Metro Big Rivers Phase 13
Metro Big Rivers Phase 13 will protect 875 acres in fee title and 180 acres in permanent conservation easement, restore 24 acres and enhance 170 acres of priority habitat in the big rivers corridors in the Metropolitan Urbanizing Area (1,249 acres total). Partners will leverage OHF grants 32% 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 13 will protect, restore and enhance prioritized wildlife habitat in the MUA, with an emphasis on the Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix Rivers and tributaries. Metro Big Rivers' work benefits wildlife and species in greatest need of conservation (SGCN), improves water quality and in-stream food (insect) availability, increases public access for wildlife-based recreation (hunting and fishing) and connects all metro residents with nature near them.
Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) will restore/enhance 145 acres at 5 sites. Projects include removing invasive woody and herbaceous plants, planting, seeding, mowing, spot-spraying, and prescribed burning.
- Applewood Preserve: Restore 5 acres prairie and enhance 20 acres forest
- Carver Preserve: Restore 10 acres prairie and enhance 15 acres woodland
- Vermillion River AMA (2 sites): Enhance 50 acres riparian forest
- Hastings Sand Coulee SNA: Enhance 29 acres forest and 11 acres of remnant native prairie
- Davis Farm Park: Create management plan for 16 acres, enhance 8 acres forest
Great River Greening (GRG) will restore/enhance 49 acres and 3.5 miles shoreline across 3 sites. Projects include restoration and stabilization of 2 miles of stream bank (1 mile both sides) and 1.5 miles lakeshore, as well as removing invasive woody and herbaceous species, mowing, spot spraying, seeding and planting.
- Lake Ann Park: Enhance 35 acres forest along 1 mile lakeshore
- South Fork of 9 Mile Creek: Restore and stabilize 2 miles of stream bank
- Loeb Lake Shoreline: Restore and stabilize 0.5 miles of shoreline and buffer around Loeb Lake
Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) will protect through perpetual conservation easement 180 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).
Minnesota Valley Trust (MVT) will protect through fee acquisition 175 acres of river frontage, floodplain forest, wetland and upland habitat to expand the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. 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 700 acres of priority wildlife habitat. Prospective sites are prioritized in state, regional, and local natural resource plans. Lands will be managed by public partners and open for wildlife-based recreation, including hunting and fishing. A priority project would create a significant new WMA in the metro area - Keystone Woods, Washington County. This 2,600+ acre property has high biodiversity, numerous lakes and excellent habitat for wildlife, waterfowl and fish. Protecting it will create a habitat conservation corridor to the St. Croix River and provide quality close-to-home hunting and fishing opportunities for metro area residents. Of the 2,600 acres, TPL will acquire 1,840 acres with OHF through the Metro Big Rivers and St. Croix programs (700 acres with this grant). Washington County will acquire 760 acres with other funds, thus leveraging over $10 million of non-OHF funds.
$15,339,000 the first 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 in the metropolitan area as follows: $700,000 to Minnesota Valley Trust; $540,000 to Friends of the Mississippi River; $928,000 to Great River Greening; $11,171,000 to Trust for Public Land; and $2,000,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $192,000 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, FMR members/donors, City of Chanhassen, Nine Mile Creek Watershed District, Private Funders, In-Kind, Nine Mile Creek Watershed District, Private, Private Funders, Private Landowners and Washington County