We will evaluate how hemp crops may reduce nitrogen contamination of surface and groundwater in conventional crop rotations while demonstrating the environmental and economic benefits of hemp grain production.
Winter sport fishing for trout is a vibrant industry, but can be impacted by changing climate. We seek to understand how to conserve trout habitat, especially focusing on winter management.
Improve parking, buildings and other features at the Lake Elmo Swim Pond to better meet ADA standards and improve other park visitor needs. The swim pond area was originally developed in 1986. The park had 464,200 visits in 2013.
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive insect that has been decimating ash trees throughout the Great Lakes states. It was first discovered in Minnesota in 2009 and is now found in four counties (Hennepin, Houston, Ramsey, and Winona). EAB poses a particularly serious threat to Minnesota because it is home to nearly 1 billion ash trees that occur throughout the state - the second most of any state.
Minnesota has 15.9 million acres of forest land managed by a variety of county, state and federal agencies, and private landowners for timber production, wildlife habitat, and ecological considerations. Forest managers rely on inventory data to make effective planning and management decisions. Because forests are continually changing through natural and human processes, forest inventory data is periodically updated. However, doing so is an expensive and time-consuming endeavor and, as a result, much of Minnesota’s forest inventory data is currently out of date.
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive insect that has been decimating ash trees throughout the Great Lakes states. It was first discovered in Minnesota in 2009 and is now found in four counties (Hennepin, Houston, Ramsey, and Winona). EAB poses a particularly serious threat to Minnesota because it is home to nearly 1 billion ash trees that occur throughout the state - the second most of any state.
Over the last decade, a parasitic disease, Heterosporosis, has spread to infect fish in at least 20 water bodies in Minnesota. The parasite infects a number of economically important fish, making them inedible. As the disease can currently only be detected in its late stages, little is known about how it is transmitted and how best to control it.
To enhance access to arts and cultural activities by showcasing a variety of performers, artisans and educators, never before hosted by the fair. Programming will include children's puppetry, German musical performances and dancing, Spanish, French and German singing, folk singing and fiddle music, presentations on the MN River preservation and history.
In partnership with the Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District, subwatershed assessments for the communities of Center City, Lindstrom and Chisago City, all within the Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes watershed have been completed. The tourism economy of these communities depends on the Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes.
In partnership with the Washington Conservation District and City of Woodbury, this project will improve water quality in Colby Lake through implementing 30 priority small-scale water quality conservation practices. Projects may include bioretention, vegetated swales and pond modifications. Priority projects were identified as part of the Colby Lake Watershed Retrofit Assessment and represent the most cost-effective means to reduce excess phosphorus loads that have impacted Colby Lake.
Green Lake is a popular and regionally significant lake. Monitoring data collected on Green Lake indicates that the lake's water quality is declining. Over recent decades, development in the City of Spicer and around Green Lake has increased dramatically, resulting in much higher percentages of impervious surfaces such as parking lots, driveways and roads. The resulting increase in runoff velocities and volumes require the incorporation of stormwater infrastructure to accommodate water that previously infiltrated soils.
This water quality improvement project involves the retrofit of county ditch #31 also known as Connelly Ditch. The capacity of the ditch is inadequate and there is a need to reduce sediment and peak flows to it.
The Crow River is known to be one of the highest nutrient loading watersheds in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. Years of water quality monitoring confirm a variety of water quality issues in drainage ditches. These include high nutrient loading and delivery of high levels of suspended solids to downstream receiving waters such as Diamond Lake which is negatively impacted for elevated phosphorus levels.
Agricultural drain tiles with surface intakes are considered a significant delivery mechanism of nutrients to Minnesota River. Protecting those surface water inlets can reduce the direct path those nutrients have to the river. In addition, in agricultural fields with subsurface drainage, leached nitrate creates elevated nitrate levels in tile drainage water. These high nitrate concentrations can cause algae blooms that remove oxygen. To help remove nitrates leached into tile drains, wood chip bioreactors can be installed to remove nitrate from the tile water before it enters surface water.
As the City of Wadena is being re-built after an EF4 tornado, it has become evident that more needs to be done to reduce runoff by retaining or diverting stormwater. The purpose of this project is to provide subgrants to citizens to install various conservation practices on their properties including grassed waterways, rain gardens and tree plantings. Through this subgrant program the citizens of Wadena will have a greater understanding of the importance of stormwater management.
To hire a qualified consultant who will direct The Bakken Museum in collecting more accurate demographic information from visitors to better understand who is and who is not visiting the museum.
The proposed project will be in conjunction with an improvement project to the 103E County Ditch 63 Lateral N (CD 63) system. The project will accomplish the construction of five water and sediment control basins (WASCOB) and five alternate intakes to replace open intakes within the CD63 system, which is the headwaters of Beaver Creek East Fork. The construction and installation of the conservation practices will achieve a reduction of sediment, provide temporary water storage, and reduce peak flows that allow sediment and phosphorus to directly enter impaired Beaver Creek East Fork.
Enhance knowledge of Minnesota's native aquatic plant biodiversity, the backbone of healthy aquatic systems, by delivering data products that support conservation, protection and management for decision-makers and scientists.
The project will accelerate the implementation of three water efficiency programs that are estimated to save 79 million gallons of water annually and serve as an example for other communities.
Autonomous robots, powered by green hydrogen and solar power, designed to remove weeds in row crop fields can improve agricultural ecosystems with reduced herbicide application and fossil fuel use.
Restoring the Public Land Survey (PLS) will improve foundational GIS data that resource managers and citizens utilize on ENRTF projects and conservation easements.
This research will help the State of Minnesota understand how to improve the nitrogen removal of wastewater treatment ponds when needed, protecting outstate surface water quality and groundwater safety.
This research will reduce exposure of Minnesotans to toxic, cancer-causing chemicals by identifying and curbing key pollutant sources in the Upper Mississippi River watershed and improving drinking water treatment.
Agricultural drainage is very prevalent practice in Dodge County and there is a need to implement practices to that will better manage flow and pollutant loads that are being contributed to nearby surface waters. This project involves the installation of a woodchip bioreactor on a tile-drained agricultural field, which will feature improvements in design, and monitoring scope, as compared to a previous bioreactor constructed in Dodge County in 2007.
Pasture and hayland account for 62% of the agricultural land use in Clearwater County. In 2012, it was the 12th largest producer of beef cattle in Minnesota. In a county where 22% of pasture/hayland acres are within 300 feet of riparian areas, management practices need to be introduced that enhance rather than restrict the farm operations that use these zones for their livelihood. Clearwater County's Silver Creek and Ruffy Brook are currently listed as impaired by fecal coliform.
Wild pollinators must survive outdoors during our harsh Minnesota winters. We aim to help them persist by discovering habitats they require for shelter through statewide citizen scientists and novel analyses.
We will improve the conservation of Minnesota's imperiled turtles by leveraging our strengths in animal husbandry, field conservation, and educational programming to bolster populations and raise public awareness.
Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park, contract trail, path, seating, concessions, and shoreline improvements and play area rehabilitation. Includes site furniture, landscaping, site utilities and lighting, design and engineering, project management.
Improve parking, buildings and other features at the Lake Elmo Swim Pond to better meet ADA standards and improve other park visitor needs. The swim pond area was originally developed in 1986. The park had 464,200 visits in 2013.
Renovation and partial relocation of the roads and parking areas at the park; including improvements to buildings and other related facilities. The current park building was constructed in 1985. The park had 75,300 visits in 2013.
