Accelerating the Wildlife Management Area Program - Phase XV
This proposal accelerates the protection and restoration of 679 acres of prairie grasslands, associated wetlands and other wildlife habitats as State Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) or Pheasants Forever Habitat Management Areas open to the public. Pheasants Forever (PF) will be permanently protecting parcels within the prairie, prairie/forest transition, and metro planning regions. These acquired properties will be restored to the highest quality wildlife habitat feasible.
This proposal represents the fifteenth phase in Pheasants Forever's Accelerating the Wildlife Management Area program. This program continues to build upon past investments in long-term upland and wetland conservation. New to this proposal is the addition of the Pheasants Forever HMA program funding. This addition will provide PF with maximum flexibility to ensure quality acquisition projects can be completed. The proposal will protect and restore 679 acres of lands that will be managed for wildlife. The goals of this program specifically address goals outlined in the foundational documents for the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council's recommendation process, including those outlined in the MN Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan 2008, the MN Duck Action Plan 2020-2023, the MN Pheasant Action Plan 2020-2023 and the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan 2010, among others.
Parcels will be acquired from willing sellers and will be prioritized using criteria including location on the landscape, breeding waterfowl density, restoration potential, native community protection (e.g. Minnesota Biological Survey site), proximity to other investments in perpetually protected habitats. WMA Acquisition projects are developed and selected in conjunction with local and regional DNR staff. Criteria used to develop the potential project list including: 1) Does the parcel contain habitat restoration potential that will result in an increase in wildlife populations? 2) Does the parcel build upon existing investments in public and private land habitat (landscape scale significance)? 3) Does the parcel contain significant natural communities, or will it protect or buffer significant natural communities? 4) Does the parcel have the potential and focus for habitat protection and restoration in the future? 5) Does the parcel provide multiple benefits (recreation, access, water control, water quality, wellhead protection, riparian protection, local community support, etc.)?
Providing quality habitat and keeping future management concerns in mind, all acquisitions will be restored to the highest quality wildlife habitat feasible. Completing high-quality, comprehensive restorations, utilizing native species and best management practices, results in fewer management concerns and lower long-term costs. Acquired lands will be restored to diverse grasslands and wetlands habitat, drained wetlands will be restored, and invasive trees will be removed when appropriate.
PF acquired HMA's may be donated to the MN DNR as a WMA or USFWS as a WPA in the future if title issues that prevented donation originally are resolved.
$5,216,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire in fee and restore and enhance lands for wildlife management area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8. Subject to the evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.
Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be transferred to the state as a WMA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the "Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years" and the Minnesota Pheasant Action Plan 2020-2023.
Protected habitats will hold wetlands and shallow lakes open to public recreation and hunting - Parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be transferred to the state as a WMA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the "Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years" and the Minnesota Pheasant Action Plan 2020-2023.
Key core parcels are protected for fish, game and other wildlife - Parcels that increase the functionality of existing habitat will be acquired and restored to functioning wetlands with diverse upland prairie to serve as habitat for pollinators, resident and migratory game and non-game species. Lands will be transferred to the state as a WMA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by Minnesota DNR. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in the "Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - The Next 50 Years" and the Minnesota Pheasant Action Plan 2020-2023
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