Protecting Coldwater Fisheries on Minnesota's North Shore
The magnitude, timing, and frequency of flow are key attributes governing the structure of native fish and aquatic communities. Through targeted protection and restoration projects, the Minnesota Land Trust will conserve these attributes and ensure resiliency of priority coldwater tributaries to Lake Superior. The Land Trust will protect 288 acres and 1 mile of shoreline and restore 70 acres of habitat by targeting high quality, priority parcels that will protect habitats for coldwater species such as trout and cisco, but will also provide habitat for a number of wildlife species such as American Woodcock and Golden-winged Warbler.
Lake Superior and its tributaries in Minnesota have some of the most important cold-water trout habitat in the State, supporting native brook trout and naturalized populations of salmon, steelhead, and brown trout. This cold-water fishery is vulnerable to climate and landcover change as it is mostly surface water fed. Combined, these factors may result in water temperature increases and flow regime changes that threaten support of cold-water fish species such as trout and salmon.
Protection of shaded shorelines and headwaters wetlands within these tributary streams and rivers are critical for maintaining the coldwater resources and flow regimes that support this fishery. The magnitude, timing, frequency of flow are key attributes governing the structure of native fish and aquatic communities. For example, along the North Shore, stream discharge and water temperature are the major signals influencing the timing of the juvenile steelhead migration. Significant alterations to natural patterns of hydrology impact the suitability of those systems for native aquatic biodiversity.
The Ecological Limits of Hydrologic Alteration (ELOHA) 2016 study assessed management criteria to sustain healthy aquatic ecosystems in a changing climate. This study found that the combination of climate change and land use changes can be expected to result in increased intensity of storm events, increased runoff and increased erosion, which will in turn drive a series of cascading impacts to streams, including higher temperatures, reduced dissolved oxygen, increased primary production rates, and increased biological oxygen demand. These changes will negatively impact fish and other organisms in the stream. Similar impacts are expected in deep, cold lakes that support trout, cisco and other coldwater species.
The ELOHA study recommends management actions that focus on protecting baseflows. This includes: 1) Protection of wetlands, vernal pools and floodplains that slowly release water into the system; 2) Management and maintenance of riparian zones, forest cover/shade and 3) Promotion and restoration of connectivity.
We propose to strategically procure conservation easements and undertake targeted restoration efforts within high-quality watersheds. We will work in line with the methodology developed by the ELOHA program to identify priority watersheds and target properties to protect both water temperature as well as flow regimes. Conservation easements secured under this program will be perpetual and drafted to prevent the fragmentation and destruction of existing habitat. These easements will ensure that the sensitive shoreline and headwaters habitat will remain ecologically viable and productive for fish, game and wildlife by prohibiting land uses that negatively impact the important habitat values and requiring habitat management plans to maximize the benefits of shoreland and associated forested uplands.
Outcomes from this project include: 1) healthy populations of trout and other fish species, and other species in greatest conservation need; 2) maintenance of water quality within targeted aquatic resources; 3) increased participation of private landowners in natural habitat protection and restoration projects; and 4) enhancement of prior state and local investments made in shoreland and forest conservation in the region. The Land Trust will strategically target complexes where these outcomes may be maximized.
$1,809,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to acquire permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat in priority coldwater tributaries to Lake Superior. Of this amount, up to $144,000 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 conservation easement acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.
Increased availability and improved condition of riparian forests and other habitat corridors - This program will permanently protect approximately 1,080 acres of strategic northern forest region habitats and approximately 3 miles of undeveloped shoreline. In addition approximately 200 acres will be restored. Measure: Acres and feet of shoreline protected
Private Landowners and other private sources