HCP VII - Priority Acquisition, MN Valley Wetland Management District (4h)

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2012 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$200,000
2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$200,000
Fund Source
Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund
Recipient
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
July 2011
End Date
June 2014
Activity Type
Land Acquisition
Counties Affected
Blue Earth
Blue Earth
Project Overview

The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust is using this appropriation to purchase a total of approximately 80 acres of high quality grasslands and wetlands in Blue Earth or Le Sueur County to be managed as a federal Waterfowl Production Area (WPA) in the Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District.

OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS
The MN Valley Trust acquired fee title to 78.96 acres to expand the Howard Farm Waterfowl Production Area (WPA) in Blue Earth County. The ENRTF grant acquired 45.98 acres and other, non-state private funds acquired the remaining 32.98 acres.

This tract is now an integral part of a 600+ acre complex called the Howard Farm WPA of the USFWS / Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District. The acquired property includes degraded prairie and wetland habitat that was drained so that it could be farmed.

Plans for this now-retired cropland include restoration of 62 acres of upland and 18 acres of wetland habitat that will be able to store up to 15 million gallons of water. The prairie seed mix will include the maximum diversity of plant species to benefit waterfowl, grassland birds, and pollinators.

This project will increase habitat quality and nest success for resident and migratory grassland birds, waterfowl, wading birds, resident species, and pollinators. It also will improve water quality to nearby Loon Lake, Lake Crystal, and the Watonwan and Minnesota Rivers through filtration and storage, and will increase wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities for the public.

To meet the 1:1 leverage obligation of its work plan, the MN Valley Trust also completed the following during the project period using other private, non-state funds:

  • Acquired fee title to 17.39 acres for the Perch Lake WPA on the north end of this state-designated shallow lake that provides critical resting habitat for migrating waterfowl. Habitat work will include retiring the cropland and field road, restoring both to prairie grassland, and removing a shed cabin from the lakeshore.
  • Acquired fee title to 160 acres to expand the Lincoln WPA. The tract includes a 152-acre CREP easement and an 8-acre building site. Habitat work will include restoring the building site to native prairie, enhancing 15 wetland acres, restoring 11 wetlands not previously restored, inter-seeding 152 acres with a diverse mix of prairie forbs and applying prescribed fire.

PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION
Minnesota Valley Trust will announce the projects via news releases and the Trust website as habitat restoration work gets underway. Once habitat work is complete, the lands will be opened by the USFWS for the public's use for wildlife-dependent recreation.

Project Details
Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 04j4h
Appropriation Language

$1,737,000 the first year and $1,738,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $125,000 the first year and $125,000 the second year are to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $3,225,000 is for agreements as follows: $637,000 the first year and $638,000 the second year with Ducks Unlimited, Inc.; $38,000 the first year and $37,000 the second year with Friends of Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District; $25,000 the first year and $25,000 the second year with Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe; $225,000 the first year and $225,000 the second year with Minnesota Land Trust; $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $242,000 the first year and $243,000 the second year with Pheasants Forever, Inc.; and $245,000 the first year and $245,000 the second year with The Trust for Public Land 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 habitable 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. An entity who acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work program. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

2012 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$200,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$400,000
Direct expenses
$200,000
Number of full time equivalents funded
1.51
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Click on "Final Report" under "Project Details".

Measurable Outcome(s)

Click on "Final Report" under "Project Details".

Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 04j4h
Appropriation Language

$1,737,000 the first year and $1,738,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $125,000 the first year and $125,000 the second year are to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $3,225,000 is for agreements as follows: $637,000 the first year and $638,000 the second year with Ducks Unlimited, Inc.; $38,000 the first year and $37,000 the second year with Friends of Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District; $25,000 the first year and $25,000 the second year with Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe; $225,000 the first year and $225,000 the second year with Minnesota Land Trust; $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $242,000 the first year and $243,000 the second year with Pheasants Forever, Inc.; and $245,000 the first year and $245,000 the second year with The Trust for Public Land 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 habitable 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. An entity who acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work program. An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$200,000
Direct expenses
$200,000
Number of full time equivalents funded
1.5
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Click on "Final Report" under "Project Details".

Measurable Outcome(s)

Click on "Final Report" under "Project Details".

Project Manager
First Name
Deborah
Last Name
Loon
Organization Name
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust Inc
Street Address
2312 Seabury Ave
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Zip Code
55406
Phone
(612) 801-1935
Email
dloon@mnvalleytrust.org
Administered By
Administered by
Location

500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone
651-296-6157
Email the Agency