Four stream segments, totaling over 100 miles, are impaired in the Little Fork River for Total Suspended Solids (TSS). This study will provide local partners with project options for reducing sediment in the Little Fork Watershed. Through the use of sediment fingerprinting determinations can be made if the sediment is from in (or near) channel, or the watershed and identify what sub-watershed the sediment is coming originating.
This Phase 6 request for Ducks Unlimited’s Living Lakes program will enhance 1,000 acres of shallow lakes and restore 50 acres of small wetlands by engineering and installing water control structures for Minnesota DNR and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on public lands and wetlands under easement. Structures will be used by DNR and Service partners to restore wetland hydrology and actively manage shallow lake water levels to enhance their ecology for ducks, other birds, and hunters in the Prairie Region of Minnesota.
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.
The goal of this project is to identify watershed and in-lake best management practices (BMPs) to improve water quality for impaired water bodies within the Upper Long Lake Creek subwatershed. The existing P8 watershed model and BATHTUB lake response models will be updated and refined to identify BMPs, develop project costs, and estimate nutrient load reductions. A feasibility report will be developed that outlines prioritized projects, estimated load reductions, and project costs to accelerate implementation.
The purpose of this contract is to augment data collection efforts for the St. Louis River (SLR) Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) and for four impaired Duluth beaches. For the SLR WRAPS, activities include: attaining datasets for watershed stressors and geomorphic conditions, water quality gap monitoring, and a civic engagement component. Impaired beaches activities include: collection of field observational data, field water chemistry, and water quality samples for analytical analysis.
Beginning in June 2019, the St Louis River Watershed will start the second round of the Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS) process. This project helps the Carlton County SWCD (SWCD) initiate a broader citizen participation process in the Watershed. The SWCD staff will be enabled to create a greater degree of public interest in and awareness of the general health of the Watershed. This work will create the foundation for greater citizen involvement in the planning and implementation of restoration and protection activities in the Watershed.
The project provides the opportunity for the North Saint Louis Soil and Water Conservation District (NSLSWCD) to engage in efforts to increase public participation in the St. Louis River Watershed and participate in the planning and technical review of the Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS) process. NSLSWCD contains the headwaters of the St. Louis River Watershed. The District’s knowledge of the area, communities, and organizations puts them in a unique position to work cooperatively in the watershed.
DNR achieved the following outcomes using ML2019 funds.
-Advanced engineering and design of the Perch Lake, Mud Lake, and Lower Knowlton projects.
-Fabricated and installed a 183-foot, 700-ton culvert, restoring fish passage and hydrologic function at Perch Lake.
-Removed 68,000CY of sediment from Perch Lake, restoring coastal marsh and deep water habitat.
-Conducted professional engineering oversight and implemented a portion of the Kingsbury Bay/Creek watershed restoration project contributing to an estimated reduction of 400+ tons of sediment per year.
DNR achieved the following outcomes using ML2018 funds.
-Restored 4 acres of habitat at Interstate Island for threatened bird species, including a 30,000 sqft nesting area.
-Seeded 3,917 lbs of Manoomin with tribal partners across 28 acres.
-Removed 68,000CY of sediment from Perch Lake restoring coastal marsh and deep water habitat.
-Designed and implemented a portion of the Kingsbury Bay/Creek watershed restoration project contributing to an estimated total reduction of over 400 tons of sediment per year.
This proposal seeks to enhance and restore 35 acres of fish and wildlife habitat on the lower Mississippi River in Houston County benefiting bluegill, crappie, bass, deer and Blue-winged and Prothonotary warblers. Sedimentation in Upper Mississippi River (UMR) backwaters and declining UMR floodplain forests are a concern to resource managers, anglers, hunters and recreational users.
The Rice Creek Watershed District is proposing to improve water quality and habitat in Locke Lake and Lower Rice Creek by stabilizing stream banks and bluffs on Lower Rice Creek, reducing in-stream erosion and sediment delivery to Locke Lake, and improving in-stream habitat complexity for fish and invertebrates. Eleven bank stabilization practices would be installed over a continuous 5,400-foot reach in Lower Rice Creek. The anticipated outcome of this project is the prevention of 2,874 tons per year of sediment, which is 58% of the sediment reduction goals for Lower Rice Creek.
The purpose of this work is to develop a Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) and associated Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) documents for the Lower Rainy River and Rainy River Rainy Lake Watersheds.
The goal of the Dakota History Symposium at Lower Sioux Agency is to reclaim Dakota voice in a narrative that under-represents Dakota perspective and cultural worldview while providing opportunity for exiled Dakota to reconnect to their shared history, disrupting dominant power dynamics that restrict Dakota truth-telling. Hosting a Dakota-led educational event will enhance public understanding, broaden worldviews perspective and increase access to historic truths of the State of Minnesota.
Objective 1: By July 14 2020, increase Dakota language speaking among 20 preschool students age, 3-5 years. Objective 2: Extend Dakota language speaking supports and success through family language training, reaching at least 10 families, or 50% of student families by July 14,2020. Objective 3: By July 14 2020, continue to develop Dakota language resources and materials for learners of all ages, including at least 4 new Dakota language books and 10 short Dakota language videos.
Objective 1: By July 14, 2020, increase Dakota language speaking among 60 children ages. Objective 2: Introduce and expand Dakota language learning among 45 secondary students by July 2020. Objective 3: By July 14, 2021, promote family and community engagement in the language, reaching at least 100 adults through classes and social media.
This project will revise a recently completed draft Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report for the Lower Minnesota River Watershed Project. The revision is to correct wasteload allocations for regulated stormwater entities.
This Corridor Habitat Restoration Project is a cooperative effort between the District (WRWD), MN Board of Soil and Water Resources (MNBWSR), MN DNR, and Red River Watershed Management Board (RRWMB). This is a voluntary program with the long-term goal to restore a natural corridor area along the Lower Reach of the Wild Rice River. When completed, the project will restore 23 channelized river miles to 50 miles of natural stream channel.
The Minneapolis American Indian Center has developed a long-term plan to increase accessibility to and interest in Native languge instruction by increasing access to learning Dakota and Ojibwe languages and increase interest among Native youth and adult community memebers to learn their Native language.
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.
Establish network of automated radiotelemetry stations to monitor bird migration and local movements of a threatened species, and develop strategic plans for long-term use of infrastructure to monitor animal movement.
We will quantify and map antibiotic and antibiotic resistance gene contamination in Minnesota waters and soils and identify locations in need of mitigation to protect environmental, human, and animal health.
We will map habitat and diseases of urban foxes and coyotes to understand what they need to live and risks posed to people and pets, thereby demystifying them for residents.
Data is needed about which aquatic habitats moose prefer and how moose can potentially enhance nearshore lake foodwebs. This project will map critical aquatic habitats and measure lake foodweb effects.
We propose conducting the first statewide analysis mapping the extent of Minnesota’s unprofitable cropland and estimating both the water-quality and habitat benefits of converting these lands to perennial crops/vegetation.
