Metro Big Rivers' restoration and enhancement partners (FMR and GRG) achieved their goals, converting through restoration a former rail yard in the urban core to 32 acres of prairie and enhancing 98 acres of prairie and forest at four other public conservation sites in the metropolitan area. The easement partner (MLT) exceeded goals and permanently protected 131 acres under two conservation easements in Washington County.
This project will establish a groundwater monitoring network in the 11 county metropolitan area. The network will provide information about aquifer characteristics and natural water trends by monitoring healthy aquifers (non-stressed systems). The project will also develop an automated system that captures groundwater level and water use data. This system will enhance evaluation of changes in aquifers that are stressed by pumping from existing wells.
The Metro Big Rivers (MBR) Partnership successfully completed its work under the Phase 6 / ML2015 OHF appropriation, protecting 485 acres across 5 projects (198% of proposed) and restoring and enhancing a total of 1,055 acres (185% of proposed). The Partnership expended 99% of the OHF funds granted awarded to it and leveraged the grant by 57% with nearly $1,141,000 in other funds.
The Metro Big Rivers (MBR) partners successfully completed their work with the Phase 7 / ML2016 OHF appropriation. MBR exceeded original acreage goals by 14% and completed work on a total of 1,199 acres. Partners protected 145 acres through fee title acquisition and 194 acres through permanent conservation easement, restored 241 acres and enhanced 619 acres.
MBR 7 expended 99% of the OHF funds granted and leveraged the grant by 49% with almost $2 million in other funds.
Minnesota Trout Unlimited enhanced in-stream and riparian habitat for trout and other wildlife along more than 11 miles of coldwater streams across the state. We far exceeded our original targets, enhancing habitat on 135 acres rather than 78. We completed 16 separate stream habitat projects. Leveraging other funding and efficiently contracting projects allowed us to add habitat projects and adjust to changing conditions.
This project will create a high accuracy elevation dataset - critical for effectively planning and implementing water quality projects - for the state of Minnesota using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and geospatial mapping technologies. Although some areas of the state have been mapped previously, many counties remain unmapped or have insufficient or inadequate data. This multi-year project, to be completed in 2012, is a collaborative effort of Minnesota's Digital Elevation Committee and partners with county surveyors to ensure accuracy with ground-truthing.
Arts and Cultural Heritage funding will allow us to pursue three major initiatives between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016: 1) Offer special exhibits and programs promoting creative and critical thinking in our main museum in St. Paul; 2) A Pop-up satellite Museum at the Mall of America featuring four changing exhibits to attract thousands of new visitors; and 3) Changing exhibits and access at Minnesota Children’s Museum-Rochester to ensure inclusive family experiences for the Rochester community. Recipient:
Arts and Cultural Heritage funding will allow us to pursue three major initiatives between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017: (1) Offer special exhibits and programs promoting creative & critical thinking in our main museum in St. Paul. (2) A Pop-up satellite Museum at the Mall of America featuring four changing exhibits to attract thousands of new visitors. (3) Changing exhibits and access at Minnesota Children’s Museum-Rochester to ensure inclusive family experiences for the Rochester community.
Minnesota Trout Unlimited volunteers, chapters and partners will enhance habitat for fish, game and wildlife in and along numerous coldwater streams on existing Aquatic Management Areas and other public lands around the state, while leveraging approximately $3 million for this.
The DNR has been charged by the legislature to develop rules that protect and manage the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA) for natural resource, economic development, transportation, historic preservation, and other values. This project engages stakeholder groups in a public process to balance regulatory protections with local flexibility and control.
County-wide, complete natural resource planning, restoration and management and other land cover improvements, throughout the park and greenway system.
Continue contracts with Conservation Corps of Minnesota (CCM) to engage youth of the community in natural resource management projects throughout Ramsey County Regional Parks and Trails. *(In 2013 the Conservation Corp of Minnesota (CCM) worked on over 20 different natural resource projects within the Regional Park and Trails System, totaling over 5,900 hours. Of those total hours, approximately, 1,300 hours were assisting high school youth on natural resource projects and environmental education).
Continue contracts with Conservation Corps of Minnesota (CCM) to engage youth of the community in natural resource management projects throughout Ramsey County Regional Parks and Trails. *(In 2013 the Conservation Corp of Minnesota (CCM) worked on over 20 different natural resource projects within the Regional Park and Trails System, totaling over 5,900 hours. Of those total hours, approximately, 1,300 hours were assisting high school youth on natural resource projects and environmental education).
Develop and implement out-reach for nature and outdoor recreation based programming for people of low income and color throughout Ramsey County Regional Parks and Trails. (year 1 of 2)
Develop and implement out-reach for nature and outdoor recreation based programming for people of low income and color throughout Ramsey County Regional Parks and Trails. (year 2 of 2)
Prepare System-wide Off Leash Dog Area (O.L.D.A.) Master Plan that will identify and prioritize future capital projects at the Battle Creek O.L.D.A, Battle Creek Regional Park; Otter Lake O.L.D.A., Bald Eagle Otter Lake Regional Park; Rice Creek O.L.D.A., Rice Creek North Corridor. ( 2013 Park Visits; Bald Eagle Otter Lake, 333,600 visits; Battle Creek Regional Park, 761,900 visits; and Grass Vadnais Snail Lakes Regional Park, 746,300 visits).
Hardwood Creek Regional Trail. Complete paving and other improvements to Hardwood Creek Regional Trail, which may include new trail sections toward Bald Eagle Regional Park.
Continue Implementation of adopted park master plan: Complete Road & Utility Construction from the end of Phase II to the Harriet Island area (2,800 lineal feet). Lilydale hosts approximately 786,000 visits annually, of which approximately 10% are of Asian descent.
White Earth has acquired all 2,034 acres and transferred them into fee title status. Initial assessment/inventory of habitat conditions and needs were conducted in summer of 2017. Most illegal dump sites were removed in summer of 2017. The parcel located east of Lower Rice lake adjacent to HWY 92, which contained remnants of ~ 5 acres of food plots, were planted into a pollinator prairie mix. This prairie planting makes the property compliant with the MN Buffer Law. This east parcel is in the planning stages of an early succession forest manage plan.
Partial funding to reconstruct parking lots, driveways, parking lot lighting, boat ramp improvements and associated storm water improvements at the Hyland-Bush-Anderson Lakes Regional Park Reserve.
Partial funding to reconstruct parking lots, driveways, parking lot lighting, boat ramp improvements and associated storm water improvements at the Hyland-Bush-Anderson Lakes Regional Park Reserve.
Reconstruct the 3,800 SF Cherokee Regional Park Play Area to provide active play opportunities for children between the ages of 2-12. Cherokee Regional Park receives approximately 340,000 visits per year, approximately 10% of which are of Hispanic background
Design, engineer, and construct new recreational amenities at Sheridan Park, including play areas, picnic areas, trails, shoreline improvements, natural habitat enhancements, and visitor services.
