HCP VI Supplemental - Shallow Lake Assessment & Management - 2d
OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is working with Ducks Unlimited (DU) and other partners in a focused, strategic approach to assess, improve and protect the aquatic ecology and water quality of shallow lakes for waterfowl and other wildlife. Shallow lakes are a critical component of the wetland habitat complexes once common to Minnesota landscapes. These lakes provide the migration, brood rearing, and hibernacula critical for shorebirds, waterfowl, water birds, turtles and amphibians. Through this grant, and the existing shallow lake program, DNR will provide the predesign habitat assessment and monitoring of shallow lake structural enhancements accomplished by DU through bioengineering. There were 15 shallow lake assessments planned to be completed with this grant. There were actually 11 shallow lake habitat assessments completed with a combination of DNR and ENRTF funding. All of the assessments were completed within the Habitat Conservation Partnership Project Area 3. The information collected will be used to inform lake management strategies including DU lake structure enhancements and DNR accelerated management activities. Assessments included data collection on water depths, aquatic vegetation, water clarity, and water chemistry. Lakes were selected from a priority list developed by the MN DNR shallow lakes program. The reason for the shortfall was related to the conversion of the state accounting system to SWIFT and the consequent difficulty in locating and coding to the proper account.
PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION
Accomplishment Reports and press releases will be made available at http://www.mnhabitatcorridors.org.
$1,344,000 is added to Laws 2009, chapter 143, section 2, subdivision 4, paragraph (e), from the trust fund for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $308,000 is to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $1,036,000 is for agreements as follows: $425,000 with Ducks Unlimited, Inc.; $50,000 with National Wild Turkey Federation; $164,000 with the Nature Conservancy; $102,000 with Minnesota Land Trust; $200,000 with the Trust for Public Land; $45,000 with Friends of Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District; and $50,000 to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe 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 an authorized 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.
Click on "Final Report" under "Project Details".
Click on "Final Report" under "Project Details".