Enhanced Public Land - Grasslands - Phase VII

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2025 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,902,000
Fund Source
Outdoor Heritage Fund
Recipient
PF
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
In Progress
Start Date
July 2024
End Date
January 1970
Activity Type
Restoration/Enhancement
Counties Affected
Anoka
Becker
Big Stone
Blue Earth
Brown
Chippewa
Clay
Cottonwood
Douglas
Faribault
Fillmore
Freeborn
Grant
Jackson
Kandiyohi
Lac qui Parle
Lincoln
Lyon
Mahnomen
Martin
Meeker
Mower
Murray
Norman
Otter Tail
Pipestone
Pope
Redwood
Renville
Rock
Sibley
Stevens
Swift
Todd
Traverse
Washington
Watonwan
Wright
Yellow Medicine
Anoka
Becker
Big Stone
Blue Earth
Brown
Chippewa
Clay
Cottonwood
Douglas
Faribault
Fillmore
Freeborn
Grant
Jackson
Kandiyohi
Lac qui Parle
Lincoln
Lyon
Mahnomen
Martin
Meeker
Mower
Murray
Norman
Otter Tail
Pipestone
Pope
Redwood
Renville
Rock
Sibley
Stevens
Swift
Todd
Traverse
Washington
Watonwan
Wright
Yellow Medicine
Project Overview

In this phase of the Enhanced Public Lands - Grassland program, Pheasants Forever (PF) will enhance or restore 4,000 acres of upland and wetland habitat. The goal of this program is to improve habitat on existing Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs), and National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) that are open to public hunting. PF does this by working with agency partners to develop restoration and enhancement plans and hiring local, private contractors to complete work. Examples of habitat improvements include restoring wetlands, removing invasive trees, conducting conservation grazing, and seeding grasslands with high-diversity native seed mixes.

About the Issue

Grassland-wetland ecosystems require regular disturbance to preserve their functionality and quality to positively impact fish, wildlife, and the public. Lack of disturbance on native and restored prairies has resulted in degraded habitats characterized by low plant diversity, presence of non-native or invasive species, and the spread of voluntary trees into open prairie. Wetlands embedded in these grasslands require restoration to achieve their fullest functionality, or have structures that need repair. The Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan (MPCP) identifies restoration and enhancement as two strategies to combat these issues. In accordance with this plan, Pheasants Forever has created the Enhanced Public Lands - Grasslands program to restore and enhance grassland and wetland habitats on existing WMAs, WPAs, and NWRs (many of which were purchased in sub-optimal conditions) in the prairie, forest/prairie transition, and metro regions. Pheasants Forever will utilize a previously developed Request for Proposals (RFP) and process to evaluate projects submitted by agency partners. Restoration and enhancement activities include the following:
1) Wetland restoration/enhancement: Tools used to accomplish this include removing drain tile, constructing/repairing earthen dams and/or water control structures, removing sediment and invasive narrow leaf cattail control. Wetlands targeted for enhancement are vital to providing food, cover, and the space required for breeding waterfowl while being essential to and landscape resiliency in the face of climate change.
2) Upland Enhancement: We will use a site-specific combination of techniques (e.g. cultivation, tree removal, herbicide, and prescribed fire) to bring back productivity to these public lands. In close collaboration with the land managers, we will seed a diverse mix of native grasses and forbs that are well adapted to site conditions and are ideal for upland nesting bird production and success of pollinator species. Mowing will be used as needed to manage annual weed pressure to ensure establishment.
3) Prescribed burning: This is the primary tool for managing grassland habitat as it is cost effective, increases vigor by removing built up litter, and sets back invasive woody species.
4) Conservation Grazing: This is an important enhancement tool for sites that are difficult to conduct prescribed fires or need to target specific enhancement needs (e.g. cool season grass suppression, tree invasion, etc.). Permanent infrastructure with a lifespan of 30+ years will be installed to conduct conservation grazing plans written to benefit wildlife.
5) Tree Removal: Research has shown that invasive trees are detrimental to prairie/grassland wildlife and thus will be removed with this proposal. These trees reduce nesting success by providing perches for aerial predators, dens for mammalian predators, and increases predator efficiency by creating habitat edges and fragmenting habitat. Predators are highly effective at predating both nests and nesting birds, especially in fragmented low quality habitat.

Restoring or enhancing habitat to its highest function in these areas will not only greatly benefit fish and wildlife populations, but also reduce future management costs (by creating robust, better self-regulating ecosystems), and improve the enjoyment of the area by the public.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
ML 2024, Ch. 106, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(f)
Appropriation Language

$1,902,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to enhance and restore grassland and wetland habitat on public lands within the forest prairie transition, metro urban, and prairie ecoregions of Minnesota.

2025 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,902,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$111,300
Direct expenses
$1,855,700
Administration costs
$46,300
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.21
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Increased waterfowl and upland bird migratory and breeding success - Outcomes will be measured by resource professionals and evaluated by using the best science available to land managers.
Outcomes will be measured by resource professionals and evaluated by using the best science available to land managers.
Improved condition of habitat on public lands - Outcomes will be measured by resource professionals and evaluated by using the best science available to land managers

Source of Additional Funds

PF and PF/State/Federal

Project Manager
First Name
Becca
Last Name
Kludt
Organization Name
Pheasants Forever, Inc.
Street Address
547 5th St SW
City
Perham
State
MN
Zip Code
56573
Phone
218-220-5391
Email
bkludt@pheasantsforever.org
Administered By
Administered by
Location

500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone
651-296-6157
Email the Agency