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 is working to conserve these attributes and ensure increased resiliency of priority coldwater tributaries to Lake Superior. Through this grant, Minnesota Land Trust protected 425 acres and 3.47 miles of shoreline and restored 115 acres of habitat by targeting high-quality, priority tracts of land for coldwater species such as trout and cisco and other wildlife species such as American woodcock and golden-winged warbler.
Lake Superior and its tributaries 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 coldwater fishery habitat is vulnerable to climate and landcover change as it is mostly surface water fed. Protection of shaded shorelines and headwater wetlands within these tributary streams and rivers are critical for maintaining the coldwater resources and flow regimes that support this habitat. The magnitude, timing, and 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 juvenile steelhead migration. Significant alterations to natural patterns of hydrology impact the suitability of these 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 the increased intensity of storm events, runoff and erosion, which will in turn drive a series of cascading impacts to streams. These impacts include, but are not limited to, higher temperatures, reduced dissolved oxygen, increased primary production rates, and increased biological oxygen demand and 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 strategically procured conservation easements and undertook targeted restoration efforts within high-quality watersheds. We also used the methodology developed by the ELOHA program to identify priority watersheds and target properties to protect water temperatures and flow regimes. Conservation easements secured under this program are perpetual and were drafted to prevent the fragmentation and destruction of existing habitat. These easements ensure that the sensitive shoreline and headwaters habitat remain ecologically viable and productive for fish, game and wildlife by prohibiting land uses that negatively impact important habitat values and by requiring habitat management plans that maximize the benefits of shoreland and associated forested uplands. Outcomes from this program 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 strategically targets complexes where these outcomes could 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.
The natural shoreland around Lake Superior's lakes and rivers comprises one of the most biologically important systems in the state for fish, game and wildlife and is also one of its most threatened. This program preserves critical shoreland habitats and protects headwaters of some of the most sensitive lakes, streams and rivers that flow into Lake Superior. -These critical habitats and headwaters are essential to maintaining healthy populations of the region's fish and wildlife (trout and other fish, waterfowl, and Species in Greatest Conservation Need) and water quality of the aquatic habitat itself. Some SGCNs that benefit include American woodcock, olive-sided flycatcher, golden-winged warbler, winter wren, black-backed woodpecker, and cisco. Numerous plans have identified the protection of these habitats as a conservation priority for Minnesota, including the Minnesota Wildlife Action Plan, DNR's Aquatic Management Area program, the State Conservation and Preservation Plan, Minnesota DNR Strategic Conservation Agenda, and Outdoor Heritage Fund: A 25 Year Framework. The central goal of this program is to protect and restore high quality habitat by securing permanent conservation easements in strategic locations within priority watersheds of coldwater streams.
Private Landowners and other private sources