The DNR works with the Minnesota Geological Survey (MGS) to convey valuable geologic and groundwater information and interpretations to government units at all levels, but particularly to local governments, private organizations and citizens. The MGS focuses on geology (Part A reports) and DNR focuses on groundwater (Part B reports). These provide useful information for projects completed by community planners, industry, agriculture, citizens and state agencies related to groundwater.
The Minnesota Historical Society continues to raise awareness of its Legacy projects and programs through a comprehensive communications strategy. The strategy is aimed at ensuring that Minnesotans are informed of MNHS programs and therefore have the information necessary to visit our historic sites and museums, engage in our website, use our many services, and learn about the history of our state.
MNHS staff created communication strategies and promotional materials for Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund (ACHF) history projects, programs, and grants, including media kits for grant recipients. Increasing public awareness of ACHF investments will ensure that students, teachers, and the general public will use and benefit from them.
In FYs 14 and 15, MNHS staff reviewed thousands of Native American items and records resulting in the identification of nearly 500 objects as culturally sensitive. This material will require a higher standard of research, care and preservation. In addition, MNHS staff visited elders and professional staff at two tribal communities in the state explicitly to discuss culturally sensitive material. In FY 15, MNHS received a formal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act claim to repatriate approximately 36 items.
Crow Wing County, in cooperation with the municipalities within the County, plans to continue its successful well sealing program that pays 50% of the cost to seal / abandon wells up to a maximum of $1000 per well. Priority will be given to wells located in or near existing wellhead protection areas.
Design, engineer and reconstruct rest rooms building, maintenance garage, driveway, sidewalks, lighting, utilities, associated storm water improvements including demolition, grading, curb and gutter, paving, retaining wall construction and landscaping at the Hyland-Bush-Anderson Lakes Regional Park Reserve.
The Pomme de Terre River watershed is located in west central Minnesota and occupies a portion of six counties. For many years surface water quality within the watershed has been a concern to local government. In 1982 the Pomme de Terre River Association Joint Powers Board was formed to begin addressing this issue. In 2002 the Pomme de Terre River was placed on the Impaired Waters list for turbidity. This project is a continuation of a 2011 Clean Water Fund project.
Build ADA compliant, year round, multi-purpose, paved trail and boardwalk around Empire Lake; Construct 2 camper cabins; Improve/replace Empire Lake dike outlet; Install benches & site furnishings; landscaping and MP-approved improvements. Includes design, engineering, construction & construction administration.
1. To increase access to Ojibwe language for students at the Nawayee Center School. MIAC will provide funding for an Ojibwe Language teacher at the Nawayee Center School, since there is currently no Ojibwe language program or teacher. During the project, the teacher will work with seasoned Ojibwe language immersion and classroom teachers to develop and build the language program for the Nawayee Center School. Success will be determined by the successful creation and implementation of a new Ojibwe language program at Nawayee Center School. We will also create a model for others to utilize.
1. To achieve a sustainable, permanent Ojibwe Language Program for the Nawayee Center School that includes professional development and continuous support for a new Ojibwe language teacher at the school. 2. To introduce Nawayee Center School to a strong network of first language speakers, elders, artists, language facilitators and knowledge-keepers for the Nawayee Center School to support a sustainable community-based language program that includes staff, students, and their families.
The project goal is to conduct water chemistry monitoring at four subwatershed sites and one basin site in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Water chemistry monitoring will be conducted at a wide range of flow conditions with emphasis of collecting samples during periods of moderate and high flows after runoff events, as defined in the Watershed Pollutant Load Monitoring Network (WPLMN) Standard Operating Procedures and Guidance. The data collected will be submitted to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and used in the FLUX32 model for calculating pollutant loads.
The Nest and Diamond Lake Subwatershed Assessment and Internal Load Control project proposes to identify detailed approaches to address internal loading in both Nest and Diamond lakes and to identify field-level BMPs upstream of Nest Lake. These activities will be conducted as a part of efforts to get both lakes to meet water quality standards.
The purpose of this project is to assess the amount of land in the Root River watershed that is treated by structural best management practices (BMPs); more specifically, Water and Sediment Control Basins. The 2016 Root River Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) report recommended reducing sediment loss from upland areas and reducing nitrate loading to streams from runoff. Understanding the location and density of these BMPs will is important for targeting future watershed protection and restoration efforts.
Lake Minnewashta Regional Park, build grade separated trail crossing at TH 41 and build 2.6 miles of trail linking a city trail system to the regional park.
Overall Project Outcome and Results
DNR spent $140,689 to continue on-site field investigations to accelerate management of shallow lakes and adjacent wetland complexes and support the accomplishments of Ducks Unlimited through HCP 2c and 3c. Temporary field personnel (1 full time and up to 6 temporary) documented shallow lake habitat occurrence and quality. Habitat surveys were conducted on 171 lakes within seven HCP project areas. The lakes surveyed totaled over 82,831acres. The surveys were distributed more broadly than in the past with:
The Mississippi Headwaters Habitat Corridor Project Phase 1 (ML 16) achieved permanent protection of 1,478 acres of fish and wildlife habitat, including 11 miles of shoreland on the Mississippi River and on an adjacent lake. This accomplishment exceeded the appropriation goal by 178%. Utilizing fee-title acquisition and RIM conservation easements adjacent to public land, large habitat protection complexes were established, including one complex in Crow Wing County that protected over 9 contiguous miles along the Mississippi River.
This program will permanently protect approximately 1,246 acres (8.9-miles) of lake and warm water stream shoreline through fee title and permanent easement acquisition. Our program will also secure 54 Acres (3.1-miles) of permanent habitat management easements that include angler access on designated trout streams.
Minnesota Trout Unlimited enhanced in-stream and riparian fish and wildlife habitat in and along coldwater streams and lakes located on public lands and Aquatic Management Areas. We originally proposed 11 projects, yet completed 13 projects. Contracting efficiencies and leveraging of other funding allowed us to add three more habitat enhancement projects in northeast Minnesota and to lengthen others. One small budget project was dropped when a partner changed the scope from 144 acres to less than 15 and proposed costs outweighed the potential benefit.
This program will complete the initial WMA site development on 1,500 acres of land acquired in the Accelerated Prairie Grassland WMA and Accelerated Wetland WMA Acquisition programs to meet standards for inclusion in the Outdoor Recreation System. This program will also accelerate the restoration, enhancement and management of at least 5,180 acres of native prairie vegetation on existing public lands.
Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park, contract trail, path, seating, concessions, and shoreline improvements and play area rehabilitation. Includes site furniture, landscaping, site utilities and lighting, design and engineering, project management.
The purpose of this project is to develop implementation prioritization strategies to restore and protect the Vermilion River and Rainy River-Headwaters watersheds’ waterbodies and finalize Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) reports for both the Vermilion River and Rainy River-Headwaters watersheds.
Run a set of scenarios in Hydrological Simulation Program – Fortran Scenario Application Manager (HSPF-SAM) for the Shell Rock and Winnebago River Watersheds. The scenario results will identify the most cost-effective subwatersheds and higher resolution areas based on the terrain component for the scenario best management practices (BMPs) to be implemented. The terrain analyses redistributes subbasin-wide SAM loading rates at a higher resolution for localized targeting of more critical and cost-effective source areas.
