Per M.S. 116P.09, up to 4% of the amount available for appropriation from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) for a biennium is available for expenses related to LCCMR administration. These expenses include the LCCMR's project selection and approval process and its ongoing oversight of projects funded by the ENRTF, including both new projects funded during the biennium and existing projects funded in previous bienniums. This appropriation is for the upgrade and modernization of a project records management system.
Per M.S. 116P.09, up to 4% of the amount available for appropriation from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) for a biennium is available for expenses related to LCCMR administration - this includes expenses pertaining to project selection, approval, and ongoing oversight of projects funded by the ENRTF, including new projects funded during the biennium and existing projects funded in previous bienniums. Historically, LCCMR has always used less than 3% of available funds for administration.
Minnesota supports over 14 million acres of cropland in grain production. Almost 600,000 tons of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers are needed annually to maintain productivity on this land, which requires the equivalent of 3,000,000 barrels of oil and costs farmers over $400 million dollars per year. This amount of fossil fuel use results in a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions, while the absence of fossil energy resources in the state means that these synthetic nitrogen fertilizers must be imported into Minnesota from other states and overseas.
This project documented the history of life and growth of Lake Sarah Township population amid regional population through the stories and recollections of its residents. A total of eight long-term residents were interviewed. Six interviews were transcribed and provided to the narrators for proofreading. The edited transcripts were printed as separate full-color booklets that, along with the CDs of the interviews, will be accessible to the public as part of the Murray County Museum's permanent collection.
To restore the masonry foundation facade, exterior steps, and interior fireplace hearth in the cabin at Listening Point, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The Little Rock Lake Total Maximum Daily Load study has identified areas in the watershed where phosphorus reduction is needed and what best management practices need to be applied. This is a coordinated implementation effort with Benton and Morrison Soil and Water Conservation Districts and Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Little Rock Lake Association, the livestock industry and other partners to install best management practices at numerous sites to continue cleaning up Little Rock Lake.
In this Phase 4 of our ongoing "Living Lakes" program to enhance shallow lakes and restore wetlands, DU successfully enhanced 5,952 acres of shallow lakes and wetlands and restored 59 acres of wetlands by completing 16 separate projects for waterfowl and other wildlife in the Prairie, Transition, and Metro Sections in partnership with Minnesota DNR, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and private landowners.
LEQA is a Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) program to help livestock producers address, using a non-regulatory approach, the unique water quality issues on their farms. The MDA has contracted with Ag Resource Strategies, LLC, to recruit farmers to enroll in the LEQA program. The company trains technicians to assess different areas of each farms, such as the farmstead, livestock facilities, fields and wooded areas. The technicians then develop an environmental assessment and identify financial assistance for these projects.
engineering and assistance with construction costs of a portion of the Regional Greenway through the MN Zoological Garden including a grade separated crossing of CASH 38
Up to $205,000 to match $1,729,000 of a Federal Transportation Enhancement grant, Transportation Enhancement ARRA funds and Carver County Regional Rail Authority funds for land acquisition, trail design, trail and trailhead construction of 6.9 mile segment of the Dakota Rail Regional Trail. Any remaining funds used to partially finance the match to a $1 million Federal Transportation Enhancement grant to design and construct a trail in Lake Minnewashta Regional Park and a trail underpass of Trunk Highway 41 that links to a City of Chanhassen trail.
Appropriations from the Clean Water Fund allow the Minnesota Department of Health to expand and improve the way groundwater and drinking water protection is implemented at the local level. In 2015, $300,000 was allocated to update wellhead protection areas within groundwater management areas. From 2016 onward, funding will be dedicated to the Groundwater Restoration and Protection Strategies (GRAPS) initiative which will provide groundwater and drinking water information and management strategies on a HUC 8 watershed scale.
This project will gather watershed data necessary for the development of a Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) report to maintain and improve water quality for the St Louis River Watershed.
This project will provide technical, planning and engineering assistance to the MPCA for the development and implementation of the St. Louis River Remedial Action Plan (RAP). USACE and USEPA in partnership with the MPCA will administer work plans to complete a sediment assessment for Minnesota areas within Superior Bay, St. Louis Bay, Lower St. Louis River and the Upper St. Louis River, encompassing approximately 5,349 acres of the St. Louis River and Estuary.
Chambers Grove: restored a natural shoreline, improved fish spawning habitat, and planted native shoreline vegetation (completed in 2015).
Kingsbury Bay: completed engineering and design; began restoration of a wetland complex impacted by excessive sediment and non-native species (to be completed Dec 2020).
Grassy Point: completed engineering and design; began restoration of a wetland complex impacted by legacy milling waste and non-native species (to be completed Dec 2020).
This project is designed to reduce sediment in the Wild River River based on a state approved plan (TMDL). The estimated water quality benefits completed by this project are 12,980 (120 truckloads) tons of soil saved per year, which will assist in reducing turbidity impairments downstream on the LWRR.
This project builds on the momentum of previous Clean Water Fund grants in making significant and quantifiable sediment, nutrient and runoff volume reductions to address the turbidity, dissolved oxygen and other impairments of the Lower Minnesota River (LMR). These water quality improvements will be achieved by constructing on-the-ground conservation best management practices (BMPs) in the targeted watersheds -including specifically Sand and Roberts Creek - and near channel sources.
To hire qualified consultants to conduct an architectural survey of Macalester Park for possible local designation or inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
Maintaining Existing Holdings - A Parks and Trails Strategic Objective is a program area representing DNR's commitment to one of the four pillars identified in the 25 year Legacy plan. The Legacy plan calls this Take Care of What We Have, and identifies its purpose to provide safe, high-quality park and trail experiences by regular re-investment in park and trail infrastructure, and natural resource management.
The Kohlman Lake TMDL calls for the reduction of nutrients from watershed and in-lake loading. A major source of phosphorus loading is from the impervious areas in the District (roads, interstates, roofs, and parking lots). In the analysis of the Kohlman Lake watershed, one major land use feature stands out - Maplewood Mall. The District identified that retrofitting the Mall parking areas to infiltrate at least one inch of runoff would result in a large reduction in phosphorus to Kohlman Creek and the lake.
