"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" 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,,,, 777,"Accelerated Wildlife Management Area Acquisition, Phase 1",2010,2900000,"ML 2009, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(a)","$2,900,000 in fiscal year 2010 is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire land for wildlife management areas. A list of proposed fee title acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.","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 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 huntin","Protect in fee 320 acres of wetlands and 414 acres of prairie",,,,2900000,,,None,DNR,"State Government","This program will protect and restore 700 acres of new wetland wildlife habitat in wetland complexes in Minnesota through fee title acquisition. Title of all lands acquired will be held by the State and designated as Wildlife Management Area open to hunting, trapping, fishing and compatible outdoor recreation uses. ","The Minnesota Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan states that ""Habitat fragmentation, degradation and loss are arguably the most important issues facing the conservation and preservation of Minnesota resources. Over 90% of Minnesota's prairie wetlands have been drained or filled, including 1,500 shallow wildlife lakes. Remaining wetlands and shallow lakes are in a degraded state and upland grass buffers have been largely converted to cropland. DNR will acquire remaining and restorable wetlands and surrounding uplands in high priority wetland complexes as Wildlife Management Areas. Uplands will be restored to native grassland buffers, wetlands will be enhanced where possible and acquisitions will be developed to make them functional units in the outdoor recreation system. 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. DNR will work with and seek a resolution from the County Board of Commissioners approving WMA acquisitions. ","Final Report    ",2009-07-01,2012-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",None,,,Pat,Rivers,DNR,"500 Lafayette Road ","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5209",pat.rivers@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Dakota, Isanti, Isanti","Northern Forest, Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-wildlife-management-area-acquisition,,,, 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,,,, 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,,,, 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,,,, 2100,"County Geologic Atlas and South-Central Minnesota Groundwater (MN DNR)",2010,1875000,"M.L. 2009, Chp. 143, Sec. 2, Subd. 03b2","$2,695,000 is from the trust fund for collection and interpretation of subsurface geological information and acceleration of the county geologic atlas program. $820,000 of this appropriation is to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for the geological survey to continue and to initiate the production of county geologic atlases. $1,875,000 of this appropriation is to the commissioner of natural resources to investigate the physical and recharge characteristics of the Mt. Simon aquifer. This appropriation represents a continuing effort to complete the county geologic atlases throughout the state. 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"".",,,,,,,,"MN DNR","State Government","The 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. County Geologic Atlases are used in planning and environmental protection efforts at all levels of government and by businesses to ensure sound planning, management, and protection of land and water resources. This appropriation will: Support completion of geologic atlases for Todd, Carlton, McLeod, Carver, Benton and Chisago counties; Initiate geologic atlases for Anoka and Wright counties; Make collected data available in a digital format; Investigate the recharge and physical characteristics of the Mt. Simon Aquifer - the deepest bedrock aquifer of south central Minnesota and the Twin Cities metro area, which supplies all or some of the water needs of over one million Minnesotans. Work will be conducted in McLeod, Wright, Sherburne, and Isanti counties. PART 2: MN Department of Natural Resources Overall Project Outcome and Results Most data collected for the Mt. Simon - Hinckley aquifer Phase 2 study were derived from 16 wells installed at 10 locations to depths of 100 to 695 feet in McLeod, Wright, Hennepin, Sherburne, Anoka, and Isanti counties. In the Phase 2 area chemical residence time indicators from the Mt. Simon aquifer indicate groundwater ages less than approximately 1,000 years in eastern Wright and Sherburne counties and northern Isanti County. These relatively young groundwater ages are consistent with water level and stratigraphic information that indicate both direct and indirect connection of surface water to the Mt. Simon- Hinckley aquifer through localized focused recharge. This project has shown that the most critical recharge area for the Mt. Simon-Hinckley aquifer and Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area water supply includes portions of Wright, Sherburne, and Isanti counties. Protection of this region from water pollution should be a high priority for all levels of government. Continued monitoring of wells installed for this investigation will create a long term record that can be used to interpret changes in local and regional water supply due to water use or climate changes. The County Geologic Atlas, Part B, portion of this project supported the completion of three and the initiation of six Part B atlases in the County Geologic Atlas series that the DNR prepares in collaboration with the Minnesota Geological Survey. Each Part B atlas provides groundwater maps, data describing aquifer properties and use, analytical results of groundwater chemistry sampling including age-dating samples, and interpretation of pollution sensitivity. All of these maps and data are used to meet many environmental information and protection needs, including resource protection planning, water resource management, water appropriation permitting, contamination mitigation, education, among others. The Todd, Carlton, and Benton Part B atlases were completed and the Carver, McLeod, Chisago, Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Sibley Part B atlases were initiated.   