation easements and fee acquisition that will protect the forest and wetland habitats in perpetuity, restrict forest parcelization and development, provide for public recreational access and public management access and promote sustainable forest management practices. The Minnesota Forests for the Future and Federal Forest Legacy Programs have proven to be cost effective programs for protecting private forest land habitat in Minnesota, while also providing public recreational and agency management access and ensuring sustainable forestry. These programs have protected over 360,000 acres to date at an average cost of less than $300/acre. Over $24 million in non-state funds have been leveraged for these protection efforts over the past 10 years.",,2018-07-01,2022-12-06,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Christine,Ostern,"MN DNR Forestry","305 E. Business Park Dr. ",Cloquet,MN,55720,2183431790,christine.ostern@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Cass, Hubbard, Lake, Morrison","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/minnesota-forests-future-phase-vi,,,,
10011401,"Minnesota Forests for the Future Phase VII",2020,4573000,"ML 2019, 1st Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd, 3(c )","$4,573,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire lands in fee and easements and to restore and enhance forests, wetlands, and shoreline habitat through working forest permanent conservation easements under the Minnesota forests for the future program according to Minnesota Statutes, section 84.66. A conservation easement acquired with money appropriated under this paragraph must comply with Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 13. The accomplishment plan must include an easement monitoring and enforcement plan. Of this amount, up to $150,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. A list of permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the final report.","Forestlands are protected from development and fragmentation - This project will permanently protect 1,900 acres (1500 through easement, 400 fee title) of forest and riparian areas including 0.75 miles of Little Toad Lake lakeshore (Becker Co.), trout stream including over 2 miles of Moose Creek (Lake Co) and over 1 mile of Toad Creek. All forest parcels included in this proposal are at high risk from conversion from working forests. 400 acres of State Forest will be added, so that large blocks of working forests are maintained and in-holdings are reduced, creating public access opportunities and improving the ability to implement landscape level forest management..Healthier populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Southeast forests will be enhanced to provide biologically diverse wildlife habitat for desirable game species and endangered, threatened, special concern species, and species of greatest conservation need. This will provide multiple conservation benefits in the face of climate change, invasive species, and other major stressors. Approximately 100 acres will be added to the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood Forest. Reforestation enhancement activities will be assessed. Forest composition will be inventoried. Wildlife populations will be monitored..",,,305000,"The Nature Conservancy",4536400,36600,,0.50,DNR,,"The Minnesota Forests for the Future Program will use $4.573 million in the Northern and Southeast Forest sections to protect and enhance habitat. In the Northern Forest, we propose to protect 1,500 acres with permanent conservation easements and 400 acres in fee title acquisition, and to enhance 100 acres. In the Southeast Forest, we propose to add 100 acres to the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest and enhance 300 acres of existing state forest land. Phase 7 builds on past land protection work and focuses on permanently protecting working forests threatened by conversion to non-forest uses.","The work proposed in Minnesota Forests for the Future Phase VII targets three forested regions of the State, defined by ecological subsection: the North Shore Highlands, the Blufflands, and the Pine Moraines and Outwash Plains. Large blocks of forest in these subsections are threatened by conversion and parcelization. Projects in these areas will protect critical forests from conversion and maintain private working forests. These projects will achieve multiple benefits in protecting large blocks of forest such as conserving critical habitat and maintaining forested land cover that is essential for water quality and quantity.The North Shore Highlands Subsection consists of a mosaic of forest habitat, with gently rolling hills to steep cliffs. Much of this landscape is aspen-birch and opportunities exist to increase the amount of white and red pine on the landscape. This subsection has high development pressure, and is a hot spot for tourism. The Rajala Woods Moose Creek Project, located in the North Shore Highlands, will protect over 1,200 acres of northern forest with a permanent working forest conservation easement that includes public access. A conservation easement on the Moose Creek tract will permanently protect the forests of the headwaters of the Manitou River, which is vital to maintaining water quality and temperature, as the source of water for trout streams on the north shore is surface runoff. The Rajala Woods Moose Creek Project also includes reestablishing long-lived conifers (enhancing 100 acres of northern forest habitat). The Blufflands Subsection is a unique landscape of hardwood forests, rock outcrops, bluff prairies, and deep valleys. This landscape hosts the largest number of Species in Greatest Conservation Need in our state. The Blufflands provide a critical migratory corridor for forest songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl. Enhancing state forest land by promoting hard mast producing trees in the Richard J. Dorer Hardwood Memorial Forest will benefit many species by providing browse, nest and den sites, and, long-term sources of food. The work proposed will especially benefit oak, as acorns are one of the most important food items in the diets of a wide variety of game animals, such as white-tailed deer, squirrels, raccoons, foxes, wild turkeys, and wood ducks (300 acres enhanced). Protecting large blocks of working forest habitat in this landscape is a priority, as forest tracts are being parcelized and developed as rural homesteads (100 acres state forest acquisition). The Pine Moraines and Outwash Plains Subsection is a landscape of rich habitat with hundreds of lakes, sections of the Mississippi River, and kettle lakes and wetlands that are common on the outwash plains. This landscape is popular for tourism, much of it focused on forest or lake-based activities. The number of year-round residents is increasing, as well as the number of second homes. This has created significant pressure on state and county managed forest lands, as private forest is parcelized or developed. The acquisition of state forest inholdings will ensure large blocks of forest stay intact (400 acres state forest acquisition).",,2019-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Christine,Osterm,"MN DNR Forestry","525 Lake Avenue South Paulucci Office Bldg, Suite 415",Duluth,MN,55802,"(218) 302-3253",christine.ostern@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Crow Wing, Goodhue, Hubbard, Lake, Morrison, Wabasha, Winona","Northern Forest, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/minnesota-forests-future-phase-vii,,,,
10019633,"Minnesota Forests for the Future Phase 8",2022,2971000,"ML 2021, First Sp. Session, Ch. 1, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 3(b)","$2,971,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire lands in conservation easements and to restore and enhance forests, wetlands, and shoreline habitat through working forest permanent conservation easements under the Minnesota forests for the future program according to Minnesota Statutes, section 84.66. A conservation easement acquired with money appropriated under this paragraph must comply with Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 13. The accomplishment plan must include an easement monitoring and enforcement plan. Of this amount, up to $160,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. A list of permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the final report.","Forestlands are protected from development and fragmentation - These projects will permanently protect 1,950 acres of Northern forests to provide biologically diverse wildlife habitat for desirable game species and endangered, threatened, special concern species and species of greatest conservation need. This will provide multiple conservation benefits to help mitigate the effects of climate change, invasive species and other major stressors. Forest protection activities will be assessed, management planning required and documented, and properties monitored. Forest composition will be inventoried. Wildlife populations will be monitored. Rivers and streams provide corridors of habitat including intact areas of forest cover in the east and large wetland/upland complexes in the west - These projects will permanently protect areas of the forest-prairie transition region providing biologically diverse wildlife habitat for desirable game species and endangered, threatened, special concern species and species of greatest conservation need. This will provide multiple conservation benefits to help mitigate the effects of climate change, invasive species and other major stressors. Forest protection activities will be assessed, management planning required and documented, and properties monitored. Forest composition will be inventoried. Wildlife populations will be monitored. Core areas protected with highly biologically diverse wetlands and plant communities, including native prairie, Big Woods, and oak savanna - These projects will build upon past projects and adjacent protected properties to permanently protect larger areas of the Big Woods remnants; providing biologically diverse habitat and providing multiple conservation benefits. Forest protection activities will be assessed, management planning required and documented and properties monitored. Forest composition will be inventoried. Wildlife populations will be monitored",,,120000,,2964000,7000,,0.25,DNR,"State Government","The MN Forests for the Future Program will use $2,971,000 in the Northern, Southeast and Transition Forest sections to protect 1,966 acres of habitat with permanent working forest conservation easements. Phase 8 builds upon past land protection work and focuses on permanently protecting working forests threatened by conversion to non-forest uses. This program will also protect habitat in priority cold-water refuge watersheds by implementing protection strategies identified in local watershed plans. This program protects and provides habitat for wildlife, conserves water, and supports tourism and timber economies.","The work proposed in Minnesota Forests for the Future Phase 8 focuses on protection of forest, shoreline and wetland habitat in the northern forest, forest/prairie transition and southeastern forest regions. The program targets forested regions of the state where large blocks of forest are threatened by conversion and parcelization. Forty-four percent of forests in Minnesota, or nearly 7.5 million acres, are privately-owned and at risk of fragmentation or conversion. Since 2008, Minnesota has experienced some of the highest conversion rates in the United States including portions of North Central Minnesota within the Mississippi Headwaters Basin. This program will protect forests through permanent working forest conservation easements. Protecting large blocks of private and public forest will have multiple benefits by conserving critical habitat, maintaining forested land cover essential for water quality and quantity, and by sustaining the legacy of forested lands in Minnesota. The program will focus its work within the Mississippi Headwaters, North Shore and Southeast with the goal of meeting demand of private landowners, building on past work and utilizing strong partnerships in those areas. More specifically, key watershed and landscape focus areas include: the North Shore Highlands, the Pine Moraines and Outwash Plains, the Big Woods and priority Cisco lakes watersheds. All land protected through working forest conservation easements will protect intact forests and keep them in private ownership. The conservation easements include guidelines that have been developed and implemented for more than 15 years through the Minnesota Forests for the Future Program. A forest management plan is included with the conservation easement. To ensure permanent protection, ongoing stewardship includes annual landowner meetings, on-site monitoring, responding to landowner inquiries, and resolving easement violations. The program will focus on protection of large blocks of forest land and target those parcels adjacent to land already protected by conservation easements or in public ownership to create even larger complexes of intact forest. This work is critical to conserving wildlife like fisher and moose who require large, intact forests. These strategies will provide perpetual protection for fish, game and wildlife that inhabit the array of forested landscapes in our state. Land cover and land use directly impacts the water quality and quantity in our state. By protecting forested lands in key areas, this program will also protect drinking water, recharge aquifers, reduce nutrient and sediment into lakes, rivers, and streams, protect floodplains, and sustain fisheries. Protection of forested land is also critical for local economies including tourism, timber and for outdoor recreation opportunities.",,2021-07-01,2025-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Christine,Ostern,"MN DNR","Paulucci Building, Sute 415 525 Lake Avenue South",Duluth,MN,55802,"(218) 302-3253",christine.ostern@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Lake, Morrison, Rice","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/minnesota-forests-future-phase-8,,,,
10017818,"Minnesota Trout Unlimited Coldwater Fish Habitat Enhancement and Restoration, Phase 12",2021,1474000,"ML 2020, Ch. 104, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 5(i)","$1,474,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Trout Unlimited to restore and enhance habitat for trout and other species in and along coldwater rivers, lakes, and streams in Minnesota. A list of proposed land acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ","Improved aquatic habitat indicators - Measured through surveys of fish, macro invertebrates and/or exposed substrates. Abundance, size structure and species diversity are considered. Rivers, streams, and surrounding vegetation provide corridors of habitat - Enhancement of in-stream and riparian corridor habitat creates miles of connected habitat. Outcomes in aquatic life are measured through surveys of fish, macro invertebrates and/or exposed substrates. Abundance, size structure and species diversity are considered. ",,,225000,"Trout Unlimited, USFS, USFWS and and other partners",1449000,25000,,0.4,"MN Trout Unlimited","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Minnesota Trout Unlimited will enhance and restore habitat for fish and wildlife in and along priority coldwater streams located on existing conservation easements and public lands around the state. Trout streams are a relatively scarce resource and increasing threats to them require accelerating habitat work to reduce the backlog of degraded stream reaches. Outcomes will be maximized by improving the connectivity of habitat and fish and wildlife populations. Timely maintenance on old projects will ensure habitat outcomes continue for many years. ","Just six percent of Minnesota's streams are capable of supporting any trout, and many have degraded habitat which severely limits their productivity. Even where riparian corridors protect streams from future harm, past habitat degradation cannot be reversed without active enhancement or restoration. Minnesota Trout Unlimited (?MNTU?) proposes to directly enhance or restore degraded habitat on priority streams with existing protections under the Aquatic Management Area system or public ownership. We propose to restore or enhance habitat in and along these public waters (and counties): 1. Split Rock River (Lake); 2. Baptism River (Lake); 3. Manitou River (Lake); 4. Cook County Trout Stream Pilot (Cook); 5. Southeast MN streams (numerous counties); 6. Numerous streams on prioritized maintenance list (statewide). If contracting efficiencies or leveraged funding permits us to we will extend project lengths or work on additional streams. Individual project descriptions and other detail is provided in an attachment. Goals and scope of work. The goals of projects are to increase the carrying capacity and trout population of the stream, increase angling access and participation, improve water quality and provide other benefits to aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. Each project will accomplish one or more of these objectives: (a) increase adult trout abundance, (b) reduce stream bank erosion and associated sedimentation downstream, (c) reconnect the stream to its floodplains to reduce negative impacts from severe flooding, (d) increase natural reproduction of trout and other aquatic organisms, (e) increase habitat for invertebrates and non-game species, (f) improve connectivity of habitat along aquatic and riparian (terrestrial) corridors, (g) improve riparian forests as appropriate, (h) improve angler access and participation, and (i) protect productive trout waters from invasive species. The scope of work and methods utilized vary by project and are discussed in the individual project descriptions provided in the attachment. How priorities were set. MNTU focuses on those watersheds likely to continue to support viable, fishable populations of naturally reproducing trout and steelhead fifty years and more from now. Work is done only where degraded habitat is a limiting factor for a quality, sustainable fishery. Priority locations are determined using MNTU members' knowledge of watersheds, MNDNR management plans and surveys, other habitat and conservation planning efforts, consultations with MNDNR professionals, and science based criteria. All things being equal, we consider the potential to draw new anglers outdoors, increase public awareness, engage landowners in conservation, foster partnerships, and increase public support for OHF projects. Stakeholder support. We continue receiving strong support from landowners, rural communities, and local civic and sporting organizations. We will continue gathering local input and developing partnerships in the planning and implementation stages. Landowners typically become very enthusiastic partners. ",,2020-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,John,Lenczewski,"Minnesota Trout Unlimited","P O Box 845 ",Chanhassen,MN,55317,,jlenczewski@comcast.net,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Cook, Hubbard, Hubbard","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/minnesota-trout-unlimited-coldwater-fish-habitat-enhancement-and-restoration-phase-12,,,,
10031459,"Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail",2025,426000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 09a","$426,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail to plan, design a route for, secure access for, develop community support for, and begin construction of a backpacking-focused trail across southeast Minnesota's Driftless Area. Construction of trails with this appropriation must occur on public or permanently protected lands or lands secured through long-term agreements as defined in the approved work plan. A trail plan must be complete before money is used for trail construction. Before this appropriation is spent, a fiscal agent for Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail must be approved in the work plan.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,4,"Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Building a backpacking focused trail across Southeast Minnesota's Driftless Area.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2027-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Marty,Walsh,"Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail","809 Sierra Ln NE",Rochester,MN,55906,"(773) 450-2771",mndriftlesshikingtrail@gmail.com,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Blue Earth, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Le Sueur, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, Winona",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/minnesota-driftless-hiking-trail,,,,
10031466,"Minnesota State Trails Development",2025,5036000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 09h","$5,036,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to expand recreational opportunities on Minnesota state trails by rehabilitating and enhancing existing state trails and replacing or repairing existing state trail bridges. The high-priority trail bridges to be rehabilitated or replaced under this appropriation include but are not limited to those on the Arrowhead, Great River Ridge, C.J. Ramstad-Northshore, Harmony-Preston Valley, Shooting Star, and Minnesota Valley State Trails and the Pengilly-Alborn Railroad Trail. High-priority trail segments to develop and enhance include but are not limited to the Brown's Creek, Gitchi Gami, Minnesota Valley, Root River, and Cuyuna Lakes State Trails. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,7.5,"MN DNR","State Government","This project proposes to expand recreational opportunities on Minnesota State Trails through the rehabilitation and enhancement of existing state trails and replacement or repair of existing state trail bridges.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2028-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Kent,Skaar,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5636",kent.skaar@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/minnesota-state-trails-development-4,,,,
3615,"Minnesota Elevation Mapping Project (LiDAR)",2014,,"M.L. 2011 First Special Session Ch. 6 Art. 2 Sec. 6(h)","$1350000 the first year and $1350000 the second year are to acquire and distribute high-resolution digital elevation data using light detection and ranging to aid with impaired waters modeling and TMDL implementation under Minnesota Statutes chapter 114D. The money shall be used to collect data for areas of the state that have not acquired such data prior to January 1 2007 or to complete acquisition and distribution of the data for those areas of the state that have not previously received state funds for acquiring and distributing the data. The distribution of data acquired under this paragraph must be conducted under the auspices of the Minnesota Geospatial Information Office which shall receive up to 2.5 percent of the appropriation in this paragraph to support coordination of data acquisition and distribution. Mapping and data set distribution under this paragraph must be completed within three years of funds availability. The commissioner shall utilize department staff whenever possible. The commissioner may contract for services only if the services cannot otherwise be provided by the department.","In FY14 the DNR will publish and promote MnTOPO a web-based application that will provide access to LiDAR data to a wide audience including the general public and water management professionals. MnTOPO has data viewing and printing capabilities as well as data access and download. Data access and download volumes will be readily available as measures of the value of this information. The DNR will develop and publish an Elevation Data Governance Plan and coordinate elevation data standards maintenance and development of products based on LiDAR data. This will ensure long term management of elevation data and the MnTOPO portal. It will also ensure that the needs of the water management officials who rely on this data to formulate their management strategies are met.","MnTOPO a web site built to make the LiDAR data collected as part of this project easily accessible was completed on time and under budget. Upon its release MnTOPO proved to be an instant success with users viewing and downloading elevation data for a wide variety of water resource management purposes. The two foot contours have been the most popular product of the MnTOPO web application. The total volume of data users downloaded using MnTOPO in its first six months of operation is more than that of the total collection. Due to changes in staff’s managerial responsibilities associated with Minnesota’s LiDAR data an Elevation Data Governance Plan was not completed. The DNR did coordinate the development of elevation data standards with the MN LiDAR Research and Education Committee as these two interests work collaboratively to guide long-term management of Minnesota’s elevation data and the MnTOPO application. ",,,,71313,,,0.0,,,"This project will create a high accuracy elevation dataset - critical for effectively planning and implementing water quality projects - for the state of Minnesota using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and geospatial mapping technologies. Although some areas of the state have been mapped previously, many counties remain unmapped or have insufficient or inadequate data. This multi-year project, to be completed in 2012, is a collaborative effort of Minnesota's Digital Elevation Committee and partners with county surveyors to ensure accuracy with ground-truthing. The first year (FY 2010) focuses on Southwest Minnesota. The arrowhead, Twin Cities metro, and central lakes regions will be completed in 2011 and 2012.","Accurate topographic information will greatly enhance the ability of decision makers and resource managers to understand how water interacts with the landscape and will provide the foundation for developing innovative, effective, and defendable resource management strategies. Completion of a statewide elevation dataset will reduce cost and increase effectiveness of clean water projects. The data have myriad additional uses; for example, collecting elevation data over the life of a mining project will allow the state to more accurately document mineral extraction, potentially increasing royalty income from mineral leases.",,2010-07-01,2013-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Tim,Loesch,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul, MN",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5475",tim.loesch@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Digitization/Online Information Access, Inventory, Mapping, Planning, Analysis/Interpretation, Modeling, Research, Demonstration/Pilot Project, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Benton, Carlton, Carver, Cook, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Lake, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, St. Louis, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/minnesota-elevation-mapping-project-lidar-0,,,,
3615,"Minnesota Elevation Mapping Project (LiDAR)",2013,1350000,"M.L. 2011 First Special Session Ch. 6 Art. 2 Sec. 6(h)","$1350000 the first year and $1350000 the second year are to acquire and distribute high-resolution digital elevation data using light detection and ranging to aid with impaired waters modeling and TMDL implementation under Minnesota Statutes chapter 114D. The money shall be used to collect data for areas of the state that have not acquired such data prior to January 1 2007 or to complete acquisition and distribution of the data for those areas of the state that have not previously received state funds for acquiring and distributing the data. The distribution of data acquired under this paragraph must be conducted under the auspices of the Minnesota Geospatial Information Office which shall receive up to 2.5 percent of the appropriation in this paragraph to support coordination of data acquisition and distribution. Mapping and data set distribution under this paragraph must be completed within three years of funds availability. The commissioner shall utilize department staff whenever possible. The commissioner may contract for services only if the services cannot otherwise be provided by the department.","In FY13 DNR will complete publishing and distribution of 21 326 square miles of data from the Arrowhead and Metro project areas plus Blue Earth County. Data for the Red River basin (19 counties covering 22 700 square miles) will be reformatted published and distributed. DNR will acquire publish and distribute new LiDAR data over 3 078 square miles in St. Louis and Carlton Counties to update data following a major flood event that resulted in landscape changes making current data invalid. DNR will also develop a web-based map application that presents elevation data that can be viewed on standard computers or mobile devices (without the need for Geographic Information System software).","In FY13 DNR achieved complete coverage of high accuracy elevation for the state of Minnesota. DNR completed the acquisition quality assurance publication and distribution of LiDAR data and associated products for the Arrowhead region Metro region Central Lakes region Blue Earth County and the Duluth area update. Data for counties in the Red River Basin were reformatted to meet state standards incorporated into data holdings. In total more than 52 000 square miles of data was made published and made available to be used for a variety of clean water projects. Significant progress was made on the design and application development for the LiDAR Web Viewer during FY13; however the application was deemed by the project team to be not ready for general release.",,,,666608,,,0.0,,,"This project will create a high accuracy elevation dataset - critical for effectively planning and implementing water quality projects - for the state of Minnesota using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and geospatial mapping technologies. Although some areas of the state have been mapped previously, many counties remain unmapped or have insufficient or inadequate data. This multi-year project, to be completed in 2012, is a collaborative effort of Minnesota's Digital Elevation Committee and partners with county surveyors to ensure accuracy with ground-truthing. The first year (FY 2010) focuses on Southwest Minnesota. The arrowhead, Twin Cities metro, and central lakes regions will be completed in 2011 and 2012.","Accurate topographic information will greatly enhance the ability of decision makers and resource managers to understand how water interacts with the landscape and will provide the foundation for developing innovative, effective, and defendable resource management strategies. Completion of a statewide elevation dataset will reduce cost and increase effectiveness of clean water projects. The data have myriad additional uses; for example, collecting elevation data over the life of a mining project will allow the state to more accurately document mineral extraction, potentially increasing royalty income from mineral leases.",,2010-07-01,2013-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Tim,Loesch,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul, MN",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5475",tim.loesch@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Digitization/Online Information Access, Inventory, Mapping, Planning, Analysis/Interpretation, Modeling, Research, Demonstration/Pilot Project, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Benton, Carlton, Carver, Cook, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Lake, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, St. Louis, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/minnesota-elevation-mapping-project-lidar-0,,,,
3615,"Minnesota Elevation Mapping Project (LiDAR)",2012,1350000,"M.L. 2011 First Special Session Ch. 6 Art. 2 Sec. 6(h)","$1350000 the first year and $1350000 the second year are to acquire and distribute high-resolution digital elevation data using light detection and ranging to aid with impaired waters modeling and TMDL implementation under Minnesota Statutes chapter 114D. The money shall be used to collect data for areas of the state that have not acquired such data prior to January 1 2007 or to complete acquisition and distribution of the data for those areas of the state that have not previously received state funds for acquiring and distributing the data. The distribution of data acquired under this paragraph must be conducted under the auspices of the Minnesota Geospatial Information Office which shall receive up to 2.5 percent of the appropriation in this paragraph to support coordination of data acquisition and distribution. Mapping and data set distribution under this paragraph must be completed within three years of funds availability. The commissioner shall utilize department staff whenever possible. The commissioner may contract for services only if the services cannot otherwise be provided by the department.","In FY12 DNR will acquire LiDAR data over 15 483 square miles covering all or parts of 14 counties in the Central Lakes and Metro project areas.","In FY12 DNR completed publishing and distribution of LiDAR for the Counties that make up the Minnesota River Basin. In addition DNR also published and distributed LiDAR data over 19 411 square miles covering all or parts of 18 counties in the Arrowhead and Metro project areas. DNR acquired LiDAR data over 16 333 square miles covering all or parts of Aitkin Blue Earth Carver Cass Dakota Goodhue Hennepin Hubbard Itasca Koochiching Ramsey Scott Todd Washington and Wadena Counties.",,,,1625273,,,0.0,,,"This project will create a high accuracy elevation dataset - critical for effectively planning and implementing water quality projects - for the state of Minnesota using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and geospatial mapping technologies. Although some areas of the state have been mapped previously, many counties remain unmapped or have insufficient or inadequate data. This multi-year project, to be completed in 2012, is a collaborative effort of Minnesota's Digital Elevation Committee and partners with county surveyors to ensure accuracy with ground-truthing. The first year (FY 2010) focuses on Southwest Minnesota. The arrowhead, Twin Cities metro, and central lakes regions will be completed in 2011 and 2012.","Accurate topographic information will greatly enhance the ability of decision makers and resource managers to understand how water interacts with the landscape and will provide the foundation for developing innovative, effective, and defendable resource management strategies. Completion of a statewide elevation dataset will reduce cost and increase effectiveness of clean water projects. The data have myriad additional uses; for example, collecting elevation data over the life of a mining project will allow the state to more accurately document mineral extraction, potentially increasing royalty income from mineral leases.",,2010-07-01,2013-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Tim,Loesch,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul, MN",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5475",tim.loesch@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Digitization/Online Information Access, Inventory, Mapping, Planning, Analysis/Interpretation, Modeling, Research, Demonstration/Pilot Project, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Benton, Carlton, Carver, Cook, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Lake, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, St. Louis, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/minnesota-elevation-mapping-project-lidar-0,,,,
3615,"Minnesota Elevation Mapping Project (LiDAR)",2011,2800000,"M.L. 2009 Ch. 172 Art. 2 Sec. 5(d)","$2800000 the first year and $2800000 the second year are to acquire and distribute high-resolution digital elevation data using light detection and ranging to aid with impaired waters modeling and total maximum daily load implementation under Minnesota Statutes chapter 114D. The data will be collected for areas of the state that have not acquired such data prior to January 1 2007 or to complete acquisition and distribution of the data for those areas of the state that have not previously received state funds for acquiring and distributing the data. The distribution of data acquired under this paragraph must be conducted under the auspices of the Land Management Information Center or its successor which shall receive 2.5 percent of the appropriation in this paragraph to support coordination of data acquisition and distribution. Mapping and data set distribution under this paragraph must be completed within three years of funds availability. The commissioner shall utilize department staff whenever possible. The commissioner may contract for services only if they cannot otherwise be provided by the department. If the commissioner contracts for services with this appropriation and any of the work done under the contract will be done outside of the United States the commissioner must report to the chairs of the house of representatives and senate finance committees on the proposed contract at least 30 days before entering into the contract. The report must include an analysis of why the contract with the selected contractor provides the state with ""best value"" as defined in Minnesota Statutes section 16C.02; any alternatives to the selected contractor that were considered; what data will be provided to the contractor including the data that will be transmitted outside of the United States; what security measures will be taken to ensure that the data is treated in accordance with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act; (continued)","In FY11 DNR will publish and make available LiDAR data for the Minnesota River basin. We will develop work orders for the Arrowhead and Metro project areas rank and make awards and acquire LiDAR data for these regions in the Spring of 2011 (12520 square miles in 19 counties).","In Fiscal Year 2011 DNR published LiDAR data for the Minnesota River Basin. It is publicly available on-line at the DNR. LiDAR acquisitions were contracted over an area covering 18 220 square miles in 15 counties: Anoka Benton Carlton Carver Cook Hennepin Isanti Kanabec Lake Meeker Mille Lacs Scott Sherburne St. Louis and Washington. This is in addition to the 17 258 square miles in 25 counties that were collected in Fiscal Year 2010.",,,,3028474,,,0.0,,,"This project will create a high accuracy elevation dataset - critical for effectively planning and implementing water quality projects - for the state of Minnesota using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and geospatial mapping technologies. Although some areas of the state have been mapped previously, many counties remain unmapped or have insufficient or inadequate data. This multi-year project, to be completed in 2012, is a collaborative effort of Minnesota's Digital Elevation Committee and partners with county surveyors to ensure accuracy with ground-truthing. The first year (FY 2010) focuses on Southwest Minnesota. The arrowhead, Twin Cities metro, and central lakes regions will be completed in 2011 and 2012.","Accurate topographic information will greatly enhance the ability of decision makers and resource managers to understand how water interacts with the landscape and will provide the foundation for developing innovative, effective, and defendable resource management strategies. Completion of a statewide elevation dataset will reduce cost and increase effectiveness of clean water projects. The data have myriad additional uses; for example, collecting elevation data over the life of a mining project will allow the state to more accurately document mineral extraction, potentially increasing royalty income from mineral leases.",,2010-07-01,2013-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Tim,Loesch,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul, MN",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5475",tim.loesch@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Digitization/Online Information Access, Inventory, Mapping, Planning, Analysis/Interpretation, Modeling, Research, Demonstration/Pilot Project, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Benton, Carlton, Carver, Cook, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Lake, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, St. Louis, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/minnesota-elevation-mapping-project-lidar-0,,,,
3615,"Minnesota Elevation Mapping Project (LiDAR)",2010,2800000,"M.L. 2009 Ch. 172 Art. 2 Sec. 5(d)","$2800000 the first year and $2800000 the second year are to acquire and distribute high-resolution digital elevation data using light detection and ranging to aid with impaired waters modeling and total maximum daily load implementation under Minnesota Statutes chapter 114D. The data will be collected for areas of the state that have not acquired such data prior to January 1 2007 or to complete acquisition and distribution of the data for those areas of the state that have not previously received state funds for acquiring and distributing the data. The distribution of data acquired under this paragraph must be conducted under the auspices of the Land Management Information Center or its successor which shall receive 2.5 percent of the appropriation in this paragraph to support coordination of data acquisition and distribution. Mapping and data set distribution under this paragraph must be completed within three years of funds availability. The commissioner shall utilize department staff whenever possible. The commissioner may contract for services only if they cannot otherwise be provided by the department. If the commissioner contracts for services with this appropriation and any of the work done under the contract will be done outside of the United States the commissioner must report to the chairs of the house of representatives and senate finance committees on the proposed contract at least 30 days before entering into the contract. The report must include an analysis of why the contract with the selected contractor provides the state with ""best value"" as defined in Minnesota Statutes section 16C.02; any alternatives to the selected contractor that were considered; what data will be provided to the contractor including the data that will be transmitted outside of the United States; what security measures will be taken to ensure that the data is treated in accordance with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act; (continued)","In FY10 DNR will collect digital elevation LiDAR data will be collected and make it available to the public for 17 258 square miles in 25 counties in the Minnesota River Basin and southwestern Minnesota. ","In FY 10 DNR developed a master contracting process to collect Digital Elevation information statewide. LiDAR data was collected for 17258 square miles in 25 counties in the Minnesota River Basin and southwestern Minnesota. The data are currently being processed for public use.",,,,670895,,,0.0,,,"This project will create a high accuracy elevation dataset - critical for effectively planning and implementing water quality projects - for the state of Minnesota using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and geospatial mapping technologies. Although some areas of the state have been mapped previously, many counties remain unmapped or have insufficient or inadequate data. This multi-year project, to be completed in 2012, is a collaborative effort of Minnesota's Digital Elevation Committee and partners with county surveyors to ensure accuracy with ground-truthing. The first year (FY 2010) focuses on Southwest Minnesota. The arrowhead, Twin Cities metro, and central lakes regions will be completed in 2011 and 2012.","Accurate topographic information will greatly enhance the ability of decision makers and resource managers to understand how water interacts with the landscape and will provide the foundation for developing innovative, effective, and defendable resource management strategies. Completion of a statewide elevation dataset will reduce cost and increase effectiveness of clean water projects. The data have myriad additional uses; for example, collecting elevation data over the life of a mining project will allow the state to more accurately document mineral extraction, potentially increasing royalty income from mineral leases.",,2010-07-01,2013-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Tim,Loesch,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul, MN",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5475",tim.loesch@state.mn.us,"Assessment/Evaluation, Digitization/Online Information Access, Inventory, Mapping, Planning, Analysis/Interpretation, Modeling, Research, Demonstration/Pilot Project, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Benton, Carlton, Carver, Cook, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Lake, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, St. Louis, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/minnesota-elevation-mapping-project-lidar-0,,,,
791,"Minnesota Prairie Recovery Project, Phase 1",2011,3653000,"ML 2010, Ch. 361, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(f)","$3,653,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy for a pilot project to acquire interests in land and restore and enhance prairie and prairie/wetland habitat in the prairie regions of western and southwestern Minnesota. The Nature Conservancy may acquire land in fee or through permanent conservation easements. A list of proposed fee title and permanent conservation easements, and a list of proposed restorations and enhancements, must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph (b). The commissioner of natural resources must agree in writing to each acquisition of interest in land, restoration project, and enhancement project. The accomplishment plan must include an easement stewardship plan.",,"Protect in Fee w/o PILT: 341 acres of wetlands, 1342 acres of prairies; Restore 168 acres of prairies; Enhance 20,282 acres of prairies. ",,,,3653000,,,,"The Nature Conservancy","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This program proposes a 15-year goal to provide protection to the remaining 90,000 acres of native prairie/savanna, a 20-year goal to restore and protect an additional 500,000 acres of diverse grasslands/savannas, and a 10-year goal to increase management capacity to annually manage 300,000 acres of grassland and savannas per year. This proposal takes the first steps to achieve these goals by initiating a comprehensive, coordinated and collaborative prairie conservation initiative. Annual investments by the LSOHC will be required to realize these ambitious outcomes. When completed, the outcomes of this proposal will include: protection of 1000 acres of native prairie and/or savanna; restoration of 250 acres of diverse, local ecotype grassland; enhancement of 8000 acres of grassland/savanna by prescribed fire, invasive species removal, and/or conservation grazing; and development of a new conservation model in 2 parts of the state that will serve as a platform for accelerated conservation across Minnesota. ","The conservation problems facing Minnesota's prairies, prairie potholes, grasslands and savannas are many, and include: a. Continued losses of native and restored grasslands due to economic pressures. b. Degradation of existing public grasslands and wetlands due to encroachment by woody vegetation and other invasive species that reduces their values to wildlife and people. c. Inadequate public access for hunting and fishing in agricultural parts of the state. d. Potential loss of local taxes and local incomes when land is acquired by public entities. e. Programmatic and staff limitations that reduce efficiencies in implementing diverse conservation programs across multiple partners. What is the problem being addressed? The creation of the Outdoor Heritage Fund finally offers the resources needed to provide adequate conservation in Minnesota's prairie, prairie pothole and savanna landscapes. With the Council's support and the efforts of multiple partners, large and productive grassland landscapes can become a reality in Minnesota. How will this directly relate to restoring, protecting or enhancing habitat?When completed, the outcomes of this proposal will include: protection of 1000 acres of native prairie and/or savanna; restoration of 250 acres of diverse, local ecotype grassland; and enhancement of 8000 acres of grassland/savanna by prescribed fire, invasive species removal, and/or conservation grazing. The Conservancy will own the fee lands, coordinate with partners and supervise enhancement on public and Conservancy lands, and implement restoration on degraded lands acquired with OHF funds. Why will this strategy work? There are no new tactics in this proposal; all of these practices are being used by one or more organizations already at work in Minnesota. What is new here is the effort to closely coordinate activities, to bring practices that work in the private sector to the public sector, and to greatly accelerate the use of conservation practices. The conservation community has demonstrated that these protection, restoration and enhancement activities work, but to truly reach the level of conservation that is needed for a comprehensive prairie recovery project, partners must work with a plan, with an open mind for innovation, and with appropriate new tools. We believe this project sets the table for launching the required effort. Finally, by supporting local opportunities to develop grass-based businesses (grazing, biofuels, etc.) we believe there will be reduced incentives for conversion of grasslands on unprotected private lands (i.e., grasslands will be perceived as having economic value). Described the nature and extent of any partnerships in this project, stakeholder and public participation processes associated with the project and any anticipated support or opposition to the project?A ""Prairie Recovery Project Partnership"" will be formed to include representative of prairie conservation organizations, including: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), MN Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Pheasants Forever (PF), MN Prairie Chicken Society (MPCS) and The Nature Conservancy. This group will identify 2 pilot focus areas and establish other guidelines for project implementation. Local workgroups will then be established to provide on-the-ground planning and coordination of conservation activities. Additional groups that will be contacted for input or representation will include: Ducks Unlimited, MN Waterfowl Association, MN Deer Hunters Association, Land Stewardship Project, MN Cattleman's Association, local livestock groups, MN Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and MN Farmer's Union. In addition to the above the Conservancy proposes the following: a. At least semi-annually, at meetings of the Prairie Recovery Project Partnership, the status of funding and leverage will be discussed in detail among all project partners. b. At the beginning of the project, a marketing plan will be developed that will identify key audiences (e.g., landowners, local units of government, elected officials) and needed information. This will include elements like project fact sheets, media outreach and annual reports. The Conservancy will provide the technical and financial resources needed for this effort. c. Members of the Partnership will be requested to provide informational materials on their websites and in their organizational publications. For land acquisitions, indicate local government support and approval. No specific tracts have yet been identified, so there has been no contact to date with local governments. ","Final Report ",2010-07-01,2015-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",None,,,Neal,Feeken,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 W River Parkway ",Minneapolis,None,55415,"(612) 331-0738",nfeeken@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Clay, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Mahnomen, Marshall, Meeker, Pennington, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Roseau, Stearns, Stearns","Forest Prairie Transition",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/minnesota-prairie-recovery-project,,,,
9797,"Minnesota Prairie Recovery Project – Phase 3",2013,4610000,"ML 2012, Ch. 264, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(b)","$4,610,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy to acquire native prairie and savanna and restore and enhance grasslands and savanna. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. Annual income statements and balance sheets for income and expenses from land acquired with this appropriation must be submitted to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council no later than 180 days following the close of The Nature Conservancy's fiscal year.",,"This phase resulted in a total of 1,425 acres of wetlands and prairies protected in fee, 22,298 acres of wetlands and prairies enhanced, and 110 acres of wetlands and prairies restored.",,851300,"The Nature Conservancy, private land donation",4607900,96700,,10.1,"The Nature Conservancy","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The goals for this project were to: protect 1,200 acres native prairie/wetland/savanna; restore 250 acres prairie/wetland; enhance 6,000 acres grassland/savanna with fire, invasive species removal, and grazing; and continue a new prairie conservation model. This phase resulted in a total of 1,425 acres protected, 22,298 acres enhanced, and 110 acres restored. When combined with phases 1 and 2 of the Prairie Recovery Program we have cumulatively protected 4,070 acres, enhanced 58,134 acres and restored 314 acres using OHF funds. We will continue to implement subsequent phases toward meeting the conservation goals described in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan.",,"1. Scope of work: With the requested funding, and with other funds leveraged by this money and brought by other partners, the following actions and outcomes were acheived.“Phase 3” built upon the success of the MN Prairie Recovery Project Phase 1 and 2 by continuing and expanding enhancement work in 4 focal areas and protection in 5 areas. Project partners, primarily through our participation in Prairie Plan Local Technical teams, helped us to prioritize and refine guidelines for protection, enhancement and restoration activities within priority landscapes. The Prairie Recovery Program utilizes a collaborative model for conservation and we regularly consult and work with a variety of entities including state and federal agencies, other conservation nonprofits, agricultural producer groups and local governments.1,425 acres of existing and restorable grassland, prairie pothole complex, and savanna was permanently protected within prairie core and corridor areas as identified in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan 2010. Lands will be held by The Nature Conservancy, subject to a recorded notice of funding restrictions pursuant to the grant with the MN DNR. All lands acquired in fee are FULLY open to hunting and fishing per state of Minnesota regulations. Basic developments have been, and will continue to be, implemented (boundary signage, habitat improvement, wetland restoration). Protection efforts were coordinated with other partner protection programs (e.g., DNR Wildlife Management Area and Prairie Bank programs), once again primarily through interactions through Local Technical Teams.A separate and discrete internal fund has been established by The Nature Conservancy to cover ongoing land-management costs.  Income generated by agricultural leases (grazing, haying, native seed harvest, and/or cropping) are held in this account and used to pay for property taxes and ongoing management costs.110 acres of cropland were restored to diverse, local-ecotype grassland or grassland/wetland complex. Preference was given to local producers and contractors for provision of seed and establishment of prairies to promote creation of local conservation-oriented businesses.22,298 acres of grassland complex were enhanced on public lands and those purchased with OHF funds and held by the Conservancy (“protected conservation lands”) to increase native species diversity and improve critical wildlife habitat. Management techniques included prescribed fire (61 projects totalling 15,016 acres), removal of woody vegetation (60 projects for 1,678 acres), and control of exotic species (83 projects - 5,514 acres). Much of this work was accomplished by private vendors through contracts. We also extensively used Conservation Corps of Minnesota (CCM) crews and seasonal staff employed directly by TNC.On-the-ground Conservancy staff provided by this grant were co-located in DNR or Fish and Wildlife Service offices and helped form and lead local coordination and implementation teams; identified protection, restoration and enhancement needs and opportunities within the focus areas; worked with DNR and FWS staff to delineate conservation projects on public lands; coordinated deployment of contract and staff resources to protected conservation lands; contacted and worked with private landowners to coordinate agricultural activities/leases on appropriate protected conservation lands (e.g., haying, grazing, cropping in advance of restoration); educated lessees on appropriate conservation grazing/haying practices; supervised management of lands acquired above; planned and conducted prescribed burns; and other activities related to prairie conservation in the focus areas. Contracts were let to provide a high level of enhancement activities to new and existing protected conservation lands, greatly expanding current capacity. These activities greatly improved the habitat value of public lands that were not receiving adequate management treatment, while simultaneously providing jobs for CCM and local businesses. Activities included removal of undesirable woody vegetation, identification and treatment of invasive species infestations, removal of abandoned fences and/or other structures, and related restoration/enhancement activities.To ensure goals and outcomes are consistently achieved across all 4 project areas, the project coordinator oversaw implementation of the above activities and provided administrative support for budget monitoring and reporting. Significant marketing and media outreach was conducted by the Conservancy to highlight the goals and accomplishments of the project to local and statewide constituents, as well as elected officials. http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/minnesota/policy/minnesota-prairie-recovery-project.xmlTemporary seasonal crews were employed by the Conservancy to provide additional capacity for public land management during critical periods like spring burn season. These crews helped create flexibility for enhancement projects and maximized the ability of specialized skilled personnel like burn bosses to increase the number of acres annually enhanced.2. How priorities were set: Prioritization and prioritization criteria vary with the conservation tactic being employed (i.e., protection, restoration, enhancement). Focus areas were selected where there was overlap with MN County Biological Survey prairie “focus areas” and TNC priority areas. Each of the 4 project locations directly correlate to core areas identified in the 2010 MN Prairie Conservation Plan. Because this project is a collaborative effort involving multiple partners, tactical priorities and criteria were established at both the state and local level by respective coordinating groups. criteria for each of these tactics include:a. Protection: location/proximity to other habitats, location/proximity to other protected lands, presence of rare/endangered species, imminence of conversion, ability to support grazing, size, cost, and likelihood for leveraged funding. A more robust listing of selection criteria can be provided upon request.b. Restoration: feasibility/likelihood of success, location, cost, availability of seed, and availability of restoration technical assistance, proximity to other habitats, and their ability to buffer or increase the conservation value of other protected lands.c. Enhancement: urgency/time since last enhancement, feasibility of success, accessibility, availability of enhancement technical assistance, cost, proximity to other habitats and partnership benefits.3. Urgency and opportunity of this proposal: Only about 1% of Minnesota’s original native prairie still remains (about 235,000 acres of an original 1.8 million), and the remnants are still being destroyed and degraded. Less than half of those 235,000 acres are currently protected from conversion, and management capacity is unable to address needs on protected lands. Additionally, more than 90% of the original prairie pothole wetlands in the western part of the state have also been lost. These losses threaten the viability of Minnesota’s prairie/wetland wildlife and recreational opportunities that depend upon them. Further, huge strides that have been made in supplementing habitat with the Conservation Reserve Program are in imminent danger of being lost as contracts expire. Conservationists have a narrow window of opportunity to protect remaining native grasslands, wetlands and other habitats, restore and protect supplemental grasslands and wetlands, and accelerate enhancement efforts to ensure these habitats are providing optimal value to animals and people. This proposal accelerated an initiative begun in 2010.4. Stakeholder involvement and/or opposition: This Phase continues an initiative begun with OHF funding in 2010. We have worked very closely with conservation interests in developing and maintaining this initiative and will continue close collaboration among partners. Via past and ongoing projects, we are also coordinating with other stakeholders (e.g., cattlemen’s associations, Land Stewardship Project, county boards), and will continue to seek opportunities to expand that coordination. Points of opposition that have risen to date include: perceived loss of tax revenues, philosophical opposition to public land ownership, and lack of understanding of processes (i.e. prescribed fire) necessary for long-term prairie system health. To address these concerns we have been actively engaged with county boards and other local units of government, local agricultural producers and groups, and local communities. We anticipate continuing to build these relationships in each of the four project areas.PlanningThis project implements strategies identified in at least 6 plans, as identified below.1. The 2010 MN Prairie Conservation Plan (Plan) identifies three distinct strategies and opportunities for targeting protection, restoration, and enhancement of Minnesota’s prairie and grassland systems. The plan recommends work in “Core Areas” defined as large landscapes that retain some features of functioning prairie systems. Using MN County Biological Survey data and USFWS Habitat Assessment, Populations and Evaluation Team (HAPET)2. MN Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan. The strategic framework of this plan has 5 elements in its “Habitat” section: integrated planning, critical land protection, land and water restoration and protection, (identification of) sustainable practices, and (provision of) economic incentives for sustainable practices. Further, while the plan does not go into great detail with respect to prairie conservation, it clearly states that “protection of priority land habitats” is a vital practice, and prairies clearly fall here.  The Plan identifies 36 distinct prairie core areas across the western third of the state. Collectively these core landscapes contain 71% of the state’s remaining native prairie. All 4 of the project focus areas directly correlate with one or more of these core areas.3. Tomorrow’s Habitat for the Wild and Rare. The primary objective identified in the MN DNR’s plan is to “stabilize and increase populations of “species in greatest conservation need (SGCN)”. In the prairie regions of Minnesota, strategies to achieve this goal include:a. Support incentives that avoid conversion of grasslands into row crops where SGCN occur.b. Use mowing, cutting woody vegetation, prescribed fire, or careful use of herbicides to prevent the invasion of grasslands by trees and shrubs.c. Lengthen the cutting rotations for hay; avoid early-season mowing.d. Use light to moderate, rotational grazing programs to benefit SGCNe. Prevent fragmentation of grassland habitat.f. Avoid soil compaction in areas occupied by mammal SGCN.g. Increase native plant species components.h. Control spread of invasive species to adjacent native-dominated sites.This project proposes to address all but item “f” above.4. The Nature Conservancy’s Northern Tallgrass Prairie Ecoregional Plan (1998). This plan identifies key conservation targets, geographic emphasis areas, threats to native plant and animal communities, and key strategies to mitigate these threats. The proposal is a solid step in the implementation of this plan. Also, as a step-down from the NTP Ecoregion Plan, the Chapter has completed local level planning (Conservation Action Planning) for smaller geographic units that correspond with the focus areas. Goals within these focus areas are very explicit in identifying conservation targets and actions and are consistent with the activities contained in this proposal.5. DNR’s Pheasant Plan. This proposal is in full support of the Pheasant Plan goal to add 1.5 million acres of undisturbed grassland to the state by 2025.6. DNR’s Waterfowl Plan. This proposal is in full support of the state Long-range Duck Recovery Plan to add 2 million acres of habitat to the state by 2025. It also utilizes establishment of complexes, as per the plan, to achieve multiple conservation synergies and benefits.This plan helps fulfill multiple priorities specified by the LSOHC “Prairie Section Vision”, including permanent protection of existing prairies and wetlands, restoration of prairie and wetland habitats, building grassland/wetland complexes in blocks sufficient to increase migratory breeding bird success, enhancement of public lands for game species and other species of conservation need, and protection of watersheds of shallow lakes. Specifically, this proposal addresses “Prairie Section Strategies” 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 directly.",2012-07-01,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Neal,Feeken,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 W. River Parkway, Suite 200",Minneapolis,MN,55415,"(612) 331-0738",nfeeken@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Chippewa, Clay, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Mahnomen, Marshall, Pennington, Polk, Pope, Roseau, Stearns, Swift, Wilkin","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/minnesota-prairie-recovery-project-phase-3,,,,
2533,"Minnesota Prairie Recovery Project, Phase 2",2012,4500000,"ML 2011, First Special Session, Ch. 6, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(e)","$4,500,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy to acquire native prairie and savanna and restore and enhance grasslands and savanna. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. Acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements must be within the two existing and two additional pilot focus areas contained in the accomplishment plan. Annual income statements and balance sheets for income and expenses from land acquired with appropriations from the outdoor heritage fund must be submitted to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.",,"Protect, Restore and Enhance 2,553 acres of Wetlands and 13,999 acres of Prairies.",,1427700,"ENRTF, NFWF, TNC, RIM, NAWCA",4499500,,,6.3,"The Nature Conservancy","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Goals for Phase 2 of the MN Prairie Recovery Program were to: protect 1200 acres native prairie/savanna; restore 250 acres grassland; enhance 6000 acres grassland/savanna with fire, invasive species removal, and grazing; and continue a new prairie conservation model. This Phase resulted in a total of 962 acres protected, 15,554 acres enhanced, and 36 acres restored. When combined with Phase 1 of the Program we have cumulatively protected 2,645 acres, enhanced 35,836 acres and restored 204 acres using OHF funds. We will continue to implement subsequent Phases toward meeting the conservation goals described in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan.",,"Design and Scope of Work 1. Problems to be addressed: the conservation problems facing Minnesota’s prairies, prairie potholes, grasslands and savannas are many, and include: a.Continued losses of native and restored grasslands due to economic pressures. b.Degradation of existing public grasslands and wetlands due to encroachment by woody vegetation and other invasive species that reduces their values to wildlife and people. c.Inadequate public access for hunting and fishing in agricultural parts of the state. d.Potential loss of local taxes and local incomes when land is acquired by public entities. e.Long-term state obligations for management of public lands and payment-in-lieu-of-taxes creates a burden for state budget. f.Programmatic and staff limitations that reduce efficiencies in implementing diverse conservation programs across multiple partners. 2. Scope of work: with the appropriated funding, and with other funds leveraged by this money and brought by other partners, the following actions and outcomes were realized. •The “Prairie Recovery Project Partnership” was initiated within the Upper MN River Valley and Aggasiz Beach Ridges and continued in the Glacial Lakes and Tallgrass Aspen Parklands landscapes. Two additional prairie biologists were hired and co-located in partner offices to facilitate and oversee enhancement work on publicly owned grasslands. Dedicated protection staff continued to identify priority parcels for permanent protection, conduct outreach with landowners, and bring real estate transactions to fruition. A project coordinator oversaw implementation of the above activities, and provided administrative support for budget monitoring and reporting. •Original goals for the project included 1,200 acres protected, 250 acres restored and 6,000 acres enhanced. We fell short of our overall protection goals with 962 acres permanently protected. The shortfall was due to the fact that a number of quality projects arose in the central part of the start, specifically Pope and Kandiyohi counties, where land prices are considerably higher than other parts of the prairie region. Protected lands are held by The Nature Conservancy and are open to public hunting and fishing. We greatly exceeded our enhancement goals with 15,435 acres of permanently protected grasslands managed. Management techniques on grassland enhancement projects included prescribed fire, conservation grazing and/or haying, removal of woody vegetation, and control of exotic invasive species. This work was accomplished through contracts with private vendors and through use of seasonal crews employed by the Conservancy. Three of the five protection projects will require future restoration and are in various stages of site preparation. •A separate restricted internal fund is established by The Nature Conservancy to hold income generated from OHF funded acquisitions. Income generated by agricultural leases (grazing, haying and/or cropping), earned interest, public contributions and donations are held in this account and are used to pay for property taxes and ongoing management costs. This model was originally devised to test the principle of utilizing extractive practices (ie haying and grazing, native seed production) as a method for offsetting land holding and management costs. Through the project we have found that revenues generated lag behind holding costs, thereby necessitating private contributions on the part of the Conservancy for making property tax payments. And while the model does not function as effectively as we had originally hoped, economic activities do help at least partially offset ownership costs and can serve as valuable tools for implementing needed management. •On-the-ground staff provided by this grant convened and are leading coordination and implementation of local technical teams called for in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan; actively identified protection, restoration and enhancement needs and opportunities within the focus areas; worked with DNR and FWS staff to delineate conservation projects on public lands; coordinated deployment of contract and staff resources to protected conservation lands; worked with private landowners to coordinate agricultural activities/leases on appropriate protected conservation lands (e.g., haying, grazing, cropping); educated lessees on appropriate conservation grazing/haying practices; supervised management of lands acquired above; planned and conducted prescribed burns; and secured other funding for conservation practices, including through the MN DNR's Working Lands Initiative. •Contracts were let with Conservation Corps of Minnesota and private vendors to conduct enhancement activities on new and existing protected conservation lands, greatly expanding current capacity. These activities greatly improved the habitat value of public lands that were not receiving adequate management treatment, while simultaneously providing jobs for MCC and local businesses. Activities included removal of undesirable woody vegetation, identification and treatment of invasive species infestations, removal of abandoned fences and/or other structures, and related restoration/enhancement activities. 3. How priorities were set: prioritization and prioritization criteria varied with the conservation tactic being employed (i.e., protection, restoration, enhancement). Focus areas were selected where there was overlap with Core and Corridor landscapes as defined through the MN Prairie Conservation Plan and Conservancy priority areas. Because this is a collaborative effort involving multiple partners, tactical priorities and criteria were established at both the state and local level by the respective Local Technical Teams and local agency personnel. Criteria for each of these tactics included: a.Protection: location/proximity to other habitats, location/proximity to other protected lands, presence of rare/endangered species, imminence of conversion, ability to support grazing, size, cost, and likelihood for leveraged funding. b.Restoration: feasibility/likelihood of success, location, cost, availability of seed, and availability of restoration technical assistance. c.Enhancement: urgency/time since last enhancement, feasibility of success, accessibility, availability of enhancement technical assistance, cost, proximity to other habitats and partnership benefits. 4. Urgency and opportunity of this proposal: about 1% of Minnesota’s original native prairie still remains (about 200,000 acres of an original 1.8 million), and the remnants are still being destroyed and degraded today. Less than half is currently protected from conversion, and management capacity is unable to address needs. Additionally, more than 90% of the original prairie pothole wetlands in the western part of the state have also been lost. These losses threaten the viability of Minnesota’s prairie/wetland wildlife and recreational opportunities that depend upon them. Further, huge strides that have been made in supplementing habitat with the Conservation Reserve Program continue to be in imminent danger of being lost as contracts expire. Conservationists have a narrow window of opportunity to protect remaining native grasslands, wetlands and other habitats, restore and protect supplemental grasslands and wetlands, and accelerate enhancement efforts to ensure these habitats are providing optimal value to animals and people. This phase built upon an initiative begun with our Prairie Recovery Project Phase 1, and expanded efforts into 2 new focus areas. 5. Stakeholder involvement and/or opposition: We have worked very closely with conservation interests in developing this initiative and will continue to collaborate with numerous partners. ",2011-07-01,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Neal,Feeken,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 W. River Parkway, Suite 200",Minneapolis,MN,55414,612-331-0700,nfeeken@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Chippewa, Clay, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Pope, Roseau, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Wilkin","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/minnesota-prairie-recovery-project-phase-2,,,,
35020,"Minnesota Trout Unlimited Coldwater Fish Habitat Enhancement and Restoration - Phase VII",2016,1890000,"ML 2015, First Sp. Session, Ch.2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(c )","$1,890,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Trout Unlimited to restore and enhance habitat for trout and other species in and along coldwater rivers and streams in Minnesota. A list of proposed restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"76 Forest acres and 208 Habitat acres (for a total of 284 acres) Enhanced. ",,1433900,"SWCD, DNR ",1890000,,,0.75,"MN Trout Unlimited","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Minnesota Trout Unlimited volunteers, chapters and partners will enhance habitat for fish, game and wildlife in and along numerous coldwater streams on existing Aquatic Management Areas and other public lands around the state, while leveraging approximately $3 million for this. ",,"We enhanced habitat on fourteen different streams. The scope of work varied to match the site conditions, watershed characteristics, and address the specific limiting factors. Severely degraded or unstable stream sections received comprehensive, large-scale habitat enhancements to restore stream function and in-stream trout habitat. These included intensive projects on Amity Creek and Chester Creek in Duluth, the Stewart River near Two Harbors, the Vermillion River in southern Dakota County, and the Root River in Preston. These projects required extensive grading and modification of stream channel patterns to create habitat-filled, stable channels and restored floodplains. The increased pool habitat created is particularly important for northern projects, where lack of pools was a key limiting factor for native trout populations. Streams in northeast Minnesota need healthy riparian forests to provide shade and improve summer base flows. North Shore streams lack significant groundwater flows and instead are kept cold by the shade provided by trees along their banks. Unfortunately, outbreaks of two tree pests (spruce bud worm and emerald ash borer) are decimating riparian forests near Duluth and the North Shore. To address this we cleared numerous gaps of dead or dying trees along the Stewart River and French River. These areas were then planted with a mixture of long-lived tree species, both coniferous and deciduous. The trees are on their way to providing critical shade and other habitat benefits. We also worked with Lake County to enhance a 76-acre parcel of forest which straddles the upper Stewart River, converting it from brushland to a forest of long-lived trees dominated by pines. Changing the stand’s trajectory in this way is improving the long-term ability of the forest to store water and slowly release cool base flow to sustain the important trout and steelhead fisheries. In the sandy central part of Minnesota, we used the conservation corps to thin alder thickets and strategically place brush bundles in overly wide sections of Kabekona Creek. These are capturing sand and narrowing and deepening the stream channel. In southeast Minnesota, we completed projects on Camp Creek, Daley Creek, Duschee Creek, Little Pickwick Creek, Trout Run Creek, and West and East Indian Creeks. These project sites had very cold water temperatures and decent in-stream habitat but suffered from the negative effects of dense corridors of buckthorn, boxelder and other invasives. Here significant habitat gains were realized by removing these invasive trees and shrubs, which do a poor job holding streambanks. We removed invasive trees and shrubs and seeded corridors with grasses and forbes. This allowed native grasses and forbs, which better secure soils, to become reestablished and let beneficial sunlight reach the stream beds and boost stream productivity. Similarly, near Farmington, MN TU volunteers spent numerous Saturday mornings to cutting buckthorn from 20 acres along the Vermillion River and set the table for prairie plantings following the in-stream habitat work completed in 2019. By work with partners and tailoring the habitat enhancement methods to each project site we have maximized long term benefits to the trout populations at the lowest possible costs. ",2015-07-01,2021-11-12,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,John,Lenczewski,"Minnesota Trout Unlimited","P O Box 845 ",Chanhassen,MN,55317,"(612)670 -1629",jlenczewski@comcast.net,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Dakota, Fillmore, Houston, Hubbard, Lake, St. Louis, Wabasha, Winona","Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/minnesota-trout-unlimited-coldwater-fish-habitat-enhancement-and-restoration-phase-vii,,,,
10035278,"Minnesota Heritage Forest - Transition to Public Ownership Program",2025,22647000,"ML 2024, Ch. 106, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 3(a)","$22,647,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire priority forest habitat lands in fee as wildlife management areas, scientific and natural areas, state forests, and county forests. Of this amount, $11,737,000 is for an agreement with Northern Waters Land Trust.","Forestlands are protected from development and fragmentation - This project will permanently protect 18,368 acres of northern forest and riparian areas including wetlands, streams, shoreland, small lakes and ponds. All northern forest parcels included in this proposal are at high risk of fragmentation and conversion. Forest protection activities will be assessed, management planning required/documented and properties monitored. Forest composition will be inventoried; wildlife populations will be monitored",,,3163000,"Federal, General Fund, bonding and variety private/public sources (see below)",22584000,63000,,0.85,"DNR and NWLT","State Government","The Minnesota's Heritage Forest - Transition to Public Ownership Program is focused on the protection of forest lands in northern Minnesota by purchasing land from The Conservation Fund (TCF) for permanent conservation, management and protection by MN DNR and northern MN Counties. In 2020 TCF purchased more than 72,000 acres of forest land Minnesota from the PotlatchDeltic Corp., securing these lands to provide time for conservation partners to permanently conserve these forest lands. DNR seeks to purchase 10,688 acres in fee and Northern Waters Land Trust (NWLT) 7,680 acres to transfer to Counties.","TCF indicated that their purchase from the PotlatchDeltic Corp. is to provide time for permanent conservation with partners. DNR's goal is to protect water quality and wildlife habitat while also preserving working forestlands, safeguarding jobs, contributing to local economies, increasing climate resiliency, and public access. DNR's Heritage Forest Project focuses on forest and habitat protection located in the northern forest region. Working with partners, DNR has implemented a four-phase project plan: Phase 1 (2021-2022) - interdisciplinary team applies DNR's Strategic Land Asset Management metrics to all TCF-owned parcels; engagement with Tribes, Counties and conservation partners. Phase 2 (2022) - DNR staff worked directly with county leaders to apply local expertise & coordination. Phase 3 (2022-2023) - refined priority parcel lists; seek county and Tribal support; develop acquisition strategy including funding proposals; work with NWLT to coordinate acquisitions with Counties and Tribes; complete appraisal for DNR proposed parcels. Phase 4 (2024-2028) - acquire parcels. Many of the Heritage Forest lands are near DNR-managed lands, including existing State Forests. Some lands are suitable for DNR acquisition/management for various conservation purposes (State Forests, WMAs, & SNAs): working forests, protection of important, rare, or diminishing habitats and native plant communities and public access. DNR is working with Counties who have identified parcels for ownership and parcel lists are being refined with NWLT coordination. This project systematically evaluates, prioritizes, and (if approved) will acquire parcels for DNR management with significant local and Tribal input. NWLT is currently using OHF grants for wildlife habitat and tullibee watershed protection and has already completed ""bargain sale"" transactions, purchasing and transferring more than 1,600 acres from TCF to Hubbard County and DNR for permanent protection. With completion of DNR's Phase I, NWLT has been coordinating with Counties and Tribes to identify parcels for acquisition. Lands of interest expand/connect core habitat, address access, support local timber/recreation based economies, protect waters, support climate adaptations/resiliency, and protect critical habitat. Counties selected parcels for strategic reasons including: (1) consolidation/adjacency to County lands (2) securing/improving public access (3) securing/improving forest management access. NWLT will acquire parcels prioritized by Counties, then transfer parcels to each county for permanent ownership. Parcels strategically identified for acquisition are large forest blocks threatened by conversion and/or parcelization. Nearly 7.5 million acres (44%) of MN's forests are privately-owned and at risk of fragmentation/conversion. MN has had some of the highest conversion rates in the U.S., with the highest in North Central MN. Protection work achieves multiple benefits by conserving critical habitat, maintaining forested land cover essential for high water quality/quantity and sustaining the forested landscape critical for local timber/tourism jobs. This work is critical to conserving wildlife that require large intact forests and provides permanent protection for wildlife that inhabit these landscapes. By protecting forests, we protect drinking water, recharge aquifers, reduce nutrients/sediments to lakes and streams, sustain fisheries and mitigate climate change. Protection of forested land is critical for local economies.",,2024-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Christine,Ostern,"MN DNR Division of Forestry, Forest Legacy Program","305 East Business Park Drive ",Cloquet,MN,55720,2183431790,christine.ostern@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, St. Louis, Wadena","Northern Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/minnesota-heritage-forest-transition-public-ownership-program-0,,,,
