Southeast Minnesota Protection and Restoration Phase 8
This project will protect approximately 660 acres using conservation easement and fee land acquisition and restore and enhance approximately 75 acres of declining habitat for important wildlife species. Actions will occur in strategically targeted areas of biodiversity significance within the Blufflands of Southeast Minnesota, resulting in increased public access and improved wildlife habitat.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) and The Trust for Public Land (TPL), in partnership, will use Outdoor Heritage Funds to invest in habitat protection and restoration within the Blufflands of Southeast Minnesota. We will expand and connect larger contiguous blocks of protected lands, allowing land managers to restore, enhance and maintain high-quality habitats at a scale difficult to accomplish with fragmented ownership. Benefits of this program include the increased effectiveness of frequent prescribed fire necessary to reclaim "goat prairies" and oak savanna, and regenerate oak hardwood forests at a larger scale. Protecting and managing these lands is not only important for ecological reasons, but also benefits public use and enjoyment of these lands and the resources they provide. This proposal will enhance prior conservation investments and ensure that the legacy of the Blufflands is preserved in a high quality condition for future generations.
There are 86 different native plant community types mapped by the Minnesota Biological Survey (MBS), covering nearly 149,670 acres within the project area. There are 183 species of state listed rare plants and animals, many of which are concentrated on 749 sites of biodiversity significance. This program has a proven track record of protecting, restoring and enhancing lands that meet both state and local priorities for biodiversity, land access and watershed health.
In addition, despite the area's high demand for outdoor recreation and having more Species in Greatest Conservation Need than anywhere else in the state, only 5% of the region is open to the public.
Conservation Easements:
MLT will acquire approximately 324 acres of conservation easements and develop restoration and habitat management plans for eased lands. MLT will identify potential projects within targeted priority areas through a RFP process coupled with local outreach via SWCD offices. This competitive landowner bid process will rank projects based on ecological value and cost, prioritizing the best projects and securing them at the lowest cost to the state.
Fee Acquisition:
TNC and TPL will coordinate with MN DNR on all potential fee-title acquisitions. TNC and TPL will assist the participating DNR Divisions by conducting all or some of the following activities: initial site reviews, negotiations with the willing seller, appraisals, environmental reviews and acquisition of fee title. TNC and TPL will transfer lands to the DNR except when TNC ownership is appropriate. Fee acquisition of approximately 186 acres of forest and 150 acres of prairie and other grassland along .5 miles of coldwater trout stream is planned.
Restoration and Enhancement:
TNC will restore/enhance approximately 35 acres of bluff prairie, floodplain, riparian habitat and forest. MLT will restore 40 acres of habitat on existing and new easements. Ecological restoration enhancement management plans will be developed in coordination with the appropriate DNR staff, landowners and/or hired subcontractors.
Results to date:
Conservation Easements: 2,435 acres
Fee Land Acquisition: 4,275 acres
27 miles of stream protected
Restoration and Enhancement: 983 acres
$2,704,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements as follows: (1) $1,144,000 to The Nature Conservancy to acquire lands in fee for wildlife management under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8; for scientific and natural areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 5; for state forests under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 7; and for aquatic management areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 14, and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat; (2) $797,000 to The Trust for Public Land to acquire lands in fee for wildlife management under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8; for scientific and natural areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 5; for state forests under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 7; and for aquatic management areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 14; and (3) $763,000 to Minnesota Land Trust to acquire permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat, of which $96,000 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 land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.
Large corridors and complexes of biologically diverse wildlife habitat typical of the unglaciated region are restored and protected - We will track the acres of priority parcels protected within the Conservation Opportunity Areas (COA) identified as priorities in regional planning. Success within each COA will be determined based on the percentage of area protected, restored and/or enhanced
Private and Private Landowners