Shallow Lakes and Wetland Enhancement - Phase 10
Funding through this appropriation enhanced 4,745 acres of wetland habitat. Four wetland/shallow lake infrastructure projects were competed that enhanced 1,020 acres and and another project restored 50 acres. Wetland management actions (wild rice seeding, a significant drawdown, and a major large prescribed burn) enhanced 1,997 acres. Work by the Region 3 Roving Habitat Crew enhanced 1,678 wetland acres through work on prescribed burns, drawdowns, herbicide applications, and removal of woody vegetation. Finally, survey and design work on 16 projects gathered information for possible future construction. A new shallow lakes program position was funded in Windom,
ML18 Shallow Lake and Wetlands Enhancements Phase 10 accomplishments include engineering and construction of individual projects, stand-alone engineering projects, specific management actions leading to wetland enhancement, Roving Habitat Crew work and establishment of a new Shallow Lake Specialist in Windom.
Engineering and Construction Projects - Projects were undertaken to provide shallow lake and wetland enhancement totaling 1,020 acres through the engineering and construction of a water control structure replacement at Albion WMA in Wright County (300 acres) and another water control structure at Carlos Avery WMA Pool 9 (400 acres), a fish barrier at Shakopee Lake in Wright County (200 acres), and work at Lac qui Parle WMA to improve water management at the Killen Moist Soil Unit (120 acres). Fifty acres of wetlands were restored in Cottonwood County.
Stand-alone Engineering - Shallow lake and wetland projects can be complex and require detailed surveys and engineering. Stand-alone engineering projects provide the initial work to guide future construction, establish detailed cost estimates, and identify potential issues. Sixteen projects had stand-alone engineering and ranged from simple feasibility studies to in-depth surveys and plan development. Nine of these projects were in the Prairie Ecosection, 2 in the Forest-Prairie Ecosection, 2 in the Metro Ecosection, 2 in the Northern Forest Ecosection, and 1 in the Southeast Forest Ecosection.
Management Actions - A drawdown of Gilfillan Lake in Blue Earth County enhanced 210 acres. The property manager reported a very positive vegetation response following this drawdown. A large prescribed burn of wetlands at Beaches WMA in Kittson County resulted in 1,766 acres of enhancement. Burns of this size are possible through the use of aerial ignition (lighting fires with helicopters). In Washburn Lake in Aitkin County 21 acres were enhanced through the seeding of 1,064 lbs. of wild rice.
Roving Habitat Crews - Roving Habitat Crews are teams of highly trained staff who are equipped to perform habitat enhancement projects on public lands. Funding from this appropriation was provided to the Region 4 Roving Habitat Crew to enable it to perform wetland enhancement activities through the addition of two roving crew members and their associated costs for three fiscal years. Typical wetland enhancement activities undertaken by Roving Habitat Crews include prescribed burns of wetlands, removal of invasive species and trees, and support of shallow lake drawdowns. Work by this Roving Habitat Crew directly impacted 1,678 acres.
Shallow Lakes Program - The Shallow Lakes Program is a high-visibility program that uses single-focused Shallow Lakes Specialists to (1) perform standardized assessments of shallow lakes and (2) to bring about needed management or infrastructure changes where needed to enhance shallow lake habitat. Work by these Specialists guides shallow lake work by both DNR Wildlife staff and NGOs. Funding from this appropriation allowed the addition of a Shallow Lake Specialists at Windom. During the five years funded by this appropriation, this specialist reported working on standardized shallow lake assessments, feasibility studies, updating management plans, survey work with a Trimble, and fish surveys.
$2,759,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to enhance and restore shallow lakes and wetland habitat statewide. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.
A statewide review of Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) found that wetlands are one of the three habitat types (along with prairies and rivers) most used by these species. The almost 5,000 acres of wetland enhancement will provide wetland management actions identified to support SGCN, including reversal of wetland degradation and control of invasives. In the Minnesota County Biological Survey description of the marsh community, special attention is given to two issues faced in Minnesota marshes - stable high water levels that reduce species diversity, often to a point at which a monotypic system evolves, and the "invasion of marshes by the non-native species narrow-leaved cattail" and its hybrids. Both of these issues were directly addressed by the major cattail control activities involving the Roving Habitat Crew, along with water level management that will now be possible through because of newly installed wetland infrastructure projects.