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.
Lily Lake, in Stillwater, is a popular recreational spot for residents with its swimming beach, fishing pier, and canoe access. Lily Lake is impaired by excess nutrients, and restoring its water quality is a priority for the community.
A 38-minute documentary video was produced to capture and portray the diversity and vibrancy of the Lincoln Park/West End neighborhood and its history from the late 1880's to 1950's.
Research was conducted for the local churches, schools, businesses, events and the Park. Seven interviews provide insights into the life and times of area residents.
The video was made available to the public via the Duluth public television station, through community showings and at the Public Library.
Completed exterior masonry preservation and rebuild missing entrance column of the Litchfield Opera House which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The building envelope is experiencing disintegrating and spalling masonry, cracks in mortar joints and walls, and possible water intrusion. The project restored the physical and visual integrity of the masonry envelope and remove safety threats caused by the unstable parapet.
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.
This program will not only expand an existing WMA by 252 acres for public outdoor recreation (e.g. hunting, fishing, etc.) but it will also protect the viability of the WMA into perpetuity through 634 acres of permanent conservation easements. This project focuses on the Little Nokassippi River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) which was established in 2006 complements to the Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program and the support from Crow Wing County and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The WMA is situated within a very critical area of the Camp Ripley ACUB.
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.
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
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.
Repointed mortar joints, repair/replaceed bricks and inspected south wall on Lodge Zare Zapadu #44, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The NCHS's collection of vintage clothing was re-packaged, re-labeled and re-cataloged using proper storage methods. The 232 textiles are now more accessible.
To rehabilitate the interior and exterior of the St. Louis County Jail, a contributing element of the Duluth Civic Center Historic District and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
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.
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 program resulted in permanent protection of three parcels totaling 350 acres. All three parcels are now being managed as Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) by MN DNR. This exceeds the original goal of 319 acres. Acquisition of two other parcels were attempted, but the offers were turned down by the sellers.
The Lower Mississippi River Habitat Restoration Partnership is a long-term effort to restore habitat connectivity and improve water quality in critical areas along the Mississippi River corridor from the Twin Cities to the Iowa border by reconnecting tributaries to their floodplains, revitalizing backwaters and channels, and protecting and restoring floodplain forests, wetlands, and prairies that are essential to sustaining the incredible diversity of plants, animals, and human uses provided by this great river.
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 stop the water infiltration that was causing damage to the building, bricks and tuck-pointing were removed and replaced in two areas of external wall at the back and side of the Lyric Theater building.
The damaged areas have now been stabilized and further erosion curtailed. Renovation of the rest of the building can now continue.
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.
The schooner-barge, Madeira, sank off the coast of Minnesota in Lake Superior on November 28, 1905. The GLSPS created an interpretive display to tell the story of this significant wreck that prompted the construction of the Split Rock Lighthouse in 1910. The bollards and attached deck section were salvaged from the wreck and were cleaned and repaired by volunteers to be used in the display. A durable concrete base was constructed, the artifacts moved into place and secured, and interpretive signage (appropriate to the park) was fabricated and installed.
To provide public access to the story of the Madeira shipwreck by adding an interpretive panel to the Madeira's anchor on display at Split Rock State Park
Twenty oral history interviews were collected from residents of Isanti County from the cities of Cambridge, Grandy, Braham and Isanti. Their memories of the business community in their respective cities were the focus of the interviews. They were videotaped, roughly transcribed, copied to DVD's and a video sampler was posted on Youtube. The video collection was presented, along with artifact displays at an exhibit opening called "Let's Meet at the Soda Fountain".
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.
To analyze existing archaeological data from two cultural landscapes and interpret it for use among American Indian people through the creation of a manuscript and portal.
