Accelerated Wetland and Shallow Lake Enhancement
Many of Minnesota's wetlands have been lost and the remainder degraded. The original proposal planned for 15,000 acres of wetland/shallow lake enhancement to provide critical habitat for each life stage of waterfowl and wetland wildlife. The six projects subsequently completed with this appropriation enhanced 13,800 acres of wetlands and shallow lakes in the Prarie and Forest/Prairie Ecosections of Minnestoa.
Minnesota's "Long Range Duck Recovery Plan," released in 2006, identified a strategic 50-year vision to" restore, protect, and manage a landscape capable of supporting an average spring breeding population of one million ducks and restoring the historically abundant spring and fall migration of waterfowl." A key component of this plan is the restoration and enhancement of 2 million acres of habitat.
With this specific appropriation, the DNR completed work on 6 valuable habitat projects:
- Completion of a fish barrier and structure to enhance 10,000 of Swan Lake. Ducks Unlimited (DU) designed and oversaw construction of this project. Available funding also allowed for additional work on the outlet channel to facilitate water movement.
- Construction of a water control structure and dike renovation for Pool 1 of Roseau River Wildlife Area enhanced 1,150 acres of wetland habitat.
- Hartford WMA had a water control structure replaced and dike renovated to bring back water to 20 acres of wetland.
- 166 acres of wetland are being enhanced through the replacement of two water control structures and dike renovation at Ereaux WMA in Morrison County.
- Mille Lacs WMA is undergoing extensive work to replace failed water control structures and renovate associated dikes. This work involves funding from two OHF appropriation. Half of the completed wetland habitat enhancement work - 2,475 - will be accounted for in this final report. The remaining 2,475 acres will be reported in the ML14 OHF appropriation final report.
- The State Line Lake project, in southern Freeborn County, involved construction at the shallow lake outlet and a rotenone treatment to remove unwanted fish. Ducks Unlimited completed the construction and reported all the project acres in their final report for the DU appropriation that included funding for that portion of the project. The rotenone treatment was completed with funding from this DNR appropriation. NOTE: This final report will not report acres for State Line Lake, as they have already been reported by DU. Also, State Line Lake became the first project to use the large pump purchased by DU and provided to the DNR. Pictures are attached to this final report.
$1,790,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to enhance and restore shallow lakes, including $210,000 for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to help implement restorations and enhancements. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.
Protected, restored, and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands.
Ducks Unlimited