"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"
9801,"Accelerating the Wildlife Management Area Program , Phase 4",2013,3300000,"ML 2012, Ch. 264, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(f)","$3,300,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire land in fee for wildlife management area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Protect in fee 73 acres of wetlands and 565 acres of prairies",,534100,"Pheasants Forever private funding and Federal monies",3300000,,,.09,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The program accelerated the protection of 550 acres of prairie grassland, wetland, and other wildlife habitat as State Wildlife Management Areas open to public hunting. However, over the course of the appropriation, we acquired seven parcels for a total of 638 acres which exceeded our total acre goal of 550 acres by 88 acres.  Breaking down acres by ecological section we exceed our 440 acre goal for the prairie region by 171 acres.  We have a balance of $62,300 that will be returned to the Fund despite exceeding our acre goals and demonstrating the high level of efficiency Pheasants Forever operates at.  In total, we under spent on our budget, over delivered on acre goals, and over delivered on match leverage received while using less personnel costs than proposed.One tract of significance worth mentioning is Mel Roehrl WMA which was one of the largest permanent protection projects in this proposal at 110 acres.  The Mel Roehrl WMA Addition builds on the existing 197 acre Mel Roehl WMA.  Within three miles of this tract there are four WPAs totaling 491 acres, two SNAs totaling 226 acres and one 197 acre WMA.  In addition there are numerous perpetual FWS conservation easements in this area.  This habitat complex is a mere 22 miles from Alexandria in western Stearns County, has outstanding grassland, wetland and winter habitat and is located in an area of the county with large numbers of existing CRP tracts. Opportunities for public hunting and trapping is very high. This area is a notable pheasant and deer hunting area of the county.  This tract, like many of the other tracts purchased in this proposal, are within identified priority areas by MN DNR, USFWS, and other partners.  Some of the factors we use to prioritize acquisitions are Grassland Bird Conservation Areas, Fish and Wildlife habitat rankings (e.g. HAPET scores, duck nesting pair density), and stateside plans (e.g. Pheasant Action Plan, Wildlife Action Plan).  In addition we use site specific factors such as rare species, native prairie, and restoration potential to decide which tracts will best benefit fish, game, and wildlife.",,"Final Report: http://www.lsohc.leg.mn/FY2013/accomp_plan/2f.pdf Working in close collaboration with partners, Pheasants Forever acquired 638 acres of strategic habitat that builds onto existing protected lands and/or develops corridors for wildlife. All lands acquired have been enrolled into the state Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Program and will be protected and managed in perpetuity by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. We have worked together with federal, state and local partners when acquiring the seven parcels which will now be celebrated as new WMAs. These new additions to existing WMAs not only provides access and recreational opportunities for all Minnesotans, but helps reduce erosion, improve water filtration, and provide quality habitat for many of Minnesota's non-game species. The offers to the landowner were based on fair market values and appraisals. The acquired parcels addressed a backlog of willing sellers that now are helping slow the loss, degradation, and fragmentation of habitat in Minnesota. Parcels were identified jointly with the MN DNR, ranked, and prioritized on habitat goals and feasibility. Pheasants Forever's methods are formed around the principle of accelerating the Wildlife Production Area program in MN by targeting only the best available habitat with willing sellers. We utilize local partner expertise to focus on building a system of interconnected wildlife complexes that create habitat mosaics. We also utilize the latest geospatial layers to help determine factors such as: habitat restoration potential, landscape scale significance, presence of rare features and native habitat, and how these acquisitions fit into other priorities for our partners such as the MN prairie Conservation Plan, the Pheasant Action Plan, or the State Wildlife Action Plan to name a few. 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. Wetlands were restored using a combination of tile breaking, sediment removal, dike construction, and water control structures. Scattered invasive tree removal and prescribed fire were used where appropriate to enhance existing grassland habitat after protection.",2012-07-01,2014-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Eran,Sandquist,"Pheasants Forever","410 Lincoln Avenue South","South Haven",MN,55382,320-236-7755,esandquist@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Cottonwood, Kandiyohi, Le Sueur, McLeod, Renville, Stearns, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-wildlife-management-area-program-phase-4,,,,
9803,"Accelerated Prairie Restoration and Enhancement on DNR Lands, Phase 4",2013,4300000,"ML 2012, Ch. 264, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(h)","$4,300,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate the restoration and enhancement of wildlife management areas, scientific and natural areas, and land under native prairie bank easements. A list of proposed restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Restored 123 acres and enhanced 59,373 acres of prairie ",,,"n/a ",4282900,105100,,14,DNR,"State Government","The table below provides a short summary of the acres and sites accomplished. We enhanced or restored 59,495 acres in 458 separate habitat projects.Project Type # Sites # AcresFencing for conserv grazing 6 721grassland conversion 33 1,124Invasive Species Control 43 1,599mowing 3 104Prescribed burn 214 48,368Restoration 13 123Woody Removal 146 7,457",,"In the table above, grassland conversion is generally converting old brome or early low diversity CRP-like plantings (grass only) to a diverse native grass and forb mix. These projects are good examples of the benefits of OHF. Low diversity grasslands provide some habitat for wildlife. These funds allow us to enhance and improve these habitats, going above and beyond what we could do without these funds. By far our most effective management tool is prescribed fire and we were able to burn over 48,000 acres, just over 75 square miles, with these funds.Our acre estimate is probably a low number, especially for woody removal. Trees in grasslands affect both the immediate area as well as the surrounding area. Generally we remove trees to increase nest success in the surrounding areas. While we may only record one acre of tree removal, we’re enhancing nest success for an entire WMA.This was the fourth appropriation for the DNR's programmatic Grassland Enhancement efforts. The primary focus for the Wildlife Section of this appropriation was the use of two Roving Crews, in Region One (located in Polk County) and Region 3 (located in Dakota County). Roving Crews are self-contained habitat enhancement programs. One hundred percent of their time is dedicated to habitat enhancement. In addition, we worked with local contractors to do additional habitat work on WMAs and SNAs.Division of Ecological and Water Resource staff funded on this appropriation did a variety of tasks, including writing contracts for woody removal projects and prescribed burns, firebreak installation, prescribed burn planning and execution, prairie reconstruction, and smaller invasive removal projects. CCM crews were contracted for many projects to add additional abilities. Specifically noteworthy, southern region EWR hires a CCM crew for several weeks in the spring each year to build support into the DNR burn crew (there would not be enough staff for a crew without CCM).In addition to these data, we also provide the following narratives showing the outputs and outcomes of several of the projects on the parcel list.The Cuka WMA project involved the removal of scattered invasive volunteer trees from 130 acres of native and restored prairie. A DNR survey on June 11, 2013 revealed the presence of at least 508 individual clusters of Small White Lady Slipper orchids. The orchid is abundant on Cuka WMA and this tree removal was management that is a direct positive for the preservation of this species. The removal of predator perches and den trees was one objective that appears to have been successfully met based upon the pheasant production that has been observed on this unit in recent years. One hunter has harvested a 2 bird limit on every pheasant opener for the last four years.A large portion of Benson WMA was already a quality restored grassland and wetland complex when acquired, but had thousands of trees covering the WMA. Without treatment, the site would have soon lost its open nature and grassland wildlife. The site includes a very high quality remnant prairie that we use to harvest local ecotype seed for nearby WMA restorations.Two Rivers Aspen Parkland SNA is a 1400 acre high quality brush prairie that was being invaded by aspen. This transition can be devastating to many wildlife species, particularly sharp tailed grouse as they tend to abandon these areas once they transition. After the prescribed burn and woody removal projects, there was a significant increase in sharp tailed grouse observations.Sweetwater WMA has two tracts totaling 430 acres. These tracts are part of a contiguous complex of public lands, including roughly 1,000 acres of Waterfowl Production Areas and 500 acres of WMA in the heart of Lac qui Parle County – an area with a rich history of waterfowl and upland bird hunting. The tree removal work on Sweetwater WMA compliments ongoing habitat acquisitions, restorations and enhancements being done in this area through partnerships among USFWS, MNDNR, TNC, PF and DU.Cooperative Farming Agreement fields totaling nineteen acres on four WMAs in the south Metro were retired. The fields were planted to a diverse mix native grasses and forbs. This will benefit pollinators as well as providing additional nesting cover. These WMAs are relatively close to the Metro Area, proving both wildlife habitat as well as hunting and other recreational opportunities for Twin Cities residents.Because this is a programmatic appropriation, it’s difficult to assign a dollar amount to a specific project. Because of this and the large number of projects, we simply assigned dollars to projects proportional to acres completed in that project. In the same way, we proportionally assigned dollars to personnel based on FTEs.",2012-07-01,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Greg,Hoch,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Road","St Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5230,greg.hoch@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Clay, Douglas, Fillmore, Goodhue, Grant, Houston, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lyon, Meeker, Morrison, Norman, Otter Tail, Polk, Pope, Redwood, Roseau, Statewide, Stearns, Stevens, Traverse, Washington, Winona, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-prairie-restoration-and-enhancement-dnr-lands-phase-4,,,,
9816,"Accelerated Shallow Lakes and Wetlands Enhancement , Phase 4",2013,3870000,"ML 2012, Ch. 264, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(e)","$3,870,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to develop engineering designs and complete construction to enhance shallow lakes and wetlands. A list of proposed restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. Work must be completed within three years of the effective date of this article.",,"Enhanced 10,085 acres of wetlands ",,,"n/a ",3644000,125300,,10,DNR,"State Government","This proposal impacts shallow lakes and wetlands in Minnesota through the design and construction of projects, enhancement work done by DNR roving habitat crews, and shallow lakes work identified and initiated through the DNR Shallow Lakes program.  Ten thousand acres of wetlands were enhanced by these activities.",,"This OHF-funded project utilized three components - individual project design and construction of wetland and shallow lake infrastructure, habitat enhancement work by DNR Roving Habitat Crews, and an expansion of the DNR Shallow Lakes program.Design and Construction - Twenty-one projects were designed or designed and constructed. Design only projects are surveyed and receive preliminary design plans and support from Minnesota DNR engineers. This initial work is critical to identify project issues, determine realistic cost estimates, and ensure that future construction can proceed with minimal delays. No acres are reported for design-only projects; that occurs only after construction. Eight projects were design-only. Thirteen projects were design and construct. These 13 projects involved the construction or renovation of water control structures, fish barriers and/or dikes. This work enhanced almost 1200 acres, 913 of which were in the Prairie Ecological Section.Roving Habitat Crews - Minnesota DNR Roving Habitat Crews are highly trained, equipped and motivated staff working together to enhance Wildlife Mangement Areas. Begun in 2010, 2 6-person crews were established to work on prairie grasslands, with one crew based in Mentor, MN and one based at Lac Qui Parle. Beginning with this Accelerated Shallow Lakes and Wetland Enhancements, Phase IV, OHF appropriation, funding was provided to the 2 crews to allow to them expand to do wetland enhancement work. Each crew was provided 2 additional staff and they were able to spend 25% of their time and resources on wetland and shallow lake activities. This work included wetland prescribed burns, removal of woody vegetation from wetlands, the ability to work on wetland drawdowns, cattail spraying and mowing, and other wetland activities. The wetland acreage impacted by these crews has exceeded expectations, with 8,900 wetland acres enhanced. Three thousand-four hundred of these acres were enhanced in the Prairie Ecological Section. The most wetland acres were enhanced in Forest/Prairie Ecological Section, which is a function of the large habitat blocks that are available to manage in northwest Minnesota.Shallow Lakes Program - The Minnesota DNR Shallow Lakes Program consists of a supervisor and 8 shallow lakes specialists. Three of these shallow lake specialist positions were created and funded with the Accelerated Shallow Lakes and Wetland Enhancements, Phase IV, OHF appropriation. Interns are used to augment shallow lake assessment work done during the summer field season. The Shallow Lakes Program can be described as having two major goals - assessment of shallow lakes through a standardized set of measures and initiating management of shallow lakes to enhance their value to wildlife. Management actions may include drawdowns, removal of unwanted fish, control of invasive species, and placement of major infrastructure. Acres are not reported for this component of the grant, though the work done by the Shallow Lakes Program is critical to acres subsequently reported by the DNR or Ducks Unlimited when OHF funds are used to implement management. A measure of the work accomplished by OHF-funded shallow lakes specialists is the number of number of shallow lake assessments the undertake during the grant period. For the period during which funding was provided by this OHF grant, the three funded specialists and interns accomplished 491 assessments on shallow lakes covering 160,268 acres.",2012-07-01,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Ricky,Lien,"MN DNR Div. of Fish and Wildlife","500 Lafayette Rd","St. Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5227,ricky.lien@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Benton, Carver, Cottonwood, Freeborn, Itasca, Jackson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Marshall, Mille Lacs, Roseau, Todd, Wilkin, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-shallow-lakes-and-wetlands-enhancement-phase-4,,,,
2548,"Accelerated Aquatic Management Area Habitat Program, Phase 3",2012,6500000,"ML 2011, First Special Session, Ch. 6, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(a)","$6,500,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire interests in land in fee or permanent conservation easements for aquatic management areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02, to restore and enhance aquatic habitat. A list of proposed acquisitions and stream and lake habitat restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The accomplishment plan must include an easement monitoring and enforcement plan.",,"Protect in fee 504 acres, easement 585 acres and Restore/Enhance 537 acres of Habitats",,752500,"value/cash donation",6464000,34900,,1.5,"MN DNR","State Government","We protected 22.3 miles of trout streams and 1.3 miles of lakeshore via easements (585 acres in total), and 7.4 miles (504 acres) of lakeshore through fee-title purchase. We enhanced shoreline habitat on 524 acres of riparian land, and instream habitat on 3.1 miles of trout streams and 0.5 miles of warmwater rivers. ",,"Final Report: http://www.lsohc.leg.mn/FY2012/accomp_plan/5a.pdf Protection of streams through conservation easements was enabled by the hiring of two easement specialists to work on acquisition. One position was funded through OHF, while the other leveraged funds from a Great Lakes Restoration grant. These positions contacted riparian landowners in targeted locations we prioritized for additional easement protection. We chose to target streams with high-quality habitat and fish populations, and along those streams we prioritized parcels that were adjacent to existing easements or protected public land, as well as landowners who owned parcels with longer lengths of stream. We also prioritized parcels with important features such as springs that are important to maintaining the cold water required by trout. All easements also needed to be accessible to the angling public, either from a public road, adjacent easement, or access path. Contacts with landowners were very fruitful; we found more potential parcels that we had money available for easements. This allowed us to prioritize the best parcels for easement purchase based on our criteria, but also created a list of potential parcels for acquisition using other funding sources, including OHF rounds from future years. We protected a total of 21.3 miles of trout streams using easements. One lakeshore parcel was also protected via conservation easement using this appropriation. The landowners (a scout camp) wanted the parcel protected, but also wanted to continue their passive use of the parcel. A conservation easement was a better tool than fee title acquisition in this case, which allowed us to protect 200 acres along 1.3 miles of lakeshore. The total amount of lake and stream shore acres protected by easements was just short of our goal (585 vs. 609), but we believe in the case of lake and stream riparian protection the length of shoreline is the more important measure. Fee title acquisition protected a total of 7.4 miles of lakeshore (504 acres) under this appropriation. We selected parcels for acquisition where the ratio of lakeshore to total acres was high in order to maximize riparian area protected, and where we protected critical and sensitive habitat such as emergent vegetation and natural shorelines that are critical for aquatic fish and wildlife. We were able to exceed our goal for acres protected in fee (504 vs. 427), in part due to over $550,000 in landowner donations of value that leveraged OHF money. We completed four stream habitat projects: two were on trout streams (Eagle and Rush Creeks), and two were on a warmwater rivers (Buffalo and Pomme de Terre Rivers). Eagle Creek had been degraded by years of cattle grazing, along with numerous beaver dams that had created a wide, shallow stream uninhabited by trout, unlike downstream reaches with better habitat. Using a combination of coir logs, rootwads and other woody debris, and grading and revegetating of the streambanks, the stream was narrowed to less than half of its former width. This created a much deeper stream channel with better habitat for fish, as well as the ability for the stream to better move the over-abundance of sand that comprised the stream bottom. Trout are now found in the restored half-mile of stream. The local watershed district contributed matching funds that helped to complete the project. Rush Creek habitat work has enhanced 2.5 miles of this trout stream. Steep eroding banks have been graded back, creating a floodplain that reduces the erosive energy of the stream during high water. Habitat structures of wood and rock have been placed in strategic locations on outside bends, providing stability to streambanks as well as cover for fish. All riparian areas have been seeded with a native mix of deep-rooted prairie grasses and forbs, providing enhanced stability for streambanks and habitat for terrestrial wildlife. Restoration of a reach of the Buffalo River was done on property owned by the City of Hawley. A formerly straightened reach of the river, the stream had eroding banks and lacked diverse depths, velocities, and cover required by most fish species. 2,700 feet of new meandering stream channel was constructed to restore the stream to a more natural condition, and outside bends were stabilized with woody material buried into the banks which not only provides stability while planted native vegetation becomes established, but also provides habitat for fish and aquatic insects. Enhancement work on the Pomme de Terre River was done on a relatively small area, but was critical to habitat in that reach. Due to bank erosion, the stream was in the process of cutting around a riffle that controls the grade of the streambed in that reach. That could have eventually lead to a downcutting of the stream channel that would have sent tons of sediment downstream. Instead, the streambank was stabilized using rootwads, and additional gravel and cobbles were added to the riffle to enhance its stability, as well as local habitat.",2011-07-20,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Brian,Nerbonne,DNR,"500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5205,brian.nerbonne@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Blue Earth, Cass, Chisago, Clay, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Houston, Hubbard, Itasca, Kandiyohi, Lake, Morrison, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Redwood, Rice, Scott, St. Louis, Swift, Wabasha, Winona","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-aquatic-management-area-habitat-program-phase-3,,,,
2530,"Accelerated Prairie Restoration and Enhancement on DNR Lands, Phase 3",2012,1652000,"ML 2011, First Special Session, Ch. 6, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(b)","$1,652,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate the restoration and enhancement on wildlife management areas, scientific and natural areas, and land under native prairie bank easements.",,"Enhance 20,600 acres of prairie",,,n/a,1567500,39800,,8.80,"MN DNR","State Government","This appropriation funded 283 projects totaling 21,953 acres. The two largest types of enhancement were 112 woody removal projects totaling 10,160 acres and 134 prescribed burns totaling 10,082 acres. Additionally, we seeded 30 sites totaling 1386 acres, put in infrastructure for conservation grazing of 236 acres on 3 sites, conducted 3 oak savanna enhancements totaling 42 acres, and treated 47 acres of invasive species on 2 sites.",,"Final ReportThis was a shared appropriation between the Fish & Wildlife (FAW) and the Ecological & Water Resources (EWR) Divisions within the DNR.  Both Divisions requested priority grassland projects from field staff across the state.  When this appropriation was funded, the Prairie Plan and other large-scale prairie-focused strategic plans were still in their infancy.  Parcels on the initial parcel list included in the funding request were developed primarily using priorities developed at the regional and areas levels by Area Wildlife Managers and SNA field staff. The parcel list changed substantially from the time of the request as the project went on because of several factors, including: 1) one of the core strengths of the Roving Crew is their flexibility to move quickly on a priority habitat enhancement opportunity, and this often meant addressing parcels that met the appropriation’s purpose, but not on the parcel list; 2) given the nature and purpose of the Roving Crew, parcels/projects done by them were not on the original list, but were added upon completion; and 3) site condition and weather help determine whether we can work on a given project on a given day, and we do our best to find alternate parcels of similar value/priority, even if not on the original parcel list, to maximize efficiency.  Especially when it comes to weather issues (usually ‘too wet’), often large areas affected.  The flexibility of the Roving Crew allowed them to do same enhancement work, but on WMAs in nearby counties not as affected by the weather. For all these reasons, we added a number of sites in counties not originally included in the parcel list.  Although it can make reporting challenging, we feel this dynamic flexibility is one of the strengths of our Roving Crews and our contracting process.  While many appropriations highlight specific projects, “what” they did, we feel the strength of this appropriation is in the cumulative effect of many small projects and “how” we did it.  Specifically, we did a lot of this work by developing the Region 4 (Southern) DNR Roving Crew.  This crew is located at Lac Qui Parle.  As part of developing a new crew, office and shop space had to be developed, crews hired, and those crews needed to be equipped.  That was followed by a steep learning curve as the crew coalesced and began working on projects.  These crews only do habitat work.  We try to minimize the time spent with paperwork, office work, budgets, etc, so that they can fully devote their time to ‘boots on the ground’ habitat enhancement projects.  At the same time, there were some inclement weather patterns during these years that limited the activities of the crews during some periods.  Even given those unavoidable issues, the appropriation exceeded its target acres.  It is our assessment that these initial years are the slowest and therefore least productive.  This crew, as well as the other two, are all functioning as highly efficient teams.  The rest of the work was done with contractors, which stimulates local rural economies.  According to the research literature, we actually underestimating the acres enhanced, especially as it relates to woody removal projects.  Numerous studies show it’s not just the area ‘under the trees’ that impact grassland birds, but the area around the woody vegetation.  Some species simply won’t nest near woody cover and other studies show high nest predation (gamebird) or brood parasitism (songbirds) rates near woody cover.  By removing even a few trees from the center of a grassland, we are actually enhancing the entire area.  Snyder (1984) found that pheasant nest success double greater than 600 meters from a tree.  That means for every tree, or clump of trees, removed we are effectively enhancing nesting success in the surrounding 280 acres of grassland.Although this appropriation focused on the Roving Crew, we can highlight a couple projects as small examples of all the work that we are proud of.  Glenflur WMA – Cottonwood County.  This 165 acre tree removal project substantially opened up this tract.  This WMA is part of the Cottonwood River Prairie Core Area and contains areas of unbroken prairie.  This site had not experienced significance disturbance, other than heavy grazing, in several decades.  A lack of disturbance had allowed tree succession to begin to invade. Prairie Bush Clover and Loggerhead Shrike are SGCN noted in this area.Lac qui Parle WMA-Nygard Tract – Swift County.  This tract is part of the larger Chippewa Prairie on the Lac qui Parle WMA and is part of a Prairie Plan Core Area.  This remnant prairie had been moderately grazed and had not seen disturbance by fire in decades.  Woody encroachment was beginning to take hold prior to this project.  Through a combination of tree removal, prescribed burning and grazing this site is now in good condition with sightings of several native prairie species that were suppressed due to lack of disturbance from fire.  This area has recent sightings of Marbled Godwits, Slender Milk Vetch, Loggerhead Shrike and Upland Sandpipers.The SNA Program was able to start a series of contracted woody removal projects at Swede’s Forest SNA.  Swede’s Forest is home to a large population of the rare five-lined skink.  The management being completed here is focused on removal of encroaching red cedar and invasive buckthorn, improving habitat not only for the five-lined skink but also for the multiple other wildlife species that call this site home.Additionally, SNA staff, with support of CCM, were able to conduct a 109 acre prescribed burn at Prairie Coteau SNA.  Prairie Coteau SNA is one of the most important and stunning prairies in southwestern Minnesota.  This prescribed burn helped improve habitat for grassland gamebird species found on the site in addition to the rare non-game species.It was difficult to assign an exact dollar figure to each person and each project.  What I did was take the total personnel budget, identify the ratio of FTE/years, and scale the personnel budget to that ratio.  I used the same approach on the parcel list.  I took the total budget and total acres, identified percentage of acres for each project relative to the acre total, and assigned the ratio of funds to that project. ",2011-07-01,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Greg,Hoch,"MN DNR","500 Lafayette Rd","St. Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5230,greg.hoch@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Anoka, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Isanti, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Otter Tail, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Swift, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Washington, Watonwan, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-prairie-restoration-and-enhancement-dnr-lands-phase-3,,,,
