Metro Conservation Corridors (MeCC) - Phase IV
OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS
During the fourth phase of the Metro Corridors project, the Metro Conservation Corridors Partners continued their work to accelerate protection and restoration of remaining high-quality natural lands in the greater Twin Cities Metropolitan Area by strategically coordinating and focusing conservation efforts within a connected and scientifically-identified network of critical lands. This corridor network stretches from the area's urban core to its rural perimeter, including portions of 16 counties.
The Partners employed a multi-faceted approach, which included accomplishments in four specific result areas:
- Partnership and Program Coordination: Partners met quarterly to review project accomplishments and coordinate activity. With DNR support, the partners also continued efforts to develop an online database to facilitate tracking and reporting of MeCC projects over time.
- Restore and Enhance Significant Habitat: Collectively, the partners restored 775 acres of land. Restoration of an additional 464 acres and 0.06 miles of shoreline was completed using other funds.
- Acquire Significant Habitat: Collectively the partners protected 1,183 acres of land, including more than 4 miles of shoreline through acquisition of fee title and conservation easements and leveraged an additional 773 acres of land and more than 5 miles of shoreline using other funds.
- Other Conservation Tools and Incentives: The Metro Greenways Program assisted three cities, two soil & water conservation districts, and one county with the development and gathering of natural resources information to identify sites for protection or restoration and/or to implement conservation measures.
Since 2003, MeCC partners have protected more than 8,000 acres and restored more than 6,500 acres. These strategic and coordinated efforts address a number of recommendations of the Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan, including protecting priority land habitats, protecting critical shorelands of streams and lakes, restoring land, wetlands, and wetland-associated watersheds, and improving connectivity and access to outdoor recreation.
PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION
As projects were completed, the individual partners were encouraged to publicize accomplishments through press releases, organization newsletters and websites. These efforts resulted in information being distributed to the public through websites, email lists, daily and weekly newspapers, newsletters, and other print materials. Additionally, once the MeCC database development is complete, the partnership plans to incorporate a public web portal, which will display accomplishments.
For more information, visit http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/all_projects/2008_projects.html.
$3,150,000 is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the fourth appropriation for acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $1,915,000 is for Department of Natural Resources agency programs and $1,235,000 is for agreements as follows: $475,000 with the Trust for Public Land; $92,000 with Friends of the Mississippi River; $111,000 with Great River Greening; $225,000 with Minnesota Land Trust; $225,000 with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; and $107,000 with Friends of the Minnesota Valley for the purposes of 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, 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".