Reed canary grass is preventing natural regeneration of trees and threatening floodplain forests and wildlife along the Mississippi. This effort builds on previous LSOHC funding to control reed canary grass and plant trees as part of a long-term effort.
The Upper Mississippi River region provides critical forest habitat for hundreds of species of birds from waterfowl and other game birds to warblers and birds of prey. This proposal builds on four previous projects and will expand Audubon's forest conservation work on State and Federal Lands as well as projects on permanently protected private lands. Increased flooding and invasive species are limiting natural tree regeneration and threatening floodplain forests.
Audubon successfully completed enhancement projects within a diverse array of floodplain forest habitats. Work was completed on 1260 acres of floodplain forest land, which was very close to our goal of 1290 acres. Through phase three, over 70,000 trees were planted, invasive species were managed, and quality trees were given more space to grow.
Our program/project will protect and maintain intact forest ecosystems through the use of perpetual conservation easements and other tools. This program/project will directly protect approximately 187, 277 acres of forest and wetlands with permanent conservation easements and 1,344 acres with fee acquisition.
This program funded grants to local units of government and other entities to supplement, not supplant existing budgets. Two categories of grants made available: 1) focus on response to invasive forest pest incidents, 2) focus on planning and preparedness for the arrival of invasive forest pests. The program will also update the state's invasive and exotic tree pest plans.
This program will install fish barriers at (3) three locations on in the Watershed District to exclude carp and other rough fish that destroy fish habits and aquatic vegetation and stir-up phosphorous rich sediments that cause algal blooms and cause water quality impairments. The project will allow for effective carp control in an effort to improve fish habitat, fish spawning and habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. Improving the fish habitat has a clear and measurable residual value in improving water quality and aquatic vegetation.
The Goose Prairie Marsh Enhancement Project was completed to allow resource mangers the capacity to manage water levels in Goose Prairie Marsh through installation of a water control structure and a new outlet channel from the marsh to the control structure.
The primary purpose of the project was to improve habitat conditions within the shallow lake and the associated upland habitats within and adjacent to the existing WMA. Secondary benefits included additional protections of lands adjacent to the WMA, improved water quality, and spring flood risk reduction downstream.
Directly restore six miles of stream habitat, the hydrologic conditions needed to support 400 acres of habitat corridor, and effectively reconnect more than 20 miles of the Grand Marais Creek.
The Conservation Fund and Minnesota Land Trust will protect 380 acres of high-priority grassland, prairie, and wetland wildlife habitat with working lands conservation easements in western, central, and southeastern Minnesota. Grasslands represent one of Minnesota’s most threatened habitat types. Privately-held and well-managed grasslands in strategic habitat complexes have provided lasting benefits for Minnesota’s wildlife. This project will permanently prevent the conversion of grasslands to row crops.
This pilot project tested the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of acquiring grassland conservation easements and protected 459 acres of critical and threatened grassland habitat, through one MLT easement and two BWSR-RIM easements. Through partner coordination among BWSR, MLT, TCF and local SWCD's, this proposal contributed to implementation of the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan.
The Grassland Conservation Partnership Phase II grant resulted in the protection via conservation easement of 1,778 acres of grassland habitat and 3 miles of shoreline associated with 2 working grasslands projects in western Minnesota. Land protected through conservation easement exceeded the proposed outputs for this grant by 445% (1,778 versus 400 proposed acres). In addition, 140 acres of grasslands habitat was enhanced through the grant.
The Green Corridor Legacy Program (GCLP) will protect new and/or expansion fish, game, and wildlife habitats in the Prairie Eco Region. The DNR will provide the restoration and/or enhancement funds for converting croplands into high quality habitat cover. Local wildlife conservation clubs will be encouraged to submit L-SOHC Small Grants proposals for additional restoration and/or enhancement activities on these tracts. Fee title of all lands acquired will be held by the State and designated as WMA and/or AMA open to hunting, trapping, fishing, and compatible outdoor recreation uses.
This program helped to create a legacy of habitat connectivity, public access, and economic vitality based on increased outdoor recreational opportunities in the mid-Minnesota River Watershed.
