MeCC V Supplemental - - Lower MN River Watershed Restoration - 2.4
Project Outcome and Results
Friends of the Minnesota Valley (FMV) undertook restoration of habitat for the Lower Minnesota River Watershed portion of the Metropolitan Conservation Corridors Project (MeCC) as a continuation of our wildlife habitat restoration within the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Wetland Management District (Refuge) and within the Lower Minnesota River Watershed.
The Friends' objectives were to complement and connect habitat restoration and management of Refuge lands with that being done by other entities. Project sites addressed the need to restore hydrology within floodplain communities and to restore upland communities such as native oak savanna and wet and dry prairies, resulting in the rehabilitation of nesting, breeding, and brood-rearing habitat for migratory waterfowl in wetland areas and habitat for four documented species in upland areas. Due to late and persistent flooding, our access to the wetland site was prohibited and, as a result, we shifted our focus to upland restoration, as described in our amended work program.
FMV and our partners were able to successfully restore and enhance 30 acres of native wet prairie, 74 acres of native dry sand-gravel oak savanna, and 29 acres of native dray sand-gravel prairie with LCCMR funds during MeCC Phase V Supplement for a total acreage of 133 acres. We also restored additional match acreage of 14 acres of native dry sand-gravel oak savanna and 9 acres of native dry sand-gravel prairie with non-LCCMR, non-state funds. All work was completed on four Refuge Units and included cutting and herbicide treatment of non-native woody brush species such as buckthorn, honeysuckle, prickly ash, eastern red cedar, and Siberian elm. Our project data is publicly accessible by contacting the Friends, through information disseminated through our newsletter which is distributed to our 1,200 active members, our annual report, on our website, and through information provided by the MeCC Partnership.
PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION
As projects were completed, Friends of the Minnesota Valley publicized project accomplishments through the Friends' quarterly newsletter, our annual report, and the posting of project information on our website. Other dissemination of information occurred through the Metro Conservation Corridors partnership and on the Metro Corridors website.
$1,750,000 is added to Laws 2009, chapter 143, section 2, subdivision 4, paragraph (f), from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $1,750,000 is for agreements as follows: $890,000 with the Trust for Public Land; $485,000 with Minnesota Land Trust; $325,000 with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; and $50,000 with Friends of the Minnesota Valley for planning, restoring, and protecting important natural areas in the metropolitan area, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2, and portions of the surrounding counties, through grants, contracted services, technical assistance, conservation easements, and fee title acquisition. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. Expenditures are limited to the identified project corridor areas as defined in the work program. 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".