This Phase 9 request for Ducks Unlimited's Living Lakes program will enhance or restore 1,440 acres of wetlands and adjacent prairie grasslands for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Minnesota DNR on public lands and private lands under permanent easement. DU biologists and engineers will design wetland restorations and water control structures for active management of shallow lake water levels to enhance their ecology for ducks, other wildlife, and people, primarily in SW Minnesota's Prairie Pothole Region.
This Phase 10 request for Ducks Unlimited's Living Lakes program will enhance or restore 1,325 acres of wetlands and adjacent prairie grasslands for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Minnesota DNR on public lands and private lands under permanent easement. DU biologists and engineers will design wetland restorations and water control structures for active management of shallow lake water levels to enhance their ecology for ducks, other wildlife, and people, primarily in SW Minnesota's Prairie Pothole Region.
This Phase 8 request for Ducks Unlimited's Living Lakes program will enhance or restore 1,070 acres of wetlands and adjacent prairie grasslands for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Minnesota DNR on public lands and private lands under permanent USFWS easement. Where required, DU engineers will design water control structures to restore wetland hydrology and allow active management of shallow lake water levels to enhance their ecology for ducks, other wildlife, and people, primarily in Minnesota's Prairie Pothole Region.
Up to $205,000 to match $1,729,000 of a Federal Transportation Enhancement grant, Transportation Enhancement ARRA funds and Carver County Regional Rail Authority funds for land acquisition, trail design, trail and trailhead construction of 6.9 mile segment of the Dakota Rail Regional Trail. Any remaining funds used to partially finance the match to a $1 million Federal Transportation Enhancement grant to design and construct a trail in Lake Minnewashta Regional Park and a trail underpass of Trunk Highway 41 that links to a City of Chanhassen trail.
Provide approximately 15 matching grants for local parks, trail, acquisition of natural areas and trails to connect people safety to desirable community locations and regional or state facilities.
Brown's Creek Watershed District (BCWD) has identified two neighborhoods that drain untreated stormwater directly to Long Lake, a recreational lake in Stillwater that has been listed as impaired for excess nutrients. By working with targeted residential landowners in the high priority neighborhoods, BCWD will install 10-15 best management practices to achieve measurable outcomes of 5 acre-feet of nutrient-rich stormwater infiltration,1 ton of total sediment and 6 pounds of total phosphorus removed from Long Lake per year.
This project will revise a recently completed draft Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report for the Lower Minnesota River Watershed Project. The revision is to correct wasteload allocations for regulated stormwater entities.
The goal of this project is to develop draft Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) computations for six impaired lakes and two impaired streams, and to provide TMDL development documentation for selected draft TMDL report sections.
The schooner-barge, Madeira, sank off the coast of Minnesota in Lake Superior on November 28, 1905. The GLSPS created an interpretive display to tell the story of this significant wreck that prompted the construction of the Split Rock Lighthouse in 1910. The bollards and attached deck section were salvaged from the wreck and were cleaned and repaired by volunteers to be used in the display. A durable concrete base was constructed, the artifacts moved into place and secured, and interpretive signage (appropriate to the park) was fabricated and installed.
Katha Dance Theatre (KDT) will produce a mainstage program of three world premiere dance concerts to share the art, culture, and history of India through the art of Kathak dance - the 2,000-year-old classical dance style of North India. These productions will include the world premiere of GANGA. The Myth and Reality, the world premiere of PANCHATANTRA, and the world premiere of PRAKRITIR PRATISODH Nature's Revenge. The first will premiere in St. Paul, the second in Minneapolis, and the third will play in another Twin Cities venue (TBD).
Leveraging new statewide climate data, we will assess future change in the duration, frequency and magnitude of heavy precipitation and drought events and engage communities to prepare for these extremes.
Many Faces of the White Bear Lake Area will provide opportunities to listen, learn, reflect, and engage in conversations and actions that promote equity, diversity, and inclusion. The theme, Many Faces: Many Expressions, will bring awareness to the heritage and traditions of our American Indian neighbors through a Wacipi; continues by highlighting stories of recent immigrants to our area through innovative artwork; and culminates by celebrating and building community through a multi-cultural festival.
