Anoka Sand Plain Habitat Conservation - Phase 9

The Anoka Sand Plain project areas include portions of the Metropolitan Urbanizing, Forest/Prairie Transition, and Northern Forest sections. The landscape is a marvelously complex mosaic of habitats, home to quality prairie and savanna, wetlands, fire-dependent forests and woodlands, designated wild and scenic rivers, and a high concentration of rare species. The amount of high-quality remnant habitat in the ASP is remarkable given its proximity to Twin Cities and St. Cloud urban areas. While the location of the ASP provides easy access for the majority of Minnesotans, the associated stressors- invasive species, development pressure, and conversion- threaten its sustainability.

The diversity in this rich and important habitat mosaic, complemented by its close proximity to most Minnesotans, is reflected in the number and diversity of organizations that identify the area as a priority, combining our specific knowledge and stakeholder engagement to join forces for its conservation. The robust ASP Partnership is committed to protecting, restoring and enhancing this spectacular region so it can continue to provide vital habitat, invaluable ecological services, and high-quality recreational and engagement opportunities. Bringing clarity and focus to our Phase 9 and all of our work in this complex area is the ASP Partnership's 10-year strategic plan, which aligns with other important plans to identify priority habitats, opportunities, centers of biodiversity, and a plan of action with measurable goals.

With this funding, Great River Greening (GRG) and Sherburne County Parks (SCP), will complete restoration and enhancement (R/E) on 242 protected acres and 800' of shoreline. Habitats include prairie/savanna grasslands, oak woodland, and shoreline.

Results will be achieved by restoration and enhancement of ecologically significant habitats by conducting invasive species and woody encroachment removal, prescribed burning, thinning, seeding, and planting. This includes continuing with phase 2 of the ecological enhancement at both Quarry Park & Reserve (SNA), and Big Elk Lake County Park, as well as the first phase at Island View County Park. Our program will create and improve critical habitat by increasing biodiversity and landscape resilience at these habitat cores and corridors. It will also benefit water quality and quantity, improve community resiliency, and increase recreational opportunities including R/E engagement.

GRG will use the Towable Biochar Burner in all four of its funded OHF partnerships: Anoka Sand Plain Partnership, Metro Big Rivers Partnership, Cannon River Watershed Habitat Protection and Restoration Partnership, and Sauk River Watershed Habitat Restoration and Protection Partnership, in ML24, existing, and any future appropriations. Over the next five years, GRG anticipates it will be used at an estimated 25 GRG sites, operating 1,500-2,000 equipment hours. In addition, GRG will offer its use to our OHF partner organization when GRG is not using it; transportation and operation costs will be borne by partners' project budgets when used by partners. Furthermore, GRG will monitor the effectiveness of the biochar product in its re-vegetation efforts by documenting feed stock, pyrolysis temperature, soil type, and pH of the produced biochar, and then conduct monitoring after surface spreading or soil incorporation.