HCP VI - Critical Lands Conservation Initiative - Acquisition (4a)
Overall Project Outcome and Results
To help slow the loss of habitat and declining wildlife populations, Pheasants Forever purchased in fee-title two parcels totaling 93 acres to permanently protect quality wildlife habitat lands within Chippewa and Lac Qui Parle Counties, MN. Of the 93 acres, 38 acres were acquired with $72,987 from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) and the other 55 acres with $56,000 in non-state funds. These lands have been or are in the process of being enrolled into the state Wildlife Management Area System and will be protected and managed in perpetuity by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. In addition, these newly acquired WMAs will provide access and recreational opportunities for all Minnesotans.
Of the total 93 acres, 49 acres are grassland (including native prairie) and 43 acres hold wetlands. Striving to build landscape level habitat complexes that will protect and sustain wildlife populations, both projects are additions to existing WMAs and build upon past investments in wildlife habitat conservation.
Due to the volatile real estate market and county board approval requirements, a balance of $277,013 was left unspent and returned to the ENRTF. A project by project accounting and supporting context can be found in the final work program report and all accomplishment reports are available at www.mnhabitatcorridors.org.
Accomplishments were achieved by working with many local, state, and federal partners. Effective partnerships are the backbone of conservation in Minnesota. Through this project we have continued the effort to build and enhance effective conservation partnerships that provide wildlife and recreation benefits to all Minnesotans.
Project Results Use and Dissemination
All projects acquired through the Habitat Conservation Partnership acknowledge the funding from the Minnesota Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund. These new public land additions will be incorporated into the DNR Wildlife Management Area System and will be added to appropriate maps, websites, and other WMA information dissemination outlets. Detailed accomplishment report information is available at www.mnhabitatcorridors.org.
$3,375,000 is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the sixth appropriation for acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $770,000 is for the Department of Natural Resources agency programs and $2,605,000 is for agreements as follows: $450,000 with Pheasants Forever; $50,000 with Minnesota Deer Hunters Association; $895,000 with Ducks Unlimited, Inc.; $85,000 with National Wild Turkey Federation; $365,000 with the Nature Conservancy; $210,000 with Minnesota Land Trust; $350,000 with the Trust for Public Land; $100,000 with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $50,000 with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and $50,000 with Friends of Detroit Lakes Watershed Management District to plan, restore, and acquire fragmented landscape corridors that connect areas of quality habitat to sustain fish, wildlife, and plants. The United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service is a cooperating partner in the appropriation. Expenditures are limited to the project corridor areas as defined in the work program. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum habitat and facility management standards as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program. All funding for conservation easements must include a long-term stewardship plan and funding for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. To the maximum extent practical, consistent with contractual easement or fee acquisition obligations, the recipients shall utilize staff resources to identify future projects and shall maximize the implementation of biodiverse, quality restoration projects in the project proposal into the first half of the 2010 fiscal year.
Click on "Final Report" under "Project Details".
Click on "Final Report" under "Project Details".