10019635,"Mississippi Headwaters Habitat Corridor Project, Phase 6",2022,2901000,"ML 2021, First Sp. Session, Ch. 1, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(e )","$2,901,000 the first year is to acquire land in fee and permanent conservation easements and restore wildlife habitat in the Mississippi River headwaters. Of this amount, $1,421,000 is to the Board of Water and Soil Resources, of which up to $150,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17, and $1,480,000 is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements as follows: $60,000 to the Mississippi Headwaters Board and $1,420,000 to The Trust for Public Land. A list of proposed fee-title acquisitions must be included as part of the required accomplishment plan. A list of permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the final report. ","Forestlands are protected from development and fragmentation - Forestlands protected are measured in the number of acres of forestland protected by either fee-title or easement and miles of protected forested shorelands. For fee-title acquisitions, the evaluation in in the ongoing maintenance of the forest according to the final owner's (state or local government) management plans and continued monitoring. For conservation easements, a management plan is part of the easement. Once recorded, BWSR with assistance from the County SWCD does annual monitoring to insure the management plan is not being violated. Rivers and streams provide corridors of habitat including intact areas of forest cover in the east and large wetland/upland complexes in the west - Forestlands protected are measured in the number of acres of forestland protected by either fee-title or easement and miles of protected shoreland. For fee-title acquisitions, the evaluation in in the ongoing maintenance of the forest and shoreland according to the final owner's (state or local government) management plans and continued monitoring. For conservation easements, a management plan is part of the easement. Once recorded, BWSR with assistance from the County SWCD does annual monitoring to insure the management plan is not being violated",,,30500,Private,2859000,42000,,1.04,"Mississippi Headwaters Board; TPL; BWSR","State Government","In Phase 6, The Mississippi Headwaters Board in partnership with The Trust for Public Land and BWSR assisted by 8 County SWCDs will permanently protect an additional 1,235 acres of critical fish and wildlife habitat along the first 400 miles of the Mississippi River, its major tributaries, and 9 headwaters lakes. Previous phases have already protected 3,441 acres and 31 miles of shoreland using fee title acquisitions and conservation easements on priority lands to create/expand protected contiguous aquatic and wildlife habitat corridors and reduce forest fragmentation to benefit fish, game and non-game wildlife, and migratory waterfowl.","This Phase will continue to address current and anticipated habitat protection opportunities along the first 400 miles of the Mississippi River Headwaters, its major tributaries and 9 headwaters lakes. To date, 3,441 acres and 31 miles of river shoreland have been permanently protected to benefit aquatic habitat, provide food and shelter for migratory waterfowl along the Mississippi Flyway, and create and enhance protected habitat corridors for game and non-game wildlife. Additionally, forest fragmentation that is detrimental to habitat protection has been reduced; public recreational opportunities for fishing, hunting, and passive recreation have been enhanced; and clean drinking water ensured for millions of Minnesotans. There is urgency to fund this Phase since previous phases through ML 18 are spent or committed to fee title acquisitions and easement projects that will protect an additional 1,000 acres and 6 miles of shoreland. There is a waiting list of 20+ landowners interested in easement participation when ML 20 funding is available on July 1, 2020. The Mississippi River is home to a variety of game fish and its adjacent lands are home to 350+ species of animals and birds, including many species of greatest concern. Because quality privately owned lakeshores are already developed, pressure is building for development along the river corridor as people seek to live and recreate near water. This leads to fragmentation of forests that threatens habitat and water quality. Public lands adjacent to private property are in danger of losing habitat connectivity as private lands are increasingly developed resulting in destruction of wild rice beds, disruption of aquatic and upland habitat and fragmentation of forestlands, grasslands, and wetlands that dominate the headwaters. The Mississippi Headwaters Board administers and coordinates the project. The Trust for Public Land acquires fee-title to priority lands and conveys permanent ownership to a public entity (state or local government). BWSR in partnership with 8 Soil and Water Conservation Districts completes RIM conservation easements on parcels that have been identified and prioritized through a science-based selection process. A Technical Team of project partners, DNR and BWSR representatives, and The Nature Conservancy review and approve all projects using a ranked evaluation of habitat qualities, urgency for protection, and adjacency to public or already protected lands, a factor that is important to increasing protected habitat corridors. Strong local government involvement is unique to this project. For fee-title acquisitions, county boards are notified early to seek approval and before closing on an acquisition the Board is again asked for final approval. Education sessions on easements have been conducted informally with county commissioners. This process has enhanced local government support and trust which has contributed to the project's success. For additional project support, BWSR has provided $1 million of Clean Water Funds for RIM easement acquisition recognizing multiple benefits for habitat and water quality are the outcome of permanent land protection. This funding will be used according to the same prioritization and ranking criteria as OHF-funded easements to increase protection in the Mississippi Headwaters.",,2021-07-01,2025-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Tim,Terrill,"Mississippi Headwaters Board","322 Laurel St., Suite 11 ",Brainerd,MN,56401,"(218) 824-1189",timt@mississippiheadwaters.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mississippi-headwaters-habitat-corridor-project-phase-6,,,,
3614,"Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area Rulemaking",2015,,,,"In FY15, the DNR will revise the 2014 working draft rules and Statement Of Need And Reasonableness and conduct formal rulemaking to finalize and promulgate the rules.","In FY15, the DNR published a Request for Comments on the draft rules in June 2014 and accepted comments through the end of September 2014. During the public comment period, we held three public open houses and numerous interest group meetings. We got over 500 comments and wrote a summary report in October 2014. We revised the working draft rules based on these comments, and shared the revisions with stakeholders in December 2014. Throughout early 2015, we collaborated with local governments to revise proposed district boundaries and to analyze and refine the bluff definition. In June 2015, we completed the proposed draft rules and draft SONAR, both of which are undergoing internal review. Formal rulemaking is anticipated to begin in FY16. We did not initiate formal rulemaking in FY15. Work will continue as time and other funding sources allow.",,,,,,,,,,"The DNR has been charged by the legislature to develop rules that protect and manage the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA) for natural resource, economic development, transportation, historic preservation, and other values. This project engages stakeholder groups in a public process to balance regulatory protections with local flexibility and control. The rules will replace the outdated Executive Order that currently guides development in the MRCCA. The legislation requires the rules to establish new districts within the MRCCA and to develop minimal guidelines and standards for building, bluff protection, and clean water (stormwater, erosion control, etc) for the districts. These standards must include key resources to be protected or enhanced and they must take into account municipal plans and policies, as well as existing ordinances and conditions. The rule will also address public facilities and subdivision requirements.","In the 1970's a series of Executive Orders established the only ""critical area"" in the state of Minnesota. The orders recognized the importance of the corridor, a narrow strip of land on either side of the Mississippi River from Dayton and Ramsey to the confluence with the St. Croix River, as a ""unique and valuable state and regional resource for the benefit of the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the state, region, and nation."" All local governments with jurisdiction in the MRCCA currently have plans and ordinances in place that will need to be updated once the rules are promulgated.",,2009-07-01,2015-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Jennifer,Shillcox,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5727",jennifer.shillcox@state.mn.us,"Mapping, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Analysis/Interpretation, Technical Assistance, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mississippi-river-corridor-critical-area-rulemaking-0,,,,
3614,"Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area Rulemaking",2014,100000,"M.L. 2013 Ch. 137 Art. 2 Sec. 6(l)","$100000 the first year is for the commissioner of natural resources for rulemaking under Minnesota Statutes section 116G.15 subdivision 7. ","In FY14 DNR will revise the draft rule and Statement Of Need And Reasonableness written in 2011 and conduct formal rulemaking to finalize and promulgate the rules.","DNR intended to revise the draft rules and Statement Of Need And Reasonableness written in 2011 and conduct formal rulemaking to finalize and promulgate the rules. However due to strong interest and concerns with the draft rules DNR expanded its process to re-engage with local governments and interest groups to understand their concerns and make the draft rules more workable before moving forward. In FY14 DNR: •met individually with each local government administering plans and ordinances in the MRCCA at least once and three times in group meetings convened by Metro Cities •met with numerous interest groups at their request •submitted a report to the Legislature in January 2014 •revised the 2011 draft rules (referred to as the 2014 working draft rules) and •published a second Request for Comments in June 2014 and initiated a public outreach effort to provide information to the public and get additional input on the working draft rules.",,,,53703,80,,0.72,,,"The DNR has been charged by the legislature to develop rules that protect and manage the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA) for natural resource, economic development, transportation, historic preservation, and other values. This project engages stakeholder groups in a public process to balance regulatory protections with local flexibility and control. The rules will replace the outdated Executive Order that currently guides development in the MRCCA. The legislation requires the rules to establish new districts within the MRCCA and to develop minimal guidelines and standards for building, bluff protection, and clean water (stormwater, erosion control, etc) for the districts. These standards must include key resources to be protected or enhanced and they must take into account municipal plans and policies, as well as existing ordinances and conditions. The rule will also address public facilities and subdivision requirements.","In the 1970's a series of Executive Orders established the only ""critical area"" in the state of Minnesota. The orders recognized the importance of the corridor, a narrow strip of land on either side of the Mississippi River from Dayton and Ramsey to the confluence with the St. Croix River, as a ""unique and valuable state and regional resource for the benefit of the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the state, region, and nation."" All local governments with jurisdiction in the MRCCA currently have plans and ordinances in place that will need to be updated once the rules are promulgated.",,2009-07-01,2015-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Jennifer,Shillcox,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5727",jennifer.shillcox@state.mn.us,"Mapping, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Analysis/Interpretation, Technical Assistance, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mississippi-river-corridor-critical-area-rulemaking-0,,,,
3614,"Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area Rulemaking",2011,250000,"M.L. 2009 Ch. 172 Art. 2 Sec. 5(e)","$250000 the first year and $250000 the second year are to adopt rules for the Mississippi River corridor critical area under Minnesota Statutes section 116G.15. The commissioner shall begin rulemaking under chapter 14 no later than January 15 2010. At least 30 days prior to beginning the rulemaking the commissioner shall notify local units of government within the Mississippi River corridor critical area of the intent to adopt rules. The local units of government shall make reasonable efforts to notify the public of the contact information for the appropriate department staff. The commissioner shall maintain an e-mail list of interested parties to provide timely information about the proposed schedule for rulemaking opportunities for public comment and contact information for the appropriate department staff.","DNR will develop rules that protect and manage multiple values of the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area.","DNR engaged the public and key stakeholders in a comprehensive process to develop draft rule language. The draft rules and SONAR (Statement of Need and Reasonableness) are written; however the agency lost its authority to conduct formal rulemaking to finalize and promulgate the rules.",,,,145392,8100,,0.5,,,"The DNR has been charged by the legislature to develop rules that protect and manage the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA) for natural resource, economic development, transportation, historic preservation, and other values. This project engages stakeholder groups in a public process to balance regulatory protections with local flexibility and control. The rules will replace the outdated Executive Order that currently guides development in the MRCCA. The legislation requires the rules to establish new districts within the MRCCA and to develop minimal guidelines and standards for building, bluff protection, and clean water (stormwater, erosion control, etc) for the districts. These standards must include key resources to be protected or enhanced and they must take into account municipal plans and policies, as well as existing ordinances and conditions. The rule will also address public facilities and subdivision requirements.","In the 1970's a series of Executive Orders established the only ""critical area"" in the state of Minnesota. The orders recognized the importance of the corridor, a narrow strip of land on either side of the Mississippi River from Dayton and Ramsey to the confluence with the St. Croix River, as a ""unique and valuable state and regional resource for the benefit of the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the state, region, and nation."" All local governments with jurisdiction in the MRCCA currently have plans and ordinances in place that will need to be updated once the rules are promulgated.",,2009-07-01,2015-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Jennifer,Shillcox,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5727",jennifer.shillcox@state.mn.us,"Mapping, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Analysis/Interpretation, Technical Assistance, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mississippi-river-corridor-critical-area-rulemaking-0,,,,
3614,"Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area Rulemaking",2010,250000,"M.L. 2009 Ch. 172 Art. 2 Sec. 5(e)","$250000 the first year and $250000 the second year are to adopt rules for the Mississippi River corridor critical area under Minnesota Statutes section 116G.15. The commissioner shall begin rulemaking under chapter 14 no later than January 15 2010. At least 30 days prior to beginning the rulemaking the commissioner shall notify local units of government within the Mississippi River corridor critical area of the intent to adopt rules. The local units of government shall make reasonable efforts to notify the public of the contact information for the appropriate department staff. The commissioner shall maintain an e-mail list of interested parties to provide timely information about the proposed schedule for rulemaking opportunities for public comment and contact information for the appropriate department staff.",,,,,,124572,13785,,1.0,,,"The DNR has been charged by the legislature to develop rules that protect and manage the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA) for natural resource, economic development, transportation, historic preservation, and other values. This project engages stakeholder groups in a public process to balance regulatory protections with local flexibility and control. The rules will replace the outdated Executive Order that currently guides development in the MRCCA. The legislation requires the rules to establish new districts within the MRCCA and to develop minimal guidelines and standards for building, bluff protection, and clean water (stormwater, erosion control, etc) for the districts. These standards must include key resources to be protected or enhanced and they must take into account municipal plans and policies, as well as existing ordinances and conditions. The rule will also address public facilities and subdivision requirements.","In the 1970's a series of Executive Orders established the only ""critical area"" in the state of Minnesota. The orders recognized the importance of the corridor, a narrow strip of land on either side of the Mississippi River from Dayton and Ramsey to the confluence with the St. Croix River, as a ""unique and valuable state and regional resource for the benefit of the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the state, region, and nation."" All local governments with jurisdiction in the MRCCA currently have plans and ordinances in place that will need to be updated once the rules are promulgated.",,2009-07-01,2015-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Jennifer,Shillcox,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5727",jennifer.shillcox@state.mn.us,"Mapping, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Analysis/Interpretation, Technical Assistance, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mississippi-river-corridor-critical-area-rulemaking-0,,,,
35030,"Mississippi Headwaters Habitat Partnership",2016,2813500,"ML 2015, First Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 3(f)","$3,002,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire lands in fee and for permanent conservation easements in the Mississippi Headwaters and for agreements as follows: $1,217,000 to The Trust for Public Land; and $824,000 to Minnesota Land Trust, of which up to $80,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed acquisitions must be included as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"841 acres protected (in fee with state PILT liability) and 1,082 acres protected in easement for a total of 1,923 acres ",,456300,"RIM and Land Value Donation ",2811100,4800,,0.25,"Trust for Public Land and MN Land Trust","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Through the ML2015 Mississippi Headwaters Habitat Partnership appropriation, we permanently protected 1,923 acres of wildlife habitat in the quickly developing Mississippi Headwaters area. These accomplishments exceed the appropriation goal by 209%. Utilizing both fee-title acquisition and conservation easements, the partnership protected 10 projects, totaling over 11 miles of shoreline along the Mississippi River, its tributaries and nearby lakes. This has reversed habitat loss, improved watershed function, and increased access to public lands for quality hunting and fishing opportunities. ",,"The ML2015 Mississippi Headwaters Habitat Partnership (The Trust for Public Land, Minnesota Land Trust, and the MN DNR) permanently protected 1,923 acres (209% of our goal) of sensitive shoreline and wildlife habitat in the Mississippi Headwaters area. These activities occurred in Aitkin, Beltrami, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, and Wadena County. They resulted in three new units of public land (WMA/AMA), two additions to existing public lands (AMAs), and five conservation easements. As background, the Mississippi River is one of the world’s greatest river systems in terms of size, habitat diversity, biological productivity, and sources of drinking water. It is the fourth longest river in the world with over 18 million people depending on this watershed for drinking water supply. The critical Headwaters Region, roughly the first 400 miles of the main stem and associated watersheds, is home to some of our state’s most outstanding freshwater ecological resources. It provides outstanding habitat for fish and wildlife and is a major route for migratory waterfowl. It is also an unparalleled recreational resource for outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, boating and hiking. The idea to form this partnership around habitat protection and restoration in the area grew out of a series of habitat conservation successes and related partnership work in the Headwaters area in the early 2010s: LaSalle Lake, Mississippi River Northwoods, numerous forest legacy projects; shoreland easements initiatives; aquatic management areas additions; and more. For the ML15 appropriation, it consists of three partner organizations - The Trust for Public Land, Minnesota Land Trust, and the Minnesota DNR. This partnership sought to protect sensitive shoreline and habitat resources in the Headwaters area from fragmentation in order to ensure these recreational and natural resource benefits continue into the future. We focused our efforts on the mainstem of the Mississippi River; key tributaries; critical lakesheds; specific natural resource communities; habitat lands with a proven link to water quality; and, recreational access. We exceeded our intentions, and the habitat protected furthered the goals and strategies outlined in numerous state/area resource management plans, including Aquatic Management Area Acquisition Plan; Tomorrow’s Habitat for the Wild and Rare; and, Outdoor Heritage Fund: A 25 Year Framework.  The specific successes of each of the three partners is outlined below: The Trust for Public Land: In January 2016, The Trust for Public Land acquired and conveyed 705 acres of mixed pine and hardwood forest with over three miles of river frontage on the Crow Wing River, a major tributary to the Mississippi River, to the MN DNR as the new Crow Wing River Corridor Wildlife Management Area (WMA). This protected property creates outstanding public recreational opportunities for hunting, fishing, hiking, wildlife observation and canoeing, as well as significant water quality benefits. This highly developable land was previously owned by the Potlatch Corporation and its protection is responsible for the currently occurring jack pine woodland restoration. Minnesota Land Trust: Over the course of this appropriation, the Land Trust protected 4 priority properties totaling 964 acres and 34,207 feet (~6.5 miles) of shoreline. Acres protected exceeded that proposed for the grant by 301%. In addition, projects provided $381,000 in leverage through landowner donation of easement value. Specifically, the following properties were protected: The Black Lake (Bakker) project in Beltrami County permanently protected in easement 6,568 feet (1.24 miles) of shoreline and 391 acres of mixed coniferous and deciduous forest, wetland, and other habitat.  The owner donated the value of the conservation easement for this project. Two conservation easements in Crow Wing County – Island Lake (Flemmer) and Island Lake (Flemmer Trust) – were protected, permanently protecting in easement 25,287 feet (4.8 miles) of shoreline and 514 acres of outstanding quality medic hardwood forest, diverse wetlands, and shoreline habitat along Mud Lake, Island Lake, Owl Pond and Mud Brook.  The 132-acre Ann Lake (Killeen) property in Itasca County was protected with funds drawn in part through both the Mississippi Headwaters Habitat Partnership, and the Land Trust’s Critical Shoreland Protection – Phase 3 program grants. The Mississippi Headwaters Habitat Partnership grant funded the protection of 59 acres of high-quality northern mesic forest and northern rich tamarack swamp, in addition to 2,333 feet of shoreline on Ann and Link lakes. Ann Lake is a state-designated wild rice lake. The property abuts George Washington State Forest on two sides. Minnesota DNR: The Minnesota DNR protected 4 properties through fee-title acquisition and 1 through a conservation easement. Specifically, the following properties were protected: The newly created Greenwood Lake Aquatic Management Area (AMA) is 86 acres with over 3,700 shoreline feet on Greenwood Lake in Crow Wing County. The 6-acre Pickerel Lake AMA with over 2,275 feet of shoreline protected in Hubbard County. The Hill Lake AMA is 31 acres with over 2,000 shoreline feet on Hill Lake in Aitkin County. The 11-acre Preece Point AMA with over 1,100 shoreline feet on Marquette Lake in Beltrami County. The Cuyuna Scout Camp AMA conservation easement added 118 acres of protection to the existing Aquatic Management Area (AMA) in Crow Wing County. ",2015-07-01,2021-02-25,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Robert,McGillivray,"The Trust for Public Land","2610 University Ave W Ste 300","St. Paul",MN,55114,"(651) 999-5307",rjm@tpl.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Beltrami, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Wadena","Northern Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mississippi-headwaters-habitat-partnership-0,,,,
10035248,"Mississippi Headwaters Habitat Corridor Project Phase 8",2025,2706000,"ML 2024, Ch. 106, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(f)","$2,706,000 the second year is to acquire lands in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore wildlife habitat in the Mississippi headwaters. Of this amount: (1) $1,706,000 is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements as follows: $57,000 to the Mississippi Headwaters Board and $1,649,000 to Trust for Public Land; and (2) $1,000,000 is to the Board of Water and Soil Resources, of which up to $100,000 is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.","Increased availability and improved condition of riparian forests and other habitat corridors - With permanent land protection (either fee-title acquisition of conservation easements) forests will remain intact and thus less fragmented maintaining forest integrity. Placement of projects will be focused on those that can connect with other public lands to create or expand habitat corridors. The outcome will be measured by acres and shoreland miles protected and evaluated against the program goals. Permanent owners of fee-title acquisitions will monitor and evaluate the condition of the lands according to their policies and easement lands will be monitored annually into perpetuity by BWSR. Rivers and streams provide corridors of habitat including intact areas of forest cover in the east and large wetland/upland complexes in the west - Conservation easements have been in past appropriations and those funded with an ML 24 appropriation will be placed on parcels on the main stem Mississippi River, along major tributaries along the headwaters, and other critical habitat parcels adjacent to public land. Parcels are mostly forested. Easement outcomes will be measured by the number of acres protected and shoreland feet and evaluated against set goals. Easements will be evaluated into perpetuity through yearly monitoring. Fee-title acquisitions will also be evaluated by acres protected and shoreland feet and against set appropriation goals",,,30700,Private,2653900,52100,,0.52,"MHB, BWSR, TPL, ","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Mississippi Headwaters Board in partnership with The Trust for Public Land and BWSR assisted by 8 County SWCDs will permanently protect an additional 830 acres of critical fish and wildlife habitat along the first 400 miles of the Mississippi River, its major tributaries, 9 headwaters lakes and adjacent minor watersheds. Phases 1-7 have already protected 10,259 acres and 47 miles of shoreland using fee title acquisitions and conservation easements to create or expand permanently protected aquatic and upland wildlife habitat corridors/complexes. This on-going work benefits fish, game/non-game wildlife, migratory waterfowl, reduces forest fragmentation and enhances","Phase 8 will continue to address current and anticipated aquatic and upland habitat protection opportunities along the first 400 miles of the Mississippi River, its major tributaries, Headwaters lakes and other high quality habitat complexes in the 8 Headwaters counties (Clearwater, Beltrami, Cass, Hubbard, Itasca, Crow Wing , Aitkin, and Morrison counties). To date, 10,259 acres and 47 miles of shoreland have been permanently protected to benefit aquatic habitat, provide food and shelter for migratory waterfowl along the Mississippi Flyway, and to create and enhance protected habitat corridors for game and non-game wildlife. Additionally, forest fragmentation detrimental to habitat protection has been reduced; public recreational opportunities for fishing, hunting, and passive recreation have been enhanced; and clean water protected for fish habitat and the drinking water of millions of Minnesotans downstream who depend on the river. There is urgency to fund this phase because acquisition funds in previously funded phases are spent or committed to land conservation that will protect an additional 5,637 acres and 9 miles of shoreland. The headwaters of the Mississippi River are home to a variety of game fish and its adjacent lands are home to 350+ species of animals and birds, including most of the endangered and threatened species in Minnesota. Migratory waterfowl depend on the river for food and shelter during migration along the Mississippi Flyway. Because quality privately owned lakeshores are already developed, pressure is building for development along the river corridor as people seek to live and recreate near water. This leads to fragmentation of forests that threatens wildlife habitat and water quality. Public lands adjacent to private property are in danger of losing habitat connectivity as private lands are increasingly developed resulting in destruction of wild rice beds, disruption of aquatic and upland habitat and fragmentation of forestlands, grasslands, and wetlands that dominate the Headwaters. As a partnership, The Mississippi Headwaters Board administers and coordinates the project; The Trust for Public Land acquires fee-title to priority lands and conveys permanent ownership to a public entity (state or county) and BWSR in partnership with 8 Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation Districts completes RIM conservation easements. Parcels for land protection are identified and prioritized through a science-based prioritization process that identifies the highest priority land to enhance or create large habitat complexes. A Technical Team of project partners along with representatives from the DNR, The Nature Conservancy, and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe review and approve all projects using a ranked evaluation of habitat and biodiversity, urgency and opportunity for protection, size of the parcel and amount of shoreland along with other factors. Strong local government involvement is unique to this project. For fee-title acquisitions, county boards are notified early to seek approval and before closing on an acquisition the County Board is again asked for final approval. Education sessions on easements have been conducted with county commissioners. This process has enhanced local government support and the resulting trust has contributed to this Project's ongoing success.",,2024-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Tim,Terrill,"Mississippi Headwaters Board (MHB)","322 Laurel St., Suite 11 ",Brainerd,MN,56401,218-824-1189,timt@mississippiheadwaters.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca","Forest Prairie Transition, Northern Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mississippi-headwaters-habitat-corridor-project-phase-8,,,,
10006494,"Mississippi Headwaters Habitat Corridor Project - Phase IV",2019,2998000,"ML 2018, Ch. 208, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 5(b)","$2,073,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire lands in fee and restore wildlife habitat in the Mississippi headwaters. Of this amount, $73,000 is to the Mississippi Headwaters Board and $2,000,000 is to The Trust for Public Land. $925,000 the second year is to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to acquire lands in permanent conservation easements and to restore wildlife habitat, of which up to $65,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed acquisitions must be included as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"The science-based targeting described in the next paragraph utilized the Minnesota Wildlife Action Network's data along with other state data sets, including The MN County Biological Survey, to identify priority areas for permanent fish and wildlife protection within the minor watershed of the first 400 miles of the Mississippi River and/or along major tributaries, headwaters' lakes and priority sub-watershed areas. The Wildlife Action Network was developed to help implement the 2015-2025 MN Wildlife Action Plan, which identified species of greatest conservation need and rare, threatened and endangered species. The Program's geographic targeting also considered specific areas of species richness and/or biodiversity importance and areas where aquatic and terrestrial habitats have been compromised. Many of these identified priority areas were the geography focused on in selecting parcels for permanent land protection using fee-title acquisition or RIM conservation easements.","A total of 1,600 acres were affected: 0 Restored, 690 in Fee Title, 910 in Easements, 0 in Enhance.",84200,"Land Value Donation, Private and Private ",2895100,21900,,0.53,"Mississippi Headwaters Board; Trust for Public Land; BWSR","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Mississippi Headwaters Habitat Corridor Project Phase IV (ML 18) achieved permanent protection of 1,590 acres of critical fish and wildlife habitat, including 12 miles of shoreland on the Mississippi River and adjacent lakes/tributaries. This accomplishment exceeded the appropriation goal by over 200%. Seven (7) fee-title acquisitions and 12 RIM conservation easements adjacent to public land created or expanded large habitat protection complexes. Acquisitions included 4 additions to county forests and 3 additions to DNR public land. The project is a partnership of the Mississippi Headwaters Board, Trust for Public Land, BWSR and the 8 Headwaters' County SWCDs.","The Mississippi River is known as ""America's greatest river"", one of the largest in the world. It provides critical habitat for fish, wildlife and migratory waterfowl along its first 400 miles - its Headwaters course through 8 Minnesota Counties from Itasca State Park to southern Morrison County. It also provides drinking water for St. Cloud and the Twin Cities plus varied recreation opportunities for millions of people. Protecting the Headwaters' water quality and adjacent shoreland habitats through strategically placed permanent land protection is critical to maintaining fish, game, and non-game wildlife habitat as well as food and shelter for millions of migratory waterfowl annually on the Mississippi Flyway. This Program's funding has been expanded beyond the Phase 4 ML18 appropriation to funding through Phase 7 (ML22) resulting in the cumulative protection to date of 10,736 acres and over 50 miles of shoreland on the Mississippi River, major tributaries, and contributing headwaters lakes. Public lands adjacent to the Mississippi River are increasingly in danger of losing habitat connectivity as private lands are under more development pressure potentially causing fragmentation of forests and critical upland and shoreland habitats. This Program's goal is creating or enlarging permanently protected upland habitat complexes to insure game and non-game wildlife have a secure place to raise their young, seek shelter and food, and move around without disturbance; the protection of water quality as necessary fish habitat; and food and shelter for migratory waterfowl. At the same time, the program opens up new opportunities for public recreation along the Mississippi River and within its major watershed. Fee-title acquisition with final public ownership (either the DNR or a Headwaters' County) and RIM conservation easements, held in perpetuity by BWSR, were the land protection tools used in strategic locations to create or expand permanently protected habitat corridors. (see answers to questions below for the scientific methodology used to select priority parcels for land conservation). The targeted geography for the program was the minor watershed corridor of the first 400 miles of the Mississippi River, its major tributaries, and headwaters lakes. Program partners (MHB, TPL, and BWSR) defined initial priorities for the program that guided the implementation of Phase IV (ML18) and subsequent phases for the Mississippi Headwaters Habitat Corridor Project. A Technical Committee comprised of partner representatives, representatives from Headwaters' SWCDs, the DNR, and The Nature Conservancy reviewed proposed fee-title acquisitions and easements and approved/disapproved projects according to ranking criteria related to habitat quality, location, size, and supporting field observations. This process insures that critical habitat value was achieved with the funding appropriated. Completion of Phase IV (ML18) resulted in the permanent protection of 1,560 acres and 12 miles of shoreland achieved through 12 RIM conservation easements with private landowners and 7 fee-title acquisitions that included 4 additions to a county forest, 1 addition to a state forest, and additions to a DNR WMA and AMA. Funding from subsequent appropriations helped achieve these goals.",,2018-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Tim,Terrill,"Mississippi Headwaters Board","322 Laurel St., Suite 11 ",Brainerd,MN,56401,218-824-1189,timt@mississippiheadwaters.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Morrison","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mississippi-headwaters-habitat-corridor-project-phase-iv,,,,
10033402,"Mississippi Headwaters Habitat Corridor Project Phase 7",2023,5465000,"ML 2022, Ch. 77, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(e )","$5,465,000 the second year is to acquire lands in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore wildlife habitat in the Mississippi headwaters. Of this amount, (1) $3,814,000 is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements as follows: $54,000 is to the Mississippi Headwaters Board and $3,760,000 is to The Trust for Public Land; and (2) $1,651,000 is to the Board of Water and Soil Resources, of which up to $150,000 is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed acquisitions must be included as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Forestlands are protected from development and fragmentation - Forestlands protected are measured in the number of acres of forestland protected by either fee-title or easement and miles of protected forested shorelands. For fee-title acquisitions, the evaluation of ongoing maintenance of the forest according will be measured by the final owner's (state or local government) management plans and continued monitoring. For conservation easements, a management plan is part of the easement. Once recorded, BWSR with assistance from the County SWCD does annual monitoring to insure the management plan is not being violated. Rivers and streams provide corridors of habitat including intact areas of forest cover in the east and large wetland/upland complexes in the west - Forestlands protected are measured in the number of acres of forestland protected by either fee-title or easement and miles of protected shoreland. For fee-title acquisitions, the evaluation of ongoing maintenance of the forest and shoreland will be according to the final owner's (state or local government) management plans and continued monitoring. For conservation easements, a management plan is part of the easement. Once recorded, BWSR with assistance from the County SWCD does annual monitoring to insure the management plan is not being violated",,,537500,"RIM, private and private",5430500,34500,,0.78,"MHB; TPL; BWSR; ","Non-Profit Business/Entity","In Phase 7, The Mississippi Headwaters Board in partnership with The Trust for Public Land and BWSR assisted by 7 County SWCDs will permanently protect an additional 2,015 acres of critical fish and wildlife habitat along the first 400 miles of the Mississippi River, its major tributaries, and 9 headwaters lakes. Previous phases have already protected 4,130 acres and 34 miles of shoreland using fee title acquisitions and conservation easements to create or expand permanently protected aquatic and upland wildlife habitat corridors. This on-going work benefits fish, game and non-game wildlife, migratory waterfowl and reduces forest fragmentation.","This Phase will continue to address current and anticipated aquatic and upland habitat protection opportunities along the first 400 miles of the Mississippi River, its major tributaries, Headwaters lakes and other high quality habitat complexes in Headwaters counties. To date, 4,130 acres and 34 miles of shoreland have been permanently protected to benefit aquatic habitat, provide food and shelter for migratory waterfowl along the Mississippi Flyway, and to create and enhance protected habitat corridors for game and non-game wildlife. Additionally, forest fragmentation that is detrimental to habitat protection has been reduced; public recreational opportunities for fishing, hunting, and passive recreation have been enhanced; and clean drinking water protected for millions of Minnesotans. There is urgency to fund this phase because previous phases through ML 21 are spent or committed to fee title acquisitions and easement projects that will protect an additional 2,936 acres and 10+ miles of shoreland. The Mississippi River--Gichi-ziib in Ojibwe meaning ""big river""-- is home to a variety of game fish and its adjacent lands are home to 350+ species of animals and birds, including most of the endangered and threatened species in Minnesota. Migratory waterfowl depend on the river for food and shelter along the Mississippi Flyway. Because quality privately owned lakeshores are already developed, pressure is building for development along the river corridor as people seek to live and recreate near water. This leads to fragmentation of forests that threatens habitat and water quality. Public lands adjacent to private property are in danger of losing habitat connectivity as private lands are increasingly developed resulting in destruction of wild rice beds, disruption of aquatic and upland habitat and fragmentation of forestlands, grasslands, and wetlands that dominate the Headwaters. As a partnership, The Mississippi Headwaters Board administers and coordinates the project; The Trust for Public Land acquires fee-title to priority lands and conveys permanent ownership to a public entity (state or local government); and BWSR in partnership with 7 Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation Districts completes RIM conservation easements on parcels that have been identified and prioritized through a science-based selection process described below. A Technical Team of project partners along with DNR, BWSR, and The Nature Conservancy staff review and approve all projects using a ranked evaluation of habitat qualities, urgency for protection, and adjacency to public or already protected lands--a factor that is important to expanding protected habitat corridors. Strong local government involvement is unique to this project. For fee-title acquisitions, county boards are notified early to seek approval and before closing on an acquisition the County Board is again asked for final approval. Education sessions on easements have been conducted informally with county commissioners. This process has enhanced local government support and trust which has contributed to this Project's ongoing success.",,2022-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Tim,Terrill,"Mississippi Headwaters Board","322 Laurel St., Suite 11 ",Brainerd,MN,56401,218-824-1189,timt@mississippiheadwaters.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Morrison","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mississippi-headwaters-habitat-corridor-project-phase-7,,,,
35083,"MNDNR Aquatic Habitat Protection Phase VIII",2017,1023200,"ML 2016, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(a)","$1,578,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire land in fee and permanent conservation easements for aquatic management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02, to acquire permanent conservation easements under the Minnesota forests for the future program pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 84.66, and to restore and enhance aquatic and adjacent upland habitat. Of this amount, up to $153,000 is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed land acquisitions, conservation easements, restorations, and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"41 acres protected (in fee with state PILT liability) and 194 acres protected (in easement) for a total of 235 acres ",,,,1020800,3000,,,DNR,"State Government","DNR acquired a fee-title parcel designated as an Aquatic Management area in Itasca County.  This acquisition protected 41 acres and exceeded the accomplishment plan goal.  Nine trout stream conservation easements were also added to the AMA system.  Two Forests for the Future easements with a combined total of 171 acres were acquired, achieving protection in priority watersheds while maintaining working forest in private ownership. ",,"We take a programmatic approach to acquisition, with scoring systems specific to fee-title Aquatic Management Areas, and trout stream conservation easements, respectively, to determine priority of candidate parcels.  An outstanding parcel that scored well for multiple criteria was available in Itasca County.   All of the available fee-title funding for this appropriation was used on this parcel.  Other funding also contributed to this acquisition. Candidate parcels for trout stream conservation easements are also scored and ranked with relevant criteria specific to trout streams.  DNR Central Office program staff work with the Fish and Wildlife Acquisition unit and field staff to identify candidate parcels with landowners willing to sell conservation easements, and prioritize candidates based on scores.  Trout stream easements are valued using the formula in statute, so the landowner knows the maximum value from the start of the acquisition process.   This appropriation was one of two in which Fish and Wildlife Division staff in DNR partnered with the Division of Forestry to target forest easement acquisition in priority watersheds.  The overlapping objectives central to this partnership are protecting water quality, and maintaining sustainable working forests on private land.  Both Division of Forestry and Division of Fish and Wildlife staff conducted outreach with lake associations in the 5 watersheds to explain the program, identify interested landowners, and provide application materials.  Applications filled out by interested landowners meeting sign-up criteria were scored by staff in both the Fish and Wildlife Division and Forestry Division of DNR.  Parcels meeting criteria were appraised, and offers made to the landowners.  While acquisition of easements was completed on two parcels, landowners declined the offer for a significant parcel in Hubbard County. ",,2020-10-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Martin,Jennings,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road ","St Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5176",martin.jennings@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Crow Wing, Fillmore, Houston, Hubbard, Itasca, Olmsted, St. Louis, Wabasha","Northern Forest, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mndnr-aquatic-habitat-protection-phase-viii,,,,
10031387,"Modernizing Minnesota's Plant Community Classification and Field Guides",2025,1800000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 03q","$1,800,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to collect additional vegetation and environmental data and update the state's 20-year-old native plant community classification guides to incorporate new data, streamline user application and access to products, and include analysis of climate and vegetation trends. Net income generated as part of this appropriation may be reinvested in the project if a plan for reinvestment is approved in the work plan. This appropriation is subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,15.45,"MN DNR","State Government","Update the state's 20-year-old native plant community classification guides to incorporate new data; streamline user application and access to products; and increase connections to evolving climate and vegetation trends.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2027-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Bruce,Carlson,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5083",bruce.carlson@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/modernizing-minnesotas-plant-community-classification-and-field-guides,,,,
10031444,"Morrison County Historical Society Streambank Stabilization and Restoration",2025,519000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 08b","$519,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Morrison Soil and Water Conservation District to stabilize and restore land along the Mississippi River owned by the Morrison County Historical Society within the statutory boundaries of Charles A. Lindbergh State Park to improve water quality and improve aquatic and terrestrial habit. For purposes of this appropriation, subdivision 13, paragraph (e), does not apply. The commissioner of natural resources may make reasonable amounts of this appropriation available on an advance basis to accommodate the Morrison Soil and Water Conservation District's cash-flow needs if a plan for the advances is approved as part of the work plan.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,0.1,"Morrison Soil and Water Conservation District","Local/Regional Government","Construction funding is needed to stabilize a unique shoreline site using a bioengineered design incorporating native plants soil wraps, stream barbs and root wads to create aquatic habitat.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2026-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Shannon,Wettstein,"Morrison Soil and Water Conservation District","16776 Heron Road USDA Service Center","Little Falls",MN,56345,"(320) 631-3553",shannon.wettstein@morrisonswcd.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Benton, Big Stone, Cass, Chippewa, Crow Wing, Douglas, Grant, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Nicollet, Otter Tail, Pope, Renville, Sibley, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wadena, Wilkin",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/morrison-county-historical-society-streambank-stabilization-and-restoration,,,,
10004559,"Native Bee Surveys in Minnesota Prairie and Forest Habitats",2017,600000,"M.L. 2016, Chp. 186, Sec. 2, Subd. 03b","$600,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to continue to assess the current status and distribution of native bee pollinators in Minnesota by expanding surveys into the prairie-forest border region and facilitating interagency collaboration and public outreach on pollinators. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2019, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,,,,,"MN DNR","State Government",,,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2016/work_plans_may/_2016_03b.pdf,2016-07-01,2019-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Crystal,Boyd,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Rd","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5699",crystal.boyd@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Becker, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Chisago, Clearwater, Cottonwood, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Isanti, Jackson, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/native-bee-surveys-minnesota-prairie-and-forest-habitats,,,,
10031433,"North Minneapolis Nature Connection: Storytelling and Leadership Pathways",2025,697000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 05v","$697,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Loppet Foundation to promote urban nature connections for North Minneapolis residents through storytelling, nature and environmental justice programs, and environmental leadership pathways for high schoolers and young adults.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,6.54,"The Loppet Foundation","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Loppet and community collaborators will promote urban nature connection for North Minneapolis residents through storytelling, nature and environmental justice programming, and environmental leadership pathways for high schoolers and young adults.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2026-08-31,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,DeAnna,"Smith Perkins","The Loppet Foundation","1221 Theodore Wirth Parkway",Minneapolis,MN,55422,"(763) 222-4992",development@loppet.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, Wright",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/north-minneapolis-nature-connection-storytelling-and-leadership-pathways,,,,
10011405,"Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, Phase X",2020,2383000,"ML 2019, 1st Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd, 2(d)","$2,383,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to acquire lands in fee or permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance lands in the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area in western Minnesota for addition to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan, and the acquisitions must be consistent with the priorities in Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan.","Remnant native prairies are part of large complexes of restored prairies, grasslands, and large and small wetlands - This program’s work is primarily focused on the Prairie region. A small portion of the Refuge, however, falls in the Forest-Prairie Transition region. If work is done in this region, the following outcomes will be measured and reported: 1) Total acres protected, 2) Acres of native prairie, 3) Acres of wetland, 4) Feet of stream- and lake-front, 5) Acres within Prairie Plan priorities, 6) # of endangered/threatened/species in greatest conservation need (SGCN) on protected properties. .Remnant native prairies are part of large complexes of restored prairies, grasslands, and large and small wetlands - The program’s top priority is protecting native prairie. The majority of lands acquired will be native prairie and associated habitats including wetlands, streams and lakes. The parcel selection criteria also favor building onto existing complexes of prairie/grassland/wetland and protected land. The following outcomes will be measured and reported for acquisition in this region: 1) Total acres protected, 2) Acres of native prairie, 3) Acres of wetland, 4) Feet of stream- and lake-front, 5) Acres within Prairie Plan priorities, 6) # of endangered/threatened/SGCN on protected properties..",,,296400,"USFWS NAWCA, TNC, USFWS",2326600,56400,,0.80,"The Nature Conservancy","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Nature Conservancy and US Fish and Wildlife Service will work together to permanently protect native prairie and associated complexes of wetlands and native habitats in western and central Minnesota by purchasing approximately 705 acres of fee title properties and/or permanent habitat easements. Approximately 350 acres will be native prairie. Work will be focused in areas identified as having significant biodiversity by the Minnesota Biological Survey and located in priority areas in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. ","The Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) was established in 2000 to address the loss of America’s grasslands and the decline of grassland wildlife. The Refuge was created to permanently preserve and restore a portion of our disappearing tallgrass prairie. The Refuge is authorized to work in the prairie landscapes of western Minnesota and northwestern Iowa.To date, the Refuge has protected 9,660 acres in Minnesota. Funding from the Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF) will allow The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), working in partnership, to significantly accelerate this progress. TNC and USFWS will cooperate on protecting approximately 705 acres of native prairie and associated habitat in the 49 Minnesota counties within the Refuge boundary. We expect to protect approximately 300 acres in fee title and approximately 405 acres with permanent habitat easements.This program’s work is targeted at protecting high-quality native habitat in areas with existing concentrations of native prairie, wetlands, and protected lands. The lands protected will consist of native prairie and associated habitats including wetlands, streams, and lakes.Potential acquisitions are reviewed using the following criteria:1) Is there untilled native prairie on the tract? If not, is it adjacent to untilled native prairie?2) Is the property in a priority area (core/corridor/complex) identified in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan (Prairie Plan)?3) Is it adjacent to an existing complex of protected land?4) Was it identified by Minnesota Biological Survey (Biological Survey) as having concentrations of threatened and endangered species and communities?5) Is it suitable for public recreation?Because of the nature of parcel ownership, some properties acquired through this program will likely include small areas of converted or degraded habitat needing restoration/enhancement. Restoration/enhancement will be completed where needed. With this program's focus on native habitat, only a limited amount of cropland restoration has been required. To date, less than 2% of the land acquired was cultivated at the time of purchase. The funds budgeted for this work are primarily for enhancement, like tree and brush removal, to prepare these properties for long-term, sustainable management. Previous OHF support has allowed the partners to make significant progress towards our shared goal of protecting and buffering the remaining native prairie. The first property was acquired in March, 2013. Since then, 5,465 acres have been added to the Refuge with OHF funding. Of these, 3,220 acres are classified as untilled native prairie. Additional habitat includes 514 acres of wetlands and more than 12 miles of stream and/or lakefront. Offers have been extended to landowners for the protection of 760 additional acres. Talks are ongoing with a long list of interested landowners.With additional support from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, this program will continue to make real and lasting progress towards protecting Minnesota’s native prairies and the wildlife that depend on those lands.",,2019-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Ruth,Thornton,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 W. River Parkway Suite 200",Minneapolis,MN,55415,"(612) 331-0790",ruth.thornton@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Brown, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Roseau, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Wilkin, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/northern-tallgrass-prairie-national-wildlife-refuge-phase-x,,,,
10019637,"Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, Phase XII",2022,3280000,"ML 2021, First Sp. Session, Ch. 1, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 2(d)","$3,280,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to acquire land in fee or permanent conservation easements and restore and enhance lands in the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area in western Minnesota for addition to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. Land acquisitions must be consistent with the priorities in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. ","Remnant native prairies are part of large complexes of restored prairies, grasslands, and large and small wetlands - The percent of native remnant prairie, as determined by the Minnesota Biological Survey and/or FWS biologists, will be documented on each parcel, as will the proximity to other protected land and neighboring habitat types, including oak savanna, wetlands, and Big Woods forest. These factors are considered in the ranking criteria for each parcel. Remnant native prairies are part of large complexes of restored prairies, grasslands, and large and small wetlands - The percent of native remnant prairie, as determined by the Minnesota Biological Survey and/or FWS biologists, will be documented on each parcel. Surrounding natural habitat types and cropped areas will be evaluated as part of the ranking criteria for submitted parcels",,,266200,"PF NAWCA",3234500,45500,,0.98,"The Nature Conservancy with USFWS","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Nature Conservancy and US Fish and Wildlife Service will work together to permanently protect native prairie and associated complexes of wetlands and native habitats in western and central Minnesota by purchasing approximately 875 acres of fee title properties and/or permanent habitat easements. Approximately 469 acres will be native prairie. Work will be focused in areas identified as having significant biodiversity by the Minnesota Biological Survey and located in priority areas in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan.","The Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) was established in 2000 to address the loss of America's grasslands and the decline of grassland wildlife. The Refuge was created to permanently preserve and restore a portion of our disappearing tallgrass prairie. The Refuge is authorized to work in the prairie landscapes of western Minnesota and northwestern Iowa. To date, the Refuge has protected more than 12,000 acres. Funding from the Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF) will allow The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), working in partnership, to significantly accelerate this progress. TNC and USFWS will cooperate on protecting approximately 875 acres of native prairie and associated habitat in the 49 Minnesota counties within the Refuge boundary. We expect to protect approximately 350 acres in fee title and approximately 525 acres with permanent habitat easements. This program's work is targeted at protecting high-quality native habitat in areas with existing concentrations of native prairie, wetlands, and protected lands. The lands protected will consist of native prairie and associated habitats including wetlands, streams, coulees, and lakes. Potential acquisitions are reviewed using the following criteria: 1) Is there untilled native prairie on the tract? If not, is it adjacent to untilled native prairie? 2) Is the property in a priority area (core/corridor/complex) identified in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan (Prairie Plan)? 3) Is it adjacent to an existing complex of protected land? 4) Was it identified by Minnesota Biological Survey (Biological Survey) or FWS biologists as having concentrations of threatened and endangered species and communities? 5) Is it suitable for public recreation? Because of the nature of parcel ownership, some properties acquired through this program will likely include small areas of converted or degraded habitat needing restoration or enhancement work. Restoration and enhancement will be completed where needed. With this program's focus on native habitat, only a limited amount of cropland restoration has been required. The funds for this work are primarily for enhancement activities such as invasives, tree, and brush removal that prepare these properties for long-term management. Previous OHF support has allowed the partners to make significant progress towards our shared goal of protecting and buffering the remaining native prairie. The first property was acquired in March, 2013. Since then, approximately 6,319 acres have been added to the Refuge with OHF funding. Of these, approximately 3,715 acres (nearly 60%) are classified as untilled native prairie. Additional habitat includes nearly 560 acres of wetlands, nearly 15 miles of stream front, and more than 2 miles of lakefront. We have signed agreements with landowners for the protection of approximately 737 additional acres (470 acres of which are native prairie), and are negotiating with landowners on an additional 75 acres. Talks are ongoing with a long list of interested landowners. With additional support from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, this program will continue to make real and lasting progress towards protecting Minnesota's native prairies and the wildlife that depend on those lands.",,2021-07-01,2025-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Ruth,Thornton,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 West River Parkway Suite 200",Minneapolis,MN,55415,6123310790,ruth.thornton@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Brown, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Roseau, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Wilkin, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/northern-tallgrass-prairie-national-wildlife-refuge-phase-xii,,,,
10017821,"Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, Phase XI",2021,2295000,"ML 2020, Ch. 104, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 2(d)","$2,295,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to acquire lands in fee or permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance lands in the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area in western Minnesota for addition to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan, and the acquisitions must be consistent with the priorities in Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. ","Remnant native prairies are part of large complexes of restored prairies, grasslands, and large and small wetlands - The percent of native remnant prairie, as determined by the Minnesota Biological Survey and/or FWS biologists, will be documented on each parcel, as will the proximity to other protected land and neighboring habitat types, including oak savanna, wetlands, and Big Woods forest. These factors are considered in the ranking criteria for each parcel. Remnant native prairies and wetlands are perpetually protected and adequately buffered - The percent of native remnant prairie, as determined by the Minnesota Biological Survey and/or FWS biologists, will be documented on each parcel. Surrounding natural habitat types and cropped areas will be evaluated as part of the ranking criteria for submitted parcels",,,184700,"PF NAWCA, TNC and USFWS",2261200,33800,,0.86,"The Nature Conservancy w/USFWS ","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Nature Conservancy and US Fish and Wildlife Service will work together to permanently protect native prairie and associated complexes of wetlands and native habitats in western and central Minnesota by purchasing approximately 620 acres of fee title properties and/or permanent habitat easements. Approximately 333 acres will be native prairie. Work will be focused in areas identified as having significant biodiversity by the Minnesota Biological Survey and/or the US Fish and Wildlife Service and located in priority areas in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan.","The Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) was established in 2000 to address the loss of America's grasslands and the decline of grassland wildlife. The Refuge was created to permanently preserve and restore a portion of our disappearing tallgrass prairie. The Refuge is authorized to work in the prairie landscapes of western Minnesota and northwestern Iowa. To date, the Refuge has protected 11,400 acres in Minnesota. Funding from the Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF) will allow The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), working in partnership, to significantly accelerate this progress. TNC and USFWS will cooperate on protecting approximately 620 acres of native prairie and associated habitat in the 49 Minnesota counties within the Refuge boundary. We expect to protect approximately 245 acres in fee title and approximately 375 acres with permanent habitat easements. This program's work is targeted at protecting high-quality native habitat in areas with existing concentrations of native prairie, wetlands, and protected lands. The lands protected will consist of native prairie and associated habitats including wetlands, streams, coulees, and lakes. Potential acquisitions are reviewed using the following criteria: 1) Is there untilled native prairie on the tract? If not, is it adjacent to untilled native prairie? 2) Is the property in a priority area (core/corridor/complex) identified in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan (Prairie Plan)? 3) Is it adjacent to an existing complex of protected land? 4) Was it identified by Minnesota Biological Survey (Biological Survey) or FWS biologists as having concentrations of threatened and endangered species and communities? 5) Is it suitable for public recreation? Because of the nature of parcel ownership, some properties acquired through this program will likely include small areas of converted or degraded habitat needing restoration or enhancement work. Restoration and enhancement will be completed where needed. With this program's focus on native habitat, only a limited amount of cropland restoration has been required. The funds budgeted for this work are primarily for enhancement activities, including tree and brush removal, to prepare these properties for long-term, sustainable management. Previous OHF support has allowed the partners to make significant progress towards our shared goal of protecting and buffering the remaining native prairie. The first property was acquired in March, 2013. Since then, 5,787 acres have been added to the Refuge with OHF funding. Of these, 3,400 acres (nearly 60%) are classified as untilled native prairie. Additional habitat includes more than 500 acres of wetlands, more than 10 miles of stream front, and more than 2 miles of lakefront. Offers have been extended to landowners for the protection of 215 additional acres. Talks are ongoing with a long list of interested landowners. With additional support from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, this program will continue to make real and lasting progress towards protecting Minnesota's native prairies and the wildlife that depend on those lands. ",,2020-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Ruth,Thornton,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 West River Parkway Suite 200",Minneapolis,MN,55415,6123310790,ruth.thornton@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Brown, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Roseau, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Traverse","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/northern-tallgrass-prairie-national-wildlife-refuge-phase-xi,,,,
788,"Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Protection, Phase II",2011,2041000,"ML 2010, Ch. 361, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(d)","$2,041,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy to acquire land or permanent easements within the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area in western Minnesota for addition to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. A list of proposed fee title and permanent easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The accomplishment plan must include an easement stewardship plan.",,"Protect in Fee w/o PILT 564 acres of prairies, Enhanced 488 acres of Prairie",,,,2041000,,,,"The Nature Conservancy","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This program will permanently protect remnant native prairie and associated wetland complexes in western Minnesota by purchasing fee title properties and/or habitat easements. Lands and easements purchased through this program by The Nature Conservancy will be transferred to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and will become units of the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge to be owned and managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The majority of the lands protected will consist of native prairie, however, restoration of wetlands and grasslands will also be completed where needed. ","The Northern tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge was established to preserve, restore and manage a portion of the remaining critical northern tallgrass prairie habitat and associated habitats at widespread locations throughout the western Minnesota and northwestern Iowa historic range. Only 5 percent of the original tallgrass prairie remains for preservation consideration throughout the entire historic tallgrass prairie range. Native prairie declines of 99.9% and 99.6% have occurred in Iowa and Minnesota, respectively. Grassland dependent bird species have shown steeper, more consistent, and geographically more widespread declines than any other group of North American birds. The number of acres purchased annually has been limited due to funding shortfalls since the establishment of this refuge. The current land acquisition budget cannot keep up with landowner interest? in this program. This funding will allow us to better meet refuge goals and objectives to protect this vanishing habitat. The Nature Conservancy will work closely with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to review potential properties within the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area. These properties will be ranked by Service field staff who will work with the TNC personnel to permanently protect these tracts. ","Final Report",2010-07-01,2015-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",None,,,Ruth,Thornton,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 W. River Parkway ",Minneapolis,None,55415,"(612) 331-0790",ruth.thornton@tnc.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Clay, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Murray, Norman, Polk, Pope, Pope","Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/northern-tallgrass-prairie-national-wildlife-refuge-protection,,,,
23937,"Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Land Acquisition , Phase V",2015,2450000,"ML 2014, Ch. 256, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(d)","$2,450,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for a contract with The Nature Conservancy in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire land in fee or permanent conservation easements within the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area in western Minnesota for addition to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. Lands acquired with this appropriation may not be used for emergency haying and grazing in response to federal or state disaster declarations. Conservation grazing under a management plan that is already being implemented may continue. Subject to the evaluation criteria under Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquisition of lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan and must be consistent with the priorities in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. ",,"USFWS and TNC biologists and GIS analysts measured the following outcomes from this funding: Total acres protected - 887 acres Acres of native prairie - 664 acres Other native habitat protected - 76 acres of wetlands and 8,500' of streamfront Projects located in MN Prairie Conservation Plan core/corridor/complex - 100% (10 of 10 properties) Acres identified by MN Biological Survey as biologically significant - 553 acres Expiring CRP lands permanently protected - 86 acres ",,352400,"USFWS ",2449400,40900,,1.50,"The Nature Conservancy with USFWS","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This appropriation allowed the permanent protection of 887 acres in western Minnesota. These properties included 664 acres of remnant native prairie, 76 acres of associated wetlands complexes, and 8,500' of streamfront. For this phase we originally planned to protect 740 acres with a minimum of 375 native prairie. Both targets were exceeded - 120% of total acres and 177% of native prairie acres. The land and easements purchased with this funding by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) have been transferred to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and are now units of the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. ",,"The Council’s 25-Year Framework identifies protecting Minnesota’s remaining native prairies as a critical priority.  The Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan (Prairie Plan) describes the importance of preserving the cores/corridors/complexes where there are the greatest opportunities for the long-term conservation of these prairies.  The Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Land Acquisition (NTP NWR) program shares these goals.  This program is a cooperative, multi-year effort of The Nature Conservancy and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to preserve and protect our remaining prairies and the surrounding habitat that buffers them.  With Outdoor Heritage Fund support, this partnership is working together to advance these goals.   This phase included the purchase of both fee title properties and permanent habitat easements.  The original targets for fee and conservation easement acquisition were 485 acres and 255 acres, respectively.  Both goals were exceeded - 520 acres of fee (107% of goal) and 367 acres of easements (144% of goal).  This program’s top criterion for selecting projects is the presence of remnant native prairie.  As noted above, 664 acres of remnant native prairie were permanently protected.  Another important goal is protecting lands in existing complexes of habitat and protected lands.  All of the acquired properties were in areas identified as a priority core/complex/corridor in the Prairie Plan.  We also target lands with high-quality habitat and the rare species this habitat supports.  Data from the Minnesota Biological Survey confirm the conservation value of the lands conserved.  553 acres were identified as having significant biodiversity, with 272 of these ranked as having high or outstanding biodiversity.  These lands support a wide-range of prairie species of concern, including Greater Prairie Chickens, Wilson's Phalaropes, Blandings's Turtles, and Regal Fritallaries.  Another highlight in this phase was the protection of several rare outcrops of Sioux Quartzite and the species that depend on these outcrops.  This program also includes a relatively small restoration/enhancement component.  The prioritization criteria favor parcels that are in good condition.    Because of the nature of parcel ownership, however, some properties included small areas of converted or degraded lands needing grassland or wetland restoration/enhancement.  This work is completed where needed to get these properties into a sustainable condition for future management.  Restoration/enhancement activity with this round of funding included 149 acres of grassland site preparation/seeding or interseeding/mowing, 6 acres of tree and/or dense vegetation removal, and 98 acres of scattered vegetation removal.  These acres are not reported as a separate outcome in the Output Tables in order to avoid any possible double-counting.   One thing to note when reviewing the attached Budget Spreadsheet.  The Request column in the Budget and Cash Leverage Table is out of date.  The figures shown are from the originally approved accomplishment plan.  It does not reflect any later amendments.  This discrepancy resulted from the shift from paper to online reporting during this phase.  See the final version of the Accomplishment Plan, approved in January, 2017, for the final figures. ",2014-07-01,2018-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Richard,Johnson,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 W. River Parkway ",Minneapolis,,55415-1291,"(612) 331-0790",rich_johnson@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Beltrami, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Clay, Clearwater, Cottonwood, Douglas, Faribault, Freeborn, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Roseau, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Waseca, Watonwan, Wilkin, Yellow Medicine","Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/northern-tallgrass-prairie-national-wildlife-refuge-land-acquisition-phase-v,,,,
35044,"Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Land Acquisition - Phase VI",2016,3428200,"ML 2015, First Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(d)","$3,430,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire land in fee or permanent conservation easements within the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area in western Minnesota for addition to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquisition of lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan and must be consistent with the priorities in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. ",,"686 acres protected (in fee without state PILT liability) and 597 acres protected in easement for a total of 1,283 acres ",,456300,"USFWS, TNC ",3384200,40000,,1.21,"The Nature Conservancy with USFWS","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This appropriation allowed the permanent protection of 1,283 acres in western Minnesota, including 583 acres of remnant prairie, 500 acres of other grasslands, 88 acres of wetlands, and more than 8,150' of streamfront. For this phase we had originally planned to protect 1,090 acres, with at least 545 acres of native prairie. We exceeded both goals, protecting 118% of the total acre goal and 107% of the native prairie acre goal. All parcels that were purchased with this funding by TNC have been transferred to the USFWS as part of the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. ",,"The Council’s 25-Year Framework identifies protecting Minnesota’s remaining native prairies as a critical priority.  The Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan (Prairie Plan) describes the importance of preserving the cores/corridors/complexes in areas with the greatest opportunities for long-term conservation of these prairies.  The Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge (NTP NWR) Land Acquisition program shares these goals.  This program is a cooperative, multi-year effort of The Nature Conservancy and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to preserve and protect our remaining prairies and the surrounding habitat that buffers them.  With Outdoor Heritage Fund support, this partnership is working together to advance these goals.   This program also includes a relatively small restoration/enhancement component of the acres acquired.  While the prioritization criteria favor parcels that are in good condition, because of the nature of parcel ownership some properties included small areas of converted or degraded lands needing grassland or wetland restoration/enhancement.  This work is completed only on parcels acquired with this funding, as needed to get these properties into a sustainable condition for inclusion into the NTP NWR and future management.  These acres are not reported as a separate outcome in the Output Tables in order to avoid any possible double-counting. ",2015-07-01,2020-11-03,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Ruth,Thornton,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 W. River Parkway Suite 200",Minneapolis,MN,55415,"(612) 331-0790",ruth.thornton@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Chippewa, Clay, Lyon, Murray, Pipestone, Pope, Wilkin","Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/northern-tallgrass-prairie-national-wildlife-refuge-land-acquisition-phase-vi-1,,,,