Project Results Use and Dissemination The reports from this project have been available on the DNR website since the summer of 2012. The Mt. Simon project was presented as a poster at the Midwest Groundwater Association meeting in Minneapolis in October 2012. We are currently producing a short (15 minute) video highlighting some of the results of the project for presentation at future meetings and for general viewing on the internet. In addition, a summary of the project will be submitted to the Minnesota Groundwater Association for inclusion in the quarterly newsletter. The well log and well construction information is currently available in the project report and the Minnesota Department of Health County Well Index (http://mdh-agua.health.state.mn.us/cwi/cwiViewer.htm). The wells have become part of the DNR observation well network. Water level data is currently available at: http://climate.umn.edu/ground_water_level/. Publication of Part B atlas reports include preparation and printing of the County Geologic Atlases, Part B, and delivery of printed reports to the county; preparation and delivery of Part B materials to MGS for inclusion in a DVD version of each completed project that incorporates geographic information system (GIS) files, database files, pdfs, and additional digital products. When each atlas Part B is completed a training workshop for the county and local users is held to explain the results and how the maps, data, and other information can be used to assist local water resource programs. To reach other users and audiences program staff contributed newsletter articles and presented talks and posters at conferences. Completed digital products are posted on DNR webspace at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/groundwater_section/mapping/status.html. Printed reports are available for sale through MGS Map Sales at http://www.mngs.umn.edu/mapsales.html. Project Publication: South-Central Minnesota Groundwater Monitoring of the Mt. Simon Aquifer - Phase 2 ",,"Final Report ",2009-07-01,2012-06-30,"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,"Analysis/Interpretation, Assessment/Evaluation, Inventory, Mapping, Monitoring, Planning","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Benton, Carlton, Carver, Chisago, Sherburne, Sibley",,"Chippewa River",http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/county-geologic-atlas-and-south-central-minnesota-groundwater-mn-dnr,,,, 9644,"Dalbo WMA 'Richardson 80' Acquisition",2010,150500,"M.L. 2009 Ch. 37 Sec. 2","$4000000 in fiscal year 2010 is to the commissioner of natural resources for a pilot program to provide competitive matching grants of up to $400000 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 acqusition of this 80 acre parcel is a very nice fit to the Dalbo WMA. It allows for expanded habitat management and hunting opportunities for a myirad of wildlife species. This is a wonderful additon/round-out to this expansive and heavily used WMA. Which currently is 2610 acres in size. This MDHA chapter provided significant dollars to help DNR acquire 460 tract with in the past two years.",,,2010-04-19,2013-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Jessica,Lee,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5233",jessica.lee@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Isanti,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dalbo-wma-richardson-80-acquisition,,,, 9426,"Irving & John Anderson County Park",2010,60250,"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.",,,,,,,,,,"Isanti County",,"Construct three boardwalks and one observation platform to extend existing trails across wetlands and open up access throughout the park.",,,2010-10-12,2012-06-30,"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",,Isanti,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/irving-john-anderson-county-park,,,, 2138,"MeCC V - Lower Minnesota River Watershed Restoration & Enhancement (2.4)",2010,90000,"M.L. 2009, Chp. 143, Sec. 2, Subd. 04f2.4","$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"".",,75000,,,,,,"Friends of the Minnesota Valley","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Project Outcome and Results Friends of the Minnesota Valley (FMV) undertook restoration of habitat for the Lower Minnesota River Watershed portion of the Metropolitan Conservation Corridors Project (MeCC) as a continuation of our wildlife habitat restoration within the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Wetland Management District (Refuge) and within the Lower Minnesota River Watershed. FMV sought to restore native habitats within the Refuge and to work in concert with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and other partners on critical, publicly-owned habitat on Refuge lands. During this phase of the MeCC project, FMV and our partners were able to successfully restore and enhance 17 acres of native wet prairie, 48 acres of native dry sand-gravel oak savanna, and 28 acres of native dray sand-gravel prairie with Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund funds for a total acreage of 93 acres. We were also able to restore additional match acreage of 59 acres of native dry sand-gravel oak savanna with non-LCCMR, non-state funds, bringing total acres impacted by this project to 152 acres. The FMV objectives were to complement and connect habitat restoration and management of Refuge lands with that being done by other entities. Restoration sites were selected to address primary management issues and challenges, including the need to restore hydrology within floodplain communities and to restore upland communities such as native oak savanna and wet and dry prairies. Public access to restored lands for recreation and education and the assurance of permanent protection were also primary factors. Due to persistent flooding, our access to wetland sites was severely limited and, as a result, we shifted our focus to upland restoration, as reflected in our amended work program. All work was completed on four Refuge Units. Work included cutting and herbicide treatment of non-native woody brush species such as buckthorn, honeysuckle, prickly ash, eastern red cedar, and Siberian elm. Minnesotans will be able to access and appreciate the restored sites through the access and education provided to Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge visitors. Our project data is publicly accessible by contacting FMV, through information disseminated through our newsletter and on our website, and through information provided by the MeCC Partnership. Project Results Use and Dissemination As projects were completed, Friends of the Minnesota Valley publicized project accomplishments through the Friends' quarterly newsletter, our annual report, publication of a habitat restoration prospectus, and the posting of projects on our website. Other dissemination of information occurred through the Metro Conservation Corridors partnership and on the Metro Corridors website. ",,"Final Report ",2009-07-01,2011-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Lori,Nelson,"Friends of the Minnesota Valley","10800 Lyndale Ave S, Ste 120",Bloomington,MN,55420,952-881-9065,lnelson@friendsofmnvalley.