2536,"Accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area Program, Phase 3",2012,9815000,"ML 2011, First Special Session, Ch. 6, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(h)","$9,815,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to accelerate the acquisition of wetlands and grasslands to be added to the waterfowl production area system in Minnesota in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Protect in Fee 465 acres of wetland and 1,802 acres of prairies",,5896500,"PF, FWS, Federal Operation Funds",9815000,,,9.37,"Pheasants Forever","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This program accelerated the permanent protection of 2,267 acres of wetlands (465 acres) and grasslands (1,802 acres) as Waterfowl Production Areas open to public hunting in Minnesota. Over the course of the appropriation, PF acquired 18 parcels for a total of 2,267 acres which exceeded our total acre goal of 2,250 acres by 17 acres. Breaking down acres by ecological section we exceeded our acre goal for both the metropolitan area by 61 acres and in the prairie area by 346 acres. We have exceeded anticipated match of $5,125,000 by $771,500. We have a balance of $88,200 that will be returned to the Fund despite exceeding our acre goals which demonstrates the high level of efficiency which Pheasants Forever operates at. In total, we under-spent on our budget, over delivered on acre goals, and over delivered on match leverage received.",,"Final ReportWorking in close collaboration with partners, Pheasants Forever acquired 2,267 acres of strategic habitat that builds onto existing protected lands and/or develops corridors for wildlife.  All lands acquired have been enrolled into the Federal Waterfowl Production Area (WPA) Program and will be protected and managed in perpetuity by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).  We have worked together with federal, state and local partners when acquiring the 18 parcels which will now be celebrated as new WPAs.  These new WPAs not only provides access and recreational opportunities for all Minnesotans, but helps reduce erosion, improve water filtration, and provide quality habitat for many of Minnesota's non-game species.  The offers to the landowner were based on fair market values and appraisals.  The acquired parcels addressed a backlog of willing sellers that now are helping slow the loss, degradation, and fragmentation of habitat in Minnesota.  Parcels were identified jointly with the USFWS, ranked, and prioritized on habitat goals and feasibility.  Pheasants Forever's methods are formed around the principle of accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area program in MN by targeting only the best available habitat with willing sellers.  We utilize local partner expertise to focus on building a system of interconnected wildlife complexes that create habitat mosaics.  We also utilize the latest geospatial layers to help determine factors such as: habitat restoration potential, landscape scale significance, presence of rare features and native habitat, and how these acquisitions fit into other priorities for our partners such as the MN Prairie Conservation Plan, the Pheasant Action Plan, or the State Wildlife Action Plan.  All parcels acquired were restored and/or enhanced to as a high quality as practicable. The grassland restoration included using a broadcast or drill seeded method with a diverse mix of native grasses and forb species. Wetland restorations included using a combination of tile breaking, sediment removal, dike construction, and water control structures. Scattered invasive tree removal and prescribed fire were used where appropriate to enhance existing grassland habitat after protection.",2011-07-20,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Eran,Sandquist,"Pheasants Forever","410 Lincoln Avenue South","South Haven",MN,55382,612-532-3800,esandquist@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Blue Earth, Clay, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Meeker, Murray, Otter Tail, Pope, Rice, Sibley, Wright","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerating-waterfowl-production-area-program-phase-3,,,,
2540,"Accelerated Forest Habitat Enhancement, Phase 2",2012,826000,"ML 2011, First Special Session, Ch. 6, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 3(c )","$826,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore and enhance lands in state forests, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 89.021.",,"Restored 24 acres and Enhanced 11,066 acres of Forest",,,,824400,10400,,0.03,"MN DNR","State Government","This program of on-the-ground conservation projects increased the wildlife and ecological values of forest communities on Minnesota's public forestlands. Restoration and enhancement projects in this program enhanced more than 10,000 acres of forest.",,"The projects in this program were designed to address the following management objectives:1.  Enhance forest communities by altering the plant species composition and/or structure.  These projects were accomplished by, for example, conducting hand release to enhance the growth of Northern red oak saplings and trees to increase mast available for wildlife, and meet the Forest Planning goal to FRMP goal of ""improving  the regeneration and increasing the presence of oak and pine across the landscape.""2.  Enhance brushland habitat by altering the plant species structure and/or composition.  Shearing projects were performed on lowland brush to set back succession in mature willow stands to improve cover and forage for deer and moose, and to enhance nesting and brood rearing habitat for a variety of game and non-game brushland dependent avian species. Perpetuation of the brushland component of the Aspen Parklands landscape helped to predispose these stands to future management with prescribed fire.This program worked to enhance oak regeneration and create a mix of young hardwood forest with more open meadow/brush lands to benefit grouse, elk, and deer.  Enhancement of conifer stands and mixed hardwood/conifer forests provided habitat for fisher and marten, and thermal cover for deer and moose. Shearing of trees and brush in large open landscape priority areas enhanced habitat for sharp-tailed grouse. Shearing and mowing of hardwoods and brush in smaller patches enhanced habitat for woodcock and deer.The program also enhanced habitat for a number of nongame species, including yellow rails, sandhill cranes, northern harriers, bobolinks, and sandpipers.  Activities that created/enhanced forest openings provided habitat for nongame species, including least chipmunks, northern flickers, coopers hawks, and song sparrows. Some of the less intensive timber management in our program helped protect rare native plant communities and a number of nongame species through retention and enhancement of plant species diversity and structure.",2011-07-20,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Bob,Welsh,DNR,"500 Lafayette Rd","St. Paul",MN,55155,651-259-5169,bob.welsh@state.mn.us,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hubbard, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Marshall, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Olmsted, Roseau, St. Louis, Stearns, Wadena, Winona","Forest Prairie Transition, Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/accelerated-forest-habitat-enhancement-phase-2,,,,
2911,"Change and Resilience in Boreal Forests in Northern Minnesota",2012,75000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 03i","$75,000 the first year and $75,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to assess the potential response of northern Minnesota's boreal forests to observed and predicted changes in climate conditions and develop related management guidelines and adaptation strategies. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,75000,,,1.69,"University of Minnesota","Public College/University","PROJECT OVERVIEW Boreal forests of spruce, fir, paper birch, aspen, and jack pine cover more than two million acres of northern Minnesota, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. These forests are near the southern edge of their geographic range. With a warmer climate the health and productivity of these forests may be jeopardized by increased stresses such as heat, drought, fires, storms, and insect pests resulting in a much different forest ecosystem for northern Minnesota in the future. Scientists at the University of Minnesota's Department of Forest Resources are using this appropriation to evaluate how these forests are poised to respond to these changes and obtain the necessary data to guide forest management and planning efforts, such as determining practices that will help fend off threats from invasive species. OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS This project addressed the stewardship of forests in Minnesota's most renowned and iconic natural area - the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) - under a changing climate. Forests of the BWCAW are at the very southern edge of the boreal forest biome (cold adapted forests of spruce, fir, pine, birch and aspen), with temperate forest species (primarily red maple) from the south, as well as exotic invasive species poised to invade in a warming climate. The purpose of the study was to map these species and temperatures across the BWCAW to gain insight into change that may occur in the BWCAW as the climate warms. For this purpose, PhD student David Chaffin placed 106 temperature sensors across the landscape, which measured temperature hourly for two years, accompanied by 106 plots on which all tree species abundances were measured. Also, 100 transects totaling nearly 16 miles in length were placed across the landscape to sample for the presence of temperate tree species and invasive species. Results show that European earthworms are a common invasive group of species; about 70%, and 33% of the forests within the BWCAW are at minimal and high stages of invasion, respectively. Earthworm invasion is related to distances from campsites, portage trails and motorized lakes, but not to temperature. Summer (June, July and August) daily maximum temperatures show a west (warm) to east (cool) gradient of about 12-13 degrees F across the BWCAW. Red maple abundance was positively related to summer temperature, being highest in the west. The main synthesis from all of the data collected during the project is that boreal conifers like black spruce, balsam fir, and jack pine may find a cool-temperature refuge and persist in the eastern BWCAW, even in a very warm future climate, but would be co-dominant with expanding red maple populations. Earthworms will continue to expand and facilitate these changes in tree species composition. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION<The project was highlighted in presentations by project manager Frelich several prominent venues:Minnesota Soil and Water Conservation Districts webinar (statewide audience of MSAWCD staff), October 2, 2013;The National Extension Educators Workshop, Cloquet, MN October 29, 2013;Minnesota Climate Change Adaptation Workshop, Science Museum of Minnesota November 7, 2013 (very broad audience including many land managers from throughout the state; this also resulted in coverage in the Star Tribune and Minnesota Public Radio);Climate Science Workshop for Teachers, University of Minnesota St.Paul Campus, November 9, 2013;discussions with state staff directors in offices of U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, December 11, 2013;Citizens Climate Lobby (Training in climate impacts on northern forests for ca 120 people, Minneapolis, January 25, 2014);Jackson Middle School (A science immersion school in Champlin, MN), Expert Day presentations and workshops with ca 50 students, January 29, 2014;Osher Life Long Learning Institute, Coffman Union, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, lecture to ca 40 retired faculty, February 28, 2014;Minnesota Master Naturalist Annual Meeting Keynote to ca 150 people, May 16, 2014, Camp Friendship, MN; andClimate change adaptation planning workshop for National Park Service staff at Voyageurs NP, July 30, 2014, also attended by U.S. Forest Service and other agency personnel.Publication in the form of a PhD thesis (David Chaffin) and at least 3 peer-reviewed journal articles will follow within about 2 years.",,"Final Report",2011-07-01,2014-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Lee,Frelich,"U of MN","1530 N Cleveland Ave","St Paul",MN,55108,"(612) 624-3671",freli001@umn.edu,"Analysis/Interpretation, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Inventory, Mapping, Modeling, Research, Technical Assistance","University of Minnesota ",,"Cook, Lake, St. Louis",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/change-and-resilience-boreal-forests-northern-minnesota,,,,
2911,"Change and Resilience in Boreal Forests in Northern Minnesota",2013,75000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 03i","$75,000 the first year and $75,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to assess the potential response of northern Minnesota's boreal forests to observed and predicted changes in climate conditions and develop related management guidelines and adaptation strategies. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,75000,,,1.69,"University of Minnesota","Public College/University","PROJECT OVERVIEW Boreal forests of spruce, fir, paper birch, aspen, and jack pine cover more than two million acres of northern Minnesota, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. These forests are near the southern edge of their geographic range. With a warmer climate the health and productivity of these forests may be jeopardized by increased stresses such as heat, drought, fires, storms, and insect pests resulting in a much different forest ecosystem for northern Minnesota in the future. Scientists at the University of Minnesota's Department of Forest Resources are using this appropriation to evaluate how these forests are poised to respond to these changes and obtain the necessary data to guide forest management and planning efforts, such as determining practices that will help fend off threats from invasive species. OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS This project addressed the stewardship of forests in Minnesota's most renowned and iconic natural area - the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) - under a changing climate. Forests of the BWCAW are at the very southern edge of the boreal forest biome (cold adapted forests of spruce, fir, pine, birch and aspen), with temperate forest species (primarily red maple) from the south, as well as exotic invasive species poised to invade in a warming climate. The purpose of the study was to map these species and temperatures across the BWCAW to gain insight into change that may occur in the BWCAW as the climate warms. For this purpose, PhD student David Chaffin placed 106 temperature sensors across the landscape, which measured temperature hourly for two years, accompanied by 106 plots on which all tree species abundances were measured. Also, 100 transects totaling nearly 16 miles in length were placed across the landscape to sample for the presence of temperate tree species and invasive species. Results show that European earthworms are a common invasive group of species; about 70%, and 33% of the forests within the BWCAW are at minimal and high stages of invasion, respectively. Earthworm invasion is related to distances from campsites, portage trails and motorized lakes, but not to temperature. Summer (June, July and August) daily maximum temperatures show a west (warm) to east (cool) gradient of about 12-13 degrees F across the BWCAW. Red maple abundance was positively related to summer temperature, being highest in the west. The main synthesis from all of the data collected during the project is that boreal conifers like black spruce, balsam fir, and jack pine may find a cool-temperature refuge and persist in the eastern BWCAW, even in a very warm future climate, but would be co-dominant with expanding red maple populations. Earthworms will continue to expand and facilitate these changes in tree species composition. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION<The project was highlighted in presentations by project manager Frelich several prominent venues:Minnesota Soil and Water Conservation Districts webinar (statewide audience of MSAWCD staff), October 2, 2013;The National Extension Educators Workshop, Cloquet, MN October 29, 2013;Minnesota Climate Change Adaptation Workshop, Science Museum of Minnesota November 7, 2013 (very broad audience including many land managers from throughout the state; this also resulted in coverage in the Star Tribune and Minnesota Public Radio);Climate Science Workshop for Teachers, University of Minnesota St.Paul Campus, November 9, 2013;discussions with state staff directors in offices of U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, December 11, 2013;Citizens Climate Lobby (Training in climate impacts on northern forests for ca 120 people, Minneapolis, January 25, 2014);Jackson Middle School (A science immersion school in Champlin, MN), Expert Day presentations and workshops with ca 50 students, January 29, 2014;Osher Life Long Learning Institute, Coffman Union, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, lecture to ca 40 retired faculty, February 28, 2014;Minnesota Master Naturalist Annual Meeting Keynote to ca 150 people, May 16, 2014, Camp Friendship, MN; andClimate change adaptation planning workshop for National Park Service staff at Voyageurs NP, July 30, 2014, also attended by U.S. Forest Service and other agency personnel.Publication in the form of a PhD thesis (David Chaffin) and at least 3 peer-reviewed journal articles will follow within about 2 years.",,"Final Report",2011-07-01,2014-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Lee,Frelich,"U of MN","1530 N Cleveland Ave","St Paul",MN,55108,"(612) 624-3671",freli001@umn.edu,"Analysis/Interpretation, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Inventory, Mapping, Modeling, Research, Technical Assistance","University of Minnesota ",,"Cook, Lake, St. Louis",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/change-and-resilience-boreal-forests-northern-minnesota,,,,
9468,"City Park",2012,82000,"M.L. 2011 First Special Session Ch. 6 Art. 3 Sec. 3(c) (1) & M.S. 85.535","$7331000 the first year and $7686000 the second year are for grants under Minnesota Statutes section 85.535 to acquire develop improve and restore parks and trails of regional or statewide significance outside of the metropolitan area as defined in Minnesota Statutes section 473.121 subdivision 2.",,,,,,,,,,"City of Aitkin",,"Acquire approximately 50.4 acre expansion to existing 8.9-acre park along the Ripple River to be operated as a regional park.",,,2012-02-07,2014-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Joe,Hiller,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5538",joe.hiller@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Aitkin,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/city-park,,,,
9822,"Coldwater Fish Habitat Enhancement , Phase 4",2013,2120000,"ML 2012, Ch. 264, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(e)","$2,120,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Trout Unlimited to restore and enhance coldwater fish lake, river, and stream habitats in Minnesota. A list of proposed restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Enhanced 347 acres of habitats ",,,"n/a ",2080000,,,.70,"MN Trout Unlimited","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Minnesota Trout Unlimited enhanced in-stream and riparian fish and wildlife habitat in and along coldwater streams and lakes located on public lands and Aquatic Management Areas.  We originally proposed 11 projects, yet completed 13 projects. Contracting efficiencies and leveraging of other funding allowed us to add three more habitat enhancement projects in northeast Minnesota and to lengthen others.  One small budget project was dropped when a partner changed the scope from 144 acres to less than 15 and proposed costs outweighed the potential benefit. Despite dropping that project we finished with 89% of the proposed acres being achieved (347 acres completed versus 388 acres proposed).",,"The projects completed with Fy2013 funding used methods similar to those used on projects completed by MNTU chapters in the past several years and also incorporated new research to improve project designs and fish and wildlife benefits. The specific fish habitat enhancement methods used on each stream varied depending upon the distinct natural resource characteristics of each watershed and ecological region, the limiting factors identified for each stream, and the variations in the type and magnitude of poor land uses practices within each watershed. MNTU tailored each project accordingly, using the best available science, in close consultation with resource professionals within the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (“MNDNR”). Purposes: Each project was designed and completed using techniques selected to accomplish one or more of the following purposes: (a) reduce stream bank erosion and associated sedimentation downstream; (b) reconnect streams to their floodplains to reduce negative resource impacts from severe flooding; (c) increase natural reproduction of trout and other aquatic organisms; (d) maintain or increase adult trout abundance; (e) increase habitat and biodiversity for both invertebrates and other non-game species; (f) be long lasting with minimal maintenance required; (g) improve angler access and participation; (h) improve lake productivity for trout species; and (i) protect productive trout waters from undesirable invasive species. Habitat enhancement methods: Methods used on each project included one or more of the following techniques: (1) sloping back stream banks to both remove accumulated sediments eroded from uplands areas and better reconnect the stream to its floodplain; (2) removing undesirable woody vegetation (invasive box elder, buckthorn, etc.) from riparian corridors to enable removal of accumulated sediments, reduce competition with desirable plant and grass species, and allow beneficial energy inputs (sunlight) to reach the streams; (3) stabilizing eroding stream banks using vegetation and/or rock; (4) selectively installing overhead and other in-stream cover for trout; (5) installing soil erosion prevention measures; (6) mulching and seeding exposed stream banks (including with native prairie plant species where appropriate and feasible); (7) improving or maintaining stream access roads and stream crossings to reduce erosion; (8) fencing grassy riparian corridors, including in such a way as to facilitate managed grazing, in order to prevent damage from over grazing; (9) placing large logs in northern forested streams to restore cover logs removed a half century or more ago; and (10) in northern forested watersheds with little cold groundwater, planting desirable trees in riparian areas to provide shade for the stream channel and help cool the water. Agricultural area example: Many streams in the agricultural areas of southern and central Minnesota have been negatively impacted by many decades of poor land management practices. The projects in southeast Minnesota used the following approach to address this: Erosion has led to wider, shallower and warmer streams, as well as excessive streamside sediments which regularly erode, covering food production and trout reproduction areas. In many cases shallow rooted invasive trees have taken over the riparian corridors, out competing native vegetation which better secures soils, and reducing energy inputs to the stream ecosystem. To remedy this, a typical enhancement project will involve several steps. First, invasive trees are removed from the riparian zone and steep, eroding banks are graded by machinery to remove excess sediments deposited here from upland areas. Importantly, this reconnects the stream to its floodplain. Since many of these agricultural watersheds still experience periodic severe flooding, select portions of the stream banks are then reinforced with indigenous rock. In lower gradient watersheds, or watersheds where flows are more stable, little or no rock is used. After enhancement work is completed the streams flow faster and become deeper, keeping them cooler and providing natural overhead cover through depth and the scouring of sediments deposited by decades of erosion. Second, overhead cover habitat is created. Bank degradation and the removal of native prairie have dramatically decreased protective overhead cover in the riparian zone. Two methods are used to remedy this situation: increasing the stream’s depth, which alone provides natural cover to trout, and installing overhead cover structures in select stream banks. Wooden structures are often installed into banks in hydraulically suitable locations and reinforced with rock as a way to restore or recreate the undercut banks which had existed before settlement and agricultural land use altered the more stable flows which had gradually created and maintained them. Finally, vegetation is reestablished in the re-graded riparian corridor to further stabilize banks and act as buffer strips to improve water quality. Depending upon the specific site conditions, landowner cooperation, and agricultural use, native prairie grasses may be planted along the stream corridors, although often mixed with fast sprouting annual grains to anchor soils the first year. Taken together, these actions directly enhance physical habitat, and typically increase overall trout abundance, population structure, the number of larger trout, and levels of successful natural reproduction. In addition to the benefits to anglers of increased trout habitat and trout abundance, project benefits extending well downstream include reduced erosion and sedimentation, cooler water temperatures, improved water quality and numerous benefits to aquatic and terrestrial wildlife populations. ",2012-07-01,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,John,Lenczewski,"Minnesota Trout Unlimited","P.O. Box 845",Chanhassen,MN,55346,"(612) 670-1629",jlenczewski@comcast.net,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Cook, Fillmore, Goodhue, Lake, Olmsted, Wabasha, Winona","Northern Forest, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/coldwater-fish-habitat-enhancement-phase-4,,,,
