Sites contaminated with chlorinated industrial pollutants are a significant problem in Minnesota. We will determine the best way to stimulate bacteria for faster and more complete pollutant dechlorination.
Each year Minnesota municipal wastewater treatment plants generate large amounts of oily scum, concentrated liquid called centrate, and sludge. These waste streams are disposed of either in landfills or by burning or subjected to additional treatment. However, new technologies have shown potential to capture resource values from these waste products while lowering the treatment costs for these waste streams.
Create user-friendly, research-based energy storage guide and decision tools (print and web-based) for community-scale sites with renewable energy and do three geographically dispersed battery storage demonstration projects, through broad stakeholder-expert engagement.
DNR data show that fisher in Minnesota have declined 50% since 2000. Den sites may be limiting reproduction. We will test if den boxes can help the fisher population increase.
The potential of neonicotinoid insecticides to initiate algal blooms will be tested by measuring the
occurrence of neonicotinoids and their breakdown products in Minnesota’s surface and ground waters.
This project will establish a surveillance system to monitor wildlife health in Minnesota through development of information management and analytical systems utilizing wildlife rehabilitation data.
This project is to develop a small cheap purification system for community drinking water facilities to remove toxic contaminants. The technology is highly efficient to improve current drinking water quality.
Solar windows are a disruptive photovoltaic technology that virtually invisibly integrates with buildings. This renewable energy technology will increase photovoltaics adoption, reduce air pollution, and ameliorate climate change.
This project is to develop cheap clean solar energy by simple roll-to-roll manufacturing. Perovskite is a new photovoltaic material, very economical while maintaining high power conversion efficiency.
A biodegradable product will be developed to replace non-degradable petroleum based plastic used in vegetable and fruit production. This project, if funded, will revolutionize horticulture in Minnesota, and potentially worldwide.
Develop strategies and practical tools to identify conditions that minimize impacts to soil across a wide range of conditions to promote regeneration of diverse forests, wildlife habitat, and timber availability.
Energy storage systems for farms will be developed using wind-generated ammonia. Novel ammonia fuel systems will be tested in a farm grain dryer and engine generator displacing fossil fuels.
MAISRC will launch 16-20 high-priority projects aimed at solving Minnesota's AIS problems using a rigorous, prioritized, and collaborative process. Results will be delivered to end-users through strategic communication and outreach.
Evaluate effective ways to protect soil from erosion in sugarbeet production, with the long-term goal of slowing soil degradation, nutrient loss, and water quality.
We will collect data on occupancy and range of rare pollen specialized bees and their habitat preference to determine status and conservation strategies
We will determine the distribution, relative density, and spatial occupancy patterns of 3 small weasel species in Minnesota to fill key knowledge gaps in weasel distribution and status in Minnesota.
We will determine the distribution, status, and habitat use of fishers in the southern half of Minnesota to provide the information needed to manage fishers in this region.
Can we maximize native wetland restoration while minimizing impact on human land use? Evaluating the water-resources impact of targeted agricultural ditch removal on ecosystem restoration.
We will research : 1) interest in and preferences for experiences with nature and wildlife among diverse communities, and 2) barriers to more robust engagement with wildlife resources and activities.
Minnesota’s natural resource professional workforce is much less diverse than its citizenry and many other professional fields. The benefits of a more diverse workforce are many, including the ability of organizations to increase innovation and creativity, attract higher qualified candidate pools, and ensure services that meet the diverse interests and needs of all citizens.
Mine stockpiles are unproductive due to soil deficiencies of organic matter, nutrients, and soil organisms, which are essential to supporting healthy plant growth, diversity, and succession. Waste products, including biosolids, composts, and dredged materials, have the potential to be used to address some of these deficiencies and make the lands productive again.
Utilize ongoing experiments to determine impending EAB impacts on water, vegetation, and wildlife; optimal replacement species and practices for forest diversification; develop indicators and criteria for prioritization of mitigation activities.
We will reduce environmental pollution from plastics by creating eco-friendly replacements using lignin from the pulp mill in Cloquet. The lignin plastics will be similar in strength to polystyrene.
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been decimating ash throughout the Great Lake States and is currently advancing into Minnesota, threatening the future of the ash forests that occur across much of the state. Of particular concern is the impact EAB will have on the ecology and functioning of black ash swamps, which cover over one million acres in Minnesota and represent the state’s most common ash forest type. Black ash trees grow and thrive in swamps and occupy a unique wet niche where few other tree species grow.
Low-levels of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminate water and soil in Minnesota. We propose to identify enzymes and microbes that break down PFAS, making them non-toxic.
Pollinators play a key role in ecosystem function and in agriculture, including thousands of native plants and more than one hundred U.S. crops that either need or benefit from pollinators. However, pollinators are in dramatic decline in Minnesota and throughout the country. The causes of the decline are not completely understood, but identified factors include loss of nesting sites, fewer flowers, increased disease, and increased pesticide use. Fortunately, there are known actions that can be taken to help counteract some of these factors.