10035250,"Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, Phase XIV",2025,4412000,"ML 2024, Ch. 106, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(a)","$4,412,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to acquire land in fee or permanent conservation easements and restore and enhance lands within the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area in western Minnesota for addition to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie.","Remnant native prairies are part of large complexes of restored prairies, grasslands, and large and small wetlands - The percent of native remnant prairie, as determined by the Minnesota Biological Survey and/or USFWS biologists, will be documented on each parcel, as will the proximity to other protected land and neighboring habitat types, including oak savanna, wetlands, and Big Woods forest. These factors are considered in the ranking criteria for each parcel. Remnant native prairies are part of large complexes of restored prairies, grasslands, and large and small wetlands - The percent of native remnant prairie, as determined by the Minnesota Biological Survey and/or USFWS biologists, will be documented on each parcel. Surrounding natural habitat types and cropped areas will be evaluated as part of the ranking criteria for submitted parcels",,,350000,"Federal and USFWS",4327000,85000,,1.8,TNC,"Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Nature Conservancy and US Fish and Wildlife Service will work together to permanently protect native prairie and associated complexes of wetlands and native habitats in western and central Minnesota by purchasing approximately 1,112 acres of fee title properties and/or permanent habitat easements. Approximately 726 acres will be native prairie. Work will be focused in priority areas identified in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan that have significant biodiversity by the Minnesota Biological Survey.","The Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) was established in 2000 to address the loss of America's grasslands and the decline of grassland wildlife. The Refuge was created to permanently preserve and restore a portion of our disappearing tallgrass prairie. The Refuge is authorized to work in the prairie landscapes of western Minnesota and northwestern Iowa. To date, the Refuge has protected more than 13,040 acres. Funding from the Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF) will allow The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), working in partnership, to significantly accelerate this progress. TNC and USFWS will cooperate on protecting approximately 1,112 acres of native prairie and associated habitat in the 49 Minnesota counties within the Refuge boundary. We expect to protect approximately 910 acres with permanent habitat easements and approximately 202 acres in fee title. This program's work is targeted at protecting high-quality native habitat in areas with existing concentrations of native prairie, wetlands, and protected lands. The lands protected will consist of native prairie and associated habitats including wetlands, streams, coulees, and lakes. Potential acquisitions are reviewed using the following criteria: 1) Is there untilled native prairie on the tract? If not, is it adjacent to untilled native prairie? 2) Is the property in a priority area (core/corridor/complex) identified in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan (Prairie Plan)? 3) Is it adjacent to an existing complex of protected land? 4) Was it identified by Minnesota Biological Survey (Biological Survey) or FWS biologists as having concentrations of threatened and endangered species and communities? 5) Is it suitable for public recreation? Because of the nature of parcel ownership, some properties acquired through this program will likely include small areas of converted or degraded habitat needing restoration or enhancement work. Restoration and enhancement will be completed where needed. With this program's focus on native habitat, only a limited amount of cropland restoration has been required. The funds for this work are primarily for enhancement activities such as invasives, tree, and brush removal that prepare these properties for long-term management. Previous OHF support has allowed the partners to make significant progress towards our shared goal of protecting and buffering the remaining native prairie. The first property was acquired in March, 2013. Since then, approximately 7,826 acres have been added to the Refuge with OHF funding. Of these, approximately 4,752 acres (approximately 61%) are classified as untilled native prairie. Additional habitat includes nearly 630 acres of wetlands, nearly 22 miles of stream front, and more than 2.5 miles of lakefront. We have signed agreements with landowners for the protection of approximately 787 additional acres and are negotiating with landowners on an additional 1,587 acres. Talks are ongoing with a long list of interested landowners. With additional support from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, this program will continue to make lasting progress towards protection Minnesota's native prairies and the wildlife that depends on those lands.",,2024-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Chris,McGrath,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 West River Parkway Suite 200",Minneapolis,MN,55415,6123310752,c.mcgrath@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Brown, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Roseau, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Wilkin, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/northern-tallgrass-prairie-national-wildlife-refuge-phase-xiv,,,,
35089,"Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Land Acquisition - Phase VII",2017,2754000,"ML 2016, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(d)"," $2,754,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire land in fee or permanent conservation easements and restore lands within the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area in western Minnesota for addition to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquisition of lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan and must be consistent with the priorities in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan.",,"This program?s top criterion for selecting projects is the presence of remnant native prairie. As noted above, 486 acres of remnant native prairie were permanently protected. Another important goal is protecting lands in existing complexes of habitat and protected lands were in areas identified as a Prairie Core or Corridor in the MN Prairie Plan. We also target lands with high-quality habitat and the rare species this habitat supports. Data from the Minnesota Biological Survey identified nearly 2/3 of the protected acres as having significant biodiversity. These lands support a wide range of prairie species of concern and the vegetative communities that support them, including wet, mesic, and dry hill prairies, wet seepage prairies, calcareous fens, and migratory stopover habitats for water birds. Species benefited by the protected parcels include Blanding's turtles, the creek heelsplitter mussel, nesting upland sandpipers, small white lady?s slipper, and many others. Another highlight in this phase was the protection of multiple lengths of stream that are designated critical habitat for the federally endangered Topeka shiner.","A total of 910 acres were affected: 0 Restored, 482 in Fee Title, 428 in Easements, 0 in Enhance.",516600,"PF-USFWS, TNC and USFWS",2660600,52300,,1.07,"The Nature Conservancy w/USFWS ","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The acquisition work for this phase has been completed. The goal for this phase was the protection of 730 acres, 390 in fee title and 340 in conservation easements. Over the life of the grant we protected 910 acres (124% of the goal), 482 acres in fee title and 428 acres in conservation easements. The goal for native prairie acres for this phase was 410 acres. We protected a total of 456 native prairie acres (111% of the goal): 220 native prairie acres in fee title and 256 native prairie acres in easements. ","The Council's 25-Year Framework identifies protecting Minnesota's remaining native prairies as a critical priority. The Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan (Prairie Plan) describes the importance of preserving the cores/corridors/complexes in areas with the greatest opportunities for long-term conservation of these prairies. The Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge (NTP NWR) Land Acquisition program shares these goals. This program is a cooperative, multi-year effort of The Nature Conservancy and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to preserve and protect our remaining prairies and the surrounding habitat that buffers them. With Outdoor Heritage Fund support, this partnership is working together to advance these goals. This program also includes a relatively small restoration/enhancement component of the acres acquired. While the prioritization criteria favor parcels that are in good condition, because of the nature of parcel ownership some properties included small areas of converted or degraded lands needing grassland or wetland restoration/enhancement. This work is completed only on parcels acquired with this funding, as needed to get these properties into a sustainable condition for inclusion into the NTP NWR and future management. These acres are not reported as a separate outcome in the Output Tables in order to avoid any possible double-counting. Restoration/enhancement activity with this round of funding included grassland site preparation/seeding or interseeding/mowing, tree and/or dense vegetation removal and invasive species control on two parcels. ",,2016-07-01,2022-05-23,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Ruth,Thornton,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 W. River Parkway Suite 200",Minneapolis,MN,55415,"(612) 331-0790",ruth.thornton@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Clay, Kandiyohi, Pipestone, Pope, Rock","Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/northern-tallgrass-prairie-national-wildlife-refuge-land-acquisition-phase-vii,,,,
10000095,"Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Land Acquisition - Phase VIII",2018,2683000,"ML 2017, Ch. 91, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 2(d)","$2,683,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire land in fee or permanent conservation easements and restore lands within the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area in western Minnesota for addition to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquisitions of lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96 or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan and must be consistent with the priorities in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. ",,"This program's top criterion for selecting projects is the presence of remnant native prairie. As noted above, 772 acres of remnant native prairie were permanently protected. Another important goal is protecting lands in existing complexes of habitat and protected lands were in areas identified as a Prairie Core or Corridor in the MN Prairie Plan. We also target lands with high-quality habitat and the rare species this habitat supports. These permanently protected lands support a wide range of prairie species of concern and the vegetative communities that support them, including wet, mesic, and dry hill prairies, wet seepage prairies, calcareous fens, and migratory stopover habitats for water birds. Species benefited by the protected parcels include Blanding's turtles, the creek heelsplitter mussel, nesting upland sandpipers, small white lady's slipper, and many others.","A total of 973 acres were affected: 0 Restored, 60 in Fee Title, 913 in Easements, 0 in Enhance.",125000,"TNC and USFWS",2533000,48300,,0.89,"The Nature Conservancy","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The acquisition work for this phase has been completed. The goal for this phase was the protection of 770 acres in fee and conservation easements. Over the life of the grant we protected 973 acres (126% of the goal): 913 acres in conservation easements and 60 acres in fee title. The goal for native prairie acres for this phase was 385 acres. We protected a total of 772 acres of native prairie acres (201% of the goal).","The Council's 25-Year Framework identifies protecting Minnesota's remaining native prairies as a critical priority. The Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan (Prairie Plan) describes the importance of preserving the cores/corridors/complexes in areas with the greatest opportunities for long-term conservation of these prairies. The Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge (NTP NWR) Land Acquisition program shares these goals. This program is a cooperative, multi-year effort of The Nature Conservancy and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to preserve and protect our remaining prairies and the surrounding habitat that buffers them. With Outdoor Heritage Fund support, this partnership is working together to advance these goals. This program also includes a relatively small restoration/enhancement component of the acres acquired. While the prioritization criteria favor parcels that are in good condition, because of the nature of parcel ownership some properties included small areas of converted or degraded lands needing grassland or wetland restoration/enhancement. This work is completed only on parcels acquired with this funding, as needed to get these properties into a sustainable condition for inclusion into the NTP NWR and future management. These acres are not reported as a separate outcome in the Output Tables in order to avoid any possible double-counting. Restoration/enhancement activity with this round of funding included grassland site preparation/seeding or interseeding/mowing, tree and/or dense vegetation removal and invasive species control on four parcels acquired with acquisition funding from this round.",,2017-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Chris,McGrath,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 W. River Parkway Suite 200",Minneapolis,MN,55415,612-331-0790,c.mcgrath@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Brown, Clay, Kandiyohi, Pipestone, Pope, Rock, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/northern-tallgrass-prairie-national-wildlife-refuge-land-acquisition-phase-viii,,,,
10033403,"Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, Phase XIII",2023,3870000,"ML 2022, Ch. 77, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 2(g)","$3,870,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to acquire land in fee or permanent conservation easements and restore and enhance lands within the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area in western Minnesota for addition to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan and must be consistent with the priorities in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan.","Remnant native prairies are part of large complexes of restored prairies, grasslands, and large and small wetlands - The percent of native remnant prairie, as determined by the Minnesota Biological Survey and/or FWS biologists, will be documented on each parcel, as will the proximity to other protected land and neighboring habitat types, including oak savanna, wetlands, and Big Woods forest. These factors are considered in the ranking criteria for each parcel. Remnant native prairies are part of large complexes of restored prairies, grasslands, and large and small wetlands - The percent of native remnant prairie, as determined by the Minnesota Biological Survey and/or FWS biologists, will be documented on each parcel. Surrounding natural habitat types and cropped areas will be evaluated as part of the ranking criteria for submitted parcels",,,260000,"PF NAWCA and USFWS",3817500,52500,,1.3,"The Nature Conservancy","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Nature Conservancy and US Fish and Wildlife Service will work together to permanently protect native prairie and associated complexes of wetlands and native habitats in western and central Minnesota by purchasing approximately 1,020 acres of fee title properties and/or permanent habitat easements. Approximately 545 acres will be native prairie. Work will be focused in areas identified as having significant biodiversity by the Minnesota Biological Survey and located in priority areas in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan.","The Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) was established in 2000 to address the loss of America's grasslands and the decline of grassland wildlife. The Refuge was created to permanently preserve and restore a portion of our disappearing tallgrass prairie. The Refuge is authorized to work in the prairie landscapes of western Minnesota and northwestern Iowa. To date, the Refuge has protected more than 12,400 acres. Funding from the Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF) will allow The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), working in partnership, to significantly accelerate this progress. TNC and USFWS will cooperate on protecting approximately 1,020 acres of native prairie and associated habitat in the 49 Minnesota counties within the Refuge boundary. We expect to protect approximately 408 acres in fee title and approximately 612 acres with permanent habitat easements. This program's work is targeted at protecting high-quality native habitat in areas with existing concentrations of native prairie, wetlands, and protected lands. The lands protected will consist of native prairie and associated habitats including wetlands, streams, coulees, and lakes. Potential acquisitions are reviewed using the following criteria: 1) Is there untilled native prairie on the tract? If not, is it adjacent to untilled native prairie? 2) Is the property in a priority area (core/corridor/complex) identified in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan (Prairie Plan)? 3) Is it adjacent to an existing complex of protected land? 4) Was it identified by Minnesota Biological Survey (Biological Survey) or FWS biologists as having concentrations of threatened and endangered species and communities? 5) Is it suitable for public recreation? Because of the nature of parcel ownership, some properties acquired through this program will likely include small areas of converted or degraded habitat needing restoration or enhancement work. Restoration and enhancement will be completed where needed. With this program's focus on native habitat, only a limited amount of cropland restoration has been required. The funds for this work are primarily for enhancement activities such as invasives, tree, and brush removal that prepare these properties for long-term management. Previous OHF support has allowed the partners to make significant progress towards our shared goal of protecting and buffering the remaining native prairie. The first property was acquired in March, 2013. Since then, approximately 6,779 acres have been added to the Refuge with OHF funding. Of these, approximately 4,028 acres (nearly 60%) are classified as untilled native prairie. Additional habitat includes nearly 600 acres of wetlands, nearly 20 miles of stream front, and more than 2.5 miles of lakefront. We have signed agreements with landowners for the protection of approximately 737 additional acres (443 acres of which are native prairie), and are negotiating with landowners on an additional 266 acres. Talks are ongoing with a long list of interested landowners. With additional support from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, this program will continue to make lasting progress towards protecting Minnesota's native prairies and the wildlife that depend on those lands.",,2022-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Chris,McGrath,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 West River Parkway Suite 200",Minneapolis,MN,55415,6123310752,c.mcgrath@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Brown, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Roseau, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Wilkin, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/northern-tallgrass-prairie-national-wildlife-refuge-phase-xiii,,,,
9428,"Otter Lake Regional Park",2010,240000,"M.L 2009 Ch. 172 Art. 3 Sec 2d & M.S. 85.535.","$3970000 the first year and $4900000 the second year are for grants under new Minnesota Statutes section 85.535 to parks and trails recognized as meeting the constitutional requirement of being a park or trail of regional or statewide significance. Grants under this section must be used only for acquisition development restoration and maintenance. Of this amount $500000 the first year and $600000 the second year are for grants for solar energy projects. Up to 2.5 percent of this appropriation may be used for administering the grants.",,,,,,,,,,"Ramsey County",,"Construct a new boat ramp on Otter Lake, redevelop parking area for boat trailers and adjacent off-leash dog area users, provide improved stormwater management, install new restroom facilities and provide site amenities and landscaping.",,,2010-09-20,2012-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Audrey,Mularie,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5549",audrey.mularie@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Ramsey,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/otter-lake-regional-park,,,,
10031421,"Outdoor Pathways to Environmental Education, Recreation, and Careers",2025,1500000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 05j","$1,500,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Wilderness Inquiry to promote equity in access to outdoor activities, places, and careers by providing Minnesotans with a continuum of outdoor experiences from the backyard to the backcountry, implementing environmental education curriculum for youth, and delivering professional development workshops for educators.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,25.98,"Wilderness Inquiry","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Wilderness Inquiry engages 20,000 Minnesotans through outdoor adventures, promoting equity in access to outdoor activities, places, and careers and supporting stewardship and conservation values for current and future generations.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2027-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Meg,Krueger,"Wilderness Inquiry","1611 County Road B West Ste 315","Saint Paul",MN,55113,"(612) 676-9400",development@wildernessinquiry.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/outdoor-pathways-environmental-education-recreation-and-careers,,,,
784,"Outdoor Heritage Conservation Partners Grant Program - FY 2010",2010,4000000,"ML 2009, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(a)","$4,000,000 in fiscal year 2010 is to the commissioner of natural resources for a pilot program to provide competitive, matching grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, state, and national organizations, including government, for enhancement, restoration, or protection of forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. Up to 6-1/2 percent of this appropriation may be used for administering the grant. The funds may be advanced in three equal sums, on or after November 1, 2009, February 1, 2010, and April 1, 2010. Grantees may protect land through acquisition of land or interests in land. Easements must be permanent. Land acquired in fee must be open to hunting and fishing during the open season unless otherwise provided by state law. The commissioner of natural resources must agree to each proposed acquisition of land or interest in land. The program shall require a match of at least $1 nonstate funds to $10 state funds. The nonstate dollars match may be in-kind. The criteria for evaluating grant applications must include amount of habitat restored, enhanced, or protected; local support; degree of collaboration; urgency; multiple benefits; habitat benefits provided; consistency with sound conservation science; adjacency to protected lands; full funding of the project; supplementing existing funding; public access for hunting and fishing during the open season; sustainability; and use of native plant materials. All projects must conform to the Minnesota statewide conservation and preservation plan. Wildlife habitat projects must also conform to the state wildlife action plan. Priority may be given to projects acquiring land or easements associated with existing wildlife management areas. All restoration or enhancement projects must be on land permanently protected by conservation easement or public ownership. To the extent possible, a person conducting prairie restorations with money appropriated in this section must plant vegetation or sow seed only of ecotypes native to Minnesota, and preferably of the local ecotype, using a high diversity of species originating from as close to the restoration site as possible, and protect existing native prairies from genetic contamination. Subdivision 10 applies to grants awarded under this paragraph. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2013, at which time all grant projects must be completed and final products delivered, unless an earlier date is specified in the grant agreement. No less than 15 percent of the amount of each grant must be held back from reimbursement until the grant recipient has completed a grant accomplishment report in the form prescribed by and satisfactory to the Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council. As a condition of proceeding with this appropriation, the commissioner shall report on the feasibility, process, and timeline for creation of a Minnesota fish and wildlife foundation, to be modeled after the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and on the possibility of allowing for the administration by this entity of the conservation partners grant program. The legislative guide created in this act shall consider whether this program should be administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the commissioner of natural resources, or some neutral third party.","Forestlands are protected from development and fragmentation Increased availability and improved condition of riparian forests and other habitat corridors Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species Landlocked public properties are accessible with have increased access for land managers Improved aquatic habitat indicators Improved aquatic habitat indicators Wetland and upland complexes will consist of native prairies, restored prairies, quality grasslands, and restored shallow lakes and wetlands Increased availability and improved condition of riparian forests and other habitat corridors Water is kept on the land Protected, restored, and enhanced aspen parklands and riparian areas Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need A network of natural land and riparian habitats will connect corridors for wildlife and species in greatest conservation need Protected habitats will hold wetlands and shallow lakes open to public recreation and hunting Core areas protected with highly biologically diverse wetlands and plant communities, including native prairie, Big Woods, and oak savanna Improved aquatic habitat indicators Healthier populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species Remnant goat prairies are perpetually protected High priority riparian lands, forestlands, and savannas are protected from parcelization and fragmentation Rivers, streams, and surrounding vegetation provide corridors of habitat Improved aquatic habitat indicators Stream to bluff habitat restoration and enhancement will keep water on the land to slow runoff and degradation of aquatic habitat Landlocked public properties have increased access for land managers Core areas protected with highly biologically diverse wetlands and plant communities, including native prairie, Big Woods, and oak savanna Protected, restored, and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands Expiring CRP lands are permanently protected Remnant native prairies and wetlands are permanently protected and are part of large complexes of restored prairie, grasslands, and large and small wetlands Improved condition of habitat on public lands Water is kept on the land Increased participation of private landowners in habitat projects Protected, restored, and enhanced habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation nee","A total of 10,243 acres were effected: 3,863 enhanced, 752 protect in easement, 369 protected in fee w/o PILT, 610 protect in fee with PILT, and 4,649 restored. 370 acres were restored native prairie. ",,,,4000000,,,2.0,DNR,"State Government","This program is managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to provide competitive matching grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, state, and national organizations, including government. Grant activities include the enhancement, restoration, or protection of forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. A 10% non-state cash or in-kind match was required from all grantees, and was identified at the time of application. ","CONSERVATION PARTNERS GRANTS PROGRAM This grant program consists of two activity categories: Category 1 - Restoration and Enhancement. For the purpose of this grant program, this work is defined as: Restore: action to bring a habitat back to a former state of sustaining fish, game or wildlife, with an ultimate goal of restoring habitat to a desired conservation condition. Enhance: action to increase the ability of habitat and related natural systems to sustain and improve fish, game or wildlife in an ecologically sound manner. Projects funded under Category 1, Restoration and Enhancement, consists of activities that restore or enhance habitat for fish, game, or wildlife on lands permanently protected by conservation easement or public ownership. Specific activities can be found in LSOHC Habitat activity Definitions. 1. Proposed projects on public lands are approved by and coordinated with public land managers. Projects proposed for lands under permanent conservation easement are reviewed by public land managers. Proof of review or approval is submitted with the grant application. 2. Restoration and enhancement activities are considered permanent work and a conservation easement is required for private lands before work could begin. Funding for the easement/deed restriction and associated costs can be paid for with in-kind match or grant funds. 3. Grantees are responsible for all administrative requirements such as Historic Property Review, Wetland Conservation Act, Stormwater Permits, Natural Heritage Review, DNR Waters Permits, and others as appropriate. Costs for any reviews or permits are included in the grant application, either as in-kind match or requested from grant dollars. As specified in the grant agreement, grantees may, by letter, assign these duties and associated funds back to DNR, with DNR consent. 4. The Commissioner of Natural Resources will approve all projects. 5. Vegetation and seed used in these projects are from ecotypes native to MN, and preferably of the local ecotype, using a high diversity of species originating from as close to the restoration site as possible. Existing native prairies are protected from genetic contamination to the extent possible. 6. A restoration and management plan is prepared for all restorations, consistent with the highest quality conservation and ecological goals for the restoration site. The plans include: a. The proposed timetable for implementing the restoration, including i. site preparation, ii. establishment of diverse plant species, iii. maintenance, and iv. additional enhancement to establish the restoration; b. Identification of long-term maintenance and management needs of the restoration and how the maintenance, management, and enhancement will be financed; and c. the best available science to achieve the best restoration. 7. Grantees give consideration to and make timely written contact with the MN Conservation Corps for consideration of possible use of their services to contract for restoration and enhancement services. Category 2 - Land Protection Protect: action to maintain the ability of habitat and related natural systems to sustain fish, game or wildlife through acquisition of fee title or conservation easements. For the purpose of this grant program, this work is defined as: Acquisitions funded under Category 2 ? Land protection of wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife by acquiring land through fee title or permanent easement. Lands acquired in fee title are open to the public for hunting and fishing during open seasons. Easements include stewardship provisions to perpetually monitor and enforce the conditions of the easements. 1. The Commissioner of Natural Resources will agree to each proposed acquisition of land or interest in land. For fee acquisition, the final title holder and land manager are specified. Lands that will be conveyed to a public agency are donated. 2. For permanent easements, the following information is provided: a. What organization monitors the easement; b. Who the easement reverts to in the event the primary easement holder ceases to exist; c. What easement monitoring standards are used; d. Amount, funding source, and holder of the stewardship endowment dedicated to the easement; and e. Any restrictions, allowed structures, allowed activities, and reserved rights. 3. A restoration and management plan is prepared for all newly acquired lands as described in Category 1.6 above. 4. All acquisition selection processes and related transactions costs for all parties involved in the acquisition are reported to the LSOHC. 5. A Notice of Funding Restriction is recorded for each acquisition. 6. An analysis of future operations and maintenance costs for any acquired lands is provided to the LSOHC, commissioner of finance, and appropriate public agency. 7. The grantee will submit an annual report on the status of property acquired with grant funds to LSOHC by December 1 each year. Grantees acquiring land that will be conveyed to DNR are required to follow DNR?s Third Party Land Acquisition Procedures. All appraisals are done to Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice standards. All land surveys are done to meet DNR?s General Requirements for Land Surveys. Lands that are conveyed to a public agency for long-term management are brought up to the agency?s minimum operating standards before being conveyed. General Program Requirements: all grants will be closed by June 30, 2013, at which time all projects are completed and final products delivered. All grant projects conform to the terms set out in the 2009 MN Session Law Chapter 172, and address the priorities in the MN Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan, and Tomorrow's Habitat for the Wild and Rare. In implementing this program the DNR complies with the Office of Grants Management policies. Grantee Match: The match requirement is 10% in nonstate cash or in-kind work, which includes verifiable equipment use, donation of materials, and donation of labor. The amount and source of the match is identified at the time of application. Proof of all required and pledged grantee match will be provided before the final payment is made. Grant Process: A Request for Proposal (RFP) will be posted on the DNR and LSOHC websites in August 2009. The RFP contains grant program, application criteria, application and proposal requirements, state agency contacts and grant reporting requirements. The RFP and all grant agreements incorporate appropriate principles and criteria from the 2009 LSOHC Strategic Plan. Applications will be accepted electronically, with grants selected for funding in December, 2009, and March, 2010. Maps and aerial photos showing the location of proposed projects are required, and include the name of the public land unit or private landowner, county, legal description, acres affected, and on-site and adjacent habitat types. DNR Grants Program staff will work with grant applicants to ensure applications are complete, compile all grant applications, and enter applications into a database. A Technical Guidance Committee selected by the Commissioner of Natural Resources will rank applications based on criteria established by the LSOHC and MN State Legislature and recommend projects and funding levels. This committee includes representatives from DNR, BWSR, the U of M, the USFWS, and other appropriate members. The Commissioner will make the final decision on projects funded, and funding levels. Ranking Criteria Used: 1. Amount of habitat restored, enhanced, or protected 2. Local support 3. Degree of collaboration 4. Urgency 5. Multiple benefits 6. Habitat benefits provided 7. Consistency with sound conservation science 8. Adjacency to protected lands 9. Full funding of the project 10. Supplementing existing funding 11. Public access for hunting and fishing during the open season 12. Sustainability 13. Use of native plant materials Every effort will be made to evenly distribute the selected grants by geographic location, activity, and funding level. Once grant applications are selected, DNR Grants Program staff will work with grantees to ensure financial reviews, grant agreements, and any other necessary paperwork is completed. Work will not begin until the grant is executed. Grant Payment: Grant payments will be administered on a reimbursement basis unless otherwise provided in the grant agreement. Periodic payments will be made upon receiving documentation that the deliverable items articulated in the approved accomplishment plan have been achieved, including partial achievements as evidenced by approved progress reports. Capital equipment expenditures are not allowed. No less than 15 percent of the amount of each grant must be held back from reimbursement until the grant recipient has completed a grant accomplishment report in the form prescribed by and satisfactory to the LSOHC. Project Reviews and Reporting Project reviews will be completed on an annual basis by Grant Program or other DNR staff. Grantees will submit annual accomplishment reports in the form determined by the LSOHC by September 1 of each year. These reports are based on work completed during the previous fiscal year. Reports account for the use of grant and match funds, and outcomes in measures of wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat restored, enhanced, and protected. The report includes an evaluation of these results. A map and aerial photo showing the location of the project and including the name of the public land unit or private landowner, county, legal description, and acres affected will be included. DNR Grant Program staff will compile grantee reports and submit an annual accomplishment report to the LSOHC, Legislative Coordinating Commission, and Department of Finance on October 15 of each year. Accomplishment information will be posted on LSOHC and DNR websites. MN FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION REPORT: This report will be submitted by January 1, 2010 to the Legislature by the Commissioner of Natural Resources. It considers the feasibility, process, and timeline for creation of a MN fish and wildlife foundation, to be modeled after the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and on the possibility of allowing for the administration by this entity of the conservation partners grant program. The legislative guide created in this act will consider whether this program should be administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the commissioner of natural resources, or some neutral third party. ","Final Report",2009-07-01,2011-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",None,,,Jessica,Lee,DNR,"500 Lafayette Rd N ","Saint Paul",None,55155,"(651) 259-5233",jessica.lee@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Hubbard, Isanti, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Stearns, Steele, Steele","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/outdoor-heritage-conservation-partners-grant-program-fy-2010,,,,
814,"Outdoor Heritage Conservation Partners Grant Program - FY 2011",2011,4386000,"ML 2010, Ch. 361, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(i)","$4,386,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for a program to provide competitive, matching grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, state, and national organizations, including government, for enhancement, restoration, or protection of forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. Up to four percent of this appropriation may be used by the commissioner of natural resources for administering the grant program. Grantees may acquire land or interests in land. Easements must be permanent. Land acquired in fee must be open to hunting and fishing during the open season unless otherwise provided by state law. The commissioner of natural resources must agree in writing to each proposed acquisition of land or interest in land. The program shall require a match of at least ten percent from nonstate sources for grants of $100,000 or less and a match of at least 15 percent from nonstate sources for grants over $100,000. Up to one-third of the match may be in-kind resources. The criteria for evaluating grant applications must include, in a balanced and equally weighted order of precedence, the amount of habitat restored, enhanced, or protected; local support; degree of collaboration; urgency; capacity to achieve multiple benefits; habitat benefits provided; consistency with current conservation science; adjacency to protected lands; full funding of the project; supplementing existing funding; public access for hunting and fishing during the open season; sustainability; and use of native plant materials. All projects must conform to the Minnesota statewide conservation and preservation plan. Wildlife habitat projects must also conform to the Minnesota wildlife action plan. Subject to the evaluation criteria and requirements of this paragraph and Minnesota Statutes, the commissioner of natural resources shall give priority to organizations that have a history or charter to receive private contributions for local conservation or habitat projects when evaluating projects of equal value. Priority may be given to projects acquiring land or easements associated with existing wildlife management areas. All restoration or enhancement projects must be on land permanently protected by conservation easement or public ownership or in public waters as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 103G.005, subdivision 15. Subdivision 9 applies to grants awarded under this paragraph. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph (b). This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, at which time all grant project work must be completed and final products delivered, unless an earlier date is specified in the grant agreement. No less than five percent of the amount of each grant must be held back from reimbursement until the grant recipient has completed a grant accomplishment report by the deadline and in the form prescribed by and satisfactory to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.","Forestlands are protected from development and fragmentation Increased availability and improved condition of riparian forests and other habitat corridors Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species Improved aquatic habitat indicators Improved aquatic habitat indicators Wetland and upland complexes will consist of native prairies, restored prairies, quality grasslands, and restored shallow lakes and wetlands Increased availability and improved condition of riparian forests and other habitat corridors Water is kept on the land Protected, restored, and enhanced aspen parklands and riparian areas Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need A network of natural land and riparian habitats will connect corridors for wildlife and species in greatest conservation need Protected habitats will hold wetlands and shallow lakes open to public recreation and hunting Core areas protected with highly biologically diverse wetlands and plant communities, including native prairie, Big Woods, and oak savanna Improved aquatic habitat indicators Healthier populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species High priority riparian lands, forestlands, and savannas are protected from parcelization and fragmentation Rivers, streams, and surrounding vegetation provide corridors of habitat Improved aquatic habitat indicators Stream to bluff habitat restoration and enhancement will keep water on the land to slow runoff and degradation of aquatic habitat Core areas protected with highly biologically diverse wetlands and plant communities, including native prairie, Big Woods, and oak savanna Protected, restored, and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands Remnant native prairies and wetlands are permanently protected and are part of large complexes of restored prairie, grasslands, and large and small wetlands Improved condition of habitat on public lands Water is kept on the land Protected, restored, and enhanced habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation nee","8750 acres",,,,4386000,,,1.4,DNR,"State Government","The Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program (CPL) is managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to provide competitive matching grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, state, and national non-profit organizations and governments. Grant activities include the enhancement, restoration, or protection of forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. A match of at least 10% from nonstate sources was required for grants of $100,000 or less, and a match of at least 15% from nonstate sources was required for grants over $100,000. Up to one-third of the match may be in-kind resources. All match was identified at the time of application. CPL Program Staff developed a Request for Proposal and Program Manual, solicited applications and oversaw the grant selection process, prepared and executed grant documents, reviewed expenditure documentation, ensured recipients were only reimbursed for allowable expenses, monitored grant work, and assisted recipients with closing out grants. Up to 4% of the appropriation was used for administering the grant program. ","Applicants applied for grants under this program to enhance, restore, or protect forests, wetlands, prairies and habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. For projects that restore and/or enhance 1. Projects are only on lands under permanent protection of public fee ownership, or conservation easement as defined in MS 84C.01 or public ownership or in public waters as defined in MS 103G.005, subd. 15. Projects may be done on tribal lands under federal trust arrangements. 2. A conservation easement must be placed on any private land impacted before work may begin. Funding for the easement/deed restriction and associated costs may be paid for with in-kind match or grant funds. 3. Proposed projects on public lands are approved by and coordinated with public land managers. Projects proposed for lands under permanent conservation easement are reviewed by the easement holder. Proof of review or approval must be submitted to grant staff before the application deadline. The private landowner must agree to the project as well. 4. Grantees are responsible for all administrative requirements such as Historic Property Review, Wetland Conservation Act, Stormwater Permits, DNR Waters Permits, and others as appropriate. Costs for any reviews or permits should be included in the grant application, either as in-kind match or requested from grant dollars. As specified in the grant agreement, grantees may, by letter, assign duties and associated funds back to DNR, with DNR consent. 5. A Natural Heritage Review is required for each project site. This must be completed by the Land Manager or Easement Holder, or appropriate DNR staff, and submitted on the Land Manager Approval form. This form must be uploaded to the CPL Application System. 6. The Commissioner of Natural Resources must approve all projects. 7. All projects must meet requirements in the 2010 MN Session Law, Chapter 361, and follow the principles and criteria outlined in the L-SOHC FY 2011 Call for Funding Request. For projects that will protect 1. Lands acquired in fee title will be open to the public for hunting and fishing during open seasons unless otherwise provided by law. 2. All easements must be permanent. Easements must include stewardship provisions to perpetually monitor and enforce the conditions of the easements. 3. Projects to acquire land in fee simple title or a permanent conservation easement must be associated with established land acquisition programs that use explicit criteria for evaluating a parcel's habitat potential. 4. Grantees must agree to abide by all L-SOHC requirements for long-term management of any lands acquired with Outdoor Heritage Funds (OHF). 5. For fee acquisition, the final title holder and land manager must be specified. Lands that will be conveyed to a public agency must be donated. 6. Some State programs have specific statutory guidelines for determining the value of easements acquired under that program. If the easement will become part of that State program and the easement will be held by the State, any entity acquiring the easement may use that program's statutory method for the easement valuation. 7. All acquisition selection processes and related transactions costs for all parties involved in the acquisition must be reported to the L-SOHC, 8. A Notice of Funding Restriction must be recorded for each acquisition. 9. An analysis of future operations and maintenance costs for any acquired lands must be provided to the L-SOHC, commissioner of finance, and appropriate public agency. 10.The grantee must submit an annual report on the status of property acquired with grant funds to the L-SOHC by December 1 of each year. 11.Grantees acquiring land that will be conveyed to DNR will be required to follow DNR's Land Acquisition Procedures for Lands to be Conveyed to DNR. 12. Grantees acquiring land that will NOT be conveyed to DNR will be required to follow DNR's Land Acquisition Procedures for Lands NOT to be Conveyed to DNR. 13.A Natural Heritage Review is required for each project site. This must be completed by the Land Manager or Easement Holder, or appropriate DNR staff and submitted on the Land Manager Approval form. This form must be, uploaded to the CPL Application System. 14.All projects must meet requirements in the 2010 MN Session Law, Chapter 361, and follow the principles and criteria outlined in the L-SOHC FY 2011 Call for Funding Request. General Program Requirements Funds for this program were available until June 30, 2014. All grant projects must meet requirements of the 2010 MN Session Law, Chapter 361, and the L-SOHC's 2010 Call for Funding Requests. In addition, projects must address the priorities in the Minnesota Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan, and Tomorrow's Habitat for the Wild and Rare. Capital expenditures and indirect costs are not allowed. In administering this program the DNR will comply with the Department of Administration, OGM policies. Grantee Match A match of at least 10% from nonstate sources was required for grants of $100,000 or less, and a match of at least 15% from nonstate sources was required for grants over $100,000. Up to one-third of the match may be in-kind resources. All match was identified at the time of application. Grantee Payment Grantees are paid on a reimbursement basis unless other arrangements are specified and approved in a grantee's application and work program. Reasonable amounts may be advanced to projects to accommodate cash flow needs, to match federal share, or for acquisitions. Advances must be specified in the grantee's application and final grant agreement or work program. Partial payments will be allowed. 5% of each grant was held back until a grant accomplishment report has been completed by the grantee. Grant Process A Request for Proposal (RFP) was posted on the CPL website in early August, 2010. The RFP contains grant program information, application criteria, application requirements, state agency contacts and grant reporting requirements. The RFP, Program Manual, and all grant agreements incorporate appropriate principles and criteria from the L-SOHC's 2010 Call for Funding Requests and associated legislation. Applications were accepted electronically for two grant rounds. Any ungranted funds from the first cycle were available for use in following cycles. Applications were submitted electronically using CPL's Online Grant Application System (OLGA). All project sites were mapped using OLGA's mapping tool. OLGA accepted applications beginning in August, 2010 until the deadline for the first round of grants in mid-September, 2010. The application system did not accept applications during the review process. OLGA was re-activated in December, 2010 mid-February, 2011 to accept applications for a second round of grants. CPL Grant Program Staff reviewed applications to make sure they were complete and met grant program requirements. Technical Review Committee(s), selected by the Commissioner of Natural Resources reviewed and scored applications based on criteria established by the L-SOHC, MN State Legislature and DNR. These committees include representatives from DNR, BWSR, the University of MN, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and other appropriate members from both government and non-profit organizations. A final ranking committee made up of the Chief Financial Officer, and Directors of the DNR Divisions of Fish and Wildlife, Ecological Resources/Waters, and Forestry recommended projects and funding levels to the Commissioner of Natural Resources. The Commissioner made the final decision on the projects funded and funding levels. Projects may be fully or partially funded. Every effort was made to evenly distribute the selected grants by geographic location, activity, and funding level, with an objective of granting 50% of the funds to projects above $125,000, and 50% of the funds to projects below $125,000. CPL Grant Program staff work with grantees to ensure financial reviews, grant agreements, and any other necessary paperwork are completed. Work may not begin until the grant is executed. Project Reviews and Reporting Project reviews are completed as required by Office of Grants Management Policy 08-10, Monitoring. Grantees report accomplishments on a CPL Report Form by September 1 of each year. Reports must account for the use of grant and match funds, and outcomes in measures of wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat restored, enhanced, and protected. The report must include an evaluation of these results. A final report was required by all grantees 30 days after project completion. CPL Grant Program staff compile grantee reports and submit an annual accomplishment report to the L-SOHC by January 15 February 1 and October 15 August 1 of each year. This report contains information on the number of agreements made, amount of reimbursement paid to grantees, accomplishments by grantees, number and status of remaining open agreements, and administrative costs. Accomplishment information is also be posted on L-SOHC and DNR websites. Relationship to Minnesota Conservation and Preservation Plan and other published resource management plans. This program provides additional funds to enhance, restore, and protect habitat in Minnesota. All published resource management and species plans?including the Minnesota Conservation and Preservation Plan?recognize that habitat is critical for the success of Minnesota's fish and wildlife species. Lack of funding is consistently listed in many plans as one of the largest issues limiting the amount of habitat work and protection that is completed each year. In the Minnesota Conservation and Preservation Plan, habitat restoration and enhancement is specified in the following priorities: H1: Protect priority land habitats (pg 63) H2: Protect critical shorelands of streams and lakes (pg 67) H4: Restore and protect shallow lakes (pg 78) H5: Restore land, wetlands, and associated wetlands (pg 80) H7: Keep water on the landscape (pg 84) LU 8: Protect large blocks of forested land (pg 130) L10: Support and expand sustainable practices on working forested lands (pg 131) Other plans that list habitat restoration, enhancement and protection as priorities include: Tomorrow's Habitat for the Wild and Rare (Minnesota's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy), which identifies habitat loss and degradation as the primary problem facing species in greatest conservation need in Minnesota. The State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan Strategies #1 and 2. The DNR's Division of Fish and Wildlife has several key plans identifying acquisition and habitat goals for fish and wildlife populations. Habitat goals are also addressed through more focused plans and programs that can be found on the DNR's website. National plans include the North American Wetland Management Plan, various Joint Venture Plans, National Fish Habitat Initiative, and all the Bird Conservation Plans. Non-governmental conservation agencies such as Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, and Audubon Minnesota have developed their own conservation plans that list habitat restoration, enhancement and protection as a priority. ","Accomplishment PlanBackground: Applicants applied for grants under this program to enhance, restore, or protect forests, wetlands, prairies and habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota.For projects that restore and/or enhance1. Projects will be only on lands under permanent protection of public fee ownership, or conservation easement as defined in MS 84C.01 or public ownership or in public waters as defined in MS 103G.005, subd. 15. Projects may be done on tribal lands under federal trust arrangements. 2. A conservation easement must be placed on any private land impacted before work may begin. Funding for the easement/deed restriction and associated costs may be paid for with in-kind match or grant funds.3. Proposed projects on public lands will be approved by and coordinated with public land managers. Projects proposed for lands under permanent conservation easement will be reviewed by the easement holder. Proof of review or approval must be submitted to grant staff before the application deadline. The private landowner must agree to the project as well.4. Grantees will be responsible for all administrative requirements such as Historic Property Review, Wetland Conservation Act, Stormwater Permits, DNR Waters Permits, and others as appropriate. Costs for any reviews or permits should be included in the grant application, either as in-kind match or requested from grant dollars. As specified in the grant agreement, grantees may, by letter, assign duties and associated funds back to DNR, with DNR consent.5. A Natural Heritage Review is required for each project site. This must be completed by the Land Manager or Easement Holder, or appropriate DNR staff, and submitted on the Land Manager Approval form. This form must be uploaded to the CPL Application System.6. The Commissioner of Natural Resources must approve all projects.7. All projects must meet requirements in the 2010 MN Session Law, Chapter 361, and follow the principles and criteria outlined in the L-SOHC FY 2011 Call for Funding Request.For projects that protect1. Lands acquired in fee title will be open to the public for hunting and fishing during open seasons unless otherwise provided by law.2. All easements must be permanent. Easements must include stewardship provisions to perpetually monitor and enforce the conditions of the easements.3. Projects to acquire land in fee simple title or a permanent conservation easement must be associated with established land acquisition programs that use explicit criteria for evaluating a parcel’s habitat potential.4. Grantees must agree to abide by all L-SOHC requirements for long-term management of any lands acquired with Outdoor Heritage Funds (OHF).5. For fee acquisition, the final title holder and land manager must be specified. Lands that will be conveyed to a public agency must be donated.6. Some State programs have specific statutory guidelines for determining the value of easements acquired under that program. If the easement will become part of that State program and the easement will be held by the State, any entity acquiring the easement may use that program’s statutory method for the easement valuation. 7. All acquisition selection processes and related transactions costs for all parties involved in the acquisition must be reported to the L-SOHC, 8. A Notice of Funding Restriction must be recorded for each acquisition.9. An analysis of future operations and maintenance costs for any acquired lands must be provided to the L-SOHC, commissioner of finance, and appropriate public agency.10. The grantee must submit an annual report on the status of property acquired with grant funds to the L-SOHC by December 1 of each year. 11. Grantees acquiring land that will be conveyed to DNR will be required to follow DNR’s Land Acquisition Procedures for Lands to be Conveyed to DNR. 12. Grantees acquiring land that will NOT be conveyed to DNR will be required to follow DNR’s Land Acquisition Procedures for Lands NOT to be Conveyed to DNR.13. A Natural Heritage Review is required for each project site. This must be completed by the Land Manager or Easement Holder, or appropriate DNR staff and submitted on the Land Manager Approval form. This form must be, uploaded to the CPL Application System.14. All projects must meet requirements in the 2010 MN Session Law, Chapter 361, and follow the principles and criteria outlined in the L-SOHC FY 2011 Call for FundingGeneral Program RequirementsFunds for this program were available until June 30, 2014. All grant projects met requirements of the 2010 MN Session Law, Chapter 361, and the L-SOHC’s 2010 Call for Funding Requests. In addition, projects addressed the priorities in the Minnesota Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan, and Tomorrow's Habitat for the Wild and Rare. Capital expenditures and indirect costs were not allowed. In administering this program the DNR complied with the Department of Administration - Office of Grants Management policies.Grantee MatchA match of at least 10% from nonstate sources was required for grants of $100,000 or less, and a match of at least 15% from nonstate sources was required for grants over $100,000. Up to one-third of the match may be in-kind resources. All match must be identified at the time of application.Grantee PaymentGrantees were paid on a reimbursement basis unless other arrangements were specified and approved in a grantee’s application and work program. Reasonable amounts may be advanced to projects to accommodate cash flow needs, to match federal share, or for acquisitions. Advances must be specified in the grantee’s application and final grant agreement or work program. Partial payments were allowed. 5% of each grant was held back until a grant accomplishment report had been completed by the grantee.Grant ProcessA Request for Proposal (RFP) was posted on the CPL website in early August, 2010. The RFP contained grant program information, application criteria, application requirements, state agency contacts and grant reporting requirements. The RFP, Program Manual, and all grant agreements incorporated appropriate principles and criteria from the L-SOHC’s 2010 Call for Funding Requests and associated legislation.Applications were accepted electronically, with grants selected for funding twice a year. Any ungranted funds from the first cycle were available for use in a following cycle.Applications were submitted electronically using CPL’s Online Grant Application System (OLGA). All project sites were mapped using OLGA’s mapping tool. OLGA accepted applications beginning in August, 2010 until the deadline for the first round of grants in mid-September, 2010. The application system did not accept applications during the review process. OLGA was re-activated in mid-February, 2011 to accept applications for a second round of grants.CPL Grant Program Staff reviewed applications to make sure they were complete and met grant program requirements. Technical Review Committee(s), selected by the Commissioner of Natural Resources reviewed and scored applications based on criteria established by the L-SOHC, MN State Legislature and DNR. These committees included representatives from DNR, BWSR, the University of MN, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and other appropriate members from both government and non-profit organizations. A final ranking committee made up of the Chief Financial Officer, and Directors of the DNR Divisions of Fish and Wildlife, Ecological Resources/Waters, and Forestry recommended projects and funding levels to the Commissioner of Natural Resources. The Commissioner made the final decision on the projects funded and funding levels.Every effort was made to evenly distribute the selected grants by geographic location, activity, and funding level, with an objective of granting 50% of the funds to projects above $125,000, and 50% of the funds to projects below $125,000.CPL Grant Program staff work with grantees to ensure financial reviews, grant agreements, and any other necessary paperwork are completed. Work could not begin until the grant was executed.Project Reviews and ReportingProject reviews were completed as required by Office of Grants Management Policy 08-10, Grant Monitoring.Grantees reported accomplishments on a CPL Report Form by September 1 of each year. Reports account for the use of grant and match funds, and outcomes in measures of wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat restored, enhanced, and protected. The report included an evaluation of these results. A final report was required by all grantees 30 days after the project was complete.CPL Grant Program staff compiled grantee reports and submitted an annual accomplishment report to the L-SOHC by February 1 and August 1 of each year. This report contained information on the number of agreements made, amount of reimbursement paid to grantees, accomplishments by grantees, number and status of remaining open agreements, and administrative costs. Accomplishment information was also posted on L-SOHC and DNR websites.",2010-07-01,2013-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",None,,,Jessica,Lee,DNR,"500 Lafayette Road, Box #20 ","Saint Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5233",jessica.lee@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Carver, Clay, Cook, Crow Wing, Dakota, Freeborn, Grant, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mower, Nicollet, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Redwood, Sibley, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Swift","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/outdoor-heritage-conservation-partners-grant-program-fy-2011,,,,
10011406,"Pig's Eye Lake Islands Habitat Restoration and Enhancement",2020,4337000,"ML 2019, 1st Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd, 5(n)","$4,337,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ramsey County to restore and enhance wildlife habitat in Pigs Eye Lake, to include constructing islands.","A network of natural land and riparian habitats will connect corridors for wildlife and species in greatest conservation need - There is limited availability of habitat in the St. Paul metro area due to heavy development and the naturally narrow floodplain. Pigs Eye Lake is one of the few large backwaters in the area but is currently degraded, windswept, and devoid of vegetation or habitat diversity. The proposed project would enhance and restore the area to provide important and locally rare stopover habitat for migrating waterfowl and other birds along the Mississippi Flyway. The project would result in increased vegetation and improved substrate for spawning, shelter, and food resources for fish, reptiles, and other species of conservation need..",,,11232800,"Federal - Army Corps of Engineers",4337000,,,,"Ramsey County","Local/Regional Government","Ramsey County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers propose to enhance and restore habitat in Pigs Eye Lake by building islands and marsh to benefit migratory birds, waterfowl, and fish. Island construction would restore wetland habitat and functions that have been lost in the 640-acre backwater due to erosion and degradation and enhance the surrounding area by reducing turbidity, preventing further erosion, and increasing habitat diversity. The project would protect areas of biodiversity significance and improve the Mississippi River wildlife corridor in the heart of the St. Paul metropolitan area.","Problem: Pigs Eye Lake is a large backwater of the Mississippi River, located in the southeast corner of St. Paul. The lake is shallow, open water, with a maximum depth of about 4 feet. The shallow depth and mucky lake bottom mean that the wind-generated waves cause a significant adverse effect on water quality and substrate stability. The waves also continuously erode the valuable vegetation on the edges of the lake, which has led to an estimated loss of 111 acres of wetland shoreline habitat since 1951. The conditions have created a negative feedback loop with no foreseeable improvements without intervention. Another 37.5 acres of biologically significant marsh and bottomland forest is at risk over the next 50 years, and new vegetation is unable to establish under the current conditions.Resource Significance: Despite the present poor conditions of Pigs Eye Lake, the area is a rare resource in this stretch of the Mississippi River where the floodplain is narrow and urban development is heavy. The shorelines and floodplain protected by this project have been identified by the Minnesota Biological Survey as areas of either outstanding or moderate biodiversity significance. The adjacent heron rookery is one of the largest in the state. Pigs Eye Lake is part of a network of aquatic corridors with connections to the Mississippi River, the Minnesota River, and Battle Creek. This project would restore, protect, and enhance these resources.Proposed Plan: The proposed plan is to construct a complex of 7 islands in Pigs Eye Lake. The features were designed to provide a variety of floodplain habitat types, blend in with the natural environment, and create barriers for wind, waves, and visual disturbances to visiting wildlife. Twenty acres of islands would be constructed and planted with a mix of native floodplain species. Shallow sandbar habitat is incorporated into the island perimeters. Three of the islands were specially-designed to establish 18 acres of wetland by creating enclosed, protected spaces in their interiors that would be planted with native wetland plants. The islands were strategically placed to serve as barriers to wind and protect the existing valuable shoreline habitat from further erosion. Outcomes for wildlife: The project would result in numerous habitat improvements, including: protected stopover areas for migrating ducks and waterfowl; preservation of the existing valuable shoreline; cover, spawning, and structural habitat for native fish; sandy areas for turtle nesting; shallow and more stable substrate to encourage macroinvertebrate colonization; water quality improvement due to reduced sediment re-suspension; and incorporation of depth and habitat diversity within the lake. Collaboration: The project has been extensively coordinated with natural resource agencies and other stakeholders, and has received widespread support. Stakeholder meetings were held throughout the planning process, and representatives from the Minnesota DNR, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Ramsey County participated in discussions to provide recommendations specific to habitat needs. Federal and State environmental review processes have been completed. Permitting agencies have not indicated obstacles with the issuance of permits for project construction.",,2019-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Scott,Yonke,"Ramsey County Parks and Recreation","2015 Van Dyke St ",Maplewood,MN,55109,"(651) 363-3786",scott.yonke@co.ramsey.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Ramsey,"Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/pigs-eye-lake-islands-habitat-restoration-and-enhancement,,,,
10031447,"Pollinator Central IV: Habitat Improvement with Public Engagement",2025,698000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 08e","$698,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Great River Greening to partner with municipalities, educational organizations, and volunteers to create and enhance pollinator habitat along public corridors from Lakeville to St. Cloud and to engage youth and the public through education and monitoring the impact of habitat improvements. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,4.11,"Great River Greening","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Continuing pollinator habitat creation and enhancement on 11 sites from Lakeville to St. Cloud, with public engagement and education centered on youth, schools, and community awareness of natural resource stewardship.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2027-12-31,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Rebecca,Tucker,"Great River Greening","251 Starkey Street Suite 2200","Saint Paul",MN,55113,"(651) 272-3982",rtucker@greatrivergreening.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Benton, Big Stone, Cass, Chippewa, Crow Wing, Douglas, Grant, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Nicollet, Otter Tail, Pope, Renville, Sibley, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wadena, Wilkin, Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, Wright",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/pollinator-central-iv-habitat-improvement-public-engagement,,,,
10003513,"Prairie, Forest, and Savanna Restoration in Greater Metropolitan Area",2015,200000,"M.L. 2014, Chp. 226, Sec. 2, Subd. 06h","$200,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Friends of the Mississippi River to restore approximately 150 acres of prairie, forests, and oak savanna in the greater metropolitan area. A list of proposed restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required work plan. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2017, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,200000,,,2.43,"Friends of the Mississippi River","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Though many parts of the Twin Cities metropolitan area are urbanized, there are also has large areas of natural lands that continue to serve as important habitat for fish, wildlife, and plant communities. However, pressure on these remaining lands continues to intensify as population and development pressures increase. This appropriation continues the efforts of the Metro Conservation Corridors (MeCC) partnership, an ongoing effort by a partnership of state and non-profit organizations, to conduct strategic and coordinated land conservation activities that build connections between remaining high quality natural areas in the greater Twin Cities metropolitan area and ensures their benefits are available for future generations. Friends of the Mississippi River is using this appropriation to restore approximately 150 acres of permanently protected prairie, forest, and oak savanna habitat in the metropolitan area.",,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2014/work_plans/2014_06g.pdf,2014-07-01,2017-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Tom,Lewanski,"Friends of the Mississippi River","360 Robert St N, Ste 400","St. Paul",MN,55101,"(651) 222-2193",tlewanski@fmr.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/prairie-forest-and-savanna-restoration-greater-metropolitan-area-0,,,,
10006521,"Prairie Chicken Habitat Partnership of the Southern Red River Valley - Phase IV",2019,1162000,"ML 2018, Ch. 208, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 2(h)","$1,162,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever, in cooperation with the Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society, to acquire lands in fee and restore and enhance lands in the southern Red River valley for wildlife management under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, or to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Number of acres of uplands protected and restored..Key core parcels are protected for fish, game and other wildlife - Most parcels are within core areas as defined by the MPCP. Most parcels abut existing WMAs or WPAs which will create larger blocks of contiguous habitat. Most tracts have some remaining native prairie on them meeting a second goal of the MPCP of protecting remaining native prairie. Number of acres protected within core areas and corridors of the MPCP..",,,12100,"Federal, Private, PF, MPCS",1158600,3400,,0.05,"Pheasants Forever; MN Prairie Chicken Society","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Prairie Chicken Habitat Partnership IV permanently protects 303 acres of greater prairie chicken habitat in the Southern Red River Valley of Minnesota. This partnership protects and restores strategic habitat that builds onto or creates corridors between existing protected lands. Acquired lands will be transferred to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) to be included as a Wildlife Management Area (WMA) or to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as a WPA. This proposal aims to build quality grassland habitat blocks that sustain and grow greater prairie chicken populations in Minnesota.","The Problem: In Minnesota, greater prairie chickens are largely restricted to the beach ridges of the Glacial Lake Agassiz region. Greater prairie chickens require large blocks of grasslands, with a minimum of 320 acres at any one site. The makeup of these grassland complexes should include numerous successional states of habitat to sustain a local population. Greater prairie chickens are a “flagship” species in the sense that if we have greater prairie chickens on the landscape, then we have also included the habitat needs of many additional grassland-dependent wildlife species with less exacting habitat requirements. Greater prairie chicken habitat has declined dramatically in recent years due to 1) loss of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres and 2) conversion of grasslands; (including remnant native prairie), to row crop production.An Approach to the Problem: This partnership protects native and restored prairies, sedge meadows, and other types of grasslands and associated wetlands to promote the growth and stability of greater prairie chicken populations. The priority is protecting remnant prairies within core and corridor areas of the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. All projects acquired under this proposal will be restored and/or enhanced to be productive grassland habitat as part of the grant activity. Once acquired, the subject tracts will be fully restored and/or enhanced. Our proposed tracts were identified as high priority greater prairie chicken habitat with willing sellers who have an interest in preserving wildlife values of those acres. Tracts are also on the list based on a strategic approach that ranks each tract based on six criteria including: 1) distance to the nearest prairie chicken lek; 2) location in or outside of a core area from the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan (MPCP); 3) distance to the nearest public hunting land (WPA or WMA); 4) tract size; 5) current grassland type (native prairie, restored prairie, brome, or row crop; and 6) wetland density and predicted waterfowl breeding pairs (wetlands can provide important habitat for prairie chickens over their annual life cycle). Benefits: By protecting, restoring and enhancing grasslands and wetlands in the right areas, this partnership delivers on many of the goals of the MPCP. In fact, one ecosystem measure of the MPCP success is to have stable or increasing greater prairie chicken populations in Minnesota. The MPCP is ideally suited for greater prairie chicken management with core areas containing large contiguous blocks of grassland and smaller grassland patches scattered across the landscape called corridors that allow birds to maintain populations outside the core areas as well as move across the landscape. In addition to grassland conservation, most tracts have extensive wetlands. Restoring and maintaining these wetlands will have several benefits including water storage, sequestering and storing carbon, water quality, diversity of flora and fauna, and reducing erosion. Providing secure habitat for greater prairie chickens also provides habitat for a host of other grassland species that have less exacting habitat requirement with respect to acreage. ",,2018-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Eran,Sandquist,"MN Prairie Chicken Society / Pheasants Forever, Inc.","410 Lincoln Ave S Box 91","South Haven ",MN,55382,"(320) 236-7755",esandquist@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Clay, Mahnomen, Norman, Wilkin","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/prairie-chicken-habitat-partnership-southern-red-river-valley-phase-iv,,,,
10004546,"Prairie Butterfly Conservation, Research, and Breeding - Phase II",2017,329000,"M.L. 2016, Chp. 186, Sec. 2, Subd. 03c2","$750,000 the second year is from the trust fund. Of this amount, $421,000 is to the Minnesota Zoological Garden and $329,000 is to the commissioner of natural resources in collaboration with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to continue efforts to prevent the extinction of imperiled native Minnesota butterfly species through breeding, research, field surveys, and potential reintroduction. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2019, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,,,,,"MN DNR","State Government",,,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2016/work_plans_may/_2016_03c2.pdf,2016-07-01,2019-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Robert,Dana,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Rd, Box 32","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5086",robert.dana@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Freeborn, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Roseau, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Waseca, Watonwan, Wilkin, Yellow Medicine",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/prairie-butterfly-conservation-research-and-breeding-phase-ii,,,,
10019629,"MN Prairie Recovery Program Phase 11",2022,2794000,"ML 2021, First Sp. Session, Ch. 1, Art. 1, Sec. 2, 2(c )","$2,794,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy to acquire land in fee and restore and enhance native prairie, grasslands, wetlands, and savanna. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. Annual income statements and balance sheets for income and expenses from land acquired with this appropriation must be submitted to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council no later than 180 days after The Nature Conservancy's fiscal year closes. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. Land acquisitions must be consistent with the priorities identified in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan.","Remnant native prairies are part of large complexes of restored prairies, grasslands, and large and small wetlands - Protection results will be measured against MN Prairie Conservation Plan goals for protected acres of native prairie and associated grassland for each geography. Enhancement results will be measured using protocols developed for the multi-agency Grassland Monitoring Network. Remnant native prairies and wetlands are perpetually protected and adequately buffered - Protection results will be measured against MN Prairie Conservation Plan goals for protected acres of native prairie and associated grassland for each geography. Enhancement results will be measured using protocols developed for the multi-agency Grassland Monitoring Network",,,230000,"TNC private funds",2679200,114800,,5.91,"The Nature Conservancy","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The project will advance the protection, restoration and enhancement goals for prairie and grassland habitat as described in the 2018 update of the MN Prairie Conservation Plan. It builds upon the highly successful model established in prior Prairie Recovery Phases and seeks to protect approximately 600 acres in fee without PILT obligations to be held by The Nature Conservancy, enhance approximately 10,000 acres of permanently protected grasslands, and restore roughly 200 acres of prairie and wetland habitat.","Protect - An estimated 600 acres of prairie, wetlands, grasslands, and savanna will be permanently protected through fee-title acquisition from willing sellers in 5 prairie core/corridor landscapes as identified in the 2018 MN Prairie Conservation Plan. Acquired lands will be prioritized using prior approved criteria that include: percentage of native prairie on the parcel, proximity to other permanently protected areas, quality of habitat and species diversity, and suitability for public recreation. Protected acres without PILT will be held by The Nature Conservancy subject to a recorded notice of funding restrictions. Enhance - An estimated 10,000 acres of grassland/wetland complex will be enhanced on permanently protected lands, including lands purchased with OHF funds and held by the Conservancy, MN DNR Management Units, US Fish and Wildlife Service lands, and private lands subject to perpetual conservation easements. The primary objectives of the enhancement activities will be to increase native species diversity and improve critical wildlife habitat. A variety of practices and techniques will be implemented to accomplish the objectives such as: prescribed fire; removal of trees and woody species; invasive species control including mechanical, biological, and chemical control; over-seeding degraded grasslands with native seed; and conservation grazing, mowing, or haying. The work will be conducted primarily through contracts with local vendors, Conservation Corps of Minnesota or Student Conservation Association crews and by using Nature Conservancy seasonal and permanent staff. Prairie Recovery Biologists, stationed in four landscapes within the Prairie region are responsible for identifying and prioritizing projects in cooperation with agency partners; selecting and overseeing contracted work; and leading and directing seasonal staff. The Biologists are also responsible for participating in and leading Prairie Plan Local Technical Team efforts to increase efficiency and effectiveness of program delivery by multiple partners at the landscape scale. Restore - Approximately 200 acres of cropland will be restored to diverse local-ecotype grassland and grassland/wetland complexes. Practices to be implemented include those listed as enhancements above and the restoration of original wetland hydrology. Results to date - Through previous Phases of the Prairie Recovery Program we have protected 7,553 acres of prairies, wetlands, and grasslands, enhanced more than 140,000 acres of permanently protected grasslands and restored approximately 1,500 acres with locally-sourced native seed. All parcels protected were directly adjacent to, or contributed to, the functional integrity of existing habitat complexes. Average per acre cost for acquired properties has averaged around $2,000 per acre. Our enhancement projects have focused on accelerating the implementation of prescribed fire, woody vegetation removal, building the infrastructure for conservation grazing systems and treatment of invasive species. Costs for enhancement and restoration work vary depending on the practices being implemented but have averaged around $100 per acre.",,2021-07-01,2025-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Neal,Feeken,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 W River Parkway Suite 200",Minneapolis,MN,55415,"(612) 331-0738",nfeeken@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Murray, Nobles, Norman, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Rock, Roseau, Stearns, Swift, Traverse, Wilkin, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mn-prairie-recovery-program-phase-11,,,,
