Wild Rivers Conservancy, Minnesota Land Trust, and The Trust for Public Land will work in partnership to permanently protect approximately 668 acres of critical wildlife habitat on the Minnesota side of the St. Croix River watershed through fee-title acquisition and conservation easements. The goals of the program are to protect high quality wildlife habitat, improve conservation connectivity, and provide public access for outdoor recreation opportunities.
Minnesota's iconic northern forests, wetlands, and brushland habitats require management beyond basic forestry practices or at smaller scales than commercial operations work. Other enhancements, such as brushland shearing or mowing have low commercial value but high wildlife value. These additional habitat enhancements improve the quality of the forests for both wildlife and outdoor recreation.
Acquire approximately 325 acres of high priority habitat for designation as Wildlife Management Area or Scientific and Natural Area in the LSOHC Prairie, Forest/Prairie Transition, and Northern Forest Planning Sections emphasizing Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan and Conservation That Works, 3.0 WMA and AMA Acquisition & Management Strategic Plan guidance, and coordination with partners. All lands will be open for public hunting and fishing (a limited number of SNA's are proposed for limited hunting for instance archery only or hunting but no trapping).
Minnesota's iconic northern forest habitats, along with their interlaced wetlands and brushlands, are in need of management for the future due to stressors such as invasive species and climate change. This request will enhance and restore up to 3,250 acres of habitat in the Northern Forest Region on WMAs, AMAs, State Forests, and SNAs to increase forest health and resilience, and ultimately wildlife populations, through activities of a roving crew over three years.
Acquire approximately 230 acres of high priority habitat for designation as Wildlife Management Area or Scientific and Natural Area in the LSOHC Prairie, Forest/Prairie Transition, and Northern Forest Planning Sections emphasizing Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan, Conservation That Works, 3.0 WMA and AMA Acquisition & Management Strategic Plan and, SNA Strategic Land Protection Plan with priority given to sites of high and outstanding biodiversity significance by the Minnesota Biological Survey.
Acquire approximately 275 acres of high priority habitat for designation as Wildlife Management Area or Scientific and Natural Area in the LSOHC Prairie, Forest/Prairie Transition, and Northern Forest Planning Sections emphasizing Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan, Conservation That Works 3.0, WMA and AMA Acquisition & Management Strategic Plan and SNA Strategic Land Protection Plan with priority given to sites of high and outstanding biodiversity significance by the Minnesota Biological Survey.
Grasslands continue to be the most threatened habitat in the state. This programmatic request will build on the DNR's history of enhancing and restoring grasslands. The Prairie Plan and Wildlife Action Plan will guide our efforts to ensure we are operating in a strategic and targeted manner. This proposal will enhance and restore grasslands on 2,856 acres that are permanently protected using prescribed fire, tree removal, high-diversity seedings, and similar practices. Most lands enhanced with these funds are public and open to hunting.
Metro Big Rivers Phase 11 will protect 185 acres in fee title and 222 acres in permanent conservation easement, restore 49 acres and enhance 187 acres of priority habitat in the big rivers corridors in the Metropolitan Urbanizing Area (643 acres total). The partnership will leverage the OHF grants at least 19% with partner funds, private funds, local government contributions, and landowner donations of easement value. Significant volunteer engagement will be invested in habitat enhancement activities.
Metro Big Rivers Phase 10 will protect 535 acres in fee title and 157 acres in permanent conservation easement, restore 123 acres and enhance 295 acres of priority habitat in the big rivers corridors in the Metropolitan Urbanizing Area (MUA). Metro Big Rivers partners will leverage the OHF funds at least 10% with partner funds, private funds, local government contributions, and landowner donations of easement value. In addition, significant volunteer engagement will be invested in habitat enhancement activities, although not technically counted as leverage.
Metro Big Rivers Phase 13 will protect 875 acres in fee title and 180 acres in permanent conservation easement, restore 24 acres and enhance 170 acres of priority habitat in the big rivers corridors in the Metropolitan Urbanizing Area (1,249 acres total). Partners will leverage OHF grants 32% with partner funds, private donations, local government contributions, and landowner donations of easement value. Significant volunteer engagement will be invested in habitat enhancement activities.
Metro Big Rivers Phase 14 will protect 350 acres in fee title and 191 acres in permanent conservation easement, restore 807 acres and enhance 493 acres of priority habitat in the big rivers corridors in the Metropolitan Urbanizing Area (1,841 acres total). Partners will leverage OHF grants at least 10% with partner funds, private donations, local government contributions, and landowner donations of easement value. Significant volunteer engagement will be invested in habitat enhancement activities.
Metro Big Rivers Phase 12 will protect 622 acres in fee title and 319 acres in permanent conservation easement, restore 53 acres and enhance 587 acres of priority habitat in the big rivers corridors in the Metropolitan Urbanizing Area (1,558 acres total). Partners will leverage OHF grants at least 14% with partner funds, private donations, local government contributions, and landowner donations of easement value. Significant volunteer engagement will be invested in habitat enhancement activities.
Audubon Minnesota is requesting $910,000 funds to enhance 440 acres and restore 34 acres of significant wildlife habitat on public and permanently protected private lands along the Saint Croix River valley. Our project and parcel prioritization criteria place an emphasis on areas that fall within Important Bird Areas (IBA) and priority areas identified by the Minnesota Wildlife Action Plan within Pine and Washington counties that border the Saint Croix River.
The Anoka Sand Plain (ASP) Partnership will protect 164 acres through conservation easement, restore/enhance 468 acres of Prairie/Oak Savanna, Wetland, Habitat, and Woodland/Forest, including rescue and relocation of 11,000 rare plants, at sites centered around the DNR's ASP ecoregion. Our actions will increase biodiversity, habitat connectivity, recreational opportunities, and landscape resilience, which align with the ASP Partnership's 10-year Strategic Plan, DNR Wildlife Action Plan and LSOHC Section priorities.
As of 11/1/2022, the CPL program has provided over 900 grants totaling $109 million to over 200 different grantee organizations, improving or protecting over 339,000 acres of habitat. Demand for CPL grants has continued to grow each year as new applicants hear about the program and successful grantees return. In ML 2018 there were 107 grants awarded- 18 metro grants, 20 traditional grants, and 69 Expedited Conservation Partners grants. Through these 107 grants, over 18,000 acres were restored, enhanced, or protected. Over $11M was awarded to organizations for projects.
The Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program will be managed by the Department of Natural Resources to provide competitive matching grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, state, and national non-profit organizations and government entities. In it's first 7 years of funding, the CPL program has provided 410 grants totaling $37 million to 133 different grantee organizations, positively affecting over 220,000 acres of habitat. Demand for CPL grants has continued to grow each year as new grantees hear about the program and successful grantees return.
As of 11/1/2023, the CPL program has provided over 970 grants totaling $115 million to over 250 different grantee organizations, improving or protecting over 577,000 acres of habitat. Demand for CPL grants has continued to grow each year as new applicants hear about the program and successful grantees return. In ML 2019 there were 99 grants awarded- 15 metro grants, 29 traditional grants, and 55 Expedited Conservation Partners grants. Through these 99 grants, over 34,000 acres were restored, enhanced, or protected. Over $10.6M was awarded to organizations for projects.