9826,"Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program, Phase 4",2013,4990000,"ML 2012, Ch. 264, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(i)","$4,990,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for a program to provide competitive, matching grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, state, and national organizations for enhancing, restoring, or protecting forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. Grants shall not be made for activities required to fulfill the duties of owners of lands subject to conservation easements. Grants shall not be made from = appropriations in this paragraph for projects that have a total project cost exceeding $575,000. $366,000 of this appropriation may be spent for personnel costs and other direct and necessary administrative costs. Grantees may acquire land or interests in land. Easements must be permanent. Land acquired in fee must be open to hunting and fishing during the open season unless otherwise provided by state law. The program shall require a match of at least ten percent from nonstate sources for all grants. The match may be cash or in-kind resources. For grant applications of $25,000 or less, the commissioner shall provide a separate, simplified application process. Subject to Minnesota Statutes, the commissioner of natural resources shall, when evaluating projects of equal value, give priority to organizations that have a history of receiving or charter to receive private contributions for local conservation or habitat projects. If acquiring land or a conservation easement, priority shall be given to projects associated with existing wildlife management areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8; scientific and natural areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 84.033 and 86A.05, subdivision 5; and aquatic management areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02. All restoration or enhancement projects must be on land permanently protected by a conservation easement or public ownership or in public waters as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 103G.005, subdivision 15. Priority shall be given to restoration and enhancement projects on public lands. Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 13, applies to grants awarded under this paragraph. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2016. No less than five percent of the amount of each grant must be held back from reimbursement until the grant recipient has completed a grant accomplishment report by the deadline and in the form prescribed by and satisfactory to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. The commissioner shall provide notice of the grant program in the game and fish law summaries that are prepared under Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.051, subdivision 2.",,"Restored 4,933 acres, Protected 665 Acres, and Enhanced 44,797 acres for a total of 50,395 acres.",,915500,"Grantee match",4571600,6000,,3,DNR,"State Government","The Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program, managed by the Department of Natural Resources, provided 56 competitive matching grants to non-profit organizations and governments, appropriating all the available ML12 funds.",,"The Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program (CPL) is managed by the MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to provide competitive matching grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, state, and national non-profit organizations, including governments. Grant activities include the enhancement, restoration, or protection of forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. A 10% match from non-state sources is required for all grants. CPL Program Staff solicited applications and worked with applicants to submit applications, oversaw the grant selection process, prepared and executed grant documents, reviewed expenditure documentation, made reimbursement payments, monitored grant work, assisted recipients with closing out their agreements, and prepared reports as required by LSOHC. Applicants describe the location of the work (county and ecological subsection), activity type, and habitat in their application. They also describe how their actions will benefit habitat and fish, game and wildlife. For acquisition projects, applicants describe their parcel selection process. Funds for projects under this appropriation were available until June 30, 2016. In administering this program, the DNR complied with the Department of Administration - Office of Grants Management policies. Stakeholders were involved in this proposal as applicants or reviewers (if no conflict of interest exists). There is no known stakeholder opposition to this program. A Request for Proposal (RFP) was posted on the CPL website in August, 2012. This document contained grant program information, application requirements and scoring criteria, grant reporting requirements, and state agency contacts. A list of ECP Projects and criteria for each was developed by conservation biologists so grant applicants could easily apply and receive funding for commonly-accepted restoration and enhancement conservation projects. The RFP and grant agreements incorporated appropriate principles and criteria from LSOHC’s FY13 Call for Funding Requests and associated legislation. Simplified application processes were in place for applicants requesting up to $25,000 or ECP grants. Grants were selected for funding once in the full for the Traditional cycle, and ECP applications were approved continuously throughout the year by CPL staff. CPL staff reviewed applications to make sure they were complete and met grant program requirements. Technical Review Committee(s), selected by the Commissioner of Natural Resources, reviewed and scored applications based on established criteria. These committees included representatives from DNR, BWSR, the University of MN, state universities or private colleges, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and other appropriate members from government, non-profit organizations, and private businesses. A final ranking committee made up of the Directors of the DNR Divisions of Fish and Wildlife, Ecological Resources/Waters, and Forestry considered TRC, Division and Regional DNR comments, and recommended projects and funding levels to the Commissioner of Natural Resources. The Commissioner made the final decisions on all projects funded and funding levels. Efforts were made to evenly distribute the selected grants by geographic location and activity. CPL staff worked with grantees to ensure financial reviews, grant agreements, and any other necessary paperwork was completed. Grantees submitted annual accomplishment reports, accounting for the use of grant and match funds, and outcomes in measures of wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat restored, enhanced, and protected. The report also included an evaluation of these results. A final report was required by all grantees. CPL staff submitted accomplishment reports to LSOHC. Accomplishment information was also posted on the CPL website. Grant administration costs were billed using actual costs. These costs included salary and fringe for grants staff, direct support services, travel, supplies, and expense. An internal Service Level Agreement (SLA) was developed with DNR’s Management Information Systems to update and manage the online grant application system. (This budget item is included in the Contracts line in the attached Budget Table.) Applicants were required to budget for DNR Land Acquisition costs that are necessary to support the land acquisition process for parcels to be conveyed to the DNR. The Division of Fish and Wildlife staff provided ongoing technical guidance. This technical guidance helped applicants prepare grant proposals, and helped grantees meet requirements for working on state lands. Additional technical guidance was provided for land acquisitions, program planning and management, accounting and grantee payment. Grantees were paid on a reimbursement or “for services rendered” basis. Grantees must provide proof that the work was completed or a purchase made in order to receive payment. Grantees were required to provide a 10% match from nonstate sources. All match was verified before final grant payment were made.",2012-07-01,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Jessica,Lee,DNR,"500 Lafayette Rd","St. Paul",MN,55155-4020,651-259-5233,jessica.lee@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Becker, Brown, Carlton, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Douglas, Faribault, Goodhue, Grant, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kittson, Lake, Lincoln, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Nobles, Otter Tail, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Renville, Rock, Sherburne, St. Louis, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Wilkin","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/conservation-partners-legacy-grant-program-phase-4,,,,
32148,"Cuyuna State Recreation Area acquisition",2012,,"M.L. 2011 First Special Session Ch. 6 Art. 3 Sec. 3(a)(2)","Sec. 3. Department of Natural Resources (a)$14262000 the first year and $14603000 the second year are for state parks recreation areas and trails to: (1)Connect people to the outdoors; (2)Acquire land and create opportunities; (3)Maintain existing holdings; and (4)Improve cooperation by coordinating with partners to implement the 25-year long-range parks and trails legacy plan",,,,,,,,,,,,"This project acquired ~40 acres of land for the Cuyuna State Recreation Area, and may serve to expand recreational trails or other amenities in the future.",,,2012-05-30,2013-05-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Jennifer,Christie,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5633",jennifer.christie@state.mn.us,,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Crow Wing",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/cuyuna-state-recreation-area-acquisition,,,,
2909,"Determining Causes of Mortality in Moose Populations",2012,300000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 03f","$300,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to determine specific causes of moose mortality and population decline in Minnesota and to develop specific management actions to prevent further population decline. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2015, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".",,5000,,300000,,,3.81,"MN DNR","State Government","PROJECT OVERVIEW Moose, one of Minnesota's prized wildlife species, are dying at much higher rates in Minnesota than elsewhere in North America. Recently observed increases in mortality rates amongst some moose in northeastern Minnesota have led to concern that the population there may be starting a decline like that seen in the northwestern part of the state, where moose populations fell from over 4,000 to fewer than 100 in less than 20 years. Additionally the specific causes of increased mortality amongst individual moose, such as potential nutritional factors, remain unknown. Scientists at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are using this appropriation to investigate the actual cause of death in recovered individual moose and determine what other factors may also be contributing. Once these causes of death and contributing factors are identified, it may be possible to implement management actions to address the overall population decline and help maintain healthy populations of moose in the state.",,"Work Plan",2011-07-01,2015-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Erika,Butler,"MN DNR","5463C W Broadway","Forest Lake",MN,55025,"(651) 296-2662",erika.butler@state.mn.us,"Analysis/Interpretation, Assessment/Evaluation, Inventory, Mapping, Monitoring, Research","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Cook, Lake, St. Louis",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/determining-causes-mortality-moose-populations,,,,
2909,"Determining Causes of Mortality in Moose Populations",2013,300000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 03f","$300,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to determine specific causes of moose mortality and population decline in Minnesota and to develop specific management actions to prevent further population decline. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2015, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Work Plan"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,300000,,,3.8,"MN DNR","State Government","PROJECT OVERVIEW Moose, one of Minnesota's prized wildlife species, are dying at much higher rates in Minnesota than elsewhere in North America. Recently observed increases in mortality rates amongst some moose in northeastern Minnesota have led to concern that the population there may be starting a decline like that seen in the northwestern part of the state, where moose populations fell from over 4,000 to fewer than 100 in less than 20 years. Additionally the specific causes of increased mortality amongst individual moose, such as potential nutritional factors, remain unknown. Scientists at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are using this appropriation to investigate the actual cause of death in recovered individual moose and determine what other factors may also be contributing. Once these causes of death and contributing factors are identified, it may be possible to implement management actions to address the overall population decline and help maintain healthy populations of moose in the state.",,"Work Plan",2011-07-01,2015-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund","In Progress",,,Erika,Butler,"MN DNR","5463C W Broadway","Forest Lake",MN,55025,"(651) 296-2662",erika.butler@state.mn.us,"Analysis/Interpretation, Assessment/Evaluation, Inventory, Mapping, Monitoring, Research","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Cook, Lake, St. Louis",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/determining-causes-mortality-moose-populations,,,,
9818,"DNR Aquatic Habitat Program, Phase 4",2013,3480000,"ML 2012, Ch. 264, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(a)","$3,480,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire interests in land in fee or permanent conservation easements for aquatic management areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02, and to restore and enhance aquatic habitat. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The accomplishment plan must include an easement stewardship plan. Up to $25,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund and a description of annual monitoring and enforcement activities.",,"Restored 66 acres, protected in fee 58 acres and protected in easement 93 acres of habitat ",,2736400,"Mix of cash and in-kind time from Olmsted County, City of Orononco, and Dam Safety bonding money contributed towards the Zumbro River project, Landowner donation, RIM, Game and Fish Fund, and Fish and Wildlife Acquisition Account. ",3480000,,,1,DNR,"State Government","We used a programmatic approach to achieve prioritized aquatic habitat protection, restoration, and enhancement for lakes, trout streams, and rivers across all LSOHC planning regions of Minnesota.",,"This appropriation funded a mixture of restoration, enhancement, and protection of aquatic habitat by the DNR. We were successful in completing our proposed projects, and in meeting may of the goals included in our accomplishment plan. The different projects accomplished from this appropriation are summarized below.Habitat protection was accomplished using a mixture of fee title and easement acquisition. For easements we purchased 11 parcels on trout streams located on either the North Shore or in southeast Minnesota. Easements will protect 5.3 miles of stream and 94 acres of habitat. Fee title acquisition protected 5 parcels of lakeshore, including one parcel that was purchased with funds from both ML2011 and ML2012 funding. Acreage and shoreline feet protected have been pro-rated between appropriations based in their respective contribution to the purchase price. A total of 2.6 miles of shoreline and 58 acres of habitat are protected by these parcels. The amount of habitat protected in easement and fee title falls short of our proposed outcomes for this appropriation. Because land values vary across the state it is difficult to anticipate how much habitat can be protected for a given amount of money. It is also hard to anticipate the amount of landowner donation we will receive. We were successful in leveraging an additional $1.3 million toward protection work from a mixture of sources, including landowner donation.The Mille Lacs Lake shoreland enhancement involved the removal of breakwall from a former marina that is now a DNR Aquatic Management Area. Breakwall was removed along 455 feet of shore and returned to a natural shoreline, with native riparian vegetation planted in all areas. This habitat will benefit fish species using the nearshore area of the lake as well as other wildlife such as birds, reptiles and amphibians that use a mixture of nearshore and riparian habitat.The Kingsbury Creek stream restoration project removed masonry walls that had been built along the banks through that reach and were limiting habitat. The project also included constructed a new stream channel through a reach that had previously been impounded by a dam. The stream channel was resized to appropriate dimensions, and habitat structures such as toe wood, rootwads, and cross vanes were installed. The project will benefit resident brook trout as well as steelhead that spawn and rear juveniles in Kingsbury Creek.A fish passage project at Shell Lake converted a dam into an arch-rapids, allowing fish to migrate in and out of the lake freely. Fish passage is especially important at Shell Lake, which is subject to occasional partial winter-kills. Recolonization from the Shell River will help the lake to recover from these events. This project was added to our original accomplishment plan and completed using surplus funds realized due to cost savings from other projects.A second stream habitat enhancement project was done using surplus funds. This one was located on the Pomme de Terre River, where a riffle and adjoining streambank was enhanced to provide better habitat in a former reservoir where the dam had been removed several years previous.Backwater habitat on the Mississippi River within Weaver Bottoms was enhanced to create critical backwater habitat that had been lost due to decades of sedimentation. The deepwater habitat is critical for many fish species such as bluegill and black crappie that over-winter there. The nine acres of newly enhanced habitat has shown high use by Mississippi River fish, and anglers have taken notice and are using the area as well.This appropriation funded a portion (along with the DNR's ML2013 Aquatic Habitat) of the restoration of the Middle Fork of the Zumbro River through a former impoundment known as Lake Shady. The dam had washed out in a 2011 flood, leaving behind an eroding mud flat that threatened to harm downstream reaches as it eroded, and contained poor habitat in the channels that had cut through the mud. The former dam site's grade was stabilized by creating a rapids of stable rock material, and within the former reservoir new stream channels with appropriate dimensions were constructed. Habitat in the new channels was restored to include woody material as well as rocky riffles. Re-vegetation of the surrounding reservoir sediments with native plant species will provide quality riparian and upland habitat as well. The project was completed in partnership with Olmsted County ($125,736), the city of Oronco ($83,824) and DNR Dam Safety bonding funds ($1,000,000) all contributing funding. An additional $236,540 of in-kind staff time was contributed by Olmsted County. In addition to the 147 acres of habitat restored, the project opened up access to 119 miles of stream.Stream habitat work for this appropriation and other LSOH-funded projects from other appropriations was aided by funding for a stream restoration coordinator and intern. These positions aided in survey work, design, permitting, contracting, and coordination with project partners on these complex projects. The coordinator also worked on assessing other potential projects for future LSOHC proposals.",2012-07-01,2014-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Brian,Nerbonne,"Mn Dept of Natural Resources","1601 Minnesota Drive",Brainerd,MN,56401,651-259-5205,brian.nerbonne@state.mn.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Blue Earth, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Dakota, Fillmore, Hubbard, Itasca, Kandiyohi, Le Sueur, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Redwood, Renville, Rice, St. Louis, Stearns, Wabasha, Washington","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region, Southeast Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/dnr-aquatic-habitat-program-phase-4,,,,
3927,"Evaluation of Biomass Harvesting Impacts on Minnesota’s Forests",2012,175000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 03h","$175,000 the first year and $175,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to assess the impacts biomass harvests for energy have on soil nutrients, native forest vegetation, invasive species spread, and long-term tree productivity within Minnesota's forests. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,175000,,,3.98,"University of Minnesota","Public College/University","PROJECT OVERVIEW Minnesota's forests are currently being viewed as potential feedstocks for the production of renewable energy. A primary concern about harvesting forest biomass to generate renewable energy is the long-term impacts these harvests will have on soil nutrients and long-term ecosystem production, such as forest growth, carbon storage, and wildlife habitat. With this appropriation, scientists at the University of Minnesota's Department of Forest Resources are evaluating the ecological impacts of forest biomass harvesting in northern Minnesota. Results from this effort will be used by the energy industry and forestry professionals in both the public and private sector to guide long-term management that maximizes harvesting without negatively impacting forest productivity and ecological integrity. OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS Minnesota's forests are currently being viewed as potential feedstocks for production of renewable energy. A primary concern about harvesting forest biomass to generate renewable energy is the long-term impacts these harvests will have on soil nutrients and long-term ecosystem productivity, particularly in forests growing on nutrient poor soils. This project was designed to increase our understanding of the ecological impacts of biomass harvesting through establishment of a network of research sites in forests on nutrient poor soils. Treatments representing various levels of biomass removal and live-tree retention were implemented at four large-scale (80 acre) research sites in Becker, Hubbard, and Wadena Counties and were used to evaluate the importance of post-harvest slash and live-tree retention in maintaining the resilience and sustainability of jack pine forests under different biomass harvesting regimes. Treatments included current site-level guidelines for slash retention to allow for evaluations of the effectiveness of this practice at reducing impacts on long-term soil nutrients and forest vegetation. Field measurements from these sites were used to model the long-term effects of repeated biomass removals on ecosystem productivity. Results from this project indicate that there is no difference in post-harvest slash levels between areas in which slash was retained to meet current site-level guidelines and in places in which whole trees were harvested (i.e., no slash deliberately retained). The overall levels of slash retention in these areas were half those found after similar treatments in aspen-dominated forests on nutrient rich sites, highlighting the potential for greater nutrient depletion following biomass harvesting on nutrient poor sites and suggest a need for refinement of site-level guidelines to increase retention levels for nutrient poor soils. Long-term field data and model results indicate that biomass harvests that retain less than 40% of available residues may result in lower soil carbon stocks after several harvest rotations. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION< The results of this project have been shared on numerous occasions with resource professionals, policy makers, citizens, and scientists over the past three years in efforts to inform forest conservation decisions regarding biomass harvesting impacts. These dissemination activities have included the development of a fact sheet for LCCMR members that was distributed on the LCCMR tour of Itasca State Park on July 18, 2013. In addition, an overview of the project and results were shared with private forest landowners through a University of Minnesota Extension Webinar to private forest landowners and county, state, and federal natural resource managers on December 9, 2013, as well as through a meeting of the Forest Operations and Planning Section of the Minnesota DNR Division of Forestry on January 8, 2014. Results were also presented at the Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America in Minneapolis, MN on August 5, 2013. Finally, results regarding the impact of different levels of post-harvest slash retention on soil nutrients have been discussed with members of the Minnesota Forest Resources Council and are being used to inform future guideline revisions. Publications resulting from this work are available for download from the Department of Forest Resources web site (www.forestry.umn.edu). Additional publications from this work that are currently in development will also be posted on this site and shared with LCCMR staff for dissemination.",,"Final Report",2011-07-01,2014-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Anthony,D'Amato,"U of MN","1530 N Cleveland Ave","St. Paul",MN,55108,"(612) 625-3733",damato@umn.edu,"Analysis/Interpretation, Assessment/Evaluation, Inventory, Modeling, Monitoring, Research","University of Minnesota ",,"Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Morrison, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, St. Louis, Todd, Wadena",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/evaluation-biomass-harvesting-impacts-minnesota-s-forests,,,,