10019638,"Prairie Chicken Habitat Partnership of the Southern Red River Valley - Phase VII",2022,2264000,"ML 2021, First Sp. Session, Ch. 1, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 2(h)","$2,264,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever, in cooperation with the Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society, to acquire land in fee and to restore and enhance lands in the southern Red River Valley for wildlife management under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, or to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be protected to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR of United States FWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and ""Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan"". Key core parcels are protected for fish, game and other wildlife - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be protected to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR of United States FWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and ""Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan""",,,272000,"PF, MPCS, Private and Federal",2255100,8900,,0.08,"PF with Prairie Chicken Society","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This proposal protects and restores 400 acres of land in the Minnesota prairie-chicken range, that will be transferred to the MNDNR as a WMA or to the USFWS as a WPA. All land will be open to public hunting. MN Prairie Chicken Society and Pheasants Forever will be protecting parcels that focus specifically on prairie chicken benefits, which makes this proposal unique and highly focused. All acquisitions will occur within the prairie and prairie/forest planning regions with a focus in Clay, Norman, Mahnomen and Wilkin counties which is the primary range of prairie chickens in Minnesota.","Greater prairie chickens require large blocks of grasslands, with a minimum of 320 acres at any one site. The makeup of these grassland complexes should include numerous successional states of habitat to sustain a local population. Because of this the greater prairie chickens population in Minnesota is largely restricted to the beach ridges of the Glacial Lake Agassiz region. Greater prairie chickens are a ?flagship? species in the sense that if we have greater prairie chickens on the landscape, then we have also included the habitat needs of many additional grassland-dependent wildlife species with less exacting habitat requirements. Greater prairie chicken habitat has declined dramatically in recent years due to 1) loss of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres and 2) conversion of grasslands; (including remnant native prairie), to row crop production. This partnership protects native and restored prairies, sedge meadows, and other types of grasslands and associated wetlands to promote the growth and stability of greater prairie chicken populations. This is a very focused proposal with the priority of protecting remnant prairies within core and corridor areas of the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. Our proposed tracts were identified as high priority greater prairie chicken habitat with willing sellers who have an interest in preserving wildlife values of those acres. These tracts were ranked as high priority for greater prairie chicken habitat based on six criteria including: 1) distance to the nearest prairie chicken lek; 2) location in or outside of a core area from the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan (MPCP); 3) distance to the nearest public hunting land (WPA or WMA); 4) tract size; 5) current grassland type (native prairie, restored prairie, brome, or row crop; and 6) wetland density and predicted waterfowl breeding pairs (wetlands can provide important habitat for prairie chickens over their annual life cycle). All projects acquired under this proposal will be restored and/or enhanced to be productive grassland habitat as part of the grant activity. By protecting, restoring, and enhancing grasslands and wetlands in the right areas, this partnership delivers on many of the goals of stateside conservation plans. In fact, one ecosystem measure of the MPCP success is to have stable or increasing greater prairie chicken populations in Minnesota. The MPCP is ideally suited for greater prairie chicken management with core areas containing large contiguous blocks of grassland and smaller grassland patches scattered across the landscape called corridors that allow birds to maintain populations outside the core areas as well as move across the landscape. In addition to grassland conservation, most tracts have extensive wetlands. Restoring and maintaining these wetlands will have several benefits including water storage, sequestering and storing carbon, water quality, diversity of flora and fauna, and reducing erosion. Providing secure habitat for greater prairie chickens also provides habitat for a host of other grassland species.",,2021-07-01,2025-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Sabin,Adams,"MN Prairie Chicken Society / Pheasants Forever, Inc.","14241 Steves Rd SE ",Osakis,MN,56360,"(320) 250-6317",sadams@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Clay, Mahnomen, Norman, Wilkin","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/prairie-chicken-habitat-partnership-southern-red-river-valley-phase-vii,,,,
10017815,"MN Prairie Recovery Program Phase 10",2021,3365000,"ML 2020, Ch. 104, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 2(c )","$3,365,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy to acquire lands in fee and to restore and enhance native prairies, grasslands, wetlands, and savannas. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. No later than 180 days after The Nature Conservancys fiscal year ends, The Nature Conservancy must submit to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council annual income statements and balance sheets for income and expenses from land acquired with this appropriation. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan, and the acquisitions must be consistent with the priorities identified in Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. ","Remnant native prairies are part of large complexes of restored prairies, grasslands, and large and small wetlands - Protection results will be measured against MN Prairie Conservation Plan goals for protected acres of native prairie and associated grassland for each geography. Enhancement results will be measured using protocols developed for the multi-agency Grassland Monitoring Network. Remnant native prairies and wetlands are perpetually protected and adequately buffered - Protection results will be measured against MN Prairie Conservation Plan goals for protected acres of native prairie and associated grassland for each geography. Enhancement results will be measured using protocols developed for the multi-agency Grassland Monitoring Network",,,539200,TNC,3182500,182500,,13.57,"The Nature Conservancy","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The project will advance the protection, restoration and enhancement goals for prairie and grassland habitat that are articulated in the 2018 update of the MN Prairie Conservation Plan. It builds upon the highly successful model established in Phases 1 - 9 and seeks to protect 300 acres in fee without PILT obligations to be held by The Nature Conservancy, enhance 14,000 acres of permanently protected grasslands, and restore 50 acres of prairie and wetland habitat.","Protect - An estimated 300 acres of prairie, wetlands, grasslands, and savanna will be permanently protected through fee-title acquisition from willing sellers in 5 potential prairie core/corridor landscapes as identified in the 2018 MN Prairie Conservation Plan. Acquired lands will be prioritized using prior approved criteria that include: percentage of native prairie on the parcel, proximity to other permanently protected areas, quality of habitat and species diversity, and suitability for public recreation. These protected acres will be held by The Nature Conservancy subject to a recorded notice of funding restrictions. Enhance - An estimated 14,000 acres of grassland/wetland complex will be enhanced on permanently protected lands, including lands purchased with OHF funds and held by the Conservancy, MN DNR Management Units, US Fish and Wildlife Service lands, and private lands subject to perpetual conservation easements. The primary objectives of our enhancement activities will be to increase native species diversity and improve critical wildlife habitat. A variety of practices and techniques will be implemented to accomplish our objectives such as: prescribed fire; removal of trees and woody species; invasive species control including mechanical, biological, and chemical control; over-seeding degraded grasslands with native seed; and conservation grazing, mowing, or haying. The work will be conducted primarily through contracts with local vendors, Conservation Corps of Minnesota or Student Conservation Association crews and by using Nature Conservancy seasonal and permanent staff. Prairie Recovery Biologists, stationed in four landscapes within the Prairie region are responsible for identifying and prioritizing projects in cooperation with agency partners; selecting and overseeing contracted work; and leading and directing seasonal staff. The Biologists are also responsible for participating in and leading Prairie Plan Local Technical Team efforts to increase efficiency and effectiveness of program delivery by multiple partners at the landscape scale. Restore - Approximately 50 acres of cropland will be restored to diverse local-ecotype grassland and grassland/wetland complexes.Practices to be implemented include those listed as enhancements above and the restoration of original wetland hydrology. Results to date - Through Phases 1-9 we have protected 7,250 acres of prairies, wetlands, and grasslands and have enhanced more than 127,000 acres of permanently protected grasslands. The protected acres span our priority geographies. In all cases parcels were purchased that were directly adjacent to, or contributed to, the functional integrity of existing habitat complexes. Average per acre cost for acquired properties has averaged around $1,820 per acre. Our enhancement projects have focused on accelerating the implementation of prescribed fire, woody vegetation removal, building the infrastructure for conservation grazing systems and treatment of invasive species. Costs for enhancement and restoration work vary depending on the practices being implemented but have averaged around $81 per acre.",,2020-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Neal,Feeken,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 W River Parkway Suite 200",Minneapolis,MN,55415,"(612) 331-0738",nfeeken@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Murray, Nobles, Norman, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Rock, Roseau, Stearns, Swift, Traverse, Traverse","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mn-prairie-recovery-program-phase-10,,,,
10017822,"Prairie Chicken Habitat Partnership of the Southern Red River Valley - Phase VI",2021,1736000,"ML 2020, Ch. 104, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 2(h)","$1,736,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever, in cooperation with the Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society, to acquire lands in fee and restore and enhance lands in the southern Red River valley for wildlife management under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, or to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be protected to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR of United States FWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and ""Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan"". Key core parcels are protected for fish, game and other wildlife - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be protected to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR of United States FWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and ""Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan""",,,25600,"PCS, PF, Federal and Private",1728200,7800,,0.07,"Pheasants Forever / MN Prairie Chicken Society","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Prairie Chicken Habitat Partnership VI accelerates the protection and restoration of 408 acres of strategic prairie chicken-focused habitats that will be transferred to the MNDNR as a WMA or to the USFWS as a WPA and are open to public hunting. MN Prairie Chicken Society and Pheasants Forever will protect parcels that focus specifically on prairie chicken benefits, which makes this proposal unique and highly focused. All acquisitions will occur within the prairie and prairie/forest transition planning regions with a focus in Clay, Norman, Mahnomen and Wilkin counties as this is the primary range of prairie chickens.","The Problem: In Minnesota, greater prairie chickens are largely restricted to the beach ridges of the Glacial Lake Agassiz region. Greater prairie chickens require large blocks of grasslands, with a minimum of 320 acres at any one site. The makeup of these grassland complexes should include numerous successional states of habitat to sustain a local population. Greater prairie chickens are a ?flagship? species in the sense that if we have greater prairie chickens on the landscape, then we have also included the habitat needs of many additional grassland-dependent wildlife species with less exacting habitat requirements. Greater prairie chicken habitat has declined dramatically in recent years due to 1) loss of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres and 2) conversion of grasslands; (including remnant native prairie), to row crop production. An Approach to the Problem: This partnership protects native and restored prairies, sedge meadows, and other types of grasslands and associated wetlands to promote the growth and stability of greater prairie chicken populations. This is a very focused proposal with the priority of protecting remnant prairies within core and corridor areas of the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. All projects acquired under this proposal will be restored and/or enhanced to be productive grassland habitat as part of the grant activity. Once acquired, the subject tracts will be fully restored and/or enhanced. Our proposed tracts were identified as high priority greater prairie chicken habitat with willing sellers who have an interest in preserving wildlife values of those acres. These tracts were ranked as high priority for greater prairie chicken habitat based on six criteria including: 1) distance to the nearest prairie chicken lek; 2) location in or outside of a core area from the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan (MPCP); 3) distance to the nearest public hunting land (WPA or WMA); 4) tract size; 5) current grassland type (native prairie, restored prairie, brome, or row crop; and 6) wetland density and predicted waterfowl breeding pairs (wetlands can provide important habitat for prairie chickens over their annual life cycle). Benefits: By protecting, restoring and enhancing grasslands and wetlands in the right areas, this partnership delivers on many of the goals of state side conservation plans. In fact, one ecosystem measure of the Prairie Conservation Plan (MPCP) success is to have stable or increasing greater prairie chicken populations in Minnesota. The MPCP is ideally suited for greater prairie chicken management with core areas containing large contiguous blocks of grassland and smaller grassland patches scattered across the landscape called corridors that allow birds to maintain populations outside the core areas as well as move across the landscape. In addition to grassland conservation, most tracts have extensive wetlands. Restoring and maintaining these wetlands will have several benefits including water storage, sequestering and storing carbon, water quality, diversity of flora and fauna, and reducing erosion. Providing secure habitat for greater prairie chickens also provides habitat for a host of other grassland species.",,2020-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Eran,Sandquist,"MN Prairie Chicken Society / Pheasants Forever, Inc.","PO Box 91 ","South Haven",MN,55382,"(320) 236-7755",esandquist@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Clay, Mahnomen, Norman, Norman","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/prairie-chicken-habitat-partnership-southern-red-river-valley-phase-vi,,,,
20687,"MN Prairie Recovery Project Phase 4",2014,5310000,"ML 2013, Ch. 137, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(d)","$5,310,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy to acquire native prairie, wetland, and savanna and restore and enhance grasslands, wetlands, and savanna. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. Annual income statements and balance sheets for income and expenses from land acquired with this appropriation must be submitted to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council no later than 180 days following the close of The Nature Conservancys fiscal year. ",,"Improved aquatic habitat indicators. Wetland and upland complexes will consist of native prairies, restored prairies, quality grasslands, and restored shallow lakes and wetlands. Protected, restored, and enhanced aspen parklands and riparian areas. Water is kept on the land. Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need. Increased availability and improved condition of riparian forests and other habitat corridors. Core areas protected with highly biologically diverse wetlands and plant communities, including native prairie, Big Woods, and oak savanna. Expiring CRP lands are permanently protected. Remnant native prairies and wetlands are permanently protected and are part of large complexes of restored prairie, grasslands, and large and small wetlands. Improved condition of habitat on public lands. Water is kept on the land. Increased participation of private landowners in habitat projects. Protected, restored, and enhanced habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need. ",,1119900,"TNC ",5310000,574200,,8.95,"The Nature Conservancy","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Phase Four of the MN Prairie Recovery Program resulted in a total of 1,707 acres protected, 37,567 acres enhanced, and 440 acres restored. When combined with Phases 1-3 of the Prairie Recovery Program we have cumulatively protected 5,777 acres, enhanced 95,701 acres and restored 754 acres using Outdoor Heritage Fund dollars. We will continue to implement subsequent Phases toward meeting the conservation goals described in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan. ",,"1. Scope of work: With the requested funding, and with other funds leveraged by this money and brought by other partners, the following actions and outcomes were acheived. Phase 4 built upon the success of the MN Prairie Recovery Project Phases 1-3 by continuing and expanding enhancement work in 4 focal areas and protection in 5 areas. Project partners, primarily through our participation in Prairie Plan Local Technical teams, helped us to prioritize and refine guidelines for protection, enhancement and restoration activities within priority landscapes. The Prairie Recovery Program utilizes a collaborative model for conservation and we regularly consult and work with a variety of entities including state and federal agencies, other conservation nonprofits, agricultural producer groups and local governments. 1,707 acres of existing and restorable grassland, prairie pothole wetland complex, and savanna were permanently protected within prairie core and corridor areas as defined in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan. Lands are held by The Nature Conservancy, subject to a recorded notice of funding restrictions pursuant to LSOHC requirements. All lands acquired in fee are FULLY open to hunting and fishing per state of Minnesota regulations. Basic developments have been, and will continue to be, implemented (boundary signage, habitat improvement, wetland restoration). Protection efforts were coordinated with other partner protection programs (e.g., DNR Wildlife Management Area and Prairie Bank programs), via interactions through Local Technical Teams. An internal fund has been established by The Nature Conservancy to cover ongoing land-management costs and property tax obligations. Income generated by agricultural leases (grazing, haying, and/or cropping) are held in this account and help offset property taxes. 440 acres of cropland and former foodplots were restored to diverse, local-ecotype grassland or grassland/wetland complex. Contracting preference was given to local producers and contractors for provision of seed and establishment of prairies to promote creation of local conservation-oriented businesses. 37,567 acres of grassland complex were enhanced on public lands and those purchased with OHF funds and held by the Conservancy (“protected conservation lands”) to increase native species diversity and improve critical wildlife habitat. Management techniques included prescribed fire (75 projects totalling 27,997 acres), removal of woody vegetation (95 projects for 3,725 acres), control of exotic species (84 projects - 5,821 acres), and inter-seeding of degraded grasslands (4 projects - 24 acres). Much of this work was accomplished by private vendors through contracts. We also extensively used Conservation Corps of Minnesota (CCM) crews and seasonal staff employed directly by TNC. On-the-ground Conservancy staff provided by this grant were co-located in DNR or US Fish and Wildlife Service offices and helped form and lead local coordination and implementation teams; identified protection, restoration and enhancement needs and opportunities within the focus areas; worked with DNR and USFWS staff to delineate conservation projects on public lands; coordinated deployment of contract and staff resources to protected conservation lands; contacted and worked with private landowners to coordinate agricultural activities/leases on appropriate protected conservation lands (e.g., haying, grazing, cropping in advance of restoration); educated lessees on appropriate conservation grazing/haying practices; supervised management of lands acquired above; planned and conducted prescribed burns; and other activities related to prairie conservation in the focus areas.  Contracts were let to provide a high level of enhancement activities to new and existing protected conservation lands, greatly expanding current capacity. These activities greatly improved the habitat value of public lands that were not receiving adequate management treatment, while simultaneously providing local jobs through CCM and businesses. Activities included removal of undesirable woody vegetation, identification and treatment of invasive species infestations, removal of abandoned fences and/or other structures, and related restoration/enhancement activities. To ensure goals and outcomes are consistently achieved across all 4 project areas, the project coordinator oversaw implementation of the above activities and provided administrative support for budget monitoring and reporting. Significant marketing and media outreach was conducted by the Conservancy to highlight the goals and accomplishments of the project to local and statewide constituents, as well as elected officials. http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/minnesota/policy/minnesota-prairie-recovery-project.xml Temporary seasonal crews were employed by the Conservancy to provide additional capacity for public land management during critical periods like spring burn season. These crews helped create flexibility for enhancement projects and maximized the ability of specialized skilled personnel like burn bosses to increase the number of acres annually enhanced. 2. How priorities were set: Prioritization and prioritization criteria vary with the conservation tactic being employed (i.e., protection, restoration, enhancement). Focus areas were selected where there was overlap with MN County Biological Survey prairie “focus areas” and TNC portfolio areas. Each of the 4 project geographies directly correlate to core areas identified in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan. Because this project is a collaborative effort involving multiple partners, tactical priorities and criteria were established at both the state and local level by respective coordinating groups. criteria for each of these tactics include: a. Protection: location/proximity to other habitats, location/proximity to other protected lands, presence of rare/endangered species, imminence of conversion, ability to support grazing, size, cost, and likelihood for leveraged funding. A more robust listing of selection criteria can be provided upon request. b. Restoration: feasibility/likelihood of success, location, cost, availability of seed, and availability of restoration technical assistance, proximity to other habitats, and their ability to buffer or increase the conservation value of other protected lands. c. Enhancement: urgency/time since last enhancement, feasibility of success, accessibility, availability of enhancement technical assistance, cost, proximity to other habitats and partnership benefits. 3. Urgency and opportunity of this proposal: Only about 1% of Minnesota’s original native prairie still remains (about 235,000 acres of an original 1.8 million), and the remnants are still being destroyed and degraded. Less than half of those 235,000 acres are currently protected from conversion, and management capacity is unable to address needs on protected lands. Additionally, more than 90% of the original prairie pothole wetlands in the western part of the state have also been lost. These losses threaten the viability of Minnesota’s prairie/wetland wildlife and recreational opportunities that depend upon them. Further, huge strides that have been made in supplementing habitat with the Conservation Reserve Program are in imminent danger of being lost as contracts expire. Conservationists have a narrow window of opportunity to protect remaining native grasslands, wetlands and other habitats, restore and protect supplemental grasslands and wetlands, and accelerate enhancement efforts to ensure these habitats are providing optimal value to animals and people.  4. Stakeholder involvement: This Phase continues an initiative begun with OHF funding in 2010. We have worked very closely with conservation interests in developing and maintaining this initiative and will continue close collaboration among partners. Via past and ongoing projects, we are also coordinating with other stakeholders (e.g., cattlemen’s associations, Land Stewardship Project, county boards), and will continue to seek opportunities to expand that coordination.  Planning This project implements strategies identified in at least 6 plans, as identified below. 1. The 2010 MN Prairie Conservation Plan (Plan) identifies three distinct strategies and opportunities for targeting protection, restoration, and enhancement of Minnesota’s prairie and grassland systems. The plan recommends work in “Core Areas” defined as large landscapes that retain some features of functioning prairie systems. Using MN County Biological Survey data and USFWS Habitat Assessment, Populations and Evaluation Team (HAPET) 2. MN Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan. The strategic framework of this plan has 5 elements in its “Habitat” section: integrated planning, critical land protection, land and water restoration and protection, (identification of) sustainable practices, and (provision of) economic incentives for sustainable practices. Further, while the plan does not go into great detail with respect to prairie conservation, it clearly states that “protection of priority land habitats” is a vital practice, and prairies clearly fall here.  The Plan identifies 36 distinct prairie core areas across the western third of the state. Collectively these core landscapes contain 71% of the state’s remaining native prairie. All 4 of the project focus areas directly correlate with one or more of these core areas. 3. Tomorrow’s Habitat for the Wild and Rare. The primary objective identified in the MN DNR’s plan is to “stabilize and increase populations of “species in greatest conservation need (SGCN)”. In the prairie regions of Minnesota, strategies to achieve this goal include: a. Support incentives that avoid conversion of grasslands into row crops where SGCN occur. b. Use mowing, cutting woody vegetation, prescribed fire, or careful use of herbicides to prevent the invasion of grasslands by trees and shrubs. c. Lengthen the cutting rotations for hay; avoid early-season mowing. d. Use light to moderate, rotational grazing programs to benefit SGCN e. Prevent fragmentation of grassland habitat. f. Avoid soil compaction in areas occupied by mammal SGCN. g. Increase native plant species components. h. Control spread of invasive species to adjacent native-dominated sites. This project proposes to address all but item “f” above. 4. The Nature Conservancy’s Northern Tallgrass Prairie Ecoregional Plan (1998). This plan identifies key conservation targets, geographic emphasis areas, threats to native plant and animal communities, and key strategies to mitigate these threats. The proposal is a solid step in the implementation of this plan. Also, as a step-down from the NTP Ecoregion Plan, the Chapter has completed local level planning (Conservation Action Planning) for smaller geographic units that correspond with the focus areas. Goals within these focus areas are very explicit in identifying conservation targets and actions and are consistent with the activities contained in this proposal. 5. DNR’s Pheasant Plan. This proposal is in full support of the Pheasant Plan goal to add 1.5 million acres of undisturbed grassland to the state by 2025. 6. DNR’s Waterfowl Plan. This proposal is in full support of the state Long-range Duck Recovery Plan to add 2 million acres of habitat to the state by 2025. It also utilizes establishment of complexes, as per the plan, to achieve multiple conservation synergies and benefits. This plan helps fulfill multiple priorities specified by the LSOHC “Prairie Section Vision”, including permanent protection of existing prairies and wetlands, restoration of prairie and wetland habitats, building grassland/wetland complexes in blocks sufficient to increase migratory breeding bird success, enhancement of public lands for game species and other species of conservation need, and protection of watersheds of shallow lakes. Specifically, this proposal addresses “Prairie Section Strategies” 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 directly. ",2013-07-01,2017-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Neal,Feeken,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 W River Parkway Suite 200",Minneapolis,MN,55415,"(612) 331-0738",nfeeken@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Marshall, Murray, Nobles, Norman, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Rock, Roseau, Stearns, Swift, Wilkin, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mn-prairie-recovery-project-phase-4,,,,
771,"Prairie Heritage Fund - Acquisition and Restoration, Phase 1",2010,3000000,"ML 2009, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(c )","$3,000,000 in fiscal year 2010 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever or successor to acquire and restore land to be added to the state wildlife management area system. A list of proposed fee title acquisitions and a list of proposed restoration projects, describing the types and locations of restorations, must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The commissioner of natural resources must agree to each proposed acquisition. To he extent possible, prairie restorations conducted with money appropriated in this section must plant vegetation or sow seed only of ecotypes native to Minnesota, and preferably of the local ecotype, using a high diversity of species originating from as close to the restoration site as possible, and protect existing native prairies from genetic contamination.",,"1,117 acres",,725000,Non-State,3000000,,,,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This program will acquire 1,100 acres of state wildlife management areas (WMA) or federal waterfowl production areas (WPA) to enhance grassland and prairie habitat and provide public recreation opportunities for the citizens of Minnesota. In addition, PF restore an additional 1,500 acres of grassland habitat on permanently protected lands (WPA's or WMA's).","Working with 76 local chapters and 26,000 members across the state of Minnesota, PF will acquire 1,100 acres of public land (WMA's or WPA's) to enhance grassland and prairie habitat and provide public recreations opportunities for the citizens of Minnesota. All projects are additions to existing WMA's or WPA's or have a direct connection to resources in the public trust (e.g. designated wildlife lakeshore). Purchase will be from willing sellers. Priority will be placed on remnant native prairie and tracts that provide significant grassland habitat protection and restoration. PF has currently identified 19 active projects consisting of 2,300 acres in eleven counties. ? Less than 1% of Minnesota's native prairie remains, and grassland habitat losses are cited as the primary reason for population declines of breeding waterfowl, grassland birds, and other wildlife species. In this proposal, PF (with many partners assisting & in cooperation with the long-term stewards of the land - either DNR or USFWS) will acquire and permanently protect 1,100 acres of grasslands. In addition, PF will restore 1,500 acres of grassland habitat (much of this will be initial restoration on the acreage acquired within this proposal). All projects are building upon past investments in public or private land habitat conservation and seek to build functional habitat complexes for Minnesota's suite of grassland wildlife. Most of the work will involve restoring marginal croplands to grasslands with at least 15 species of grasses and forbs chosen to fit individual sites. Restoration activities include but are not limited to site preparation, herbicide application, seed purchase, planting, clipping. Wetland restoration is also considered part of our prairie system and will be considered under this proposal. ? Pheasants Forever will work with guidance provided by L-SOHC to properly expend & acquire grassland habitats.","Accomplishment Plan: http://www.lsohc.leg.mn/FY2010/accomp_plan/2c.pdfWorking with numerous partners throughout the state of Minnesota, Pheasants Forever acquired 1,051 acres of land from willing sellers throughout Southern Minnesota. These lands have been enrolled into the state Wildlife Management Area (WMA) System and will be protected and managed in perpetuity by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. In addition, these newly acquired WMAs will provide public access and recreational opportunities for ALL Minnesotans, so fundamentally important to our outdoor heritage.More specifically, a total of 5 parcels were acquired within Brown, Goodhue, Lyon, Pipestone, and Watonwan Counties. A total of 7 landowners were presented with offers and PF was successful in securing 5 of those parcels (71% success rate). Offers to landowners were based on appraised values and seemed to be competitive with the market at the time. Most projects were closed early in the project period, and therefore the agricultural land boom of 2012 seemed to have little affect on our ability to secure parcels. Parcels were identified in conjunction with DNR wildlife professionals and based on criteria in addition to minimum WMA standards that included: habitat restoration potential, landscape scale significance, presence of significant natural communities, future expansion potential, and multiple benefit analysis.In total, $2,969,300 of Outdoor Heritage Funds were matched with $862,500 of non-state funding to complete this work. Striving to build upon past investments in wildlife habitat conservation and landscape level habitat complexes that protect and sustain wildlife populations, 4 of the 5 parcels are additions to existing WMAs or are adjacent to existing permanently protected lands. All parcels acquired have been restored and/or enhanced to as a high quality as practicable. All agricultural row crops on these parcels have been restored to native grassland/wetland complexes. The grasslands were restored using a broadcast or drill seeded method with a diverse mix of native grasses and forb species. 15 acres of native prairie have been protected and all parcels have been opened for public use. In addition, 66 acres of grassland enhancements were completed on an existing WMA in Chippewa County. These restored and permanently protected acres will provide critical habitat for breeding/migrating waterfowl as reproductive and winter habitat for grassland game and non game species.",2009-07-01,2012-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",None,,,Joe,Pavelko,"Pheasants Forever","7975 Acorn Circle ",Victoria,None,55386,6125323800,jpavelko@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Benton, Brown, Chippewa, Freeborn, Goodhue, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mower, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, Scott, Sibley, Stearns, Stevens, Stevens","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/prairie-heritage-fund-acquisition-and-restoration,,,,
23936,"Prairie Recovery Project Phase V",2015,3940000,"ML 2014, Ch.256, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(c )","$3,940,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for a contract with The Nature Conservancy to acquire native prairie, wetlands, and savanna and restore and enhance grasslands, wetlands, and savanna. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan and must be consistent with the priorities identified in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. Lands acquired with this appropriation may not be used for emergency haying and grazing in response to federal or state disaster declarations. Conservation grazing under a management plan that is already being implemented may continue. Subject to the evaluation criteria under Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquisition of lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. Annual income statements and balance sheets for income and expenses from land acquired with this appropriation must be submitted to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council no later than 180 days following the close of The Nature Conservancys fiscal year. ",,"Restored 698 acres, protected (in fee without state PILT liability) 698 acres, enhanced 18,839 acres for a total of 20,235 acres   ",,467400,"TNC ",3714600,159200,,6.80,"The Nature Conservancy","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This project contributed to the goals of the MN Prairie Conservation Plan by protecting 698 acres of native prairie/wetland/savanna; restoring 698 acres prairie/wetland; and enhancing 18,839 acres grassland/savanna. When combined with Phases 1-4 of the Prairie Recovery Program we have cumulatively protected 6,475 acres, enhanced 114,595 acres and restored 1,452 acres using Outdoor Heritage Fund dollars. We will continue to implement subsequent Phases toward meeting the conservation goals described in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan. ",,"Scope of work:With the requested funding the following actions and outcomes were achieved: Phase 5 built upon the success of the MN Prairie Recovery Project Phases 1-4 by continuing and expanding enhancement and protection work in 4 focal areas. Project partners, primarily through our participation in Prairie Plan Local Technical teams, helped us to prioritize and refine guidelines for protection, enhancement and restoration activities within priority landscapes. The Prairie Recovery Program utilizes a collaborative model for conservation and we regularly consult and work with a variety of entities including state and federal agencies, other conservation nonprofits, agricultural producer groups and local governments. 698 acres of existing and restorable grassland, prairie pothole wetland complex, and savanna were permanently protected within prairie core and corridor areas as defined in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan. Lands are held by The Nature Conservancy, subject to a recorded notice of funding restrictions pursuant to LSOHC requirements. All lands acquired in fee are FULLY open to hunting and fishing per state of Minnesota regulations. Basic developments have been, and will continue to be, implemented (boundary signage, habitat improvement, wetland restoration). Protection efforts were coordinated with other partner protection programs (e.g., DNR Wildlife Management Area and Prairie Bank programs), via interactions through Local Technical Teams. An internal fund has been established by The Nature Conservancy to cover ongoing land-management costs and property tax obligations. Income generated by agricultural leases (grazing, haying, and/or cropping) are held in this account and help offset property taxes. Coincidentally, exactly 698 acres of cropland and former foodplots were restored to diverse, local-ecotype grassland or grassland/wetland complex. Extensive effort was made to collect seed from local sources that cover the full season (early spring through late fall) needs of native pollinators. Seed sourcing included both mechanical and hand collection. 18,839 acres of grassland complex were enhanced on public lands and those purchased with OHF funds and held by the Conservancy (“protected conservation lands”) to increase native species diversity and improve critical wildlife habitat. Management techniques included prescribed fire (50 projects impacting 11,730 acres), removal of woody vegetation (40 projects for 3,048 acres), control of exotic species (70 projects - 3,930 acres), and inter-seeding of degraded grasslands (13 projects - 131 acres). Much of this work was accomplished by private vendors through contracts. We also extensively used Conservation Corps of Minnesota (CCM) crews and seasonal staff employed directly by TNC. On-the-ground Conservancy staff provided by this grant were co-located in DNR or US Fish and Wildlife Service offices and helped form and lead local coordination and implementation teams; identified protection, restoration and enhancement needs and opportunities within the focus areas; worked with DNR and USFWS staff to delineate conservation projects on public lands; coordinated deployment of contract and staff resources to protected conservation lands; contacted and worked with private landowners to coordinate agricultural activities/leases on appropriate protected conservation lands (e.g., haying, grazing, cropping in advance of restoration); educated lessees on appropriate conservation grazing/haying practices; supervised management of lands acquired above; planned and conducted prescribed burns; and other activities related to prairie conservation in the focus areas.  Contracts were let to provide a high level of enhancement activities to new and existing protected conservation lands, greatly expanding current capacity. These activities improved the habitat value of public lands that were not receiving adequate management treatment, while simultaneously providing local jobs through CCM and businesses. Activities included removal of undesirable woody vegetation, identification and treatment of invasive species infestations, removal of abandoned fences and/or other structures, and related restoration/enhancement activities. To ensure goals and outcomes are consistently achieved across all 4 project areas, a project coordinator oversaw implementation of the above activities and provided administrative support for budget monitoring and reporting. Significant marketing and media outreach was conducted by the Conservancy to highlight the goals and accomplishments of the project to local and statewide constituents, as well as elected officials. http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/minnesota/policy/minnesota-prairie-recovery-project.xml Temporary seasonal crews were employed by the Conservancy to provide additional capacity for public land management during critical periods like spring burn season. These crews helped create flexibility for enhancement projects and maximized the ability of specialized skilled personnel like burn bosses to increase the number of acres annually enhanced. 2. How priorities were set: Prioritization and prioritization criteria vary with the conservation tactic being employed (i.e., protection, restoration, enhancement). Focus areas were selected where there was overlap with MN County Biological Survey prairie “focus areas” and TNC portfolio areas. Each of the 4 project geographies directly correlate to core areas identified in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan. Because this project is a collaborative effort involving multiple partners, tactical priorities and criteria were established at both the state and local level by respective coordinating groups. criteria for each of these tactics include: a. Protection: location/proximity to other habitats, location/proximity to other protected lands, presence of rare/endangered species, imminence of conversion, ability to support grazing, size, cost, and likelihood for leveraged funding. A more robust listing of selection criteria can be provided upon request. b. Restoration: feasibility/likelihood of success, location, cost, availability of seed, and availability of restoration technical assistance, proximity to other habitats, and their ability to buffer or increase the conservation value of other protected lands. c. Enhancement: urgency/time since last enhancement, feasibility of success, accessibility, availability of enhancement technical assistance, cost, proximity to other habitats and partnership benefits. ",2014-07-01,2020-01-21,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Neal,Feeken,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 W River Parkway Suite 200",Minneapolis,MN,55415,"(612) 331-0738",nfeeken@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Chippewa, Clay, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Roseau, Stearns, Swift","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/prairie-recovery-project-phase-v,,,,
35067,"Prairie Chicken Habitat Partnership of the Southern Red River Valley Phase II",2017,2269000,"ML 2016, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(h)","$2,269,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever, in cooperation with the Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society, to acquire land in fee and restore and enhance lands in the southern Red River Valley for wildlife management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, or for designation and management as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquisition of lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"Protected 177acres of wetland and 526 acres of prairie for a total of 703 acres. ",,50100,"Federal, Private, PF, MPCS ",2098000,10000,,0.19,"Pheasants Forever with MN Prairie Chicken Society","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Prairie Chicken Habitat Partnership will permanently protect, restore, and enhance 650 acres of prairie chicken habitat in the Southern Red River Valley of Northwest Minnesota. Land protected will become either WMA or WPA and open to public recreation. ",,"Working in close collaboration with partners, Pheasants Forever acquired 702.85 acres of strategic habitat that directly meets the goals of the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. All land acquired has been enrolled into the state Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Program or the Waterfowl Production Area Program (WPA) and will be protected and managed in perpetuity by the Minnesota DNR or USFWS. These properties not only provide access and recreational opportunities for all Minnesotans, but also helps address a strong need to provide more secure nesting and brood rearing habitat for prairie chickens near existing leks. The offer to the landowner was based on fair market value as indicated in an independent appraisal. The acquired parcel helps address a backlog of willing sellers which is now helping slow the loss, degradation, and fragmentation of habitat in Minnesota. Parcels were identified jointly with the MN DNR and USFWS, ranked, and prioritized on habitat goals and feasibility. Pheasants Forever and agency staff collaborated to generate a list of parcels with landowners who had the desire to sell. These parcels ecological impact was evaluated using landscape level planning tools such as the USFWS Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET), The MN Prairie Conservation Plan and The Pheasant Action Plan among other. By utilizing these tools, we were able to focus efforts in areas where acquisitions and restorations will make the greatest impact on the landscape and thus these additional acres of WMA are very beneficial to wildlife and public recreation. Once acquired, wetlands on each parcel were restored by installing surface ditch “plugs” and or breaking subsurface tile. Some wetlands may also have had sediment removed to create proper substrates for wetland function and vegetative growth. Grasslands were restored by planting high-diversity native seed mix of grasses and forbs that are regionally appropriate to the area. As with all restoration work there are challenges that come from weather and working with private contractors, but we did not face any major issues. ",,2021-08-10,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Eran,Sandquist,"MN Prairie Chicken Society / Pheasants Forever","410 Lincoln Ave S Box 91","South Haven ",MN,55382,"(320) 236-7755",esandquist@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Clay, Red Lake","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/prairie-chicken-habitat-partnership-southern-red-river-valley-phase-ii,,,,
10033908,"MN Prairie Recovery Program Phase 13",2024,3856000,"ML 2023, Ch. 40, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 2(a)","$3,856,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy to acquire land in fee and restore and enhance native prairie, grasslands, wetlands, and savanna. Subject to the evaluation criteria inMinnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. Annual income statements and balance sheets for income and expenses from land acquired with this appropriation must be submitted to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council no later than 180 days after the close of The Nature Conservancy's fiscal year. A list of proposed land acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan and must be consistent with the priorities identified in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan.","Remnant native prairies are part of large complexes of restored prairies, grasslands, and large and small wetlands - Protection results will be measured against MN Prairie Conservation Plan goals for protected acres of native prairie and associated grassland for each geography. Enhancement results will be measured using protocols developed for the multi-agency Grassland Monitoring Network. Remnant native prairies and wetlands are perpetually protected and adequately buffered - Protection results will be measured against MN Prairie Conservation Plan goals for protected acres of native prairie and associated grassland for each geography. Enhancement results will be measured using protocols developed for the multi-agency Grassland Monitoring Network",,,200000,"TNC Private funds",3667300,188700,,13.52,"The Nature Conservancy","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The project will advance the protection, restoration and enhancement goals for prairie, grassland and wetland habitats as described in the 2018 MN Prairie Conservation Plan. It builds upon the highly successful model established via prior Prairie Recovery Phases and seeks to protect 400 acres in Fee without PILT obligations to be held by The Nature Conservancy, enhance 18,000 acres of permanently protected grasslands, and restore 100 acres of prairie and wetland habitat. Protection and restoration projects will contribute toward state climate goals by sequestering approximately 75,000 metric tons CO2 equivalent.","Protect - An estimated 400 acres of prairie, wetlands, grasslands, and savanna will be permanently protected through fee-title acquisition from willing sellers in priority prairie core/corridor landscapes as identified in the 2018 MN Prairie Conservation Plan. Acquired lands will be prioritized using LSOHC approved criteria that include: percentage of native prairie on the parcel, proximity to other permanently protected areas, quality of habitat and species diversity, and suitability for public recreation. Protected acres without PILT will be held by The Nature Conservancy subject to a recorded notice of funding restrictions. Enhance - An estimated 18,000 acres of grassland/wetland complex will be enhanced on permanently protected lands, including lands purchased with OHF funds and held by the Conservancy; MN DNR Management Units including Wildlife Management Areas, Scientific & Natural Areas, and Native Prairie Bank easements; federal Waterfowl Production Areas and grassland/wetland habitat easements. The primary objectives of these enhancement activities will be to increase native species diversity and improve critical wildlife habitat. A variety of practices and techniques will be implemented to accomplish the objectives such as: prescribed fire; removal of trees and woody species; invasive species control including mechanical, biological, and chemical control; over-seeding degraded grasslands with native seed; and conservation grazing, mowing, or haying. The work will be conducted primarily through contracts with local vendors, Conservation Corps of Minnesota or Student Conservation Association crews and by using Nature Conservancy seasonal and permanent staff. Prairie Recovery Biologists, stationed in four landscapes within the Prairie region are responsible for identifying and prioritizing projects in collaboration with agency land managers; selecting vendors and overseeing contracted work; and managing and directing seasonal staff. The Biologists are also responsible for participating in and leading Prairie Plan Local Technical Team efforts to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of grassland conservation program delivery by multiple partners at the landscape scale. Restore - Approximately 100 acres of cropland will be restored to diverse local-ecotype grassland and grassland/wetland complexes. Practices to be implemented include those listed as enhancements above and the restoration of original wetland hydrology. Results to date - Through previous Phases of the Prairie Recovery Program we have protected 7,874 acres of prairies, wetlands, and grasslands, enhanced more than 165,000 acres of permanently protected grasslands and restored approximately 1,900 acres with locally-sourced native seed. All parcels protected directly contributed to the functional integrity of existing habitat complexes. Costs to acquire properties in fee-title have averaged around $2,500 per acre, though land prices have been escalating rapidly. Our enhancement projects have focused on accelerating the implementation of prescribed fire, woody vegetation removal, building the infrastructure for conservation grazing systems and treatment of invasive species. Costs for enhancement and restoration work vary depending on the practices being implemented and have averaged around $125 per acre. Labor and supply costs have risen dramatically in the last 18 months. Collectively these projects have captured approximately 750,000 metric tons CO2 equivalent and will continue to hold that carbon in prairie soils.",,2023-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Travis,Issendorf,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 W River Parkway Suite 200",Minneapolis,MN,55415,218-844-3405,tissendorf@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Douglas, Grant, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Murray, Nobles, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Rock, Roseau, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Wilkin, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mn-prairie-recovery-program-phase-13,,,,
10033975,"Prairie Chicken Habitat Partnership of the Southern Red River Valley - Phase IX",2024,4400000,"ML 2023, Ch. 40, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 2(d)","$4,400,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever, incooperation with the Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society, to acquire land in fee and restore and enhance lands in the southern Red River Valley for wildlife management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, or to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Subject to the evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be protected to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR of United States FWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and ""Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan"". Key core parcels are protected for fish, game and other wildlife - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be protected to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR of United States FWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and ""Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan""",,,538000,"PF, PF, MPCS, Private and Federal",4379700,20300,,1.07,"PF with MN Prairie Chicken Society","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This proposal protects and restores 651 acres of land in the Minnesota prairie-chicken range, that will be transferred to the MNDNR as a WMA or to the USFWS as a WPA. All land will be open to public hunting. MN Prairie Chicken Society and Pheasants Forever will be protecting parcels that focus specifically on prairie chicken benefits, which makes this proposal unique and highly focused. All acquisitions will occur within the prairie and prairie/forest planning regions with a focus in Clay, Norman, Mahnomen and Wilkin counties which is the primary range of prairie chickens in Minnesota.","Greater prairie chickens require large blocks of grasslands, with a minimum of 320 acres at any one site. The makeup of these grassland complexes should include numerous successional states of habitat to sustain a local population. Because of this the greater prairie chickens population in Minnesota is largely restricted to the beach ridges of the Glacial Lake Agassiz region. Greater prairie chickens are a ""flagship"" species in the sense that if we have greater prairie chickens on the landscape, then we also have met the habitat needs of many additional grassland-dependent wildlife species. Greater prairie chicken habitat has declined dramatically in recent years due to 1) loss of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres and 2) conversion of grasslands; (including remnant native prairie), to row crop production. This partnership protects native and restored prairies, sedge meadows, and other types of grasslands and associated wetlands to promote the growth and stability of greater prairie chicken populations. This is a very focused proposal with the priority of protecting remnant prairies within core and corridor areas of the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. Our proposed tracts were identified as high priority greater prairie chicken habitat with willing sellers who have an interest in preserving wildlife values. These tracts were ranked as high priority for greater prairie chicken habitat based on six criteria including: 1) distance to the nearest prairie chicken lek; 2) location in or outside of a core area from the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan (MPCP); 3) distance to the nearest public hunting land (WPA or WMA); 4) tract size; 5) current grassland type (native prairie, restored prairie, brome, or row crop;) and 6) wetland density and predicted waterfowl breeding pairs (wetlands can provide important habitat for prairie chickens over their annual life cycle). All projects acquired under this proposal will be restored and/or enhanced to be productive grassland habitat as part of the grant activity. By protecting, restoring, and enhancing grasslands and wetlands in the right areas, this partnership delivers on many of the goals of stateside conservation plans. In fact, one ecosystem measure of the MPCP success is to have stable or increasing greater prairie chicken populations in Minnesota. The MPCP is ideally suited for greater prairie chicken management with core areas containing large contiguous blocks of grassland and smaller grassland patches scattered across the landscape called corridors that allow birds to maintain populations outside the core areas as well as move across the landscape. In addition to grassland conservation, most tracts have extensive wetlands. Restoring and maintaining these wetlands will have several benefits including water storage, sequestering and storing carbon, water quality, diversity of flora and fauna, and reducing erosion. Providing secure habitat for greater prairie chickens also provides habitat for a host of other grassland species.",,2023-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Sabin,Adams,"MN Prairie Chicken Society / Pheasants Forever, Inc.","14241 Steves Rd SE ",Osakis,MN,56360,320-250-6317,sadams@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Clay, Mahnomen, Otter Tail, Pennington, Wilkin","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/prairie-chicken-habitat-partnership-southern-red-river-valley-phase-ix-1,,,,
10011404,"MN Prairie Recovery Project Phase IX",2020,3058000,"ML 2019, 1st Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd, 2(c)","$3,058,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy to acquire lands in fee and to restore and enhance native prairies, grasslands, wetlands, and savannas. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. No later than 180 days after The Nature Conservancys fiscal year ends, The Nature Conservancy must submit to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council annual income statements and balance sheets for income and expenses from land acquired with this appropriation. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan, and the acquisitions must be consistent with the priorities identified in Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan.",,"Temperate grasslands are the most endangered and least protected habitat type on earth, and Minnesota's prairies are no exception. Activities identified in this project directly reflect implementation strategies identified in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan. Properties targeted for acquisition were identified and prioritized using MN County Biological Survey Rare Element Occurrences and Biodiversity Significance. The geographies we worked within, in addition to being Prairie Plan Core areas, reflect areas with the highest density and highest quality remaining prairie systems left in the state. By focusing our work in these particular landscapes we increased the functionality of the overall prairie/grassland systems, including increased water retention, improved breeding and nesting habitat and augmented migratory corridors. While our work focused on increasing and maintaining system functionality a number of individual species and suites of SPGCN directly benefited from this project including: Insects - habitat management and protection specifically for the federally-threatened Dakota skipper butterfly, potential restoration of habitat for the endangered Poweshiek skipperling and the declining Regal fritillary butterflies. Mammals - American badger (an indicator species requiring intact blocks of quality habitat), elk (for herd management in NW MN) Reptiles - hognose snake (primarily in western MN counties of Lac qui Parle, Big Stone, and Yellow Medicine), 5-lined skink (rock outcroppings in the upper MN River Valley) Birds - Grassland dependent birds have experienced precipitous population decline across Minnesota and the norther Great Plains, largely due to habitat loss on the breeding grounds. This project will provide permanently protected and enhanced habitat for a suite of grassland and wetland nesting birds, most notably the Meadowlark, Bobolink, Dickcissel, Grasshopper sparrow, Henslow's sparrow, Upland sandpiper, Black tern, Northern pintail, Greater Prairie-chicken, Sharp-tail grouse, and many others.","A total of 16,937 acres were affected: 353 Restored, 207 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 16,377 in Enhance.",671300,TNC,2814700,243300,,10.73,"The Nature Conservancy","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This project contributed to the goals of the MN Prairie Conservation Plan by protecting 207 acres of native prairie/wetland/savanna; restoring 353 acres of prairie/wetland; and enhancing 16,377 acres of grassland/savanna. When combined with Phases 1-8 of the Prairie Recovery Program we have cumulatively protected 7,941 acres, enhanced 171,191 acres and restored 2,389 acres using Outdoor Heritage Fund dollars. We will continue to implement subsequent Phases toward meeting the conservation goals described in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan.","Phase 9 built upon the success of the MN Prairie Recovery Project Phases 1-8 by continuing and expanding enhancement and protection work in 4 focal areas. Project partners, primarily through our participation in Prairie Plan Local Technical teams, helped us to prioritize and refine guidelines for protection, enhancement, and restoration activities within priority landscapes. The Prairie Recovery Program utilizes a collaborative model for conservation and we regularly consult and work with a variety of entities including state and federal agencies, other conservation nonprofits, agricultural producer groups, and local governments. 207 acres of existing and restorable grassland were permanently protected within prairie core and corridor areas as defined in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan. Lands are held by The Nature Conservancy, subject to a recorded notice of funding restrictions pursuant to LSOHC requirements. All lands acquired in fee are FULLY open to hunting and fishing per state of Minnesota regulations. Basic developments have been, and will continue to be, implemented (boundary signage, habitat improvement, wetland restoration). Protection efforts were coordinated with other partner protection programs (e.g., MN DNR Wildlife Management Area and Prairie Bank programs), via interactions through Local Technical Teams. An internal fund has been established by The Nature Conservancy to cover ongoing land-management costs and property tax obligations. Income generated by agricultural leases (grazing, haying, and/or cropping) are held in this account and help offset property taxes. 353 acres of cropland and degraded grassland were restored to diverse, local-ecotype grassland or grassland/wetland complex. Extensive effort was made to collect seed from local sources that cover the full season (early spring through late fall) needs of native pollinators. Seed sourcing included both mechanical and hand collection. 16,377 acres of grassland complex were enhanced on public lands and those purchased with OHF funds and held by the Conservancy (""protected conservation lands"") to increase native species diversity and improve critical wildlife habitat. Management techniques included prescribed fire (50 projects impacting 10,142 acres), removal of woody vegetation (47 projects for 3,474 acres), control of invasive species (71 projects - 2,740 acres), and inter-seeding of degraded grasslands (3 projects - 21 acres). Much of this work was accomplished by private vendors through contracts. We also extensively used Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa (CCMI) crews and seasonal staff employed directly by TNC. On-the-ground Conservancy staff provided by this grant were co-located in MN DNR or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices and helped form and lead local coordination and implementation teams; identified protection, restoration, and enhancement needs and opportunities within the focus areas; worked with MN DNR and USFWS staff to delineate conservation projects on public lands; coordinated deployment of contract and staff resources to protected conservation lands; contacted and worked with private landowners to coordinate agricultural activities/leases on appropriate protected conservation lands (e.g., haying, grazing, cropping in advance of restoration); educated lessees on appropriate conservation.",,2019-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Travis,Issendorf,"The Nature Conservancy / Detroit Lakes WMD","1732 North Tower Road ","Detroil Lakes",MN,56501,"(218 844-3405",tissendorf@tnc.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Chippewa, Clay, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Roseau, Stearns, Swift","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mn-prairie-recovery-project-phase-ix,,,,
10035253,"Prairie Chicken Habitat Partnership of the Southern Red River Valley - Phase X",2025,3794000,"ML 2024, Ch. 106, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(c )","$3,794,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever, in cooperation with the Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society, to acquire land in fee and restore and enhance lands within the southern Red River Valley for wildlife management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, or to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie.","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non game species. Lands will be protected to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR of United States FWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and ""Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan"". Key core parcels are protected for fish, game and other wildlife - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non game species. Lands will be protected to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR of United States FWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and ""Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan""",,,321500,"PF, PF and Local and Federal",3771500,22500,,0.29,"PF w/Prairie Chx","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society in partnership with Pheasants Forever seek to protect and restore parcels within the Minnesota prairie chicken range. Focus will be on parcels that will specifically benefit prairie chickens, a species of special concern. Acquisitions will be located in the prairie or prairie/forest planning regions with an emphasis in the primary prairie chicken range. Parcels will be transferred to either the MN DNR as WMA's or the USFWS as WPA's and will be open to the public.","Greater prairie chickens are a grassland dependent species found largely in the beach ridges of Glacial Lake Agassiz in western Minnesota. Grassland complexes composed of various successional stages (i.e. age of habitat resulting in changing plant community), and at least 320 acres in size are required by this species. Loss of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres and conversion from grassland to row crop agriculture are the two major factors reducing quality or the habitat available to prairie chickens. As a charismatic upland gamebird, prairie chickens serve as flagship or ambassador for other grassland dependent species. Protection and restoration of habitat for the benefit of prairie chickens will, in turn, positively benefit other species such as the chestnut-collared longspur and Dakota Skipper (both species listed by the MN DNR as endangered). The focus of this partnership is to permanently protect native and restored prairies and associated wetland habitats to both increase and stabilize prairie chicken populations in western Minnesota. This is done by focusing on remnant prairies within core and corridor areas of the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan (MNPCP). Proposed tracts, with willing sellers who value wildlife habitat, are ranked based on the following criteria: 1) distance to the nearest prairie chicken lek, 2) location in or outside of a core area from the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan (MPCP), 3) distance to the nearest public hunting land (WPA or WMA), 4) tract size, 5) current grassland type (native prairie, restored prairie, brome, or row crop), and 6) wetland density and predicted waterfowl breeding pairs (wetlands can provide important habitat for prairie chickens over their annual life cycle). Purchased tracts will be restored and/or enhanced to their fullest potential using grant funds. When appropriate, tracts will be transferred to the MN DNR as Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) or to the USFWS as Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA) and will be responsible for future management. This proposal delivers numerous stateside conservation plan goals by protecting, restoring, and enhancing grasslands and wetlands in strategic areas. The MPCP specifically states that an ecosystem measure of success is stable or growing prairie chicken populations in Minnesota. The MPCP is ideally suited for greater prairie chicken management with core areas containing large contiguous blocks of grassland and smaller grassland patches serving as corridors allowing birds to maintain populations outside the core areas as well as move across the landscape. Additional benefits of this work is protection and restoration of the extensive wetland systems encompassed by these tracts. Water storage sequestering and storing carbon, water quality, diversity of flora and fauna, and reducing erosion are among the many benefits of fully functional wetland systems.",,2024-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Sabin,Adams,"MN Prairie Chicken Society / Pheasants Forever, Inc.","14241 Steves Rd SE ",Osakis,MN,56360,320-250-6317,sadams@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Clay, Mahnomen, Otter Tail, Wilkin","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/prairie-chicken-habitat-partnership-southern-red-river-valley-phase-x,,,,
10000094,"MN Prairie Recovery Project - Phase VII",2018,1901000,"ML 2017, Ch. 91, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 2(c )","$1,901,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy to acquire land in fee for native prairie, wetland, and savanna and to restore and enhance grasslands, wetlands, and savanna. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. No later than 180 days after The Nature Conservancys fiscal year ends, The Nature Conservancy must submit to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council annual income statements and balance sheets for income and expenses from land acquired with this appropriation. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan and must be consistent with the priorities identified in Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. ",,"329 Prairie acres Restored.  450 Prairie acres Protected in Fee without State PILT Liability.  5,469 Prairie acres Enhanced.  A total of 6,248 acres Restored, Protected, and Enhanced. ",,229900,"TNC ",1778600,122400,,4.48,"The Nature Conservancy","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This project will advance the prairie protection, restoration and enhancement goals established in the 2011 MN Prairie Conservation Plan. It builds upon the successful model established in Phases 1 - 6 and seeks to protect 200 acres in fee without PILT obligations to be held by The Nature Conservancy, protect an additional 100 acres with PILT for inclusion in the State's Wildlife Management or Scientific Natural Area systems, enhance 7,500 acres of permanently protected grasslands, and restore 100 acres of prairie habitat. ",,"Phase 7 built upon the success of the MN Prairie Recovery Project Phases 1-6 by continuing and expandingenhancement and protection work in 4 focal areas. Project partners, primarily through our participation in PrairiePlan Local Technical teams, helped us to prioritize and refine guidelines for protection, enhancement andrestoration activities within priority landscapes. The Prairie Recovery Program utilizes a collaborative model forconservation and we regularly consult and work with a variety of entities including state and federal agencies,other conservation nonprofits, agricultural producer groups and local governments.450 acres of existing and restorable grassland were permanently protected within prairie core and corridor areasas defined in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan. Lands are held by The Nature Conservancy, subject to a recordednotice of funding restrictions pursuant to LSOHC requirements. All lands acquired in fee are FULLY open to huntingand fishing per state of Minnesota regulations. Basic developments have been, and will continue to be,implemented (boundary signage, habitat improvement, wetland restoration). Protection efforts were coordinatedwith other partner protection programs (e.g., DNR Wildlife Management Area and Prairie Bank programs), viainteractions through Local Technical Teams. An internal fund has been established by The Nature Conservancy tocover ongoing land-management costs and property tax obligations. Income generated by agricultural leases(grazing, haying, and/or cropping) are held in this account and help offset property taxes.329 acres of cropland were restored to diverse, local-ecotype grassland or grassland/wetland complex. Extensiveeffort was made to collect seed from local sources that cover the full season (early spring through late fall) needs ofnative pollinators. Seed sourcing included both mechanical and hand collection.5,469 acres of grassland complex were enhanced on public lands and those purchased with OHF funds and held bythe Conservancy (“protected conservation lands”) to increase native species diversity and improve critical wildlifehabitat. Management techniques included prescribed fire (9 projects impacting 858 acres), removal of woodyvegetation (40 projects for1,723 acres), control of invasive species (58 projects - 2,880 acres), and inter-seeding ofdegraded grasslands (6 projects - 169 acres). Much of this work was accomplished by private vendors throughcontracts. We also extensively used Conservation Corps of Minnesota (CCM) crews and seasonal staff employeddirectly by TNC.On-the-ground Conservancy staff provided by this grant were co-located in DNR or US Fish and Wildlife Serviceoffices and helped form and lead local coordination and implementation teams; identified protection, restorationand enhancement needs and opportunities within the focus areas; worked with DNR and USFWS staff to delineateconservation projects on public lands; coordinated deployment of contract and staff resources to protectedconservation lands; contacted and worked with private landowners to coordinate agricultural activities/leases onappropriate protected conservation lands (e.g., haying, grazing, cropping in advance of restoration); educatedlessees on appropriate conservation. ",2017-07-01,2021-08-10,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Neal,Feeken,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 W River Parkway Suite 200",Minneapolis,MN,55415,"(612) 331-0738",nfeeken@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Clay, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Marshall, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Stearns, Swift, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mn-prairie-recovery-project-phase-vii,,,,
10000096,"Prairie Chicken Habitat Partnership of the Southern Red River Valley - Phase III",2018,1908000,"ML 2017, Ch. 91, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 2(h)","$1,908,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever in cooperation with the Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society to acquire land in fee, and restore and enhance lands in the southern Red River Valley for wildlife management purposes under Minnesota Statutes 86A.05, subdivision 8 or to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquisitions of lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96 or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"SGCN and T/E were considered when the parcels were evaluated for acquisition. Parcels with identified species were ranked more favorably than parcels without. Species of concern that will benefit from these projects include the greater prairie chicken, short-eared owl, marsh hawk and yellow rail. Additionally the acquisitions in this program add to existing WMA or WPA habitat complexes. Many of these complexes are the strongholds for species of wildlife including SGCN and T/E species. By increasing the size and connectivity of these complexes many species are benefited. Additionally many of the parcels are located in the Prairie Pothole Region which is not only the richest wetland system on earth but also produces approximately one third of the continents waterfowl population. The parcels acquired and restored as part of this phase add to the quantity and quality of grasslands and wetlands that are available to species such as mallards, black terns, bobolinks, meadowlarks, and the ring-necked pheasant.","A total of 619 acres were affected: 0 Restored, 619 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 0 in Enhance.",161800,"Federal, Private, PF and MPCS",1615000,4500,,0.08,"Pheasants Forever / MN Prairie Chicken Society","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Phase 3 of the PCHP sought to acquire parcels as State Wildlife Management Areas or Waterfowl Production Areas in the Southern Red River Valley. Over the course of the appropriation, we acquired one 64.1 acre tract as a waterfowl production area and two tracts totaling 555.7 acres as wildlife management areas. Upland prairie and wetland habitat were restored on all tracts to provide the highest quality wildlife habitat possible.","Working in close collaboration with the MN Prairie Chicken Society, Pheasants Forever acquired 619.85 acres of strategic habitat that will benefit Greater Prairie Chicken populations in MN. All land acquired have been enrolled into the state Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Program or the Waterfowl Production Area Program (WPA) and will be protected and managed in perpetuity by the Minnesota DNR or USFWS. These properties not only provide access and recreational opportunities for all Minnesotans, but also helps address a strong need to provide more secure nesting and brood rearing habitat for prairie chickens near existing leks. Parcels were identified jointly with the MN DNR and USFWS, ranked, and prioritized on habitat goals and feasibility. Pheasants Forever and agency staff collaborated to generate a list of parcels with landowners who had the desire to sell. These parcels ecological impact was evaluated using landscape level planning tools such as the USFWS Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET), The MN Prairie Conservation Plan and The Pheasant Action Plan among other. By utilizing these tools, we were able to focus efforts in areas where acquisitions and restorations will make the greatest impact on the landscape and thus these additional acres of WMA are very beneficial to wildlife and public recreation. Offers to landowners were based on fair market value as indicated in an independent appraisal. Once acquired, drained wetlands on each parcel were restored by installing surface ditch ""plugs"" and or breaking subsurface tile. Some wetlands may also have had sediment removed to create proper substrates for wetland function and vegetative growth. Grasslands were restored by planting high-diversity native seed mix of grasses and forbs that are regionally appropriate to the area. As with all restoration work, there are challenges that come from weather and working with private contractors, but we did not face any major issues.",,2017-07-01,2022-09-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Eran,Sandquist,"MN Prairie Chicken Society / Pheasants Forever, Inc.","410 Lincoln Ave S Box 91","South Haven",MN,55382,"(320) 236-7755",esandquist@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Clay, Norman","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/prairie-chicken-habitat-partnership-southern-red-river-valley-phase-iii,,,,
