The Minnesota County Biological Survey (MCBS) is an ongoing effort begun in 1987 by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that is systematically surveying, county-by-county, the state's natural habitats. The effort identifies significant natural areas and collects and interprets data on the status, distribution, and ecology of plants, animals, and native plant communities throughout the state. Through 2009 surveys have been completed in 74 of Minnesota's 87 counties and have added nearly 17,000 new records of rare features to the DNR's information systems.
Overall Project Outcome and Results
These were the first 2-years of an anticipated six-year effort which will result in a comprehensive, statewide survey documenting the breeding distribution of all species of birds in Minnesota. After six years the final atlas products will include the publication of a book and an interactive on-line atlas, both with detailed distribution maps, data on species breeding status, and a summary of data from other surveys. Full access to the information will be provided to the public as well as conservation agencies and organizations.
This project proposes to expand recreational opportunities on Minnesota State Trails through the rehabilitation and enhancement of existing state trails and replacement or repair of existing state trail bridges.
This proposal seeks to enhance grassland habitats to benefit pollinators and other species on permanently protected lands. Research on enhanced sites will be conducted by the UofM.
A grower network will raise tree seedlings so that we have enough to conduct widespread reforestation in Minnesota to improve carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, watershed resilience, and create economic opportunity.
Minnesota Community Schoolyards will create at least 10 nature-focused habitat improvement projects at schoolyards across the state; engage students and the community in environmental stewardship; and encourage outdoor learning.
Construction of an engineered and designed three-quarter mile segment of the Mississippi Blufflands State Trail along Red Wing's Mississippi River riverfront, from Barn Bluff Regional Park to Colvill Park.
This is a forest restoration project within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area to address the loss of ash trees to EAB and plant 15,000 native trees and plants.
This project will restore lost Mississippi River habitat and reintroduce mussels above St. Anthony Falls on four river islands and along approximately 6,000 linear feet of shoreline.
Jumping worms are an invasive, exotic that poses a threat to forests by removing soil organic matter and seedlings. It is necessary to develop IPM tactics for mitigating jumping worms.
We plan to develop a clay-algae flocculation method to mitigate cyanobacterial blooms, which produce toxins that contaminate drinking water and cause mass mortalities in fishes and other animals in Minnesota.
This project examines strategies to reduce water and land contamination from microplastics, PFASs, and other contaminants due to plastics use in agriculture (agroplastics) and their limited recycling options
Update the state's 20-year-old native plant community classification guides to incorporate new data; streamline user application and access to products; and increase connections to evolving climate and vegetation trends.
Updating the Species in Greatest Conservation Need list through surveys, standardized assessments, and including rare plants for the first time to create v.3.0 of Minnesota?s Wildlife Action Plan
Enhance lake conservation planning of state and local partners with a comprehensive update of Minnesota?s lake and pond GIS data as well as streamlining future maintenance.
The protection of insect-feeding animals is reliant on sustained insect abundance. We will investigate the ecological roles and energy transfer by Minnesota insects and train future insect researchers
