Accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area Program - Phase VIII
This proposal accelerates the permanent protection of 760 acres of wetlands (175 acres) and grasslands (585 acres) as Waterfowl Production Areas open to public hunting in Minnesota.
Conversion of grasslands and wetlands for other uses have not only contributed to many native species population
declines, but also impacted water quality, groundwater recharge cycles, and natural flood cycles. Permanent
acquisition and restoration of grasslands and wetlands is one of the major tools we have for reversing this trend.
This seventh phase of the WPA acceleration program acquired and restored a total of 1,061.97 acres of grasslands
and wetland habitat as permanently protected WPA’s managed by the USFWS.
Pheasants Forever and USFWS staff collaborated to generate a list of parcels with landowners who had the desire
to sell. The parcel’s ecological impact was evaluated using landscape level planning tools developed by the USFWS
Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET). These tools utilize Thunderstorm Maps to predict productivity
of breeding waterfowl, grassland birds, and other wildlife species for the potential parcel and surrounding area. By
utilizing these tools, we were able to focus efforts in areas where acquisitions and restorations will make the
greatest impact on the landscape and thus these additional acres of WPA are very beneficial to wildlife and public
recreation.
Pheasants Forever notified counties prior to acquisition of lands. Once acquired, the USFWS will make a one-time
Trust Fund payment to the County where the property is located. Additionally, the USFWS will make annual Refuge
Revenue Sharing payments for all fee lands within the respective counties.
Once acquired, wetlands on each parcel were restored by installing surface ditch “plugs” and/or breaking
subsurface tile. Some wetlands may also have had sediment removed to create proper substrates for wetland
function and vegetative growth. Grasslands were restored by planting a high-diversity native seed mix of grasses
and forbs that are regionally appropriate to the area. As with all restoration work there are challenges that come
from weather and working with private contractors but we did not face any major issues.
$5,650,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire in fee and restore and enhance wetlands and grasslands to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.
111 acres of wetland and 950 acres of prairie for a total of 1061 acres protected in Fee without State PILT Liability
Federal, Private, PF