3927,"Evaluation of Biomass Harvesting Impacts on Minnesota’s Forests",2013,175000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 03h","$175,000 the first year and $175,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to assess the impacts biomass harvests for energy have on soil nutrients, native forest vegetation, invasive species spread, and long-term tree productivity within Minnesota's forests. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,175000,,,3.98,"University of Minnesota","Public College/University","PROJECT OVERVIEW Minnesota's forests are currently being viewed as potential feedstocks for the production of renewable energy. A primary concern about harvesting forest biomass to generate renewable energy is the long-term impacts these harvests will have on soil nutrients and long-term ecosystem production, such as forest growth, carbon storage, and wildlife habitat. With this appropriation, scientists at the University of Minnesota's Department of Forest Resources are evaluating the ecological impacts of forest biomass harvesting in northern Minnesota. Results from this effort will be used by the energy industry and forestry professionals in both the public and private sector to guide long-term management that maximizes harvesting without negatively impacting forest productivity and ecological integrity. OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS Minnesota's forests are currently being viewed as potential feedstocks for production of renewable energy. A primary concern about harvesting forest biomass to generate renewable energy is the long-term impacts these harvests will have on soil nutrients and long-term ecosystem productivity, particularly in forests growing on nutrient poor soils. This project was designed to increase our understanding of the ecological impacts of biomass harvesting through establishment of a network of research sites in forests on nutrient poor soils. Treatments representing various levels of biomass removal and live-tree retention were implemented at four large-scale (80 acre) research sites in Becker, Hubbard, and Wadena Counties and were used to evaluate the importance of post-harvest slash and live-tree retention in maintaining the resilience and sustainability of jack pine forests under different biomass harvesting regimes. Treatments included current site-level guidelines for slash retention to allow for evaluations of the effectiveness of this practice at reducing impacts on long-term soil nutrients and forest vegetation. Field measurements from these sites were used to model the long-term effects of repeated biomass removals on ecosystem productivity. Results from this project indicate that there is no difference in post-harvest slash levels between areas in which slash was retained to meet current site-level guidelines and in places in which whole trees were harvested (i.e., no slash deliberately retained). The overall levels of slash retention in these areas were half those found after similar treatments in aspen-dominated forests on nutrient rich sites, highlighting the potential for greater nutrient depletion following biomass harvesting on nutrient poor sites and suggest a need for refinement of site-level guidelines to increase retention levels for nutrient poor soils. Long-term field data and model results indicate that biomass harvests that retain less than 40% of available residues may result in lower soil carbon stocks after several harvest rotations. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION< The results of this project have been shared on numerous occasions with resource professionals, policy makers, citizens, and scientists over the past three years in efforts to inform forest conservation decisions regarding biomass harvesting impacts. These dissemination activities have included the development of a fact sheet for LCCMR members that was distributed on the LCCMR tour of Itasca State Park on July 18, 2013. In addition, an overview of the project and results were shared with private forest landowners through a University of Minnesota Extension Webinar to private forest landowners and county, state, and federal natural resource managers on December 9, 2013, as well as through a meeting of the Forest Operations and Planning Section of the Minnesota DNR Division of Forestry on January 8, 2014. Results were also presented at the Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America in Minneapolis, MN on August 5, 2013. Finally, results regarding the impact of different levels of post-harvest slash retention on soil nutrients have been discussed with members of the Minnesota Forest Resources Council and are being used to inform future guideline revisions. Publications resulting from this work are available for download from the Department of Forest Resources web site (www.forestry.umn.edu). Additional publications from this work that are currently in development will also be posted on this site and shared with LCCMR staff for dissemination.",,"Final Report",2011-07-01,2014-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Anthony,D'Amato,"U of MN","1530 N Cleveland Ave","St. Paul",MN,55108,"(612) 625-3733",damato@umn.edu,"Analysis/Interpretation, Assessment/Evaluation, Inventory, Modeling, Monitoring, Research","University of Minnesota ",,"Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Morrison, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, St. Louis, Todd, Wadena",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/evaluation-biomass-harvesting-impacts-minnesota-s-forests,,,,
2942,"HCP VII - Shoreland Protection Program (3a)",2012,225000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 04j3a","$1,737,000 the first year and $1,738,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $125,000 the first year and $125,000 the second year are to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $3,225,000 is for agreements as follows: $637,000 the first year and $638,000 the second year with Ducks Unlimited, Inc.; $38,000 the first year and $37,000 the second year with Friends of Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District; $25,000 the first year and $25,000 the second year with Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe; $225,000 the first year and $225,000 the second year with Minnesota Land Trust; $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $242,000 the first year and $243,000 the second year with Pheasants Forever, Inc.; and $245,000 the first year and $245,000 the second year with The Trust for Public Land to plan, restore, and acquire fragmented landscape corridors that connect areas of quality habitat to sustain fish, wildlife, and plants. The United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, is an authorized cooperating partner in the appropriation. Expenditures are limited to the project corridor areas as defined in the work program. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum habitat and facility management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of habitable residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program. An entity who acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work program. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,225000,,,2.31,"Minnesota Land Trust","Non-Profit Business/Entity","With this appropriation, the Minnesota Land Trust plans to protect approximately 500 acres of critical shoreline habitat along Minnesota's lakes, wetlands, rivers, and streams by securing permanent conservation easements and dedicating funds for their perpetual monitoring, management, and enforcement. Lands being considered for permanent protection in this round of funding are located in Becker, Beltrami, Blue Earth, Itasca, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Le Sueur, Otter Tail, Pope, and Wabasha counties.OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTSIn the seventh phase of our Shorelands Protection project, the Minnesota Land Trust continued to work with landowners to secure permanent conservation easements on quality habitat along or containing critical riparian lands. We initiated or continued contact with more than 30 landowners and completed eight conservation easements. Collectively, these easements preserve approximately 700 acres of land - exceeding our original goal of 400 to 600 acres - and protect nearly 34,172 linear feet of fragile shoreline. Highlights from the eight completed projects include:One donated easement over 30 acres in Kandiyohi County that protected over 2,600 feet of natural shoreline along the Middle Fork of the Crow River.A complex of five easements surrounding five lakes in Becker County that protected approximately 474 acres and over 3 miles of undeveloped shoreline. Four of the five easements were donated to the Land Trust.One donated easement in Otter Tail County that protected 48 acres and over 2,900 feet of shoreline along Blanche Lake, immediately adjacent to Glendalough State Park.Another donated easement that protected 145 acres of forest and wetlands in Beltrami County and preserved almost two miles of shoreline along Black Lake and Three Island Lake.Overall, this phase of the grant program protected 269 acres of forest, 183 acres of wetlands, and over 6 miles of undeveloped shoreline.All eight projects met the following selection criteria:Habitat: quality and quantity of existing habitat on site; protects riparian areas and buffers water resourcesContext: proximity and relationship to other protected landsOpportunity: cost-benefit ratio: landowners willingness and readiness to participate nowOther Benefits: meeting multiple objectives, including visual and physical access, forestry goals, water quality, etc.Additionally, the Land Trust prepared baseline property reports for each easement, detailing the condition of the property for future monitoring and enforcement. To fund this required perpetual obligation, the Land Trust dedicated funds to its segregated Stewardship and Enforcement Fund for several completed projects. For these projects, we estimated the anticipated annual expenses of each project and the investment needed to generate annual income sufficient to cover these expenses in perpetuity - all in accordance with our internal policies and procedures as approved by LCCMR. We will report to LCCMR annually on the status of the Stewardship and Enforcement Fund and the easements acquired with funds from this grant. All but one of the eight easements completed under this grant were entirely donated. The value is known for only two of the donated easements, which together total $204,000 in appraised donated value under this grant. The Land Trust purchased one of the Fischer Lakes easements for the appraised value of $170,000. The cost to the State of Minnesota to complete the eight projects completed under this phase of the grant was just under $600 per acre. Cumulatively, across all phases of the HCP program, the Land Trust has completed 89 conservation easements, protecting 8,245 acres of critical habitat and more than 258,000 feet of shoreline, at a cost to the State of approximately $320 per acre. The Land Trust's work on this project continues to demonstrate the cost effectiveness of working with conservation easements to protect natural and scenic resources along Minnesota's lakes, rivers, and streams, as the cost to the State was well below the cost to purchase land along our increasingly threatened shorelines. This grant continued to generate interest among landowners, and therefore, ongoing funding will be important to sustained success. Additionally, our experiences during this phase of the grant indicate that funds to purchase easements will be necessary in the future as work becomes more targeted, selective, and focused on building complexes of protected land. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION The Land Trust disseminated information about the specific land protection projects completed under this grant though our newsletter, email updates, web site, and press releases. The Land Trust also shared information about conservation easements generally and our experience with our partner organizations, other easement holders, local communities, as well as policy makers including members of the LCCMR and LSOHC.",,"Final Report",2011-07-01,2014-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Sarah,Strommen,"Minnesota Land Trust","2356 University Ave W, Ste 240","St Paul",MN,55114,"(651) 647-9590",sstrommen@mnland.org,"Land Acquisition, Monitoring","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Beltrami, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Cass, Clay, Douglas, Faribault, Freeborn, Grant, Hubbard, Itasca, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Meeker, Otter Tail, Pope, Rice, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Todd, Waseca, Wright",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/hcp-vii-shoreland-protection-program-3a,,,,
2942,"HCP VII - Shoreland Protection Program (3a)",2013,225000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 04j3a","$1,737,000 the first year and $1,738,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $125,000 the first year and $125,000 the second year are to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $3,225,000 is for agreements as follows: $637,000 the first year and $638,000 the second year with Ducks Unlimited, Inc.; $38,000 the first year and $37,000 the second year with Friends of Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District; $25,000 the first year and $25,000 the second year with Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe; $225,000 the first year and $225,000 the second year with Minnesota Land Trust; $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $242,000 the first year and $243,000 the second year with Pheasants Forever, Inc.; and $245,000 the first year and $245,000 the second year with The Trust for Public Land to plan, restore, and acquire fragmented landscape corridors that connect areas of quality habitat to sustain fish, wildlife, and plants. The United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, is an authorized cooperating partner in the appropriation. Expenditures are limited to the project corridor areas as defined in the work program. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum habitat and facility management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of habitable residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program. An entity who acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work program. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,225000,,,2.31,"Minnesota Land Trust","Non-Profit Business/Entity","With this appropriation, the Minnesota Land Trust plans to protect approximately 500 acres of critical shoreline habitat along Minnesota's lakes, wetlands, rivers, and streams by securing permanent conservation easements and dedicating funds for their perpetual monitoring, management, and enforcement. Lands being considered for permanent protection in this round of funding are located in Becker, Beltrami, Blue Earth, Itasca, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Le Sueur, Otter Tail, Pope, and Wabasha counties.OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTSIn the seventh phase of our Shorelands Protection project, the Minnesota Land Trust continued to work with landowners to secure permanent conservation easements on quality habitat along or containing critical riparian lands. We initiated or continued contact with more than 30 landowners and completed eight conservation easements. Collectively, these easements preserve approximately 700 acres of land - exceeding our original goal of 400 to 600 acres - and protect nearly 34,172 linear feet of fragile shoreline. Highlights from the eight completed projects include:One donated easement over 30 acres in Kandiyohi County that protected over 2,600 feet of natural shoreline along the Middle Fork of the Crow River.A complex of five easements surrounding five lakes in Becker County that protected approximately 474 acres and over 3 miles of undeveloped shoreline. Four of the five easements were donated to the Land Trust.One donated easement in Otter Tail County that protected 48 acres and over 2,900 feet of shoreline along Blanche Lake, immediately adjacent to Glendalough State Park.Another donated easement that protected 145 acres of forest and wetlands in Beltrami County and preserved almost two miles of shoreline along Black Lake and Three Island Lake.Overall, this phase of the grant program protected 269 acres of forest, 183 acres of wetlands, and over 6 miles of undeveloped shoreline.All eight projects met the following selection criteria:Habitat: quality and quantity of existing habitat on site; protects riparian areas and buffers water resourcesContext: proximity and relationship to other protected landsOpportunity: cost-benefit ratio: landowners willingness and readiness to participate nowOther Benefits: meeting multiple objectives, including visual and physical access, forestry goals, water quality, etc.Additionally, the Land Trust prepared baseline property reports for each easement, detailing the condition of the property for future monitoring and enforcement. To fund this required perpetual obligation, the Land Trust dedicated funds to its segregated Stewardship and Enforcement Fund for several completed projects. For these projects, we estimated the anticipated annual expenses of each project and the investment needed to generate annual income sufficient to cover these expenses in perpetuity - all in accordance with our internal policies and procedures as approved by LCCMR. We will report to LCCMR annually on the status of the Stewardship and Enforcement Fund and the easements acquired with funds from this grant. All but one of the eight easements completed under this grant were entirely donated. The value is known for only two of the donated easements, which together total $204,000 in appraised donated value under this grant. The Land Trust purchased one of the Fischer Lakes easements for the appraised value of $170,000. The cost to the State of Minnesota to complete the eight projects completed under this phase of the grant was just under $600 per acre. Cumulatively, across all phases of the HCP program, the Land Trust has completed 89 conservation easements, protecting 8,245 acres of critical habitat and more than 258,000 feet of shoreline, at a cost to the State of approximately $320 per acre. The Land Trust's work on this project continues to demonstrate the cost effectiveness of working with conservation easements to protect natural and scenic resources along Minnesota's lakes, rivers, and streams, as the cost to the State was well below the cost to purchase land along our increasingly threatened shorelines. This grant continued to generate interest among landowners, and therefore, ongoing funding will be important to sustained success. Additionally, our experiences during this phase of the grant indicate that funds to purchase easements will be necessary in the future as work becomes more targeted, selective, and focused on building complexes of protected land. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION The Land Trust disseminated information about the specific land protection projects completed under this grant though our newsletter, email updates, web site, and press releases. The Land Trust also shared information about conservation easements generally and our experience with our partner organizations, other easement holders, local communities, as well as policy makers including members of the LCCMR and LSOHC.",,"Final Report",2011-07-01,2014-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Sarah,Strommen,"Minnesota Land Trust","2356 University Ave W, Ste 240","St Paul",MN,55114,"(651) 647-9590",sstrommen@mnland.org,"Land Acquisition, Monitoring","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Beltrami, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Cass, Clay, Douglas, Faribault, Freeborn, Grant, Hubbard, Itasca, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Meeker, Otter Tail, Pope, Rice, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Todd, Waseca, Wright",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/hcp-vii-shoreland-protection-program-3a,,,,
9815,"Living Shallow Lakes and Wetlands Initiative, Phase 2",2013,4490000,"ML 2012, Ch. 264, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(d)","$4,490,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to assess, restore, and enhance shallow lakes and wetlands, including technical assistance, survey, design, and engineering to develop new enhancement and restoration projects for future implementation. A list of proposed restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Restored 150 acres and Enhanced 2,936 acres of wetlands",,839300,"Ducks Unlimited private funds and federal funds",4490000,24000,,2.3,"Ducks Unlimited","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Phase 2 of Ducks Unlimited's ongoing engineering program restored and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands by installing water level control structures to improve aquatic plant abundance and water clarity in partnership with the Minnesota DNR and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  Ducks Unlimited engineered and completed 20 projects, including 3 wetland restorations and 17 shallow lake enhancements.  In all, this work restored 150 wetland acres and enhanced 2,936 shallow lake acres for a total of 3,086 wetland acres completed, surpassing our goals and spending all the state funds appropriated while providing $839,300 in non-state funding as leverage, well-beyond our proposal.",,"This grant was Phase 2 of Ducks Unlimited's ongoing engineering program restored and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands by installing water level control structures to improve aquatic plant abundance and water clarity in partnership with the Minnesota DNR and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  Ducks Unlimited engineered and successfully completed 20 wetland projects through this appropriation, including 3 wetland restorations and 17 shallow lake enhancements.  In all, this work restored 150 wetland acres and enhanced 2,936 shallow lake acres for a total of 3,086 wetland acres completed, surpassing our goals and spending all the state funds appropriated while providing $839,300 in non-state funding as leverage, well-beyond the goals in our proposal and accomplishment plan.Minnesota has lost approximately 90% of our prairie wetlands, and many wetlands in other ecoregions of the state, to drainage. The shallow lakes and large marshes that remain now serve as the core of Minnesota’s remaining waterfowl habitat complexes, and are often those basins that were too deep to drain. These remaining wetlands now receive excessive water and nutrient runoff from a highly altered and intensively drained landscape, and are easily accessed by invasive fish such as common carp. As a result, many basins are now turbid and degraded due to high, stable water levels that allow carp and other invasive fish to proliferate and aquatic ecology to stagnate. The results is a lack of aquatic plants and invertebrates required to sustain migrating and breeding waterfowl, especially those species that rely on aquatic foods exclusively such as diving ducks.As a result, ducks migrating through Minnesota on their way north to breed in spring find sparse aquatic food resources, much to their detriment further north, and also again in the fall when their passage through Minnesota appears briefer each year. Those waterfowl that remain here to breed find poor brood-rearing habitat, as shallow lakes and marshes have a paucity of high quality wetland habitat with abundant aquatic plants and invertebrate food resources on which young ducks rely. These factors have contributed to a decline in Minnesota’s diverse waterfowl resources and, unfortunately, a decline in Minnesota’s rich waterfowling traditions.To remedy this situation, Ducks Unlimited’s “Living Lakes Initiative” assists the Minnesota DNR, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and other conservation partners to enhance and restore Minnesota’s shallow lakes and wetlands. This grant supported Phase 2 of Ducks Unlimited's biological and engineering work to design and construct water control structures and fish barriers. DU biologists worked closely with Minnesota DNR Shallow Lakes Program biologists to assess wetland conditions and identify possible management solutions. DU biologists and engineers surveyed, designed, and constructed the water control infrastructure necessary for state and federal agency staff to actively manage water levels. Funding in this request also supported ongoing shallow lake technical assistance from DU biologists and engineers to assess, survey, and design future projects for implementation under future OHF appropriations.Most enhancement work occured in the Prairie Region by design, as that is where waterfowl are in most need of habitat improvements.  Structures are used by agency managers to simulate natural temporary drought cycles in shallow lakes and wetlands that rejuvenate the aquatic ecological process that produces abundant aquatic plants and invertebrates. These structures last for 30 or more years and are generally use by agency staff every 5-7 years to conduct periodic temporary draw-downs that are key to enhancing and maintaining highly productive wetlands. Importantly, DU also restored smaller wetlands on public and other protected land near shallow lakes. Shallow lakes were selected for enhancement by DNR and FWS managers, and generally enjoy strong support from the public for improvement. The Minnesota DNR holds public meetings to share information on the current condition and management plan for shallow lakes designated for wildlife management purposes.PlanningEvery statewide conservation plan recognizes the need for improving and protecting Minnesota’s shallow lakes and associated wetlands for optimal wildlife habitat. The Minnesota DNR’s Duck Recovery Plan is the most specific, calling for the active management of 1,800 shallow lakes and adding 64,000 restored wetlands to Minnesota’s landscape. DU’s Living Lakes Initiative supports this plan through a goal of improving 300 Minnesota shallow lakes in 10 years. Shallow lakes and wetlands are identified as critical habitat for several “Species of Greatest Conservation Need” listed in Minnesota’s “Tomorrow’s Habitat for the Wild & Rare: An Action Plan for Minnesota Wildlife”, including lesser scaup, northern pintail, and trumpeter swan.Importantly, Ducks Unlimited’s Living Lakes Initiative directly address Minnesota’s Statewide Conservation & Preservation Plan Habitat Recommendations #4 and #5 on pages 78 and 80, respectively, which calls for the restoration and protection of shallow lakes (page 78) and the restoration of land, wetlands, and watersheds (page 80). This program addresses the LSOHC priorities of wetland and shallow lake restoration and enhancement in the Prairie and Forest-Prairie Transition sections. Finally, the North American Waterfowl Management Plan’s Prairie Pothole Joint Venture prioritizes the restoration and management of wetlands and shallow lakes through goals and objectives for improved brood-rearing and migration habitat for ducks. Many of the shallow lakes and wetlands prioritized for enhancement by DU are located within wetland habitat complexes identified by the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s Strategic Habitat Conservation model and are high priority basins for both Service and Minnesota DNR field managers. DU shallow lake and wetland enhancement work is performed in close coordination and collaboration with either the Minnesota DNR or U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and these agencies assume all future management and operation responsibilities for water control structures designed and installed by DU.",2012-07-01,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Jon,Schneider,"Ducks Unlimited","311 East Lake Geneva Road",Alexandria,MN,56308,"(320) 762-9916",jschneider@ducks.org,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Cottonwood, Freeborn, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Murray, Otter Tail, Sibley, Stearns, Wadena, Wright","Forest Prairie Transition, Metropolitan - Urbanizing Area, Northern Forest, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/living-shallow-lakes-and-wetlands-initiative-phase-2,,,,
