Enhanced Public Land - Open Landscapes - Phase II

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2023 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$2,557,000
Fund Source
Outdoor Heritage Fund
Recipient
Pheasants Forever
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
In Progress
Start Date
July 2022
End Date
January 1970
Activity Type
Land Acquisition
Counties Affected
Aitkin
Beltrami
Carlton
Lake of the Woods
Marshall
Roseau
St. Louis
Aitkin
Beltrami
Carlton
Lake of the Woods
Marshall
Roseau
St. Louis
Project Overview

This proposal enhances 2,857 acres of open landscape habitat in the Northern Forest and Forest/Prairie Transition Regions for Sharp-tailed Grouse and other species. Enhancement work will take place on protected lands open to public hunting including Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs), state forest lands, Scientific Natural Areas (SNAs), and county lands. In addition, this proposal seeks to acquire and restore 743 acres of sharp-tail habitat in Lake of the Woods County to be transferred to the MNDNR. This property adjoins the Carp Swamp WMA, which supports two active Sharp-tailed Grouse leks.

About the Issue

This proposal seeks to protect, enhance, and restore early successional, open landscapes that are critical to the success of sharptails in Minnesota. This will be accomplished by (1) the purchase of the adjacent 743 acres of the Carp Swamp WMA in Lake of the Woods County to be transferred to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR), and (2) contracting enhancement activities on permanently protected lands open to hunting in sharptail priority areas.
The protection of the 743-acre property adjacent to the Carp Swamp WMA has been identified by local MN DNR Wildlife staff, Minnesota Sharp-tailed Grouse Society (SGS), and Pheasants Forever (PF) as a priority. This property has two leks: one that hosts 5-10 birds, and the other hosting 15-20 birds. By protecting this property in fee and enhancing the current grass-brushland habitats, this area will be able to support the current local sharptail population and increase the overall landscape's ability to support population growth. The seller wishes to have the property be held and managed in perpetuity by the MNDNR for the benefit of sharptails and the enjoyment of the public. If the acquisition is unsuccessful, we will request an amendment to move the acquisition funds over to enhancement.
We will utilize a Request for Proposal and ranking process, developed during the previous phase, to identify, rank, and deliver projects that will be most beneficial to sharptails and other open landscape species. Upon project selection, we will submit a parcel list amendment for approval. In addition, we're working with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe in priority areas that are adjacent to Tribal lands managed for the same purpose. Activities to enhance these habitats include brush mowing/shearing, tree removal, diversity seeding, conservation grazing, and prescribed fire. These activities will be used in combination where appropriate to create the heterogeneous landscape that sharptails require. Prescribed fire is the primary tool used to create early successional habitat. In areas where this fire is not appropriate or logistically infeasible, brush mowing or shearing of small-diameter brush and trees will be performed. Trees too large to mow or unaffected by fire will be removed. Any tree removal will be done in areas where timber is unmarketable and most of the species being harvested are of no value. Grasslands will be restored by preparing the site using a combination of prescribed fire, cultivation, or herbicide application. We will work with local land managers to develop and plant high-diversity native seed mixes that provide ideal foraging, nesting, and brood-rearing cover for sharptails. Maintenance mowing will be used to suppress annual weeds and ensure the establishment of desirable species. Conservation grazing allows land managers to maintain grasslands in the absence of prescribed fire and target undesirable species by altering the timing and intensity. In these areas, we will install infrastructure with a lifespan of 30+ years to facilitate these conservation grazing plans in areas where local livestock producers are present.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
ML 2022, Ch. 77, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 2(e )
Appropriation Language

$2,557,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever, in cooperation with the Minnesota Sharp-Tailed Grouse Society, to acquire land in fee under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, and restore and enhance lands for wildlife management purposes. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

2023 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$2,557,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$101,900
Direct expenses
$2,522,100
Administration costs
$34,900
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.25
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Sharp tail Leks are monitored annually in the northern forest region by the MN DNR. The number of leks identified is a good measure of quality open landscape habitat.
Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - Sharp tail Leks are monitored annually in the northern forest region by the MN DNR. The number of leks identified is a good measure of quality open landscape habitat

Source of Additional Funds

PF, SGS, PF, Federal and Private

Project Manager
First Name
Sabin
Last Name
Adams
Organization Name
Minnesota Sharp-Tailed Grouse Society/Pheasants Forever, Inc.
Street Address
14121 Steves RD SE
City
Osakis
State
MN
Zip Code
56288
Phone
320-250-6317
Email
sadams@pheasantsforever.org
Administered By
Administered by
Location

500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone
651-296-6157
Email the Agency