Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration Program - Phase 8
Phase 8 of the Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration Program will result in the protection of 745 acres of high priority wetland habitat complexes in Minnesota's Prairie, Forest-Prairie Transition and Northern Forest areas by securing permanent conservation easements within scientifically prioritized habitat complexes. The Minnesota Land Trust will use its innovative market-based landowner bid model to maximize conservation benefit and financial leverage in protection project selection. In addition, a partnership between the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Land Trust will restore/enhance 910 acres of wetlands and associated prairies to benefit important waterfowl and SGCN populations.
Wetlands and shallow lakes provide the essential backbone for the survival of waterfowl and other important wildlife species. In fact, more than 50% of Minnesota's Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) use wetlands during their life cycle. Most of the plans developed to protect Minnesota's wildlife - including Minnesota's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, the Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan, and the Long Range Duck Recovery Plan - cite the protection and restoration of the state's remaining wetlands as one of the top priorities to achieve the State's conservation goals. Moreover, these plans cite the use of conservation easements on private lands as one of the primary strategies to protect important wetland and shallow lake habitat.
Minnesota Land Trust's Wetlands Habitat Protection Program area extends from Meeker County northwest to Becker County, located along a vast glacial moraine system in western Minnesota. This prairie pothole country is the core of Minnesota's "duck factory" and is central to one of North America's most important flyways for migratory waterfowl. Through Phase 6 of this program to date, the Land Trust has procured 31 conservation easements protecting 4,119 acres of habitat and 50.5 miles of shoreline. The Program has 2,131 acres of restoration/enhancement complete or underway.
Phase 8 will continue these accomplishments by restoring or enhancing 910 acres of important prairie and wetland habitats on permanently protected private lands within the Program area in partnership with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program. The Land Trust will also work with FWS and landowners to develop additional shovel ready R/E projects. In addition, the Land Trust will protect 770 acres of new priority wetland and associated upland habitat through conservation easements. The Program will be closely coordinated with other public agencies, non-profit organizations and other stakeholders to ensure this Program meets multi-agency conservation goals.
The Land Trust will continue to implement a criteria-based ranking system and market-based approach for purchasing conservation easements. The Program will continue to target projects that help complete gaps in existing public ownership, are of the highest ecological value, and provide the greatest leverage to the state. The Land Trust will seek donated easements in these areas whenever possible but also may purchase the full or partial value of an easement to complete key complexes as necessary.
To focus our easement protection work, the Prairie Plan and other data sets/plans were used to shape our Wetlands Program plan and identify important wetland complexes in this landscape based on the nexus of high-quality habitat, existing protected areas and restorable agricultural lands. These complexes include a mosaic of wetland, prairie/grassland, and forest habitats, and agricultural land. Outcomes from this project include: 1) healthy wetland habitat complexes and associated populations of waterfowl, upland birds, and SGCN; 2) improved water quality; 3) increased participation of private landowners in habitat conservation projects; and 4) enhancement of prior public investments in wetland and upland habitat
$3,012,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to acquire permanent conservation easements and restore and enhance prairie, wetland, and other habitat on permanently protected conservation easements in high-priority wetland habitat complexes in the prairie, forest/prairie transition, and forest regions. Of this amount, up to $168,000 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 and restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.
Forestlands are protected from development and fragmentation - This program will permanently protect 50 acres of wetland and upland habitat complexes in the northern forest region. Measure: Acres protected; acres restored; acres enhanced.
Protected, restored, and enhanced nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, upland birds, and species of greatest conservation need - This program will permanently protect 348 acres of wetland and upland habitat complexes and restore/enhance 315 acres of wetlands and prairies in the forest-prairie transition region. Measure: Acres protected; acres restored; acres enhanced.
Remnant native prairies and wetlands are perpetually protected and adequately buffered - This program will permanently protect 372 acres of wetland and upland habitat complexes and restore/enhance 630 acres of wetlands and prairies in the prairie region. Measure: Acres protected; acres restored; acres enhanced
Landowners and USFWS