The Shell Rock River Watershed District (SRRWD) is seeking funding for the Habitat Restoration Program to restore and protect 104 acres of essential prairie upland, wetland and streambank habitat across the watershed. As a result, key biological functioning parcels will be permanently protected, streambank habitat will be enhanced, vegetation and feeding sources will be restored for migratory fowl habitat, and wetlands will be restored from row crop agriculture.
The Shell Rock River Watershed District (SRRWD) is seeking funding for their Habitat Restoration Program to restore, enhance, and protect 302 acres of essential prairie upland, wetland, lake and streambank habitat across the watershed. As a result of the projects, key biological functioning parcels will be permanently protected, streambank habitat will be enhanced, vegetation and feeding sources will be restored for migratory fowl habitat and wetlands will be restored from row crop agriculture.
The City of Rochester is proposing to modify the Silver Lake Dam with a fish passage rock arch rapids in 2025. This project is the first step in a comprehensive, long-term approach to modify all low head dams in the City to improve habitat connectivity in the South Fork Zumbro River network. The existing dam will be moved 700-ft upstream from the Broadway Avenue bridge, and fish passage ramp and wave pools constructed downstream of the dam crest. The dam conversion will add 16 miles of connected habitat and benefit state-threatened and native mussel species, as well as smallmouth bass.
The Six Mile Creek Halsted Bay (SMCHB) Habitat Restoration program restored 2,488 acres of deep and shallow lake habitat by implementing the state's most ambitious program to manage common carp below the threshold where they damage lake ecosystems with three primary tactics:
This project will permanently protect critical habitat using conservation easements and fee land acquisition on approximately 590 acres and restore and enhance approximately 116 acres of declining habitat for species of greatest conservation need in strategically targeted public land assets of biodiversity significance in the Blufflands resulting in increased public access and improved habitat.
This program will protect approximately 1,900 acres using conservation easements and fee land acquisition and restore and enhance approximately 165 acres of declining habitat for important wildlife species in strategically targeted areas of biodiversity significance in the Blufflands of Southeast Minnesota resulting in increased public access and improved wildlife habitat.
This project will protect approximately 1,098 acres using conservation easement and fee land acquisition, and restore and enhance approximately 753 acres of declining habitat for important wildlife species. Actions will occur in strategically targeted areas of biodiversity significance within the Blufflands of Southeast Minnesota, resulting in increased public access and improved wildlife habitat.
This project will protect approximately 660 acres using conservation easement and fee land acquisition and restore and enhance approximately 75 acres of declining habitat for important wildlife species. Actions will occur in strategically targeted areas of biodiversity significance within the Blufflands of Southeast Minnesota, resulting in increased public access and improved wildlife habitat.
The City of Mankato is looking to restore a varied ecosystem that includes wetland restoration, upland prairie establishment, and stream improvements. A minimum of a 100 acre area would provide habitat that supports a diverse mix of plants and animals and will allow for different types of outdoor sporting opportunities. The project is a unique opportunity for habitat establishment and protection in an urbanizing area that will provide lasting benefits for region.
Through this appropriation, The Nature Conservancy and Minnesota Land Trust protected 2,135 acres through fee acquisition and conservation easements. This includes over 7 miles of stream frontage. Three new Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) were created around the fee acquisitions, opening up 1,505 acres of habitat to public recreation. Restoration or enhancement work was completed on 225 acres of bluff prairies and forests, much of it on lands protected through this program.
This project will protect and restore declining habitats and watersheds for important wildlife species in strategically targeted areas of biodiversity significance in Southeast Minnesota. The project will result in increased public access and expanded habitat complexes critical to the state.
With these funds the DNR enhanced almost 3,100 acres on 140 different tracts within State Forests and Wildlife Management Area lands in southeastern Minnesota. While a lot of forest management can be conducted with well-planned and carefully conducted timber harvests, these activities enhanced these forested habitats beyond standard harvest practices such as increasing hard mast production (acorns, hickory nuts, etc). This will provide long-term benefits for a range of wildlife species and increased recreational opportunities for Minnesotans.
This project will protect approximately 1,375 acres and restore and enhance approximately 280 acres of declining habitat for important wildlife species in strategically targeted areas of biodiversity significance in the Blufflands resulting in increased public access and habitat.
