Anoka Sand Plain Habitat Restoration and Enhancement , Phase 2

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,050,000
Fund Source
Outdoor Heritage Fund
Recipient
Great River Greening, Anoka Conservation District and National Wild Turkey Federation
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
July 2012
End Date
June 2016
Activity Type
Restoration/Enhancement
Counties Affected
Anoka
Benton
Chisago
Isanti
Mille Lacs
Morrison
Sherburne
Anoka
Benton
Chisago
Isanti
Mille Lacs
Morrison
Sherburne
Project Overview

With funding from the Outdoor Heritage Fund and other leveraged sources, the Anoka Sand Plain Partnership restored/enhanced 1,866 acres of priority wildlife habitat within the Anoka Sand Plain and in the Rum River watershed in east-central Minnesota. 

Project Details

The participating members of the Anoka Sand Plain Partnership, Anoka Conservation District (ACD), Great River Greening (GRG), and National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), harnessed the expertise, resources, and connections of a broad community of committed conservation stakeholders to significantly elevate restoration and enhancement of oak savannas (Minnesota’s most critically imperiled habitat), prairies, oak woodlands, grasslands, forests, and wetlands on public lands across the Anoka Sand Plain ecological region of east-central Minnesota.The Anoka Sand Plain Partnership exceeded output targets, restoring/enhancing 1,866 acres of critical habitat on public lands in the project area. This exceeded output target of 1,355 acres restored/enhanced by 511 acres or 138%.Acres R/E by habitat type: • 139 acres of wetland habitat • 1,150 acres of prairie/oak savanna habitat • 577 acres of forest habitatAcres R/E by restoration activity: • 2,431 acres of woody invasive species management • 292 acres of prescribed burning • 4 acres of prairie seeding • 139 acres of wetland restoration • 19 acres of riverbank restoration Note: acres by activity may be greater than output acres/project footprint when multiple restoration activities were performed on the same acre (such as invasive species removal and prescribed burning).R/E work was completed across 11 public lands (see a full summary detailed in the final parcel list) including the following:1. Allemansrätt Wilderness Park (Chisago County, GRG): Forest enhancement occurred on 40 acres of high diversity forest, through two stage invasive shrub control. Funds were used for subcontracted work, while ENRTF and local match were used for volunteer engagement and habitat enhancement of adjacent acres. 2. Anoka Nature Preserve (Anoka County, ACD): Habitat enhancement occurred on 148 acres of Anoka Nature Preserve through herbicide application of common buckthorn, prickly ash, and tartarian honeysuckle; prescribed burning of treated acres; and planting of native bare root trees and shrubs. Monitoring and chemical and mechanical control of invasive woody species continued after initial treatment, including mowing, stump spraying, and spot basal bark spraying to further reduce invasive regrowth and encourage desirable species. 3. Belle Prairie County Park (Morrison County, GRG): A total of 35 acres of oak savanna/woodland habitat was enhanced through sustained removal of woody invasive species including removal, stump treatment, and a prescribed burn; and a 4 acre old field was seeded into prairie.4. Carlos Avery WMA (Anoka County, GRG): A total of 339 acres of high quality (MCBS) forest were enhanced with invasive woody removal, primarily invasive shrubs and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), with multiple treatments using subcontracted work and Greening crews. 5. Ereaux WMA (Morrison County, NWTF): A total of 288 oak woodland acres were enhanced by woody invasive species management through cutting, herbicide stump treatment, and burning of debris piles. Emergent invasive sprouts were later spot sprayed with herbicide. A portion of the site was also burned.6. McDougall WMA (Morrison County, NWTF): A total 111 acres of Mississippi River high quality floodplain and terrace forest were treated for invasive buckthorn. 7. Rice Lake SNA (Sherburne County, GRG): A total of 23 acres of high quality oak savanna enhancement was completed with the removal of invasive shrubs using a two stage treatment of winter forestry mowing, followed by spring prescribed burning. 8. Rum River Wild Rice (Isanti County, GRG): This project included successful aerial spray of overabundant water lily and invasive cattail on Marget and Krone Lakes, two historic wild rice shallow lakes, to release viable wild rice seed bed and improve the success of supplemental seeding. This project also included wild rice seeding in Rum River backwaters, oxbows, and main channel. This project enhanced a total of 139 wetland acres. 9. Sartell WMA (Benton County, NWTF): A total of 170 oak woodland acres were enhanced through woody invasive species removal of buckthorn, honeysuckle, and overabundant red cedar, through cutting, herbicide stump treatment, and burning of debris piles. Emergent invasive sprouts were later spot sprayed with herbicide. A portion of the site was also burned. 10. Sherburne NWR (Sherburne County, GRG): A total of 519 acres of oak savanna enhancement work was completed as part of the large-scale restoration of refuge lands. Enhancement consisted of woody invasive species control and other activities, through both subcontract work and USFWS in-kind match.11. Twin Lakes SNA (Isanti County, GRG): A total of 47 acres of forest were enhanced through the removal and treatment of common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and other invasive species. In addition, a forest gap of 3 acres of old field was planted with oak seedlings grown from acorns collected on site.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
ML 2012, Ch. 264, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(i)
Appropriation Language

$1,050,000 in the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to restore and enhance habitat on public lands in the Anoka Sand Plain and along the Rum River as follows: $558,750 to Great River Greening; $99,400 to the Anoka Conservation District; and $391,850 to the National Wild Turkey Federation. A list of proposed restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,050,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$208,800
Direct expenses
$1,050,000
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
.66
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Enhance 139 acres of wetlands, 1,150 acres of prairies and 577 acres of forest

Source of Additional Funds

Morrison County, Great River Greening and National Wild Turkey Federation

Project Manager
First Name
Wayne
Last Name
Ostlie
Organization Name
Great River Greening
Street Address
35 West Water Street, Suite 201
City
St. Paul
State
MN
Zip Code
55082
Phone
(651) 894-3870
Email
wbuck@greatrivergreening.org
Administered By
Administered by
Location

500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone
651-296-6157
Email the Agency