9449,"Lutsen Trail Restoration and Improvement",2012,27000,"M.L. 2011 First Special Session Ch. 6 Art. 3 Sec. 3(c) (1) & M.S. 85.535","$7331000 the first year and $7686000 the second year are for grants under Minnesota Statutes section 85.535 to acquire develop improve and restore parks and trails of regional or statewide significance outside of the metropolitan area as defined in Minnesota Statutes section 473.121 subdivision 2.",,,,,,,,,,"Cook County",,"to complete improvements and enhancements on snowmobile trails near Lutsen",,,2012-03-29,2015-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Traci,Vibo,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","Saint Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5619",traci.vibo@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Cook,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/lutsen-trail-restoration-and-improvement,,,,
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,,,,
9797,"Minnesota Prairie Recovery Project – Phase 3",2013,4610000,"ML 2012, Ch. 264, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(b)","$4,610,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy to acquire native prairie and savanna and restore and enhance grasslands and savanna. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. Annual income statements and balance sheets for income and expenses from land acquired with this appropriation must be submitted to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council no later than 180 days following the close of The Nature Conservancy's fiscal year.",,"This phase resulted in a total of 1,425 acres of wetlands and prairies protected in fee, 22,298 acres of wetlands and prairies enhanced, and 110 acres of wetlands and prairies restored.",,851300,"The Nature Conservancy, private land donation",4607900,96700,,10.1,"The Nature Conservancy","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The goals for this project were to: protect 1,200 acres native prairie/wetland/savanna; restore 250 acres prairie/wetland; enhance 6,000 acres grassland/savanna with fire, invasive species removal, and grazing; and continue a new prairie conservation model. This phase resulted in a total of 1,425 acres protected, 22,298 acres enhanced, and 110 acres restored. When combined with phases 1 and 2 of the Prairie Recovery Program we have cumulatively protected 4,070 acres, enhanced 58,134 acres and restored 314 acres using OHF funds. We will continue to implement subsequent phases toward meeting the conservation goals described in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan.",,"1. Scope of work: With the requested funding, and with other funds leveraged by this money and brought by other partners, the following actions and outcomes were acheived.“Phase 3” built upon the success of the MN Prairie Recovery Project Phase 1 and 2 by continuing and expanding enhancement work in 4 focal areas and protection in 5 areas. Project partners, primarily through our participation in Prairie Plan Local Technical teams, helped us to prioritize and refine guidelines for protection, enhancement and restoration activities within priority landscapes. The Prairie Recovery Program utilizes a collaborative model for conservation and we regularly consult and work with a variety of entities including state and federal agencies, other conservation nonprofits, agricultural producer groups and local governments.1,425 acres of existing and restorable grassland, prairie pothole complex, and savanna was permanently protected within prairie core and corridor areas as identified in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan 2010. Lands will be held by The Nature Conservancy, subject to a recorded notice of funding restrictions pursuant to the grant with the MN DNR. All lands acquired in fee are FULLY open to hunting and fishing per state of Minnesota regulations. Basic developments have been, and will continue to be, implemented (boundary signage, habitat improvement, wetland restoration). Protection efforts were coordinated with other partner protection programs (e.g., DNR Wildlife Management Area and Prairie Bank programs), once again primarily through interactions through Local Technical Teams.A separate and discrete internal fund has been established by The Nature Conservancy to cover ongoing land-management costs.  Income generated by agricultural leases (grazing, haying, native seed harvest, and/or cropping) are held in this account and used to pay for property taxes and ongoing management costs.110 acres of cropland were restored to diverse, local-ecotype grassland or grassland/wetland complex. Preference was given to local producers and contractors for provision of seed and establishment of prairies to promote creation of local conservation-oriented businesses.22,298 acres of grassland complex were enhanced on public lands and those purchased with OHF funds and held by the Conservancy (“protected conservation lands”) to increase native species diversity and improve critical wildlife habitat. Management techniques included prescribed fire (61 projects totalling 15,016 acres), removal of woody vegetation (60 projects for 1,678 acres), and control of exotic species (83 projects - 5,514 acres). Much of this work was accomplished by private vendors through contracts. We also extensively used Conservation Corps of Minnesota (CCM) crews and seasonal staff employed directly by TNC.On-the-ground Conservancy staff provided by this grant were co-located in DNR or Fish and Wildlife Service offices and helped form and lead local coordination and implementation teams; identified protection, restoration and enhancement needs and opportunities within the focus areas; worked with DNR and FWS staff to delineate conservation projects on public lands; coordinated deployment of contract and staff resources to protected conservation lands; contacted and worked with private landowners to coordinate agricultural activities/leases on appropriate protected conservation lands (e.g., haying, grazing, cropping in advance of restoration); educated lessees on appropriate conservation grazing/haying practices; supervised management of lands acquired above; planned and conducted prescribed burns; and other activities related to prairie conservation in the focus areas. Contracts were let to provide a high level of enhancement activities to new and existing protected conservation lands, greatly expanding current capacity. These activities greatly improved the habitat value of public lands that were not receiving adequate management treatment, while simultaneously providing jobs for CCM and local businesses. Activities included removal of undesirable woody vegetation, identification and treatment of invasive species infestations, removal of abandoned fences and/or other structures, and related restoration/enhancement activities.To ensure goals and outcomes are consistently achieved across all 4 project areas, the project coordinator oversaw implementation of the above activities and provided administrative support for budget monitoring and reporting. Significant marketing and media outreach was conducted by the Conservancy to highlight the goals and accomplishments of the project to local and statewide constituents, as well as elected officials. http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/minnesota/policy/minnesota-prairie-recovery-project.xmlTemporary seasonal crews were employed by the Conservancy to provide additional capacity for public land management during critical periods like spring burn season. These crews helped create flexibility for enhancement projects and maximized the ability of specialized skilled personnel like burn bosses to increase the number of acres annually enhanced.2. How priorities were set: Prioritization and prioritization criteria vary with the conservation tactic being employed (i.e., protection, restoration, enhancement). Focus areas were selected where there was overlap with MN County Biological Survey prairie “focus areas” and TNC priority areas. Each of the 4 project locations directly correlate to core areas identified in the 2010 MN Prairie Conservation Plan. Because this project is a collaborative effort involving multiple partners, tactical priorities and criteria were established at both the state and local level by respective coordinating groups. criteria for each of these tactics include:a. Protection: location/proximity to other habitats, location/proximity to other protected lands, presence of rare/endangered species, imminence of conversion, ability to support grazing, size, cost, and likelihood for leveraged funding. A more robust listing of selection criteria can be provided upon request.b. Restoration: feasibility/likelihood of success, location, cost, availability of seed, and availability of restoration technical assistance, proximity to other habitats, and their ability to buffer or increase the conservation value of other protected lands.c. Enhancement: urgency/time since last enhancement, feasibility of success, accessibility, availability of enhancement technical assistance, cost, proximity to other habitats and partnership benefits.3. Urgency and opportunity of this proposal: Only about 1% of Minnesota’s original native prairie still remains (about 235,000 acres of an original 1.8 million), and the remnants are still being destroyed and degraded. Less than half of those 235,000 acres are currently protected from conversion, and management capacity is unable to address needs on protected lands. Additionally, more than 90% of the original prairie pothole wetlands in the western part of the state have also been lost. These losses threaten the viability of Minnesota’s prairie/wetland wildlife and recreational opportunities that depend upon them. Further, huge strides that have been made in supplementing habitat with the Conservation Reserve Program are in imminent danger of being lost as contracts expire. Conservationists have a narrow window of opportunity to protect remaining native grasslands, wetlands and other habitats, restore and protect supplemental grasslands and wetlands, and accelerate enhancement efforts to ensure these habitats are providing optimal value to animals and people. This proposal accelerated an initiative begun in 2010.4. Stakeholder involvement and/or opposition: This Phase continues an initiative begun with OHF funding in 2010. We have worked very closely with conservation interests in developing and maintaining this initiative and will continue close collaboration among partners. Via past and ongoing projects, we are also coordinating with other stakeholders (e.g., cattlemen’s associations, Land Stewardship Project, county boards), and will continue to seek opportunities to expand that coordination. Points of opposition that have risen to date include: perceived loss of tax revenues, philosophical opposition to public land ownership, and lack of understanding of processes (i.e. prescribed fire) necessary for long-term prairie system health. To address these concerns we have been actively engaged with county boards and other local units of government, local agricultural producers and groups, and local communities. We anticipate continuing to build these relationships in each of the four project areas.PlanningThis project implements strategies identified in at least 6 plans, as identified below.1. The 2010 MN Prairie Conservation Plan (Plan) identifies three distinct strategies and opportunities for targeting protection, restoration, and enhancement of Minnesota’s prairie and grassland systems. The plan recommends work in “Core Areas” defined as large landscapes that retain some features of functioning prairie systems. Using MN County Biological Survey data and USFWS Habitat Assessment, Populations and Evaluation Team (HAPET)2. MN Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan. The strategic framework of this plan has 5 elements in its “Habitat” section: integrated planning, critical land protection, land and water restoration and protection, (identification of) sustainable practices, and (provision of) economic incentives for sustainable practices. Further, while the plan does not go into great detail with respect to prairie conservation, it clearly states that “protection of priority land habitats” is a vital practice, and prairies clearly fall here.  The Plan identifies 36 distinct prairie core areas across the western third of the state. Collectively these core landscapes contain 71% of the state’s remaining native prairie. All 4 of the project focus areas directly correlate with one or more of these core areas.3. Tomorrow’s Habitat for the Wild and Rare. The primary objective identified in the MN DNR’s plan is to “stabilize and increase populations of “species in greatest conservation need (SGCN)”. In the prairie regions of Minnesota, strategies to achieve this goal include:a. Support incentives that avoid conversion of grasslands into row crops where SGCN occur.b. Use mowing, cutting woody vegetation, prescribed fire, or careful use of herbicides to prevent the invasion of grasslands by trees and shrubs.c. Lengthen the cutting rotations for hay; avoid early-season mowing.d. Use light to moderate, rotational grazing programs to benefit SGCNe. Prevent fragmentation of grassland habitat.f. Avoid soil compaction in areas occupied by mammal SGCN.g. Increase native plant species components.h. Control spread of invasive species to adjacent native-dominated sites.This project proposes to address all but item “f” above.4. The Nature Conservancy’s Northern Tallgrass Prairie Ecoregional Plan (1998). This plan identifies key conservation targets, geographic emphasis areas, threats to native plant and animal communities, and key strategies to mitigate these threats. The proposal is a solid step in the implementation of this plan. Also, as a step-down from the NTP Ecoregion Plan, the Chapter has completed local level planning (Conservation Action Planning) for smaller geographic units that correspond with the focus areas. Goals within these focus areas are very explicit in identifying conservation targets and actions and are consistent with the activities contained in this proposal.5. DNR’s Pheasant Plan. This proposal is in full support of the Pheasant Plan goal to add 1.5 million acres of undisturbed grassland to the state by 2025.6. DNR’s Waterfowl Plan. This proposal is in full support of the state Long-range Duck Recovery Plan to add 2 million acres of habitat to the state by 2025. It also utilizes establishment of complexes, as per the plan, to achieve multiple conservation synergies and benefits.This plan helps fulfill multiple priorities specified by the LSOHC “Prairie Section Vision”, including permanent protection of existing prairies and wetlands, restoration of prairie and wetland habitats, building grassland/wetland complexes in blocks sufficient to increase migratory breeding bird success, enhancement of public lands for game species and other species of conservation need, and protection of watersheds of shallow lakes. Specifically, this proposal addresses “Prairie Section Strategies” 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 directly.",2012-07-01,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Neal,Feeken,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 W. River Parkway, Suite 200",Minneapolis,MN,55415,"(612) 331-0738",nfeeken@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Chippewa, Clay, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Mahnomen, Marshall, Pennington, Polk, Pope, Roseau, Stearns, Swift, Wilkin","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/minnesota-prairie-recovery-project-phase-3,,,,
9810,"Minnesota Moose Habitat Collaborative",2013,960000,"ML 2012, Ch. 264, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 3(e)","$960,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association to restore and enhance public forest lands in northeastern Minnesota for moose habitat purposes. A list of proposed restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Enhanced 2,049 acres of forest ",,77200,"USFWS ",914100,,,.60,"Minnesota Deer Hunters Association","Non-Profit Business/Entity","The Minnesota Moose Collaborative (Collaborative) has implemented a variety of habitat enhancement treatments across the core of moose range in Northeast Minnesota on County, State, Federal, and Tribal lands since 2013.  Moose browse has been improved through treatments that regenerate preferred brush and tree species. The Collaborative has also planted over two million trees including white spruce, white pine, jack pine, and white cedar.",,"Improving moose browse calls for treatments that regenerate preferred brush and tree species. In some places, this happens naturally. The area burned by the 2011 Pagami Creek fire is an example of this and is providing some excellent moose browse according to biologists. Most logging on uplands results in some regeneration of moose browse. However, there are tens of thousands of acres in moose range that will not see a natural browse regenerating event like fire or do not have enough volume of merchantable wood to make an economical timber sale. In these areas, the Collaborative used bulldozers, brush saw crews, and prescribed fires to shear, cut, and burn the old decadent brush and stimulate re-growth that is more palatable, nutritious, and easy to reach for moose.Cover for hiding from predators and protection from the elements is another part of the habitat equation. Research has shown that moose prefer forests with mixed conifer and deciduous trees. The pre-settlement forest in Northeast Minnesota was 70% conifers and 30% deciduous trees. Today that ratio is completely reversed with 70% deciduous and only 30% conifers. Improving cover habitat for moose means restoring conifers on the landscape. The Collaborative has planted over two million trees including white spruce, white pine, jack pine, and white cedar. The pine and cedar must be protected from browsing by deer and hare using budcaps or tree shelters. By the third year after planting, the seedlings need to be released from competition from surrounding trees and brush. This “release” is completed with brush saws which both helps the trees get established and produces another flush of future moose browse.A look at plat books for counties in Northeast Minnesota emphasizes the need for inter-agency partnerships to produce habitat results at a meaningful scale. The ownership pattern looks like a patchwork quilt of County, Federal, and State lands (private as well, but funds for this project are limited to public lands). There was not an acre that was worked on without some level of collaboration and cooperation between partner staff. The first cut at site selection was made by looking at forest inventory data and local knowledge of potential project areas. With time and experience, Collaborative partners have refined the search for good moose habitat projects and added and dropped stands as field visits were conducted. Proposals for specific work plans at each site were shared with wildlife biologists for their approval as beneficial to moose. Partners decided who would manage the bidding and contracting, order necessary supplies, supervise the work, complete the documentation needed for invoicing, track the specifics of what was done at each site, and summarize accomplishments for grant reporting and other communication about the project as a whole. As the grant recipient, MDHA is ultimately responsible for the finances and reporting to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. But, the work it takes to produce results involves many of the partnering agencies.The variety of combinations of roles and responsibilities between staff from MDHA, the Superior National Forest, Lake County Forestry, DNR, The Nature Conservancy, and the 1854 Treaty Authority that played out in completing the work was impressive. For example, Lake County Forestry may identify a potential project on lands they manage, a Forest Service biologist may review and approve it as a good moose project, the 1854 Treaty Authority might collect pre-treatment data that is being used to track effectiveness, The Nature Conservancy may order the trees and line up the planting crew, Lake County supervises the work, The Nature Conservancy again handles the documentation and site-specific data and finally MDHA pays the contractor’s invoice and then requests reimbursement in the form of State managed grant funds.Early sampling and aerial surveys conducted by the 1854 Treaty Authority, U of M’s Natural Resources Research Institute, and other agency and tribal biologists are showing that moose are preferentially using the sites that were treated.",2012-07-01,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Jenny,Foley,"Minnesota Deer Hunters Association","460 Peterson Road","Grand Rapids",MN,55744,218-327-1103,kimn@mndeerhunters.com,Restoration/Enhancement,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Cook, Lake, St. Louis","Northern Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/minnesota-moose-habitat-collaborative,,,,
2533,"Minnesota Prairie Recovery Project, Phase 2",2012,4500000,"ML 2011, First Special Session, Ch. 6, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(e)","$4,500,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy to acquire native prairie and savanna and restore and enhance grasslands and savanna. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. Acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements must be within the two existing and two additional pilot focus areas contained in the accomplishment plan. Annual income statements and balance sheets for income and expenses from land acquired with appropriations from the outdoor heritage fund must be submitted to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.",,"Protect, Restore and Enhance 2,553 acres of Wetlands and 13,999 acres of Prairies.",,1427700,"ENRTF, NFWF, TNC, RIM, NAWCA",4499500,,,6.3,"The Nature Conservancy","Non-Profit Business/Entity","Goals for Phase 2 of the MN Prairie Recovery Program were to: protect 1200 acres native prairie/savanna; restore 250 acres grassland; enhance 6000 acres grassland/savanna with fire, invasive species removal, and grazing; and continue a new prairie conservation model. This Phase resulted in a total of 962 acres protected, 15,554 acres enhanced, and 36 acres restored. When combined with Phase 1 of the Program we have cumulatively protected 2,645 acres, enhanced 35,836 acres and restored 204 acres using OHF funds. We will continue to implement subsequent Phases toward meeting the conservation goals described in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan.",,"Design and Scope of Work 1. Problems to be addressed: the conservation problems facing Minnesota’s prairies, prairie potholes, grasslands and savannas are many, and include: a.Continued losses of native and restored grasslands due to economic pressures. b.Degradation of existing public grasslands and wetlands due to encroachment by woody vegetation and other invasive species that reduces their values to wildlife and people. c.Inadequate public access for hunting and fishing in agricultural parts of the state. d.Potential loss of local taxes and local incomes when land is acquired by public entities. e.Long-term state obligations for management of public lands and payment-in-lieu-of-taxes creates a burden for state budget. f.Programmatic and staff limitations that reduce efficiencies in implementing diverse conservation programs across multiple partners. 2. Scope of work: with the appropriated funding, and with other funds leveraged by this money and brought by other partners, the following actions and outcomes were realized. •The “Prairie Recovery Project Partnership” was initiated within the Upper MN River Valley and Aggasiz Beach Ridges and continued in the Glacial Lakes and Tallgrass Aspen Parklands landscapes. Two additional prairie biologists were hired and co-located in partner offices to facilitate and oversee enhancement work on publicly owned grasslands. Dedicated protection staff continued to identify priority parcels for permanent protection, conduct outreach with landowners, and bring real estate transactions to fruition. A project coordinator oversaw implementation of the above activities, and provided administrative support for budget monitoring and reporting. •Original goals for the project included 1,200 acres protected, 250 acres restored and 6,000 acres enhanced. We fell short of our overall protection goals with 962 acres permanently protected. The shortfall was due to the fact that a number of quality projects arose in the central part of the start, specifically Pope and Kandiyohi counties, where land prices are considerably higher than other parts of the prairie region. Protected lands are held by The Nature Conservancy and are open to public hunting and fishing. We greatly exceeded our enhancement goals with 15,435 acres of permanently protected grasslands managed. Management techniques on grassland enhancement projects included prescribed fire, conservation grazing and/or haying, removal of woody vegetation, and control of exotic invasive species. This work was accomplished through contracts with private vendors and through use of seasonal crews employed by the Conservancy. Three of the five protection projects will require future restoration and are in various stages of site preparation. •A separate restricted internal fund is established by The Nature Conservancy to hold income generated from OHF funded acquisitions. Income generated by agricultural leases (grazing, haying and/or cropping), earned interest, public contributions and donations are held in this account and are used to pay for property taxes and ongoing management costs. This model was originally devised to test the principle of utilizing extractive practices (ie haying and grazing, native seed production) as a method for offsetting land holding and management costs. Through the project we have found that revenues generated lag behind holding costs, thereby necessitating private contributions on the part of the Conservancy for making property tax payments. And while the model does not function as effectively as we had originally hoped, economic activities do help at least partially offset ownership costs and can serve as valuable tools for implementing needed management. •On-the-ground staff provided by this grant convened and are leading coordination and implementation of local technical teams called for in the MN Prairie Conservation Plan; actively identified protection, restoration and enhancement needs and opportunities within the focus areas; worked with DNR and FWS staff to delineate conservation projects on public lands; coordinated deployment of contract and staff resources to protected conservation lands; worked with private landowners to coordinate agricultural activities/leases on appropriate protected conservation lands (e.g., haying, grazing, cropping); educated lessees on appropriate conservation grazing/haying practices; supervised management of lands acquired above; planned and conducted prescribed burns; and secured other funding for conservation practices, including through the MN DNR's Working Lands Initiative. •Contracts were let with Conservation Corps of Minnesota and private vendors to conduct enhancement activities on new and existing protected conservation lands, greatly expanding current capacity. These activities greatly improved the habitat value of public lands that were not receiving adequate management treatment, while simultaneously providing jobs for MCC and local businesses. Activities included removal of undesirable woody vegetation, identification and treatment of invasive species infestations, removal of abandoned fences and/or other structures, and related restoration/enhancement activities. 3. How priorities were set: prioritization and prioritization criteria varied with the conservation tactic being employed (i.e., protection, restoration, enhancement). Focus areas were selected where there was overlap with Core and Corridor landscapes as defined through the MN Prairie Conservation Plan and Conservancy priority areas. Because this is a collaborative effort involving multiple partners, tactical priorities and criteria were established at both the state and local level by the respective Local Technical Teams and local agency personnel. Criteria for each of these tactics included: a.Protection: location/proximity to other habitats, location/proximity to other protected lands, presence of rare/endangered species, imminence of conversion, ability to support grazing, size, cost, and likelihood for leveraged funding. b.Restoration: feasibility/likelihood of success, location, cost, availability of seed, and availability of restoration technical assistance. c.Enhancement: urgency/time since last enhancement, feasibility of success, accessibility, availability of enhancement technical assistance, cost, proximity to other habitats and partnership benefits. 4. Urgency and opportunity of this proposal: about 1% of Minnesota’s original native prairie still remains (about 200,000 acres of an original 1.8 million), and the remnants are still being destroyed and degraded today. Less than half is currently protected from conversion, and management capacity is unable to address needs. Additionally, more than 90% of the original prairie pothole wetlands in the western part of the state have also been lost. These losses threaten the viability of Minnesota’s prairie/wetland wildlife and recreational opportunities that depend upon them. Further, huge strides that have been made in supplementing habitat with the Conservation Reserve Program continue to be in imminent danger of being lost as contracts expire. Conservationists have a narrow window of opportunity to protect remaining native grasslands, wetlands and other habitats, restore and protect supplemental grasslands and wetlands, and accelerate enhancement efforts to ensure these habitats are providing optimal value to animals and people. This phase built upon an initiative begun with our Prairie Recovery Project Phase 1, and expanded efforts into 2 new focus areas. 5. Stakeholder involvement and/or opposition: We have worked very closely with conservation interests in developing this initiative and will continue to collaborate with numerous partners. ",2011-07-01,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Neal,Feeken,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 W. River Parkway, Suite 200",Minneapolis,MN,55414,612-331-0700,nfeeken@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition, Restoration/Enhancement","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Becker, Big Stone, Chippewa, Clay, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Pope, Roseau, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Wilkin","Forest Prairie Transition, Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/minnesota-prairie-recovery-project-phase-2,,,,