This project will protect approximately 852 acres using conservation easement and fee land acquisition, and restore and enhance approximately 240 acres of declining habitat for important wildlife species. Actions will occur in strategically targeted, resilient corridors of biodiversity significance within the Blufflands of Southeast Minnesota, resulting in increased public access and improved wildlife habitat.
This project will protect approximately 434 acres using conservation easement and fee land acquisition, and restore and enhance approximately 455 acres of declining habitat for important wildlife species. Work will occur in strategically targeted, resilient corridors of biodiversity significance within the Blufflands of Southeast Minnesota, resulting in increased public access and improved wildlife habitat.
The program protected 416 acres through fee-title acquisition and 441 acres in conservation easements for a total of 857 acres of protection. Program partners also completed 161 acres of habitat enhancement, including 31 acres that occurred on property protected through this award.
This project will protect approximately 1,535 acres using conservation easement and fee title acquisition, and restore and enhance approximately 195 acres of declining habitat for important wildlife species. Actions will occur in strategically targeted areas of biodiversity significance within the Blufflands of Southeast Minnesota, resulting in increased public access and improved wildlife habitat.
We enhanced 4,650 of forested habitat in SE MN and restored 22 acres of fallow fields into forest habitat exceeding our initial project proposal acres by 1,622 acres. Projects included 710 acres of tree planting, 2,142 acres of prescribed burns, 75 acres of tree seedling release, and 1723 acres of invasive species removal. All projects were completed in cooperation with local staff from the Divisions of Forestry and Wildlife.
Phase 5 of the Sate Forest Acquisition project protected 43 acres of critical forest habitat in the southeastern ecological section of the state. These lands have been incorporated into the State Forest program of the Outdoor Recreation System, and will be sustainably managed for quality wildlife habitat, timber production, and public recreation in perpetuity. Additionally, over 300 acres of sensitive floodplain forest habitat were enhanced using a variety of methods.
This project will protect and enhance high priority habitat in fee for the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Forest in southeast Minnesota. This will include enhancing mixed deciduous forest lands through silvicultural practices and control of invasive species. The project will also provide additional opportunities for hunting in an area of the state where public hunting opportunities are limited. All projects will be done in accordance with the state forest land asset plans, RJ Dorer State Forest Plan and the SE MN Driftless Project Map.
Priority lands will be acquired and developed as State Forests to protect forests, habitat and provide public hunting, trapping and compatible outdoor uses.
Priority lands were acquired within the Richard J. Dorer State Forest; protecting forests, habitat and providing public hunting, trapping and compatible outdoor uses as well as watershed protection. This project protected 203 acres of forest land, reduced boundaries by 3720 feet, provided access to 1116 acres of state forest land, and protected 2000 feet of shoreline.
Protected through fee title acquisition 340 acres of priority forestland habitat in the northern and southeast ecological sections of the state. All parcels have been included in the DNR State Forest system; providing for long-term, ongoing protection and management of lands for the benefit of all Minnesotans.
Hubbard, Crow Wing, and Cass County Land Departments and Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) will partner to acquire 300 acres (public access) and place easements on 240 acres of private high-quality forest, wetlands, and shoreline in the Northern Forest Ecological Section. This project is integrating county land management goals and parcel selection into the 75 percent protection watershed goal (Phase 1 Watershed Grant).
The Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District partnered with Cass SWCD, Hubbard SWCD, and the Board of Water and Soil Resources to permanently protect 239.6 acres of upland forest land, wetlands, and shorelines to develop larger habitat blocks. We worked with seven landowners in total to complete seven RIM easements - acres by county Cass: 117 acres, Crow Wing 34 acres, and Hubbard 87 acres. Partners met regularly; the regional committee completed the final application recommendations to move forward into the RIM easement process.
The purpose of this program is to annually evaluate a sample of Outdoor Heritage Fund habitat restoration projects and provide a report on the evaluations in accordance with state law.
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) are jointly responsible for convening a restoration evaluation Panel to annually evaluate a sample of up to 10 habitat restoration projects completed with outdoor heritage funding, as provided in M.L. 2010, Ch. 361, Art. 1. In 2012 the agencies assigned a coordinator for the Panel who is responsible for identifying the sample of projects to be evaluated by the Panel.
