Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Land Acquisition - Phase VI

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$3,428,200
Fund Source
Outdoor Heritage Fund
Recipient
The Nature Conservancy with USFWS
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
July 2015
End Date
November 2020
Activity Type
Land Acquisition
Counties Affected
Big Stone
Chippewa
Clay
Lyon
Murray
Pipestone
Pope
Wilkin
Big Stone
Chippewa
Clay
Lyon
Murray
Pipestone
Pope
Wilkin
Project Overview

This appropriation allowed the permanent protection of 1,283 acres in western Minnesota, including 583 acres of remnant prairie, 500 acres of other grasslands, 88 acres of wetlands, and more than 8,150' of streamfront. For this phase we had originally planned to protect 1,090 acres, with at least 545 acres of native prairie. We exceeded both goals, protecting 118% of the total acre goal and 107% of the native prairie acre goal. All parcels that were purchased with this funding by TNC have been transferred to the USFWS as part of the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.

Project Details

The Council’s 25-Year Framework identifies protecting Minnesota’s remaining native prairies as a critical priority.  The Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan (Prairie Plan) describes the importance of preserving the cores/corridors/complexes in areas with the greatest opportunities for long-term conservation of these prairies.  The Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge (NTP NWR) Land Acquisition program shares these goals.  This program is a cooperative, multi-year effort of The Nature Conservancy and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to preserve and protect our remaining prairies and the surrounding habitat that buffers them.  With Outdoor Heritage Fund support, this partnership is working together to advance these goals.  

This program also includes a relatively small restoration/enhancement component of the acres acquired.  While the prioritization criteria favor parcels that are in good condition, because of the nature of parcel ownership some properties included small areas of converted or degraded lands needing grassland or wetland restoration/enhancement.  This work is completed only on parcels acquired with this funding, as needed to get these properties into a sustainable condition for inclusion into the NTP NWR and future management.  These acres are not reported as a separate outcome in the Output Tables in order to avoid any possible double-counting.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
ML 2015, First Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 2(d)
Appropriation Language

$3,430,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire land in fee or permanent conservation easements within the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area in western Minnesota for addition to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquisition of lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan and must be consistent with the priorities in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan.

2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$3,428,200
Other Funds Leveraged
$456,300
Direct expenses
$3,384,200
Administration costs
$40,000
Number of full time equivalents funded
1.21
Measurable Outcome(s)

686 acres protected (in fee without state PILT liability) and 597 acres protected in easement for a total of 1,283 acres

Source of Additional Funds

USFWS, TNC

Project Manager
First Name
Ruth
Last Name
Thornton
Organization Name
The Nature Conservancy
Street Address
1101 W. River Parkway Suite 200
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Zip Code
55415
Phone
(612) 331-0790
Email
ruth.thornton@tnc.org
Administered By
Administered by
Location

500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone
651-296-6157
Email the Agency