Critical Shoreland Habitat Program - Phase V
Phase 5 of the Minnesota Land Trust's Critical Shoreland Habitat Program protected approximately 3.75 miles of shoreland and 417 acres of associated high-quality habitat in Minnesota's Northeast region by securing five permanent conservation easements in strategic locations along priority lakes and rivers. Conservation easements secured under this program are perpetual and will prevent fragmentation and destruction of existing habitat. These easements ensure that sensitive habitat will remain ecologically viable and productive for fish, game, and other wildlife by prohibiting land uses that negatively impact important habitat values.
In this fifth phase of the program, the Minnesota Land Trust strategically concentrated its activities on important aquatic resources and associated forest habitat within northeast Minnesota, including DNR-designated high priority trout streams along the North Shore, sensitive shoreland along the deep-water border lakes and other high-quality aquatic habitats in the region. The Land Trust protected 3.75 miles and 417 acres of threatened shoreland habitat by acquiring permanent conservation easements from willing landowners. The program targeted projects that helped complete gaps in existing protected land, contained the highest-quality habitat, and provided the greatest leverage to the state. The Land Trust received $195,500 donated easement value that enabled a greater impact with the funds received through this grant.
The development and disturbance of the state's remaining sensitive shoreland habitat continues to be a threat identified in many of the State's resource protection plans. Science conducted by the DNR and others indicate that the shoreland zone is one of the most biologically diverse and important habitat types for a variety of wildlife species. It is also one of Minnesota's most threatened resources due to the intensity of shoreland development and non-compatible management. Fortunately, there is an opportunity to address this threat. Outreach conducted under Phases 1 -4 of this program has generated significant landowner interest that was tapped during Phase 5 (FY2019) of this program.
Conservation easements secured under this program are perpetual and were crafted to protect the conservation values of each property. These easements will ensure that the sensitive shoreland habitat remains ecologically viable and productive for fish, game and wildlife by prohibiting land uses that negatively impact the important habitat values and requiring habitat management plans to maximize the benefits of shoreland and associated forested uplands.
Outcomes from this project included: 1) healthy populations of trout and other fish species, waterfowl, and other Species in Greatest Conservation Need; 2) maintaining water quality of aquatic resources; 3) increased participation of private landowners in habitat protection projects; and 4) enhancement of prior state and local investments made in shoreland and forest conservation in the region. The Land Trust strategically targeted complexes of protected lands in which these outcomes were maximized.
$1,094,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to acquire permanent conservation easements along rivers and lakes in the northern forest region. Of this amount, up to $120,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.
The central goal of Minnesota Land Trust's Critical Shoreland Habitat Program is to protect, through permanent conservation easements, high-quality shoreland habitat along priority lakes and rivers in northeast Minnesota. Natural shoreland around Minnesota's celebrated lakes and rivers comprises one of the most biologically important systems in the state for fish and wildlife; it is also one of the most threatened. Protection of these habitats is identified as a conservation priority for Minnesota through the Minnesota Wildlife Action Plan, DNR Aquatic Management Area program, State Conservation and Preservation Plan, and DNR Strategic Conservation Agenda.
Five conservation easement projects protecting 417 acres and 19,837 feet of shoreline were completed by under this grant:
King Lake (Guckenberg 2) - This easement protects 70 acres and 5,116 feet of shoreline on King Lake, Kookoosh Lake, and Spring Creek, a designated trout stream. The nine high-quality native plant communities on the property lack anthropogenic disturbance and invasive species.
Encampment River (Welsh) - This 39-acre conservation easement protects 4,144-feet of shoreline on the Encampment River, a designated trout stream, and its tributaries. The property has Outstanding Biodiversity Significance. Forests on the property support a variety of SGCN, including bay-breasted and Cape May warblers, boreal owl, and American woodcock.
Deer Lake (Lauterbach) - This 43-acre conservation easement protects mesic hardwood forest, wet forest, small wetlands, and 404 feet of shoreline on Deer Lake, a Lake of Outstanding Biological Significance. Protection of the property builds on a complex of existing protected conservation lands including the adjacent Wabu Woods SNA and nearby Balsam-Deer Islands Wildlife Management Area.
Sax-Zim (Wallace-Loiselle) - This easement protects 117 acres of high-quality forest and 2,732 feet of the St. Louis River. The property is part of a larger landscape of protected natural lands including the adjacent Sax-Zim Bog Important Birding Area.
Stoney Brook (Massey) - This conservation easement protects 148 acres of high-quality native plant communities and 7,441 feet of shoreline on Stoney Brook, a designated trout stream. Protection of the property contributes to the water quality of the Stoney Brook AMA and Gull Lake.
Private landowner donation of easement value