9807,"Mississippi Northwoods Habitat Complex Protection",2013,11040000,"ML 2012, Ch. 264, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 3(b)","$11,040,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Crow Wing County to acquire land in fee along the Mississippi River in Crow Wing County to be added to the county forest system. The purchase price must not exceed the appraised fair market value of the property as reviewed and approved under established procedures in compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and the Department of Natural Resources' Supplemental Appraisal and Appraisal Review Guidelines (effective July 15, 2009). A land description must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. Development of a paved trail on land acquired under this paragraph constitutes an alteration of the intended use of the interest in real property and must be handled according to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 15. Any plan, including trail alignment, for the development of a paved trail must be submitted to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council for approval. No paved trail development or paved trail use is allowed unless it is specified in the plan for trail use and alignment approved by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. If additional money is needed to acquire the land under this paragraph, by December 15, 2012, the amount necessary to complete the acquisition shall be transferred from unspent appropriations under subdivision 5, paragraph (h), and added to this appropriation.",,"Protect in fee 1,883 acres of habitat",,3000,"Parks and Trails Legacy and RIM ",11040000,,,,"Crow Wing County","Local/Regional Government","This acquisition protected 2.7 miles of Mississippi river shoreline and nearly 2,000 acres of wetland and forest/upland habitat through fee title acquisition just east of Brainerd, MN.","This effort protected from development 2.7 miles of frontage in the headwaters region of this globally significant river, along with approximately 1,857 acres of forest land uniquely situated in the rapidly growing Brainerd Lakes Region of Minnesota. This parcel sits between two large tracts of forested public land along the Mississippi, creating a 9+ mile stretch of undeveloped shoreline which become one of the largest contiguous blocks of protected lake/river shoreline in the Brainerd lakes area—in addition to being one of its most scenic. The lands are adjacent to the Crow Wing County Memorial Forest, the Loerch State Wildlife Management Area, the State of Minnesota’s School Trust lands and Crow Wing County tax forfeited land (managed as forestland). The lands contain several unique habitat features including the Mississippi River watershed, the Sand Creek trout stream, approximately 240 acres of wetland, and forestland comprising of aspen/birch, jack, red and white pine, oak, and lowland hardwoods. The Mississippi River is clearly one of the most important freshwater resources in the State of Minnesota and beyond. A significant portion of this property fronts the Mississippi’s Stump Bay, a lake-like basin originally formed by the paper mill dam downstream in Brainerd. Stump Bay, and the larger basin around it, has characteristics of both river and lake habitats which provide a diversity of niches and support the area’s best cosmopolitan fisheries, including a world- class bass fishery. As a major migratory bird route, the Mississippi River basin is used by 60% of all birds found in North America, including waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, and neotropical songbirds. The forest and riparian forest habitats of this project area are known to support osprey, Canada goose, great blue heron, killdeer, common snipe, American woodcock, and ruffed grouse. There are at least two bald eagle nests documented in the subject area. This section of the Mississippi River “flyway” is especially critical for waterfowl such as wood duck, mallard, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, hooded merganser, and American coot. The open waters of the bay uniquely serve as an early spring stopover for waterfowl before the lakes thaw. The wild rice foliage found in the bay and along the shore of this area provides security cover and loafing sites for migrating ducks; the wild rice kernals provide critical food source. 240 acres of wetland found within this project area are also critical brooding and feeding area for waterfowl. Mammals associated with the upland, wetland, lowland and riparian habitats of the acquired area include whitetail deer, gray wolf, coyote, red fox, river otter, beaver, muskrat, striped skunk, raccoon, opossum, weasel, mink, fisher, marten, porcupine, bobcat, black bear, red squirrel, shrews, pocket gopher, voles, bats, least chipmunk, gray squirrel, northern flying squirrel, cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare. Reptiles and amphibians utilizing the wetland, riparian and upland habitats include the wood frog, spring peeper, western chorus frog, gray tree frog, northern leopard frog, green frog, American toad, blue-spotted salamander, tiger salamander, garter snake, redbelly snake, painted turtle, snapping turtle, and Blanding’s turtle, a MN DNR Threatened Species. A number of occurrences of the Blanding’s turtle, a MN DNR Threatened Species, have been documented on the property and there have been at least two eagle nests documented in the subject area. The contiguous forest block that is provided by this property will benefit all of these species as well as other rare species that depend on forested wetland and riparian areas. Conservation of this reach of the Mississippi River is extremely valuable in protection of water quality. The acquired forest lands are now dual certified to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and Forest Stewardship Council standards, ensuring a 9+ mile stretch of consistent forest management. The land buffers and enhances two other tracts of public land, resulting in a 6,207 acre block of contiguous forest lands on the Mississippi River in the popular recreational Brainerd Lakes area of north-central Minnesota. The public has access to these waters and forest lands for fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, skiing, snow-shoeing, nature viewing, hiking, restricted camping, horseback riding and other recreational activities. The property continues to host a popular snowmobile trail, important because of its proximity just 5 miles from downtown Brainerd. While conversion of forest lands into development properties in the Brainerd Lakes area has fragmented forests as well as these types of recreational trail systems, this acquisition will provide raw materials for the region’s forest products economy which in turn provides base economy jobs for Minnesota citizens. The public has gained in a less tangible but no less important way from the protected landscape, noise buffering and air and water quality benefits provided by these forested lands. This acquisition will provide a future opportunity to complete a critical linkage between the Cuyuna Lakes State Trail and the Paul Bunyan State Trail, both part of the Mississippi River Trail which is envisioned to be a 3,000 mile world class bicycling route, extending from the headwaters at Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico. The project had considerable support from a large and diverse collection of stakeholders including hunting and angling clubs, community foundations, natural resource organizations and trails organizations; such as Anglers for Habitat, Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited, Minnesota Deerhunters, MNDNR, Ruffed Grouse Society, The Nature Conservancy The Trust for Public Land; and more. The Trust for Public Land provided the leadership and coordination role needed in this conservation effort. Working together with these other stakeholders, The Trust for Public Land had endeavored to protect this particular stretch of Mississippi River land now known as Mississippi River Northwoods for over a decade. No fewer than three efforts were made over the 10-year period to protect this unique property using various protection tools, funding sources, and possible stewardship scenarios. These previous efforts were not successful due to a variety of factors including insufficient funding, differences of opinion about who should be the long term steward and not reaching agreement with the landowner on the terms of a sale. In approximately 2009, however, the long-time landowner, Potlatch Corporation, converted from a forest product company to a Real Estate Investment Trust and underwent a number of staffing changes. They increased their sale and development of land in Minnesota and in 2010 it was learned that they intended to develop the Mississippi River Northwoods parcel. After lengthy negotiations, The Trust for Public Land was able to reach an option agreement with the company for the purchase of this land for conservation in the spring of 2011. Shortly thereafter, The Trust for Public Land submitted an application for funding to LSOHC to protect this land. Originally it was thought that the DNR might be the permanent steward of this land given the importance of the land and the agency’s long-time involvement with and interest in its protection. Ultimately, it was determined that Crow Wing County would be the permanent steward of this land due to a variety of factors including this land’s proximity to other County-owned land. Accordingly, the County eventually became the grant applicant. As the holder of the option agreement with Potlatch, The Trust for Public Land continued to play an active role in this protection effort. It coordinated and paid for all the due diligence on the land including environmental assessments, appraisals, and title review. The Trust for Public Land also coordinated and managed education and outreach related to this protection effort with the many and various stakeholders mentioned above. The Trust for Public Land further assisted the County in thinking about how the land would be managed with this proposed funding alongside other county-owned lands as well as the critical conversations that took place with LSOHC and the Legislature in 2011-2012 that led to ultimate appropriation of OHF dollars. On November 29, 2012, The Trust for Public Land purchased the land from Potlatch for its appraised fair market value of $11 million and sold the land on the same day to Crow Wing County for the same amount. The Trust for Public Land continued to work alongside Crow Wing County, partners listed above and the LSOHC in 2012-2013 to re-introduce area residents and other stakeholders to the recently-protected and publicly-accessible Mississippi River Northwoods land through a series of written summaries, press pieces, celebrations and river outings. The County is proposing a change in the use and interest in 142 acres of the Mississippi River Northwoods acquisition. The parcel, located along Highway 210, has economic viability and opportunity to increase the County’s tax base. The County’s proposal would include a land exchange and transfer of the deed restriction to another County managed property adjoining the Mississippi River and Northwoods property. The County’s proposal will meet the procedures and criteria identified by the Lessard Sams Outdoor Heritage Council for the change of use and replacement of interest. The identified properties will be equal in fair market value, in a reasonable equivalent location and have a reasonably equivalent useful conservation purpose. A copy of the fact sheet is attached to this report The $3M in leverage identified in Trust For Public Lands's original budget for this acquisition listed Parks and Trails Legacy and RIM as additional sources of funding. The leverage dollars were not needed or applied for because the second appraisal came in $3M lower than the original appraisal.","Final Report",2012-07-01,2014-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Kirk,Titus,"Crow Wing County (Land Supervisor)","322 Laurel St., Suite 12",Brainerd,MN,56401,218-824-1138,kirk.titus@crowwing.us,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Crow Wing","Northern Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mississippi-northwoods-habitat-complex-protection,,,,
2916,"Mississippi River Central Minnesota Conservation Planning",2012,87000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 03n","$87,000 the first year and $88,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District to develop and adopt river protection strategies in cooperation with local jurisdictions in the communities of the 26 miles of the Mississippi River between Benton and Stearns Counties. This appropriation must be matched by $175,000 of nonstate cash or qualifying in-kind funds.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,87000,,,2.05,"Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District","Local/Regional Government","PROJECT OVERVIEW From its headwaters to the Twin Cities, the Mississippi River has benefited from coordinated management plans and community efforts to protect its water quality and shoreland habitat - except for a 26-mile stretch in central Minnesota. Starting in St. Cloud and stretching north through Stearns and Benton counties, the stretch is governed by 11 different jurisdictions and the communities have no uniform land use controls to protect this shared resource despite population growth and development pressure threatening the health of the river. Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District is using this appropriation to coordinate an effort between these 11 different local governments to develop and implement specific river protection policies and work with landowners along the river to implement shoreland management practices. Ultimately the effort aims to protect the water quality of the Mississippi River, reduce habitat fragmentation, and prioritize on-the-ground efforts. OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS From its Headwaters to the Twin Cities, the Mississippi River has benefited from coordinated management plans and community efforts to protect its water quality and shoreland habitat--except for 26-mile stretch in Central Minnesota. Starting in St. Cloud and stretching north through Stearns and Benton counties, this stretch is governed by 11 different jurisdictions (four cities, five townships and two counties). These communities presently have no uniform land use controls to protect the magnificent river they share. Significant population growth and development pressure and contributing upland pollution could significantly damage the health of the Mississippi River. This project's goal was to restore and protect the natural resources of the Mississippi River and its tributaries, and reduce habitat fragmentation along its banks in central Minnesota. The project coordinated with local units of government to develop and implement specific river protection policies with limited success. Individual landowners were contacted to implement sound shoreland and upland management practices. Also, in conjunction with this project a portion of the Sauk watershed was selected as part of the USDA NRCS Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI) to reduce pollution entering the river and reducing downstream impacts. Over 50,000 acres had conservation practices planned or applied. Local units of government were offered workshops and technical assistance to implement policies, such as adopting a Natural Resource Overlay District along the river. The City of Sartell was key receiver of this assistance. Also, a major Take a Day OFF (Outdoor Family Fun) event was held to increase the publics' awareness of this wonderful natural resource in their backyard. Over 1000 people attend this event annually. The public policies and landowner practices implemented has resulted in a healthier Mississippi River today and for decades to come. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION The Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District website (www.stearnscountyswcd.net) was used to disseminate information. Other media forms included radio, newspaper, and Facebook were used to increase awareness of activities pertaining to this project.",,"FINAL REPORT",2011-07-01,2014-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Dennis,Fuchs,"Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District","Marketplace Mall, 110 2nd Street S, Ste 128","Waite Park",MN,56387,"(320) 251-7800 x3",dennis.fuchs@mn.nacdnet.net,"Assessment/Evaluation, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Planning, Technical Assistance","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Benton, Stearns",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mississippi-river-central-minnesota-conservation-planning,,,,
2916,"Mississippi River Central Minnesota Conservation Planning",2013,88000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 03n","$87,000 the first year and $88,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District to develop and adopt river protection strategies in cooperation with local jurisdictions in the communities of the 26 miles of the Mississippi River between Benton and Stearns Counties. This appropriation must be matched by $175,000 of nonstate cash or qualifying in-kind funds.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,88000,,,2.04,"Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District","Local/Regional Government","PROJECT OVERVIEW From its headwaters to the Twin Cities, the Mississippi River has benefited from coordinated management plans and community efforts to protect its water quality and shoreland habitat - except for a 26-mile stretch in central Minnesota. Starting in St. Cloud and stretching north through Stearns and Benton counties, the stretch is governed by 11 different jurisdictions and the communities have no uniform land use controls to protect this shared resource despite population growth and development pressure threatening the health of the river. Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District is using this appropriation to coordinate an effort between these 11 different local governments to develop and implement specific river protection policies and work with landowners along the river to implement shoreland management practices. Ultimately the effort aims to protect the water quality of the Mississippi River, reduce habitat fragmentation, and prioritize on-the-ground efforts. OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS From its Headwaters to the Twin Cities, the Mississippi River has benefited from coordinated management plans and community efforts to protect its water quality and shoreland habitat--except for 26-mile stretch in Central Minnesota. Starting in St. Cloud and stretching north through Stearns and Benton counties, this stretch is governed by 11 different jurisdictions (four cities, five townships and two counties). These communities presently have no uniform land use controls to protect the magnificent river they share. Significant population growth and development pressure and contributing upland pollution could significantly damage the health of the Mississippi River. This project's goal was to restore and protect the natural resources of the Mississippi River and its tributaries, and reduce habitat fragmentation along its banks in central Minnesota. The project coordinated with local units of government to develop and implement specific river protection policies with limited success. Individual landowners were contacted to implement sound shoreland and upland management practices. Also, in conjunction with this project a portion of the Sauk watershed was selected as part of the USDA NRCS Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI) to reduce pollution entering the river and reducing downstream impacts. Over 50,000 acres had conservation practices planned or applied. Local units of government were offered workshops and technical assistance to implement policies, such as adopting a Natural Resource Overlay District along the river. The City of Sartell was key receiver of this assistance. Also, a major Take a Day OFF (Outdoor Family Fun) event was held to increase the publics' awareness of this wonderful natural resource in their backyard. Over 1000 people attend this event annually. The public policies and landowner practices implemented has resulted in a healthier Mississippi River today and for decades to come. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION The Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District website (www.stearnscountyswcd.net) was used to disseminate information. Other media forms included radio, newspaper, and Facebook were used to increase awareness of activities pertaining to this project.",,"FINAL REPORT",2011-07-01,2014-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Dennis,Fuchs,"Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District","Marketplace Mall, 110 2nd Street S, Ste 128","Waite Park",MN,56387,"(320) 251-7800 x3",dennis.fuchs@mn.nacdnet.net,"Assessment/Evaluation, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Planning, Technical Assistance","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Benton, Stearns",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/mississippi-river-central-minnesota-conservation-planning,,,,
9808,"Northeastern Minnesota Sharp-Tailed Grouse Habitat Partnership , Phase 3",2013,1340000,"ML 2012, Ch. 264, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 3(c )","$1,340,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever in cooperation with the Minnesota Sharp Tailed Grouse Society to acquire and enhance lands for wildlife management area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Protect in fee 492 acres of habitat",,300,n/a,1306100,,,.07,"Pheasants Forever with MN Sharp-tailed Grouse Society","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This sharp-tailed grouse habitat partnership protected 492 acres, primarily brushland, in northeastern Minnesota for addition to the Wildlife Management Area system providing multiple environmental and wildlife benefits.  The partnership between Pheasants Forever, MN Sharp-tailed Grouse Society, and the MN Department of Natural Resources has become a strong and efficient partnership through the Northeastern Minnesota Sharp-Tailed Grouse Habitat Partnership appropriations.  The Pomroy Pastures and Gun Lake parcels purchased in this appropriation exemplify how we are working together to protect only strategic habitat critical to improving sharp-tailed grouse populations.  Over the course of the appropriation, we acquired these 2 parcels for a total of 492 acres which exceeded our acre goal of 476 acres by 16 acres (acre goal was amended on October 31st, 2014 to 476 acres).  Of these 492 acres acquired 114.49 of these were wetland acres and 377.51 were upland acres.  All acres were acquired in the Northern Forest region near existing sharp-tail grouse leks.  Even though we exceeded our acre goal we have a balance of $33,900 that will be returned to the Fund. ",,"Final Report: http://www.lsohc.leg.mn/FY2013/accomp_plan/3c.pdf Working in close collaboration with partners, Pheasants Forever acquired 492 acres of strategic habitat that builds onto existing protected lands and/or develops corridors for wildlife. All land acquired has been enrolled into the state Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Program and will be protected and managed in perpetuity by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. We have worked together with federal, state and local partners when acquiring both parcels which will now be celebrated as new WMAs. These new WMAs not only provides access and recreational opportunities for all Minnesotans, but helps address a strong need to provide more secure nesting and brood rearing habitat for sharp-tailed grouse near existing leks. The offers to the landowner were based on fair market values and appraisals. The acquired parcels addressed a backlog of willing sellers that now are helping slow the loss, degradation, and fragmentation of habitat in Minnesota. Parcels were identified in partnership with the MN Sharp-tailed Grouse Society and the MN DNR, ranked, and prioritized on habitat goals and feasibility. Our methods are formed around the principle of accelerating the Wildlife Production Area program in MN by targeting only the best available habitat with willing sellers. We utilize local partner expertise to focus on building a system of interconnected wildlife complexes that create habitat mosaics. We also utilize the latest geospatial layers to help determine factors such as: habitat restoration potential, landscape scale significance, presence of rare features and native habitat, and how these acquisitions fit into other priorities for our partners. Similar to the Sharp-Tailed Grouse Habitat Partnership Phase 2, this proposal was amended and approved by the council to reduce our acre goal. We came to the council to reduce the obligated acres from the original proposal because of the importance of the Gun Lake parcel and the fact that it costs more per acre than anticipated. The council approved these changes because of this parcels wildlife value which includes multiple sharp-tail leks, water mitigation credits, a DNR history of grouse viewing blinds. Gun Lake WMA is a complex of 762 acres of contiguous habitat. 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 or will be 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. Wetlands were restored using a combination of tile breaking, sediment removal, dike construction, and water control structures. Scattered invasive tree removal and prescribed fire were used where appropriate to enhance existing grassland habitat after protection. ",2012-07-01,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Eran,Sandquist,"Minnesota Sharp-tailed Grouse Society","410 Lincoln Avenue South","South Haven",MN,55382,320-236-7755,esandquist@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Kanabec","Northern Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/northeastern-minnesota-sharp-tailed-grouse-habitat-partnership-phase-3,,,,