10011408,"Prairie Chicken Habitat Partnership of the Southern Red River Valley - Phase V",2020,2558000,"ML 2019, 1st Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd, 2(h)","$2,558,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever, in cooperation with the Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society, to acquire lands in fee and restore and enhance lands in the southern Red River valley for wildlife management under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, or to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"SGCN and T&E were a major consideration when evaluating acquisitions, considering the primary focus of this program is to protect and restore Greater prairie chicken habitat. Parcels with identified SGCN/T&E species were ranked more favorably than parcels without. In addition to the Greater Prairie chicken, species of concern that will benefit from these projects include the short-eared owl, marsh hawk and yellow rail. To maximize our impact, acquisitions in this program add to existing WMA or WPA habitat complexes. Many of these complexes are the strongholds for species of wildlife including SGCN and T&E species. By increasing the size and connectivity of these complexes many species are benefited. The parcels acquired and restored as part of this phase add to the quantity and quality of grasslands and wetlands that are available to species such as mallards, black terns, bobolinks, meadowlarks, and the ring-necked pheasant.","A total of 1,076 acres were affected: 0 Restored, 1,076 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 0 in Enhance.",369500,"Attorney Discount, PCS, PF, Federal and Private",2484100,6700,,0.073,"Pheasants Forever / MN Prairie Chicken Society","Non-Profit Business/Entity","In phase V of this program, we purchased two properties totaling 1,076 acres, which exceeds our acre goal by 408 acres. The Prosby addition to the Cupido WMA in Norman County was 955 acres, and the Lehrke addition to the Parke WPA in Clay County was 121 acres. Upon purchase, we restored the uplands and wetlands to the fullest extent possible. Both tracts have been transferred to either the MN DNR or USFWS.","In collaboration with the MN Prairie Chicken Society, Pheasants Forever strategically acquired two parcels totaling 1,076 acres for the benefit of Greater Prairie Chicken populations in MN. All acquired tracts have been enrolled into the state Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Program or the Waterfowl Production Area Program (WPA) and will be protected and managed in perpetuity by the Minnesota DNR or USFWS. These purchases address the need to protect nesting and brood rearing habitat in close proximity to leks for Greater prairie chickens. In addition to the wildlife benefits, all properties are open to all peoples to enjoy. Parcels were identified jointly with the MN DNR and USFWS, ranked, and prioritized on habitat goals and feasibility. Pheasants Forever and agency staff collaborated to generate a list of parcels with landowners who had the desire to sell. These parcels ecological impact was evaluated using landscape level planning tools such as the USFWS Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET), The MN Prairie Conservation Plan and The Pheasant Action Plan among other. By utilizing these tools, we were able to focus efforts in areas where acquisitions and restorations will make the greatest impact on the landscape and thus these additional acres of WMA are very beneficial to wildlife and public recreation. Offers to landowners were based on fair market value as indicated in an independent appraisal. Once acquired, drained wetlands on each parcel were restored by installing surface ditch ""plugs"" and or breaking subsurface tile. Some wetlands may also have had sediment removed to create proper substrates for wetland function and vegetative growth. Grasslands were restored by planting high-diversity native seed mix of grasses and forbs that are regionally appropriate to the area. As with all restoration work, there are challenges that come from weather and working with private contractors, but we did not face any major issues.",,2019-07-01,2023-08-25,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Steven,Burdick,"MN Prairie Chicken Society / Pheasants Forever, Inc.","8074 Pine Point Rd ","Lake Shore",MN,56468,"(701) 200-3588",sburdick@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Clay, Norman","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/prairie-chicken-habitat-partnership-southern-red-river-valley-phase-v,,,,
35023,"MN Prairie Recovery Project - Phase VI",2016,4032000,"ML 2015, First Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(c )","$4,032,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy to acquire native prairie, wetlands, and savanna and restore and enhance grasslands, wetlands, and savanna. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquisition of lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. Annual income statements and balance sheets for income and expenses from land acquired with this appropriation must be submitted to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council no later than 180 days following the close of The Nature Conservancys fiscal year. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan and must be consistent with the priorities identified in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. ",,"Temperate grasslands are the most endangered and least protected habitat type on earth, and Minnesota's prairies are no exception. Activities identified in this project directly reflect implementation strategies identified in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan. Properties targeted for acquisition were identified and prioritized using MN County Biological Survey Rare Element Occurrences and Biodiversity Significance. The geographies we worked within, in addition to being Prairie Plan Core areas, reflect areas with the highest density and highest quality remaining prairie systems left in the state. By focusing our work in these particular landscapes we increased the functionality of the overall prairie/grassland systems, including increased water retention, improved breeding and nesting habitat and augmented migratory corridors. While our work focused on increasing and maintaining system functionality a number of individual species and suites of SPGCN directly benefited from this project including: Insects - habitat management and protection specifically for the federally-threatened Dakota skipper butterfly, potential restoration of habitat for the endangered Poweshiek skipperling and the declining regal fritillary butterflies Mammals - American badger (an indicator species requiring intact blocks of quality habitat), elk (for herd management in NW MN) Reptiles - hognose snake (primarily in western MN counties of Lac qui Parle, Big Stone and Yellow Medicine), 5-lined skink (rock outcroppings in the upper MN River Valley) Birds - Grassland dependent birds have experienced precipitous population decline across Minnesota and the northern Great Plains, largely due to habitat loss on the breeding grounds. This project will provide permanently protected and enhanced habitat for a suite of grassland and wetland nesting birds, most notably the Meadowlark, Bobolink, Dickcissel, Grasshopper sparrow, Henslow's sparrow, Upland sandpiper, Black tern, Northern pintail, Greater Prairie-chicken, Sharp-tail grouse, and many others.","A total of 25,294 acres were affected: 151 Restored, 539 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 24,604 in Enhance.",221800,"TNC Private funds",3867800,158300,,6.90,"The Nature Conservancy","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This project contributed to the goals of the MN Prairie Conservation Plan by protecting 539 acres of prairie/wetland/savanna habitat; restoring 151 acres prairie/grassland; and enhancing 24,604 acres grassland/savanna. We will continue to implement subsequent Phases toward meeting the conservation goals described in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan. ","Phase 6 built upon the success of the MN Prairie Recovery Project Phases 1-5 by continuing and expanding enhancement and protection work in 4 focal areas. Project partners, primarily through our participation in Prairie Plan Local Technical teams, helped us to prioritize and refine guidelines for protection, enhancement and restoration activities within priority landscapes. The Prairie Recovery Program utilizes a collaborative model for conservation and we regularly consult and work with a variety of entities including state and federal agencies, other conservation nonprofits, agricultural producer groups and local governments. 539 acres of existing and restorable grassland were permanently protected within prairie core and corridor areas as defined in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan. Most of the protected lands (499 acres) are, or are in the process of being transferred to the MN DNR for inclusion in the state's WMA system. The additional 40 acres are held by The Nature Conservancy, subject to a recorded notice of funding restrictions pursuant to LSOHC requirements. All lands acquired in fee are FULLY open to hunting and fishing per state of Minnesota regulations. Basic developments have been implemented (boundary signage, habitat improvement, wetland restoration). Protection efforts were coordinated with other partner protection programs (e.g., DNR Wildlife Management Area and Prairie Bank programs), via interactions through Local Technical Teams. An internal fund has been established by The Nature Conservancy to cover ongoing land-management costs and property tax obligations. Income generated by agricultural leases (grazing, haying, and/or cropping) are held in this account and help offset property taxes. 151 acres of cropland were restored to diverse, local-ecotype grassland or grassland/wetland complex. Extensive effort was made to collect seed from local sources that cover the full season (early spring through late fall) needs of native pollinators. Seed sourcing included both mechanical and hand collection. 24,604 acres of grassland complex were enhanced on public lands and those purchased with OHF funds and held by the Conservancy (protected conservation lands) to increase native species diversity and improve critical wildlife habitat. Management techniques included prescribed fire, removal of woody vegetation, control of invasive species, and inter-seeding of degraded grasslands. Much of this work was accomplished by private vendors through contracts. We also extensively used Conservation Corps of Minnesota (CCM) crews and seasonal staff employed directly by TNC. On-the-ground Conservancy staff provided by this grant were co-located in DNR or US Fish and Wildlife Service offices and helped form and lead local coordination and implementation teams; identified protection, restoration and enhancement needs and opportunities within the focus areas; worked with DNR and USFWS staff to delineate conservation projects on public lands; coordinated deployment of contract and staff resources to protected conservation lands; contacted and worked with private landowners to coordinate agricultural activities/leases on appropriate protected conservation lands (e.g., haying, grazing, cropping in advance of restoration); educated lessees on appropriate conservation ",,2015-07-01,2023-01-11,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Neal,Feeken,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 W River Parkway Suite 200",Minneapolis,MN,55415,"(612) 331-0738",nfeeken@tnc.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Chippewa, Clay, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Roseau, Stearns, Swift","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mn-prairie-recovery-project-phase-vi,,,,
10006496,"MN Prairie Recovery Project - Phase VIII",2019,2001000,"ML 2018, Ch. 208, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 2(c )","$2,001,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy to acquire lands in fee and to restore and enhance native prairies, grasslands, wetlands, and savannas. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. Annual income statements and balance sheets for income and expenses from land acquired with this appropriation must be submitted to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council no later than 180 days after The Nature Conservancy?s fiscal year closes. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan, and the acquisitions must be consistent with the priorities identified in Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. ",,"Temperate grasslands are the most endangered and least protected habitat type on earth, and Minnesota's prairies are no exception. Activities identified in this project directly reflect implementation strategies identified in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan. Properties targeted for acquisition were identified and prioritized using MN County Biological Survey Rare Element Occurrences and Biodiversity Significance. The geographies we worked within, in addition to being Prairie Plan Core areas, reflect areas with the highest density and highest quality remaining prairie systems left in the state. By focusing our work in these particular landscapes we increased the functionality of the overall prairie/grassland systems, including increased water retention, improved breeding and nesting habitat and augmented migratory corridors. While our work focused on increasing and maintaining system functionality a number of individual species and suites of SPGCN directly benefited from this project including: Insects - habitat management and protection specifically for the federally-threatened Dakota skipper butterfly, potential restoration of habitat for the endangered Poweshiek skipperling and the declining regal fritillary butterflies Mammals - American badger (an indicator species requiring intact blocks of quality habitat), elk (for herd management in NW MN) Reptiles - hognose snake (primarily in western MN counties of Lac qui Parle, Big Stone and Yellow Medicine), 5-lined skink (rock outcroppings in the upper MN River Valley) Birds - Grassland dependent birds have experienced precipitous population decline across Minnesota and the northern Great Plains, largely due to habitat loss on the breeding grounds. This project will provide permanently protected and enhanced habitat for a suite of grassland and wetland nesting birds, most notably the Meadowlark, Bobolink, Dickcissel, Grasshopper sparrow, Henslow's sparrow, Upland sandpiper, Black tern, Northern pintail, Greater Prairie-chicken, Sharp-tail grouse, and many others.","A total of 10,431 acres were affected: 102 Restored, 284 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 10,045 in Enhance.",272600,TNC,1862900,138100,,2.405,"The Nature Conservancy","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This project contributed to the goals of the MN Prairie Conservation Plan by protecting 284 acres of native prairie/wetland/savanna; restoring 102 acres prairie/wetland; and enhancing 10,045 acres grassland/savanna. When combined with Phases 1-7 of the Prairie Recovery Program we have cumulatively protected 7,734 acres, enhanced 154,814 acres and restored 2,036 acres using Outdoor Heritage Fund dollars. We will continue to implement subsequent Phases toward meeting the conservation goals described in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan.","Phase 7 built upon the success of the MN Prairie Recovery Project Phases 1-6 by continuing and expanding enhancement and protection work in 4 focal areas. Project partners, primarily through our participation in Prairie Plan Local Technical teams, helped us to prioritize and refine guidelines for protection, enhancement and restoration activities within priority landscapes. The Prairie Recovery Program utilizes a collaborative model for conservation and we regularly consult and work with a variety of entities including state and federal agencies, other conservation nonprofits, agricultural producer groups and local governments. 284 acres of existing and restorable grassland were permanently protected within prairie core and corridor areas as defined in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan. Lands are held by The Nature Conservancy, subject to a recorded notice of funding restrictions pursuant to LSOHC requirements. All lands acquired in fee are FULLY open to hunting and fishing per state of Minnesota regulations. Basic developments have been, and will continue to be, implemented (boundary signage, habitat improvement, wetland restoration). Protection efforts were coordinated with other partner protection programs (e.g., DNR Wildlife Management Area and Prairie Bank programs), via interactions through Local Technical Teams. An internal fund has been established by The Nature Conservancy to cover ongoing land-management costs and property tax obligations. Income generated by agricultural leases (grazing, haying, and/or cropping) are held in this account and help offset property taxes. 102 acres of cropland were restored to diverse, local-ecotype grassland or grassland/wetland complex. Extensive effort was made to collect seed from local sources that cover the full season (early spring through late fall) needs of native pollinators. Seed sourcing included both mechanical and hand collection. 10,045 acres of grassland complex were enhanced on public lands and those purchased with OHF funds and held by the Conservancy (protected conservation lands) to increase native species diversity and improve critical wildlife habitat. Management techniques included prescribed fire (36 projects impacting 7,189 acres), removal of woody vegetation (25 projects for 893 acres), control of invasive species (33 projects - 1,905 acres), and inter-seeding of degraded grasslands (5 projects - 58 acres). Much of this work was accomplished by private vendors through contracts. We also extensively used Conservation Corps of Minnesota (CCM) crews and seasonal staff employed directly by TNC. On-the-ground Conservancy staff provided by this grant were co-located in DNR or US Fish and Wildlife Service offices and helped form and lead local coordination and implementation teams; identified protection, restoration and enhancement needs and opportunities within the focus areas; worked with DNR and USFWS staff to delineate conservation projects on public lands; coordinated deployment of contract and staff resources to protected conservation lands; contacted and worked with private landowners to coordinate agricultural activities/leases on appropriate protected conservation lands (e.g., haying, grazing, cropping in advance of restoration); educated lessees on appropriate conservation",,2018-07-01,2022-07-28,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Neal,Feeken,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 W River Parkway Suite 200",Minneapolis,MN,55415,"(612) 331-0738",nfeeken@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Chippewa, Clay, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lyon, Marshall, Polk, Pope, Stearns, Swift, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mn-prairie-recovery-project-phase-viii,,,,
10033397,"MN Prairie Recovery Program Phase 12",2023,4512000,"ML 2022, Ch. 77, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 2(d)","$4,512,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy to acquire land in fee and restore and enhance native prairie, grasslands, wetlands, and savanna. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. Annual income statements and balance sheets for income and expenses from land acquired with this appropriation must be submitted to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council no later than 180 days following the close of The Nature Conservancy's fiscal year. A list of proposed land acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan and must be consistent with the priorities identified in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan.","Remnant native prairies are part of large complexes of restored prairies, grasslands, and large and small wetlands - Protection results will be measured against MN Prairie Conservation Plan goals for protected acres of native prairie and associated grassland for each geography. Enhancement results will be measured using protocols developed for the multi-agency Grassland Monitoring Network. Remnant native prairies and wetlands are perpetually protected and adequately buffered - Protection results will be measured against MN Prairie Conservation Plan goals for protected acres of native prairie and associated grassland for each geography. Enhancement results will be measured using protocols developed for the multi-agency Grassland Monitoring Network",,,300000,"TNC private funds",4309800,202200,,9.87,"The Nature Conservancy","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The project will advance the protection, restoration and enhancement goals for prairie, grassland and wetland habitats as described in the 2018 MN Prairie Conservation Plan. It builds upon the highly successful model previously established in prior Prairie Recovery Phases and seeks to protect 500 acres in Fee without PILT obligations to be held by The Nature Conservancy, enhance 18,000 acres of permanently protected grasslands, and restore 200 acres of prairie and wetland habitat. Protection and restoration projects will contribute toward state climate goals by sequestering approximately 165,000 metric tons CO2 equivalent.","Protect - An estimated 500 acres of prairie, wetlands, grasslands, and savanna will be permanently protected through fee-title acquisition from willing sellers in priority prairie core/corridor landscapes as identified in the 2018 MN Prairie Conservation Plan. Acquired lands will be prioritized using LSOHC approved criteria that include: percentage of native prairie on the parcel, proximity to other permanently protected areas, quality of habitat and species diversity, and suitability for public recreation. Protected acres without PILT will be held by The Nature Conservancy subject to a recorded notice of funding restrictions. Enhance - An estimated 18,000 acres of grassland/wetland complex will be enhanced on permanently protected lands, including lands purchased with OHF funds and held by the Conservancy, MN DNR Management Units, US Fish and Wildlife Service lands, and private lands subject to perpetual conservation easements. The primary objectives of the enhancement activities will be to increase native species diversity and improve critical wildlife habitat. A variety of practices and techniques will be implemented to accomplish the objectives such as: prescribed fire; removal of trees and woody species; invasive species control including mechanical, biological, and chemical control; over-seeding degraded grasslands with native seed; and conservation grazing, mowing, or haying. The work will be conducted primarily through contracts with local vendors, Conservation Corps of Minnesota or Student Conservation Association crews and by using Nature Conservancy seasonal and permanent staff. Prairie Recovery Biologists, stationed in four landscapes within the Prairie region are responsible for identifying and prioritizing projects in cooperation with agency partners; selecting and overseeing contracted work; and leading and directing seasonal staff. The Biologists are also responsible for participating in and leading Prairie Plan Local Technical Team efforts to increase efficiency and effectiveness of program delivery by multiple partners at the landscape scale. Restore - Approximately 200 acres of cropland will be restored to diverse local-ecotype grassland and grassland/wetland complexes. Practices to be implemented include those listed as enhancements above and the restoration of original wetland hydrology. Results to date - Through previous Phases of the Prairie Recovery Program we have protected 7,590 acres of prairies, wetlands, and grasslands, enhanced more than 150,000 acres of permanently protected grasslands and restored approximately 1,800 acres with locally-sourced native seed. All parcels protected were directly adjacent to, or contributed to, the functional integrity of existing habitat complexes. Average per acre cost for acquired properties has averaged around $2,000 per acre. Our enhancement projects have focused on accelerating the implementation of prescribed fire, woody vegetation removal, building the infrastructure for conservation grazing systems and treatment of invasive species. Costs for enhancement and restoration work vary depending on the practices being implemented but have averaged around $120 per acre. Collectively these projects have captured approximately 723,000 metric tons CO2 equivalent and will continue to hold that carbon in prairie soils perpetually.",,2022-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Elizabeth,Beery,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 W River Parkway Suite 200",Minneapolis,MN,55415,612-331-0738,elizabeth.beery@TNC.ORG,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Murray, Nobles, Norman, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Rock, Roseau, Stearns, Swift, Traverse, Wilkin, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mn-prairie-recovery-program-phase-12,,,,
10033404,"Prairie Chicken Habitat Partnership of the Southern Red River Valley - Phase VIII",2023,4440000,"ML 2022, Ch. 77, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 2(c )","$4,440,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever, in cooperation with the Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society, to acquire land in fee and restore and enhance lands within the southern Red River Valley for wildlife management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, or lands to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be protected to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR of United States FWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and ""Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan"". Key core parcels are protected for fish, game and other wildlife - Strategic parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be protected to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR of United States FWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the ""Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years"" and ""Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan""",,,546400,"PF, MPCS, Private and Federal",4421500,18500,,0.17,"PF w/ MN Prairie Chicken Society","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This proposal protects and restores 760 acres of land in the Minnesota prairie-chicken range, that will be transferred to the MNDNR as a WMA or to the USFWS as a WPA. All land will be open to public hunting. MN Prairie Chicken Society and Pheasants Forever will be protecting parcels that focus specifically on prairie chicken benefits, which makes this proposal unique and highly focused. All acquisitions will occur within the prairie and prairie/forest planning regions with a focus in Clay, Norman, Mahnomen and Wilkin counties which is the primary range of prairie chickens in Minnesota.","Greater prairie chickens require large blocks of grasslands, with a minimum of 320 acres at any one site. The makeup of these grassland complexes should include numerous successional states of habitat to sustain a local population. Because of this the greater prairie chicken's population in Minnesota is largely restricted to the beach ridges of the Glacial Lake Agassiz region. Greater prairie chickens are a ""flagship"" species in the sense that if we have greater prairie chickens on the landscape, then we also have met the habitat needs of many additional grassland-dependent wildlife species. Greater prairie chicken habitat has declined dramatically in recent years due to 1) loss of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres and 2) conversion of grasslands; (including remnant native prairie), to row crop production. This partnership protects native and restored prairies, sedge meadows, and other types of grasslands and associated wetlands to promote the growth and stability of greater prairie chicken populations. This is a very focused proposal with the priority of protecting remnant prairies within core and corridor areas of the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. Our proposed tracts were identified as high priority greater prairie chicken habitat with willing sellers who have an interest in preserving wildlife values. These tracts were ranked as high priority for greater prairie chicken habitat based on six criteria including: 1) distance to the nearest prairie chicken lek; 2) location in or outside of a core area from the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan (MPCP); 3) distance to the nearest public hunting land (WPA or WMA); 4) tract size; 5) current grassland type (native prairie, restored prairie, brome, or row crop;) and 6) wetland density and predicted waterfowl breeding pairs (wetlands can provide important habitat for prairie chickens over their annual life cycle). All projects acquired under this proposal will be restored and/or enhanced to be productive grassland habitat as part of the grant activity. By protecting, restoring, and enhancing grasslands and wetlands in the right areas, this partnership delivers on many of the goals of stateside conservation plans. In fact, one ecosystem measure of the MPCP success is to have stable or increasing greater prairie chicken populations in Minnesota. The MPCP is ideally suited for greater prairie chicken management with core areas containing large contiguous blocks of grassland and smaller grassland patches scattered across the landscape called corridors that allow birds to maintain populations outside the core areas as well as move across the landscape. In addition to grassland conservation, most tracts have extensive wetlands. Restoring and maintaining these wetlands will have several benefits including water storage, sequestering and storing carbon, water quality, diversity of flora and fauna, and reducing erosion. Providing secure habitat for greater prairie chickens also provides habitat for a host of other grassland species.",,2022-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Sabin,Adams,"MN Prairie Chicken Society / Pheasants Forever, Inc.","14241 Steves Rd SE ",Osakis,MN,56360,320-250-6317,sadams@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Clay, Mahnomen, Norman, Wilkin","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/prairie-chicken-habitat-partnership-southern-red-river-valley-phase-viii,,,,
10031458,"Priority Lakes: Meeting Protection Goals and Multiplying Benefits",2025,1890000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 08p","$1,890,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Hubbard County Soil and Water Conservation District, in cooperation with Minnesota Land Trust, to protect habitat, forest health, and water quality in the best fishing lakes by creating lake implementation action plans, conducting community-based habitat restorations and improvements, and protecting forest lands with conservation easements and Sustainable Forest Incentive Act (SFIA) enrollments within prioritized areas of the upper Mississippi River basin in Hubbard County. Of this amount, up to $168,000 is for deposit in a monitoring fund to be used by Minnesota Land Trust as approved in the work plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.20.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,7.69,"Hubbard County Soil & Water Conservation District","Local/Regional Government","Use existing tools and partnerships to meet protection goals and transition to long-term community driven, coordinated management for multiple benefits, including: habitat, water, forest health, local economy and climate resiliency.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2027-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Crystal,Mathisrud,"Hubbard County Soil & Water Conservation District","603 Central Ave N Suite 100","Park Rapids",MN,56470,"(218) 732-0121",crystal.hcswcd@gmail.com,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Hubbard,,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/priority-lakes-meeting-protection-goals-and-multiplying-benefits,,,,
739,"Project Get Outdoors",2011,15000,"M.L. 2010, Chp. 362, Sec. 2, Subd. 08h","$15,000 is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Project Get Outdoors, Inc. to develop out of school programs connecting children to local nature experiences.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,,,,,"Project Get Outdoors, Inc.","Non-Profit Business/Entity"," PROJECT OVERVIEW Outdoor recreation is declining among Minnesota children and families. Efforts are underway to try and reverse this trend. One of those efforts - led by Project Get Outdoors, Inc. - is working to implement a program that reconnects Minnesota children in grades K-8 to nature exploration and outdoor recreation utilizing our public lands. Using this appropriation, Project Get Outdoors, Inc. created 50 toolkits and five equipment trunks with supplies that encourage over 100 safe, after-school activities that get kids out in nature. Activities include insect collection, themed hikes, geo-caching, and fishing. These toolkits are available free of charge to interested communities in southern Minnesota by Project GO coordinators along with training for community volunteers on how to start and sustain their own unique programs. OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS Project GO has developed a toolkit to help local communities design, implement, evaluate, and sustain free after-school and summer programs that introduce children to nearby public lands and outdoor activities and skills they can enjoy at these sites. Through funds from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, Project GO was able to assemble 50 Activity Backpacks and 32 Equipment Trunks for Project GO program leaders to use in their communities. Each program leader is issued a backpack to keep during their involvement with the Project GO program. The Activity Backpacks provide basic supplies to help leaders implement 100 or more different outdoor games, projects, and activities. The Equipment Trunks focus on 16 different activities and are available for Project GO leaders to check out for free. These trunks are housed at Whitewater State Park for use in SE Minnesota and we anticipate the other set of 16 trunks will be housed out of Minneopa State Park for use by Project GO clubs in SW Minnesota. At the time of this report, 14 backpacks have been issued. Equipment trunks are beginning to be checked out. Program leaders are excited to have these resources and so far, feedback has been very positive. The children are happy to have more diverse equipment and supplies to use while learning about the outdoors. We plan to evaluate the usefulness of these resources over the coming year via a program leader survey. One obstacle we are looking at is getting the equipment trunks to and from program sites that are farther from the storage site. We are hoping to develop a network of volunteer ""runners"" who would be reimbursed mileage for delivering and returning the equipment trunks when a GO site in a community such as Red Wing or Spring Grove desires to check out a trunk. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION The completed Activity Backpacks have already been issued to 14 sites. We will continue to help communities design Project GO programs that are unique as well as work with local staff at community organizations such as youth centers, school age child care programs, and other after school sites to introduce children in those programs to nature through our toolkit resources. Since completing the assembly of the 50 Activity Backpacks and 32 Equipment Trunks, Project GO has formed a partnership with local public health and child care resource professionals to look at implementing our program into the larger child care centers that serve school age children during the after school hours. We are currently piloting this at a child care center in Caledonia and looking to work with two child care centers in Rochester. We will train the school age room staff at these centers to use our backpacks at least once a week. As an incentive for them to use the backpacks and journal their experiences, Project GO will provide a person to come out to their site no more than once a month to lead a hands-on nature activity using one of the Equipment Trunks. This new approach with child care centers will allow us to serve many more children. Project GO will be presenting at an upcoming Focus on the Child conference in Rochester, sharing this information with child care providers from across the southern region. A number of colleges and college professors in SE Minnesota have expressed enthusiasm to connect their students to service learning, internship, and practicum experiences with Project GO. We have found that college students bring great enthusiasm to the program which the children really enjoy and in exchange Project GO is able to provide real world learning experiences for these students. We are already looking to secure additional funds to purchase more backpacks, as we anticipate the first 50 will be issued within a year. The US Fish & Wildlife Service Winona District is eager to help us acquire another batch of backpacks.",,"Final Report",2010-07-01,2010-11-16,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Sara,Grover,"Project Get Outdoors, Inc.","Whitewater State Park, 19041 Hwy 74",Altura,MN,55910,"(507) 951-5885",sara.grover@yahoo.com,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Steele, Wabasha, Winona",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/project-get-outdoors,,,,
23934,"Protecting Pinelands Sands Aquifer Forestlands and Aquatic Habitat Phase 1",2015,1050000,"ML 2014, Ch. 256, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 3(c )","$1,050,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire forest lands in Cass, Hubbard, and Wadena Counties for wildlife management area purposes underMinnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8; to acquire land in fee for scientific and natural area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 5; or to acquire land in fee for state forests under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 7. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Protected in fee 567 acres of forestlands. ",,2000,"U.S. Forest Service",1050000,2400,,0.1,DNR,"State Government","The Pinelands Sands Aquifer Phase 1 project protected 567 acres of priority forest habitat  in the Pinelands Sands Aquifer including high quality dry pine woodlands to prevent habitat loss, protect water quality in the aquifer, and provide access. Lands protected include 352 acres of forests which will be added to the Badoura State Forest and 215 acres which will be part of the newly established Jack Pine Woodlands Scientific and Natural Area. Protected lands will provide ecological and habitat connectivity, public wildlife and recreational opportunities, help maintain water quality in the aquifer and increase management access to other public lands.",,"Process & Methods: The Pinelands Sands Phase 1 project was part of an interdisciplinary effort by the Department of Natural Resources to assess and prioritize for protection industrial forestland in west central Minnesota in the Pinelands Sands area. The effort has included representatives from the Divisions of Fish and Wildlife, Ecological and Water Resources, Parks and Trails, and Forestry who have identified parcels containing high ecological, water, habitat, recreational, access and timber values. The process has included the participation of county boards, county staff and Potlatch representatives. One of the two parcels acquired is the new Badoura Jack Pine Forest SNA which benefitted from additional Outdoor Heritage Funding provided to the Division of Ecological and Water Resources and who also had funding provided by the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. The second parcel acquired will be added to the Badoura State Forest. Both parcels are located in southeastern Hubbard County adjacent to or in close proximity to other public lands and will be open for public access including hunting. The Badoura Jack Pine Forest SNA protects a rare jack pine woodland plant community which is considered Imperiled or Critically Imperiled (S1S2) by the DNR and Globally Rare (G2) by NatureServe and which also contains several populations of the State Special Concern plant species Hill’s thistle (Cirsium hillii). These jack pine woodland plant communities are characterized by a mix of prairie and northern forest plant species and this acquisition represents one of the largest remaining stands of jack pine woodland in this part of the state. The second parcel includes 420 acres of forestland that protects at risk pine and hardwood forest habitat. Forest lands acquired include those most at risk of near-term conversion to row crop agriculture, and parcels adjacent to already publically owned lands that would augment protection for the Pineland Sands aquifer. These parcels also provide habitat connectivity and management and public access to additional areas of state and county forest lands. ",2014-07-01,2018-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Richard,F.,"MN DNR Forestry","1810 - 30th St. NW ",Faribault,MN,55021,507-333-2012,richard.f.peterson@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Cass, Hubbard, Wadena","Northern Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/protecting-pinelands-sands-aquifer-forestlands-and-aquatic-habitat-phase-1,,,,
35042,"Protecting and Restoring Minnesota's Important Birds Areas",2016,1730000,"ML 2015, First Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(i)","$1,730,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire conservation easements within important bird areas identified in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan, to be used as follows: $408,000 is to Audubon Minnesota and $1,322,000 is to Minnesota Land Trust, of which up to $100,000 is for establishing monitoring and enforcement funds as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the final report. ",,"78 Wetland acres and 650 Prairie acres (for a total of 728 acres) Restored.  265 Wetland acres and 220 Prairie acres ( for a total of 485 acres) Protected in Easement.  95 Wetland acres and 1,500 Prairie acres (for a total of 1,595 acres) Enhanced.  A total of 2,808 acres impacted. ",,187100,"Audubon Funds, Landowners ",1730000,,,0.89,"Audubon MN and MLT","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Protect and restore 590 acres of significant wildlife habitat through conservation easements and restoration projects on private lands within Important Bird Areas with an emphasis on those located in within priority areas identified in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. ",,"Audubon and Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) designed the Protecting and Restoring Minnesota's Important Birds Areas Program to provide solutions to declining grassland and waterbird populations due to habitat loss in western Minnesota. This program is unique for several reasons: 1) the emphasis on Important Bird Areas, which are essential to maintaining healthy and diverse bird populations in Minnesota; 2) a commitment to protecting and restoring working grasslands, remnant prairies and threatened wetlands within these IBAs; 3) the utilization of the cost- effective, reverse-bid model of evaluating and paying for conservation easements. In the Tallgrass Aspen Parklands, Audubon utilized a GIS analysis which found that within these IBAs, there are a total of 339,616 acres of private lands. Of those, 105,000 acres (31%) could be considered wildlife habitat worthy of conservation (e.g., wetlands, grasslands or woodlands). More specifically, private lands that are both within an Important Bird Area and a Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan core area total 195,480 acres, of which 51,576 (26%) could be considered of conservation value. It is this 26% of high priority private lands that this project targeted for protection, restoration, and enhancement in the Tallgrass Aspen Parklands. Specific tracts for easements were identified through a targeted application process as part of this Program’s innovative scoring system. The evaluation and payment strategy was based on MLT’s successful Avon Hills and the Wetlands Protection Initiative, which both used a science-based ranking system and reverse-bid model to leverage the State’s investment on these high-value wildlife lands. Audubon and MLT focused restoration/enhancement efforts on IBAs and the Prairie Plan’s priority areas within western and northwestern Minnesota where these efforts would most benefit target species. Restoration/enhancement work occurred on public lands and private lands previously protected by MLT under this grant and existing USFWS conservation easements. Easement lands, although permanently protected, often have a significant need for habitat restoration and enhancement. In addition, program partners restored and enhanced 524 acres of habitat within Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge, as part of the largest tallgrass prairie restoration projects in North America. These acres enabled MLT and Audubon to further increase the value of these respective lands for focal species by targeting priority lands prioritized by the USFWS. Using this model, Audubon Minnesota and MLT protected four properties totaling 485 acres through perpetual conservation easements and restored and enhanced 2,323 acres of habitat on permanently protected public lands and private lands protected through publicly funded conservation easements by the USFWS and MLT. Properties protected through conservation easements under this Program: Skull Lake (Peterson) – Kittson County. 80 acres The property falls within the Kittson-Roseau Aspen Parkland Important Bird Area and within the Aspen Parklands Core Area. The property protects portions of two rare wet prairie native plant communities and is within 3.5 miles of a 7,000+ acre unit of Skull Lake Wildlife Management Area and four miles of The Nature Conservancy’s Wallace C. Dayton Conservation and Wildlife Area. The property supports sharp-tailed grouse and their courtship leks. Skull Lake (Pines Land) – Kittson County. 105 acres The property lies within the Kittson-Roseau Aspen Parkland Important Bird Area and within the Aspen Parklands Core Area. The property is located within a complex of natural habitats that provide habitat for elk, moose, gray wolf and black bear. Skull Lake WMA, which is identified by MBS as being of outstanding biodiversity significance, is located less than two miles to the south of the property. Skull Lake (Paine-Smude) – Kittson County. 160 acres This spectacular property lies within the Kittson-Roseau Aspen Parkland Important Bird Area and within the Aspen Parklands Core Area. The property borders the 7,000+ acre Skull Lake Wildlife Management Area to the north and 230-acres of land owned by The Nature Conservancy to the east. The property consists of five native plant communities, some of which are considered rare or imperiled in Minnesota, including Northwestern Dry- Mesic Oak Woodland, Bur Oak- (Prairie Herb) Woodland and Dry Barrens Prairie (Northern). The property is located within a site of high biodiversity significance, as ranked by Minnesota Biological Survey. Gilchrist Lake (Mulvaney) – Pope County. 140 acres The property lies in close proximity to over 6,000 acres of existing protected lands that are located within five miles of the Property. The wetlands and lakes in this area form the heart of Minnesota’s prairie pothole ‘Duck Factory’ that is of continental significance for waterfowl reproduction. The rolling terrain found on the property con¬tains a mosaic of mesic hardwood forests, a variety of wetlands, and remnant native prairie. It also contains 4,588 acres of undeveloped shoreline on a bay of Gilchrist Lake, a popular recreational lake. A wide variety of wildlife frequents this property, including many species of migra¬tory waterfowl and Species in Greatest Conservation Need. For this Program, MLT: 1) identified, contacted and negotiated with interested landowners; 2) completed four perpetual conservation easements totaling 485 acres; 3) documented property conditions and developed habitat management plans for; 4) dedicated funds for the perpetual monitoring and enforcement of those easements; 5) managed restoration/enhancement of 1,580 acres of private lands protected through publicly funded conservation easements held by MLT and USFWS. Audubon Minnesota: 1) served as Program Manager and local point of contact; 2) assisted with landowner identification and easement site assessments; 3) managed habitat identification and prioritization on the conservation easements; 4) managed the restoration/enhancement of 743 acres of lands which are protected through publicly-funded conservation easements or in public ownership; 5) managed the restoration/enhancement of 524 acres of lands funded through MLT's appropriation through a subcontract from MLT (those acres are attributed to MLT above); and 6) enhanced an additional 48 acres on Minnesota Land Trust easements conserved under this Program which are not included in any deliverable totals since they fall within the already acquired conservation easement. ",2015-07-01,2021-11-03,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Alexandra,Wardwell,"Audubon Minnesota","2355 Highway 36 West ~ Suite 400",Roseville,MN,55113,"(651) 739-9332",alexandra.wardwell@audubon.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Douglas, Grant, Kittson, Otter Tail, Polk, Pope","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/protecting-and-restoring-minnesotas-important-birds-areas,,,,
35043,"Protecting Pinelands Sands Aquifer Forestlands - Phase II",2016,2180000,"ML 2015, First Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 3(c )","$2,180,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire forest lands in Cass and Wadena Counties for wildlife management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, and to acquire land in fee for state forests under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 7. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"1,306 Forest acres Protected in Fee with State PILT Liability. ",,5000,"General Fund ",2175500,2900,,0.2,DNR,"State Government","Protect up to to 1,500 acres of at risk, priority forest habitat adjacent and near the Crow Wing River that will consolidate and link public forestland parcels, provide management and recreational access and protect surface and ground water quality. ",,"This project protected with fee acquisition 1,306 acres of priority forestland and associated habitats in west- central Minnesota in an area of significant deforestation as a result of conversion of forests to irrigated agriculture. The project focused on habitat protection within a core area along and nearby the Crow Wing River in an area that also includes the Huntersville State Forest, Crow Wing Chain Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Hunterville WMA, Burgen Lake Prairie WMA, Menahga WMA and Yaeger WMA. Habitats protected include pine, oak, and aspen forests, brushlands, and wetlands. Some river river frontage along the Crow Wing was included; the Crow Wing River is one of the state's best river routes for canoeists, with many rustic campsites and miles of undeveloped wooded shoreline. Parcels acquired are now managed by the appropriate DNR Division as State Forests and Wildlife Management Areas. This is an important public use area that provides a wide range of public recreational opportunities including hunting, hiking, fishing, canoeing, trail riding and camping. The project protected properties containing high conservation and natural resource values as determined by a team of area staff who used a science based assessment to evaluate resource values on the various tracts. Values considered in the assessment included shoreline habitat, wildlife habitat, terrestrial ecological importance, groundwater protection, watershed protection, access, trails, forest consolidation and forest productivity. The parcels were further evaluated based on their threat of conversion to agriculture using the following criteria: topography, soil drainage, proximity to other irrigated agricultural land, size of parcel and soil survey data. The project implemented the Minnesota State-Wide Conservation and Preservation Plan priorities to ""protect large blocks of forestland"" and to ""improve connectivity and access to recreation"". In addition, it supported other priorities including the ""protection of priority land habitats"", ""protection of critical shoreland of streams and lakes"" and ""supports and expands sustainable practices on working forest lands"". The project also addressed two of the priority actions listed in the Outdoor Heritage Fund: A Twenty Five Year Framework for the Northern Forest Section. The project was completed with the involvement and support of County Land Departments and County Boards. ",2015-07-01,2021-11-10,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Christine,Ostern,"MN DNR Forestry","525 Lake Avenue South, Suite 415",Duluth,MN,55802,(218)302-3253,christine.ostern@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Hubbard, Wadena","Northern Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/protecting-pinelands-sands-aquifer-forestlands-phase-ii,,,,
10033976,"Protecting Minnesota's Lakes of Outstanding Biological Significance - Phase 2",2024,3648000,"ML 2023, Ch. 40, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(f)","$3,648,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance lakes of outstanding biological significance in northeast and north-central Minnesota. Of this amount, $1,507,000 is to Northern Waters Land Trust and $2,141,000 is to Minnesota Land Trust. $192,000 of the amount to Minnesota Land Trust is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed acquisitions must be included as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Shorelands are protected from development and fragmentation. This program will permanently protect 492 acres associated with some of the most biologically outstanding shoreland in northern Minnesota and approximately 0.65 miles of undeveloped shoreline. Measure: Acres protected",,,408600,"Landowners, Landowners, Lake Associations and USFWS - Midwest Glacial Lake Partnership",3523000,125000,,0.9,"NWLT, MLT","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This program will bring focused conservation to one of Minnesota's priority aquatic resources, Lakes of Outstanding Biological Significance. These threatened lakes possess outstanding fisheries and provide habitat for a variety of Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN); yet, at present, no habitat protection program specifically targets these priority resources. Through this proposal, the Minnesota Land Trust and Northern Waters Land Trust will protect through perpetual conservation easement and fee acquisition 492 acres of habitat and 0.65 miles of shoreland associated with the top 10% of these lakes in northeast and northcentral Minnesota.","Northern Minnesota's lakes comprise one of the most biologically important systems in the state for fish, game and wildlife. They are also one of its most threatened. The development and disturbance of the state's remaining highest quality lakes - Lakes of Outstanding Biological Significance (LOBS) - continues to be a threat identified in many of the State's resource protection plans, including the most recent One-Watershed-One-Plan documents and County Water Plans. These lakes represent the ""best of the best"" aquatic and shoreland habitat and are characterized by exceptional fisheries (both game and non-game), high aquatic plant richness and floristic quality, and populations of endangered or threatened plant and imperiled lake bird species. These lakes are priorities for protection. To preserve this important component of Minnesota's aquatic natural heritage, Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) and Northern Waters Land Trust (NWLT) propose to target these LOBS for protection via conservation easements and fee title acquisition. Fee title acquisitions under this program will be conveyed to the MN DNR for long-term management and permanent protection. This Program fills an otherwise unmet need related to the protection of this resource; no other program is focused principally on the protection of LOBS. This work builds on the success demonstrated in Phases 1-5 of MLTs Critical Shorelands Program and is a continuation of the Protecting Minnesota's Outstanding Biodiversity Lakes Program Phase 1 Program - all funded by the Outdoor Heritage Fund with LSOHC recommendation. NWLT has been added as a program partner due to their capacity to facilitate fee title acquisition of priority properties. Together, program partners MLT and NWLT will protect 492 acres within watersheds of prioritized LOBS through permanent conservation easements and fee title acquisition. Thirty-four of such lakes have been prioritized for action based on an evaluation of DNR's benefit-cost score and investment priorities as identified in the County Water Plans and One-Watershed-One-Plan documents. NWLT submitted a proposal to the Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership (that is highly ranked and is likely to receive funding) to develop a GIS parcel analysis to further refine and score parcels, and target properties that complete gaps in existing protected land, contain the highest-quality habitat, and provide the greatest leverage to the state. MLT will seek donations of easement value and will purchase easements that help complete key complexes. Conservation easements secured under this program will be drafted to prevent the fragmentation and destruction of habitat and ensure they remain ecologically viable and productive for fish, game and wildlife by prohibiting land uses that negatively impact the important habitat values. Outcomes from this project include: 1) healthier populations of fish, waterfowl, and other species in greatest conservation need; 2) maintaining water quality of priority aquatic resources; 3) increased participation of private landowners in habitat protection projects; and 4) enhancement of prior state and local investments made in shoreland and forest conservation in the region. Program partners will strategically target complexes of protected lands in which these outcomes are maximized.",,2023-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Wayne,Ostlie,"Minnesota Land Trust","2356 University Avenue W Suite 240","St. Paul",MN,55114,651-917-6292,wostlie@mnland.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Beltrami, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, St. Louis","Northern Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/protecting-minnesotas-lakes-outstanding-biological-significance-phase-2-1,,,,
10033954,"Protection/Enhancement of Public Land Forest Habitats Through Strategic Acquisition of Private Land Inholdings",2024,1046000,"ML 2023, Ch. 40, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 3(c)","$1,046,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Ruffed Grouse Society to protect and enhance forest habitats by strategically acquiring private forest land inholdings to provide better public forest management, reduce fragmentation, and provide public access. A list of proposed acquisitions and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Forestlands are protected from development and fragmentation - Strategic parcels that increase forest management efficiencies, recreational access and enhance forest habitat functionality will be acquired and restored so as to provide sustainable and resilient forest ecosystems for forest wildlife species. Parcels acquired will be transferred to appropriate public forest land administrator/agency, managed as part of their respective processes and plans. Proper ecological vetting of parcels acquired will ensure that intent and outcomes noted in this proposal are addressed with each parcel acquired",,,109700,"Ruffed Grouse Society, Ruffed Grouse Society Waived Indirect and public forest land administrators",1034600,11400,,0.23,"Ruffed Grouse Society","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This proposal serves to protect 580 acres and enhance 140 acres of forest habitats within Minnesota's public forests through fee title acquisition of strategic private forest land inholdings in State, County and National Forests. Successful efforts will 1) greatly increase management efficiencies and effectiveness of surrounding public forest lands, 2) address primary forest habitat management concerns of forest habitat loss, degradation, fragmentation, and 3) serve to address critical forest and recreational user access needs. Grant funding will also be used to ensure acquired land is turned over to a public entity with suitable infrastructure and forest habitat.","At its most basic level, forest wildlife habitats can be assessed and managed through a thought process that looks at composition (cover types), pattern (stand, patch size and distribution) and structure (age class) of a forest assessed and managed at a site and landscape scale. However, all too often efficiency and effectiveness of this basic process is complicated or unattainable due to private land inholdings that complicate or, hinders forest habitat management efficiencies (boundary, access issues) and reduces forest habitat effectives (fragmentation). To address these overall forest management and related habitat impediments, this proposal would protect strategic forest habitats through the acquisition of private forest land inholdings. Acquisition process would involve input from public forest land agencies as to priority locations, parcels for protection along with a process to vet a potential acquisition as to intent of the proposal and funding source (Outdoor Heritage Fund). While the primary intent of this project is to protect forest habitats through fee title acquisition, a portion of this proposal's budget is also noted for initial development and forest habitat enhancement needs of the parcels acquired. Initial development may include such needs as a property boundary survey, access development or repair, etc. Forest habitat enhancement efforts, coordinated with public land managing agency, may include a forest cover type inventory, tree planting, invasive species control, etc. to prepare for and complement existing sustainable forest management plans. Process of notifying affected county boards as to tax revenue concerns due to acquisition of private land inholdings will depend on the notification requirements of the public land administrator a parcel is being acquiring for (i.e. State, Federal or County). In all cases the RGS/AWS will notify a county of any acquisition intent or effort instigated by this proposal and will work to address, facilitate any information needs or requests they may have.",,2023-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Scott,Johnson,"Ruffed Grouse Society/American Woodcock Society","100 High Tower Boulevard ",Pittsburgh,PA,15205,412-860-3481,scottj@ruffedgrousesociety.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Beltrami, Cass, Hubbard, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Pine, St. Louis","Northern Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/protectionenhancement-public-land-forest-habitats-through-strategic-acquisition-private-0,,,,
10035254,"Protecting Minnesota's Lakes of Outstanding Biological Significance - Phase 3",2025,3321000,"ML 2024, Ch. 106, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(c )","$3,321,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance lakes of outstanding biological significance in northeast and north-central Minnesota. Of this amount, $1,083,000 is to the Northern Waters Land Trust and $2,238,000 is to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $224,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.","Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Shorelands are protected from development and fragmentation. This program will permanently protect 484 acres of the most biologically outstanding shoreland in northern Minnesota and approximately 1 mile of undeveloped shoreline. Measure: Acres protected",,,380800,"Landowners and Landowners; Lake Associations",3228000,93000,,1,MLT,"Non-Profit Business/Entity","This program will bring focused conservation to one of Minnesota's priority aquatic resources, Lakes of Outstanding Biological Significance. These threatened lakes possess outstanding fisheries and provide habitat for a variety of Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN); yet, previous to this program, no habitat protection program specifically targeted these priority resources. Through this proposal, the Minnesota Land Trust and Northern Waters Land Trust will protect through perpetual conservation easement and fee acquisition 1 mile of shoreland and 484 acres of habitat associated with the top 10% of these lakes in northeast and northcentral Minnesota.","Northern Minnesota's lakes comprise one of the most biologically important systems in the state for fish, game and wildlife. They are also one of its most threatened. Development and disturbance of the state's remaining highest quality lakes - Lakes of Outstanding Biological Significance (LOBS) - continues to be a threat identified in many of the State's resource protection plans, including One-Watershed-One-Plan documents and County Water Plans. These lakes represent the ""best of the best"" aquatic and shoreland habitat and are characterized by exceptional fisheries (both game and non-game), high aquatic plant richness and floristic quality, and populations of endangered or threatened plant and imperiled lake bird species. These lakes are priorities for protection. To preserve this important component of Minnesota's aquatic natural heritage, Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) and Northern Waters Land Trust (NWLT) propose to target these LOBS for protection via conservation easements and fee title acquisition. Fee title acquisitions under this program will be conveyed to an accredited organization/agency for long-term management and permanent protection. This Program fills an otherwise unmet need related to the protection of this resource; no other program is focused principally on the protection of LOBS. This work builds on the success demonstrated in Phases 1-5 of MLTs Critical Shorelands program and is a continuation of the Protecting Minnesota's Lakes of Outstanding Biological Significance program - all funded by the Outdoor Heritage Fund with LSOHC recommendation. Together, MLT and NWLT will protect 484 acres within watersheds of prioritized LOBS through permanent conservation easements and fee title acquisition. Thirty-four lakes have been prioritized for action based on an evaluation of DNR's benefit-cost score and investment priorities as identified in the County Water Plans and One-Watershed-One-Plan documents. NWLT was awarded funding through the Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership to develop a GIS parcel analysis to further refine/score/target properties that complete gaps in existing protected land, contain the highest-quality habitat, and provide the greatest leverage to the state. MLT and NWLT actively work with local lake associations, County SWCD's, Tribal interests and DNR to identify protection priorities and opportunities. This takes shape through a Technical Advisory Committee which reviews easement and acquisition applications, active engagement of lake associations, and pro-active coordination with local conservation partners. MLT will seek donations of easement value and will purchase easements that help complete key complexes. Conservation easements secured under this program will be drafted to prevent fragmentation and destruction of habitat and ensure they remain ecologically viable and productive for fish, game and wildlife by prohibiting land uses that negatively impact the important habitat values. Outcomes from this project include: 1) healthier populations of fish, waterfowl, and other Species in Greatest Conservation Need; 2) maintaining water quality of priority aquatic resources; 3) increased participation of private landowners in habitat protection projects; and 4) enhancement of prior state and local investments made in shoreland and forest conservation in the region. Program partners will strategically target complexes of protected lands in which these outcomes are located.",,2024-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Wayne,Ostlie,"Minnesota Land Trust","2356 University Avenue W Suite 240","St. Paul",MN,55114,651-917-6292,wostlie@mnland.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Beltrami, Crow Wing, Hubbard, St. Louis","Northern Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/protecting-minnesotas-lakes-outstanding-biological-significance-phase-3,,,,
10003480,"Reducing Lake Quality Impairments through Citizen Action",2015,59000,"M.L. 2014, Chp. 226, Sec. 2, Subd. 03k","$59,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Freshwater Society to train lake associations and other stakeholder groups to develop lake management plans and to implement science-based, citizen-led water quality improvement projects on impaired lakes in west central Minnesota. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2017, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,59000,,,0.84,"Freshwater Society","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Many lakes in Minnesota are classified as “impaired” for aquatic recreation and aquatic life as the result of nonpoint source pollution. These impairments can be addressed by the citizens that live by and have a vested interest in these water bodies, but there is often a lack of knowledge and resources to take effective action. The Freshwater Society is using this appropriation to train citizen groups in lake ecology and management in order to guide them in implementing water quality improvement projects for their local water bodies.",,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2014/work_plans/2014_03k.pdf,2014-07-01,2017-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Jen,Kader,"Freshwater Society","2424 Territorial Rd, Ste B","St. Paul",MN,55114,"(651) 313-5807",jkader@freshwater.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/reducing-lake-quality-impairments-through-citizen-action-0,,,,
3898,"Region 3 Fishing Piers",2010,147000,"M.L. 2009 Ch. 172 Art. 3 Sec. 2(3)",,,,,,,,,,,,,"Purchase and install fishing piers at priority lake and river sites in Region 3","- Replacement of 84' fishing pier on Lake Bennett in the City of Roseville in Ramsey County and on Buffalo Lake in the City of Buffalo in Wright County and on Silver Lake in North St. Paul in Ramsey County and on Middle Spunk Lake in the City of Avon in S",,2010-10-29,2014-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Nancy,Stewart,"MNDNR Division of Parks and Trails","500 Lafayette Rd","St Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5616",nancy.stewart@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Ramsey, Stearns, Todd, Wright, Hennepin",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/region-3-fishing-piers,,,,
3297,"Region 1 Fishing Piers",2010,,"M.L. 2009 Ch. 172 Art. 3 Sec. 2(3)",,,,,,,,,,,,,"Purchase and install fishing piers at priority lake and river sites in Region 1","- Replacement of 84' fishing pier on Long Lake, City of Vergas in Otter Tail County and on Spirit Lake, City of Menahga in Wadena County. - Replacement of 44' pier on the Fish Hook River in Hubbard County and on Straight Lake, City of Osage in Becker Cou",,2010-10-29,2014-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Nancy,Stewart,"MNDNR Division of Parks and Trails","500 Lafayette Rd","St Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5616",nancy.stewart@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Clearwater, Becker, Beltrami, Hubbard, Otter Tail, Wadena",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/region-1-fishing-piers,,,,
3298,"Region 4 Fishing Piers",2010,150000,"M.L. 2009 Ch. 172 Art. 3 Sec. 2(3)",,,,,,,,,,,,,"Purchase and install fishing piers at priority lake and river sites in Region 4","- Replacement of 104' Fishing Pier on Lake Andrew in Sibley State Park in Kandiyohi County. - Replacement of 64' fishing pier on Madison Lake in the City of Madison Lake in Blue Earth County and on Swan Lake in McLoed County. - New 84' fishing pier on A",,2010-10-29,2014-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Nancy,Stewart,"MNDNR Division of Parks and Trails","500 Lafayette Rd","St Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5616",nancy.stewart@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Blue Earth, Freeborn, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Murray, Lyon, Meeker",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/region-4-fishing-piers,,,,
10031394,"Remote Sensing for Pollinator Habitat",2025,180000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 03x","$180,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Monarch Joint Venture to use remote sensing technology to evaluate pollinator habitat on energy and transportation corridors across Minnesota and to host field-day training workshops.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,2.05,"Monarch Joint Venture","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This project uses remote sensing technology (UAVs) to evaluate pollinator habitat on energy and transportation lands across Minnesota.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2026-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Wendy,Caldwell,"Monarch Joint Venture","2233 University Ave W Suite 426","St. Paul",MN,55114,"(612) 208-3741",wcaldwell@monarchjointventure.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/remote-sensing-pollinator-habitat,,,,
2105,"Restorable Wetlands Inventory",2010,300000,"M.L. 2009, Chp. 143, Sec. 2, Subd. 03e","$300,000 is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited, Inc., to complete the inventory, mapping, and digitizing of drained restorable wetlands in Minnesota. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2012, at which time the project must be completed and final products delivered, unless an earlier date is specified in the work program.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,56000,,,,,,"Ducks Unlimited, Inc.","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Minnesota's wetlands provide crucial habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife, assist in flood control, and help maintain water quality. However, the state has lost half the wetlands that existed before European settlement and these drained wetlands have not been mapped as part of the National Wetlands Inventory. This appropriation is enabling efforts by Ducks Unlimited to provide a complement to the National Wetlands Inventory by identifying and mapping drained wetlands that have the potential to be restored to provide their various benefits once again. This data will be used to prioritize wetland restoration in the Red River Valley and the Prairie-Hardwood region of South-Central Minnesota. Mapping is taking place in 170 townships in Clay, Mahnomen, McLeod, Meeker, Nicollet, Norman, Renville, Sibley, Wilkin, and Wright counties. Overall Project Outcome and Results The Restorable Wetlands Inventory (RWI) is a complement to the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) completed in late-1980s by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. An administrative decision was made developing the original NWI not to map wetland basins in Minnesota identified as completely drained. The number and acreage of completely drained wetlands that were not mapped by the NWI process is significant. In Pope County alone, 25,000 acres of completely drained wetland acres were missed in the NWI mapping process - nearly 19% of the total wetland resources in that county. The RWI project identifies and digitizes the completely-drained depressional wetlands that were not mapped by the NWI process. Restorable wetlands mapping is based upon protocols established for NWI allowing seamless integration of the two datasets. The 2009 Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund appropriation provided the last project funding needed to complete, remaining RWI mapping for the glaciated, tallgrass prairie region of Minnesota - an additional 6,120 square miles. The mapping occurred in approximately 178 townships in Clay, Mahnomen, McLeod, Meeker, Nicollet, Norman, Renville, Sibley, Wilkin, and Wright Counties. In the Red River Valley Complex, over 132,000 individual restorable wetland basins were identified and mapped. In the Prairie-Hardwood Complex, almost 131,000 individual restorable wetland basins were identified and mapped. As in previous phase of the mapping project, partners included the LCCMR, Ducks Unlimited, Inc., and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The photo-interpretation and digitization work was contracted to the GIS Lab at South Dakota State University. The attached ""Restorable Wetlands Inventory: Final Status Map"" displays the counties and townships that were completed under the M.L. 2008, M.L. 2009, and prior appropriations. Data will be distributed on the web via the Minnesota GIS Data Deli (http://deli.dnr.state.mn.us) and the Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (http://www.ducks.org) websites. ",,"Final Report ",2009-07-01,2012-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Darin,Blunck,"Ducks Unlimited Inc.","2525 River Rd",Bismarck,ND,58503,701-355-3500,dblunck@ducks.org,"Analysis/Interpretation, Digitization/Online Information Access, Inventory, Mapping","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Clay, Mahnomen, McLeod, Meeker, Nicollet, Norman",,"Bois de Sioux River",http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/restorable-wetlands-inventory,,,,
2553,"Restoring Native Habitat and Water Quality to Shell Rock River, Phase 2",2012,2577000,"ML 2011, First Special Session, Ch. 6, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(f)","$2,577,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Shell Rock River Watershed District to acquire land in fee at the headwaters of the Shell Rock River for aquatic management area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02, to restore and enhance aquatic habitat. The leases for gravel mining existing at the time of acquisition may not be extended and all gross income generated from mining operations must be transferred to the commissioner of management and budget and credited to the outdoor heritage fund. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Protect in fee 99 acres of Forests and 137 acres of Habitat and 20 acres of Wetlands",,7555400,"Landowner donation, SRRWD Sales Tax, Army Corp of Engineers",2576500,,,1.0,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","Local/Regional Government","The SRRWD has successfully acquired fee title to 257 acres of land that encompasses the headwaters of the Shell Rock River located at the Albert Lea Lake outlet. This 257 acre parcel will now be a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Aquatic Management Area (AMA) guided by an Aquatic Management Plan.",,"The Shell Rock River Watershed District (SRRWD) Management Plan developed in 2004, revised in 2015, has identified goals for accelerating programs for improved habitat, water quality and flood control. Acquiring the 257 acre parcel allowed the SRRWD to meet these goals by protecting such a large portion of undeveloped habitat and opening opportunities for the public by incorporating recreation, hunting, and fishing into the property. This project was time sensitive, as it was an essential step in securing access for the replacement of the Albert Lea Lake Dam. The Albert Lea Lake Dam and Fish Barrier Project was also funded by the LSOHC and was a 3-in-1 project designed to replace the failing dam and install a draw down structure that provided vegetation and game fish management, an electric fish barrier for protection from aquatic invasive species, and provided an aesthetically appealing rock arch dam. This project complements the 257 headwaters purchase as the water from the outlet of the dam continues to flow south through the middle of the property that was purchased. The 257 acre parcel has various natural amenities that includes the headwaters and 1.4 miles of the Shell Rock River, floodplain and mesic hardwood forests, undisturbed highly diversified wetland complexes and a riparian and stream bank corridor that is a mile long and approximately ½ mile wide. A majority of the site has undisturbed native plant communities, but some locations have been mined for sand and gravel, and roughly 43 acres of this property was used for row crops. After the purchase of the property the SRRWD, using the MnDNR recommendations, seeded the cropland into native grasses and wildflowers, and once the gravel lease is up, the MnDNR will incorporate that portion into wetland ponds. With the cropland and gravel pit restored, it creates a 257 parcel habitat niche in a predominantly agricultural setting that is at pre-settlement conditions. The Shell Rock River Water District was the fiscal agent that received the funds for purchase of this property. The process of this reimbursable grant was a relatively simple process that is well executed by LSOHC Staff and Council Members. The property is now in the process of being transferred into an AMA. This DNR management and appraisal process took longer than the District proposed because of the cumbersome DNR requirements. Once fully transferred, the DNR will have regulations for public use of this land as well as maintaining restored conditions. ",2011-07-20,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Andy,Henschel,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","214 West Main Street","Albert Lea",MN,56007,507-377-5785,andy.henschel@co.freeborn.mn.us,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Freeborn,"Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/restoring-native-habitat-and-water-quality-shell-rock-river-phase-2,,,,
10033410,"Restoring and Enhancing Minnesota's Important Bird Areas, Phase 3",2023,2140000,"ML 2022, Ch. 77, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(s)","$2,140,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Audubon Minnesota to restore and enhance wildlife habitat within important bird areas in northwestern Minnesota or Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan Priority areas. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced aspen parklands and riparian areas - Outcomes can be measured by the number of acres impacted and the number of projects Audubon restores or enhances. Habitat Management Action Plans will detail specific restoration or enhancement prescriptions for each project on public lands and permanent conservation easements. The quality of work and level of success of projects on USFWS lands and WRP/WRE easements and other public lands will be monitored through various USFWS monitoring protocols and NRCS stewardship audits, respectively. All of the project work undertaken can be assessed based on the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan goals as well as the Minnesota Blueprint for Bird conservation. Protected, restored, and enhanced habitat for migratory and unique Minnesota species - Outcomes can be measured by the number of acres impacted and the number of projects Audubon restores or enhances. Habitat Management Action Plans will detail specific restoration or enhancement prescriptions for each project on public lands and permanent conservation easements. The quality of work and level of success of projects on USFWS lands and WRP/WRE easements and other public lands will be monitored through various USFWS monitoring protocols and NRCS stewardship audits respectively. All of the project work undertaken can be assessed based on the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan goals as well as the Minnesota Blueprint for Bird conservation",,,268400,"Audubon Minnesota, Audubon Minnesota, USFWS and Audubon Minnesota",2098600,41400,,1.13,"Audubon MN","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Audubon Minnesota is requesting funds to enhance 1,625 acres and restore 100 acres of significantly important wildlife habitat on public and permanently protected private lands. Our project and parcel prioritization criteria places an emphasis on Important Bird Areas (IBA) and priority areas identified by the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan, within the 8 most northwestern Minnesota counties associated with the Tallgrass Aspen Parklands region, the Prairie Parklands region, and the northwestern edge of the Eastern Broadleaf Forest.","Audubon Minnesota will advance conservation in northwestern Minnesota with the third phase of Restoring and Enhancing Minnesota's Important Bird Areas (IBA). This Program will continue to expand the Outdoor Heritage Funds legacy of restoration and enhancement of Minnesota's natural heritage. Our Program places an emphasis on Minnesota's IBAs as they are essential to maintaining healthy and diverse bird populations in the state. The Tallgrass Aspen Parklands (TAP) region alone supports over 279 bird species (143 regular breeding species, 22 permanent residents, and over 114 migrants or winter residents) including sandhill cranes, waterfowl, northern harrier, yellow rail, and greater prairie chicken. Gray wolves, moose, elk, fisher, and the American badger are among other wildlife found in the region. The Prairie Parklands supports 140 regular breeding species, 23 permanent residents, and over 115 species that do not breed in the region but depend on critical habitats for migration. The Prairie Parklands is important to 139 species of greatest conservation need (SGCN). This geography contains the meeting point of three of the four ecological sections in Minnesota creating an array of habitats in close-proximity. While enhancing and restoring habitats within IBAs is a primary goal, we recognize that some of the greatest conservation opportunities exist within the agricultural matrix of the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan due to the loss of grassland and wetland habitats in recent years. In phase three, we will expand our habitat focus to include two Prairie Parkland/Eastern Broadleaf Forest counties (Mahnomen and Norman) and the northwestern counties that compose the TAP (Polk, Red Lake, Pennington, Marshall, Kittson, Roseau). We will expand the available habitat for priority bird species by utilizing a variety of activities: native seed enhancements, management of brush and tree species, invasive species control, as well as prescribed fire. Projects will be targeted and selected based on a prioritization model that focuses on core habitat, conservation estate, acres of remnant habitat, and habitat condition. Restoration and enhancement projects will include a site assessment, including a rapid analysis of habitat suitability for priority species and habitat condition as well as documentation of prescribed habitat management actions (photo points) and recommended follow up actions for future management. We will continue to work closely with local U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff to identify habitat needs on public lands in these key geographies. Audubon will write Habitat Management Action Plans, get necessary permits, and complete enhancement and restoration work to create better habitat for target species. Audubon, with assistance from the MN Natural Resources Conservation Service, will reach out to private landowners and prioritize Wetland Reserve Program Easements (WRP/WRE) that have Wetland Reserve Plans of Operations. These plans are road maps for habitat work for each specific easement. Audubon will assist with habitat identification and prioritization, develop Habitat Management Action Plans for a select number of easements, and conduct habitat work. These partnership efforts will deliver effective means of enhancing and restoring ecologically significant land for the benefit of birds, wildlife, and people of northwestern Minnesota.",,2022-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Alexandra,Wardwell,"Audubon Minnesota","2355 Highway 36 West, Suite 400 ",Roseville,MN,55113,"(218 687-2229x11",alexandra.wardwell@audubon.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Mahnomen, Norman, Polk","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/restoring-and-enhancing-minnesotas-important-bird-areas-phase-3,,,,