This program helped to create a legacy of habitat connectivity, public access, and economic vitality based on increased outdoor recreational opportunities in the mid-Minnesota River Watershed.
During this grant funding timeline, this project only protected one 14-acre, permanent natural area conservation easement; but was able to restore and enhance way more than the anticipated 178 acres and 157 acres, respectively, of wildlife habitat, by restoring a total of 696 acres and enhancing 251 acres prior to the funding deadline.
The Hardwood Hills Habitat Conservation Program is focused on the protection of remaining high-quality forest systems and their associated biota within the Hardwood Hills ecological section of west-central Minnesota. Over 60 percent of forests in the Hardwood Hills have been lost to conversion over the past century, with lakeshore development and growth along the I-94 corridor near St. Cloud posing significant threats.
Hennepin County, in partnership with the Minnesota Land Trust, proposes to permanently protect through conservation easement 299 acres of the most important natural areas remaining in the county, and restore and enhance 84 acres of protected habitat including forest, savanna, prairie, wetlands, shallow lakes, shoreline, bluffs, and riparian areas.
In partnership, Hennepin County and Minnesota Land Trust, will permanently protect, through conservation easement, 246 acres of the most important natural areas remaining in the county. We will also initiate habitat improvement activities on 513 acres of protected habitat.
Hennepin County Habitat Conservation Program (HCP) partners successfully completed work with the Phase 1 / ML 2018 OHF appropriation. HCP permanently protected 179 acres of land through six conservation easement projects, exceeding protection goals by 19 acres. HCP accomplished nearly 10 acres of restoration and 162 acres of enhancement, exceeding original habitat improvement goals by 101 acres.
The Heron Lake Area Conservation Partnership (HLACP) will permanently protect 402 acres of prairie and wetlands within the Heron Lake watershed in southwest Minnesota. The landscape has less than one percent of its pre-settlement wetlands remaining. The HLACP will use conservation easements and fee-title land acquisition to protect and restore high-value wetland and prairie lands identified as critical habitat for many Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN).
The City of St. Cloud is proposing a project that will enhance a critical bat hibernaculum in central Minnesota. The DNR protected Highbanks Bat Hibernaculum is a brick-and-mortar structure constructed in the early 1900s. The hibernaculum has historically been home to hundreds of bats, but over the past several years, stormwater flow and flooding to the top of the structure have been detrimental for the bats to roost.
No project funds were spent. The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council did not request that any services be performed with project funds. Accordingly, the $50,000 appropriation will be returned to the Outdoor Heritage Fund.
Funding for the commissioner of natural resources to perform or contract for pre-transaction services relating to land acquisition proposals submitted to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council upon the Council’s request, including, but not limited to, appraisals, surveys or title research.
Funds for RIM conservation easements build on Clean Water Fund (CWF) investments for restoration and protection projects that "stack" habitat and clean water benefits. Projects will be identified in watershed plans developed through BWSR's One Watershed, One Plan program, in which local governments strategically set priorities for clean water and habitat, target implementation, and set measurable goals. BWSR currently distributes CWF dollars to partnerships with approved plans for water quality projects.
Funds for RIM conservation easements build on Clean Water Fund (CWF) investments for restoration and protection projects that "stack" habitat and clean water benefits. Projects will be identified in watershed plans developed through BWSR's One Watershed, One Plan program, in which local governments strategically set priorities for clean water and habitat, target implementation, and set measurable goals. BWSR currently distributes CWF dollars to partnerships with approved plans for water quality projects.
This project protected in fee approximately 1,960 acres in Cass County and 320 acres in Hubbard County of forest habitat that are at significant risk of conversion to row crop agriculture. The project also restored 92 acres jack pine, an increasingly rare tree species, in the project area.
The Two Rivers Watershed District (TRWD) proposes to construct a multi-purpose impoundment located upstream of Lake Bronson State Park in Kittson and Roseau counties. The project footprint is over 12 square miles in size, and it will alter Lateral 1 of State Ditch #95 to provide fish and wildlife habitat, keep water on the landscape, stabilize river flows, reduce erosion and sediment, protect, maintain, and improve a prairie rich fen, benefit water quality and provide flood damage reduction.