2541,"Northeastern Minnesota Sharp-Tailed Grouse Habitat Partnership, Phase 2",2012,988000,"ML 2011, First Special Session, Ch. 6, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 3(d)","$988,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever in cooperation with the Minnesota Sharp-Tailed Grouse Society to acquire and enhance lands for wildlife management area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.",,"Protect in fee 834 acres of Habitat",,6700,,945700,,,.15,"Pheasants Forever with Sharp-tailed Grouse Society","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This Sharp-tailed Grouse Habitat Partnership protected 834 acres, primarily brushland, in Kanabec County for addition to the WMA system, providing multiple environmental benefits.",,"Working with partners, Pheasants Forever acquired a strategic 960 acre parcel (834 acres paid for with this appropriation and the balance paid from ML 2012 Northeastern Minnesota Sharp-Tailed Grouse Habitat Partnership, Phase III) of land from a willing seller in Kanabec County. This land has 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 (DNR). In addition, the newly acquired WMA will provide public access and recreational opportunities for ALL Minnesotans, so fundamentally important to our outdoor heritage. The offer to the landowner was based on appraised value and seemed to be competitive with the market at the time. This parcel addressed the loss, degradation and fragmentation of open and brushland habitat within northeastern Minnesota due to natural succession and conversion to other land uses. This has led to a long term decline in the sharp-tailed grouse population and populations of several other wildlife species that use or depend upon these habitats, causing their listing as species of the greatest conservation need. The parcel was 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, $938,190.75 of Outdoor Heritage Funds were matched with $6,766.00 of non-state funding to complete this work. ",2011-07-20,2016-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Eran,Sandquist,"Pheasants Forever with MN Sharp-Tailed Grouse Society","410 Lincoln Ave S","South Haven ",MN,55382,320-236-7755,esandquist@pheasantsforever.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Kanabec,"Northern Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/northeastern-minnesota-sharp-tailed-grouse-habitat-partnership-phase-2,,,,
9800,"Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Land Acquisition , Phase 4",2013,1580000,"ML 2012, Ch. 264, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(e)","$1,580,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire land in fee or permanent conservation easements within the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area in western Minnesota for addition to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The accomplishment plan must include an easement monitoring and enforcement plan.",,"Protected 769 acres of prairies.",,175500,"TNC, USFWS, NAWCA, and LWCF",1579900,,,1.05,"The Nature Conservancy with USFWS","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This appropriation allowed the permanent protection of 769 acres in western Minnesota.  These properties included 287 acres of remnant native prairie, 112 acres of associated wetland complexes, and 19,500' of stream front.  For this phase, we committed to protecting 500 acres with a minimum of 250 being native prairie.  Both targets were exceeded – 153% of total acres and 115% of native prairie acres.  The lands and easements purchased with this funding by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) have been transferred to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and are now units of the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.",,"The Council’s 25-Year Framework identifies protecting Minnesota’s remaining native prairies as a critical priority.  The Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan (Prairie Plan) describes the importance of preserving the cores/corridors/complexes where there are the greatest opportunities for the long-term conservation of these prairies.  The Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Land Acquisition (NTP NWR) program shares these goals.  This program is a cooperative, multi-year effort of The Nature Conservancy and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to preserve and protect our remaining prairies and the surrounding habitat that buffer them.  With Outdoor Heritage Fund support, this partnership is working together to advance these goals.  This program’s top criterion for parcel prioritization is the presence of remnant native prairie.  The criteria also ask: 1) Is the project located in an existing complex of habitat and protected lands? and 2) Are rare species and/or communities present?  As a result, the parcels protected often include other valuable native habitat.  In addition to native prairie, the five acquired properties included 112 acres of wetlands, 19,500' of stream front, and 140-acres of high-quality riparian forest.  All of the lands protected were in the priority areas identified in the Prairie Plan.  Data from the Minnesota Biological Survey confirms the conservation value of the lands protected.  329 acres were identified as having significant biodiversity significance, with 2/3 of these ranked as having high or outstanding biodiversity.  The appropriation language and original accomplishment plan for this phase permitted the purchase of either fee title properties or permanent habitat easements.  The final balance of fee and easement work depended on the best conservation opportunities available.  Five projects were completed with funding from this phase.  These included 76 acres of fee title acquisition and 693 acres of permanent conservation easements.  Across multiple phases, the balance between fee and easement acquisition varies.  The ML 2010 phase funded more fee acres.  ML 2011 and 2012 purchased more easements.  The following phase, ML 2014, is on track do significantly more fee than easement work.  This program also includes a relatively small restoration/enhancement component.  The prioritization criteria favor parcels that are in good condition.    Because of the nature of parcel ownership, however, some properties will likely include small areas of converted or degraded lands needing grassland or wetland restoration/enhancement.  This work is completed where needed to get these properties into a sustainable condition for future management.  Restoration/enhancement activity with this round of funding included 6.3 acres of grassland restoration, 46.6 acres of tree and/or dense vegetation removal, and 426.2 acres of scattered vegetation removal.  These acres are not reported as a separate outcome in the Output Tables in order to avoid any possible double-counting.  Two things to note when reviewing the attached Budget Spreadsheet and Output Tables:1) The Request column in the Budget and Cash Leverage Table is out of date.  The figures shown are from the originally approved accomplishment plan.  It does not reflect any later amendments.  This discrepancy resulted from the shift from paper to online reporting during this phase.2) The Output Tables tab shows all of the original Acres and Funding on the Protect in Fee W/O State PILT Liability.  The ‘either/or’ language in the original, paper-based accomplishment plans didn’t carry over when the plan was migrated to the online system.  The new system didn’t allow ‘or’ situations.  The acres all appear under Protect in Fee w/o PILT in the attached Output Tables.",2012-07-01,2014-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,"Richard ",Johnson,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 West River Parkway ",Minneapolis,MN,55415,"(612) 331-0790",rich_johnson@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Pope, Yellow Medicine","Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/northern-tallgrass-prairie-national-wildlife-refuge-land-acquisition-phase-4,,,,
2532,"Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Land Acquisition, Phase 3",2012,1720000,"ML 2011, First Special Session, Ch. 6, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(d)","$1,720,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy to acquire land or permanent easements within the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area in western Minnesota for addition to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The accomplishment plan must include an easement monitoring and enforcement plan.",,"Protected 752 acres of remnant native prairie and 78 acres of associated wetland complexes for a total of 977 acres.",,167200,"The Nature Conservancy Personnel",1715100,,,.41,"The Nature Conservancy","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This appropriation allowed the permanent protection of 977 acres in western Minnesota. These properties included 752 acres of remnant native prairie, 78 acres of associated wetland complexes, 8,950' of stream front, and 9,400' of lakeshore. Lands and easements purchased through this program by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) are transferred to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and become units of the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. These lands are owned and managed by the FWS. ",,"The Council’s 25-Year Framework identifies protecting Minnesota’s remaining native prairies as a critical priority. Only a small portion of this once vast prairie still exists. The Minnesota Biological Survey (MBS) identifies approximately 249,000 acres of remaining native prairie. Of these, about half are without permanent protection and at risk of conversion. The Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge was established to preserve, restore, and manage a portion of this remaining prairie and associated habitats. The funding in this appropriation has allowed us to significantly accelerate progress towards these goals. 977 acres in western Minnesota were permanently protected with conservation easements. These properties included 752 acres of remnant native prairie, 78 acres of associated wetland complexes, 8,950' of stream front, and 9,400' of lakeshore. The area protected by the Refuge increased by 18.4%. Data from MBS confirms the conservation value of the lands protected. Of the 977 acres, 811 were classified by the Survey as having Outstanding, High, or Moderate biodiversity significance. Over half, 497 acres, was ranked as Outstanding. The original target for native prairie protection was 744 acres. We exceeded this goal, with 752 acres. The initial goal for total acres-protected was 1,470 acres. This was based on acquiring a mix of lands in Northwest, Central and Southwest Minnesota. Land values vary widely across the state. The highest-quality lands available during this phase were in areas with higher costs. This made it a challenge to accomplish the 1,470 acre goal. In a multi-year program, like this one, individual phases are likely to be over or under the target. It is, however, important that the program can meet-or-exceed its goals over a longer period. Acquisition work with the ML 2010, 2011, and 2012 appropriations is now complete. The acres protected in ML 2010 and 2012 were significantly more than projected. This more than outweighed the shortfall in the ML 2011 phase. Together, the accomplishment plans for the three phases committed to 2,605 acres. A total of 2,796 acres have been protected. Another challenge was the balance between fee and easement acquisition. The appropriation language and original accomplishment plan for this phase permitted the purchase of either fee title properties or permanent habitat easements. The final balance of fee and easement work would depend on the opportunities available. The ‘either/or’ language in the earlier, paper-based accomplishment plans didn’t carry over when the plan was migrated to the online system. The new system didn’t allow ‘or’ situations. The acres all appear under Protect in Fee w/o PILT in the attached Output Tables. In the end, a total of 977 acres of conservation easements were acquired. These were the best conservation opportunities available during this phase. This is borne out by the 744 acres of native prairie protected and the 83% of these lands classified as having significant biodiversity by the Biological Survey. Again, across multiple phases, there is likely to be more balance between fee and easement acquisition. The ML 2010 phase funded more fee acquisition protection. ML 2011 and 2012 purchased more easements. Our current acquisition work, with ML 2014 funding, is doing significantly more fee protection. A couple of additional things to note when reviewing the attached Budget Spreadsheet/Output Tables/Parcel List: First, the Request column in the Budget and Cash Leverage Table is out of date. The figures shown are from the originally approved accomplishment plan. It does not reflect any later amendments. This discrepancy also resulted from the shift from paper to online reporting. Second, the Murray County #3 property on the Parcels tab shows the dollars/acres for only a portion of this parcel. This purchase was split between two appropriations, ML 2010 and 2011. The total cost was $846,225 and the total area was 187 acres. The ML 2010 appropriation paid for $734,623 of this. These costs, and a proportional share of the acres accomplished, were reported with that round. The $111,602 and 25 acres shown here are the remaining amounts.",2011-07-01,2014-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Richard,Johnson,"The Nature Conservancy","1101 West River Parkway, Suite 200",Minneapolis,MN,55415,612-331-0790,rich_johnson@tnc.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Big Stone, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Otter Tail, Pope","Prairie Region",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/northern-tallgrass-prairie-national-wildlife-refuge-land-acquisition-phase-3,,,,
2552,"Protecting Sensitive Shorelands in North Central Minnesota, Phase 1",2012,1098000,"ML 2011, First Special Session, Ch. 6, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(e)","$1,098,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements with the Leech Lake Watershed Foundation and the Minnesota Land Trust as follows: $339,000 to the Leech Lake Watershed Foundation; $741,000 to the Minnesota Land Trust; and $18,000 to the Department of Natural Resources to pay for acquisition-related expenses and monitoring costs of donated permanent conservation easements on sensitive shorelands in north central Minnesota. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The accomplishment plan must include an easement monitoring and enforcement plan. Up to $342,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to subdivision 15. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund.",,"Protected in easement 260 acres of habitat.",,1200,"Operating Budget",337200,,,1.57,"Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation, MN Land Trust and DNR","Local/Regional Government","Landowner-donated conservation easements in Aitkin, Cass, and Crow Wing counties permanently conserved 260 acres and 3.6 miles of critical shorelands for the protection and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat and continued public recreational enjoyment of these aquatic resources. ",,"The deep, cold water lakes of Aitkin, Cass, and Crow Wing counties in North Central Minnesota are considered to be some of the most desirable recreational lakes in Minnesota. These high quality lakes are biologically important systems that support fish, game and wildlife and have high ecological value to Minnesotans for recreation as well as contributing to the sustainability of Minnesota’s $11 billion/year tourism industry. With steady population growth in this region and projected increases of up to 30% by 2030, these lakes are continually threatened by increasing shoreland development. As shorelines are developed and land is cleared, habitat for fish and wildlife is reduced and in turn fish populations and other wildlife that depend on a healthy shoreland zone decline. This project, “Protecting Sensitive Shorelands in North Central Minnesota” permanently protected 260 acres and 18,915 shoreland feet (3.6 miles) of critical fish and wildlife habitat. Willing landowners donated a conservation easement on their property to limit future development and shoreland disturbance. The conservation easements are held and monitored in perpetuity by the easement holder, the Minnesota Land Trust. Not only do the protected lands have critical shoreland habitats, all the protected properties also provide important forested habitats for upland wildlife, and keeping forest lands intact will reduce erosion and runoff to the lakes to help maintain high quality water environments for fish and recreational enjoyment. Participating landowners donated over $800,000 in land value to provide fish and wildlife habitat protection to the public of Minnesota. As a financial incentive for the land donation, the associated transaction costs for closing the easement, such as surveys, title and legal work, and other professional services along with easement stewardship was covered by the Outdoor Heritage Funds appropriated to the project. As further incentive, landowners were provided an IRS-approved appraisal of the conservation easement to use for their charitable donation of conservation value. This project was accomplished through the collaborative efforts of the Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation, a regional land conservation nonprofit who provided project administration and landowner outreach/coordination to point of securing a commitment to donate a conservation easement, and the Minnesota Land Trust, who drafted the easements, holds the easement is perpetuity, and is responsible for easement stewardship. Prior to starting the project, the most important shoreland habitats in the North Central Minnesota region, including Aitkin, Cass, and Crow Wing counties, was identified using science-based strategic planning and evaluation models. The initial criteria for parcel selection was based on the Minnesota DNR’s Sensitive Shoreland Study conducted on 19 lakes in Cass County from 2008-2010, in which they used 13 ecological parameters to determine the most important shoreland for fish and wildlife habitat protection. In Cass County alone, over 83 miles of largely undeveloped and critical shorelands were identified. Through this project, the DNR’s initial work was expanded into a rapid assessment model for other shorelands in the region. The model was then applied to other critical lakes in the region and assessed, in collaboration with the three county local governments, to further identify important shoreland for fish and wildlife habitat protection. The prospective parcels are largely undeveloped shorelines in areas of high-conservation significance as determined by these studies and field surveys. Once parcels were identified, outreach was conducted to specific landowners about the project and its benefits. Several easements were started in this Phase I project but were not completed for various reasons, including access issues, family conflicts, and estate issue among others. An important conclusion of this Phase I project was the realization that future protection work will need to focus primarily on the purchase of easements—either in full or as a partially-donated easement. Through extensive outreach and many landowner conversations, participating landowners were secured for fully-donated easements, but many landowners, though interested, could not participate in that capacity citing impending changes in IRS charitable deduction limits and changing economic conditions as reasons why they could not ultimately fully donate a conservation easement. It is the conclusion of the participating organizations that the low-hanging fruit of landowners willing to donate easements has been exhausted. While there may still be some donated easements in Phase II and beyond, most easements will need to be acquired. Phase II of this project was funded by the Minnesota Legislature in 2014 to continue the important work of fish and wildlife habitat protection on critical shorelands in North Central Minnesota with expansion to Hubbard County. Landowner outreach in Phase I will be utilized to target additional parcels for conservation easements in Phase II. Shoreland disturbance due to development is one of the greatest threats facing Minnesota’s lake resources. Permanently protecting the most critical shorelands is an essential strategy to maintain Minnesota’s fisheries and wildlife habitat; important waterfowl breading and feeding areas; and the overall health of the state’s aquatic resources upon which the public relies for recreational enjoyment and which drive the economic engine sustaining many North Central Minnesota counties. This project achieved permanent conservation of 260 acres and 18,915 shoreland feet (3.6 miles) of critical shoreland fish and wildlife habitats for approximately $18 per shoreland foot and $1300 per acre—all projects costs considered. Given that the shorelands on prime recreational lakes in this region of Minnesota can cost up to $4,000 per shoreland foot to purchase in fee, the state of Minnesota received an excellent return on its investment in protecting and conserving critical shorelands in North Central Minnesota. While the protected properties are still privately owned, the Minnesota public benefits from the habitat and water quality protection achieved. The project achieved the original goal of 3-4 miles of shoreland protected, but fell short on the acreage goal. However, the lessons learned from the project will inform efficient and targeted future aquatic habitat protection work in North Central Minnesota (Phase II and beyond). Plus the unused appropriation can be returned to North Central Minnesota for additional conservation based on lessons applied and continuing opportunities for permanent land conservation to protect some of the most vital and critical fish and wildlife habitat in Minnesota. ",2011-07-20,2014-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Paula,West,"Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation","PO Box 455",Hackensack,MN,56452,218-675-5773,llawf@tds.net,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing","Northern Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/protecting-sensitive-shorelands-north-central-minnesota-phase-1,,,,
18270,"Quarry Park & Nature Preserve",2013,136000,"M.L. 2011 First Special Session Ch. 6 Art. 3 Sec. 3(c) (1) & M.S. 85.535","$7331000 the first year and $7686000 the second year are for grants under Minnesota Statutes section 85.535 to acquire develop improve and restore parks and trails of regional or statewide significance outside of the metropolitan area as defined in Minnesota Statutes section 473.121 subdivision 2.",,,,,,,,,,"Stearns County",,"Develop second swimming quarry to relieve pressure on existing swimming quarry. Construct T-dock access platform, a cantilevered access platform, informational and safety signage, restroom, picnic shelter and landscaping.",,,2013-01-17,2015-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Joe,Hiller,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5538",joe.hiller@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Stearns,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/quarry-park-nature-preserve,,,,
18272,"River Bluffs Regional Park",2013,580000,"M.L. 2011 First Special Session Ch. 6 Art. 3 Sec. 3(c) (1) & M.S. 85.535","$7331000 the first year and $7686000 the second year are for grants under Minnesota Statutes section 85.535 to acquire develop improve and restore parks and trails of regional or statewide significance outside of the metropolitan area as defined in Minnesota Statutes section 473.121 subdivision 2.",,,,,,,,,,"City Of St. Cloud",,"Acquisition of 34.75-acre addition to existing 140-acre River Bluffs Regional Park.",,,2013-01-17,2015-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Joe,Hiller,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5538",joe.hiller@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Stearns,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/river-bluffs-regional-park-0,,,,
9490,"Rockville County Park & Nature Preserve",2012,500000,"M.L. 2011 First Special Session Ch. 6 Art. 3 Sec. 3(c) (1) & M.S. 85.535","$7331000 the first year and $7686000 the second year are for grants under Minnesota Statutes section 85.535 to acquire develop improve and restore parks and trails of regional or statewide significance outside of the metropolitan area as defined in Minnesota Statutes section 473.121 subdivision 2.",,,,,,,,,,"Stearns County",,"Develop parking area, rest room, bridge, observation deck, open play field, trails and horseback riding facilities.",,,2012-02-07,2014-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Joe,Hiller,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5538",joe.hiller@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Stearns,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/rockville-county-park-nature-preserve,,,,
9487,"Rocori Trail Phase 1",2012,500000,"M.L. 2011 First Special Session Ch. 6 Art. 3 Sec. 3(c) (1) & M.S. 85.535","$7331000 the first year and $7686000 the second year are for grants under Minnesota Statutes section 85.535 to acquire develop improve and restore parks and trails of regional or statewide significance outside of the metropolitan area as defined in Minnesota Statutes section 473.121 subdivision 2.",,,,,,,,,,"Rocori Trail Construction Board",,"to acquire 3 miles of the Rocori Trail, connecting the cities of Richmond and Cold Spring, and eventually connecting to the Glacial Lakes State Trail",,,2012-02-13,2014-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Traci,Vibo,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","Saint Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5619",traci.vibo@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Stearns,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/rocori-trail-phase-1,,,,
