DNR Wildlife Management Area, Scientific and Natural Area and Native Prairie Bank Easement Acquisition

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$4,783,400
Fund Source
Outdoor Heritage Fund
Recipient
DNR
Recipient Type
State Government
Status
Completed
Start Date
July 2013
End Date
November 2019
Activity Type
Land Acquisition
Counties Affected
Becker
Brown
Clearwater
Hubbard
Jackson
Kandiyohi
Pennington
Stearns
Stevens
Swift
Wadena
Wilkin
Wright
Becker
Brown
Clearwater
Hubbard
Jackson
Kandiyohi
Pennington
Stearns
Stevens
Swift
Wadena
Wilkin
Wright
Project Overview

Work resulting from this appropriation resulted in the acquisition, development, and inclusion of 2,095 acres into the state Wildlife Management Area (WMA) system, 74 acres into the the state Scientific and Natural Area system, and through easement acquisition added 387 acres to the state Native Prairie Bank.

Project Details

Through this appropriation the MN DNR protected lands in the prairie, forest prairie transition, northern forest, and metro urbanizing ecological sections. The MN DNR prioritized our acquisitions to focus on parcels with an existing habitat base, acquisition opportunities that provided connectivity and worked toward building habitat complexes, and opportunities that allowed us to maximize habitat benefits. All acquisitions were a result of a relationship with a willing seller. We scored them using a GIS based tool that assigns points based on the natural resource attributes along with other ecological and management criteria. We then ranked them in importance based on their score and input from local DNR land managers. All acquisitions where then subject to County Board review and approval. Ten WMA parcels and one SNA totaling 2,169 are now permanently protected as a result of acquisitions funded by this program. This eclipsed our Accomplishment Plan goal for acquisition by 561 acres. In addition we protected 387 acres through easement in Native Prairie Bank.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
ML 2013, Ch. 137, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(c )
Appropriation Language

$4,940,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire land in fee for wildlife management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8; acquire land in fee for scientific and natural area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 5; and acquire native prairie bank easements under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96. Up to $42,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund, as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17, for native prairie bank easements. A list of proposed land and permanent conservation easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$4,783,400
Other Funds Leveraged
$593,400
Direct expenses
$4,738,100
Administration costs
$45,300
Number of full time equivalents funded
.31
Measurable Outcome(s)

Protected (in fee with state PILT liability) 2169 acres and protected (in easement) 387 acres for a total of  2556 acres

Source of Additional Funds

Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM), Small Game Surcharge

Project Manager
First Name
Patrick
Last Name
Rivers
Organization Name
MN Dept. of Natural Resources
Street Address
500 Lafayette Road
City
St. Paul
State
MN
Zip Code
55155
Phone
(651) 259-5209
Email
pat.rivers@state.mn.us
Administered By
Administered by
Location

500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone
651-296-6157
Email the Agency