HCP VI - Fisheries Land Acquisition (4b)
Overall Project Outcome and Results
This project focused on the acquisition of habitat linkages that provided environmental protection of the shoreline and riparian zone, exhibited a high risk of development, supplied angler access, and afforded management access necessary for implementing habitat improvement projects.
Project goals were to protect 120 acres (1.4 miles of lake and stream shoreline) with the help of partner and other state funding. Partner funding includes donations of land value and cash.
This project resulted in the acquisition of four parcels with a grand total of approximately 54.2 acres and 1.3 miles of lake and stream shoreline. Because of the extreme variation in shoreline values it is hard to accurately predict a reliable acre benchmark. Most years, including the 2008 Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) appropriation, we far exceeded our acres goal. For the 2009 ENRTF appropriation, we fell short of the acres goal, but nearly reached our "miles of shoreline" goal. ENRTF dollars directly acquired approximately 35.12 acres of the total, including 0.4 miles of lake and stream shoreline. Donations of land value ("other funds" $396,600) and resulting Reinvest In Minnesota Critical Habitat match ("other state monies" $165,000), leveraged with trust dollars, totaled $561,600. These contributions helped acquire the remaining acres of the grand total, including 4.0 acres and 0.2 shoreline miles using other state dollars and 8.5 acres and 0.4 shoreline miles from donations of land value. Preece Point was acquired jointly using both 2009 and 2010 Supplemental grants to Minnesota's Habitat Conservation Partnership - Fish and Wildlife Acquisition (4b). Results for Preece Point were proportionately distributed for each grant.
As a result of this project, 54.2 acres, including 1.3 miles of critical shoreline fish and wildlife habitat are now permanently protected and open to public angling and/or hunting - as well as other light use recreational activities. Acquired parcels are now designated and managed as Aquatic Management Areas (AMAs).
Project Results Use and Dissemination
Accomplishment Reports and press releases are available at www.mnhabitatcorridors.org., and all AMAs will be added to DNR's Public Recreational Information Maps (PRIM).
$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".