2917,"Saint Croix Basin Conservation Planning and Protection",2012,60000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 03o","$60,000 the first year and $60,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the St. Croix River Association to develop an interagency plan to identify and prioritize critical areas for project implementation to improve watershed health. This appropriation must be matched by $120,000 of nonstate cash or qualifying in-kind funds. Up to $10,000 may be retained by the Department of Natural Resources at the request of the St. Croix River Association to provide technical and mapping assistance. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,60000,,,1.3,"St. Croix River Association","Non-Profit Business/Entity","PROJECT OVERVIEW Portions of the St. Croix River Basin are now on the impaired waters list and rare landscapes, plants, and animal communities are increasingly threatened by development pressures. Up until now, conservation efforts in the St. Croix Basin have often been lacking focus and coordination between jurisdictions has been inadequate. Through this appropriation, the St. Croix River Association is establishing and coordinating a partnership effort between local, state, and federal government units and non-profits to develop a joint plan that will identify and prioritize areas for conservation implementation and guide efforts over time to improve overall watershed health in the St. Croix Basin. OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTSPortions of the St. Croix River Basin are now on the impaired waters list and rare landscapes, plant, and animal communities are threatened by development pressures. Multi-jurisdictional conservation efforts are complex and often lack focus and coordination in the St. Croix Basin. This project was a means to streamline and focus conservation efforts on areas with the most critical need within the Basin. By linking local, state and federal governmental units, citizen-led non-profits, and design & technical expertise in an effective, well-coordinated partnership, this project set water quality, habitat, and recreational priorities; identified specific management practices in priority locations; and implemented on-the-ground projects to promote land and water stewardship to enhance and protect the very special place the St. Croix River Basin is to live, recreate, and work. The St. Croix Action Team, consisting of multiple partnerships throughout the Minnesota side of the St. Croix River Basin, worked diligently throughout the life of the project to produce a strategic prioritization of resources based on water quality, habitat, and recreation. The final products include:Identification of priority subwatersheds for resource management objectives in the St. Croix Basin (MN side) based on multiple benefits through an integrative modeling application.A protocol to assist in identifying Best Management Practices (BMPs) within priority subwatersheds.An expansive list of 188 BMP prescriptions for Chisago, Kanabec and Washington counties for water quality protection and habitat restoration.A cost benefit analysis of each practice to help determine the most cost effective management options for the benefit received from the practice.Six BMPs on the ground located in priority areas that demonstrate the use of an effective protocol and cost benefit analysis for resource protection and management.This project was vital to create a well-coordinated procedure that identified areas of greatest resource concern and strategic, most cost-effective measures of protecting those resources.PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION As a part of this project, Chisago, Kanabec, and Washington counties each constructed a master list of priority conservation activities to use in their work plans, build future funding strategies, and perform outreach activities to landowners for implementation. Project information has been shared with additional Basin partners, including those across the river on the Wisconsin side, through the annual St. Croix Basin Conference, Basin Team meetings, and SCRA newsletters and website.",,"FINAL REPORT",2011-07-01,2014-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Deb,Ryun,"St Croix River Association","119 N Washington St","St Croix Falls",MN,54024,"(715) 483-3300",debryun@scramail.com,"Education/Outreach/Engagement, Planning","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Carlton, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Pine, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/saint-croix-basin-conservation-planning-and-protection,,,,
2917,"Saint Croix Basin Conservation Planning and Protection",2013,60000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 03o","$60,000 the first year and $60,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the St. Croix River Association to develop an interagency plan to identify and prioritize critical areas for project implementation to improve watershed health. This appropriation must be matched by $120,000 of nonstate cash or qualifying in-kind funds. Up to $10,000 may be retained by the Department of Natural Resources at the request of the St. Croix River Association to provide technical and mapping assistance. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,60000,,,1.29,"St. Croix River Association","Non-Profit Business/Entity","PROJECT OVERVIEW Portions of the St. Croix River Basin are now on the impaired waters list and rare landscapes, plants, and animal communities are increasingly threatened by development pressures. Up until now, conservation efforts in the St. Croix Basin have often been lacking focus and coordination between jurisdictions has been inadequate. Through this appropriation, the St. Croix River Association is establishing and coordinating a partnership effort between local, state, and federal government units and non-profits to develop a joint plan that will identify and prioritize areas for conservation implementation and guide efforts over time to improve overall watershed health in the St. Croix Basin. OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTSPortions of the St. Croix River Basin are now on the impaired waters list and rare landscapes, plant, and animal communities are threatened by development pressures. Multi-jurisdictional conservation efforts are complex and often lack focus and coordination in the St. Croix Basin. This project was a means to streamline and focus conservation efforts on areas with the most critical need within the Basin. By linking local, state and federal governmental units, citizen-led non-profits, and design & technical expertise in an effective, well-coordinated partnership, this project set water quality, habitat, and recreational priorities; identified specific management practices in priority locations; and implemented on-the-ground projects to promote land and water stewardship to enhance and protect the very special place the St. Croix River Basin is to live, recreate, and work. The St. Croix Action Team, consisting of multiple partnerships throughout the Minnesota side of the St. Croix River Basin, worked diligently throughout the life of the project to produce a strategic prioritization of resources based on water quality, habitat, and recreation. The final products include:Identification of priority subwatersheds for resource management objectives in the St. Croix Basin (MN side) based on multiple benefits through an integrative modeling application.A protocol to assist in identifying Best Management Practices (BMPs) within priority subwatersheds.An expansive list of 188 BMP prescriptions for Chisago, Kanabec and Washington counties for water quality protection and habitat restoration.A cost benefit analysis of each practice to help determine the most cost effective management options for the benefit received from the practice.Six BMPs on the ground located in priority areas that demonstrate the use of an effective protocol and cost benefit analysis for resource protection and management.This project was vital to create a well-coordinated procedure that identified areas of greatest resource concern and strategic, most cost-effective measures of protecting those resources.PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION As a part of this project, Chisago, Kanabec, and Washington counties each constructed a master list of priority conservation activities to use in their work plans, build future funding strategies, and perform outreach activities to landowners for implementation. Project information has been shared with additional Basin partners, including those across the river on the Wisconsin side, through the annual St. Croix Basin Conference, Basin Team meetings, and SCRA newsletters and website.",,"FINAL REPORT",2011-07-01,2014-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Deb,Ryun,"St Croix River Association","119 N Washington St","St Croix Falls",MN,54024,"(715) 483-3300",debryun@scramail.com,"Education/Outreach/Engagement, Planning","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Aitkin, Anoka, Carlton, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Pine, Washington",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/saint-croix-basin-conservation-planning-and-protection,,,,
9489,"Sauk River Park",2012,500000,"M.L. 2011 First Special Session Ch. 6 Art. 3 Sec. 3(c) (1) & M.S. 85.535","$7331000 the first year and $7686000 the second year are for grants under Minnesota Statutes section 85.535 to acquire develop improve and restore parks and trails of regional or statewide significance outside of the metropolitan area as defined in Minnesota Statutes section 473.121 subdivision 2.",,,,,,,,,,"City of Sartell",,"Acquire approximately 44 acres along the Sauk River for a regional park to provide nature-based outdoor recreation including nature trails, canoe access, snow shoeing, and cross country skiing. ",,,2012-01-20,2014-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Joe,Hiller,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","St. Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5538",joe.hiller@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,Stearns,,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/sauk-river-park,,,,
2547,"Shallow Lake Shoreland Protection: Wild Rice Lakes",2012,1891000,"ML 2011, First Special Session, Ch. 6, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(c )","$1,891,000 the first year is to the Board of Water and Soil Resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to acquire wild rice lake shoreland habitat in fee and as permanent conservation easements as follows: $500,000 to the Department of Natural Resources; $1,100,000 to the Board of Water and Soil Resources; and $291,000 to Ducks Unlimited. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The accomplishment 10.1 plan must include an easement monitoring and enforcement plan. Up to $18,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to subdivision 15. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund.",,"Protected 1,210 acres of wild rice lake shoreland habitat",,11800,"DU private in-kind staff funds",1640800,600,,1.2,"DNR, Ducks Unlimited and BWSR","Non-Profit Business/Entity","This pilot program protected 1,210 acres of wild rice lake shoreland habitat in the Northern Forest Section by securing 14 permanent RIM conservation easements and four fee-title acquisitions, surpassing our goal of 700 acres, and doing so $250,202 under budget.",,"This initial Phase 1 program was intended to protect sensitive wild rice lake shorelands and prevent shoreline development that could degrade wild rice lake ecology. The keystone feature of this initial pilot program was the launch a new state RIM easement program for wild rice lake shoreland properties intended to buffer and protect sensitive wild rice lake shorelines and limit development. Also, this initial program featured a unique partnership among local, county, state and federal agencies all working together to protect key parcels through a combination of conservation easements and fee-title land acquisitions. The Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR) worked closely with northeastern Minnesota County Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) to develop and implement the new RIM conservation easement program for wild rice lakes, which secured 14 RIM easements and protected 821 acres. Due to several landowners canceling their RIM easement applications after the appropriation adjustment availability date, $98,044 of easement acquisition funding, $2,000 of easement stewardship funding, and $112 of personnel money was unspent by BWSR at the end of the project, and BWSR returned $100,156 to the OHF. However, this new RIM easement program for wild rice lakes was successfully launched and is now fully programmatic and ongoing, and has received additional OHF funding since this initial pilot phase. DU also attempted to purchase conservation easements on two parcels of land on wild rice lakes too, but those efforts did not succeed due to landowner unwillingness to continue with the DU easement process. Therefore, DU amended the grant budget to move easement grant funds to fee-title land purchase, and successfully appraised and purchased a 28-acre parcel of land on Moose Lake in St. Louis County in fee-title. This key parcel was then transferred it to the U.S. Forest Service for inclusion in the Superior National Forest and long-term management and public outdoor recreational use. DU also coordinated this pilot program and submitted all grant status reports. DU spent $143,262 but left $147,738 unspent to be returned to the OHF. Minnesota DNR successfully purchased a key 286-acre parcel in fee-title on Yaeger Lake in Wadena County for inclusion in the Yaeger state Wildlife Management Area (WMA). DNR also subawarded OHF grant funds to Cass County to purchase two parcels of 35 acres on Lake George and 40 acres on Lower Hand Lake that were for sale and were appropriate additions to county land holdings in the area and help consolidate Cass County forest management and land ownership. Together, DNR and Cass County purchased 361 acres in fee-title, spent $497,691, and turned back $2,309 to the OHF. Overall, 14 RIM easements were secured that protect 821 acres, and four key parcels of land for sale totaling 389 acres were purchased in fee-title where RIM easements were not of interest to private landowners, for a total of 1,209 acres protected including about four miles of shoreline protected through this initial pilot grant to protect wild rice lake shoreland. This 1,210-acre land protection achievement far surpasses our goal of 700 acres, and was accomplished well-under under budget. Collectively, partners spent $1,640,798 of the $1,891,000 appropriated for this initial phase of the program, and turned back $250,202 to the OHF. This new wild rice lake protection partnership program continues today, with the Minnesota BWSR working closely with SWCDs to assist private landowners and implement additional RIM easements on wild rice lakes with subsequent OHF grants and phases of this initial program. Partners also routinely discuss other land protection needs around wild rice lakes with Minnesota DNR field staff, and work together to ensure efforts are make to purchase key tracts on important wild rice lakes when they come up for sale and are appropriate for public land ownership and management.",2011-07-20,2014-06-30,"Outdoor Heritage Fund",Completed,,,Jon,Schneider,"Ducks Unlimited","311 East Lake Geneva Road",Alexandria,MN,56308,320-762-9916,jschneider@ducks.org,"Land Acquisition","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources",,"Aitkin, Carlton, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, St. Louis, Wadena","Northern Forest",,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/shallow-lake-shoreland-protection-wild-rice-lakes,,,,
9453,"Spur Line - Buffalo Hills Park - Kiwanis Park Trail",2012,425000,"M.L. 2011 First Special Session Ch. 6 Art. 3 Sec. 3(c) (1) & M.S. 85.535","$7331000 the first year and $7686000 the second year are for grants under Minnesota Statutes section 85.535 to acquire develop improve and restore parks and trails of regional or statewide significance outside of the metropolitan area as defined in Minnesota Statutes section 473.121 subdivision 2.",,,,,,,,,,"City Of Brainerd",,"to construct 3.8 miles of 10 foot wide asphalt multi-use trail connecting Buffalo Hills Park and Kiwanis Park to the Spur Line Trail, the Cuyuna Lakes State Trail and the Paul Bunyan State Trail",,,2012-08-03,2014-06-30,"Parks & Trails Fund",Completed,,,Traci,Vibo,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources","500 Lafayette Road","Saint Paul",MN,55155,"(651) 259-5619",traci.vibo@state.mn.us,Grants/Contracts,"Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Crow Wing",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/spur-line-buffalo-hills-park-kiwanis-park-trail,,,,
2967,"Supporting Community-Driven Sustainable Bioenergy Projects",2012,75000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 07","$75,000 the first year and $75,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Dovetail Partners, Inc., in cooperation with the University of Minnesota to assess feasibility, impacts, and management needs of community-scale forest bioenergy systems through pilot studies in Ely and Cook County and to disseminate findings to inform related efforts in other communities.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,75000,,,0.98,"Dovetail Partners, Inc.","Non-Profit Business/Entity","PROJECT OVERVIEW Small scale community bioenergy systems hold significant promise for increasing energy security, reducing carbon emissions, and contributing to local economies. These types of systems rely on materials such as wood and grasses sourced from the surrounding area as fuel sources for local energy production. However, many questions still remain about how to effectively and sustainably implement these types of community bioenergy systems. Dovetail Partners is piloting an effort with the City of Ely and Cook County to develop the information and tools necessary for communities to assess the viability of these types of energy systems based on the resources available within their own regions. OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS This project helps guide development of sustainable community-scale forest bioenergy programs in Northeast Minnesota and provides examples from the region to assist communities statewide considering similar projects. Locally produced, community-based renewable energy systems hold significant promise for increasing energy security, reducing carbon emissions, and contributing to local economies. The goals of this project were to develop and share information and tools that address key questions about the viability of community bioenergy systems. During the first phase, existing models and planning tools were adapted to evaluate feasibility, impacts, and management needs for community-scale and other small bioenergy applications being proposed in Ely and Cook County. During the second phase of the project, the information and tools developed in Ely and Cook County were shared with communities, land managers, policymakers, investors, and others interested in the long-term prospects and viability of locally produced bioenergy. The results of the project indicate that there are abundant potential biomass supplies that could meet the needs of the community-scaled biomass energy projects being considered. The financial analysis illustrates that a number of the projects being considered have reasonable potential payback periods and other positive indications of financial feasibility. The environmental review reports summarize major considerations that were identified in interviews with local stakeholders and provide information about the mitigations that are in place to manage risk (e.g., Minnesota""s use of biomass harvesting guidelines, third-party forest certification and ecological monitoring). At this time, the community of Ely is considering options for moving forward with a biomass system or systems that could serve the community college, hospital, school and/or other facilities. The community of Grand Marais has completed additional engineering analysis for a potential district heating system that could serve a number of public buildings and private businesses that represent the major potential customers for the system. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION< The study team has prepared and made publicly available the final reports and fact sheets from the project that address the estimates of available fuel supplies for biomass facilities in Ely and Cook County and evaluations of potential environmental impacts and available mitigations. An additional report, ""Community-Driven Biomass Energy Opportunities - A Northern Minnesota Case Study"" has been prepared and made publicly available. The report highlights the findings from the projects and also describes the approach and community-driven structure of the project, conclusions and recommendations that can assist other communities facing similar questions and decisions about renewable energy. The fact sheets, complete reports and the executive summary report are available at the project website (http://www.dovetailinc.org/content/lccmr-supporting-community-driven-sustainable-bioenergy-projects). Community meetings were held in Grand Marais and Ely throughout the project to engage community input and present project findings to community members. Presentations about the project have been made to the Minnesota Forest Resources Council, Minnesota Forest Resources Partnership, and attendees of the Heating the Midwest Conference held in Carlton, Minnesota. Project information, products and results have been shared through the webpages that have been maintained throughout the project. These pages have shared the fact sheets, reports, and materials distributed at public meetings (e.g., presentation slides). News releases have also been distributed during the project, including radio interviews and newspaper articles in Ely and Grand Marais as well as statewide media engagement (e.g., Midwest Energy News). The activities of the project also included meetings with diverse partner groups, including staff of CERTs, landowner and land managers, loggers and forest product industry representatives, environmental and conservation organizations, local residents and other Minnesota citizens.",,"FINAL REPORT",2011-07-01,2013-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Kathryn,Fernholz,"Dovetail Partners Inc","528 Hennepin Ave, Ste 202",Minneapolis,MN,55429,"(612) 333-0430",katie@dovetailinc.org,"Analysis/Interpretation, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Planning","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Cook, St. Louis",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/supporting-community-driven-sustainable-bioenergy-projects,,,,
2967,"Supporting Community-Driven Sustainable Bioenergy Projects",2013,75000,"M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 07","$75,000 the first year and $75,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Dovetail Partners, Inc., in cooperation with the University of Minnesota to assess feasibility, impacts, and management needs of community-scale forest bioenergy systems through pilot studies in Ely and Cook County and to disseminate findings to inform related efforts in other communities.","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".","Click on ""Final Report"" under ""Project Details"".",,,,75000,,,0.97,"Dovetail Partners, Inc.","Non-Profit Business/Entity","PROJECT OVERVIEW Small scale community bioenergy systems hold significant promise for increasing energy security, reducing carbon emissions, and contributing to local economies. These types of systems rely on materials such as wood and grasses sourced from the surrounding area as fuel sources for local energy production. However, many questions still remain about how to effectively and sustainably implement these types of community bioenergy systems. Dovetail Partners is piloting an effort with the City of Ely and Cook County to develop the information and tools necessary for communities to assess the viability of these types of energy systems based on the resources available within their own regions. OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS This project helps guide development of sustainable community-scale forest bioenergy programs in Northeast Minnesota and provides examples from the region to assist communities statewide considering similar projects. Locally produced, community-based renewable energy systems hold significant promise for increasing energy security, reducing carbon emissions, and contributing to local economies. The goals of this project were to develop and share information and tools that address key questions about the viability of community bioenergy systems. During the first phase, existing models and planning tools were adapted to evaluate feasibility, impacts, and management needs for community-scale and other small bioenergy applications being proposed in Ely and Cook County. During the second phase of the project, the information and tools developed in Ely and Cook County were shared with communities, land managers, policymakers, investors, and others interested in the long-term prospects and viability of locally produced bioenergy. The results of the project indicate that there are abundant potential biomass supplies that could meet the needs of the community-scaled biomass energy projects being considered. The financial analysis illustrates that a number of the projects being considered have reasonable potential payback periods and other positive indications of financial feasibility. The environmental review reports summarize major considerations that were identified in interviews with local stakeholders and provide information about the mitigations that are in place to manage risk (e.g., Minnesota""s use of biomass harvesting guidelines, third-party forest certification and ecological monitoring). At this time, the community of Ely is considering options for moving forward with a biomass system or systems that could serve the community college, hospital, school and/or other facilities. The community of Grand Marais has completed additional engineering analysis for a potential district heating system that could serve a number of public buildings and private businesses that represent the major potential customers for the system. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION< The study team has prepared and made publicly available the final reports and fact sheets from the project that address the estimates of available fuel supplies for biomass facilities in Ely and Cook County and evaluations of potential environmental impacts and available mitigations. An additional report, ""Community-Driven Biomass Energy Opportunities - A Northern Minnesota Case Study"" has been prepared and made publicly available. The report highlights the findings from the projects and also describes the approach and community-driven structure of the project, conclusions and recommendations that can assist other communities facing similar questions and decisions about renewable energy. The fact sheets, complete reports and the executive summary report are available at the project website (http://www.dovetailinc.org/content/lccmr-supporting-community-driven-sustainable-bioenergy-projects). Community meetings were held in Grand Marais and Ely throughout the project to engage community input and present project findings to community members. Presentations about the project have been made to the Minnesota Forest Resources Council, Minnesota Forest Resources Partnership, and attendees of the Heating the Midwest Conference held in Carlton, Minnesota. Project information, products and results have been shared through the webpages that have been maintained throughout the project. These pages have shared the fact sheets, reports, and materials distributed at public meetings (e.g., presentation slides). News releases have also been distributed during the project, including radio interviews and newspaper articles in Ely and Grand Marais as well as statewide media engagement (e.g., Midwest Energy News). The activities of the project also included meetings with diverse partner groups, including staff of CERTs, landowner and land managers, loggers and forest product industry representatives, environmental and conservation organizations, local residents and other Minnesota citizens.",,"FINAL REPORT",2011-07-01,2013-06-30,"Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund",Completed,,,Kathryn,Fernholz,"Dovetail Partners Inc","528 Hennepin Ave, Ste 202",Minneapolis,MN,55429,"(612) 333-0430",katie@dovetailinc.org,"Analysis/Interpretation, Education/Outreach/Engagement, Planning","Minnesota Department of Natural Resources",,"Cook, St. Louis",,,http://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/supporting-community-driven-sustainable-bioenergy-projects,,,,