At an average cost of less than $65 per student, Wilderness Inquiry's Canoemobile program provides introductory and immersive experiences for Minnesota students across the state. The program brings history and cultural heritage alive for students on their local lands and waterways, fostering a passion for Minnesota's culture and investing in the preservation of our outdoor heritage.
This project will connect over 11,000 students to the Boundary Waters through classroom education and wilderness canoe experiences, targeting diverse and underserved populations across Minnesota.
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.
Identify forest management actions and guidelines that maximize breeding season productivity across breeding cycle (nesting through post-fledgling) for three bird species of conservation concern: Golden-winged Warbler, Veery, and American Woodcock.
The Minnesota Zoo will improve the long-term viability of Minnesotas imperiled turtle populations by researching threats, implementing mechanisms to reduce mortality, and creating educational materials for use throughout the state.
The Conservation Corps provides a crew to perform natural resource management tasks throughout the regional park system. Buckthorn removal, community garden maintenance, invasive species control, and landscaping are some of the tasks performed
The North Shore houses completely unique plant communities that are in danger of decline. This project will provide critical monitoring and invasive removal to conserve these rare and endangered plants.
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.
Tetra Tech will gather information for eventual incorporation into the Minnesota Stormwater Manual. The Stormwater Manual is used by stormwater practitioners to make decisions related to stormwater management, such as selecting appropriate Best Management Practices, meeting stormwater regulatory requirements, and determining pollutant and stormwater volume reductions associated with implementation of different stormwater management practices. The goal is to update existing information and provide new information on active construction site erosion prevention and sediment control.
Continue and enhance contract management and customer service to OHF pass-through appropriation recipients for approximately 130 open grants. Ensure funds are expended in compliance with appropriation law, state statute, grants policies, and approved accomplishment plans.
Continue and enhance contract management and customer service to OHF pass-through appropriation recipients for approximately 145 open grants. Ensure funds are expended in compliance with appropriation law, state statute, grants policies, and approved accomplishment plans.
Provide continued contract management and customer service to ENRTF pass-through appropriation recipients. Ensure funds are expended in compliance with appropriation law, state statute, grants policies, and approved work plans.
Provide continued contract management and customer service to ENRTF pass-through appropriation recipients. Ensure funds are expended in compliance with appropriation law, state statute, grants policies, and approved work plans.
In conjunction with the Board of Soil and Water Resources (BWSR), the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is developing a process for public participation that can be used across Minnesota Water Quality Framework programs such as 1 Watershed, 1 Plan, Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS), Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) studies, and others. This contract will provide support for a northern Minnesota Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) to assist in shaping the statewide guidance.
The South St. Louis SWCD will collaborate with the City of Duluth to implement 13 stormwater BMPs in two high priority parks in the Miller Creek Watershed. The proposed BMP locations were prioritized by the city & SWCD based on the desire to coordinate with upcoming construction planned for Lincoln Park & on the sediment impacts resulting from worsening erosion problems in Piedmont Park.
Coordinating with Partner's - 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 identifies its purpose to enhance coordination across the large and complex network of public, private, and non-profit partners that support Minnesota's parks and trails to ensure seamless, enjoyable park and trail experiences for Minnesotans.
An existing shelter and restroom facility will be replaced by a new multi use building at Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park. The building may include restrooms, storage space, multi-purpose lobby space, equipment staging area and fire ring.
The Cottonwood River watershed is one of the last remaining watersheds to complete Cycle I of the Watershed Restoration & Protections Strategies (WRAPS) process. The scope of this project upon completion is have two reports developed; a Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies report and a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the entire watershed.
This project continues accelerated production of County Geologic Atlases to support informed management of water and mineral resources. This work is essential to sustainable management of water.
Geologic atlases provide maps/databases essential for improved management of ground and surface water. This proposal will complete current projects and start new projects to equal about 10 complete atlases.
County geologic atlases provide information that is essential to sustainable management of Minnesotas groundwater resources by identifying key areas to protect our drinking water and ensure future availability for all.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) offers grants to counties for Subsurface Sewage Treatment System (SSTS) program administration and special projects to improve SSTS compliance rates, and assistance for low-income homeowners with needed SSTS upgrades. The MPCA will determine grant allocations based on applications review; funds will flow to counties through the Board of Water and Soil Resources' Natural Resources Block Grants.
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.
This project consists of designating and improving a 5.6 mile wooded trail from Crane Lake to the Vermilion Falls to accommodate ATV and Snowmobile users.
Phase 5 of the Minnesota Land Trust's Critical Shoreland Habitat Program protected approximately 3.75 miles of shoreland and 417 acres of associated high-quality habitat in Minnesota's Northeast region by securing five permanent conservation easements in strategic locations along priority lakes and rivers. Conservation easements secured under this program are perpetual and will prevent fragmentation and destruction of existing habitat.
This program will permanently protect approximately 750 acres of critical habitat through fee-title acquisition and conservation easements, and restore and enhance up to 50 acres of habitat for species of greatest conservation need in strategically targeted protected land assets of biodiversity significance in the St. Croix Watershed. Its goals are to protect habitat, improve conservation connectivity, and provide public access for outdoor recreation opportunities.