The Two Rivers Watershed District (TRWD) proposes to construct "part 2" of Phase 1 of the Klondike Clean Water Retention impoundment. Part 1 was recommended for funding by LSOHC last year. The multi-purpose project will provide fish habitat, protect-maintain-improve prairie rich fen habitat, stabilize river flows, keep water on the landscape, reduce erosion and sediment, benefit water quality and provide flood damage reduction. Because only partial funding was awarded, construction was scaled into part 1 and part 2.
Historic Knife River flooding has led to stream channel degradation. This degradation resulted in slumping streambanks, sediment discharge exceeding the total maximum daily load (TMDL) and the loss of instream trout habitat. This is LSSA's 6th LSOHC Grant proposal in the Knife River. Since the LSSA began grant work on the Knife River (2013), the DNR has observed a 215% increase in the adult steelhead population. Our LSOHC projects have also stabilized ~2 miles of stream channel, restored ~15,000 feet of streambanks and reduced annual sediment discharge by 700 tons.
Eroding streambanks in the Knife River Watershed have degraded trout habitat and resulted in a total maximum daily load (TMDL) exceedance for turbidity. The LSSA proposes to rehabilitate instream habitat to increase trout spawning and rearing. Natural Channel Design construction techniques will be utilized to create a self-sustaining project that enhances instream habitat, improves channel stability, facilitates sediment transportation, stabilizes eroding streambanks, creates riparian wetlands and replant riparian trees/pollinator shrubs.
Phase I work was conducted on the main Knife River and its Main West Branch tributary. Primary goals were met and these goals include: stream connectivity, riparian zone tree planting, stream assessment and black ash stand identification. • Stream Connectivity - repaired Second Falls on the main Knife River. • Tree Planting - two volunteer and one CCM projects where several thousand trees were planted.
The goal of PH II-Knife River Habitat Rehabilitation project was to improve instream habitat, stabilize slumping streambanks and restore the immediate riparian zone.
Instream habitat and streambank stabilization was achieved by rehabilitating a 2200-foot stretch of stream utilizing Natural Channel Design methodology. This project reduced turbidity by stabilizing four slumping streambanks and creating instream habitat in two areas for adult trout spawning and two areas for 1+ juvenile rearing. Riparian plantings also occurred in this area.
Historic flooding led to severe habitat degradation throughout the Knife River watershed. Including miles of slumping streambanks, thousands of tons of sediment discharge, turbidity measurements exceeding the MPCA's TMDL and loss of instream trout habitat. DNR has documented a 200% increase in adult steelhead population, two miles of restored stream channel, 10,000 feet of stabilized streambanks and annual reduction of sediment discharge by 1,000 tons due to our projects.
We assessed, designed rehabilitation features and permitted 7200 linear feet of river reach in prime spawning areas. We completed construction on over 2200 linear feet of the reach.
SPECIFIC ITEMS:
*Installed approx. 400 feet of toewood bench.
*Graded approx. 500 feet of shoreline to allow river access to floodplain.
Kandiyohi County with Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council’s grant was used to address the ecosystem and critical lake habitat on Lake Wakanda. This shallow lake is part of a prairie chain of lakes located south of Willmar at the headwaters of the South Fork of the Crow River, which flows into the Mississippi River.
This project will improve the water quality of Lake Rebecca in Lake Rebecca Park Reserve, and improve the fish habitat in the premier muskellunge brood stock lake in Minnesota. Water quality improvements will be achieved through a combination of management activities in the watershed to reduce phosphorus inflow to Lake Rebecca, control of the invasive species curly-leaf pondweed, stabilization of eroding shorelines, and application of alum (aluminum sulfate) to reduce internal phosphorus loading.
After a century of industrial use, the project brought Lake Bemidji's South Shore to its original state. The city removed 1,144 tons of contaminated soil and sediment, 9,400 cubic yards of woody debris from the lake-bottom and planted native vegetation on the shoreline to restore and enhance aquatic habitat.
MPRB requests $444,000 to improve aquatic habitat in Lake Nokomis through integrated lake management. This project will enhance 4580 linear feet of shoreline.
