The projects planned for the grant funds focus on essential updates and enhancements to our historic building, ensuring that we can continue to provide a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for all who visit. The proposed improvements include upgrading our HVAC system, kitchen, and security infrastructure; rebuilding the handicap ramp for improved accessibility; sourcing new patio furniture; and resealing the venue's dance floor. Each of these initiatives is designed to maintain the integrity of our facility while enhancing the experience of our diverse audience.
With the support of Minnesota Humanities Center, Afro American Development Association (AADA) has partnered with renowned Somali musician Nimcaan Hilaac to bring Somali musical education to Somali American youth in Minnesota. The Cultural Music Program for Somali American Youth will allow 50 students to participate in a musical composition workshop with Nimcaan Hilaac, culminating in a performance at a summertime Somali music festival open to all members of the community.
The Buffalo River Watershed Pilot Project is one of two pilots in Minnesota designed to develop a watershed approach for managing Minnesota’s surface waters. The goal of this project is to develop a plan that will guide surface water quality management throughout the watershed.
This project will directly inform the Lake of the Woods (LoW )TMDL process by identifying nutrient reduction targets, a timeline of phosphorus loadings to the lake, and measures of historical in-lake variability (e.g., nutrients, biological communities). Results will complement and build on ongoing research efforts on internal loading and sediment core analysis.
This project will support the collection and analysis of sediment core samples, from each of the five bays ( Little Traverse, Big Traverse, Muskeg, Sabaskong and 4-Mile Bays), to ensure adequate characterization of the P fluxes from deposited sediment and equilibrium P fluxes from re-suspended sediment.
This project will construct, calibrate, a set of HSPF watershed models covering the entire area of the Lake of the Woods drainage, including the Rainy River watershed. The consultant will produce HSPF models that can readily be used to provide information to support conventional parameter TMDLs. The consultant will clearly demonstrate that these models generate predicted output timeseries for hydrology which are consistent with available sets of observed data.
This project will construct, calibrate, and validate an HSPF watershed model for the Lake of the Woods River watershed. The consultants will produce HSPF watershed models that can readily be used to provide information to support conventional parameter TMDLs. The consultants will clearly demonstrate that the models generate predicted output time series for hydrology, sediment, nutrients, and dissolved oxygen that are consistent with available sets of observed data.
This project determines ambient background per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) levels in urban and non-urban soils. This information will help Minnesota develop management strategies for PFAS contaminated soils.
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.
