Reed canary grass and other invasive plants are preventing natural tree regeneration and threatening floodplain forests, upland forests, and wildlife alike. The Upper Mississippi River and its tributaries provide a critical habitat corridor for hundreds of species of birds from waterfowl and other game birds to warblers of special concern. This proposal builds on three previous and successful projects and will expand Audubon's work on State and Federal Lands as well as introduce projects on permanently protected private lands.
To further the affiliation between Mitchell Hamline and Hamline University with a partnership for the initial development of the MHSL History Center and meaningful public programming.
Pangea World Theater is launching a new institute that brings social practice and community based artists together to utilize Placemaking/Plackeeping projects that center Indigenous, Black and Immigrant knowledge and cultural approaches to transforming Minneapolis and our shared world. The Seeding Change Institute will hold a research and development cohort of ten artists to shape the curriculum and structure for future institutes. The SCI will open to general applications in the fall of 2023.
The City of Wyoming has proudly commenced construction of Railroad Park, a new and exciting addition to our community that will kick off the redevelopment of our downtown development plan. This vibrant community space is being developed in three phases as we work towards celebrating our City's rich heritage, honoring our veterans, and providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for residents and visitors alike. The first phase of Railroad Park, which construction began on in Fall of 2023, is the Veterans Memorial portion of the project.
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.
With this grant, we were able to perform 195 acres of treatment within polygons resulting in the restoration or enhancement of 21 parcels. Overall treatment effort was even greater within wetlands (271 acres), with many areas receiving multiple overlapping treatments. Focusing our treatments on the most ecologically damaged areas allowed us to improve wetlands substantially, even if active treatment did not occur throughout every part of the parcel where invasives may not have occurred. 268+ acres had 50% of their areas treated, which we consider a standard for substantial restoration.
Within this plan, we will develop a series of cultural events (plays, speakers, presentations) that can be delivered live before an audience for educational purposes and/or videographed for preservation. These productions will amplify the custodians of Somali culture and will allow Somali artists to share their collective work, knowledge, and wisdom with the Somali and non-Somali communities. The majority of the events will be performed publicly and digitally recorded for future use and for preservation.
This Phase 7 continuation of the Wild Rice Shoreland Protection Program will utilize permanent conservation easements to protect 660 acres and approximately 3.5 miles of wild rice shoreland habitat. Development trends pose a serious threat to wild rice habitat, and sites are selected through an integrative ranking process that considers development risk, surrounding land use, habitat value, and numerous other criteria. BWSR will utilize the RIM Easement process in partnership with 14 local SWCDs within the Northern Forest and Forest Prairie Transition.
Phase 9 of the Wild Rice Shoreland Protection Program will utilize permanent conservation easements to protect 678 acres and 2 miles of wild rice shoreland habitat. Development trends pose a serious threat to wild rice habitat. Sites are selected through a ranking process that considers development risk, surrounding land use, habitat value, and other criteria. BWSR will utilize the RIM easement process in partnership with local soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) within the Northern Forest and Forest Prairie Transition to accomplish protection.
Phase 8 of the Wild Rice Shoreland Protection Program will utilize permanent conservation easements to protect 850 acres and 4 miles of wild rice shoreland habitat. Development trends pose a serious threat to wild rice habitat. Sites are selected through a ranking process that considers development risk, surrounding land use, habitat value, and other criteria. BWSR will utilize the RIM easement process in partnership with local soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) within the Northern Forest and Forest Prairie Transition to accomplish protection.
Young Forest Conservation Phase III will continue American Bird Conservancy's successful, ongoing efforts to maintain, restore, and enhance Golden-winged Warbler, American Woodcock, and Ruffed Grouse breeding habitat on publicly protected lands in Minnesota. This work also benefits a suite of associated deciduous, mixed upland and lowland forest habitat species within a diverse, contiguous landscape-level forest matrix. Through Phases I and II, ABC completed 5,535 acres of high-quality early successional habitat projects.
CLUES will create “Santuario,” a multi-layered public art & creative placemaking project uplifting Latino cultural heritage, traditions, & identity; ultimately creating a cultural sanctuary space for Latino immigrant communities. The project will be coordinated by CLUES staff, led by 5 local Latino artists, & will involve 100-200 community participants. Through this process, participants will feel a sense of ownership in the space & will invite other friends and family into our community space.
The New HCC Storefront Museum Implementation Project will involve the development of a guided tour app & new curriculum for school groups based on MN's K-12 standards. The project will also include a new strategic marketing plan to assist the museum in achieving future attendance & outreach goals. Finally, a new tour guide will be hired to meet public demand for tours in the new museum space which is intended to promote cross-cultural awareness and understanding of Hmong culture and history.
The Minnesota Forests for the Future Program will use $4.573 million in the Northern and Southeast Forest sections to protect and enhance habitat. In the Northern Forest, we propose to protect 1,500 acres with permanent conservation easements and 400 acres in fee title acquisition, and to enhance 100 acres. In the Southeast Forest, we propose to add 100 acres to the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest and enhance 300 acres of existing state forest land.