Fourteen permanent RIM Easements on 766 acres of high quality, riparian and forested habitat have been recorded and will provide lasting wildlife habitat. Attempts were made to acquire three tracts in fee title that would have relied on this funding. The owner of one tract rejected an offer of the certified appraised value. Acquisition attempts on the other two tracts were discontinued when it became apparent that the planned use of the land as DNR Wildlife Management Area would be incompatible with local government plans for future municipal growth.
This program will protect and restore/enhance high quality fish, game, and wildlife habitats by developing complexes or corridors of new and/or expansions of MN DNR Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) and/or Aquatic Management Areas (AMA) in the Program area. The proposed The Green Corridor Legacy Program ? Phase II FY2011 appropriation will be a continuation of the Phase I FY2010 appropriations by LSOHC. The Green Corridor Legacy Program fiscal agent is the Redwood Area Communities Foundation (RACF) dba Green Corridor Inc with oversight/management responsibilities by the Green Corridor Inc.
Eight RIM Wetlands applications were selected for funding on 1146.2 acres from this appropriation. In addition 19 RIM-WRP easements, totaling 2,239 acres were funded. Thus a total of 3,385 acres were protected and restored to wetland and grassland habitat. All easements have been recorded. Leverage from other sources of funds was a little over $4.5M.
The City of Hallock, with funding from LSOHC, restored and enhanced habitat to facilitate fish passage by retrofitting the existing Hallock Dam on the South Branch of the Two Rivers and re-established a stable riffle-pool habitat downstream. In addition to the fish habitat improvement , the project has provided enhanced recreational opportunities for paddlers along the river.
The 2,165 acres of the Upper Sioux Indian Community are impacted by invasive species and are heavily infested with invasive buckthorn. The Tribe is requesting funds to restore and enhance 144 acres of oak savanna, floodplain forest, forested bluff lands, and granite outcroppings on tribal lands. Activities include buckthorn removal and installation and enhancement of native and culturally significant plants.
This program seeks to permanently protect, restore and enhance priority lands within the watershed of Valley Creek, a coldwater fishery that flows directly into the St. Croix River. We propose to accomplish this protection by acquiring land and conservation easements and restoring the riparian woodlands, prairies, oak savannas, and in-stream areas that provide significant habitat for fish and other wildlife.
Wetlands in large lakes in the Voyageurs National Park area have been degraded by invasive cattails, which reduces biodiversity, degrades fish/wildlife habitat, and outcompetes wild rice/manoomin. Phases 1&2 of the project entailed refinement of restoration methods. We will continue mechanical treatment methods in Phase 3 to remove invasive cattails and other vegetation, including use of contracted harvesting machines, NPS owned-cutting machines, and hand crews in more inaccessible areas.
Washington County seeks to preserve the ecological integrity of the St. Croix River by completing a 85-acre permanent conservation easement to protect critical riparian habitat and over one mile of shoreland. The property is located in Denmark Township within the state-managed portion of the St. Croix Scenic Riverway and is one of the remaining large lots along the lower St. Croix River. It provides a critical connection needed to create a continuous corridor of forested bluff lands and ravines.
Washington County possesses some of the best remaining wildlife habitat in the Metro Urbanizing Area. For a decade, Washington County and the Minnesota Land Trust have collaborated in protecting these resources, blending funding from the County's Land and Water Legacy Program (LWLP) and State's Outdoor Heritage Fund.
Phase 4 of the Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration Program will result in the protection of 800 acres of high priority wetland habitat complexes in Minnesota’s Prairie and Forest-Prairie Transition areas by securing permanent conservation easements within scientifically prioritized habitat complexes. The Minnesota Land Trust will use its innovative landowner bid model to maximize conservation benefit and financial leverage in protection project selection.
Phase 6 of the Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration Program will result in the protection of 1,213 acres of high priority wetland habitat complexes in Minnesota's Prairie and Forest-Prairie Transition areas by securing permanent conservation easements within scientifically prioritized habitat complexes. The Minnesota Land Trust will use its innovative market-based landowner bid model to maximize conservation benefit and financial leverage in protection project selection.
Phase 5 of the Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration Program will result in the protection of 1,040 acres of high priority wetland habitat complexes in Minnesota's Prairie and Forest-Prairie Transition areas by securing permanent conservation easements within scientifically prioritized habitat complexes. The Minnesota Land Trust will use its innovative market-based landowner bid model to maximize conservation benefit and financial leverage in protection project selection.
