HCP VII - Wild Rice/Waterfowl Habitat: Enhancement & Long-term Monitoring (2e)

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2012 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$25,000
2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$25,000
Fund Source
Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund
Recipient
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
Recipient Type
Local/Regional Government
Status
Completed
Start Date
July 2011
End Date
June 2014
Activity Type
Restoration/Enhancement
Counties Affected
Beltrami
Cass
Hubbard
Itasca
Beltrami
Cass
Hubbard
Itasca
Project Overview

The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe is working within the Leech Lake Reservation boundaries to address loss and degradation of aquatic habitat for wild rice and waterfowl. Efforts will include regulating water levels on shallow lakes by controlling beaver activity and conducting periodic water level draw-downs, reseeding of approximately 200 acres of wild rice, and implementing adaptive management based on analysis of wild rice productivity.

OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS
The purpose of this project was to collect data on selected wild rice beds located on the Leech Lake Reservation and, using GIS, develop a method of quantifying the abundance from aerial photographs. Data collected from this work was then compared to fall waterfowl abundance data collected by the MN DNR to determine if a correlation existed. We were able to develop the methodology for quantifying rice abundance from high resolution photographs into some broad categories, but were unable to statistically correlate this with fall duck abundance. Either the rice quantification methods or waterfowl counts are not refined enough to make a statistically valid determination or, more likely, waterfowl will still make use of rice even if it is not abundant, provided it contains sufficient cover. Even though we were unable to make a correlation between rice abundance and fall waterfowl numbers the methodology developed for quantifying rice from aerial photographs will be valuable to us and other managers in the future.

This project also had two smaller components. The first was to manage, maintain, and enhance some of the waterfowl impoundments and other waters that are located on the Leech Lake Reservation. Over the period of this grant we focused on five impoundments and other waterways to enhance these areas for waterfowl and other species that utilize these habitats. On impoundments water levels were managed and dike and control structures were repaired and maintained. Beaver plugging is an ongoing problem on many of these waterways so dam material was removed as needed, Clemson Levelers were installed, and in some cases beaver removal was utilized to reduce the problem.

A second aspect of this project was to enhance waterfowl food supply by planting wild rice. Wild rice has been degraded in some locations due to inappropriate water levels, damage from wind storms, and human activities. Two hundred acres of Natures Lake was reseeded with rice under this grant in an effort to reestablish rice in areas where it had historically occurred.

PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION
The methodology and techniques used to quantify wild rice beds from aerial photographs will be available to other resource managers if they would like to use them to evaluate their rice beds.

Project Details
Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 2, Art.3, Sec. 2, Subd. 04j2e
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
$25,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$12,980
Direct expenses
$25,000
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.37
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. 04j2e
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
$25,000
Direct expenses
$25,000
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.37
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
Steve
Last Name
Mortenson
Organization Name
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
Street Address
115 - 6th Street NW
City
Cass Lake
State
MN
Zip Code
56633
Phone
(218) 335-7421
Email
smortensen@lldrm.org
Administered By
Administered by
Location

500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone
651-296-6157
Email the Agency