All Projects

The primary goal of this project is to develop a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) lead comprehensive Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS) report to be used on the local level. Achieving this goal will require sound working relationships between local units of government, citizens, and state government. The Lakes Engagement Team will gather input from these groups and contribute towards the creation of a Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) report that can be utilized by local decision-makers.

The purpose of this monitoring project is to maintain water quality data collection, build upon existing data for Phase II of the Intensive Watershed Monitoring approach, and develop a better understanding of what impacts the rivers located in central Minnesota specifically in the North Fork Crow Watershed.

This project will create a culvert inventory database for county and township roads in the southwest portion of St. Louis County that contains the St. Louis River watershed. Data will be used by the County Public Works Department to identify and prioritize stream crossings in need of replacement or increasing upstream storm water retention to reduce the potential for culvert failure during large runoff events, factoring in stream health (fish habitat and passage, sediment transport and hydrologic connection) while protecting infrastructure.

Park improvements at Milford Mine Memorial Park in Crow Wing County.

This grant will fund the creation of a new Coordinator position with a primary focus on the Mille Lacs Lake subwatershed. Although not currently impaired, the Lake faces increasing development and land use pressure. Implementation of protection strategies is essential to the Lake's long-term health but current staffing does not allow sufficient time to be spent on project development and outreach to identify interested landowners.

The Miller Hill Mall, a regional shopping destination located in the City of Duluth, is the largest contiguous impervious site in the Miller Creek Watershed. The draft Total Maximum Daily Load Study identified heated stormwater runoff as a major contributor to the creek's excessive heat loading problem, which negatively impacts the creek's native brook trout population. The Mall, along with eight other entities in the watershed, was assigned a reduction goal as part of the effort to address the temperature problem in this creek.

This project is to update stormwater harvest/reuse best management practices (BMPs) in the Minimal Impact Design Standards (MIDS) calculator. The update will also allow the calculator to utilize Excel files from previous of the tool.

Grant Activities: The goal of this grant is to support students’ acquisition of the Ojibwe and Dakota language and culture which begins in early childhood immersion at Anishinabe Academy by providing a language and culture table for their families. The Mino-Bimaadiziai/Chante Luta Language and Culture Table will focus on words, place names, and serve to build a non-threatening environment where parents, community members, and schools professionals will grow and develop.

The purpose of this project is to conduct a subwatershed assessment of that part of the City of Minneapolis that is within the Shingle Creek watershed. This subwatershed drains to three Impaired Waters: Crystal Lake, Ryan Lake, and Shingle Creek. The assessment will identify the most feasible and cost-effective best management practices for retrofit in this densely urban, fully developed subwatershed. The project includes workshops with neighborhood organizations to help them educate residents and organize implementation projects.

Both Minnehaha Creek and Lake Hiawatha are on the State Impaired Waters List and have had Total Maximum Daily Load Studies completed. The proposed work would focus on park land along Minnehaha Creek which is a highly-recreated corridor with public trail systems throughout. In 2014, the District experienced record flooding resulting in substantial erosion and tree loss along Minnehaha Creek. In 2015, the District completed an assessment of flood damage and received FEMA funding for bank repair at 31 sites along the Creek within Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board property.

This project saw the construction of a fenced pasture and watering facilities to accommodate a herd of bison in Minneopa State Park. The bison came from the herd at Blue Mounds State Park, which has a genetic make-up that is 99% pure bison. Creating a second herd at Minneopa is part of a cooperative effort with the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Zoo to conserve this bison heritage.

This project saw the construction of a new railing for the day use area near Minneopa Falls. The project was greatly needed, as the rocky bluff area above the falls is crumbled in places, making it very dangerous to lean against the aged rail. This project is also significant because the original railing was a very beautiful iron railing that is listed on the National Historic Register. The rehabilitated railing was customized to match the original railing.

This project acquired ~74 acres of land within the boundary of Minneopa State Park. The land is near the bison range and may serve as hiking trails in the future.

Construct collection system improvements to meet TMDL wasteload requirement

 Legacy Farm Program

Legacy funds allow the Minnesota Zoo to extend the season of the Wells Fargo Family Farm beyond its historical May to September season to include full programming and exhibits from April through November. 

To document in 8 oral history interviews the history of modernist architects in Minnesota.

To document the history of Minnesota dance community by conducting and transcribing oral history interviews.

To add Minnesota history and museum administration books to Proctor Historical Society's holdings to make this information more accessible to the public.

To hire a qualified museum consultant to conduct a general preservation needs assessment survey and long range collections preservation plan.

To transcribe oral history interviews on the history of peace and justice in Minnesota. .

To conduct a survey of rare Minnesota-produced watercraft to allow for greater public access to these historic resources.

To conduct a marine archaeology anomaly assessment of several suburban lakes.

To conduct a marine archaeology survey of six suburban Minnesota lakes.

To hire qualified consultants to develop a traveling exhibit on the fur trade in northwest Minnesota.

The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council (MIAC) receives collections of American Indian human remains, associated funerary goods, archaeological materials and records in accordance with federal and state laws. The Minnesota Legislature passed the 2015 legacy funding bill with a onetime appropriation of $75,000.00 dollars each year for 2 years to help Indian Affairs Council develop an osteology laboratory and repository.