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Carver, Hennepin, Le Sueur, Scott, Sibley",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mecc-v-lower-minnesota-river-watershed-restoration-enhancement-24,,,, 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,,,, 2147,"MeCC V - Fee Acquisition for Minnesota Valley NWR (3.3)",2010,225000,"M.L. 2009, Chp. 143, Sec. 2, Subd. 04f3.3","$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"".",,,,,,,,"Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Project Outcome and Results The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc. acquired 96 acres of priority lands in the Minnesota River Valley floodplain in Sibley County to expand the Jessenland Unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Of the 96 acres acquired, the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund paid for 90 acres and the Minnesota Valley Trust paid for 6 acres with nonprofit and other non-state funds. Using other non-state funds, the Minnesota Valley Trust also acquired 44.67 acres of priority lands in the Minnesota River Valley in Scott County to expand the Blakely Unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The Blakely and Jessenland Units are on opposite (facing) sides of the Minnesota River and, together, form a large contiguous block of priority wildlife habitat. Both of these acquisitions expand upon prior acquisitions funded in part by the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, as recommended by the LCCMR. The parcels acquired are adjacent to other lands protected by the Minnesota Valley Trust for the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The Blakely and Jessenland Units of the Refuge were identified through a planning process by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as priority expansion units of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The parcels acquired are within the expansion boundaries of those Refuge units. After any needed restoration, the lands will be donated to the USFWS for perpetual management as part of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. They will be managed for wildlife and wildlife-dependent recreation, including hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, wildlife interpretation and environmental education. Project Results Use and Dissemination The Minnesota Valley Trust will publicize the completion of this project through its website and news releases. All funding partners will be acknowledged on Refuge kiosks, including the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, as recommended by the Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. ",,"Final Report ",2009-07-01,2011-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Deborah,Loon,"Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust Inc","2312 Seabury Ave",Minneapolis,MN,55406,612-801-1935,dloon@mnvalleytrust.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Sibley,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mecc-v-fee-acquisition-minnesota-valley-nwr-33,,,, 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,,,, 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,,,, 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,,,, 9470,"Quarry Hill Nature Center",2010,200000,"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 Rochester",,"Pond enhancement project to repair and expand an existing man made pond to improve outdoor recreational opportunities for park visitors that use the pond for fishing, boating and wildlife viewing.",,,2010-02-02,2011-06-30,"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",,Olmsted,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/quarry-hill-nature-center-0,,,, 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,,,, 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,,,, 2107,"State Trail Acquisition",2010,1000000,"M.L. 2009, Chp. 143, Sec. 2, Subd. 04b","$1,000,000 is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to assist in the acquisition of the Brown's Creek Segment of the Willard Munger Trail in Washington County and Paul Bunyan State Trail in the city of Bemidji.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,4100000,,,,,,"MN DNR","State Government","Project Overview Minnesota, which was recently named ""Best Trails State"" in the country, is host to numerous state trails providing a variety of different outdoor recreational opportunities throughout the state. This appropriation is allowing the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to acquire land expanding two of these state trails: the Brown's Creek segment of the Willard Munger Trail in Washington County and the Paul Bunyan Trail along Lake Bemidji. The Brown's Creek segment runs six miles between the Gateway State Trail and downtown Stillwater along the route formerly used by the Minnesota Zephyr Dinner Train, while the new segment of the Paul Bunyan Trail runs 1.25 miles along the southeastern shore of Lake Bemidji. Overall Project Outcome and Results The Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund funding allowed for the following: Ownership of approximately 1.25 miles of the Paul Bunyan State Trail. Acquisition of this property provided for the necessary connection to the Paul Bunyan State Trailhead on the southeastern corner of Lake Bemidji. The property is comprised entirely of former industrial property, located adjacent to the shoreline of Lake Bemidji. The 2009 Trust Fund appropriation amount partially funded this acquisition. Ownership of approximately 6 miles of the Browns Creek Segment of Munger State Trail. The property is comprised entirely of the right-of-way of the former Minnesota Zephyr Dinner Trail and traverses the margins of the St. Croix River floodplain adjacent to T.H. 95, the gently to steeply sloping bluffs of the river valley and gently rolling uplands that are interspersed with residential and commercial development. The 2009 Trust Fund appropriation amount partially funded this acquisition. ",,"Final Report ",2009-07-01,2012-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Stan,Linnell,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Rd, Box 52","St. Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5626,stan.linnell@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Beltrami, Chippewa, Dodge, Houston, Olmsted, Swift",,"Bois de Sioux River",http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/state-trail-acquisition,,,, 9422,"Vegsund Family County Park",2010,188000,"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.",,,,,,,,,,"Isanti County",,"Develop roadways, picnic shelter, trails, fishing pier, landscaping, and solar lighting. ",,,2010-10-12,2012-06-30,"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",,Isanti,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/vegsund-family-county-park,,,,