An estimated 200 acres of lands acquired through this phase of the Habitat Corridors Partnership are expected to be transferred to the state for designation as Wildlife Management Areas (WMA). The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is using these funds to conduct habitat restoration on these new WMA lands, as well as develop the infrastructure necessary for public access to them.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is coordinating efforts to improve habitat for aquatic species and protect water quality on lakes, streams, and their surrounding sensitive shorelands. A total of up to 3.5 miles or 35 acres of water bodies in Kandiyohi, Otter Tail, Rice, or Stevens Counties are expected to benefit from restoration activities including installation of aeration systems, development of spawning areas, installation of native vegetation, and stabilization of stream banks.
Friends of the Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District is using these funds to restore approximately 50 acres of prairie pothole wetlands in Clay and Becker Counties. Efforts aim to create wildlife habitat for waterfowl and other species and reduce downstream flooding of the Red River Valley by increasing the capacity of the land to hold and store water from spring runoff and severe storms.
With this appropriation, the Minnesota Land Trust plans to protect approximately 500 acres of critical shoreline habitat along Minnesota's lakes, wetlands, rivers, and streams by securing permanent conservation easements and dedicating funds for their perpetual monitoring, management, and enforcement. Lands being considered for permanent protection in this round of funding are located in Becker, Beltrami, Blue Earth, Itasca, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Le Sueur, Otter Tail, Pope, and Wabasha counties.
This appropriation is enabling Ducks Unlimited to help state and federal wildlife conservation agencies protect and restore shallow lakes for waterfowl. Conservation easements will be acquired on approximately 150 acres of privately owned shoreland and up to 60 acres of lands previously converted for cropping will be restored back to wildlife habitat. Lands being considered for permanent protection in this round of funding are located in Beltrami, Douglas, Freeborn, Grant, Meeker, Pope, Stearns, Swift, and Wright counties.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Ducks Unlimited are working together to provide technical assistance to landowners that that will result in the protection of approximately 2,500 acres of prairies and wetlands in southern and western Minnesota. As a result of this appropriation, an estimated $4 million of additional funding for conservation is anticipated to be provided in match by the federal Wetland Reserve Program.
There funds are enabling Pheasants Forever to acquire in fee title approximately 86 acres of habitat along the borders of existing Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) or Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA) in LeSueur, Lincoln, or Rice counties and convey the lands to a public agency for long term stewardship and protection. These strategic acquisitions will leverage and expand the existing habitat, water quality, and recreation benefits already provided by existing protected lands.
The Trust for Public Land is using this appropriation to acquire in fee title approximately 44 acres of high quality habitat and convey it the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for long-term stewardship and protection. Priority will be given to shoreland and other lands that provide natural buffers to water resources. Lands being considered for permanent protection in this round of funding are located in Hubbard, Kandiyohi, LeSueur, and Rice counties.
The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust is using this appropriation to purchase a total of approximately 80 acres of high quality grasslands and wetlands in Blue Earth or Le Sueur County to be managed as a federal Waterfowl Production Area (WPA) in the Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District.
An estimated 400 acres acquired by other Habitat Corridors Partnership (HCP) partners is expected to be transferred to the DNR for long-term management during this phase of the partnership. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is using these funds to cover professional services costs associated with these property transfers.
To offer aspects of Minnesota’s heritage that fairgoers normally would not be able to enjoy. The Hennepin County Fair offered performances and demonstrations in storytelling, clogging, old time string music, blacksmith, potter, dog sled, textile creation, knitting, weaving and wood carving. The storyteller, Bob Gasch, told and acted out stories about Minnesota’s settlement period including Johnny Appleseed, and more and the cloggers demonstrated a historical style of dance from the early settlement of Minnesota.
To offer several demonstrations throughout the fair to educate fairgoers on key parts of Minnesota’s history and how these aspects contributed to the economic and agricultural status of the state. Programming will include a lumberjack show and the Iron Will dog sled exhibit.
Through a competitive process, the Heritage Partnership Program awards grants to historical organizations statewide to support programs that will build the capacity of partnering organizations to preserve and enhance access to Minnesota's history and cultural resources. The program supports the creation and development of sustainable, history-based partnerships throughout the state.
To hire a consultant to review the City of Afton's existing design guideline ordinance for the historic Old Village area and develop an updated, illustrated set of design guidelines for Old Village historic properties.
To stabilize and conserve ten historic oil paintings (portraits of Minnesota Supreme Court justices) displayed in the St. Paul City Hall-Ramsey County Courthouse, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The Historical Rulemaking Web Site will allow legislators, state agency staff, the Office of Administrative Hearings, and the general public to track the progress of administrative rulemaking from 1983 to date. The project involves extracting the public information contained in an internal rule tracking system maintained by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes and displaying the information on a public web site. In addition, the project involves scanning of additional historical documents, such as State Registers, and providing a method for historical documents in the possessio
Historic Fort Snelling is an MNHS historic site and the state's first National Historic Landmark. A major project at the site prioritizes the adaptive reuse of two historic buildings concentrating on opportunities for public use, education, engagement and reflection. This project supports an MNHS strategic priority and speaks to the mission by returning historic facilities to public use while fostering new dialogues. A master plan was done in 2015, and predesign was completed in June 2016.
To coincide with the centennial of the United States entry into World War I, MNHS is developing a series of public programs, school programs, publications and online resources to increase awareness and understanding of the World War I era and its enduring legacy for Minnesota. Outreach to veterans communities and the active military is underway. An intensive series of public programs for lifelong learners was held in fall 2016.
Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps and MNHS began implementing lessons learned from the past two years to increase the viability of a historic preservation activity built on a conservation corps model. The first year focused on building the capacity of the corps through further expansion of service projects, skills training and networks.
The Historic Recognition Grant program is designed to preserve, recognize and promote the historic legacy of Minnesota, with a focus on commemoration of Minnesota's role in the U.S. Civil War.
MNHS, through a onetime competitive process, awarded nine grants to eight history-minded organizations in eight counties. The Historic Recognition Grants Program grants are based on project priorities delineated by the Governor's Civil War Commemoration Task Force.
To hire a consultant to develop the first phase of a Historic Structures Report for the Alliance Francaise building, part of the Minneapolis Warehouse Historic District, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
To organize, catalog, and prepare a finding aid for documents, photographs, and other records relating to glider manufacture at Villaume Box & Lumber Co. in St. Paul during World War II
To hire a qualified historian to research and prepare materials that will enable the public to more broadly access the story of people 21 years old and younger with disabilities, pre-1840 to 1960