A qualified historical architect was contracted to prepare a Historic Structures Report for the Marine Village Hall in downtown Marine on the St. Croix. The Hall, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, has served as housing for government offices since it's 1888 construction. The completed Report provides the building history as well as a comprehensive analysis of its structural integrity. It also provides professional guidance for assessment and prioritization of future preservation efforts.
The Marine on St. Croix Innovative Stormwater Management Implementation is a partnership, formalized through an MOU, between Marine on St. Croix (MOSC) and the Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District (CMSCWD) to improve stormwater management in the most densely developed areas of the City on a neighborhood zone approach rather than site-by-site (parcel) approach for greater and more impactful results in accomplishing District and City stormwater management goals.
To complete stabilization and rehabilitation of the masonry foundation of the Marine Engine House and Village Hall, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
MuKusick Lake's water quality is declining because of excess nutrients and restoring it is a priority for the Stillwater community.
This project will work to implement priority stormwater treatment projects that were identified in the 2010 McKusick Lake Stormwater Retrofit Assessment. This project will be the first phase of stormwater treatment implementation projects within the McKusick Lake watershed and will provide approximately 10% of the needed phosphorus reduction.
Brown's Creek Watershed District and Washington County will work together to retrofit McKusick Road during a 2017 road improvement project. The project will install seven catch basin retrofits with separation devices, and three 40 foot x 5 foot diameter underground water quality tanks to trap sediment and floatables from the roadway.
Project Outcome and Results
The Metro Conservation Corridors (MeCC) Partnership completed its fifth phase of work to accelerate protection and restoration of remaining high-quality natural lands in the greater Twin Cities metropolitan area. Work was accomplished by strategically coordinating and focusing conservation efforts within a connected network of critical lands that stretches from the area's urban core to its rural perimeter, including portions of 16 counties.
Project Outcome and Results
In its Critical Lands Protection Program, The Trust for Public Land (TPL) used $380,000 ENRTF funds to secure fee title on 21.63 ENRTF acres of 402 total acquired acres. TPL conveyed these lands to public agencies for permanent protection. Individual project successes include the following:
Friends of the Mississippi is using this appropriation to permanently protect six acres through fee title acquisition for addition to Fish Creek Natural Area near Maplewood, MN, and to restore and enhance approximately 134 acres of permanently protected prairie, savanna, wetland, and forest habitat in Dakota, Washington, Ramsey, and Hennepin counties. Specific restoration and enhancement activities will include updating management plans, soil preparation, prescribed burning, native vegetation installation, woody encroachment removal, and invasive species control.
These funds will enable Great River Greening to restore approximately 90 acres of permanently protected forests, savanna, prairie, and wetland habitat and 0.18 miles of shoreland habitat while engaging hundreds of volunteers in the stewardship of the Metropolitan area's remaining natural areas. Specific activities include invasive species control, seeding/planting, prescribed burning, and other associated activities.
The Trust for Public Land is using this appropriation to purchase approximately 24 acres of land and 0.2 miles of shoreline with high ecological value and then convey the land to state or local governments for long-term stewardship and protection. Lands being considered for permanent protection in this round of funding include an areas around the Rum River in Anoka County, Lindstrom Natural Area in Chisago County, and Carnelian Creek and Keystone Woods area in Washington County.
With this appropriation, the Minnesota Land Trust plans to protect 100 acres of high quality forest, prairie, wetland, or shoreline habitat by securing permanent conservation easements and dedicating funds for their perpetual monitoring, management, and enforcement. Lands being considered for permanent protection in this round of funding are located in Chisago, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, and Washington counties.
The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust is using this appropriation to purchase a total of approximately 100 acres of land and donated to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to expand the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Many benefits are anticipated from this project, including improved habitat connectivity, protection of native species, improved water quality in the Minnesota River, and increased public access to natural lands for activities such as hiking, hunting, and fishing. Restoration and management plans will be completed for all acquired lands.