2539,"La Salle Lake: Protecting Critical Mississippi Headwaters Habitat",2013,1000000,"M.L 2012, Chapter 264, Article 1, Section 2, Subd. 3(f)","$1,000,000 in the second year is added to the appropriation in Laws 2011, First Special Session chapter 6, article 1, section 2, subdivision 3, paragraph (b).",,"Restored 84 acres of Forests, Protected in fee 528 acres of Forest and Habitat",,,,1000000,,,,"The Trust for Public Land","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Protecting 980-acre LaSalle Lake property adjacent to the Upper Mississippi River, with biologically-significant forest habitat and miles of deep-lake and coldwater stream shoreline, to be managed by multiple DNR divisions.",,"This project seized a rare opportunity to protect a large area of habitat of regional and statewide significance that includes the entirety of Minnesota’s second deepest lake, a coldwater stream, high-quality forest and wetlands, and over a half mile of Mississippi River shoreline. The property is ranked as having Outstanding Biodiversity Significance by the Minnesota County Biological Survey (MCBS). This unique and important habitat was at risk of development and was listed for sale until The Trust for Public Land (TPL) obtained an option to purchase the property. Protection of the La Salle Lake property was the number one priority for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Northwest Region, and had strong support from multiple DNR divisions and interested stakeholders. La Salle Lake is one of the most pristine and deepest lakes in Minnesota. It is 221 acres in size, 213 feet deep, and lush with MCBS ranked ‘Outstanding Quality’ aquatic plant habitat. It is a quality fishery that regularly produces trophy walleye, as well as supporting healthy populations of northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, and bluegill sunfish. Prior to protection, however, there was no public access to the lake. The DNR and the County had unsuccessfully attempted to obtain public access to this fishery for a number of years. The property also contains over half a mile of La Salle Creek and key access to its upper stretches. The crystal clear creek originates in Itasca State Park approximately 8 miles to the southwest and meanders north along the narrow floor of a glacial tunnel valley with many seeps and springs, and eventually joins the Mississippi River on the property near a popular canoe landing. Portions of La Salle Creek are a designated trout stream because of high water quality, cold water temperatures, and ability to support coldwater fish species like trout. Little fisheries management work had been done here, however, because of limited access. This project improved public access to the creek and will allow a more intensively managed trout fishery. This land also provides excellent hunting opportunities. Eight and ten point bucks are regularly harvested on the property and ruffed grouse are abundant. The forested uplands and lowlands are characterized by a mixed deciduous-coniferous forest with many fruit and nut-bearing varieties of trees and shrubs. There is also an old-growth northern white cedar forest north of the lake. Rugged terrain sloping steeply to the basin typifies the topography surrounding the lake and the upstream portions of La Salle Creek. Perhaps most importantly, the property serves to connect large parcels of land already in public ownership (Mississippi Headwaters State Forest, Itasca State Park, and county land) guaranteeing wildlife large landscapes in which to roam. Conservation of this land threatened with development greatly helped prevent forest fragmentation and natural resource degradation. With respect to biodiversity, the property is “Outstanding.” Over 90 species of trees and shrubs and more than 140 species of herbaceous plants, including 12 species of orchids, have been surveyed and recorded growing in the area. MCBS has also identified numerous rare, threatened, endangered, and special concern species of plants and animals such as ram’s head lady slipper, hair-like sedge, northern oak fern, two species of caddisfly, and trumpeter swan. The property’s abundant and diverse landscapes also provide quality habitat for gray wolf, least weasel, fisher, river otter, bald eagle, osprey, common loon and many species of woodland warblers. The original landowner required that a substantial portion of the property be acquired in the 2010 tax year. Accordingly, the project was structured in two phases. Phase I was acquired in December 2010 consisting of the 269 acres north of Scenic Byway Highway #9. DNR SNA acquired this property with existing funding and it is open to public hunting. This proposal addressed Phase II, the remaining 721 acres of the property including all of the lake, which needed to close by December 31, 2011. Although DNR plans to manage this property as an integrated resource, some of the portions of the property are more appropriate for different uses than others. There is a small area (less than 100 acres) at the north end of the lake by the highway that has some improvements, such as cabins and an RV campground, which is most appropriately be managed by DNR Parks. (The remaining 621 acres are unimproved). Funding from the Parks and Trails Fund was provided for this park resource area. The East side of the lake contains some of the most environmentally sensitive and rare features most amenable to SNA management. Funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund was provided for this approximately 95 acre area. The West side of the lake has some of the best hunting land and sensitive shoreline and it is for this resource area that funding was sought from L-SOHC. This approximately 528-acre resource area will be managed as WMA/AMA/SNA, although the entire property has been designated as a state recreation area. The appraised fair market value of this highly developable lakeshore property was $10,500 per acre. (There was some additional value is in some of the improvements at the north end of the lake by the highway, but no funding was sought from L-SOHC for these improvements). The WMA/AMA/SNA resource area consists of approximately 528 acres. Accordingly, for this area, $5,547,000 Outdoor Heritage Fund funding was provided for land acquisition capital, as well as $20,000 for DNR land acquisition costs and $65,000 for initial site development/restoration. ",2011-07-20,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Bob,McGillivray,"The Trust for Public Land","2610 University Ave, #300","St. Paul",MN,55114,651-999-5307,rjm@tpl.org,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Hubbard,"Northern Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/la-salle-lake-protecting-critical-mississippi-headwaters-habitat,,,,
2539,"La Salle Lake: Protecting Critical Mississippi Headwaters Habitat",2012,4632000,"ML 2011, First Special Session, Ch. 6, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 3(b)","$4,632,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Trust for Public Land to acquire land adjacent to LaSalle Lake in Hubbard County. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. If the acquisition is not completed by July 15, 2012, or if a balance remains after acquisition of land, the money under this paragraph is available for acquisition under subdivision 2, paragraph (a).",,"Restored 84 acres of Forests, Protected in fee 528 acres of Forest and Habitat",,2943000,"ENRTF, Parks and Trails.",4632000,,,,"The Trust for Public Land","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Protecting 980-acre LaSalle Lake property adjacent to the Upper Mississippi River, with biologically-significant forest habitat and miles of deep-lake and coldwater stream shoreline, to be managed by multiple DNR divisions.",,"This project seized a rare opportunity to protect a large area of habitat of regional and statewide significance that includes the entirety of Minnesota’s second deepest lake, a coldwater stream, high-quality forest and wetlands, and over a half mile of Mississippi River shoreline. The property is ranked as having Outstanding Biodiversity Significance by the Minnesota County Biological Survey (MCBS). This unique and important habitat was at risk of development and was listed for sale until The Trust for Public Land (TPL) obtained an option to purchase the property. Protection of the La Salle Lake property was the number one priority for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Northwest Region, and had strong support from multiple DNR divisions and interested stakeholders. La Salle Lake is one of the most pristine and deepest lakes in Minnesota. It is 221 acres in size, 213 feet deep, and lush with MCBS ranked ‘Outstanding Quality’ aquatic plant habitat. It is a quality fishery that regularly produces trophy walleye, as well as supporting healthy populations of northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, and bluegill sunfish. Prior to protection, however, there was no public access to the lake. The DNR and the County had unsuccessfully attempted to obtain public access to this fishery for a number of years. The property also contains over half a mile of La Salle Creek and key access to its upper stretches. The crystal clear creek originates in Itasca State Park approximately 8 miles to the southwest and meanders north along the narrow floor of a glacial tunnel valley with many seeps and springs, and eventually joins the Mississippi River on the property near a popular canoe landing. Portions of La Salle Creek are a designated trout stream because of high water quality, cold water temperatures, and ability to support coldwater fish species like trout. Little fisheries management work had been done here, however, because of limited access. This project improved public access to the creek and will allow a more intensively managed trout fishery. This land also provides excellent hunting opportunities. Eight and ten point bucks are regularly harvested on the property and ruffed grouse are abundant. The forested uplands and lowlands are characterized by a mixed deciduous-coniferous forest with many fruit and nut-bearing varieties of trees and shrubs. There is also an old-growth northern white cedar forest north of the lake. Rugged terrain sloping steeply to the basin typifies the topography surrounding the lake and the upstream portions of La Salle Creek. Perhaps most importantly, the property serves to connect large parcels of land already in public ownership (Mississippi Headwaters State Forest, Itasca State Park, and county land) guaranteeing wildlife large landscapes in which to roam. Conservation of this land threatened with development greatly helped prevent forest fragmentation and natural resource degradation. With respect to biodiversity, the property is “Outstanding.” Over 90 species of trees and shrubs and more than 140 species of herbaceous plants, including 12 species of orchids, have been surveyed and recorded growing in the area. MCBS has also identified numerous rare, threatened, endangered, and special concern species of plants and animals such as ram’s head lady slipper, hair-like sedge, northern oak fern, two species of caddisfly, and trumpeter swan. The property’s abundant and diverse landscapes also provide quality habitat for gray wolf, least weasel, fisher, river otter, bald eagle, osprey, common loon and many species of woodland warblers. The original landowner required that a substantial portion of the property be acquired in the 2010 tax year. Accordingly, the project was structured in two phases. Phase I was acquired in December 2010 consisting of the 269 acres north of Scenic Byway Highway #9. DNR SNA acquired this property with existing funding and it is open to public hunting. This proposal addressed Phase II, the remaining 721 acres of the property including all of the lake, which needed to close by December 31, 2011. Although DNR plans to manage this property as an integrated resource, some of the portions of the property are more appropriate for different uses than others. There is a small area (less than 100 acres) at the north end of the lake by the highway that has some improvements, such as cabins and an RV campground, which is most appropriately be managed by DNR Parks. (The remaining 621 acres are unimproved). Funding from the Parks and Trails Fund was provided for this park resource area. The East side of the lake contains some of the most environmentally sensitive and rare features most amenable to SNA management. Funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund was provided for this approximately 95 acre area. The West side of the lake has some of the best hunting land and sensitive shoreline and it is for this resource area that funding was sought from L-SOHC. This approximately 528-acre resource area will be managed as WMA/AMA/SNA, although the entire property has been designated as a state recreation area. The appraised fair market value of this highly developable lakeshore property was $10,500 per acre. (There was some additional value is in some of the improvements at the north end of the lake by the highway, but no funding was sought from L-SOHC for these improvements). The WMA/AMA/SNA resource area consists of approximately 528 acres. Accordingly, for this area, $5,547,000 Outdoor Heritage Fund funding was provided for land acquisition capital, as well as $20,000 for DNR land acquisition costs and $65,000 for initial site development/restoration. ",2011-07-20,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Bob,McGillivray,"The Trust for Public Land","2610 University Ave, #300","St. Paul",MN,55114,651-999-5307,rjm@tpl.org,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Hubbard,"Northern Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/la-salle-lake-protecting-critical-mississippi-headwaters-habitat,,,,
10019645,"Sauk River Watershed Habitat Protection & Restoration, Phase 3",2022,4034000,"ML 2021, First Sp. Session, Ch. 1, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(o)","$4,034,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat in the Sauk River watershed as follows: $1,034,000 to Sauk River Watershed District; $1,618,000 to Pheasants Forever; and $1,382,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $168,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Large corridors and complexes of biologically diverse wildlife habitat, providing nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and SGCN will be restored and protected. Partners will work together to identify priority lands using existing data and public plans, and then coordinate protection, restoration and enhancement activities in those priority areas. Success within each priority area will be determined based on the percentage of area protected, restored, and/or enhanced. Restored and enhanced upland habitats - Large corridors and complexes of biologically diverse wildlife habitat, providing nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and Species in Greatest Conservation Need will be restored and protected. Partners will work together to identify priority lands using existing data and public plans, then coordinate protection, restoration and enhancement activities in those priority areas. Success within each priority area will be determined based on the percentage of area protected, restored and/or enhanced",,,298300,"Landowner Donation Value, PF, Federal and Private",3995400,38600,,0.56,"Sauk River WD, PF, MLT","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This program will permanently protect, restore and enhance critical habitat within the Sauk River Watershed, which has experienced considerable habitat loss and is at high risk for more land conversion. Using conservation easements and fee land acquisition, we will protect approximately 660 acres of priority habitat in Minnesota's Prairie and Forest-Prairie Transition Area. We will restore/enhance approximately 224 acres of wetlands and accompanying uplands to create habitat for waterfowl and populations of Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). Properties selected will be strategically targeted using an innovative site prioritization model that maximizes conservation benefit and financial leverage.","Sauk River Watershed District (SRWD), Minnesota Land Trust (MLT), and Pheasants Forever (PF) ? with technical assistance from Stearns, Douglas and Meeker Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD), Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) ? will partner to implement habitat protection and restoration within the Sauk River Watershed (SRW). Site prioritization will focus on protecting and restoring habitat in key locations, such as existing high quality or easily restorable wetland complexes, upland forests, floodplain forests, and prairies. Prioritized sites will be protected to preserve and enhance critical habitat for waterfowl and other important wildlife species. The SRW is in a rapidly growing region that has also experienced some of the most intense conversion from perennial cover to cropland in the past decade. Furthermore, public access for recreation, including hunting and fishing, is lacking. Landowner interest in conservation land protection and restoration is strong in the SRW. Since July 2019, the Partnership has protected 212 acres through fee title acquisition, 310 acres through conservation easements, and has restored 65 acres, while leveraging $1,276,805 through landowner donation of easement value and non-state funding sources. Landowners owning approximately 2,400 acres are interested in a conservation easement, in addition to 460 acres that are interested in fee acquisition. Protecting and restoring these strategic parcels will far exceed funding available through the Partnership's first two OHF grants. We anticipate significantly more interested and qualified properties for this program as outreach efforts grow following COVID-19 restrictions. Conservation Easements: MLT, with assistance from partners, will conduct outreach to landowners within priority areas. Interested landowners will submit proposals to MLT using a competitive, market-based Request for Proposal (RFP) process. MLT, with project partners, will rank properties based on ecological value and cost, prioritizing projects that provide the best ecological value and acquiring them at the lowest cost to the state. MLT will secure approximately 400 acres of permanent conservation easements and develop restoration and habitat management plans for eased acres. Fee Acquisition: PF will coordinate with agency partners on all potential fee simple acquisitions. PF will work with willing sellers to protect approximately 260 acres of strategically identified parcels within the SRW and then donate the parcels to the MN DNR as a Wildlife or Aquatic Management Area or to USFWS as a Waterfowl Production Area. Protected tracts will be managed as habitat and provide public access in perpetuity within an area of our state where public land for recreational use is lacking. Restoration and Enhancement: SRWD will restore/enhance approximately 224 acres of wetland, riparian and associated upland habitat in cooperation with county SWCDs, MLT, USFWS, and TNC. This work will be on permanently protected land and will include at least one large wetland restoration. Specific activities/scope will vary based on selected project sites but may include performing hydrologic restoration, invasive species management, and planting vegetation to increase site biodiversity. PF will manage all needed restoration activities on fee simple acquisitions.",,2021-07-01,2025-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Sarah,Boser,"Sauk River Watershed District","642 Lincoln Road ","Sauk Centre",MN,56378,3203522231,sarah@srwdmn.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Douglas, Pope, Stearns, Todd","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/sauk-river-watershed-habitat-protection-restoration-phase-3,,,,
10017829,"Sauk River Watershed Habitat Protection and Restoration, Phase 2",2021,3926000,"ML 2020, Ch. 104, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 5(p)","$3,926,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire lands in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat in the Sauk River watershed as follows: $430,000 to the Sauk River Watershed District, $2,073,000 to Pheasants Forever, and $1,423,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $168,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Large corridors and complexes of biologically diverse wildlife habitat, providing nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and SGCN will be restored and protected. Partners will work together to identify priority lands using existing data and public plans, and then coordinate protection, restoration and enhancement activities in those priority areas. Success within each priority area will be determined based on the percentage of area protected, restored, and/or enhanced. Protected, restored, and enhanced habitat for migratory and unique Minnesota species - Large corridors and complexes of biologically diverse wildlife habitat, providing nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and Species in Greatest Conservation Need will be restored and protected. Partners will work together to identify priority lands using existing data and public plans, then coordinate protection, restoration and enhancement activities in those priority areas. Success within each priority area will be determined based on the percentage of area protected, restored and/or enhanced",,,249200,"Landowner Donation, PF, Private and Federal",3890900,35100,,0.488,"Sauk River Watershed District, Pheasants Forever, to Minnesota Land Trust. ","Local/Regional Government","This project will permanently protect, restore and enhance critical habitat within the Sauk River Watershed, which has experienced considerable habitat loss and is at high risk for more land use conversion. Using conservation easements and fee land acquisition, we will protect 750 acres of high priority habitat in Minnesota's Prairie and Forest-Prairie Transition Area and will restore/enhance approximately 66 acres of wetlands and accompanying uplands to create vital habitat for important waterfowl and Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) populations. Properties selected will be strategically targeted using an innovative site prioritization model that maximizes conservation benefit andfinancialleverage.","Sauk River Watershed District (SRWD), Minnesota Land Trust (MLT), and Pheasants Forever (PF), along with technical assistance provided by Stearns, Todd, and Douglas County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR), Ducks Unlimited (DU), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), will partner to implement habitat protection and restoration within the Sauk River Watershed (SRW). Site prioritization will focus on protecting and restoring habitat in key locations, such as existing high quality or easily restorable wetland complexes, upland forests, floodplain forests, and prairies. Prioritized sites will be protected to preserve and enhance critical habitat for waterfowl and other important wildlife species. The SRW is in a rapidly growing region of the state that has also experienced some of the most intense conversion from perennial cover to cropland in the past decade. Furthermore, public access for recreation, including hunting and fishing, is lacking. Landowner interest in conservation land protection and restoration is strong in the SRW. The partnership currently has easement interest from 45 high-quality properties, totaling 2,764 acres, in addition to eight known properties interested in fee simple acquisition. Protecting and restoring these interested properties will far exceed funding available through the Partnership's first OHF grant that comes online July 1, 2019. We anticipate significantly more interested and qualified properties for this project as outreach efforts grow. Conservation Easements: SRWD, with assistance from local SWCD partners, will conduct outreach to landowners within targeted priority areas identified using TNC's Multiple Benefits Analysis that has been completed for protection prioritization in the SRW. Interested landowners will submit proposals to MLT using a competitive request for proposal (RFP) process. MLT, with project partners, will rank properties based on ecological value and cost, prioritizing projects that provide the best ecological value and acquiring them at the lowest cost to the state. MLT will secure 420 acres of permanent conservation easements and develop restoration and habitat management plans for eased acres. Fee Acquisition: PF will coordinate with the MN DNR and USFWS on all potential fee simple acquisitions. PF will work with willing sellers to protect 330 acres of strategically identified parcels within the SRW and then donate the parcels to the MN DNR as a WMA or to USFWS as a WPA. Acquired tracts will be managed as wildlife habitat and provide public access in perpetuity within an area of our state where public land for recreational use is lacking. Restoration and Enhancement: SRWD will restore/enhance 257 acres of wetland, riparian and associated upland habitat in cooperation with county SWCDs, MLT, DU, USFWS, and TNC on permanently protected easement land. Specific activities and scope will vary based on quality of parcel but may include performing hydrologic restoration, invasive species management, and planting vegetation to increase site biodiversity. PF will manage all needed restoration activities on fee simple acquisitions.",,2020-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Sarah,Boser,"Sauk River Watershed District","642 Lincoln Road ","Sauk Centre",MN,56378,"(320) 352-2231",sarah@srwdmn.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Douglas, Meeker, Pope, Pope","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/sauk-river-watershed-habitat-protection-and-restoration-phase-2,,,,
10011388,"Sauk River Watershed Habitat Protection and Restoration",2020,2946000,"ML 2019, 1st Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd, 5(e)","$2,946,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire lands in fee and permanent conservation easements and restore and enhance wildlife habitat in the Sauk River watershed as follows: $440,000 to Sauk River Watershed District, $590,000 to Pheasants Forever, and $1,916,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $192,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"This program prioritized projects using SGCN and quality habitat as major weighting factors. The Sauk River Watershed is an important migratory corridor for forest birds and waterfowl. It contains wetlands, upland forests, and shorelands, which are essential habitats to Minnesota's wildlife diversity and health. Two properties, totaling 264 acres were protected and restored, creating additions to a WMA and WPA. These acquisitions provide vital habitat to many SGCN. Seven properties totaling 462 acres were protected through conservation easement under this grant, including: -Cold Spring Creek (Johnson): A 39-acre property in Stearns County that protects an important wetland complex at the headwaters of Cold Spring Creek - a state-designated trout stream and a tributary to the Sauk River. -Sauk River (Maile Trust): A 85-acre property in Stearns County that is within a Site of Moderate Biodiversity Significance and protects over 12,000 feet of shoreline. -Ashley Creek (Eggers Trust): A 27-acre property in Stearns County that contains outstanding habitat for marbled godwit, a SGCN, which has been sighted in the area during breeding season surveys. -Sauk River (Rothstein): A 6-acre property in Stearns County that protects over one-quarter mile of shoreline on the Sauk River. This property is part of a complex of three adjacent conservation easements held by MLT that totals 122 acres of permanent protection. -Byer Lake (Gillitzer): A 116-acre property in Stearns County that protects over a mile of undeveloped shoreline on Byer Lake - a unique ""perched"" lake that contains a high-quality assemblage of aquatic plant species. -Sauk River (Lieser): A 37-acre property in Stearns County that protects over a mile of shoreline on the Sauk River. -Byer Lake (Gresser Family LLP): A 152-acre property in Stearns County that is part of a growing contiguous area of protection on Byer Lake. Furthermore, the partnership restored/enhanced more than 780 acres of forest, prairie/grassland, and wetland habitat across the Sauk River Watershed. Projects included wetland restoration, invasive species control, native seeding, and tree planting.","A total of 1,421 acres were affected: 394 Restored, 264 in Fee Title, 462 in Easements, 301 in Enhance.",1162300,"Attorney donated time, Federal Funds, Federal Funds, Landowner donations, contractor donations, Landowner donations and contractor donations",2871400,42900,,0.36,"Pheasants Forever, MLT, Sauk River WD","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Through the Sauk River Watershed Habitat Protection and Restoration program, the Partnership protected 726 acres (264 acres through fee simple acquisition and 462 acres through conservation easements). Additionally, the program restored/enhanced 780 acres of high priority habitat in the Sauk River Watershed. Overall, we achieved 111% of our land protection goal, 177% of our R/E acreage goal, and 397% of our proposed leverage goal. Our actions increased habitat connectivity, biodiversity, and landscape resilience.","Sauk River Watershed District (SRWD), Minnesota Land Trust (MLT), and Pheasant Forever (PF), along with technical assistance provided by Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Todd SWCD, Douglas SWCD, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR), and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), partnered to implement habitat protection and restoration within the Sauk River Watershed (SRW). Sites that include top priority habitats, such as existing high quality or easily restorable wetland complexes, upland forests, floodplain forests, and prairies were prioritized. Prioritized sites were protected to preserve and enhance critical habitat for waterfowl and other important wildlife species. This program protected high caliber habitats and protected and restored degraded habitats in key locations. The SRW is in a rapidly growing region of the state that has also experienced some of the most intense conversion from perennial cover to cropland in the past decade. This conversion is expected to increase. Interest by landowners in protecting their land is strong in the SRW, but often these lands do not qualify for CREP. A small window of opportunity exists to protect these high habitat quality sites now as they are expiring from CRP, before they are developed or converted back to farmland. In 2018 alone in the SRW, there were 434 CRP contracts expiring, comprising 3,122 acres of quality habitat. SRWD managed the grant and subcontracted for associated R/E activities. PF negotiated and secured fee title acquisitions and oversaw related R/E activities. MLT negotiated and secured conservation easements and oversaw R/E activities. Conservation Easements: MLT worked with private landowners to protect approximately 462 acres of permanent conservation easements through this grant. SRWD, with assistance from local partners such as the County SWCDs, conducted outreach to landowners within targeted priority areas identified using TNC's Multiple Benefits Analysis that has been completed for protection prioritization in the SRW. Interested landowners submitted proposals to MLT using a competitive request for proposal (RFP) process that ranked properties based on ecological value and cost, prioritizing the projects that provide the best ecological value and acquired them at the lowest cost to the state, and developed restoration and habitat management plans for eased lands. Fee acquisition: PF coordinated with MN DNR and United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) on all potential fee simple acquisitions. PF worked with willing sellers to protect and restore 264 acres of strategically identified parcels within the SRW and then donated the parcels to the MN DNR as a WMA and to FWS as WPA where they will be managed as wildlife habitat and provide public access in perpetuity. Restoration and Enhancement: SRWD and MLT collectively restored/enhanced 780 acres through this grant. SRWD, with assistance from County SWCDs, restored approximately 394 acres of wetland, riparian and associated upland habitat. Activities included prairie tree removal, seeding, and prescribed burns. MLT led enhancement work across lands protected through conservation easement, DNR WMAs, and other protected properties, enhancing 386 acres.",,2019-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Steve,Zeece,"Sauk River Watershed District","642 Lincoln Rd ","Sauk Centre",MN,56378,3203522231,Steve@srwdmn.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Douglas, Pope, Stearns","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Northern Forest, Southeast Forest, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/sauk-river-watershed-habitat-protection-and-restoration,,,,
10033411,"Sauk River Watershed Habitat Protection & Restoration, Phase 4",2023,4091000,"ML 2022, Ch. 77, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(m)","$4,091,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire lands in fee and permanent conservation easements and restore and enhance wildlife habitat in the Sauk River watershed as follows: $1,601,000 to Sauk River Watershed District; $1,245,000 to Pheasants Forever; and $1,245,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $192,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Large corridors and complexes of biologically diverse wildlife habitat, providing nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and SGCN will be restored and protected. Partners will work together to identify priority lands using existing data and public plans, and then coordinate protection, restoration, and enhancement activities in those priority areas. Success within each priority area will be determined based on the percentage of area protected, restored, and/or enhanced. Restored and enhanced upland habitats - Large corridors and complexes of biologically diverse wildlife habitat, providing nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and Species in Greatest Conservation Need will be restored and protected. Partners will work together to identify priority lands using existing data and public plans, then coordinate protection, restoration, and enhancement activities in those priority areas. Success within each priority area will be determined based on the percentage of area protected, restored and/or enhanced",,,229800,"Landowner Donation, Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership Grant, NA, PF, Federal and Private",4052000,39000,,0.64,"Sauk River WD; Pheasants Forever; MLT","Local/Regional Government","This program permanently protects, restores, and enhances critical habitat within the Sauk River Watershed, which has experienced considerable habitat loss and is at high risk for more land use conversion. Using conservation easements and fee land acquisition, we will protect approximately 500 acres of high priority habitat in Minnesota's Prairie and Forest-Prairie Transition Area. We will restore/enhance approximately 74 acres of wetlands and accompanying uplands, creating vital habitat for waterfowl and populations of Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). Properties selected will be strategically targeted using innovative site prioritization model that maximizes conservation benefit and financial leverage.","Sauk River Watershed District (SRWD), Minnesota Land Trust (MLT), and Pheasants Forever (PF) - with technical assistance from local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD), Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) - will partner to implement habitat protection and restoration within the Sauk River Watershed (SRW). Site prioritization will focus on protecting and restoring habitat in key, high-impact locations, such as existing high quality or easily restorable wetland complexes, upland forests, floodplain forests, and prairies. Prioritized sites will be protected to preserve and enhance critical habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and other important wildlife species. The SRW is in a rapidly growing region that has also experienced some of the most intense conversion in Minnesota from perennial cover to cropland in the past decade. Furthermore, public access for recreation, including hunting and fishing, is lacking. Landowner interest in conservation land protection and restoration is strong in the SRW. Since July 2019, the Partnership has protected 373 acres through fee title acquisition, 464 acres through conservation easements, and has restored 65 acres, while leveraging $1,319,340 through landowner donation of easement value and non-state funding sources. As of May 2021, landowners owning approximately 1,600 acres are interested in permanently protecting their properties. Protecting and restoring these strategic parcels will far exceed funding available through the Partnership's previous OHF grants. We anticipate significantly more interested and qualified properties for this program as outreach efforts grow. Conservation Easements: MLT, with assistance from SWCD partners, will conduct outreach to landowners within priority areas. Interested landowners will submit proposals to MLT using a competitive, market-based Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Properties will be ranked based on ecological value and cost, prioritizing projects that provide the best ecological value and acquiring them at the lowest cost to the state. Approximately 301 acres of permanent conservation easements will be procured through this proposal, with restoration and habitat management plans developed for eased acres. Fee Acquisition: PF will coordinate with agency partners on all potential fee simple acquisitions. PF will work with willing sellers to protect 199 acres of strategically identified parcels within the SRW and then donate the parcels to the MN DNR as a Wildlife or Aquatic Management Area or to USFWS as a Waterfowl Production Area. Protected tracts will be managed as wildlife habitat and provide public access in perpetuity within an area of our state where public land for recreational use is lacking. Restoration and Enhancement: SRWD will restore/enhance approximately 74 acres of wetland, riparian and associated upland habitat in cooperation with county SWCDs, MLT, USFWS, and TNC. Most of the restoration work will occur on conservation easements in Douglas County. The restorations will focus on building a wetland complex in an area that had historically been known as Crooked Hanford Lake, but was drained by the addition of a public drainage system. The habitat benefits will include general wildlife, fish, and amphibian habitat improvements.",,2022-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Steve,Zeece,"Sauk River Watershed District","642 Lincoln Road ","Sauk Centre",MN,56378,320-352-2231,Steve@srwdmn.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Douglas, Pope, Stearns, Todd","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/sauk-river-watershed-habitat-protection-restoration-phase-4,,,,
10031462,"Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) Biodiversity Protection",2025,957000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 09d","$957,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to strategically acquire from willing sellers high-quality lands that meet criteria for scientific and natural areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,1.1,"MN DNR","State Government","Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) strategic acquisition (~85 acres) will conserve Minnesota's most unique places and rare species for everyone's benefit.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2028-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Judy,Elbert,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Rd Box 25","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 391-3168",judy.elbert@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/scientific-and-natural-area-sna-biodiversity-protection,,,,
10031426,"Season Watch: Cultivating Young Naturalists with Phenology Education",2025,180000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 05o","$180,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Northern Community Radio, Inc. to continue to build the next generation of Minnesota conservationists by delivering engaging environmental programming to northern Minnesota through radio and podcasts, hosting phenology training and interactive nature events for K-12 students, and expanding KAXE coverage of environmental topics to a digital audience.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,2.48,"Northern Community Radio, Inc.","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This education project will continue building the next generation of conservationists in Minnesota by engaging youths and adults in science and outdoor learning through radio, podcasts, newsletters and schoolyard exploration.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2026-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Sarah,Bignall,"Northern Community Radio, Inc.","260 NE 2nd St","Grand Rapids",MN,55744,"(218) 326-1234",sbignall@kaxe.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/season-watch-cultivating-young-naturalists-phenology-education,,,,
10000100,"Shallow Lake & Wetland Protection Program - Phase VI",2018,5750000,"ML 2017, Ch. 91, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 4(b)","$5,750,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to acquire land in fee and restore prairie lands, wetlands and land buffering shallow lakes for wildlife management purposes under Minnesota Statutes 86A.05, subdivision 8. A list of proposed acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"211 Wetland acres, 554 Prairie acres (for a total of 765 acres) Protected in Fee with State PILT Liability. ",,133300,"NAWCA, Private Landowner Donations, and DU Private ",5705800,26400,,2.5,"Ducks Unlimited","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This Phase 6 request for Ducks Unlimited's land protection and restoration program will acquire and restore 600 acres of prairie land on shallow lakes and prairie land with restorable wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region of SW Minnesota for transfer to the Minnesota DNR for inclusion in the state Wildlife Management Area system. This land acquisition and restoration work will focus on land that buffers shallow lakes and provides breeding habitat for ducks and other prairie wildlife. DU engineers will survey and design wetland restorations, and contract with private sector firms for restoration construction and earth moving work. ",,"This Phase 6 of Ducks Unlimited's prairie land acquisition/protection program in Minnesota acquired and restored land with drained wetlands adjacent to existing public lands and shallow lakes for inclusion in the Minnesota DNR’s state Wildlife Management Area (WMA) system. DU focuses on the acquisition and restoration of lands with restorable wetlands and prairie adjacent to existing WMAs to create functioning prairie-wetland habitat complexes for wildlife and public use. This work addresses the habitat goals in Minnesota's Long-range Duck Recovery Plan, Minnesota’s Prairie Conservation Plan, and the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. This work is time- sensitive because farmland adjacent to state WMAs is rarely offered for sale for conservation, and tracts are only available for a short time. DU worked in close partnership with the Minnesota DNR Section of Wildlife to identify land tracts for sale of importance to DNR and of significance to wildlife, once restored and protected. DU then hired professional licensed consultant appraisers to determine fair market land value, and purchased land from willing sellers private landowners. In six of eight cases, DU secure bargain sale purchase donations totaling $56,832, and paid full appraised value for the other two parcels. In each case, DU provided written communication to county boards informing them of our land purchase plans at least 30 days before closing, and appeared before two county boards and one township board to further explain and discuss our conservation work. No formal objections were made, and all concerns resolved. Following acquisition, DU professional biologists and engineers worked closely with DNR field staff to plan and implement both robust prairie and wetland restorations, including diverse native forb/grass seed plantings and complex wetland restorations that required extensive drainage system modification and expensive sediment removal to restore functioning wetlands for prairie wildlife, especially on Indian Lake WMA in Sibley County, Tyler and Discors WMA in Lincoln County, and Goose Prairie WMA in Clay County. Private contractors were selected to perform restoration earth moving work to restore wetland hydrology, remove drainage tile and sediment, and invasive trees. A combination of private contractors and DNR field staff seeded uplands back to native prairie grasslands with abundant pollinator forbs. Each of the eight land tracts has been successfully transferred into the Minnesota DNR’s WMA system, and are fully open to public use, including hunting. This work was important because Minnesota has lost 90% of our prairie wetlands to drainage and 99% of our prairie uplands to cultivation. Acquisition and restoration of small wetlands and prairie is critically needed here, especially for breeding waterfowl in the Prairie Pothole Region of SW Minnesota where DU is focused. The few remaining prairie wetlands and shallow lakes contained within state WMAs or federal Waterfowl Production Areas rarely provide optimal wildlife habitat due to their small, fragmented size and isolated juxtaposition. Acquisition/restoration drained wetlands and cultivated prairie adjacent to existing public lands and public waters helps create functioning prairie-wetland complexes of habitat for wildlife that are open to public hunting too. ",2017-07-01,2022-02-02,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Jon,Schneider,"Ducks Unlimited","311 East Lake Geneva Road ",Alexandria,MN,56308,(320)762-9916,jschneider@ducks.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Clay, Lincoln, Pope, Sibley","Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/shallow-lake-wetland-protection-program-phase-vi,,,,
10019646,"Shallow Lake & Wetland Protection & Restoration Program - Phase X",2022,4581000,"ML 2021, First Sp. Session, Ch. 1, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 4(b)","$4,581,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to acquire land in fee for wildlife management under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, and to restore and enhance prairie lands, wetlands, and land buffering shallow lakes. A list of proposed acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ","Protected, restored, and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands - Land bordering shallow lakes and land containing drained wetlands will be acquired and restored back to functioning wetlands for waterfowl with native grass and forb wildflower grassland surrounding them as habitat for pollinators, migratory birds, and resident wildlife. Lands will transferred into the state Wildlife Management Area system to provide additional prairie habitat for migratory species and public use, both of which will be monitored by Minnesota DNR. Restored wetland basins will be monitored by DNR area wildlife field staff, and managed to optimize wetland habitat conditions. Prairie uplands will be managed to minimize trees and encourage native plants",,,210000,"DU private and federal NAWCA",4556000,25000,,1,"Ducks Unlimited","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This Phase 10 request funds Ducks Unlimited's prairie wetland acquisition and restoration program. DU will acquire and restore 660 acres of prairie land containing wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region of SW Minnesota for transfer to the Minnesota DNR for inclusion in the state WMA system. This land acquisition and restoration program focuses on restoring cropland with drained wetlands along shallow lakes and adjoining WMAs to help restore prairie wetland habitat complexes for breeding ducks and other wildlife. DNR will help seed uplands, and DU engineers will survey, design, and hire private sector contractors to restore drained wetlands.","This is Phase 10 of Ducks Unlimited's ongoing program to both Acquire and Restore wetlands and prairie on land for sale adjacent to Minnesota DNRs State Wildlife Management Areas (WMA). DU works with willing seller private landowners adjacent to WMAs that have drained wetlands and converted prairie uplands, and land on shallow lakes in need of protection. DU purchases and holds land title through it's Wetlands America Trust (WAT), DU's supporting land-holding fiduciary organization, of which DU is the sole corporate member. Our goal is to help restore functioning prairie-wetland habitat complexes and complement other conservation efforts to protect intact native prairie. Our work addresses the habitat goals in Minnesota's Long-range Duck Recovery Plan, Minnesota's Prairie Conservation Plan, and the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. This work is time-sensitive because farmland adjacent to state WMAs is rarely offered for sale for conservation, and tracts are only available for a short time. DU works quickly, and has already spent most past OHF funds appropriated for land acquisition. DU will work in cooperation with Minnesota DNR Section of Wildlife, and will coordinate with Pheasants Forever, other NGO partners, and local sportsmen clubs such as Swan Lake Area Wildlife Association and Cottonwood County Game and Fish League. Although approval is not requested from county boards for DU land acquisitions, DU communicates frequently with county and township officials to ensure local official awareness of our conservation work, and routinely attends county board meetings to discuss questions. The acquisitions and restorations proposed represents the amount of work DU can accomplish in three to five years, is scalable, and benefits game and non-game wildlife species alike - from mallards to monarch butterflies. Because 90% of Minnesota's prairie wetlands have been drained and 99% of prairie uplands converted in Minnesota, acquisition and restoration of prairie and small wetlands is critical ? especially for breeding waterfowl in the Prairie Pothole Region of SW Minnesota where DU focuses our efforts. Furthermore, most remaining undrained wetlands here are in poor ecological condition due to massive landscape prairie conversion to cropland and wetland drainage that degrades both wetland condition and habitat function for prairie wildlife. Although many of our remaining prairie wetlands and shallow lakes are contained within state WMAs or federal Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA), these small public land patches rarely provide optimal wildlife habitat due to their fragmented shape and small size. Similarly, most prairie shallow lakes are surrounded by a thin ribbon of uplands that fail to adequately buffer them from surrounding agricultural land runoff. Therefore, acquisition and restoration of drained wetlands and cultivated cropland in close proximity to our public lands will improve and buffer our public shallow lakes and remaining wetlands, and help create functioning prairie-wetland complexes of habitat for breeding ducks and other prairie wildlife. DU professional engineers and biologists work closely with DNR field staff to plan and implement both robust prairie and wetland restorations, including diverse native forb/grass seed plantings and complex wetland restorations that often involve extensive tile drainage systems.",,2021-07-01,2025-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Jon,Schneider,"Ducks Unlimited","311 East Lake Geneva Road ",Alexandria,MN,56308,3207629916,jschneider@ducks.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Clay, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Murray, Nicollet, Redwood, Sibley, Swift","Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/shallow-lake-wetland-protection-restoration-program-phase-x,,,,
10017830,"Shallow Lake & Wetland Protection & Restoration Program - Phase IX",2021,4608000,"ML 2020, Ch. 104, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 4(b)","$4,608,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to acquire lands in fee for wildlife management under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, and to restore and enhance prairie lands, wetlands, and land buffering shallow lakes. A list of proposed acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ","Protected, restored, and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands - Land bordering shallow lakes and land containing drained wetlands will be acquired and restored back to functioning wetlands for waterfowl with native grass and forb wildflower grassland surrounding them as habitat for pollinators, migratory birds, and resident wildlife. Lands will transferred into the state Wildlife Management Area system to provide additional prairie habitat for migratory species and public use, both of which will be monitored by Minnesota DNR. Restored wetland basins will be monitored by DNR area wildlife field staff, and managed to optimize wetland habitat conditions. Prairie uplands will be managed to minimize trees and encourage native plants",,,90000,"DU Private and Federal NAWCA and DU Private and Federal NAWCA ",4578000,30000,,1.2,"Ducks Unlimited","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This is Phase 9 of Ducks Unlimited's wetland and prairie acquisition and restoration program. DU will acquire and restore 516 acres of land containing drained wetlands in SW Minnesota's Prairie Pothole Region for restoration and transfer to the Minnesota DNR for inclusion in the state WMA system. This land acquisition and restoration program focuses on restoring cropland with drained wetlands along shallow lakes and adjoining WMAs to help restore prairie wetland habitat complexes for breeding ducks and other wildlife. DNR will help seed uplands, and DU will survey, engineer/design, and hire private sector contractors to restore drained wetlands.","This is Phase 9 of Ducks Unlimited's ongoing program to both Acquire and Restore wetlands and prairie on land for sale adjacent to existing Minnesota DNRs State Wildlife Management Areas (WMA). DU works with willing seller private landowners adjacent to WMAs that have drained wetlands and converted prairie uplands, and land on shallow lakes in need of protection. DU purchases and holds land title through it's Wetlands America Trust (WAT), DU's supporting land-holding fiduciary organization, of which DU is the sole corporate member. Our goal is to help restore functioning prairie-wetland habitat complexes to complement other conservation efforts that protect intact native prairie. Our work addresses the habitat goals in Minnesota's Long-range Duck Recovery Plan, Minnesota's Prairie Conservation Plan, and the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. This work is time-sensitive because farmland adjacent to state WMAs is rarely offered for sale for conservation, and tracts are only available for a short time. DU works quickly, and has already spent most ML2016 - ML2019 OHF funds appropriated. DU will work in cooperation with Minnesota DNR Section of Wildlife, and will coordinate with Pheasants Forever, other NGO partners, and local sportsmen clubs such as Swan Lake Area Wildlife Association and Cottonwood County Game and Fish League. Although approval is not requested from county boards for DU land acquisitions, DU communicates frequently with county and township officials to ensure local official awareness of our conservation work, and routinely attends county board meetings to discuss questions. The acquisitions and restorations proposed represents the amount of work DU can accomplish in three to five years, is scalable, and benefits game and non-game wildlife species alike - from mallards to monarch butterflies. Because 90% of Minnesota's prairie wetlands have been drained and 99% of prairie uplands converted in Minnesota, acquisition and restoration of prairie and small wetlands is critical ? especially for breeding waterfowl in the Prairie Pothole Region of SW Minnesota where DU focuses our efforts. Furthermore, most remaining undrained wetlands here are in poor ecological condition due to massive landscape prairie conversion to cropland and wetland drainage that degrades both wetland condition and habitat function for prairie wildlife. Although many of our remaining prairie wetlands and shallow lakes are contained within state WMAs or federal Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA), these small public land patches rarely provide optimal wildlife habitat due to their fragmented shape and small size. Similarly, most prairie shallow lakes are surrounded by a thin ribbon of uplands that fail to adequately buffer them from surrounding agricultural land runoff. Therefore, acquisition and restoration of drained wetlands and cultivated cropland in close proximity to our public lands will improve and buffer our public shallow lakes and remaining wetlands, and help create functioning prairie-wetland complexes of habitat for breeding ducks and other prairie wildlife. DU professional engineers and biologists work closely with DNR field staff to plan and implement both robust prairie and wetland restorations, including diverse native forb/grass seed plantings and complex wetland restorations that often involve extensive tile drainage systems.",,2020-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Jon,Schneider,"Ducks Unlimited","311 East Lake Geneva Road ",Alexandria,MN,56308,3207629916,jschneider@ducks.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Murray, Redwood, Redwood","Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/shallow-lake-wetland-protection-restoration-program-phase-ix,,,,
20693,"Shallow Lake & Wetland Protection Program - Phase III",2014,3530000,"ML 2013, Ch. 137, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(c )","$3,530,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to acquire land in fee for wildlife management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Protected 135 acres of Wetlands and 432 acres of Prairies. Wetland and upland complexes will consist of native prairies, restored prairies, quality grasslands, and restored shallow lakes and wetlands. Water is kept on the land. Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need. Core areas protected with highly biologically diverse wetlands and plant communities, including native prairie, Big Woods, and oak savanna. Protected, restored, and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands. Expiring CRP lands are permanently protected. Remnant native prairies and wetlands are permanently protected and are part of large complexes of restored prairie, grasslands, and large and small wetlands. Improved condition of habitat on public lands. Water is kept on the land. Increased participation of private landowners in habitat projects. Protected, restored, and enhanced habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need.",,56600,"Ducks Unlimited private funds",3530000,,,0.8,"Ducks Unlimited","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Ducks Unlimited purchased a total of 567 acres in 11 separate parcels in the Prairie Section for the state of Minnesota, including 135 acres of wetlands and 432 acres of uplands.  All 11 parcels have been restored and transferred to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for inclusion in state Wildlife Management Areas, are open to public access, and managed for wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation.  This prairie conservation work contributes to the goals of the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan, the Governor's Pheasant Action Plan, Minnesota's Long-range Duck Recovery Plan, and the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.",,"This ongoing public land acquisition and restoration program helps implement Minnesota's Prairie Conservation Plan. In the Prairie Section of Minnesota, 90% of our prairie wetlands have been drained and most native prairie uplands lost to agriculture. The wetland basins that remain are often large, deep wetlands and shallow lakes that now receive heavy runoff and drainage from the intensively cultivated landscape that surrounds them. Some of our remaining wetland and shallow lake basins are surrounded in whole or part by state Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) or federal Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA), while others exist in on private land nearby, sometimes in a partially-drained condition. Landscape drainage, intensive cultivation of the prairie landscape, and invasive fish such as carp has degraded these remaining wetlands and shallow lakes into turbid waters which provide only limited habitat benefit to migrating and brood-rearing waterfowl and other wetland-dependent wildlife, and poor outdoor recreational opportunities for Minnesota duck hunters. To remedy in-basin nutrient cycling that leads to turbidity and degraded waterfowl habitat conditions, DU partners with Minnesota DNR and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service managers to enhance, restore, and actively manage shallow lakes and wetlands through temporary water level draw-downs to consolidate sediments and nutrients, reduce and remove invasive fish, improve water clarity, and enhance the aquatic ecology in some shallow lake and large wetland basins under their control. DU actively supports these efforts by providing bio-engineering technical assistance and delivering water control structures through other OHF appropriations. However, as agriculture intensifies and pressures to convert idle land into row-crop production and other purposes grow, restoring land around these public lands containing wetlands and shallow lakes is also desperately needed to help buffer them, restore their watersheds, improve prairie-wetland habitat complexes, and meet the goals of Minnesota's Prairie Conservation Plan. This program strives to buffer our remaining shallow lakes and wetlands on public land by acquiring and restoring lands immediately surrounding them. Some private land adjacent to our state WMAs containing remaining wetlands and shallow lakes include patches of native prairie or are restored cropland enrolled in the USDA’s short-term Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), but remain vulnerable to conversion back to agriculture due to rising row-crop and land prices, and need permanent protection. Other private lands are intensively cultivated right up to the edge of shallow lakes and wetlands, or to the edge of state WMAs containing such basins, and need to be restored and permanently protected. While some of these lands can be restored and protected thru the state or federal conservation easement programs, many other parcels come on the market for sale and must be acquired in fee-title in order to restore and protect them in perpetuity. This Phase 3 of Ducks Unlimited's facilitative public land acquisition and restoration program focused on acquiring and restoring land adjoining state WMAs with shallow lakes and wetlands. Acquisition of these lands are for state public land ownership and management to further buffer WMAs with wetland basins and to create or improve the size of wetland complexes, restore and preserve prairie uplands and small wetlands around shallow lakes and WMAs, and make new shallow lake enhancement and wetland restoration projects possible. Through this Phase 3 grant portion of our program, DU acquired (and restored where necessary) 11 parcels of land totaling 567 acres in seven different counties within the southern Prairie Section. These parcels included 135 acres of wetlands and 432 acres of upland habitat. This total of 567 acres acquired surpassed our projected goal for this grant of 400 acres, and thus this Phase 3 of our prairie land protection program was highly successful. All lands acquired have been transferred to the state of Minnesota for inclusion in state Wildlife Management Areas managed by the Minnesota DNR for wildlife management purposes, and are open to the public for outdoor recreational opportunities.",2013-07-01,2017-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Jon,Schneider,"Ducks Unlimited","311 East Lake Geneva Road ",Alexandria,MN,56308,"(320) 762-9916",jschneider@ducks.org,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Blue Earth, Freeborn, Le Sueur, Martin, Meeker, Nicollet","Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/shallow-lake-wetland-protection-program-phase-iii,,,,
2547,"Shallow Lake Shoreland Protection: Wild Rice Lakes",2012,1891000,"ML 2011, First Special Session, Ch. 6, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(c )","$1,891,000 the first year is to the Board of Water and Soil Resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to acquire wild rice lake shoreland habitat in fee and as permanent conservation easements as follows: $500,000 to the Department of Natural Resources; $1,100,000 to the Board of Water and Soil Resources; and $291,000 to Ducks Unlimited. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The accomplishment 10.1 plan must include an easement monitoring and enforcement plan. Up to $18,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to subdivision 15. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund.",,"Protected 1,210 acres of wild rice lake shoreland habitat",,11800,"DU private in-kind staff funds",1640800,600,,1.2,"DNR, Ducks Unlimited and BWSR","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This pilot program protected 1,210 acres of wild rice lake shoreland habitat in the Northern Forest Section by securing 14 permanent RIM conservation easements and four fee-title acquisitions, surpassing our goal of 700 acres, and doing so $250,202 under budget.",,"This initial Phase 1 program was intended to protect sensitive wild rice lake shorelands and prevent shoreline development that could degrade wild rice lake ecology. The keystone feature of this initial pilot program was the launch a new state RIM easement program for wild rice lake shoreland properties intended to buffer and protect sensitive wild rice lake shorelines and limit development. Also, this initial program featured a unique partnership among local, county, state and federal agencies all working together to protect key parcels through a combination of conservation easements and fee-title land acquisitions. The Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR) worked closely with northeastern Minnesota County Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) to develop and implement the new RIM conservation easement program for wild rice lakes, which secured 14 RIM easements and protected 821 acres. Due to several landowners canceling their RIM easement applications after the appropriation adjustment availability date, $98,044 of easement acquisition funding, $2,000 of easement stewardship funding, and $112 of personnel money was unspent by BWSR at the end of the project, and BWSR returned $100,156 to the OHF. However, this new RIM easement program for wild rice lakes was successfully launched and is now fully programmatic and ongoing, and has received additional OHF funding since this initial pilot phase. DU also attempted to purchase conservation easements on two parcels of land on wild rice lakes too, but those efforts did not succeed due to landowner unwillingness to continue with the DU easement process. Therefore, DU amended the grant budget to move easement grant funds to fee-title land purchase, and successfully appraised and purchased a 28-acre parcel of land on Moose Lake in St. Louis County in fee-title. This key parcel was then transferred it to the U.S. Forest Service for inclusion in the Superior National Forest and long-term management and public outdoor recreational use. DU also coordinated this pilot program and submitted all grant status reports. DU spent $143,262 but left $147,738 unspent to be returned to the OHF. Minnesota DNR successfully purchased a key 286-acre parcel in fee-title on Yaeger Lake in Wadena County for inclusion in the Yaeger state Wildlife Management Area (WMA). DNR also subawarded OHF grant funds to Cass County to purchase two parcels of 35 acres on Lake George and 40 acres on Lower Hand Lake that were for sale and were appropriate additions to county land holdings in the area and help consolidate Cass County forest management and land ownership. Together, DNR and Cass County purchased 361 acres in fee-title, spent $497,691, and turned back $2,309 to the OHF. Overall, 14 RIM easements were secured that protect 821 acres, and four key parcels of land for sale totaling 389 acres were purchased in fee-title where RIM easements were not of interest to private landowners, for a total of 1,209 acres protected including about four miles of shoreline protected through this initial pilot grant to protect wild rice lake shoreland. This 1,210-acre land protection achievement far surpasses our goal of 700 acres, and was accomplished well-under under budget. Collectively, partners spent $1,640,798 of the $1,891,000 appropriated for this initial phase of the program, and turned back $250,202 to the OHF. This new wild rice lake protection partnership program continues today, with the Minnesota BWSR working closely with SWCDs to assist private landowners and implement additional RIM easements on wild rice lakes with subsequent OHF grants and phases of this initial program. Partners also routinely discuss other land protection needs around wild rice lakes with Minnesota DNR field staff, and work together to ensure efforts are make to purchase key tracts on important wild rice lakes when they come up for sale and are appropriate for public land ownership and management.",2011-07-20,2014-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Jon,Schneider,"Ducks Unlimited","311 East Lake Geneva Road",Alexandria,MN,56308,320-762-9916,jschneider@ducks.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources",,"Aitkin, Carlton, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, St. Louis, Wadena","Northern Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/shallow-lake-shoreland-protection-wild-rice-lakes,,,,
10033977,"Shallow Lake & Wetland Protection & Restoration Program - Phase XII",2024,7061000,"ML 2023, Ch. 40, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 4(b)","$7,061,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to acquire land in fee for wildlife management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, and to restore and enhance prairie lands, wetlands, and land that buffers shallow lakes. A list of proposed acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands - Land bordering shallow lakes and land containing drained wetlands will be acquired and restored back to wetlands and prairie grasslands, with native grass and forb wildflower grasslands surrounding wetlands as functional habitat for pollinators, migratory birds, and resident wildlife. Lands will transferred into the state Wildlife Management Area system to provide additional prairie habitat for migratory species and public use, both of which will be monitored by Minnesota DNR. Restored wetland basins will be monitored by DNR area wildlife field staff, and managed to optimize wetland habitat conditions. Prairie uplands will be managed to minimize trees and encourage native plants",,,200000,"Federal NAWCA and DU Private",7046000,15000,,0.9,DU,"Non-Profit Business/Entity","This Phase 12 request supports Ducks Unlimited's prairie land acquisition and restoration program. DU proposes to acquire and restore 790 acres of land containing drained wetlands and land bordering shallow lakes in SW Minnesota's Prairie Pothole Region for inclusion in the Minnesota DNR's state WMA system. This land acquisition and restoration program focuses on restoring cropland with drained wetlands along shallow lakes and adjoining WMAs to help restore prairie wetland habitat complexes for breeding ducks and other wildlife. DU biologists and engineers will survey, design, and hire private sector contractors to restore drained wetlands and seed uplands.","This is Phase 12 of Ducks Unlimited's ongoing program to both Acquire and Restore wetlands and prairie on land for sale adjacent to Minnesota DNRs State Wildlife Management Areas (WMA). DU works with willing seller private landowners adjacent to WMAs that have drained wetlands and converted prairie uplands, and land on shallow lakes in need of protection. DU purchases and holds land title through it's Wetlands America Trust (WAT), DU's supporting land-holding organization, of which DU is the sole corporate member. Our goal is to help restore functioning prairie-wetland habitat complexes and complement other conservation efforts to protect intact native prairie. Our work addresses the habitat goals in Minnesota's Long-range Duck Recovery Plan, Minnesota's Prairie Conservation Plan, and the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. This work is time-sensitive because farmland adjacent to state WMAs is rarely offered for sale for conservation, and tracts are only available for a short time. DU works quickly, and has already spent much of our past OHF appropriations for land acquisition. Ducks Unlimited works closely with the Minnesota DNR Section of Wildlife and partners with Pheasants Forever, other NGO partners, and local sportsmen clubs such as Swan Lake Area Wildlife Association and local conservation leagues to restore lands. Although approval is not requested from county boards for DU land acquisitions, DU communicates frequently with county and township officials to ensure local official awareness of our conservation work, and often attends county and township board meetings to discuss projects. The acquisitions and restorations proposed represents the amount of work DU can accomplish over 4-7 years, is scalable, and benefits game and non-game wildlife species alike - from mallards to monarch butterflies. Because 90% of Minnesota's prairie wetlands have been drained and 99% of prairie uplands converted in Minnesota, acquisition and restoration of prairie and small wetlands is critical - especially for breeding waterfowl in the Prairie Pothole Region of SW Minnesota where DU focuses our efforts. Furthermore, most remaining undrained wetlands here are in poor ecological condition due to massive landscape prairie conversion to cropland and wetland drainage that degrades both wetland condition and habitat function for prairie wildlife. Although many of our remaining prairie wetlands and shallow lakes are contained within state WMAs or federal Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA), these small public land patches rarely provide optimal wildlife habitat due to their fragmented shape and small size. Similarly, most prairie shallow lakes are surrounded by a thin ribbon of uplands that fail to adequately buffer them from surrounding agricultural land runoff. Therefore, acquisition and restoration of drained wetlands and cultivated cropland in close proximity to our public lands will improve and buffer our public shallow lakes and remaining wetlands, and help create functioning prairie-wetland complexes of habitat for breeding ducks and other prairie wildlife. DU professional engineers and biologists work closely with Minnesota DNR field staff to plan and implement robust prairie upland and pothole wetland restorations, including diverse native forb/grass seed plantings and complex wetland restorations that often involve extensive tile drainage.",,2023-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Jon,Schneider,"Ducks Unlimited","311 East Lake Geneva Road ",Alexandria,MN,56308,3207629916,jschneider@ducks.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Clay, Cottonwood, Douglas, Freeborn, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Redwood, Rice, Sibley, Yellow Medicine","Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/shallow-lake-wetland-protection-restoration-program-phase-xii-1,,,,
10011414,"Shallow Lakes and Wetlands Enhancements Phase 11",2020,3541000,"ML 2019, 1st Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd, 4(e)","$3,541,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to enhance and restore shallow lakes and wetland habitat statewide. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"A statewide review of Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) found that wetlands are one of the three habitat types (along with prairies and rivers) most used by these species. The almost 5,000 acres of wetland enhancement will provide wetland management actions identified to support SGCN, including reversal of wetland degradation and control of invasives. In the Minnesota County Biological Survey description of the marsh community, special attention is given to two issues faced in Minnesota marshes - stable high water levels that reduce species diversity, often to a point at which a monotypic system evolves, and the ""invasion of marshes by the non-native species narrow-leaved cattail"" and its hybrids. Both of these issues were directly addressed by the major cattail control activities involving the Roving Habitat Crew, along with water level management that will now be possible through because of newly installed wetland infrastructure projects.","A total of 8,359 acres were affected: 0 Restored, 0 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 8,359 in Enhance.",,,3033700,228400,,9,DNR,"State Government","Funding through this appropriation enhanced 8,359 acres of wetland habitat. Included in this work were six infrastructure projects that enhanced 871 acres and a Douglas County wetland restoration was done in cooperation with Pheasants Forever. Wetland management actions by the Region 1 Roving Habitat Crew enhanced almost 7,500 wetland acres through work on prescribed burns, herbicide applications, and removal of woody vegetation. Survey and design work in Rice County gathered information for possible future construction. The Wetland Management Program was initiated through this appropriation and Shallow Lakes Program staff continued their valuable assessments and habitat project work.","ML19 Accelerated Shallow Lake and Wetlands Enhancements Phase 11 accomplishments include engineering and construction of individual projects, a stand-alone engineering project, specific wetland enhancement actions by the Roving Habitat Crew, and Wetland Management Program and Shallow Lakes Program assessment and project work. Engineering and Construction Projects - Projects were undertaken to provide shallow lake and wetland enhancement totaling 871 acres through the engineering and construction of water control structures and other infrastructure at six project sites. The DNR cooperated with Pheasants Forever in restoring a Douglas County wetland. No acres are being reported by the DNR for this restoration, as Pheasants Forever will report them. Stand-alone Engineering: Shallow lake and wetland projects can be complex and require detailed surveys and engineering. Stand-alone engineering projects provide the initial work to guide future construction, establish detailed cost estimates, and identify potential issues. One project in Rice County had this work done through this appropriation. Work is already underway to use this information to move ahead with construction. Management Actions: Active management of shallow lakes and wetlands to enhance habitat involves a number of activities that promote management of vegetation (removal of undesirable vegetation or promoting desired vegetation), management of water levels to promote a desired condition, or removal of detrimental fish species. Nine projects totaling almost 7,500 acres were conducted and involved prescribed burning of wetlands, removal of woody vegetation, and herbicide applications. Roving Habitat Crews: Roving Habitat Crews are teams of highly trained staff who are equipped to perform habitat enhancement projects on public lands. Funding from this appropriation was provided to the Region 1 Roving Habitat Crew to enable it to perform wetland enhancement activities through the addition of two roving crew members and their associated costs for three fiscal years. Typical wetland enhancement activities undertaken by Roving Habitat Crews include prescribed burns of wetlands, removal of invasive species and trees, and support of shallow lake drawdowns. Of special note, Roving Habitat Crews provide the critical ground support staff for aerial cattail spraying. The Roving Habitat Crew supported by this appropriation was active in this work and the resulting acres will be reported in the Final Report for the appropriation that funded the helicopters and herbicide costs. This work would not be possible but for the critical role played by the Roving Habitat crews. Wetland Management Program/Shallow Lakes Program: The Wetland Management and Shallow Lakes Programs are single-focused programs that perform habitat assessments to identify wetlands and shallow lakes with poor habitat and in need of management, identify type of management possible, then implement management. Finally, follow up assessments are done to evaluate management success and formulate adaptive management strategies. These specialists also work with NGOs to implement management. These efforts on wetlands and shallow lakes requires both expertise in permitting and on-the-ground implementation and could not be done without these specialized staff.",,2019-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Ricky,Lien,"Minnesota DNR","500 Layette ","St. Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5227,ricky.lien@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Douglas, Kandiyohi, Le Sueur, Lyon, Mahnomen, Martin, Norman, Polk, Rice, Roseau, Sibley, St. Louis","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/shallow-lakes-and-wetlands-enhancements-phase-11,,,,
10035263,"Shallow Lake & Wetland Protection & Restoration Program - Phase XIII",2025,7670000,"ML 2024, Ch. 106, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(b)","$7,670,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to acquire land in fee for wildlife management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, or to be designated and managed as Waterfowl production areas or national wildlife refuges in Minnesota, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and to restore and enhance prairie lands, wetlands, and land buffering shallow lakes.","Protected, restored, and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands - Land bordering shallow lakes and land containing drained wetlands will be acquired and restored back to prairie pothole wetlands and grasslands. Native grass and forb wildflower grasslands will surround wetlands as functional habitat for pollinators, migratory birds, and resident wildlife. Lands transferred into the state Wildlife Management Area system will provide additional prairie habitat for migratory species and public use, both of which will be monitored by Minnesota DNR. Restored lands acquired will be monitored by DNR area wildlife field staff and managed to optimize wildlife habitat conditions. Prairie uplands will be managed to minimize trees and encourage native plants",,,885000,"DU private, federal NAWCA, and federal USFWS IRA-NbS and Federal USFWS Migratory Bird Conservation Funds",7620000,50000,,1,DU,"Non-Profit Business/Entity","This is Phase 13 Ducks Unlimited's of prairie wetland acquisition and restoration program in Minnesota. DU proposes to acquire and restore land containing wetlands and drained wetlands, and land bordering shallow lakes in Minnesota's Prairie Pothole Region for inclusion in MNDNR state WMAs and USFWS federal WPAs/NWRs. This ongoing land acquisition/restoration program focuses on restoring cropland with drained wetlands near existing WMAs and WPAs/NWRs to help restore prairie wetland habitat complexes for breeding ducks, other wildlife, and people. DU biologists and engineers will survey, design, and hire private sector contractors to restore drained wetlands and uplands.","Phase 13 of Ducks Unlimited's ongoing program will Acquire and Restore wetlands and prairie on land for sale adjacent to MNDNR State Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) and federal Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) or National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs). DU works with willing seller private landowners with drained wetlands and converted prairie uplands, and land on shallow lakes in need of protection. DU purchases and temporarily holds land title through it's Wetlands America Trust (WAT), DU's supporting land-holding organization, of which DU is the sole corporate member. Our goal is to help restore functioning prairie-wetland habitat complexes and complement other conservation efforts to protect intact native prairie. Our work addresses the habitat goals in Minnesota's Long-range Duck Recovery Plan, Minnesota's Prairie Conservation Plan, and the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. This work is time-sensitive because farmland adjacent to public lands is rarely offered for sale for conservation, and tracts are only available for a short time. DU works quickly and has spent much of our past OHF appropriations for land acquisition. Ducks Unlimited works closely with Minnesota DNR Section of Wildlife and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to find land parcels for sale, and partners with other NGOs, and local sportsmen clubs to restore lands acquired. Although approval is not requested from county boards for DU land acquisitions, DU communicates frequently with county and township officials to ensure local official awareness of our conservation work, and often attends county and township board meetings to discuss projects. The acquisitions and restorations proposed represents the amount of work DU can accomplish over 4-8 years, is scalable, and benefits game and non-game wildlife species alike - from mallards to monarch butterflies. Because 90% of Minnesota's prairie wetlands have been drained and 99% of prairie uplands converted in Minnesota, acquisition and restoration of prairie and small wetlands is critical - especially for breeding ducks in the Prairie Pothole Region of SW Minnesota where DU focuses our efforts. Furthermore, most remaining undrained wetlands here are in poor ecological condition due to massive landscape prairie conversion to cropland and wetland drainage that degrades both wetland condition and habitat function for prairie wildlife. Although many of our remaining prairie wetlands and shallow lakes are contained within state WMAs or federal WPAs, these small public land patches rarely provide optimal wildlife habitat due to their disconnected, fragmented shape and small size. Similarly, most prairie shallow lakes are surrounded by a thin ribbon of uplands that fail to adequately buffer them from surrounding agricultural land runoff. Therefore, acquisition and restoration of drained wetlands and cultivated cropland in close proximity to our public lands will improve and buffer our public shallow lakes and remaining wetlands and help create functioning prairie-wetland habitat complexes for breeding ducks and other prairie wildlife. DU professional engineers and biologists work closely with MNDNR and USFWS biologists to plan and implement robust prairie pothole wetland and grassland restorations, including diverse native forb/grass seed plantings and complex wetland restorations that often involve extensive tile drainage systems.",,2024-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Jon,Schneider,"Ducks Unlimited, Inc.","311 East Lake Geneva Road ",Alexandria,MN,56308,,jschneider@ducks.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Clay, Cottonwood, Douglas, Freeborn, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Murray, Nicollet, Redwood, Rice, Sibley, Swift, Yellow Medicine","Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/shallow-lake-wetland-protection-restoration-program-phase-xiii,,,,
