Accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area Program - Phase XIV
This Phase XIV proposal permanently protects and restores 9058 acres of Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) open to public hunting in Minnesota. Pheasants Forever (PF) will acquire parcels that are adjacent to existing public land or create corridors between complexes. All acquisitions will occur in the prairie, prairie/forest transition, or metro regions. Acquired properties will be restored to the highest extent possible with regard to time and budgets.
Wetland and grassland habitat in Minnesota have been declining for decades. Currently over 90% of wetland and 99% of grassland habitats have been converted to other uses. This proposal works to slow this decline by acquiring and restoring previously converted wetland and grassland habitat as permanently protected WPA?s. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and their partners have been employing this strategy for over 50 years through the Small Wetlands Acquisition Program (SWAP). Additionally, hunting and fishing stakeholders are very interested in increasing public access. This thirteenth phase of the WPA acceleration program provides public access and builds upon past work of the USFWS SWAP as well as the previous twelve phases of this effort.
Properties will be identified by using landscape level planning tools such as USFWS? Duck Breeding Density Maps, as well as MN DNR natural heritage data and numerous state level conservation plans. In addition to wildlife benefits, the lands acquired and restored through this grant will provide improved water quality, groundwater recharge, and flood abatement benefits. These strategies are well tested and are supported by the greater conservation community in Minnesota.
To address concerns related to county tax revenues due to acquiring public land, the USFWS and PF will notify counties prior to the acquisition of lands. Once acquired, the USFWS will make a one-time payment (called a Trust Fund payment) to the county where the property is located. In addition, the USFWS will make annual refuge revenue sharing payments for all fee lands within the respective counties.
All wetlands, on the properties acquired, will be restored by either surface ditch ?plugs," breaking sub-surface tile lines, or other best practices for wetland restoration. Grasslands will be restored by planting site-appropriate native grasses and forbs following known best practices for the establishment. Grassland restoration on individual tracts may take three to five years, involving one to two years of post-acquisition farming to prepare the site for seeding (e.g. weed management issues, chemical carryover, other site-specific issues). Other restoration activities could include invasive tree removal, building site-cleanup, prescribed fire, etc. as necessary to provide high-quality habitat and public access to the citizens of Minnesota.
$5,537,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to acquire land in fee and restore and enhance wetlands and grasslands to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota. 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 - Strategic 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 resident and migratory waterfowl. Lands will be transferred to the USFWS as a WPA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by the USFWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in each WMD Comprehensive Plan which rolls up to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.
Protected habitats will hold wetlands and shallow lakes open to public recreation and hunting - Strategic 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 resident and migratory waterfowl. Lands will be transferred to the USFWS as a WPA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by the USFWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in each WMD Comprehensive Plan which rolls up to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.
Protected, restored, and enhanced habitat for migratory and unique Minnesota species - Strategic 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 resident and migratory waterfowl. Lands will be transferred to the USFWS as a WPA to provide accelerated wildlife habitat and public access, monitored by the USFWS. Protected and restored acres will be measured against goals outlined in each WMD Comprehensive Plan which rolls up to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan
PF, Federal and Private