Metro Big Rivers Phase 12
Metro Big Rivers Phase 12 will protect 622 acres in fee title and 319 acres in permanent conservation easement, restore 53 acres and enhance 587 acres of priority habitat in the big rivers corridors in the Metropolitan Urbanizing Area (1,558 acres total). Partners will leverage OHF grants at least 14% with partner funds, private donations, local government contributions, and landowner donations of easement value. Significant volunteer engagement will be invested in habitat enhancement activities. MBR projects benefit wildlife and species in greatest need of conservation (SGCN) and provide increased public access and nature connections for metro residents.
Metro Big Rivers Phase 12 will protect, restore and enhance prioritized wildlife habitat in the MUA, with an emphasis on the Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix Rivers and their tributaries. Metro Big Rivers' work in the metro area benefits wildlife and species in greatest need of conservation (SGCN), provides increased public access for wildlife-based recreation and connects the diversity of metro residents with nature near them.
Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) will restore/enhance 433 acres at 4 sites on or near the Mississippi River. Projects include removing invasive woody and herbaceous plants, planting, seeding, mowing, spot-spraying, and prescribed burns.
?Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park: Enhance 104 acres oak forest and 7 acres prairie
?Pine Bend Bluffs Natural Area: Enhance 180 acres oak forest, 15 acres restored prairie, and 4 acres native prairie
?Vermillion Falls Park: Restore 4 acres prairie and enhance 13 acres forest
?William H. Houlton Conservation Area: Enhance 90 acres oak forest
Great River Greening (GRG) will restore/enhance 157 acres across 7 sites. Projects include removing invasive woody and herbaceous species, mowing, spot spraying, seeding and planting.
?Bassett Creek Park: Enhance 22 acres forest
?Lebanon Hills Regional Park Phase IV: Enhance 50 acres oak savanna/woodland and prairie
?Spring Lake Park (Scott County): Enhance 10 acres oak savanna
?LumberJack Landing: Restore 15 acres of forest and .25 miles of shoreline restoration of new public open space along the St Croix River
?Huber Park: Restore 9 acres of degraded floodplain forest along the Minnesota River
?Jim's Prairie: Enhance 11 acres of prairie
?Falls Creek SNA: Enhance 40 acres forest
Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) will protect through perpetual conservation easement 319 acres of priority habitat, including riparian lands, forests, wetlands and grasslands. Projects will be selected through a competitive process that ranks proposals based on ecological significance and cost (criteria attached).
MLT also will restore/enhance 50 acres on lands protected through permanent conservation easement. Prioritized properties will be of high ecological significance, adjacent or close to public conservation investments and owned by landowners committed to conservation.
Minnesota Valley Trust (MVT) will protect through fee acquisition 352 acres of river frontage, floodplain forest, wetland and upland habitat to expand the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. All prospective lands have been prioritized by the USFWS and will be restored/enhanced, then open for wildlife-based recreation, including hunting and fishing.
The Trust for Public Land (TPL) will protect through fee acquisition 270 acres of priority wildlife habitat, including riparian, forest, wetland and grassland habitat. Potential properties are prioritized in state, regional, and local natural resource plans. Lands will be managed by public partners (DNR and/or local government) and open for wildlife-based recreation, including hunting and fishing.
$8,200,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance natural habitat systems associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix Rivers and their tributaries within the metropolitan area as follows: $1,100,000 to Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $643,000 to Friends of the Mississippi River; $742,000 to Great River Greening; $2,927,000 to Trust for Public Land; and $2,788,000 to Minnesota Land Trust, of which up to $216,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed land acquisitions and permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.
A network of natural land and riparian habitats will connect corridors for wildlife and species in greatest conservation need - Partners work together to identify priority lands using existing data and public plans, then coordinate protection, restoration and enhancement activities in those priority areas. Work builds upon prior phases and is intended to continue into the future for maximum impact. Mapping shows progress in connecting corridors. Species collections and counts measure impact of activities over time on wildlife and Species in Greatest Conservation Need
Cities, foundations, Dakota County, Stillwater, Shakopee, Maplewood, Crystal, Scott County, Private, Private, Private landowners, RIM and Private