Accelerating the Wildlife Management Area Program - Phase VIII

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2017 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$5,229,000
Fund Source
Outdoor Heritage Fund
Recipient
Pheasants Forever
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
July 2016
End Date
November 2022
Activity Type
Land Acquisition
Counties Affected
Blue Earth
Kandiyohi
Murray
Nobles
Blue Earth
Kandiyohi
Murray
Nobles
Project Overview

This phase of WMA acquisition protected 1,102 acres of prairie grassland, wetland, and other wildlife habitat as State Wildlife Management Areas open to public hunting. With these 5 acquisition we have exceeded our planned acres of 680 by more than 400 acres. All of the acquired properties had wildlife habitat restored to the highest quality possible.

About the Issue

Loss of wetland and grassland habitat has contributed tot he decline of native populations of flora and fauna, negatively impacted water quality, groundwater recharge and natural flood cycles. To reverse this trend, PF works to permanently protect and restore these wetland-grassland complexes. This eighth phase of the WMA acceleration program acquired and restored a total of 1,102 acres of grasslands and wetland habitat as permanently protected WMA's. Due to our ability to partner with other conservation groups and agencies such as the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, we are able to bring leverage to the program and far exceed the goals of this phase.
Pheasants Forever and MN DNR 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 such USFWS Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET), The MN Prairie Conservation Plan and The Pheasant Action Plan among others. 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 WMA are very beneficial to wildlife and public recreation.
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.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
ML 2016, Ch. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 2(b)
Appropriation Language

$5,229,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire in fee and restore lands for wildlife management area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquisition of lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

2017 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$5,229,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$1,442,600
Direct expenses
$5,166,300
Administration costs
$13,500
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.20
Measurable Outcome(s)

A majority of the acquisitions in this program add to existing WMA habitat complexes which are strongholds for many species of wildlife including SGCN and T/E species. Increasing the size of these complexes improve the landscapes ability to support larger populations and provide connectivity between patches of habitat. All parcels are located in the Prairie Pothole Region which boasts the richest wetland system on earth and produces approximately one-third of the continents waterfowl population. The parcels acquired and restored as part of this phase add to the quantity and quality of grasslands and wetlands that are available to species such as mallards, black terns, bobolinks, meadowlarks, and the ring-necked pheasant. Additionally SGCN and T/E were considered when the parcels were evaluated for acquisition. Parcels with these species were ranked more favorably than parcels without. Species of concern that will benefit from these projects include the greater prairie chicken, short-eared owl, marsh hawk and yellow rail.

Proposed Outcomes Achieved
A total of 1,102 acres were affected: 0 Restored, 1,102 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 0 in Enhance.
Source of Additional Funds

Federal, Private, PF and PF

Project Manager
First Name
Eran
Last Name
Sandquist
Organization Name
Pheasants Forever, Inc.
Street Address
410 Lincoln Ave South PO Box 91
City
South Haven
State
MN
Zip Code
55382
Phone
(320) 236-7755
Email
esandquist@pheasantsforever.org
Administered By
Administered by
Location

500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone
651-296-6157
Email the Agency