Metro Big Rivers - Phase VI
The Metro Big Rivers (MBR) Partnership successfully completed its work under the Phase 6 / ML2015 OHF appropriation, protecting 485 acres across 5 projects (198% of proposed) and restoring and enhancing a total of 1,055 acres (185% of proposed). The Partnership expended 99% of the OHF funds granted awarded to it and leveraged the grant by 57% with nearly $1,141,000 in other funds.
Brief summaries of the work completed under this Metro Big Rivers Phase 6 grant are provided below. More in-depth information of projects completed is provided in project summary attachments to this final report. Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) completed its work under this grant, enhancing 365 acres within two DNR Scientific & Natural Area (SNA) units in the Twin Cities Metro area. Working with SNA staff, FMR enhanced 175 acres of forest and 40 acres of bluffland prairie at Pine Bend Bluffs SNA. At the Hastings Sand Coulee SNA, FMR enhanced 70 acres of forest and 80 acres of prairie. Forest acres were enhanced through invasive woody removal, including by both forestry mowing and cut-and-paint removal, with two years of follow-up treatments. Prairie acres including 87 acres of native remnant prairie were enhanced through a combination of activities including herbaceous and woody species removal, seeding, and prescribed burns. Volunteers participated in the enhancement through yearly invasive removal and seed collection events. Great River Greening (GRG) completed its work under this grant, restoring and enhancing 95 acres of prairie and 110 acres of forest. Working with Scott County staff at Doyle-Kennefick Regional Park, GRG restored 88 acres of prairie from former agricultural land and enhanced 7 acres of oak savanna. At Victoria Park and Crosby Farm Regional Park, GRG worked with the City of St Paul to enhance 110 acres through prairie planting, tree planting, invasive species removal and shelter pocket clearing and planting. Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) completed 3 conservation easements, protecting 318 acres of high quality habitat and 2.35 miles of shoreland. These included: 1) Hunter Lake (Jannusch) protected 201 acres of hardwood forest, oak savanna, pothole wetlands, extensive lake shoreline, and a glacial esker in Sherburne County. The landowner generously donated the entire value of the conservation easement, which appraised at over $380,000. 2) Medvecky Woods (DeCorsey) protected 40 acres of hardwood forest and wetlands in a Minnesota Biological Survey-designated site of Outstanding Biodiversity Significance in Isanti County. The property is contiguous with another MLT easement and nearby the 5,700-acre Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve. 3) Tennyson Lake (Barrett 2) protected 77 acres of habitat on Tennyson Lake in Isanti County, a favorite stopover of trumpeter swans and migratory bird species. The easement adds on to 80 acres of existing protected property directly to the north at the inflow of the lake. Funds remaining after completing protection work allowed MLT to work with the Minnesota Valley Trust (MVT) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to complete an oak savanna restoration on the Rapids Lake Unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Carver County. This spectacular project is part of a large complex of public lands with a rich multitude of habitats overlooking the Minnesota River Valley. Minnesota Valley Trust (MVT) completed its work under this grant as of September 2018 when it protected through fee title acquisition 51 acres of a high-priority 77-acre parcel for the Rapids Lake Unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The balance of the site was acquired with half of the MBR 7 / ML 2016 grant and $794,462 in other, private funds. After acquisition, MVT used the balance of its MBR 7 / ML 2016 grant to complete the initial habitat restoration over 40 acres, which included converting the building site and crop field to prairie and wetland. Simultaneously, the MN Land Trust conducted initial restoration of 23 acres of degraded oak savanna on the site with the balance of its MBR 6 / ML 2015. Follow-up treatments to maintain and enhance the restored 77 acres will be completed by MVT and USFWS under the MBR 9 / ML2019 grant. The Trust for Public Land (TPL) acquired 116 acres of land which was added to the existing Grass Lake Wildlife Management Area in Wright County. The land contains wetlands, rolling hills and forested areas, and approximately 37 acres of agricultural land that were restored to tallgrass prairie through this grant. Acquisition was the first step in the restoration of a drained wetland, helping to improve water quality and provide aquatic habitat, while also protecting a portion of Grass Lake, an identified shallow lake. Additionally, the acquisition connected separate WMA parcels and increased the size of the existing WMA by 25 percent to over 450 acres. Within a 45-minute drive of over half the State's population, Grass Lake WMA provides numerous outdoor recreation and wildlife observation opportunities to the general public in the Metro Area.
$2,000,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and in permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance natural systems associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix Rivers as follows: $475,000 to Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $275,000 to Friends of the Mississippi River; $400,000 to Great River Greening; $375,000 to Minnesota Land Trust; and $475,000 to The Trust for Public Land. Up to $60,000 to Minnesota Land Trust 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 proposed land acquisitions and permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.
Metro Big Rivers Partnership projects improved habitat values for wildlife and Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), including birds using the Mississippi River migratory corridor, pollinators, wildlife, and an array of rare and endangered species.
The restoration/enhancement partners (FMR and GRG) worked on already-protected conservation lands to significantly improve habitat values for wildlife and SGCN. Work restored restore prairie and enhance forest, oak savanna and prairie at four conservation sites.
The easement partner (MLT) permanently limited development and prevented fragmentation of wildlife habitats and undeveloped shoreline. Restricting shoreline development prevented negative impacts to terrestrial and aquatic habitats that support a number of fish and wildlife species, especially SGCN.
The fee title partners (MVT and TPL) acquired lands prioritized through federal, state, regional and local natural resource plans due to their high biodiversity, connectivity, and ability to preserve habitat for SGCN. The acquisitions and subsequent habitat restoration and enhancement work increased breeding and migratory habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, neo-tropical migrants, and non-migratory resident species, protected the diversity of native ecosystems, and improved connectivity and resilience.
City of St. Paul, National Wild Turkey Federation, Great River Greening, Scott County, Friends of Mississippi River, Landowner donation, Minnesota Valley Trust, Private and Private Foundation Grant