Critical Shoreland Habitat Protection Program - Phase IV
Through this grant, the Minnesota Land Trust protected approximately 8.25 miles of critical shoreland and 1,095 acres of high-quality fish and wildlife habitat in northeast Minnesota by securing four permanent conservation easements in strategic locations along priority lakes and rivers, exceeding our land protection goals by 332% and shoreland protection goals by 825%. Conservation easements secured under this program are perpetual and will prevent fragmentation and destruction of existing habitat. These easements ensure that sensitive habitat will remain ecologically viable and productive for fish, game, and other wildlife by prohibiting land uses that negatively impact important habitat values.
The natural shoreland around Minnesota's lakes and rivers comprises one of the most biologically important systems in the state for fish, game and wildlife; due to the intensity of shoreland development and non-compatible management, it is also one of its most threatened. In order to preserve this important component of Minnesota's natural heritage, the Minnesota Land Trust implemented Phase 4 of its Critical Shoreland Habitat Protection Program to protect important lakeshore and stream-side habitat. This project built on the success of Phases 1-3 of this program and helped fulfill the goals of the DNR's Aquatic Management Area program, the State Wildlife Action Plan, and many other state priorities. Development and disturbance of the state's remaining sensitive shoreland habitat is a priority threat identified in many of the State's resource protection plans. Science conducted by the DNR and others indicate that the shoreland zone is one of the most biologically diverse and important habitat types for a variety of wildlife species. Landowner outreach conducted under Phases 1-3 of this program generated significant landowner interest; this Phase 4 provided additional resources to meet this demand. In Phase 4 of the program, the Land Trust strategically concentrated its activity on important aquatic resources and associated forest habitat within northeast Minnesota, including DNR-designated high priority trout streams along the North Shore, sensitive shoreline along the deep-water border lakes and other high-quality aquatic habitats in the region. Through the grant, the Land Trust protected 8.25 miles and 1,095 acres of threatened shoreline habitat through permanent conservation easements. Conservation easements secured under this program are perpetual and were drafted to further prevent the fragmentation and destruction of existing habitat. These easements will ensure that the sensitive shoreline habitat will remain ecologically viable and productive for fish, game and wildlife by prohibiting land uses that negatively impacts the important habitat values and requiring habitat management plans to maximize the benefits of the shoreland and associated forested uplands. Outcomes from this project included: 1) healthy populations of trout and other fish species, waterfowl, and other Species in Greatest Conservation Need; 2) maintained water quality of aquatic resources; 3) increased participation of private landowners in habitat projects; and 4) enhancement of prior state and local investments made in shoreland and forest conservation in the region.
$1,700,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Minnesota Land Trust to acquire permanent conservation easements along rivers and lakes in the northern forest region. Of this amount, up to $120,000 is for establishing 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 must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.
The natural shoreline around Minnesota?s celebrated lakes and rivers comprises one of the most biologically important systems in the state for fish, game and wildlife and is also one of its most threatened. Phase 4 of the Land Trust's Critical Shoreland program preserved critical shoreland habitats in northeast Minnesota - an important component of the state's natural heritage. These habitats are essential to maintaining healthy populations of the region's fish and wildlife populations (trout and other fish, waterfowl, and Species in Greatest Conservation Need) and maintaining water quality of associated aquatic resources.
The protection of these habitats has been identified in numerous plans as a conservation priority for Minnesota, including the Minnesota Biological Survey, the DNR?s Aquatic Management Area program, the State Conservation and Preservation Plan, Minnesota DNR Strategic Conservation Agenda, and the Outdoor Heritage Fund: A 25 Year Framework. The central goal of our Critical Shoreland program is to protect high-quality critical shoreland habitat by securing permanent conservation easements in strategic locations along priority lakes and rivers, leaving a lasting legacy of protected habitat complexes.
MLT and Private Landowners