MNHS and regional public libraries across Minnesota are combining resources to educate, entertain, and build community among library patrons in the state. Libraries and MNHS are bringing a range of programs and events to local libraries that document and preserve community stories for future generations, educate people of all ages about the history of Minnesota and its people, and make high quality history programming accessible to
all Minnesotans.
More than 60 programs were presented in dozens
of communities around the state, including:
Minnesota supports over 14 million acres of cropland in grain production. Almost 600,000 tons of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers are needed annually to maintain productivity on this land, which requires the equivalent of 3,000,000 barrels of oil and costs farmers over $400 million dollars per year. This amount of fossil fuel use results in a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions, while the absence of fossil energy resources in the state means that these synthetic nitrogen fertilizers must be imported into Minnesota from other states and overseas.
MNHS is engaged in cultivating meaningful relationships with adult audiences as lifelong learners, members, donors, volunteers and supporters. The Writing Your Family Legacy Conference, held in partnership with the Loft Literary Center, returned for a second year. Participants learned how to research, write and preserve their family legacy at this all-day event. In FY17, the new MNHS Prime experiences launched for the lifelong learning audience, and included a history and dinner program series.
In spring 2017, a new program, History Today, will launch. The program uses the History Live!
The Minnesota Historical Society is deeply engaged in cultivating meaningful relationships with adult audiences as lifelong learners, members, donors, volunteers and supporters.
The Minnesota Historical Society is deeply engaged in cultivating meaningful relationships with adult audiences as lifelong learners, members, donors, volunteers, and supporters. In FY16, MNHS continued to build the organization's capacity for using skilled volunteers through staff trainings, creating new programs, and a thorough evaluation of programs targeted at adult audiences. New initiatives: Fifty-eight new skilled volunteer positions were added, contributing 4,700 volunteer hours.
This project will complete updates to existing information and incorporate new information into the Minnesota Stormwater Manual including the Blue Star Assessment tool. Stormwater practitioners use the information and assessment tool to implement the most effective and cost-efficient practices for managing stormwater runoff volume, stormwater pollutants, and to meet regulatory requirements associated with stormwater permits.
Phase 2 of Ducks Unlimited's ongoing engineering program restored and enhanced shallow lakes and wetlands by installing water level control structures to improve aquatic plant abundance and water clarity in partnership with the Minnesota DNR and U.S.
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.
Appropriations from the Clean Water Fund allow the Minnesota Department of Health to expand and improve the way groundwater and drinking water protection is implemented at the local level. In 2015, $300,000 was allocated to update wellhead protection areas within groundwater management areas. From 2016 onward, funding will be dedicated to the Groundwater Restoration and Protection Strategies (GRAPS) initiative which will provide groundwater and drinking water information and management strategies on a HUC 8 watershed scale.
The goal of this project is to develop a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for all impaired stream reaches and lakes within the Long Prairie and Red Eye Watersheds.
This project will provide surface water quality data to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to inform the Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS) update process. All locations are in the Douglas County portion of the Long Prairie Watershed. Sites have been targeted based on local knowledge and citizen concerns. A culvert inventory will also be completed through this project. This will provide flow path data that will be utilized in future water quality analysis and project designs.
This project will gather watershed data to support the development of a Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy with parameter-specific targets that will maintain or improve water quality for the Long Prairie River Watershed. This project will also provide an important framework for civic and citizen engagement and communication, contributing to long-term public participation in surface water protection and restoration activities throughout the watershed.
This project is to finalize the Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and Watershed Restoration & Protection Strategies (WRAPS) for the Red Eye and Long Prairie Watersheds.
This funding will be used to help fulfill the goals established in the Long Prairie CWMP. Approximate goals addressed are listed with the activities addressing them. Anticipated projects to be implemented include agricultural waste management facilities, agricultural land management, exclusion fencing, rain gardens, subsurface sewage treatment upgrades, shoreline restorations, and forestry. Other projects will be considered as opportunities arise.
USGS will make streamflow discharge measurements at lowflow measuring stations throughout the state. Measurements will be made during lowflow conditions. On average 100 measurements will be made during FY2012. Stream flow measurements will be entered into the USGS database and made available on the USGS Low Flow Data for Minnesota Streams website.
MNHS continues its collaboration with Macalester College and the Somali community. Working closely with the Somali Museum of Minnesota, interviewer Ibrahim Hirsi began conducting eight final interviews for a Somali oral history project. Plans for FY17 include the completion of the project, which now consists of 57 interviews with Somali immigrants in Minnesota.
Maintaining Existing Holdings - A Parks and Trails Strategic Objective is a program area representing DNR's commitment to one of the four pillars identified in the 25 year Legacy plan. The Legacy plan calls this Take Care of What We Have, and identifies its purpose to provide safe, high-quality park and trail experiences by regular re-investment in park and trail infrastructure, and natural resource management.
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.
Establish network of automated radiotelemetry stations to monitor bird migration and local movements of a threatened species, and develop strategic plans for long-term use of infrastructure to monitor animal movement.
We will quantify and map antibiotic and antibiotic resistance gene contamination in Minnesota waters and soils and identify locations in need of mitigation to protect environmental, human, and animal health.
We will map habitat and diseases of urban foxes and coyotes to understand what they need to live and risks posed to people and pets, thereby demystifying them for residents.
Data is needed about which aquatic habitats moose prefer and how moose can potentially enhance nearshore lake foodwebs. This project will map critical aquatic habitats and measure lake foodweb effects.
We propose conducting the first statewide analysis mapping the extent of Minnesota’s unprofitable cropland and estimating both the water-quality and habitat benefits of converting these lands to perennial crops/vegetation.
Wiyounkihipi (We Are Capable) Productions will be a platform for Dakota voices to publish and pass on their teachings to future generations. We will be a resource hub that publishes children's books of the Dakota culture and language. Writers and artists will be professionally supported through profile pages, encouraging educators from around the state to invite them into their schools through in-person or virtual meetings, so that there is authentic Native representation in our classrooms.