10006502,"Shallow Lakes and Wetland Enhancement - Phase 10",2019,2759000,"ML 2018, Ch. 208, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 4(e )"," $2,759,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to enhance and restore shallow lakes and wetland habitat statewide. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"A statewide review of Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) found that wetlands are one of the three habitat types (along with prairies and rivers) most used by these species. The almost 5,000 acres of wetland enhancement will provide wetland management actions identified to support SGCN, including reversal of wetland degradation and control of invasives. In the Minnesota County Biological Survey description of the marsh community, special attention is given to two issues faced in Minnesota marshes - stable high water levels that reduce species diversity, often to a point at which a monotypic system evolves, and the ""invasion of marshes by the non-native species narrow-leaved cattail"" and its hybrids. Both of these issues were directly addressed by the major cattail control activities involving the Roving Habitat Crew, along with water level management that will now be possible through because of newly installed wetland infrastructure projects.","A total of 4,745 acres were affected: 50 Restored, 0 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 4,695 in Enhance.",,,2357300,105900,,3,DNR,"State Government","Funding through this appropriation enhanced 4,745 acres of wetland habitat. Four wetland/shallow lake infrastructure projects were competed that enhanced 1,020 acres and and another project restored 50 acres. Wetland management actions (wild rice seeding, a significant drawdown, and a major large prescribed burn) enhanced 1,997 acres. Work by the Region 3 Roving Habitat Crew enhanced 1,678 wetland acres through work on prescribed burns, drawdowns, herbicide applications, and removal of woody vegetation. Finally, survey and design work on 16 projects gathered information for possible future construction. A new shallow lakes program position was funded in Windom,","ML18 Shallow Lake and Wetlands Enhancements Phase 10 accomplishments include engineering and construction of individual projects, stand-alone engineering projects, specific management actions leading to wetland enhancement, Roving Habitat Crew work and establishment of a new Shallow Lake Specialist in Windom. Engineering and Construction Projects - Projects were undertaken to provide shallow lake and wetland enhancement totaling 1,020 acres through the engineering and construction of a water control structure replacement at Albion WMA in Wright County (300 acres) and another water control structure at Carlos Avery WMA Pool 9 (400 acres), a fish barrier at Shakopee Lake in Wright County (200 acres), and work at Lac qui Parle WMA to improve water management at the Killen Moist Soil Unit (120 acres). Fifty acres of wetlands were restored in Cottonwood County. Stand-alone Engineering - Shallow lake and wetland projects can be complex and require detailed surveys and engineering. Stand-alone engineering projects provide the initial work to guide future construction, establish detailed cost estimates, and identify potential issues. Sixteen projects had stand-alone engineering and ranged from simple feasibility studies to in-depth surveys and plan development. Nine of these projects were in the Prairie Ecosection, 2 in the Forest-Prairie Ecosection, 2 in the Metro Ecosection, 2 in the Northern Forest Ecosection, and 1 in the Southeast Forest Ecosection. Management Actions - A drawdown of Gilfillan Lake in Blue Earth County enhanced 210 acres. The property manager reported a very positive vegetation response following this drawdown. A large prescribed burn of wetlands at Beaches WMA in Kittson County resulted in 1,766 acres of enhancement. Burns of this size are possible through the use of aerial ignition (lighting fires with helicopters). In Washburn Lake in Aitkin County 21 acres were enhanced through the seeding of 1,064 lbs. of wild rice. Roving Habitat Crews - Roving Habitat Crews are teams of highly trained staff who are equipped to perform habitat enhancement projects on public lands. Funding from this appropriation was provided to the Region 4 Roving Habitat Crew to enable it to perform wetland enhancement activities through the addition of two roving crew members and their associated costs for three fiscal years. Typical wetland enhancement activities undertaken by Roving Habitat Crews include prescribed burns of wetlands, removal of invasive species and trees, and support of shallow lake drawdowns. Work by this Roving Habitat Crew directly impacted 1,678 acres. Shallow Lakes Program - The Shallow Lakes Program is a high-visibility program that uses single-focused Shallow Lakes Specialists to (1) perform standardized assessments of shallow lakes and (2) to bring about needed management or infrastructure changes where needed to enhance shallow lake habitat. Work by these Specialists guides shallow lake work by both DNR Wildlife staff and NGOs. Funding from this appropriation allowed the addition of a Shallow Lake Specialists at Windom. During the five years funded by this appropriation, this specialist reported working on standardized shallow lake assessments, feasibility studies, updating management plans, survey work with a Trimble, and fish surveys.",,2018-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Ricky,Lien,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road ","St. Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5227,ricky.lien@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Fillmore, Freeborn, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Polk, Pope, Redwood, Rice, Scott, St. Louis, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Watonwan, Wright, Yellow Medicine","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Southeast Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/shallow-lakes-and-wetland-enhancement-phase-10,,,,
10033412,"Shallow Lake & Wetland Protection & Restoration Program - Phase XI",2023,4779000,"ML 2022, Ch. 77, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 4(d)","$4,779,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to acquire land in fee for wildlife management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, and to restore and enhance prairie lands, wetlands, and land buffering shallow lakes. A list of proposed acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ","Game lakes are significant contributors of waterfowl, due to efforts to protect uplands adjacent to game lakes - DU will work with MN DNR to acquire and protect new WMA lands near shallow ""game"" lakes to buffer and protect them, and restore wetlands and prairie uplands around them to provide bird breeding habitat. Protected, restored, and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands - Land bordering shallow lakes and land containing drained wetlands will be acquired and restored back to functioning wetlands for waterfowl with native grass and forb wildflower grassland surrounding them as habitat for pollinators, migratory birds, and resident wildlife. Lands will transferred into the state Wildlife Management Area system to provide additional prairie habitat for migratory species and public use, both of which will be monitored by Minnesota DNR. Restored wetland basins will be monitored by DNR area wildlife field staff, and managed to optimize wetland habitat conditions. Prairie uplands will be managed to minimize trees and encourage native plants",,,200000,"DU private and federal NAWCA",4767000,12000,,0.55,"Ducks Unlimited","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This Phase 11 request supports Ducks Unlimited's prairie land acquisition and restoration program. DU proposes to acquire and restore 550 acres of land containing drained wetlands and land on shallow lakes in SW Minnesota's Prairie Pothole Region for transfer into the Minnesota DNR's state WMA system. This land acquisition and restoration program focuses on restoring cropland with drained wetlands along shallow lakes and adjoining WMAs to help restore prairie wetland habitat complexes for breeding ducks and other wildlife. DNR will help seed uplands, and DU engineers will survey, design, and hire private sector contractors to restore drained wetlands.","This is Phase 11 of Ducks Unlimited's ongoing program to both Acquire and Restore wetlands and prairie on land for sale adjacent to Minnesota DNRs State Wildlife Management Areas (WMA). DU works with willing seller private landowners adjacent to WMAs that have drained wetlands and converted prairie uplands, and land on shallow lakes in need of protection. DU purchases and holds land title through it's Wetlands America Trust (WAT), DU's supporting land-holding fiduciary organization, of which DU is the sole corporate member. Our goal is to help restore functioning prairie-wetland habitat complexes and complement other conservation efforts to protect intact native prairie. Our work addresses the habitat goals in Minnesota's Long-range Duck Recovery Plan, Minnesota's Prairie Conservation Plan, and the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. This work is time-sensitive because farmland adjacent to state WMAs is rarely offered for sale for conservation, and tracts are only available for a short time. DU works quickly, and has already spent most OHF funds for land in past appropriations. DU works in close cooperation with Minnesota DNR Section of Wildlife and coordinates closely with Pheasants Forever, other NGO partners, and local sportsmen clubs such as Swan Lake Area Wildlife Association and local conservation clubs and leagues. Although approval is not requested from county boards for DU land acquisitions, DU communicates frequently with county and township officials to ensure local official awareness of our conservation work, and routinely attends county board meetings to discuss questions. The acquisitions and restorations proposed represents the amount of work DU can accomplish in three to five years, is scalable, and benefits game and non-game wildlife species alike - from mallards to monarch butterflies. Because 90% of Minnesota's prairie wetlands have been drained and 99% of prairie uplands converted in Minnesota, acquisition and restoration of prairie and small wetlands is critical - especially for breeding waterfowl in the Prairie Pothole Region of SW Minnesota where DU focuses our efforts. Furthermore, most remaining undrained wetlands here are in poor ecological condition due to massive landscape prairie conversion to cropland and wetland drainage that degrades both wetland condition and habitat function for prairie wildlife. Although many of our remaining prairie wetlands and shallow lakes are contained within state WMAs or federal Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA), these small public land patches rarely provide optimal wildlife habitat due to their fragmented shape and small size. Similarly, most prairie shallow lakes are surrounded by a thin ribbon of uplands that fail to adequately buffer them from surrounding agricultural land runoff. Therefore, acquisition and restoration of drained wetlands and cultivated cropland in close proximity to our public lands will improve and buffer our public shallow lakes and remaining wetlands, and help create functioning prairie-wetland complexes of habitat for breeding ducks and other prairie wildlife. DU professional engineers and biologists work closely with Minnesota DNR field staff to plan and implement robust prairie upland and pothole wetland restorations, including diverse native forb/grass seed plantings and complex wetland restorations that often involve extensive tile drainage.",,2022-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Jon,Schneider,"Ducks Unlimited","311 East Lake Geneva Road ",Alexandria,MN,56308,3207629916,jschneider@ducks.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Douglas, Freeborn, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Redwood, Rice, Sibley, Stevens, Swift, Waseca, Yellow Medicine","Prairie Region, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/shallow-lake-wetland-protection-restoration-program-phase-xi,,,,
10006504,"Shell Rock River Watershed Habitat Restoration Program - Phase VII",2019,1421000,"ML 2018, Ch. 208, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 5(l)","$1,421,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Shell Rock River Watershed District to acquire lands in fee and to restore and enhance aquatic habitat in the Shell Rock River watershed. A list of proposed acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Historically the Shell Rock River Watershed is a shallow lake system with diverse populations of fish, waterfowl and wildlife. An ongoing effort of modeling and monitoring has defined current impairments and invasive species populations. Implementing site specific habitat restoration projects are progressively improving populations of native fish, waterfowl and wildlife habitat. The Program included projects that are prioritized based on the significance of benefit to aquatic habitat, urgency of the work, availability of leverage funding, location of projects and agreement with relevant planning documents. Targeted species that benefited from this proposal outcomes included the Blanding's turtle, Sheepnose and Round Pigtoe Mussels from the River Restoration Project and the Marsh Wren and Blanding's turtle with the Orr Wetland projects. Pollinators such as the rusty patch bumblebee have more habitat from the many acres of native prairies that were established.","A total of 152 acres were affected: 80 Restored, 57 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 15 in Enhance.",23600,"Local Option Sales Tax",1420500,,,0.73,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","Local/Regional Government","The Phase VII Habitat Restoration Program included an Orr Wetland Restoration, a Belshan Property Targeted Habitat Acquisition Project, and a Shell Rock River Streambank Restoration Project. As a result, 152 acres of habitat and wetlands were protected, enhanced or restored.","With the Phase VII Habitat Restoration Program, the District completed one acquisition, along with a large wetland restoration, and a river enhancement project. For the land acquisition project, the District worked with a willing landowner and entered into an option agreement to purchase the property. Once the option was signed, the District completed a survey and an appraisal of the property. The District then negotiated with the landowner an acceptable offer, executed the purchase agreement, and completed final closing requirements. The District closed on the property in 2021. This property included 57 acres of previous row-crop farm ground that the District planted into natives. The District also conducted two wetland restorations on this property with Phase VII funding. Using tile breaks, berms, and scrapes, two different wetland basins were created for waterfowl enhancement efforts. The District placed the work out for bid, and construction and touch up seeding wrapped up in Spring of 2023. The Orr Wetland Restoration partnered with the USFWS to seed fallow agricultural ground into native grasses and flowers. The District worked with the USFWS to source native origin seed and get the ground seeded prior to wetland restoration work. This project expands current restored parcels owned by the USFWS and will benefit pollinators, such as the rusty patched bumblebee, and songbirds. The District then worked with USFWS staff to design and implement wetland restorations ranging in size from a quarter of an acre to 22 acres. In total approximately 55 total acres of wetlands were designed and installed. Construction was placed out for bid and work was conducted over the fall of 2022 into spring of 2023.Project benefits of the wetland restorations also include increased use days for waterfowl, reduced competition for feeding and nesting sites as well as improved habitat for the threatened Marsh Wren. The Shell Rock River Streambank Enhancement was a project that the District partnered with the DNR to implement site specific habitat features in the Shell Rock River. Following procurement procedures, the District worked with DNR's engineers and river specialists to design and construct habitat features all along the Panicum Prairie Management Area. Toe wood installation and natural benches were all used to incorporate habitat back into the Shell Rock River and prevent continued erosion.",,2018-07-01,2023-07-25,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Andy,Henschel,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","214 West Main Street ","Albert Lea",MN,56007,"(507) 377-5785",andy.henschel@co.freeborn.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Freeborn,"Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/shell-rock-river-watershed-habitat-restoration-program-phase-vii,,,,
10011416,"Shell Rock River Watershed Restoration Program - Phase VIII",2020,2046000,"ML 2019, 1st Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd, 5(j)","$2,046,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Shell Rock River Watershed District to acquire lands in fee and to restore and enhance aquatic habitat in the Shell Rock River watershed. A list of proposed acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced habitat for migratory and unique Minnesota species - will be measured by the increase of use days for migrating waterfowl and improved habitat acres for unique species. The protected, restored and enhanced shallow lakes, wetlands, and streambanks will provide habitat to wildlife and support healthy natural resource conditions for long term benefits. The projects will offer an oasis for migratory waterfowl by re-established and connecting MCBS corridors, and flyway habitats. Improved and permanently protected areas will provide a lasting habitat for Minnesota’s unique species and provide improved access to public natural resources. .",,,100000,"Local Option Sales Tax",2046000,,,0.73,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","Local/Regional Government","The Shell Rock River Watershed District (SRRWD) Phase VIII Habitat Restoration Program will restore and protect 315 acres of essential shallow lake, oak savanna and wetland habitat across the watershed. As a result of the strategic projects, a key biological functioning parcel will be permanently protected, lake shores will be enhanced, in-lake habitat structures will be created, oak savanna will be protected and vegetation will be restored for migratory fowl habitat. Projects in Phase VIII are critical for the benefit of fish, waterfowl, and wildlife populations, reversing the trend of wetland loss and habitat degradation.","Program Goals:In 2014, the SRRWD created a phased, $20 million approach to restore, protect, and enhance degraded habitat conditions by implementing projects on a lake-shed basis. The Watershed Habitat Restoration Program is designed to accomplish the following objectives: •Remove rough fish species and restore desirable fish, waterfowl and wildlife populations•Increase fish habitat, spawning areas and waterfowl nesting areas•Improve waterfowl breeding and migratory success•Restore streambanks and increase wildlife habitat and its natural prairie•Increase and improve the use of restored public natural resources•Enhance native aquatic rooted vegetation and protect the watershed from invasive speciesThe program will also interconnect and reestablish important flyway habitats within Minnesota. Once completed, the program will establish waterfowl and fish populations, increase habitat for wetland dependent wildlife, and create the wildlife mecca that was recorded in the late 1800s.Specifically, Phase VIII will contribute to the District’s goals by:•Acquire 80 acres of key targeted lands to reestablish wetland basins, to protect Big Woods and provide public access to current privately owned Church Lake, and improve nesting habitat and waterfowl food sources.•Restore 235 acres of lakeshore and in-lake habitat creating more productive, self-sustaining fisheries in Fountain Lake. The program includes projects that are prioritized on the significance of the benefits to aquatic habitat, urgency of the work, availability of leveraged funds, location of projects and agreements with relevant planning documents. The SRRWD has a proven track record with the LSOHC and implementing projects that protect, restore and enhance natural resources. The SRRWD continues to receive strong support for these projects from landowners, local governments and sporting organizations. This proposal uses a programmatic approach to achieve prioritized protection, restoration, and enhancement of lakes, wetlands and streams to once again create the wildlife mecca. Finally, this program will preserve an outdoor legacy for Minnesotans to use and enjoy for generations. Background:The SRRWD covers 246 square miles inside Freeborn County and includes a complex system of wetlands, streams, and shallow lakes that drain into the Shell Rock River. Managing habitat for this complex system is imperative to the SRRWD as well as understanding its role for providing critical habitat for fish, waterfowl and wildlife. Habitat degradation of wetlands, streams, and shallow lakes is an issue of statewide importance that requires accelerated investment in projects to reverse this degradation. Protection and restoration of this critical habitat is the highest priority of the SRRWD and is directly affected by invasive aquatic vegetation, land use changes, increased water demands, populations of invasive fish species such as common carp, and artificial drainage. Degradation in habitat is influencing available food sources for game fish populations including Northern Pike, Bluegill, Yellow Perch and Walleye, and duck populations including Northern Pintail, Redhead, Canvasback and Lesser Scaup.",,2019-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Courtney,Phillips,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","214 West Main Street ","Albert Lea",MN,56007,"(507) 379-8782",Courtney.phillips@co.freeborn.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Freeborn,"Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/shell-rock-river-watershed-restoration-program-phase-viii,,,,
10000101,"Shell Rock River Watershed Habitat Restoration Program - Phase VI",2018,1779000,"ML 2017, Ch. 91, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(g)","$1,779,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Shell Rock River Watershed District to acquire land in fee, restore, and enhance aquatic habitat in the Shell Rock River watershed. A list of proposed acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"Historically the Shell Rock River Watershed is a shallow lake system with diverse populations of fish, waterfowl and wildlife. An ongoing effort of modeling and monitoring has defined current impairments and invasive species populations. Implementing site specific habitat restoration projects are progressively improving populations of native fish, waterfowl and wildlife habitat. The Program included projects that are prioritized based on the significance of benefit to aquatic habitat, urgency of the work, availability of leverage funding, location of projects and agreement with relevant planning documents. Targeted species that benefited from this proposal outcomes included the Blanding's turtle, Sheepnose and Round Pigtoe Mussels from the River Restoration Project and the Marsh Wren and Blanding's turtle with the IC&E, Orr, and Vandegrift Wetland projects. Pollinators such as the rusty patch bumblebee have more habitat from the many acres of native prairies that were established.","A total of 296 acres were affected: 45 Restored, 80 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 171 in Enhance.",22100,"Local Option Sales Tax",1779000,,,0.73,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","Local/Regional Government","The Phase VI Habitat Restoration Program included an Orr Property Acquisition, a Vandegrift Wetland Restoration, an IC&E Wetland Enhancement Project and a Headwaters Streambank Restoration Project. As a result, 296 acres of habitat and wetlands were protected, enhanced or restored.","With the Phase VI Habitat Restoration Program, the District completed one acquisition, along with a wetland restoration, a river restoration and a vegetation enhancement project. For the land acquisition project, the District worked with a willing landowner and entered into an option agreement to purchase the property. Once the option was signed, the District completed a survey and an appraisal of the property. The District had to have an appraisal review being that it was over the $500,000 threshold. The District then negotiated with the landowner an acceptable offer, executed the purchase agreement, and completed final closing requirements. The District closed on the property in 2020. This property included 80 acres of row-crop farm ground that the District planted into natives. Upcoming work for this site includes wetland restoration work that will be funded in a later phase of the Habitat Restoration Program. The restoration and enhancement projects in the Phase VI list include the IC&E Enhancement, the Headwaters Streambank Restoration and the Vandegrift Wetland Restoration. The IC&E Project partnered with the USFWS to seed fallow agricultural ground into native grasses and flowers. The District worked with the USFWS to source native origin seed and get the ground seeded prior to wetland restoration work. This project expands current restored parcels owned by the USFWS and will benefit pollinators, such as the rusty patched bumblebee, and songbirds. The Vandegrift Wetland Restoration was completed on a property that was purchased in Phase 4 of the Habitat Restoration Program. The District, following procurement procedures, hired a contractor to implement a wetland restoration. This restoration reconnected a historic floodplain that was disconnected from Wedge Creek when the railroad came through. The District worked with the DNR and neighboring landowners to complete this restoration. Project benefits include increased use days for waterfowl, reduced competition for feeding and nesting sites as well as improved habitat for the threatened Marsh Wren. The Headwaters Streambank was a project that the District partnered with the DNR to implement site specific habitat features in the Shell Rock River. Following procurement procedures, the District worked with DNR's engineers and river specialists to design and construct habitat features all along the Headwaters Aquatic Management Area. Tree revetments, rock crossings, and permeable pylons were all used to incorporate habitat back into the Shell Rock River.",,2017-07-01,2022-10-10,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Andy,Henschel,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","305 S 1st Ave. ","Albert Lea",MN,56007,"(507) 377-5785",andy.henschel@co.freeborn.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Freeborn,"Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/shell-rock-river-watershed-habitat-restoration-program-phase-vi,,,,
10019647,"Shell Rock River Habitat Restoration Program - Phase X",2022,1547000,"ML 2021, First Sp. Session, Ch. 1, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(m)","$1,547,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Shell Rock River Watershed District to acquire land in fee and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat in the Shell Rock River watershed. A list of proposed acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ","Protected, restored, and enhanced habitat for migratory and unique Minnesota species - will be measured by the increase of use days for migrating waterfowl and improved habitat acres for unique species. The protected, restored and enhanced shallow lakes, wetlands, and streambanks will provide habitat to wildlife and support healthy natural resource conditions for long term benefits. The projects will offer an oasis for migratory waterfowl by re-established and connecting MCBS corridors, and flyway habitats. Improved and permanently protected areas will provide a lasting habitat for Minnesota's unique species and provide improved access to public natural resources",,,100000,"Local Option Sales Tax",1547000,,,0.86,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","Local/Regional Government","The Shell Rock River Watershed District (SRRWD) Phase X Habitat Restoration Program will enhance, and protect 389 acres of essential prairie upland, wetland, and streambank habitat across the watershed. As a result of the strategic projects, key biological functioning parcels will be permanently protected, vegetation and feeding sources will be restored for migratory fowl habitat and wetlands will be restored from row crop agriculture. Projects in Phase X are critical for the benefit of fish, waterfowl, and wildlife populations, reversing the trend of wetland loss and habitat degradation.","Program Goals: In 2014, the SRRWD created a phased approach to restore, protect, and enhance degraded habitat conditions by implementing projects on a lake-shed basis. The Watershed Habitat Restoration Program is designed to accomplish the following objectives: - Create wetlands to improve waterfowl breeding and migratory success - Remove rough fish species and restore desirable fish, waterfowl and wildlife populations aiming at critical species of concern - Increase fish habitat, spawning areas and waterfowl nesting areas - Restore streambanks and increase wildlife habitat and its natural prairie - Increase and improve the use of restored public natural resources - Enhance native aquatic rooted vegetation and protect the watershed from invasive species The program will also interconnect and reestablish important flyway habitats within Minnesota. Once completed, the program will establish waterfowl and fish populations, increase habitat for wetland dependent wildlife, and create the wildlife mecca that was recorded in the late 1800s. Specifically, Phase X will contribute to the District's goals by: - Acquire 218 acres of key targeted acquisitions to protect land along Church Lake, establish upland prairie and wetlands, and improve nesting habitat and waterfowl food sources. - Enhance 60 acres of wetland basins, reversing wetland loss and habitat degradation - Reestablish 111 acres of vegetation into upland prairie from agricultural use in an important flyway that is critical to nesting waterfowl, upland game, and other wading bird species This proposal uses a programmatic approach to achieve protection, restoration, and enhancement of lakes, wetlands, streams and native prairie landscapes. The program includes projects that are prioritized on the significance of the benefits to aquatic habitat, urgency of the work, availability of leveraged funds, location of projects and agreements with relevant planning documents. The SRRWD has a proven track record with the LSOHC and implementing projects that protect, restore and enhance natural resources. The SRRWD continues to receive strong support for these projects from landowners, local governments and sporting organizations. Finally, this program will preserve an outdoor legacy for Minnesotans to use and enjoy for generations. Background: The SRRWD covers 246 square miles inside Freeborn County and includes a complex system of wetlands, streams, and shallow lakes that drain into the Shell Rock River. Managing habitat for this complex system is imperative to the SRRWD as well as understanding its role for providing critical habitat for fish, waterfowl and wildlife. Habitat degradation of wetlands, streams, and shallow lakes is an issue of statewide importance that requires accelerated investment in projects to reverse this degradation. Protection and restoration of this critical habitat is the highest priority of the SRRWD and is directly affected by invasive aquatic vegetation, land use changes, increased water demands, populations of invasive fish species such as common carp, and artificial drainage. Degradation in habitat is influencing available food sources for game fish populations that include Northern Pike, Bluegill, Yellow Perch and Walleye, and duck populations including Northern Pintail, Redhead, Canvasback and Lesser Scaup.",,2021-07-01,2025-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Courtney,Phillips,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","214 West Main Street ","Albert Lea",MN,56007,"(507) 379-8782",courtney.phillips@co.freeborn.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Freeborn,"Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/shell-rock-river-habitat-restoration-program-phase-x,,,,
10017831,"Shell Rock River Watershed Habitat Restoration Program - Phase IX",2021,1918000,"ML 2020, Ch. 104, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 5(m)","$1,918,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Shell Rock River Watershed District to acquire lands in fee and to restore and enhance aquatic habitat in the Shell Rock River watershed. A list of proposed acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ","Protected, restored, and enhanced habitat for migratory and unique Minnesota species - will be measured by the increase of use days for migrating waterfowl and improved habitat acres for unique species. The protected, restored and enhanced shallow lakes, wetlands, and streambanks will provide habitat to wildlife and support healthy natural resource conditions for long term benefits. The projects will offer an oasis for migratory waterfowl by re-established and connecting MCBS corridors, and flyway habitats. Improved and permanently protected areas will provide a lasting habitat for Minnesota's unique species and provide improved access to public natural resources",,,100000,"Local Option Sales Tax, Local Option Sales Tax and Local Option Sales Tax",1918000,,,0.86,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","Local/Regional Government","The Shell Rock River Watershed District (SRRWD) Phase IX Habitat Restoration Program will restore, enhance, and protect 483 acres of essential prairie upland, wetland, and streambank habitat across the watershed. As a result of strategic projects, key biological functioning parcels will be permanently protected, streambank habitat will be protected, vegetation and feeding sources will be restored for migratory fowl habitat and wetlands will be restored from row crop agriculture. Projects in Phase IX are critical for the benefit of fish, waterfowl, and wildlife populations, reversing the trend of wetland loss and habitat degradation.","Program Goals: In 2014, the SRRWD created a phased approach to restore, protect, and enhance degraded habitat conditions by implementing projects on a lake-shed basis. The Watershed Habitat Restoration Program is designed to accomplish the following objectives: ?Create wetlands to improve waterfowl breeding and migratory success ?Remove rough fish species and restore desirable fish, waterfowl and wildlife populations aiming at critical species of concern ?Increase fish habitat, spawning areas and waterfowl nesting areas ?Restore streambanks and increase wildlife habitat and its natural prairie ?Increase and improve the use of restored public natural resources ?Enhance native aquatic rooted vegetation and protect the watershed from invasive species The program will also interconnect and reestablish important flyway habitats within Minnesota. Once completed, the program will establish waterfowl and fish populations, increase habitat for wetland dependent wildlife, and create the wildlife mecca that was recorded in the late 1800s. Specifically, Phase IX will contribute to the District's goals by: ?Acquire 133 acres of key targeted acquisitions to protect land along the Shell Rock River, establish upland prairie, and improve nesting habitat and waterfowl food sources ?Reestablish 50 acres of wetland basins from row crop agriculture, reversing wetland loss and habitat degradation ?Enhance 300 acres of vegetation in Panicum Prairie, an important flyway that is critical to nesting waterfowl, upland game, and other wading bird species This proposal uses a programmatic approach to achieve protection, restoration, and enhancement of lakes, wetlands, streams and native prairie landscapes. The program includes projects that are prioritized on the significance of the benefits to aquatic habitat, urgency of the work, availability of leveraged funds, location of projects and agreements with relevant planning documents. The SRRWD has a proven track record with the LSOHC and implementing projects that protect, restore and enhance natural resources. The SRRWD continues to receive strong support for these projects from landowners, local governments and sporting organizations. Finally, this program will preserve an outdoor legacy for Minnesotans to use and enjoy for generations. Background: The SRRWD covers 246 square miles inside Freeborn County and includes a complex system of wetlands, streams, and shallow lakes that drain into the Shell Rock River. Managing habitat for this complex system is imperative to the SRRWD as well as understanding its role for providing critical habitat for fish, waterfowl and wildlife. Habitat degradation of wetlands, streams, and shallow lakes is an issue of statewide importance that requires accelerated investment in projects to reverse this degradation. Protection and restoration of this critical habitat is the highest priority of the SRRWD and is directly affected by invasive aquatic vegetation, land use changes, increased water demands, populations of invasive fish species such as common carp, and artificial drainage. Degradation in habitat is influencing available food sources for game fish populations that include Northern Pike, Bluegill, Yellow Perch and Walleye, and duck populations including Northern Pintail, Redhead, Canvasback and Lesser Scaup.",,2020-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Courtney,Phillips,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","214 West Main Street ","Albert Lea",MN,56007,"(507) 377-5785",courtney.phillips@co.freeborn.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Freeborn,"Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/shell-rock-river-watershed-habitat-restoration-program-phase-ix,,,,
35035,"Shell Rock River Watershed Habitat Restoration Program - Phase IV",2016,2414000,"ML 2015, First Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(f)","$2,414,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Shell Rock River Watershed District to protect, restore, and enhance aquatic habitat in the Shell Rock River watershed. A list of proposed acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"620 Wetland acres Restored.  19 Wetland acres Protected in Fee without State PILT Liability.  677 Wetland acres and 4 Habitat acres Enhanced.  1,320 acres impacted by the Restoration Program. ",,65900,"Local Option Sales Tax ",2414000,,,0.73,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","Local/Regional Government","The Shell Rock River Watershed District’s Watershed Habitat Restoration Program will restore, enhance, and protect 5393 acres of critical shallow lake, wetland and stream bank habitat benefiting fish, waterfowl and wildlife populations, preserving an outdoor legacy for future generations. ",,"The Phase IV Habitat Restoration Projects were competed and all objectives and outcomes were met. Specifically the projects, and the processes and methods to completed them are listed below. The projects in this phase were successful due to partnering resources with USFWS and MN DNR staff, as well as having supporting landowners willing to make a difference in Minnesota's natural resources. For the Wedge Creek Wetland acquisition, the District worked with a willing seller to enter into an option to purchase agreement. Once signed, the District hired consultants to complete a survey and then an appraisal of the property. The District then made an offer to the landowner that was accepted and the option to purchase was executed. This property closed in April of 2019 and protects approximately 20 acres. There is funding in Phase 6 of the Habitat Restoration Program to complete the wetland restoration work of the property before it is turned over to the DNR for ownership. The Wedge Creek Reach 6 River Restoration completed approximately 3,000 linear feet of streambank restoration work that included boulder retards, rock weirs, vortex weirs, sloped and seeded banks which created retention areas and scouring pools for habitat in public waters. The District worked with an engineering firm to design the project and sourced a contractor following state procurement procedures. For the Upper Twin Lake pumping station the District worked with the USFWS and MN DNR via a Memorandum of Understanding to complete the project. The work included installing a pumping feature to dewater the 550 acre Upper Twin Lake into Lower Twin Lake to allow for lake management following the lake management plan. Dewatering of the lake allows for carp and vegetation management to improve game fish populations and waterfowl habitat. The District followed procurement procedures for construction of the project and it was completed in 2020. The Upper and Lower Twin Lake project again worked with the MN DNR to compete projects on public lands and public waters. Both Upper and Lower Twin lakes are shallow lakes infested with Common Carp. The District worked to install a rock fish barrier to prevent carp from entering the 895 acres of the Twin Lakes system. As part of this project, the District also worked on a streambank downstream and completed approximately 7,500 linear feet of restoration. Work included installing rootwads, cross channel logs, toe rock installation and connecting historic floodplains. The last project in the Phase 4 Habitat Restoration Program was the Pickerel Lake Adjustable Outlet. This project partnered with MN DNR to incorporate a fish passage and variable crest structure to allow for management of 570 acres of Pickerel Lake and allow Northern Pike to reenter the lake for spawning. ",2015-07-01,2021-09-20,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Andy,Henschel,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","214 West Main Street ","Albert Lea",MN,56007,"(507) 377-5785",andy.henschel@co.freeborn.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Freeborn,"Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/shell-rock-river-watershed-habitat-restoration-program-phase-iv,,,,
35071,"Shell Rock River Habitat Restoration Program - Phase V",2017,1200000,"ML 2016, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(i)","$1,200,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Shell Rock River Watershed District to acquire in fee, restore, and enhance aquatic habitat in the Shell Rock River watershed. A list of proposed acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"Restored 80 Wetland acres.  Protected 27 Habitat acres in Fee with State PILT Liability.  Protected 63 Habitat acres in Fee without State PILT Liability.  Enhanced 41Habitat acres.  Total acreage of 211.   ",,461000,"Federal Match & Local Option Sales Tax ",1157200,,,0.73,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","Local/Regional Government","The Shell Rock River Watershed District's Phase 5 Habitat Restoration Program will restore, enhance, and protect 1040 acres of essential shallow lake, wetland and stream bank habitat benefiting fish, waterfowl and wildlife populations, preserving an outdoor legacy for future generations. ","The Shell Rock River Watershed District (SRRWD) covers 246 square miles inside Freeborn County and includes a complex system of wetlands, streams, and shallow lakes that drain into the Shell Rock River. Among the District’s 11 lakes are Fountain Lake and Albert Lea Lake, which are located in the core of Freeborn County. These lakes are important to residents for recreation and vital to Albert Lea’s tourism economy and identity.   ","With The Phase 5 Habitat Restoration Program the District completed 3 acquisitions along with wetland restorations and vegetation enhancements. For each of the land acquisitions the process starts the same, the District works with a willing landowner and enters into an option to purchase the property. Once the Option is signed, the District completes a survey and an appraisal of the property. The District then negotiates with the landowner an acceptable offer and executes the purchase agreement and completes final closing requirements. Property acquisitions include the Owens, Schroeder and Mud Lake Property. The Owens acquisition was 45 acres of agricultural ground that was purchased and now includes 2 wetland ponds of 25 acres with the remaining ground planted into native upland prairie mix. The property will be donated to the DNR and will be joined into the Upper Twin Lake WMA. The Mud Lake Property was 23 acres in size and will be permanently protecting mesic hardwood forests and wetlands. This property will be adding to the adjoining Magaksica WMA that is expanding current habitat corridors. The final acquisition is the Schroeder acquisition at 22 acres in size. This property was in agricultural row crop production and included a portion of untouched meandering stream. This property now has been planted into natives and is protecting that meandering stream and the mesic hardwoods that surrounds the stream. Further restoration of the side for wetland restoration is planned in future funding efforts. Following restoration and enhancement projects include the Miller Wetland, Wedge Creek Reach 1 Vegetative restoration and the Pickerel Lake Site #12 Channel Restoration. The Miller wetland project partnered with the USFWS in which $461,000 in federal match was added to the grant as a result of their Iowa, Chicago & Eastern WPA acquisition dollars. This wetland restoration turned agricultural ground into upland plantings and wetlands by disabling field tile and completing wetland scrapes. The project came in under bid, and that is why we have additional funds to return to the OHF. This project expands current restored parcels and will benefit waterfowl, pollinators and songbirds. For the Wedge Creek Reach #1 vegetative restoration the District, following procurement procedures, hired a contractor to remove invasive species and complete controlled burns on the site. This allows native plants to thrive in its place and impacts habitat along public waters. The Pickerel Lake Channel Restoration Project improves the breeding success of native populations by reconnecting historic spawning grounds upstream of Pickerel Lake. ",,2021-09-16,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Andy,Henschel,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","214 West Main Street ","Albert Lea",MN,56007,"(507) 377-5785",andy.henschel@co.freeborn.mn.us,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Freeborn,"Prairie Region","Shell Rock River",http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/shell-rock-river-habitat-restoration-program-phase-v,,,,
10033978,"Shell Rock River Watershed Habitat Restoration Program Phase XII",2024,2198000,"ML 2023, Ch. 40, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(l)","$2,198,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Shell Rock River Watershed District to acquire land in fee and to restore and enhance habitat in the Shell Rock River watershed. A list of proposed acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands - Protected, restored, and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands will be measured by the increase of use days for migrating waterfowl and increased angler success as a result of improved habitat in shallow lakes. The protected, restored and enhanced shallow lakes, wetlands, and streambanks will provide habitat to wildlife and support healthy natural resource conditions for long term benefits. The projects will offer an oasis for migratory waterfowl by re-establishing and connecting MCBS corridors, and flyway habitats. Improved and permanently protected areas will provide a lasting habitat for Minnesota's unique species and provide improved access to public natural resources",,,160000,"Local Match",2198000,,,0.86,"Shell Rock WD","Local/Regional Government","The Shell Rock River Watershed District (SRRWD) is seeking funding for their Habitat Restoration Program to restore, and protect essential prairie upland, wetland, lake and streambank habitat across the watershed. As a result of the projects, key biological functioning parcels will be permanently protected, streambank habitat will be enhanced, and vegetation and feeding sources will be restored for migratory fowl habitat. Projects are critical for the benefit of fish, waterfowl, and wildlife populations, reversing the trend of wetland loss and habitat degradation.","The SRRWD created a phased approach to restore, protect, and enhance degraded habitat conditions by implementing projects on a lake-shed basis. Specifically, Phase XII will contribute to the District's goals by: -Acquire 50 acres of key targeted acquisitions to protect wooded riparian areas, and to establish upland prairie and wetlands -Enhance habitat on 25 acres of lakeshore and streambank sites that are critical for wildlife. -Reestablish vegetation into upland prairie from agricultural use in an important flyway that is crucial to nesting waterfowl, upland game, and other wading bird species. -50 acres of invasive species management. This proposal uses a programmatic approach to achieve protection, restoration, and enhancement of lakes, wetlands, streams and native prairie landscapes. The program includes projects that are prioritized on the significance of the benefits to aquatic habitat, urgency of the work, availability of leveraged funds, location of projects and agreements with relevant planning documents. All projects listed above have landowner support, who are eager to get funding. The SRRWD has a proven track record with the LSOHC and implementing projects that protect, restore and enhance natural resources. The SRRWD continues to receive strong support for these projects from landowners, local governments and sporting organizations. The program will also interconnect and reestablish important flyway habitats within Minnesota. Once completed, the program will establish waterfowl and fish populations, increase habitat for wetland dependent wildlife, and recreate the wildlife mecca in southern Minnesota. Finally, this program will preserve an outdoor legacy for Minnesotans to use and enjoy for generations. Background: The SRRWD covers 246 square miles inside Freeborn County and includes a complex system of wetlands, streams, and shallow lakes that drain into the Shell Rock River. Managing habitat for this complex system is imperative to the SRRWD as well as understanding its role for providing critical habitat for fish, waterfowl and wildlife. Habitat degradation of wetlands, streams, and shallow lakes is an issue of statewide importance that requires accelerated investment in projects to reverse this degradation. Protection and restoration of this critical habitat is the highest priority of the SRRWD and is directly affected by invasive aquatic vegetation, land use changes, increased water demands, populations of invasive fish species, such as common carp, and artificial drainage. Degradation in habitat is influencing available food sources for game fish populations such as, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Yellow Perch and Walleye, and duck populations including Northern Pintail, Redhead, Canvasback and Lesser Scaup.",,2023-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Courtney,Phillips,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","305 S 1st Ave ","Albert Lea",MN,56007,507-379-8782,courtney.phillips@co.freeborn.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Freeborn,"Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/shell-rock-river-watershed-habitat-restoration-program-phase-xii-1,,,,
10035264,"Shell Rock River Watershed Habitat Restoration Program - Phase XIII",2025,2060000,"ML 2024, Ch. 106, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(d)","$2,060,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Shell Rock River Watershed District to acquire land in fee and restore and enhance habitat in the Shell Rock River watershed.","Remnant native prairies are part of large complexes of restored prairies, grasslands, and large and small wetlands - Outcomes will be measured by evaluating the number of waterfowl use-day surveys, pheasant roadside surveys, and angler success. This will be measured against the MN Conservation Plan to track goals",,,100000,"City of Albert Lea",2060000,,,0.86,"Shell Rock SWCD","Local/Regional Government","The Shell Rock River Watershed District (SRRWD) is seeking funding for the Habitat Restoration Program to restore and protect 104 acres of essential prairie upland, wetland and streambank habitat across the watershed. As a result, key biological functioning parcels will be permanently protected, streambank habitat will be enhanced, vegetation and feeding sources will be restored for migratory fowl habitat, and wetlands will be restored from row crop agriculture. These projects are critical for the benefit of fish, waterfowl, and wildlife populations, reversing the trend of wetland loss and habitat degradation in the prairie ecoregion.","The SRRWD created the Habitat Restoration Program to restore, protect, and enhance degraded habitat conditions by implementing projects on a lake-shed basis. Specifically, Phase XIII will contribute to the District's goals by: -Habitat restoration on 20 acres of streambanks to improve floodplain connectivity and over-winter open water conditions, to prevent further sedimentation into the watercourse and to improve public access and benefit BIPOC communities. -Acquire 42 acres from a willing landowner to expand an adjacent WMA. -Wetland enhancement in the Panicum Prairie WMA, an important flyway that is critical to waterfowl, upland game, and wading bird species that is currently dominated by a single species canary grass. -Restore 42 acres of wetland basins, reversing the trend of wetland loss and habitat degradation while improving nesting habitat and waterfowl food sources. This proposal uses a programmatic approach to achieve protection, restoration, and enhancement of lakes, wetlands, streams and native prairie landscapes. The program includes projects that are prioritized on the significance of the benefits to aquatic habitat, urgency of the work, availability of leveraged funds, location of projects and agreements with relevant planning documents. All projects listed above have landowner support, who are eager to get funding. The SRRWD has a proven track record with the LSOHC and implementing projects that protect, restore and enhance natural resources. The SRRWD continues to receive strong support for these projects from landowners, local governments and sporting organizations. The program outcomes will also interconnect and reestablish important flyway habitats within Minnesota. Once completed, the program will increase waterfowl and fish populations, increase habitat for wetland dependent wildlife, and recreate the wildlife mecca in southern Minnesota. Finally, this program will preserve an outdoor legacy for Minnesotans to use and enjoy for generations.",,2024-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Courtney,Phillips,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","305 S 1st Ave ","Albert Lea",MN,56007,507-379-8782,courtney.phillips@co.freeborn.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Freeborn,"Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/shell-rock-river-watershed-habitat-restoration-program-phase-xiii,,,,
10033413,"Shell Rock River Watershed Habitat Restoration Program - Phase XI",2023,1438000,"ML 2022, Ch. 77, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(f)","$1,438,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Shell Rock River Watershed District to acquire land in fee and to restore and enhance habitat in the Shell Rock River watershed. A list of proposed acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands - Protected, restored, and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands will be measured by the increase of use days for migrating waterfowl and increased angler success as a result of improved habitat in shallow lakes. The protected, restored and enhanced shallow lakes, wetlands, and streambanks will provide habitat to wildlife and support healthy natural resource conditions for long term benefits. The projects will offer an oasis for migratory waterfowl by reestablished and connecting MCBS corridors, and flyway habitats. Improved and permanently protected areas will provide a lasting habitat for Minnesota's unique species and provide improved access to public natural resources",,,100000,"Local Option Sales Tax",1438000,,,0.86,"Shell Rock WD","Local/Regional Government","The Shell Rock River Watershed District (SRRWD) is seeking funding for their Habitat Restoration Program to restore, enhance, and protect 302 acres of essential prairie upland, wetland, lake and streambank habitat across the watershed. As a result of the projects, key biological functioning parcels will be permanently protected, streambank habitat will be enhanced, vegetation and feeding sources will be restored for migratory fowl habitat and wetlands will be restored from row crop agriculture. Projects in Phase XI are critical for the benefit of fish, waterfowl, and wildlife populations, reversing the trend of wetland loss and habitat degradation.","In 2014, the SRRWD created a phased approach to restore, protect, and enhance degraded habitat conditions by implementing projects on a lake-shed basis. Specifically, Phase XI will contribute to the District's goals by: -Acquire 62 acres of key targeted acquisitions to protect wooded riparian areas along Church and Eberhart Lake, establish upland prairie, and permanently protect historic oak woodlands. -Enhance 40 acres of wetland basins, reversing wetland loss and habitat degradation while improving nesting habitat and waterfowl food sources. -Reestablish 190 acres of vegetation into upland prairie from agricultural use in an important flyway that is crucial to nesting waterfowl, upland game, and other wading bird species. -Habitat restoration and enhancements on 10 acres of lakeshore and streambank sites that is critical for wildlife. This proposal uses a programmatic approach to achieve protection, restoration, and enhancement of lakes, wetlands, streams and native prairie landscapes. The program includes projects that are prioritized on the significance of the benefits to aquatic habitat, urgency of the work, availability of leveraged funds, location of projects and agreements with relevant planning documents. The SRRWD has a proven track record with the LSOHC and implementing projects that protect, restore and enhance natural resources. The SRRWD continues to receive strong support for these projects from landowners, local governments and sporting organizations. Once completed, the program will establish waterfowl and fish populations, increase habitat for wetland dependent wildlife, will interconnect and reestablish important flyway habitats and recreate the wildlife mecca in southern Minnesota. Finally, this program will preserve an outdoor legacy for Minnesotans to use and enjoy for generations. Background: The SRRWD covers 246 square miles inside Freeborn County and includes a complex system of wetlands, streams, and shallow lakes that drain into the Shell Rock River. Managing habitat for this complex system is imperative to the SRRWD as well as understanding its role for providing critical habitat for fish, waterfowl and wildlife. Habitat degradation of wetlands, streams, and shallow lakes is an issue of statewide importance that requires accelerated investment in projects to reverse this degradation. Protection and restoration of this critical habitat is the highest priority of the SRRWD and is directly affected by invasive aquatic vegetation, land use changes, increased water demands, populations of invasive fish species such as common carp, and artificial drainage. Degradation in habitat influences available food sources for game fish populations that include Northern Pike, Bluegill, Yellow Perch and Walleye, and duck populations including Northern Pintail, Redhead, Canvasback and Lesser Scaup.",,2022-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Courtney,Phillips,"Shell Rock River Watershed District","214 West Main St. ","Albert Lea",MN,56007,507-379-8782,courtney.phillips@co.freeborn.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Freeborn,"Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/shell-rock-river-watershed-habitat-restoration-program-phase-xi,,,,
10004451,"Shoreview Water Consumption and Groundwater Awareness Project",2016,54000,"M.L. 2015, Chp. 76, Sec. 2, Subd. 04i","$54,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the city of Shoreview to provide biweekly water consumption data to at least 400 residential households for a two-year period to determine whether additional groundwater can be conserved with greater awareness of consumption data. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2018, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,,,,,"City of Shoreview","Local/Regional Government",,,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2015/work_plans_may/_2015_04i.pdf,2015-07-01,2018-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Mark,Maloney,"City of Shoreview","4600 Victoria St N",Shoreview,MN,55449,"(651) 490-4651",mmaloney@shoreviewmn.gov,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Ramsey,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/shoreview-water-consumption-and-groundwater-awareness-project-0,,,,
2103,"Springshed Mapping for Trout Stream Management (MN DNR)",2010,250000,"M.L. 2009, Chp. 143, Sec. 2, Subd. 03d2","$500,000 is from the trust fund to continue to identify and delineate supply areas and springsheds for springs serving as coldwater sources for trout streams and to assess the impacts from development and water appropriations. Of this appropriation, $250,000 is to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota and $250,000 is to the commissioner of natural resources.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,,,,,"MN DNR","State Government","Native trout require clean, cold water that usually originates from springs, but the springs feeding the 173 designated trout streams in southeastern Minnesota are under increasing pressure from current and expected changes in land use. This joint effort by the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is working to identify and map the springs and the areas that feed water to these springs and to learn how these waters might be affected by development and water use. Overall Project Outcome and Results Springshed delineation provides critical information for the protection and management of the springs that form the coldwater streams of southeast Minnesota. Our primary tool is fluorescent dye tracing. During the two-year period of Phase II, DNR (in cooperation with the U of M) conducted 26 traces in Fillmore, Houston, Winona and Wabasha counties that mapped over 12,000 acres. The Fillmore County traces were in the Galena Formation. We discovered three previously unmapped springsheds and expanded the boundaries of five known springsheds. The expanded boundary springsheds were in the Watson Creek and South Fork Root watersheds, target areas for the local, state and federal Root River Initiative. The new springsheds are in the Crystal Creek watershed. These traces enhanced MDA watershed research and education efforts. The traces in Houston, Winona and Wabasha were in the St. Lawrence Formation. This work expanded the geographic range of St. Lawrence traces and demonstrated that conduit flow in the St. Lawrence (a confining unit in the state well code) is a regional phenomenon. Four new springsheds were located in the St. Lawrence. Two of the traces in Houston County were run from streams that do not disappear into the St. Lawrence but flow continually across it. Both of those traces were detected at springs and one was detected in a private well. This indicates that St. Lawrence groundwater across southeast Minnesota could be impacted by the surface water quality of streams crossing the formation in shallow conditions. Solinst level-temperature-conductivity loggers were purchased in the second year of the project. The data from them has shown that Prairie du Chien formation springs can be monitored for minor temperature fluctuations. Detecting these fluctuations has allowed us to conclude that the monitored springs are affected by snowmelt runoff. This information will be used for spring assessment protocol development. Project Results Use and Dissemination The project manager has spoken about the project and its results to local, state and federal officials, citizen groups, anglers, local, state and federal agency staff, and met one-on-one with numerous landowners. Project results are part of the base data for Root River Initiative watershed management efforts in the Watson Creek and Rush Pine watersheds. MPCA staff are using the maps as part of their nitrate-TMDL development. MDA staff are using the springshed maps to modify their watershed research in the Crystal Creek watershed. The project was featured on MPR when a reporter accompanied the project manager on a spring snowmelt runoff dye trace near Canton, MN. Two traces were conducted in cooperation with the earth science class at Fillmore Central High School in Harmony. The students assisted with dye input and sampling. ",,"Final Report ",2009-07-01,2011-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,"Jeff ",Green,"MN DNR","2300 Silver Creek Rd NE",Rochester,MN,55906,507-206-2853,jeff.green@state.mn.us,"Analysis/Interpretation, Inventory, Mapping, Monitoring","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Dakota, Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Ramsey, Scott, Wabasha, Washington, Winona",,"Buffalo River",http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/springshed-mapping-trout-stream-management-mn-dnr,,,,
10002297,"State Park Pollinator Habitat Restoration",2018,672000,"M.L. 2017, Chp. 96, Sec. 2, Subd. 08d","$672,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to restore at least 520 acres of monarch butterfly and other native pollinator habitats in at least seven state parks in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan core areas and establish pollinator plantings and interpretive exhibits in at least ten state parks. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2021, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,,,,,"MN DNR","State Government",,,"Work Plan",2017-07-01,2021-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Edward,Quinn,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Rd, Box 39","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5594",edward.quinn@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Blue Earth, Chisago, Clay, Dakota, Douglas, Freeborn, Kandiyohi, Lyon, Rock, Washington, Winona, Yellow Medicine",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/state-park-pollinator-habitat-restoration,,,,
35053,"State Forest Acquisitions Phase III",2017,801600,"ML 2016, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 3(g)","$1,000,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire lands in fee for wildlife habitat purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 7. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"339 acres protected (in fee with state PILT liability) ",,120000,"General Fund ",801600,2900,,0.4,DNR,"State Government","Protected through fee title acquisition 340 acres of priority forestland habitat in the northern and southeast ecological sections of the state.  All parcels have been included in the DNR State Forest system; providing for long-term, ongoing protection and management of lands for the benefit of all Minnesotans. ",,"Working in collaboration with conservation partners, local government units, and ecological and wildlife professionals throughout the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Division of Forestry staff identified strategic opportunities for acquiring priority additions to our State Forest system.  Parcels were selected from area land asset management plans, with priority given to those that improved public access to state lands, consolidated fragmented ownership boundaries, and provided protection of critical forest habitats. In this third phase of the State Forest Acquisition project, we were able to successfully meet all our intended objectives of protecting 340 acres of high quality forested habitat, using only 80% of requested funds.  In total four new State Forest additions were completed, providing a variety of benefits as described in breif below: Watopa 1, Wabasha Co. – Protected 182 acres of high quality upland hardwood forest and vulnerable dry bedrock bluff prairie adjacent to existing state forest lands in the Snake Creek Unit of the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest.  Acquisition of this parcel protects an important tributary critical to maintaining water quality from adjacent agricultural lands before emptying one mile downstream into Snake Creek, a designated trout stream. Savanna 1, Aitkin Co. – Acquired a high priority 80 acre inholding in the Savanna State Forest that had been completely surrounded by existing state lands.  Management boundaries were reduced by almost 8,000 feet, greatly improving our ability to manage these lands cost effectively, preventing future development fragmentation, and enhancing wildlife habitat continuity.  Crooked Creek 1, Houston Co. – Protection of these 37 acres allows for the restoration of 1,400 feet of sensitive shoreline along Crooked Creek trout stream just above where it enters into the Mississippi River.  Land had been heavily grazed pasture, and is being actively restored to native hardwood bottomland forests.  Protection and restoration of this previously degraded site will significantly reduce runoff erosion, improve water quality, and enhance critical riparian and riverine wildlife habitat along an important corridor adjacent to the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.  In addition this acquisition provides better public and management access to adjacent state forest lands, allowing for more hunting, fishing and other recreational opportunities. Steamboat 1, Hubbard Co. - Acquisition of this critical 40 acre inholding in the Paul Bunyan State Forest significantly reduces management boundaries by over 5,000 feet, greatly reducing management costs and fragmentation.  This parcel was being divested by a large forest industry landholder (Potlatch), and was at risk of deforestation due to potential private acquisition and subsequent development to other land uses.  Protection of this tract ensures it will remain permanently forested, improving the overall habitat value of the landscape by providing for large, continuous intact native forest communities. ",,2020-11-02,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Jeff,Busse,"MN DNR - Forestry","500 Lafayette Road ","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5270",jeff.busse@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Houston, Hubbard, Wabasha","Northern Forest, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/state-forest-acquisitions-phase-iii,,,,
10004561,"Surface Water Bacterial Treatment System Pilot Project",2017,500000,"M.L. 2016, Chp. 186, Sec. 2, Subd. 04t","$500,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization to reduce bacteria and nutrient loads to Vadnais Lake, a drinking water supply reservoir, through implementation and evaluation of a subsurface constructed wetland as a best management practice for potential statewide use. The Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization must consider contracting with the University of Minnesota Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot treatment system so that it maximizes benefits and can be replicated elsewhere. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2021, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,,,,,"Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization","Non-Profit Business/Entity",,,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2016/work_plans_may/_2016_04t.pdf,2016-07-01,2021-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Brian,Corcoran,"Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization","800 County Rd E","Vadnais Heights",MN,55127,"(651) 204-6075",brian.corcoran@vlawmo.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Ramsey,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/surface-water-bacterial-treatment-system-pilot-project,,,,
9419,"Tamarack Nature Center Garden House",2010,75000,"M.L 2009 Ch. 172 Art. 3 Sec 2d & M.S. 85.535.","$3970000 the first year and $4900000 the second year are for grants under new Minnesota Statutes section 85.535 to parks and trails recognized as meeting the constitutional requirement of being a park or trail of regional or statewide significance. Grants under this section must be used only for acquisition development restoration and maintenance. Of this amount $500000 the first year and $600000 the second year are for grants for solar energy projects. Up to 2.5 percent of this appropriation may be used for administering the grants.",,,,,,,,,,"Ramsey County",,"to design and install solar PV power equipment at the Garden Center adjacent to the children's garden for interpretive experiences",,,2010-06-11,2011-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Traci,Vibo,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","Saint Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5619",traci.vibo@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Ramsey,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/tamarack-nature-center-garden-house,,,,
10019651,"Targeted RIM Easement & Acquisition to the Parcel Level Pine & Leech Watersheds Phase II",2022,1609000,"ML 2021, First Sp. Session, Ch. 1, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(i )","$1,609,000 the first year is to acquire and restore land in fee and permanent conservation easements of high-quality forest, wetland, and shoreline habitat. Of this amount, $1,065,000 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Crow Wing County Soil and Water Conservation District and $544,000 is to the Board of Water and Soil Resources. Up to $26,000 of the total amount is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of permanent conservation easements must be included as part of the final report. ","Forestlands are protected from development and fragmentation - The outcomes will be measured by: Number of acres protected for easements and acquisitions Miles of Shoreline protected percent of land protected increased in a specific subwatershed correlating to the comprehensive watershed management plans for Leech Lake River and Pine River. https://www.crowwing.us/DocumentCenter/View/17315/Pine-River-One-Watershed-One-Plan-Final-Pan?bidId= pages 144-146 http://cms4.revize.com/revize/casscounty/document_center/esd/waterplan/LLRCWMPFinal_2019-03-11.pdf pages 126-12",,,,,1583100,25900,,0.49,"Crow Wing County SWCD, BWSR","Local/Regional Government","Hubbard, Crow Wing, and Cass County Land Departments and Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) will partner to acquire 300 acres (public access) and place easements on 240 acres of private high-quality forest, wetlands, and shoreline in the Northern Forest Ecological Section. This project is integrating county land management goals and parcel selection into the 75 percent protection watershed goal (Phase 1 Watershed Grant). Development trends pose a serious threat to, wild rice, Golden-winged Warbler, Northern Long-eared Bat, Blanding Turtle, and over 107 unique, rare, endangered, and threated species that live in uplands, lowlands, and mature forest of these counties.","This project will focus on Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) conservation easements and acquisitions adjacent to county land on targeted private forest and wetlands within the Leech Lake River and Pine River Watersheds. These watersheds contain: -1,250 lakes, which covers 354 square miles -88 lakes with High to Highest Outstanding Biological Significance (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources MN DNR) -92 wild rice lakes and over 29 cisco lakes -Property values surrounding these high-quality lakes and streams are worth over 10 billion dollars -262,300 acres of county managed land that is open to the public for hunting and fishing In 2010, Peter Jacobson, MN DNR, published cisco lakes research and prioritized 50 cisco lakes as a high priority to protect. The MN DNR Fisheries identified a strong correlation between lake water quality that sustains fish populations and maintaining 75 percent forest cover in a specific watershed. 2018- 2019, the Leech Lake River and Pine River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plans pinpointed private land easements and acquisitions as a key component to these watersheds thriving. Private land adjacent to county forest land and waterbodies are prime targets for: forest fragmentation, first and second-tier development, damaged aquatic habitat, and an increase in buildings, homes, and roads. In 2019, watershed partners took the protection framework methodology called RAQ (Riparian, Adjacent, Quality) and applied RAQ to the RIM easement program to filter 320,000 acres down to 2,280 acres within the Leech Lake River and Pine River Watersheds. This project will build off the 2020 Lessard Sam's Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC) Grant and will meld the county land prioritization process for acquisition with the RAQ scoring to provide more opportunity for the County and SWCD to reach 75 percent watershed protection goal. County land management plans prioritize parcels to consolidate of county ownership to enhance management, increase wildlife habitat protection, and increase public access for recreational opportunities like hunting and fishing. These parcels have been integrated into the Leech Lake River and Pine River watershed RAQ framework. This project will dovetail County Land Department acquisition of 300 acres with Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) RIM Easements of 240 acres. This project will be successful because of the parcel scoring system used to integrate upland and aquatic habitat protection, a clear set goal for each sub-watershed of 75 percent protection, methodology to track progress, well-trained staff that are excellent at communication with the landowner, and lessons learned from past easement programs. The Pine River and Leech Lake River Watersheds include some of the best lakes and fisheries within the lower 48 States. The Tourism industry of Hubbard, Cass, and Crow Wing Counties generates over $399 million in gross sales per year (Minnesota Explore 2018). Private lands within those watersheds need prioritized protection strategies to ensure that the habitat stays intact and maintain wildlife corridors, gives Minnesotans additional opportunities for fishing and hunting, and protects the local tourism economy and tax base of Leech Lake River and Pine River Watersheds.",,2021-07-01,2025-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Melissa,Barrick,"Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District","322 Laurel St Ste 22 322 Laurel St Ste 22",Brainerd,MN,56401,2188286197,melissa@cwswcd.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Cass, Hubbard","Northern Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/targeted-rim-easement-acquisition-parcel-level-pine-leech-watersheds-phase-ii,,,,
33200,"Thirteen Counties Propagating Native Plants and Restoring Diverse Habitats",2016,495000,"M.L. 2015, Chp. 76, Sec. 2, Subd. 08b","$495,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Martin County Soil and Water Conservation District for a cooperative 13-county effort by Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Faribault, Freeborn, Jackson, Lake, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Waseca, and Watonwan Counties to protect and expand native forest and prairie habitat for species in greatest conservation need in four regions of the state through collection and propagation of local ecotype native plants, habitat restoration efforts, and educational outreach. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2020, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,,,,,"Martin County SWCD","Local/Regional Government",,,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2015/work_plans_may/_2015_08b.pdf,2015-07-01,2020-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Rich,Perrine,"Fox Lake Conservation League, Inc.","923 State St N, Ste 110",Fairmont,MN,56031,"(507) 235-6680",richard.perrine@mn.nacdnet.net,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Faribault, Freeborn, Jackson, Lake, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Waseca, Watonwan",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/thirteen-counties-propagating-native-plants-and-restoring-diverse-habitats,,,,
3280,"Touch-screen kiosks",2012,20369,"M.L. 2011 First Special Session Ch. 6 Art. 3 Sec. 3(a)(1)","Sec. 3. Department of Natural Resources (a)$14262000 the first year and $14603000 the second year are for state parks recreation areas and trails to: (1)Connect people to the outdoors; (2)Acquire land and create opportunities; (3)Maintain existing holdings; and (4)Improve cooperation by coordinating with partners to implement the 25-year long-range parks and trails legacy plan",,,,,,,,,,,,"This project will increase awareness about outdoor recreation opportunities at Minnesota state parks and trails among underrepresented groups by creating handicap-accessible, touch-screen kiosks, with information in multiple languages, and placing the kiosks in high-traffic, family-oriented locations. Between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2013, three of the kiosks were installed at the Minnesota Zoo, Rosedale Center and Midtown Global Market; the other three rotated among 3M, Brookdale Public Library, Shoreview Community Center, Maple Grove Community Center, Hennepin County Government Center and the State Fair. ","The division is working to increase awareness about outdoor recreation opportunities among groups currently underrepresented at state parks and trails (families with young children, people with disabilities, people whose primary language is not English). Instead of waiting for them to come to us for information (by visiting, calling, or going to our website), we are going to them by placing eye-catching kiosks in high-traffic locations that they frequent. In addition to getting information while interacting with the kiosk at each location, kiosk users can enter their email or mailing address and request that additional information--including the Minnesota State Parks and Trails Guide, maps, seasonal program catalogs, fishing regulations, and a wide variety of other DNR publications--be sent to them. That way, if they're in a hurry, they don't have to copy it all down at the kiosk, they can pick up where they left off on their trip-planning when they get home. During FY 2013, the DNR received and fulfilled nearly 300 requests (approximately 10 per week) for publications from kiosk visitors. ",,2012-07-01,2013-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Amy,Barrett,"MNDNR Division of Parks and Trails","500 Lafayette Rd","St Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5582",amy.barrett@state.mn.us,Education/Outreach/Engagement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Hennepin, Ramsey",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/touch-screen-kiosks-0,,,,
