Conservation Grazing to Improve Wildlife Habitat on Wildlife Management Areas

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$600,000
Fund Source
Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund
Recipient
MN DNR
Recipient Type
State Government
Status
Completed
Start Date
July 2013
End Date
June 2017
Counties Affected
Becker
Big Stone
Blue Earth
Brown
Chippewa
Clay
Douglas
Faribault
Grant
Kittson
Lac qui Parle
Mahnomen
Norman
Otter Tail
Polk
Pope
Redwood
Stearns
Stevens
Traverse
Wilkin
Becker
Big Stone
Blue Earth
Brown
Chippewa
Clay
Douglas
Faribault
Grant
Kittson
Lac qui Parle
Mahnomen
Norman
Otter Tail
Polk
Pope
Redwood
Stearns
Stevens
Traverse
Wilkin
Project Overview

Grassland ecosystems evolved to depend on periodic disturbances, such as fire and grazing, to maintain their health and stability. Periodic disturbances help control invasive species, add nutrients back into the soil, germinate plant seeds, enhance wildlife habitat, and more. In Minnesota habitat managers have used fire as a disturbance tool for decades but the use of grazing has been much rarer, mostly because of a lack of necessary infrastructure such as fencing. This appropriation is being used by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to provide the infrastructure needed to support conservation grazing on 10,000 acres of targeted wildlife management areas to demonstrate that grazing can be effectively and cost-efficiently implemented to improve grassland habitat quality and ecological integrity in Minnesota.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2013, Chp. 52, Sec. 2, Subd. 04i
Appropriation Language

$600,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to develop grazing plans and provide infrastructure to support conservation grazing on approximately 10,000 acres of targeted wildlife management areas in partnership with local livestock producers. Any revenue generated as a result of this appropriation must be reinvested in producing plans, conducting maintenance, or building infrastructure for new or existing conservation grazing efforts. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2016, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$600,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$0
Direct expenses
$600,000
Number of full time equivalents funded
7.72
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Click on Work Plan under Project Details.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Click on Work Plan under Project Details.

Description of Funds
ENRTF
Project Manager
First Name
Greg
Last Name
Hoch
Organization Name
MN DNR
Street Address
500 Lafayette Rd
City
St. Paul
State
MN
Zip Code
55045
Phone
(651) 259-5230
Email
greg.hoch@state.mn.us
Administered By
Administered by
Location

500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone
651-296-6157
Email the Agency