This restoration project will restore native prairie, support pollinator plantings, and stabilize a large section of streambank along the Mississippi River.
We will restore and enhance 116 acres of pollinator habitat on 11 sites around the metro to benefit pollinators and people, and build knowledge of the impact through community-based monitoring.
Pollinator Education in the Science Classroom will provide professional development for 58 science teachers to use pollinator education curriculum and outreach materials, ultimately reaching >6000 students annually.
This research will test whether plantings for pollinators can remediate soils impacted by metals (like lead) and emerging contaminants (like microplastics) through the redistribution of toxins to safer areas.
Create the maximum acres of pollinator habitat at five Closed Landfill Program sites. These sites will act as pilot projects to inform future pollinator habitat reconstruction projects in the program.
Produce, broadcast and share 26 science-based environmental programs, 26 call to action and 27 outdoor lifestyle videos that inspire and demonstrate how to protect and engage with Minnesota's natural resources.
We will predict the ranges of native aquatic species in Minnesota using recently available high quality datasets and information on past and present ranges coupled with powerful statistical techniques.
Brushlands provide critical habitat for >250 wildlife species. We compare effects of spring, summer and fall burns on birds and vegetation, providing much needed management guidelines for this key habitat.
Minnesota's 48 native orchids are at risk. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum will expand conservation of species through propagation and banking and begin restoration planting research in the program's second phase.
Urban stormwaters contain biologically harmful contaminants of emerging concern whose abatement through best management practice ponds requires evaluation to safeguard habitats for aquatic species from mussels to birds.
Spruce budworm is native to Minnesota and the most significant tree killer in spruce-balsam fir forests. This project studies why populations increase to improve management opportunities in affected forests/regions.
This statewide inventory will provide baseline data and build in-state knowledge on Minnesota's stoneworts, a diverse group of aquatic plants that are critical for clear lakes and healthy fish habitat.
Purple Loosestrife Biocontrol Citizen Science Program aims to prevent and reduce purple loosestrife by engaging, educating and empowering citizens in using a biocontrol to protect and restore native ecosystems.
We will quantify exposure to two contaminants for 12 Minnesota raptors. Polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) and methylmercury (Hg) are bioaccumulative toxicants that cause reproductive failure in birds.
We will quantify the capacity of restored peatlands to store and accumulate atmospheric carbon and their capacity to prevent release of accumulated mercury into streams, rivers and lakes.
Minnesota decadal increases in precipitation have increased runoff, groundwater recharge, and infrastructure damage. We will assess and define selected quaternary settings to better define hydrologic response to extreme changes.
Red-headed woodpeckers are a flagship species of threatened oak savannas in Minnesota. We aim to better understand red-headed woodpecker population ecology and develop a unified management plan for restoration.
The Redhead Mountain Bike Park will add up to 12 miles of additional trails and accommodations to Redhead Mountain Bike Trail System at the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm,
We will investigate road salt alternatives and pavement innovations that will reduce or eliminate the flux of chloride from road salt into our lakes, streams and groundwater.
Dakota County, in conjunction with the Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd, will reintroduce American plains bison (Bison bison) to the prairie of Spring Lake Park Reserve.
The research will collect samples of microplastics to establish relationships between physical and remote sensing characteristics of microplastics for cost effective monitoring of microplastics in Minnesota natural and engineered waters.
Carbon markets incentivize carbon sequestration, but significant cost-barriers exist for landowner participation. Leveraging remotely sensed data, cost-effective fieldwork, and robust modeling will enable climate-smart activities that benefit all Minnesotans.
We seek to renew access to one of Minnesota's most iconic vistas, the Bean and Bear Lakes section of the Superior Hiking Trail, using national trail design best practices.
Restores 420 acres of high-quality forests at Itasca, Jay Cooke, Scenic, Forestville Mystery Cave and Wild River State Parks and Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area.
Amphipods are wetland invertebrates that are critical wildlife food and indicators of water quality. We will assess reasons they are missing from Prairie Potholes and unique methods to restore amphipods.
Restore native freshwater mussel assemblages in the Mississippi, Cedar, and Canon rivers to provide necessary ecosystem services, expand imperiled species populations, and inform the public on mussels and their conservation.
Restoring native mussel assemblages can improve water quality and ecological health of rivers. Mussels filter water, purifying and improving water clarity by removing particles and contaminants like E. coli bacteria.
