Protecting Minnesota's Lakes of Outstanding Biological Significance - Phase 2

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2024 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$3,648,000
Fund Source
Outdoor Heritage Fund
Recipient
NWLT, MLT
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
In Progress
Start Date
July 2023
End Date
January 1970
Activity Type
Land Acquisition
Counties Affected
Beltrami
Cass
Crow Wing
Hubbard
Itasca
Koochiching
St. Louis
Beltrami
Cass
Crow Wing
Hubbard
Itasca
Koochiching
St. Louis
Project Overview

This program will bring focused conservation to one of Minnesota's priority aquatic resources, Lakes of Outstanding Biological Significance. These threatened lakes possess outstanding fisheries and provide habitat for a variety of Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN); yet, at present, no habitat protection program specifically targets these priority resources. Through this proposal, the Minnesota Land Trust and Northern Waters Land Trust will protect through perpetual conservation easement and fee acquisition 492 acres of habitat and 0.65 miles of shoreland associated with the top 10% of these lakes in northeast and northcentral Minnesota.

About the Issue

Northern Minnesota's lakes comprise one of the most biologically important systems in the state for fish, game and wildlife. They are also one of its most threatened. The development and disturbance of the state's remaining highest quality lakes - Lakes of Outstanding Biological Significance (LOBS) - continues to be a threat identified in many of the State's resource protection plans, including the most recent One-Watershed-One-Plan documents and County Water Plans. These lakes represent the "best of the best" aquatic and shoreland habitat and are characterized by exceptional fisheries (both game and non-game), high aquatic plant richness and floristic quality, and populations of endangered or threatened plant and imperiled lake bird species. These lakes are priorities for protection.

To preserve this important component of Minnesota's aquatic natural heritage, Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) and Northern Waters Land Trust (NWLT) propose to target these LOBS for protection via conservation easements and fee title acquisition. Fee title acquisitions under this program will be conveyed to the MN DNR for long-term management and permanent protection.

This Program fills an otherwise unmet need related to the protection of this resource; no other program is focused principally on the protection of LOBS. This work builds on the success demonstrated in Phases 1-5 of MLTs Critical Shorelands Program and is a continuation of the Protecting Minnesota's Outstanding Biodiversity Lakes Program Phase 1 Program - all funded by the Outdoor Heritage Fund with LSOHC recommendation. NWLT has been added as a program partner due to their capacity to facilitate fee title acquisition of priority properties.

Together, program partners MLT and NWLT will protect 492 acres within watersheds of prioritized LOBS through permanent conservation easements and fee title acquisition. Thirty-four of such lakes have been prioritized for action based on an evaluation of DNR's benefit-cost score and investment priorities as identified in the County Water Plans and One-Watershed-One-Plan documents. NWLT submitted a proposal to the Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership (that is highly ranked and is likely to receive funding) to develop a GIS parcel analysis to further refine and score parcels, and target properties that complete gaps in existing protected land, contain the highest-quality habitat, and provide the greatest leverage to the state.

MLT will seek donations of easement value and will purchase easements that help complete key complexes. Conservation easements secured under this program will be drafted to prevent the fragmentation and destruction of habitat and ensure they remain ecologically viable and productive for fish, game and wildlife by prohibiting land uses that negatively impact the important habitat values.

Outcomes from this project include: 1) healthier populations of fish, waterfowl, and other species in greatest conservation need; 2) maintaining water quality of priority aquatic resources; 3) increased participation of private landowners in habitat protection projects; and 4) enhancement of prior state and local investments made in shoreland and forest conservation in the region. Program partners will strategically target complexes of protected lands in which these outcomes are maximized.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
ML 2023, Ch. 40, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(f)
Appropriation Language

$3,648,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance lakes of outstanding biological significance in northeast and north-central Minnesota. Of this amount, $1,507,000 is to Northern Waters Land Trust and $2,141,000 is to Minnesota Land Trust. $192,000 of the amount 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 acquisitions must be included as part of the required accomplishment plan.

2024 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$3,648,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$408,600
Direct expenses
$3,523,000
Administration costs
$125,000
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.9
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Shorelands are protected from development and fragmentation. This program will permanently protect 492 acres associated with some of the most biologically outstanding shoreland in northern Minnesota and approximately 0.65 miles of undeveloped shoreline. Measure: Acres protected

Source of Additional Funds

Landowners, Landowners, Lake Associations and USFWS - Midwest Glacial Lake Partnership

Project Manager
First Name
Wayne
Last Name
Ostlie
Organization Name
Minnesota Land Trust
Street Address
2356 University Avenue W Suite 240
City
St. Paul
State
MN
Zip Code
55114
Phone
651-917-6292
Email
wostlie@mnland.org
Administered By
Administered by
Location

500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone
651-296-6157
Email the Agency