Anoka Sand Plain Habitat Conservation - Phase 8
The Anoka Sand Plain (ASP) Partnership will protect 164 acres through conservation easement, restore/enhance 468 acres of Prairie/Oak Savanna, Wetland, Habitat, and Woodland/Forest, including rescue and relocation of 11,000 rare plants, at sites centered around the DNR's ASP ecoregion. Our actions will increase biodiversity, habitat connectivity, recreational opportunities, and landscape resilience, which align with the ASP Partnership's 10-year Strategic Plan, DNR Wildlife Action Plan and LSOHC Section priorities. GRG, ACD, MLT, NWTF, and SherbCo Parks are direct recipients, with significant match from NWTF, ENRTF, landowner donation, volunteers, LGUs, and private donations.
The ASP Partnership project boundary is defined by the DNR's ASP ecological subsection and its intersecting minor watersheds, which captures portions of the Metropolitan Urbanizing, Forest/Prairie Transition, and Northern Forest LSOHC sections. Our project boundary is a marvelously complex mosaic of habitats, home to quality prairie and savanna, wetlands, fire-dependent forests and woodlands, large habitat cores, designated wild and scenic rivers, and a high concentration of rare species. The amount of high quality remnant habitat in the ASP is remarkable given its proximity to Twin Cities and St. Cloud urban cores. While the location of the ASP provides easy access for the majority of Minnesotans, the associated stressors- invasive species, development pressure, and conversion- threaten its sustainability. The need for continuing and accelerating conservation action here is urgent.
The diversity in this rich and important habitat mosaic, complemented by its close proximity to most Minnesotans, is reflected in the number and diversity of organizations that identify the area as a priority, combining our specific knowledge and stakeholder engagement to join forces for its conservation. The robust ASP Partnership is committed to protecting, restoring, and enhancing this spectacular region so it can continue to provide vital habitat, invaluable ecological services, and high-quality recreational and engagement opportunities. Bringing clarity and focus to our Phase 8 and all of our work in this complex area is the science-based ASP Partnership's 10-year Strategic Plan, used to identify priority habitats, opportunities, centers of biodiversity, and a plan of action with measurable goals.
With this funding, Great River Greening (GRG), Anoka Conservation District (ACD), Minnesota Land Trust (MLT), National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), and Sherburne County Parks (SherbCo Parks) will secure conservation easements on 164 acres to expand habitat cores and corridors, and complete restoration and enhancement (R/E) on 468 protected acres. Habitats include prairie/savanna grasslands, woodland, and non-forested peat wetlands.
Results will be achieved by easement protection of ecologically significant habitats and by conducting invasive species and woody encroachment removal, prescribed burning and conservation grazing, thinning, seeding, and planting. This includes the continuation of a Rare Plant Rescue program to rescue and relocate 11,000 rare plants that would otherwise be destroyed by development, conducting habitat enhancement on protected lands with rare species populations and Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) habitat, and seeding 120 acres to prairie. Our program will create and improve critical habitat by increasing biodiversity and landscape resilience. It will also benefit water quality and quantity, improve community resiliency, and increase recreational opportunities including R/E engagement.
$3,269,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat on public lands and easements in the Anoka Sand Plain ecoregion and intersecting minor watersheds as follows: $802,000 to the Anoka Conservation District; $839,000 to Great River Greening; $175,000 to the National Wild Turkey Federation; $280,000 to Sherburne County; and $1,173,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. $144,000 of the amount to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed permanent conservation easements, restorations, and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.
Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Perform ecological monitoring using DNR protocol and evaluate data; adapt management when and where needed.Record number of acres protected of high quality habitat on private lands, which buffer public lands and expand habitat cores and corridors; and number of acres of key habitat successfully restored / enhanced. Map project sites and periodically perform GIS analysis to help quantify impact on habitat complexes.
Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Perform ecological monitoring using DNR protocol and evaluate data; adapt management when and where needed. Record number of acres protected of high quality habitat on private lands, which buffer public lands and expand habitat cores and corridors; and number of acres of key habitat successfully restored / enhanced. Map project sites and periodically perform GIS analysis to help quantify impact on habitat complexes.
Core areas protected with highly biologically diverse wetlands and plant communities, including native prairie, Big Woods, and oak savanna - Perform ecological monitoring using DNR protocol and evaluate data; adapt management when and where needed. Record number of acres protected of high quality habitat on private lands, which buffer public lands and expand habitat cores and corridors; and number of acres of key habitat successfully restored / enhanced. Map project sites and periodically perform GIS analysis to help quantify impact on habitat cores and corridors
ACD, NWTF, DNR, Volunteers, CCESR, City of Anoka, ENRTF, MLA, CCES, Anoka Co Parks, City of Anoka, MN Landscape Arboretum, NWTF Super Fund, Private Landowners, Sherburne County, Volunteers, ENRTF, LGUs, Sherburne NWR and Waived DSS