Integrating Habitat and Clean Water Phase 2
Funds for RIM conservation easements build on Clean Water Fund (CWF) investments for restoration and protection projects that "stack" habitat and clean water benefits. Projects will be identified in watershed plans developed through BWSR's One Watershed, One Plan program, in which local governments strategically set priorities for clean water and habitat, target implementation, and set measurable goals. BWSR currently distributes CWF dollars to partnerships with approved plans for water quality projects. By offering a more comprehensive funding package, BWSR aims to incentivize local partnerships to focus on more multi-benefit solutions that use the Legacy funds at their full potential.
A RIM easement program will be established for land protection priorities identified in comprehensive watershed management plans ("watershed plans") developed through BWSR's One Watershed, One Plan (1W1P) program. Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF) dollars will be strategically paired with CWF dollars for implementation that stacks habitat and water quality benefits in priority areas as identified by watershed-based partnerships of local and tribal governments.
Through the 1W1P program, partnerships of soil and water conservation districts, counties, and watershed districts identify priorities for watershed protection and restoration, set measurable goals, and commit to targeted implementation actions (municipal and tribal governments may also participate in local planning). State agencies (BWSR, DNR, MDA, MDH, MPCA, EQB) are advisors in the planning process and partners in implementation. Watershed plans are comprehensive: they address water quality, water quantity, groundwater, drinking water, habitat, recreation, and more.
Once BWSR approves a watershed plan, we grant dollars from the CWF for actions in the plan that address water quality concerns identified in the watershed plan. BWSR's vision is for this water quality funding to be stable and reliable for the life of the Legacy Fund. An important piece of this vision is to streamline the administrative burdens for local governments associated with applying for and reporting on grants while maintaining appropriate oversight of state funds. This allows implementers to spend more time doing what they do best: implementation. A BWSR RIM easement program dedicated for watershed plans would similarly reduce the number of individual proposals submitted to the LSOHC by local governments.
Millions of dollars are spent on projects from both the CWF and the OHF that focus primarily on a singular set of goals: water quality or habitat. Resource professionals and fund managers know that while many of those projects have a primary purpose, they achieve multiple benefits to varying degrees. Managers of both funds have expressed a desire to be more intentional about spending Legacy funds to achieve habitat and water quality simultaneously. Furthermore, the state's current easement programs are limited - either to a specific resource type or focused geographic area. There is tremendous opportunity to do more strategic, multi-benefit work.
Through this new RIM program, BWSR would offer a more comprehensive set of funding opportunities, and therefore support more holistic, comprehensive implementation. OHF dollars would allow partnerships to meet land protection goals to maintain and enhance terrestrial and aquatic habitats while simultaneously using CWF money to address water quality in the same sub-watersheds (where needed) with actions like agricultural and urban best management practices, septic system upgrades, well sealing, shoreland restoration, stream stabilization and connectivity fixes, and more.
BWSR will establish a scoring and ranking system to evaluate easement requests from partnerships with approved watershed plans (we anticipate at least 30 approved plans by the time funding is available). The scoring and ranking approach will incorporate plan priorities, the degree to which projects are paired with Clean Water Fund dollars, and progress toward measurable goals set by local partnerships.
$3,269,000 the first year is to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to acquire permanent conservation easements and restore and enhance wildlife habitat identified in One Watershed, One Plan for stacked benefit to wildlife and clean water. Up to $85,000 of the amount is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the final report.
Forestlands are protected from development and fragmentation - Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species. A summary of the total number of forest land secured under easement through this appropriation will be reported. We expect sustained populations of endangered, threatened, special concern and game species as these easements are secured. On-site inspections are performed every three years and compliance checks are performed in the other two years to ensure maintained outcomes.
Wetland and upland complexes will consist of native prairies, restored prairies, quality grasslands, and restored shallow lakes and wetlands - A summary of wetland acres and associated native grasslands acquired through this appropriation will be reported. On-site inspections are performed every three years and compliance checks are performed in the other two years to ensure outcomes are maintained. An increase of wetland and associated grassland habitat are expected to increase the carrying capacity of wetland and grassland dependent wildlife. This has a positive impact on both game and non-game species. We expect more abundant populations of endangered, threatened, special concern and game species as complexes are restored.
Stream to bluff habitat restoration and enhancement will keep water on the land to slow runoff and degradation of aquatic habitat - A summary of forest acres acquired through this appropriation will be reported. On-site inspections are performed every three years and compliance checks are performed in the other two years to ensure outcomes are maintained. An increase of wetland and associated grassland habitat are expected to increase the carrying capacity of wetland and grassland dependent wildlife. This has a positive impact on both game and non-game species. We expect more abundant populations of endangered, threatened, special concern and game species as complexes are restored.
Protected, restored, and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands - A summary of wetland acres and associated native grasslands acquired through this appropriation will be reported. On-site inspections are performed every three years and compliance checks are performed in the other two years to ensure outcomes are maintained. An increase of wetland and associated grassland habitat are expected to increase the carrying capacity of wetland and grassland dependent wildlife. This has a positive impact on both game and non-game species. We expect more abundant populations of endangered, threatened, special concern and game species as complexes are restored