10031375,"Turtle Island Skywatchers - Minnesota Research and Data Visualization",2025,200000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 03e","$200,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Native Skywatchers Inc. to engage youth in environmental stewardship by collecting images and acoustic data from turtles and other culturally significant animals and their habitats, evaluating the differences in these soundscapes across landscapes, and sharing the results through scientific storytelling and online platforms.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,3.88,"Native Skywatchers Inc","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Turtle Island Skywatchers - Innovative Research and Data Visualization project works to protect Minnesota water, wildlife, and natural resources while empowering Indigenous youth as leaders and all citizens as researchers.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2026-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,"Annette S.",Lee,"Native Skywatchers Inc","17101 76th Pl. N.","Maple Grove",MN,55311,"(612) 314-9717",nativeskywatchers@gmail.com,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/turtle-island-skywatchers-minnesota-research-and-data-visualization,,,,
10031420,"Unlocking Minnesota Wilderness for Youth",2025,705000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 05i","$705,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with YMCA of the North to engage underserved youth in hands-on environmental education by expanding Unlock It!, a self-guided, interactive, and nature-based scavenger hunt, to open spaces and campuses across the state.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,7.2,"YMCA of the North","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Our goals are to engage 100,000 underserved youth statewide in environmental education, engaging them in the conservation and preservation of Minnesota wilderness through the experiences in the outdoors.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2027-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Beth,Becker,"YMCA of the North","651 Nicollet Mall, STE 500",Minneapolis,MN,55402,"(612) 330-3070",beth.becker@ymcamn.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/unlocking-minnesota-wilderness-youth,,,,
21739,"Updating the National Wetland Inventory for Minnesota ? Phase IV",2014,1000000,"M.L. 2013, Chp. 52, Sec. 2, Subd. 03d","$1,000,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to continue the update and enhancement of wetland inventory maps for Minnesota. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2016, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,1000000,,,16.36,"MN DNR","State Government","Over the past 100 years, about half of Minnesota’s original 22 million acres of wetlands have been drained or filled. Some regions of the State have lost more than 90 percent of their original wetlands. The National Wetland Inventory, a program initiated in the 1970s, is an important tool used at all levels of government and by private industry, non-profit organizations, and private landowners for wetland regulation and management, land management and conservation planning, environmental impact assessment, and natural resource inventories. The data behind the National Wetlands Inventory for Minnesota is now considerably out-of-date and a multi-phase, multi-agency collaborative effort coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is underway to update the data for the whole state. This appropriation is being used to conduct the fourth of six phases of this effort, which involves wetlands maps for portions of Lake, Cook, and St. Louis counties in northeastern Minnesota. A completed wetlands inventory will help improve wetland protection and management.",,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2013/work_plans/2013_03d.pdf,2013-07-01,2016-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Steve,Kloiber,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Rd, Box 25","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5164",steve.kloiber@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Beltrami, Cook, Itasca, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, St. Louis",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/updating-national-wetland-inventory-minnesota-phase-iv,,,,
695,"Updating the Minnesota Wetlands Inventory: Phase 2",2011,1100000,"M.L. 2010, Chp. 362, Sec. 2, Subd. 03b","$1,100,000 is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to continue the update of wetland inventory maps for Minnesota. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2013, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,,,,,DNR,"State Government","PROJECT OVERVIEW The National Wetland Inventory, a program initiated in the 1970s, is an important tool used at all levels of government and by private industry and non-profit organizations for wetland regulation and management, land use and conservation planning, environmental impact assessment, and natural resource inventories. The data behind the National Wetlands Inventory for Minnesota is now considerably out-of-date and a multi-phase, multi-agency collaborative effort coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is underway to update the data for the whole state. This appropriation is being used to conduct the second phase of this effort, which involves updating wetland maps for 13 counties in east-central Minnesota surrounding the greater Twin Cities metropolitan area, evaluating imagery sources and mapping technologies for use in future mapping of agricultural regions of the state, and acquiring additional data needed to update wetland maps for southern Minnesota. OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS Updated wetland maps were created for 13 counties in east-central Minnesota (7,150 square miles), encompassing the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Wetlands in Minnesota were originally mapped by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the early 1980's as part of the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI). Although still widely used for land use planning, wetland permit screening and natural resource management, the original maps have grown increasingly out-of-date due to landscape alterations over the years. The data created for this project marks the first significant update to the NWI in Minnesota. The new maps are much more accurate, capture more detail, and provide more information than the original maps. Besides showing the location, size, and type of each wetland, the updated map data includes information on the wetland's landscape position and hydrologic characteristics, which can be useful in assessing the benefits provided, such as water quality improvement, flood storage, and fish and wildlife habitat. Updating the NWI is a key component of the State's strategy to monitor and assess wetlands in support of efforts to assure healthy wetlands and clean water for Minnesota. The DNR is planning to complete the NWI update for the entire state by 2020. Accomplishments for this project phase also include acquiring high-resolution, spring leaf-off digital aerial imagery for 23,900 square miles of southern Minnesota, acquiring field validation data for southern Minnesota, and developing wetland mapping procedures for the agricultural region of Minnesota. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION Imagery acquired for this project is available to the public through the Minnesota Geospatial Information Office (MnGeo): http://www.mngeo.state.mn.us/chouse/wms/geo_image_server.html. The MnGeo imagery service receives about one million page requests per month for the southern Minnesota imagery. This is the first publicly available leaf-off imagery data for southern Minnesota since 1991. The updated wetland map data are available through an interactive mapping application on the DNR's website at: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/wetlands/map.html. The data can also be downloaded, free of charge, for use in geographic information system applications through the DNR's data deli at: http://deli.dnr.state.mn.us/. The data will eventually be incorporated into the national ""Wetland Mapper"" application maintained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The wetland mapping procedures and accuracy results for the 13-county updated NWI data are presented and discussed in a manuscript that has been submitted to the journal Wetlands, a publication of the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS). Information from this project was also presented at the SWS annual conference in Duluth, MN in 2013. In addition, a press release was distributed regarding the updated NWI data and the story was published on several online news websites. Researchers at the University of Minnesota Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis Laboratory conducted an extensive study of the effects of digital elevation model (DEM) preprocessing and mapping methods on the accuracy of wetlands maps in three different physiographic regions of Minnesota. This research covered two study sites in agricultural areas including the Minnesota River Headwaters (Big Stone County) and Swan Lake (Nicollet County) as well as a comparison site from northern Minnesota (St. Louis and Carlton Counties). The results of this effort were compiled and submitted for publication in several peer-reviewed scientific journals along with results from the earlier phase of the NWI update project. Three hard copies and one electronic copy of these publications have been submitted with the final report to LCCMR. There have also been numerous presentations at professional conferences. Project Publications:Influence of Multi-Source and Multi-Temporal Remotely Sensed and Ancillary Data on the Accuracy of Random Forest Classification of Wetlands in Northern Minnesota (PDF - 2.7 MB)Comparison of Flow Direction Algorithms in the Application of the CTI for Mapping Wetlands in Minnesota (PDF - 15.3 MB)The Effects of Data Selection and Thematic Detail on the Accuracy of High Spatial Resolution Wetland Classifications (PDF - 0.2 MB)A semi-automated, multi-source data fusion update of a wetland inventory for east-central Minnesota, USA (PDF - 1.4 MB)Wetland Mapping in the Upper Midwest United States: An Object-Based Approach Integrating Lidar and Imagery Data (PDF - 1 MB)",,"FINAL REPORT",2010-07-01,2014-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Steve,Kloiber,DNR,"500 Lafayette Rd, Box 25","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5164",steve.kloiber@dnr.state.mn.us,"Analysis/Interpretation, Assessment/Evaluation, Digitization/Online Information Access, Inventory, Mapping","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Cook, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Lake, Ramsey, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, St. Louis, Washington, Wright",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/updating-minnesota-wetlands-inventory-phase-2,,,,
10003512,"Upland and Shoreline Restoration in Greater Metropolitan Area",2015,300000,"M.L. 2014, Chp. 226, Sec. 2, Subd. 06g","$300,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Great River Greening to restore and enhance upland, shoreline, and approximately 150 acres of forests, woodlands, savanna, and prairie and to provide related educational opportunities for volunteers in the greater metropolitan area. A list of proposed restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required work plan. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2017, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,300000,,,4.68,"Great River Greening","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Though many parts of the Twin Cities metropolitan area are urbanized, there are also has large areas of natural lands that continue to serve as important habitat for fish, wildlife, and plant communities. However, pressure on these remaining lands continues to intensify as population and development pressures increase. This appropriation continues the efforts of the Metro Conservation Corridors (MeCC) partnership, an ongoing effort by a partnership of state and non-profit organizations, to conduct strategic and coordinated land conservation activities that build connections between remaining high quality natural areas in the greater Twin Cities metropolitan area and ensures their benefits are available for future generations. Great River Greening is using this appropriation to restore approximately 150 acres of permanently protected forest, woodland, savanna, and prairie habitat while engaging hundreds of volunteers in the stewardship of the metropolitan area's remaining natural areas.",,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2014/work_plans/2014_06f.pdf,2014-07-01,2017-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Wiley,Buck,"Great River Greening","251 Starkey St, Ste 220","St. Paul",MN,55107,"(651) 665-9500",wbuck@greatrivergreening.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Isanti, Ramsey, Sherburne, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/upland-and-shoreline-restoration-greater-metropolitan-area-0,,,,
10004516,"Upland, Wetland, and Shoreline Restoration in Greater Metropolitan Area",2017,509000,"M.L. 2016, Chp. 186, Sec. 2, Subd. 08g","$509,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Great River Greening to restore approximately 150 acres of forest, prairie, woodland, and wetland and 0.15 miles of shoreline throughout the greater Twin Cities metropolitan area, using volunteers, and to conduct restoration evaluation on previously restored parcels. A list of proposed restorations and evaluations must be provided as part of the required work plan. Plant and seed materials must follow the Board of Water and Soil Resources' native vegetation establishment and enhancement guidelines. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2019, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,,,,,"Great River Greening","Non-Profit Business/Entity",,,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2016/work_plans_may/_2016_08g.pdf,2016-07-01,2019-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Wiley,Buck,"Great River Greening","251 Starkey St, Ste 220","St. Paul",MN,55107,"(651) 665-9500",wbuck@greatrivergreening.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/upland-wetland-and-shoreline-restoration-greater-metropolitan-area,,,,
735,"Urban Wilderness Youth Outdoor Education",2011,557000,"M.L. 2010, Chp. 362, Sec. 2, Subd. 08d","$557,000 is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Wilderness Inquiry to provide an outdoor education and recreation program on the Mississippi River. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2013, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,,,,,"Wilderness Inquiry","Non-Profit Business/Entity","PROJECT OVERVIEW There has been a sharp decline in participation in outdoor recreation and education amongst urban youth. Some argue that youth who have meaningful outdoor education experiences are more likely to become engaged in environmental stewardship and invested in outdoor resources as adults. Wilderness Inquiry- in partnership with state and federal agencies, non-profits, and local school districts - will use this appropriation to expand an environmental education and recreation program that provides disadvantaged urban youth and families, some of whom have never even been on a boat, with hands-on educational and recreational experiences of the Mississippi River in 24 foot Voyageur canoes. Funds are enabling the program to serve an additional 23,000 urban youth and families in the Twin Cities metro area. Public school groups have day trips and overnight excursions available to them to augment their classroom learning, while other youth and families have access through community events. OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS The goal of Urban Wilderness Youth Outdoor Education (UWYOE) was to provide accessible, outdoor education and recreation opportunities on the Mississippi River and surrounding watershed for more than 20,000 urban youth over a three-year period. UWYOE was developed in response to the sharp decline in participation in outdoor education and activities such as canoeing, camping, hunting and fishing by urban youth. UWYOE provided experiential environmental learning experiences on the Mississippi River and surrounding watershed for 24,899 Twin Cities middle and high school students, exceeding our initial goal of 20,000. 80% of the youth served identify as a person of color and 80% are eligible for free or reduced lunch. The majority, 76%, had very little or no prior experience with outdoor activities. Environmental education experiences were provided through outdoor workshops on local lakes and rivers, guided day trips on the Mississippi River, and overnight camping trips in local parks. National Park Service Rangers and Wilderness Inquiry guides provided natural and cultural history and science lessons as part of each program activity. We developed, refined and implemented classroom activities, provided three teacher trainings for Minneapolis Public Schools summer school staff, and developed a program website. We also purchased four 24' Voyageur canoes to expand our capacity to serve more youth.A three-year evaluation was conducted by the University of Minnesota's Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI). Major outcomes include:77% of participants reported an increased interest in science and the environment87% of teachers agreed that students learned about environmental issues100% of students said they would like to participate in an outdoor activity like this againThis program has gained national attention as a model for engaging urban youth with the environment and building skills to grow future stewards and managers of our public lands. In the summer of 2012, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Governor Mark Dayton recognized the program as a leader in America's Great Outdoors initiative. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION The Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund's investment in UWYOE has resulted in the establishment of a model program for engaging youth in the outdoors, which we now call Urban Wilderness Canoe Adventures (UWCA). The UWCA has been recognized by the EPA, the Department of Interior, and Gov. Mark Dayton, among others, as a leader in America's Great Outdoors Initiative. Within the National Park Service and National Forest Service, the UWCA is being held up as an example of how these agencies need to engage in urban communities across the country. In 2010, Wilderness Inquiry and the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area unit of the National Park Service piloted the UWCA concept developed in the Twin Cities to Washington DC, with support from the National Park Service, US Forest Service, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and several DC based nonprofit organizations. Serving 1,000 DC area school kids on the Anacostia River, this effort helping bring together 20 DC area organizations focused on though and/or the Anacostia River. To build on this success, we launched the ""Canoemobile"" to introduce youth to urban waters in multiple cities, and to help build local coalitions dedicated to providing outdoor opportunities to disadvantaged youth. In 2013, the Canoemobile will serve youth in Milwaukee, Michigan City, Chicago, Louisville, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington DC. Nature Valley has signed on as a sponsor of the Canoemobile. We held two outcomes briefings (one in 2011 and one in 2013) to present the University of Minnesota's Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) evaluation results. The first was hosted by the Minneapolis Foundation and the second by Mayor Chris Coleman and the Saint Paul Foundation. Each had more than 35 community leaders, funders, and educators present. Information about the project has also been disseminated through the project website. The UWCA has received coverage on Kare 11 News, the Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, and Mpls/St. Paul Magazine.",,"FINAL REPORT",2010-07-01,2013-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Greg,Lais,"Wilderness Inquiry","808 14th Avenue SE",Minneapolis,MN,55414,"(612) 676-9409",greglais@wildernessinquiry.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Benton, Carver, Chisago, Crow Wing, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, McLeod, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Washington, Wright",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/urban-wilderness-youth-outdoor-education,,,,
10004483,"Using Hydroacoustics to Monitor Sediment in Minnesota Rivers",2016,455000,"M.L. 2015, Chp. 76, Sec. 2, Subd. 04g","$455,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the United States Geological Survey to install hydroacoustic equipment on the lower Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers to improve measurement and monitoring accuracy for suspended sediment and enhance ongoing sediment reduction efforts by state, federal, and local agencies. This appropriation is not subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2019, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,,,,,"U.S. Geological Survey","Federal Government",,,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2015/work_plans_may/_2015_04g.pdf,2015-07-01,2019-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Jeffrey,Ziegeweid,"US Geological Survey","2280 Woodale Dr","Mounds View",MN,55112,"(763) 783-3113",jrziege@usgs.gov,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Blue Earth, Carver, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Le Sueur, Nicollet, Ramsey, Scott, Sibley, Wabasha, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/using-hydroacoustics-monitor-sediment-minnesota-rivers-0,,,,
2155,"Vulnerability of Fish Populations in Lakes to Endocrine Disrupting Contaminants",2010,297000,"M.L. 2009, Chp. 143, Sec. 2, Subd. 05b","$297,000 is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the United States Geologic Survey and St. Cloud State University to develop quantitative data on juvenile and adult fish vulnerability to endocrine-active emerging contaminants found in Minnesota lakes. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2012, at which time the project must be completed and final products delivered, unless an earlier date is specified in the work program.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,33000,,,,,,USGS,"State Government","Endocrine disrupting contaminants are chemicals that may interfere with natural hormones in humans and wildlife and produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects. These chemicals occur in a variety of everyday products, including pharmaceuticals, plastics, detergents, flame retardants, cosmetics, and pesticides. As these chemicals get discharged into the environment, humans and wildlife are exposed. The U.S. Geological Survey and St. Cloud State University are using this appropriation to study the occurrence of these chemicals in Minnesota's lakes and the degree to which they pose a threat to fish, such as affecting their ability to develop and reproduce. Overall Project Outcome and Results Effects of endocrine active compound (EAC) exposure to fish have been assessed predominantly at the molecular to organismal level, leaving questions regarding implications for population sustainability. One EAC, 17 beta-estradiol (E2), is frequently detected in aquatic environments because it is a hormone produced by vertebrates. This study assessed developmental and reproductive effects of E2 exposure on fathead minnows and bluegill sunfish. Continuous, six week exposures were conducted in outdoor tanks to simulate natural lake environments. First generation (F0) fathead minnows and bluegill sunfish were exposed during sexual maturity. Second generation (F1) fathead minnows were exposed during early development, sexual maturity, or both stages. Multiple biomarkers were measured to assess the effects of E2 exposure on fecundity, fish health, and development. Differences in the timing of egg production for both species indicate differences in lifetime fecundity between unexposed and exposed females. Exposure to E2 resulted in lower relative health and reduced expression masculine secondary sexual characteristic expression in F0 fathead minnows. Similar results were not observed in F1 fathead minnows. First generation bluegill sunfish males exposed to E2 had significantly smaller testes compared to controls. Supplemental, laboratory exposures were conducted on a separate fathead minnows cohort to assess reproduction and larval ability to escape a predator threat. Predation tests suggest E2 exposure of the current generation has the greatest effect on larval survival. Larval fathead minnows exposure to E2 in the F2 generation had longer escape responses and lower survival rates when compared to controls. Females exposed to E2 tended to lag behind controls in terms of larvae production after an initial period of similar activity. Results from this study suggest that exposure to E2 (in the absence of other estrogenic compounds) at environmentally relevant concentrations has subtle reproductive and developmental effects on fathead minnows and bluegill sunfish and implications for long-term survival in a predator-rich environment. Project Results Use and Dissemination Results from this study feed into an ongoing study assessing septic system discharge to lakes and effects on bluegill fitness (Assessing Septic System Discharge to Lakes, funded by Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund in 2010). A manuscript was submitted to the Journal of the American Water Resources Association for inclusion in a special issue on contaminants of emerging concern (originally submitted in February 2013, revised copy submitted in July 2013). A copy of the revised manuscript is included as an attachment to this final report. Results from portions of this study have been included in two graduate student theses at St. Cloud State University under the supervision of Co-PI, Heiko Schoenfuss. Results have been presented at the following scientific conferences: March 2012 - Midwest Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (Minneapolis, MN) June 2012 - American Water Resources Association specialty conference on contaminants of emerging concern (Denver, CO) October 2012 - Minnesota Water Resources Conference (Minneapolis, MN) This study was discussed in conjunction with similar work in a MPR story that aired on February 20, 2013. Project Publications: Fathead Minnow and Bluegill Sunfish Life-Stage Responses to 17 Beta-Estradiol Exposure in Outdoor Mesocosms (PDF - .2 MB) Master's Thesis: Effect Differences of Estrogenic Exposure Between an Endangered Species and Two Model Species and Across Life Stages (PDF - 2.1 MB) ",,"FINAL REPORT ",2009-07-01,2013-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Richard,Kiesling,"U.S. Geological Survey","2280 Woodale Dr","Mounds View",MN,55112,763-783-3131,kiesling@usgs.gov,"Analysis/Interpretation, Assessment/Evaluation, Monitoring, Research","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Ramsey,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/vulnerability-fish-populations-lakes-endocrine-disrupting-contaminants,,,,
9433,"Wayfinding Kiosks Solar Lighting Project",2010,21000,"M.L 2009 Ch. 172 Art. 3 Sec 2d & M.S. 85.535.","$3970000 the first year and $4900000 the second year are for grants under new Minnesota Statutes section 85.535 to parks and trails recognized as meeting the constitutional requirement of being a park or trail of regional or statewide significance. Grants under this section must be used only for acquisition development restoration and maintenance. Of this amount $500000 the first year and $600000 the second year are for grants for solar energy projects. Up to 2.5 percent of this appropriation may be used for administering the grants.",,,,,,,,,,"City Of Saint Paul",,"to install a PV lighting system, PV panels, battery, and timing system for four St. Paul Grand Round Trail Kiosks",,,2010-07-08,2013-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Traci,Vibo,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","Saint Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5619",traci.vibo@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Ramsey,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/wayfinding-kiosks-solar-lighting-project,,,,
10011426,"Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration Program - Phase 4",2020,2129000,"ML 2019, 1st Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd, 4(c)","$2,129,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to acquire permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance prairie, wetland, and other habitat on permanently protected conservation easements in high-priority wetland habitat complexes in the prairie and forest/prairie transition regions. Of this amount, up to $240,000 is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed conservation easement acquisitions and restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - This program will permanently protect 400 acres of wetland and upland habitat complexes and restore/enhance 707 acres of wetlands and prairies in the forest-prairie transition region. Measure: Acres protected; acres restored; acres enhanced..Remnant native prairies and wetlands are perpetually protected and adequately buffered - This program will permanently protect 400 acres of wetland and upland habitat complexes and restore/enhance 271 acres of wetlands and prairies in the prairie region. Measure: Acres protected; acres restored; acres enhanced..",,,296800,"Landowner donation of easement value, USFWS Personnel",2079000,50000,,0.68,MLT,"Non-Profit Business/Entity","Phase 4 of the Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration Program will result in the protection of 800 acres of high priority wetland habitat complexes in Minnesota’s Prairie and Forest-Prairie Transition areas by securing permanent conservation easements within scientifically prioritized habitat complexes. The Minnesota Land Trust will use its innovative landowner bid model to maximize conservation benefit and financial leverage in protection project selection. In addition, a partnership between the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Land Trust will restore/enhance 978 acres of wetlands and associated prairies to benefit important waterfowl and SGCN populations.","Wetlands and shallow lakes provide the essential backbone for the survival of waterfowl and other important wildlife species. In fact, more than 50% of Minnesota’s Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) use wetlands during their life cycle. Most of the plansdeveloped to protect Minnesota’s wildlife—including Minnesota’s Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, the Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan, and the Long Range Duck Recovery Plan—cite the protection and restoration of the state’sremaining wetlands as one of the top priorities to achieve the State’s conservation goals. Moreover, these plans cite the use of conservation easements on private lands as one of the primary strategies to protect important wetland and shallow lake habitat.Minnesota Land Trust’s Wetlands Habitat Protection Program area extends from Meeker northwest to Becker County, located along a vast glacial moraine system at the edge of the of western Minnesota. This prairie pothole country is the core of Minnesota’s “duckfactory” and is central to one of North America’s most important flyways for migratory waterfowl. Through Phases 1 and 2 of this program, the Land Trust has procured 17 conservation easements protecting nearly 2,500 acres of habitat and 75,100 feet of shoreline, with more on the way.Phase 4 will build on these accomplishments by broadening the Program’s focus to include – along with wetland protection – habitat restoration and enhancement. In a partnership between the Land Trust and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, this proposal will restore/enhance 978 acres of important prairie and wetland habitat on private lands already protected within the Program area. In addition, the Land Trust will protect 800 acres of new priority wetland and associated upland habitat through conservation easements. The Program will be closely coordinated with other public agencies, non-profit organizations and other stakeholders to ensure this Program meets multi-agency conservation goals.The Land Trust will continue to implement a criteria-based ranking system and market approach for purchasing conservation easements. The Program will continue to target projects that help complete gaps in existing public ownership, are of the highest ecological value, and provide the greatest leverage to the state. The Land Trust will seek donated easements in these areas whenever possible but also may purchase easements that help complete key complexes as necessary.To focus our easement protection work, we used the Prairie Plan and other data sets and plans to shape our Wetlands Program plan and identify important wetland complexes in this landscape based on the intersection of high-quality habitat, existing protected areas and restorable agricultural lands. These complexes include a mosaic of wetland, prairie/grassland, and forest habitats, as well as agricultural land. Outcomes from this project include: 1) healthy wetland habitat complexes and associated populations of waterfowl, upland birds, and SGCN; 2) improved water quality; 3) increased participation of private landowners in habitat conservation projects; and 4) enhancement of prior public investment in wetland and upland habitat.",,2019-07-01,,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Wayne,Ostlie,"Minnesota Land Trust","2356 University Avenue W Suite 240","St. Paul",MN,55114,"(651) 917-6292",wostlie@mnland.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Clay, Otter Tail, Pope","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/wetland-habitat-protection-and-restoration-program-phase-4,,,,
10019652,"Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration Program - Phase 6",2022,3088000,"ML 2021, First Sp. Session, Ch. 1, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 4(d)","$3,088,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to acquire permanent conservation easements and restore and enhance prairie, wetland, and other habitat on permanently protected conservation easements in high-priority wetland habitat complexes in the prairie and forest/prairie transition regions. Of this amount, up to $288,000 is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund, as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed conservation easement acquisitions and restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - This program will permanently protect 606 acres of wetland and upland habitat complexes and restore/enhance 300 acres of wetlands and prairies in the forest-prairie transition region. Measure: Acres protected; acres restored; acres enhanced. Remnant native prairies and wetlands are perpetually protected and adequately buffered - This program will permanently protect 607 acres of wetland and upland habitat complexes and restore/enhance 560 acres of wetlands and prairies in the prairie region. Measure: Acres protected; acres restored; acres enhanced",,,384900,"Landowner donation of easement value and USFWS",3017300,70700,,0.66,MLT,"Non-Profit Business/Entity","Phase 6 of the Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration Program will result in the protection of 1,213 acres of high priority wetland habitat complexes in Minnesota's Prairie and Forest-Prairie Transition areas by securing permanent conservation easements within scientifically prioritized habitat complexes. The Minnesota Land Trust will use its innovative market-based landowner bid model to maximize conservation benefit and financial leverage in protection project selection. In addition, a partnership between the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Land Trust will restore/enhance 870 acres of wetlands and associated prairies to benefit important waterfowl and SGCN populations. ","Wetlands and shallow lakes provide the essential backbone for the survival of waterfowl and other important wildlife species. In fact, more than 50% of Minnesota's Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) use wetlands during their life cycle. Most of the plans developed to protect Minnesota's wildlife including Minnesota's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, the Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan, and the Long Range Duck Recovery Plan cite the protection and restoration of the state's remaining wetlands as one of the top priorities to achieve the State's conservation goals. Moreover, these plans cite the use of conservation easements on private lands as one of the primary strategies to protect important wetland and shallow lake habitat. Minnesota Land Trust's Wetlands Habitat Protection Program area extends from Meeker County northwest to Becker County, located along a vast glacial moraine system in western Minnesota. This prairie pothole country is the core of Minnesota's duck factory and is central to one of North America's most important flyways for migratory waterfowl. Through Phase 5 of this program, the Land Trust has procured 25 conservation easements protecting 3,296 acres of habitat and 37.5 miles of shoreline. The Program has 1,650 acres of restoration/enhancement underway. Phase 6 will continue these accomplishments by restoring or enhancing 870 acres of important prairie and wetland habitats on private lands already protected within the Program area in partnership with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program. The Land Trust will also work with FWS and landowners to develop additional shovel ready R/E projects. In addition, the Land Trust will protect 1,213 acres of new priority wetland and associated upland habitat through conservation easements. The Program will be closely coordinated with other public agencies, non-profit organizations and other stakeholders to ensure this Program meets multi-agency conservation goals. The Land Trust will continue to implement a criteria-based ranking system and market-based approach for purchasing conservation easements. The Program will continue to target projects that help complete gaps in existing public ownership, are of the highest ecological value, and provide the greatest leverage to the state. The Land Trust will seek donated easements in these areas whenever possible but also may purchase the full or partial value of an easement to complete key complexes as necessary. To focus our easement protection work, we used the Prairie Plan and other data sets and plans to shape our Wetlands Program plan and identify important wetland complexes in this landscape based on the nexus of high-quality habitat, existing protected areas and restorable agricultural lands. These complexes include a mosaic of wetland, prairie/grassland, and forest habitats, as well as agricultural land. Outcomes from this project include: 1) healthy wetland habitat complexes and associated populations of waterfowl, upland birds, and SGCN; 2) improved water quality; 3) increased participation of private landowners in habitat conservation projects; and 4) enhancement of prior public investments in wetland and upland habitat projects. ",,2021-07-01,2025-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Wayne,Ostlie,"Minnesota Land Trust","2356 University Avenue W Suite 240","St. Paul",MN,55114,"(651) 917-6292",wostlie@mnland.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Douglas, Kandiyohi, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Wilkin","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/wetland-habitat-protection-and-restoration-program-phase-6,,,,
20715,"Wetland Habitat Protection Program",2014,1980000,"ML 2013, Ch. 137, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(e)","$1,980,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Minnesota Land Trust to acquire permanent conservation easements in high-priority wetland complexes in the prairie and forest/prairie transition regions. Up to $280,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund, as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be included as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Protected in easement 1,962 acres ",,1209700,"Donated easement value",1965700,,,1,"MN Land Trust","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Fourteen conservation easements were completed by this program resulting in the protection of 1,962 acres of high quality wetland and associated upland habitat complexes and 78,596 feet (approximately 15 miles) of shoreland along priority lakes and rivers in west-central Minnesota. This program exceeded by 862 acres the amount proposed for the grant. Total leverage through donated easements by landowners is estimated at $1,209,700, all in excess of that proposed.",,"Of all of Minnesota’s wildlife habitat types, wetlands and shallow lakes provide the essential backbone for the survival of waterfowl and other important wildlife species. In fact, more than 50% of the amphibians and birds listed in Minnesota’s Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy as species in greatest conservation need (SGCN) use wetlands during their life cycle.  Most of the plans developed to protect Minnesota’s wildlife—including Minnesota’s Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, the Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan, Minnesota Prairie Plan and the Long Range Duck Recovery Plan—cite the protection and restoration the state’s remaining wetlands as one of the top priorities to achieve the State’s conservation goals.  Moreover, these plans cite the use of conservation easements on private lands as one of the primary strategies to protect important wetland and shallow lake habitat. In this first phase of its Wetland Habitat Protection Program, the Land Trust concentrated its activities toward protecting through conservation easements the important wetland and associated upland habitats within its Edge of the Prairie Critical Landscape. This landscape, which extends from Meeker County northwest to Becker County, is located at the edge of the once vast prairies of western Minnesota as they transition to the woods and forests that dominate the eastern portion of the State.  The prairie pothole lakes and associated wetlands within this landscape form the backbone of one of the continent’s most important flyways for migratory waterfowl. Through this grant, the Land Trust protected 1,962 acres of high priority wetland and associated upland habitats and nearly 15 miles of shoreland along lakes, streams and rivers by acquiring conservation easements from willing landowners. This exceeded the proposed target output by 862 acres. The program targeted projects that helped fill gaps in existing public ownership, contained the highest-quality habitat, and provided the greatest leverage to the state. The Land Trust accepted three fully donated easements, negotiated bargain sale purchases for an additional ten easements, and purchased one at full appraised value. Total leverage from donated value of the easements is placed at $1,209,705, all in excess of that proposed. This value was substantiated in all fourteen easements through appraisals. The success of the program in producing high levels of donated value was due in part to both the high levels of interest among landowners in participating in the program, and the use of a novel ranking system and market-based approach for purchasing conservation easements. This market-based approach was developed through the Land Trust's work with St. John’s University in the Avon Hills.  Under this system, potential parcels for easement purchase were prioritized based on their value to wetland protection, proximity to other protected parcels, MCBS data and other appropriate criteria while allowing targeted landowners to select the price necessary for them to protect their property with an easement. Those properties with the best ratio of environmental benefits to easement cost became the highest priority for acquisition.  Through this grant, the Land Trust has significantly built on its past 15 years of conservation impact in protecting important wetland complexes in this landscape. This work continues through Phase 2 of this program, with funding from the Outdoor Heritage Fund to continue our work in building on the successes of this initial phase, and to secure an additional 750 acres of wetland habitat in west-central Minnesota. ",2013-07-01,2017-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Wayne,Ostlie,"Minnesota Land Trust","2356 University Ave. W. Suite 240","St. Paul",MN,55114,651-917-6292,wostlie@mnland.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Douglas, Meeker, Otter Tail, Pope, Todd","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/wetland-habitat-protection-program,,,,
10033981,"Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration Program - Phase 8",2024,3012000,"ML 2023, Ch. 40, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 4(c)","$3,012,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to acquire permanent conservation easements and restore and enhance prairie, wetland, and other habitat on permanently protected conservation easements in high-priority wetland habitat complexes in the prairie, forest/prairie transition, and forest regions. Of this amount, up to $168,000 is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed conservation easement acquisitions and restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","Forestlands are protected from development and fragmentation - This program will permanently protect 50 acres of wetland and upland habitat complexes in the northern forest region. Measure: Acres protected; acres restored; acres enhanced. Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - This program will permanently protect 348 acres of wetland and upland habitat complexes and restore/enhance 315 acres of wetlands and prairies in the forest-prairie transition region. Measure: Acres protected; acres restored; acres enhanced. Remnant native prairies and wetlands are perpetually protected and adequately buffered - This program will permanently protect 372 acres of wetland and upland habitat complexes and restore/enhance 630 acres of wetlands and prairies in the prairie region. Measure: Acres protected; acres restored; acres enhanced",,,254000,"Landowners and USFWS",2898000,114000,,1.05,MLT,"Non-Profit Business/Entity","Phase 8 of the Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration Program will result in the protection of 745 acres of high priority wetland habitat complexes in Minnesota's Prairie, Forest-Prairie Transition and Northern Forest areas by securing permanent conservation easements within scientifically prioritized habitat complexes. The Minnesota Land Trust will use its innovative market-based landowner bid model to maximize conservation benefit and financial leverage in protection project selection. In addition, a partnership between the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Land Trust will restore/enhance 910 acres of wetlands and associated prairies to benefit important waterfowl and SGCN populations.","Wetlands and shallow lakes provide the essential backbone for the survival of waterfowl and other important wildlife species. In fact, more than 50% of Minnesota's Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) use wetlands during their life cycle. Most of the plans developed to protect Minnesota's wildlife - including Minnesota's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, the Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan, and the Long Range Duck Recovery Plan - cite the protection and restoration of the state's remaining wetlands as one of the top priorities to achieve the State's conservation goals. Moreover, these plans cite the use of conservation easements on private lands as one of the primary strategies to protect important wetland and shallow lake habitat. Minnesota Land Trust's Wetlands Habitat Protection Program area extends from Meeker County northwest to Becker County, located along a vast glacial moraine system in western Minnesota. This prairie pothole country is the core of Minnesota's ""duck factory"" and is central to one of North America's most important flyways for migratory waterfowl. Through Phase 6 of this program to date, the Land Trust has procured 31 conservation easements protecting 4,119 acres of habitat and 50.5 miles of shoreline. The Program has 2,131 acres of restoration/enhancement complete or underway. Phase 8 will continue these accomplishments by restoring or enhancing 910 acres of important prairie and wetland habitats on permanently protected private lands within the Program area in partnership with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program. The Land Trust will also work with FWS and landowners to develop additional shovel ready R/E projects. In addition, the Land Trust will protect 770 acres of new priority wetland and associated upland habitat through conservation easements. The Program will be closely coordinated with other public agencies, non-profit organizations and other stakeholders to ensure this Program meets multi-agency conservation goals. The Land Trust will continue to implement a criteria-based ranking system and market-based approach for purchasing conservation easements. The Program will continue to target projects that help complete gaps in existing public ownership, are of the highest ecological value, and provide the greatest leverage to the state. The Land Trust will seek donated easements in these areas whenever possible but also may purchase the full or partial value of an easement to complete key complexes as necessary. To focus our easement protection work, the Prairie Plan and other data sets/plans were used to shape our Wetlands Program plan and identify important wetland complexes in this landscape based on the nexus of high-quality habitat, existing protected areas and restorable agricultural lands. These complexes include a mosaic of wetland, prairie/grassland, and forest habitats, and agricultural land. Outcomes from this project include: 1) healthy wetland habitat complexes and associated populations of waterfowl, upland birds, and SGCN; 2) improved water quality; 3) increased participation of private landowners in habitat conservation projects; and 4) enhancement of prior public investments in wetland and upland habitat",,2023-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Wayne,Ostlie,"Minnesota Land Trust","2356 University Avenue W Suite 240","St. Paul",MN,55114,651-917-6292,wostlie@mnland.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Clearwater, Douglas, Kandiyohi, Otter Tail, Swift, Todd, Wadena","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Northern Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/wetland-habitat-protection-and-restoration-program-phase-8-1,,,,
10035269,"Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration Program - Phase 9",2025,2128000,"ML 2024, Ch. 106, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(g)","$2,128,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to restore and enhance prairie, wetland, and other habitat on permanently protected conservation easements in high-priority wetland habitat complexes within the prairie, forest/prairie transition, and forest ecoregions.","Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - This program will restore/enhance 407 acres of wetlands and prairies in the forest-prairie transition region. Measure: Acres acres restored; acres enhanced. Remnant native prairies and wetlands are perpetually protected and adequately buffered - This program will restore/enhance 576 acres of wetlands and prairies in the prairie region. Measure: Acres acres restored; acres enhanced",,,1050500,USFWS,1993000,135000,,1.35,MLT,"Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration Program implements conservation of high priority wetland habitat complexes within Minnesota's Prairie, Forest-Prairie Transition and Northern Forest areas. Phase 9 of the Wetlands Program will focus on restoration and enhancement of 983 acres of high priority wetlands and associated prairies to benefit important waterfowl and SGCN populations. Restoration and enhancement work will be managed by the Minnesota Land Trust, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. All restorations are on private lands permanently protected through conservation easements held by the USFWS and the Land Trust.","Wetlands and shallow lakes provide the essential backbone for the survival of waterfowl and other important wildlife species. In fact, more than 50% of Minnesota's Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) use wetlands during their life cycle. Most of the plans developed to protect Minnesota's wildlife - including Minnesota's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, the Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan, and the Long Range Duck Recovery Plan - cite the protection and restoration of the state's remaining wetlands as one of the top priorities to achieve the State's conservation goals. Minnesota Land Trust's Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration Program area extends from Meeker County northwest to Becker County, located along a vast glacial moraine system in western Minnesota. This prairie pothole country is the core of Minnesota's ""duck factory"" and is central to one of North America's most important flyways for migratory waterfowl. To date, the Land Trust has procured 39 conservation easements protecting 5,785 acres of habitat and 57.5 miles of shoreline, and has 4,350 acres of restoration/enhancement complete or underway. Phase 9 will add to these accomplishments by restoring or enhancing 983 acres of important prairie and wetland habitats on permanently protected private lands in partnership with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program. The Land Trust and USFWS will also work with landowners to develop additional shovel ready R/E projects. The Land Trust will continue to implement our criteria-based ranking system and market-based approach for purchasing conservation easements. However, unlike all previous phases, the Land Trust is not requesting easement acquisition funding in this Phase in order to continue to fulfill Accomplishment Plan Outputs for previous phases recommended by LSOHC. The Prairie Plan and other data sets/plans were used to focus and shape our Wetlands Program plan and identify important wetland complexes in this landscape based on the nexus of high-quality habitat, existing protected areas and restorable agricultural lands. These complexes include a mosaic of wetland, prairie/grassland, and forest habitats, and agricultural land. Outcomes from this project include: 1) healthy wetland habitat complexes and associated populations of waterfowl, upland birds, and SGCN; 2) improved water quality; 3) increased participation of private landowners in habitat conservation projects; and 4) enhancement of prior public investments in wetland and upland habitat conservation.",,2024-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund","In Progress",,,Wayne,Ostlie,"Minnesota Land Trust","2356 University Avenue W Suite 240","St. Paul",MN,55114,651-917-6292,wostlie@mnland.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Douglas, Grant, Kandiyohi, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Swift, Todd","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region, Northern Forest",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/wetland-habitat-protection-and-restoration-program-phase-9,,,,
10006508,"Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration Program - Phase 3",2019,1786000,"ML 2018, Ch. 208, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 4(d)","$1,786,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to acquire permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance prairie, wetland, and other habitat in high-priority wetland habitat complexes in the prairie and forest/prairie transition regions. Of this amount, up to $240,000 is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed conservation easement acquisitions and restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"This program addresses LSOHC priorities by protecting and restoring shallow lakes, wetland/grassland complexes, and shoreland that provide critical habitat for Minnesota's wildlife, especially its migratory waterfowl and associated species. Wetlands are essential to the health and diversity of Minnesota's wildlife. This project directly benefited numerous SGCN and other important game/non-game species by minimizing the potential threats to their habitat caused by detrimental agricultural practices, residential or commercial development, or imprudent land management. Wetland habitat complexes were targeted for protection through a ranking system that prioritized projects based on three primary ecological factors: 1) quality of habitat; 2) proximity to other protected lands; and 3) size of the parcel. Five properties totaling 666 acres were protected through conservation easement under this grant, including: Pelican Lake (Pelican River Land Company) - A 165-acre property in Otter Tail County protecting maple-basswood forest, wetlands, and 11,404 feet of shoreline along Fish Lake. The easement was fully donated by the landowner. Minnesota Woman (Peterson) - A 314-acre project in Otter Tail County protecting grasslands, deciduous forest, wetlands, and 19,151 feet of shoreline along the Pelican River and two unnamed lakes. Lake Christina (Johnson) - A 40-acre property in Grant County protecting 39 acres of forest, wetlands, and 2,893 of shoreline along Pelican Lake, a sister lake to Lake Christina, the renowned historic canvasback stopover. The property is within the Lake Crhistina Prairie Core Area of the MN Prairie Plan. Pomme de Terre (Evavold) - A 73-acre property protecting rolling, forested hills, grassland, open water, and 6,699 feet of shoreline along two unnamed lakes. The property is within the Alexandria Moraine-Lake Christina Hills Corridor of the MN Prairie Plan. Rocky Mountain Lake (Rocky Mountain Sportsmen) - A 75-acre project protecting deciduous forest and 9,796 feet of shoreline along Rocky Mountain and Skanning lakes in Pope and Kandiyohi counties. The property lies within the Glacial Lake Prairie Core Area of the MN Prairie Plan. Fourteen properties totaling 954 acres of wetlands/prairie were restored or enhanced under this grant, 13 on USFWS easements and 1 on an MLT easement.","A total of 1,620 acres were affected: 493 Restored, 0 in Fee Title, 666 in Easements, 461 in Enhance.",10398200,"Private landowner donation of easement value, USFWS R/E cash match and USFWS Staff In Kind",1724700,59900,,0.54,"Minnesota Land Trust","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Through its Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration Program - Phase 3 grant, the Minnesota Land Trust protected 666 acres and restored/ enhanced 954 acres of high priority wetland habitat complexes in Minnesota's Prairie and Forest-Prairie Transition areas by securing permanent conservation easements within scientifically prioritized habitat complexes and working with partners in restoration/enhancement. The Land Trust used its market-based landowner bid model to maximize both conservation benefit and financial leverage in conservation easement project selection; over the duration of the grant, landowners donated over $10,300,000 in easement value to the program (4,619% of that proposed).","Wetlands and shallow lakes provide the essential backbone for the survival of waterfowl and other important wildlife species. In fact, more than 50% of Minnesota's Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) use wetlands during their life cycle. Most of the plans developed to protect Minnesota's wildlife - including Minnesota's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, the Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan, and the Long Range Duck Recovery Plan - cite the protection and restoration of the state's remaining wetlands as one of the top priorities to achieve the State's conservation goals. Moreover, these plans cite the use of conservation easements on private lands as one of the primary strategies to protect important wetland and shallow lake habitat. Minnesota Land Trust's Wetlands Habitat Protection Program area extends from Meeker northwest to Becker County, located along a vast glacial moraine system at the edge of the of western Minnesota. This prairie pothole country is the core of Minnesota's ""duck factory"" and is central to one of North America's most important flyways for migratory waterfowl. Through Phases 1 and 2 of this program, the Land Trust procured 10 conservation easements protecting nearly 1,800 acres of habitat and 70,000 feet of shoreline. Phase 3 will build on these accomplishments by broadening the Program's focus to include - along with wetland protection - habitat restoration and enhancement. Through a partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, the Land Trust restored/enhanced 954 acres of important prairie and wetland habitat on private lands already protected within the Program area. In addition, the Land Trust protect 666 acres of new priority wetland and associated upland habitat through conservation easements. The Program was closely coordinated with other public agencies, non-profit organizations and other stakeholders to ensure this Program meets multi-agency conservation goals. The Land Trust implemented a criteria-based ranking system and market approach for purchasing conservation easements. The Program targeted projects that helped complete gaps in existing public ownership, were of the highest ecological value, and provided the greatest leverage to the state. The Land Trust sought donated easements in these areas whenever possible but also purchased easements that help complete key complexes. To focus our easement protection work, we used the Minnesota Prairie Plan and other data sets/plans to shape our Wetlands Program plan and identify important wetland complexes based on the intersection of high-quality habitat, existing protected areas, and restorable agricultural lands. These complexes included a mosaic of wetland, prairie/grassland, and forest habitats, and at times agricultural land. Outcomes from this project included: 1) healthy wetland habitat complexes and associated populations of waterfowl, upland birds, and SGCN; 2) improved water quality; 3) increased participation of private landowners in habitat conservation projects; and 4) enhancement of prior public investment in wetland and upland habitat protection.",,2018-07-01,1970-01-01,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Wayne,Ostlie,"Minnesota Land Trust","2356 University Avenue W Suite 240","St. Paul",MN,55114,651-917-6292,wostlie@mnland.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/wetland-habitat-protection-and-restoration-program-phase-3,,,,
37243,"White Bear Lake Augmentation",2017,150000,"M.L. 2016 Chp. 172 Art 2 Sec. 12(a)","(a) $150000 in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the clean water fund to the commissioner of natural resources for development of three design-build proposals. The commissioner shall request design-build qualifications and select three qualified entities to develop design-build proposals. The proposals must address increasing the water level in White Bear Lake by piping water from Vadnais Lake to White Bear Lake. The design work must ensure that the water in White Bear Lake and Vadnais Lake will remain at least as clean and clear as before the augmentation project is implemented. Among any other issues to be addressed the design work must ensure that the project does not allow the spread of any invasive species or increase phosphorus levels. The commissioner must develop the design-build request for proposals in consultation with the commissioner of administration with regard to procedures and in consultation with the Metropolitan Council and its water supply policy and technical advisory committees and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency with regard to water quality and environmental issues. Any limitations in law on the number or value of design-build contracts do not apply to this project. ","The DNR will seek three design-build proposals for a potential augmentation project for White Bear Lake as directed by Minnesota Law 2016 Chapter 172 Article 2 Section 12.","In FY17 DNR successfully solicited and received one proposal for Design-Build Services for a potential augmentation project for White Bear Lake. An electronic copy of the report is available at http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/gwmp/wbl-augmentation-proposal.pdf. ",,,,,,,,,,"The DNR is directed by Minnesota Law 2016, Chapter 172, Article 2, Section 12 to request proposals for a potential design-build project to augment White Bear Lake with water from East Vadnais Lake. ",,,2016-07-01,2017-06-30,"Clean Water Fund",Completed,,,Jason,Moeckel,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","Saint Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5240",jason.moeckel@state.mn.us,"Planning, Analysis/Interpretation","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Ramsey, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/white-bear-lake-augmentation,,,,
9799,"Wildlife Management Area Acquisition",2013,2900000,"ML 2012, Ch. 264, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(d)","$2,900,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire land in fee for wildlife management area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"Protect in Fee 284 acres of prairies and 356 acres of forest ",,,,2875000,3500,,,DNR,"State Government","This program acquired, developed, and added 638 acres to the state Wildlife Management Area (WMA) system. These lands protect habitat and provide opportunities for public hunting, trapping and compatible outdoor uses consistent with the Outdoor Recreation Act (M.S. 86A.05, Subd.8). ",,"Through this program and appropriation the MN DNR protected lands in the prairie, forest prairie transition, northern forest, and metro urbanizing ecological sections. The MN DNR prioritized our acquisitions to focus on parcels with an existing habitat base, acquisition opportunities that provided connectivity and worked toward building habitat complexes, and opportunities that allowed us to maximize habitat benefits. All potential acquisitions were brought forth by willing sellers. We scored and ranked them on numerous ecological and management criteria. All acquisitions received formal county board review and approval. Nine Parcels totaling nearly 640 acres are now permanently protected as a result of acquisitions funded by this program. We fell just shy of our our AP goals for prairie (8 acres) and forest (4 acres) protection. We would have easily exceeded AP goals save for four acquisition attempts that were started but for various reasons failed. ",2012-07-01,2014-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,"Pat ",Rivers,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Rd. North","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 297-4916",pat.rivers@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carlton, Chippewa, Chisago, Freeborn, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Nicollet, Winona, Wright","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/wildlife-management-area-acquisition,,,,
2529,"Wildlife Management Area, Scientific and Natural Areas, and Prairie Bank Easement Acquisition - Phase III ",2012,3931000,"M.L 2011, First Special Session, Chapter 6, Article 1, Section 2 ","$3,931,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to:(1) acquire land in fee for wildlife management area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 8, and 97A.145; (2) acquire land in fee for scientific and natural area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, sections 84.033 and 86A.05, subdivision 5; and(3) acquire native prairie bank easements under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96. A list of proposed land or permanent conservation easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The accomplishment plan must include an easement monitoring and enforcement plan. Up to $14,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan, and subject to subdivision 15. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund.",,"Protected 545 acres of prairies and 565 acres of forest",,944000,,3152800,6800,,0.22,"MN DNR","State Government","This program acquired priority lands and developed them as Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) - six parcels protected totaling over 600 acres, Scientific and Natural Areas (SNA) - one parcel of 900 acres (287 acres credited to this funding ), and Native Prairie Bank (NPB) easements - two parcels totaling almost 200 acres. These lands protect habitat and some provide public hunting, trapping and compatible outdoor uses.",,"MN DNR protected lands in the prairie, northern forest, metro urbanizing, and SE bluffland ecological sections with this appropriation, and has or will restore grassland by planting native prairie. DNR prioritized acquisitions at sites where there is an existing habitat base to address fragmentation and to maximize habitat benefits. Potential acquisitions are scored and ranked on numerous ecological and management criteria. DNR seeks out willing landowners and conducts all transactions in accordance with state law and departmental policy. Nine properties totaling over 1,100 acres are now permanently protected as a result of acquisitions funded by this program. We were able to meet our original goal for forest acre protection, but failed to meet our prairie protection goal for reasons described below. Two acquisitions that failed to close by 6/30/14, did eventually close, but not in time to be funded from this appropriation and be counted as acres protected in this summary. The funding that would have been used from this appropriation was returned to the Outdoor Heritage Fund. ",2011-07-01,2014-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,"Jay ",Johnson,"MN Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Rd. ","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5248",jay.johnson@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Big Stone, Carlton, Cottonwood, Dakota, Hubbard, Jackson, Wabasha, Wilkin","Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/wildlife-management-area-scientific-and-natural-areas-and-prairie-bank-easement-acquisition,,,,
10003541,"Wolf Management Education",2015,120000,"M.L. 2014, Chp. 226, Sec. 2, Subd. 09i","$120,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the International Wolf Center for outreach to metro area kindergarten through grade 12 classrooms and nature centers to help children understand wolf management issues.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,120000,,,2.29,"International Wolf Center","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Wolves are a hot topic in Minnesota, with the public sharply divided on management issues such as wolf hunting. The complexity of the topic lends itself to a lot of misunderstanding and misinformation that is not always helpful to resolving the polarized debate. The International Wolf Center is using this appropriation to help bridge the gap with science-based information by delivering on-site programs to approximately 460 classrooms in the Twin Cities metro area to teach approximately 16,000 students about wolf biology and behavior, the social and political conflicts surrounding wolves, and the overall effects of wildlife habitat loss throughout the state.",,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2014/work_plans/2014_09j.pdf,2014-07-01,2016-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Sharon,Reed,"International Wolf Center","3410 Winnetka Ave N, Ste 101",Minneapolis,MN,55427,"(763) 560-7374",sreed@wolf.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, Wright",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/wolf-management-education-0,,,,
10000106,"Wolverton Creek Habitat Restoration",2018,1877000,"ML 2017, Ch. 91, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(i)","$1,877,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District to acquire permanent conservation easements and restore and enhance aquatic and upland habitat associated with Wolverton Creek in the Buffalo-Red River watershed. A list of proposed acquisitions, restoration, and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"249 Prairie acres and 73 Habitat acres (for a total of 322 acres) Restored. 259 Prairie acres and 69 Habitat acres (for a total of 328 acres) Protected in Easement. ",,3234500,"Watershed District Levy Funds, Clean Water Funds, Ecofootprint Grant , Watershed District Levy Funds, Clean Water Fund Target Watershed Grant, Enbridge Ecofootprint Grant, NRCS ",1877000,,,,"Buffalo-Red River Watershed District ","Local/Regional Government","Over the next six years, the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District (BRRWD), in partnership with landowners, federal, state, and local agencies, intends to implement a long-term comprehensive plan to restore the Wolverton Creek and its riparian corridor. This comprehensive project will turn 20 channelized stream miles to 26.2 miles of restored natural prairie stream channel. It will also protect, enhance, and restore over 740 acres (357 acres in Phase 1) of floodplain wetland and grassland habitat along the Wolverton Creek. The project will provide connectivity for wildlife and fisheries between the Lake Agassiz beach ridge region and the Red River. ",,"The project identified reaches of Wolverton Creek for restoration and expansion of riparian buffers. The buffer widths vary from a minimum of 200 feet with to over 750 feet wide. The minimum buffer width was determined by designating a 10-year floodplain. The areas of land that were acquired help to provide connectivity between the Manston Slough WMA and the Red River of the North with Wolverton Creek providing the corridor for that connection. The Wolverton Creek is a unique resource in that it is one of only a few prairie streams in the Red River basin that is located entirely within the Lake Agassiz Plain. The project was constructed in two phases. Phase 1 began in 2018 and was hampered by wet conditions. Phase 1 was completed in 2020. Phase 2 began in 2020 with some clean up in 2021. ",2017-07-01,2021-11-12,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Kristine,Altrichter,"Buffalo-Red River Watershed District","1303 4th Avenue NE PO Box 341",Barnesville,MN,56514,"(218) 789-3100",kaltrichter@brrwd.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Clay, Wilkin","Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/wolverton-creek-habitat-restoration,,,,
10031424,"YES! Students Step Up To Reduce Carbon Footprint",2025,199000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 05m","$199,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center to empower Minnesota youth to reduce their carbon footprints through education from local experts and completion of student-driven and community-based team projects.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,2.34,"Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center","Non-Profit Business/Entity","YES! (Youth Eco Solutions) will empower Minnesota youth to reduce their carbon footprints by losing 5,000 pounds of CO2 per YES team each school year.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2026-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Kalley,Pratt,"Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center","12718 10th Street NE",Spicer,MN,56288-9314,"(320) 354-5894",kalley@yesmn.org,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/yes-students-step-reduce-carbon-footprint,,,,
35075,"Young Forest Conservation Phase II",2017,1369000,"ML 2016, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 3(a)","$1,369,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the American Bird Conservancy to restore publicly owned, permanently protected forest lands for wildlife management purposes. A list of proposed forest land restorations must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. ",,"4,474 Forest acres Restored. ",,241400,"Federal ",1360700,20000,,2.5,"American Bird Conservancy","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Restore 3,647 acres of public forest to help meet wildlife and recreational goals within six Minnesota conservation plans, leverage $500,000 from outside sources for forest restoration on private lands and keep Golden-winged Warbler off the ESA. ",,"With assistance from the Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Fund, in Phase II the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) Minnesota Public Lands Program continued to compete targeted young forest and brushland habitat projects on County, State, Federal, and Tribal lands with collaborative assistance of associated public and tribal agencies. These projects were implemented using science-based best management practices (BMPs) to create diverse breeding habitat for the golden-winged warbler (GWWA), American woodcock (AMWO), and associated wildlife species within the northern Minnesota focal area. This project is part of a cooperative, full life-cycle, international initiative to restore the population GWWA, which declined by 68% since 1966. Additionally, throughout its range, AMWO populations also steadily declined over the last quarter century at a rate of 1-2% per year. Project areas were located primarily in non-commercial habitat types, the vast majority being lowland or upland brush sites that contained very old and dense brush species, including alder, willow, and hazel; with alder being the most common. Stems measured 1-5” (avg. 2-3"") diameter and grew in dense clumps that had a higher aggregate diameter at the base. Average brush height was approximately 10’ within deciduous or mixed forest matrix. These closed brush canopies limited or removed the ability of ground nesting avian species such as the GWWA and AMWO to occupy sites for the purposes of nesting and brood rearing. Habitat projects concentrated on brush cutting treatments to emulate natural disturbance. Post-treatment habitat conditions included a mix of scattered and clumped tree species dominated by hardwoods that were retained as residual structure along with scattered brush. Woody retention of vertical and horizontal structural diversity depended on a suite of site level factors, including size and shape of the site, distance from forest edge, adjacent forest characteristics, and the number of trees present in a given area. When project areas did not have sufficient tree cover to maintain 10-15 mature trees per acre, well distributed clumps of brush (10-15/acre, ≥25% cover) were retained. Some larger project areas also retained undisturbed legacy patches (>0.25 acres in size). Feathered edges at the site boundaries were also emphasized to create a gradual transition into the adjacent forest when possible. Most project sites were located in brushland/forest interfaces, though a small number of projects were completed in aspen cover types to create or maintain habitat openings and multi-aged stands. The latter sites were completed using similar methodology as those described in brushland habitats in terms of treatment prescriptions and retention of residual woody structure. Monitoring efforts were completed by Cornell University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Research Institute and included project sites from both the ABC MN Public Lands Program (projects completed via funding from MN OHF 'Young Forest Conservation Phase I & II') and the ABC MN Private Lands Program (projects completed via funding from the NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)). It is notable that the ABC Private Lands Program is separate and complimentary to the ABC Public Lands Program. No projects on private lands were completed with funding via MN OHF. Point count monitoring indicated that GWWA local abundance is increasing where ABC project work has occurred, and that GWWA population response has been positive to BMP implementation. Occupancy rates on shrubland project sites exceed 95% in both Western Minnesota (98% of sites; 95% CI: 92–100%) and Eastern Minnesota (97% of sites; 95% CI: 88–99%)(McNeil et al. 2020, Biological Conservation). These sites were monitored between 2015 and 2017 (with a subset of sites also monitored in 2018) and included project sites since the winter 2013-14 project season. Because most of the projects completed on private lands were timber harvests, it can be safely stated that a significant proportion (and possibly the majority) of shrubland sites monitored were located on public lands completed in Phase I or II of the MN Public Lands Program, though ABC does not have this information due to the independent nature of the study. Relative abundance on shrubland habitats rises from approximately 1.5 to 3.0 male GWWA per point count on treated vs. untreated sites, respectively (publication in peer review process). Monitoring was also begun this year to examine monarch and other pollinator responses within managed sites. AMWO also has been observed as increasing in local abundance at these project locations with 92% of treated sites across all public and private lands project sites occupied by AMWO, at a density of 0.516 singing males/ha observed on shrubland sites. In Phase II, the ABC Public Lands Coordinator continued expand ABC's partner base throughout northern Minnesota by engaging public and tribal lands partner agencies in project design and implementation and by participating in educational workshops. It quickly became apparent in Phase I and continued to be evident in Phase II that public and tribal lands agencies had a need and interest to complete habitat projects of this type. As a result, the number of project partners has grown every year since the inception this program. Natural resource managers across county, state, federal, and tribal partners have expressed that ABC is filling a much needed role in Minnesota forest conservation, implementing projects that otherwise would not be completed. As a driving force in cooperative forest conservation, ABC was also a founding member of the Minnesota Forest Habitat Collaborative (MFHC). The MFHC was created to provide a round table community forum to identify, promote, and deliver collaborative conservation, outreach, and research programs that assist natural resource managers across jurisdictional and ownership boundaries to maintain, enhance, and restore MN’s forest habitat for the benefit of associated resident and migratory wildlife species. ",,2021-11-12,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,George,Fenwick,"American Bird Conservancy","4249 Loudoun Ave P.O. Box 249","The Plains",VA,20198,"(540) 253-5780",ibetancourt@abcbirds.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Carlton, Clearwater, Hubbard, Itasca, St. Louis","Northern Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/young-forest-conservation-phase-ii,,,,
10003534,"Youth-led Sustainability Initiatives in 40 Greater Minnesota Communities",2015,350000,"M.L. 2014, Chp. 226, Sec. 2, Subd. 09b","$350,000 the second year is from the rust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center and Laurentian Environmental Learning Center to complete over 100 youth-led sustainability action projects in 40 communities in southwest, southeast, central and northeastern Minnesota.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.","Click on Work Plan under Project Details.",,,,350000,,,6.74,"Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Adoption of renewable energy technologies and energy conservation practices can contribute in a variety of ways to the environmental and economic health of rural Minnesota communities through costs savings and emissions reductions. Engaging and coaching students as the leaders in the process of implementing such practices provides the added benefit of increasing knowledge, teaching about potential career paths, and developing leadership experience. Using this appropriation the Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center and its partners are expanding an existing program called the Youth Energy Summit (YES!) to engage approximately 650 students in implementing 150 additional youth-led renewable energy and energy conservation projects in over 40 communities in central, northeastern, southwestern, and southeastern Minnesota. These projects will be driven by collaboration between students, community members, and local businesses and organizations.",,http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2014/work_plans/2014_09b.pdf,2014-07-01,2016-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Dave,Pederson,"Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center","12718 10th Street NE",Spicer,MN,56288,"(320) 354-5894",d.pederson@tds.net,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Cass, Chippewa, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Houston, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Pipestone, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wadena, Waseca, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Yellow Medicine",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/youth-led-sustainability-initiatives-40-greater-minnesota-communities-0,,,,
10031464,"Zumbro River Regional Water Trail",2025,170000,"M.L. 2024, Chp. 83, Sec. 2, Subd. 09f","$170,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the city of Oronoco to complete a master plan for the Zumbro River Regional Water Trail that considers existing amenities, connections from towns to natural features, and improved user experience. This appropriation may also be used to create a joint powers board among the four counties and multiple jurisdictions connected to the Zumbro River to guide the master plan development.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.","Click on 'Work Plan' under 'Project Details'.",,,,,,,,"City of Oronoco","Local/Regional Government","Completion of the Master Plan for the Zumbro River Regional Water Trail (ZRRWT). Roughly 150 miles of navigable waters that wind through a diverse landscape before joining the Mississippi River.",,"Work Plan ",2024-07-01,2025-07-31,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Jason,Baker,"City of Oronoco","PO Box 195",Oronoco,MN,22960,"(507) 367-4405",jbaker@oronoco.com,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Blue Earth, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Le Sueur, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, Winona",,,https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/zumbro-river-regional-water-trail,,,,