This proposal will accomplish shallow lake and wetland habitat work that will otherwise go unfunded. This work is called for in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan, Long Range Duck Recovery Plan, and Shallow Lakes plan.
CMSM will build upon the work that began with its 2015-16 appropriation by (1) Remediation and further development of exhibit areas that promote Arts & Cultural Heritage (ACH) learning (2) Expanding ACH learning opportunities for new audiences at off-site locations; (3) Engaging an outside Evaluation Consultant to help plan/implement strategies that meaningfully assess ACH learning outcomes and impacts; (4) Boosting the Museum’s capacity to serve more school/early learning groups.
Great River Greening (GRG), Anoka Conservation District (ACD), Isanti County Parks (ICP) and National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) completed restoration and enhancement (R/E) activities on 1,896, equal to 147% of the planned 1,286 acres, and on 1.2 miles of shoreland, over 17 parcels.
Protect and restore approximately 80 acres in and near the Cannon River watershed, including wetlands, prairies, Big Woods forest, and river and shallow lake shoreline to reverse habitat loss, improve watershed function and provide access.
The Children's Discovery Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota will strengthen its acclaimed school service program by: (1) continued leadership of a new Program Director retained on January 1, 2016 (2) creating a new (Minnesota built) core interactive exhibit; (3) developing new curriculum for pre-school through 3rd grade students in ten northern Minnesota counties.
Supplement existing Design/Engineering services to complete site improvement plans for fishing nodes, trails, landscape, site amenities and signage. Construction activities will include demolition, grading, stormwater management, utilities, construction, landscaping, installation of signs and site amenities. Legacy funds will leverage non-state funds provided by Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization and Saint Paul Regional Watershed.
Complete important Como RP access road, Estabrook Drive, and related infrastructure, lighting, landscape restoration. Park hosts approximately 4,476,000 visits annually, representing people from many backgrounds.
The Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program will be managed by the Department of Natural Resources to provide competitive matching grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, state, and national non-profit organizations and government entities.
Continue Implementation of adopted Master Plan to include a splash pad (small artistic interactive water feature with year-round interest.) Indian Mounds hosts approximately 344,000 visits annually, including 13% of both African Americans and Asians, and 3% Native Americans.
Design and construction of Tamarack Nature Center Campus Site and Infrastructure consisting of parking lot and roadway redevelopment, storm water management, pedestrian connections, landscape restoration, signage, and other site amenities at Bald Eagle-Otter Lakes Regional Park; supplement construction cost for Early Childhood Learning Center Project; supplement construction cost for the Tamarack Nature Center Interior Remodel project. *(There were 99,352 visits to the Tamarack Nature Center in Bald Eagle Otter Lake Regional Park in 2013).
Phase 1 Design/Development Trailhead Rice Ck No RT, bituminous and natural surface trails, trailhead building with restrooms, entrance road and parking lot development, cross country ski staging area and trails, signage, storm water management, habitat restoration, landscaping.
We restored 2,081 acres of grassland and enhanced 42,425 acres of grassland for a total of 44,506 acres of wildlife habitat across 329 sites with these funds.
The program that we are proposing has three components; 1) weekly arts club that provides arts education and peer mentoring for youth that are designed to introduce youth to traditional Somali arts. 2) A Somali arts show and cultural learning opportunity taking place at The Southern Theater in Minneapolis through The Southern’s Arts Residency and Art Share Programs. 3) Showcasing Somali art at the Somali Independence day Festival in 2017.
The Minnesota DNR and the Minnesota Forest Resources Council work with forest landowners, managers and loggers to implement a set of voluntary sustainable forest management guidelines that include water quality best management practices (BMPs) to ensure sustainable habitat, clean water, and productive forest soils, all contributing to healthy watersheds. This project will monitor the implementation of these forest management guidelines and BMPs on forested watersheds in MN.
Operating budget for project and equity initiatives in Mississippi River Gorge, Hidden Falls-Crosby Farm, Lilydale-Harriet Island-Cherokee-Raspberry Island, and Battle Creek-Indian Mounds-Pigs Eye Regional Parks, as well as Sam Morgan and Bruce Vento Regional Trails. Using principles and guidance from the Great River Passage Master Plan, initiatives will support innovative public engagement, establishing organizational partnerships, providing areas for cultural activities, and enhancing participation in natural resource based activities, programs, and multi-modal access.?
Minnesota’s use of groundwater has increased over the last two decades. An increasing reliance on groundwater may not be a sustainable path for continued economic growth and development. The DNR is establishing three pilot groundwater management areas (GWMA) to help improve groundwater appropriation decisions and help groundwater users better understand and plan for future groundwater needs associated with economic development.
This project will establish a groundwater monitoring network in the 11 county metropolitan area. The network will provide information about aquifer characteristics and natural water trends by monitoring healthy aquifers (non-stressed systems). The project will also develop an automated system that captures groundwater level and water use data. This system will enhance evaluation of changes in aquifers that are stressed by pumping from existing wells.
The Metro Big Rivers (MBR) partners successfully completed their work with the Phase 7 / ML2016 OHF appropriation. MBR exceeded original acreage goals by 14% and completed work on a total of 1,199 acres. Partners protected 145 acres through fee title acquisition and 194 acres through permanent conservation easement, restored 241 acres and enhanced 619 acres.
MBR 7 expended 99% of the OHF funds granted and leveraged the grant by 49% with almost $2 million in other funds.
Arts and Cultural Heritage funding will allow us to pursue three major initiatives between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017: (1) Offer special exhibits and programs promoting creative & critical thinking in our main museum in St. Paul. (2) A Pop-up satellite Museum at the Mall of America featuring four changing exhibits to attract thousands of new visitors. (3) Changing exhibits and access at Minnesota Children’s Museum-Rochester to ensure inclusive family experiences for the Rochester community.
Continue contracts with Conservation Corps of Minnesota (CCM) to engage youth of the community in natural resource management projects throughout Ramsey County Regional Parks and Trails. *(In 2013 the Conservation Corp of Minnesota (CCM) worked on over 20 different natural resource projects within the Regional Park and Trails System, totaling over 5,900 hours. Of those total hours, approximately, 1,300 hours were assisting high school youth on natural resource projects and environmental education).
Develop and implement out-reach for nature and outdoor recreation based programming for people of low income and color throughout Ramsey County Regional Parks and Trails. (year 2 of 2)
White Earth has acquired all 2,034 acres and transferred them into fee title status. Initial assessment/inventory of habitat conditions and needs were conducted in summer of 2017. Most illegal dump sites were removed in summer of 2017. The parcel located east of Lower Rice lake adjacent to HWY 92, which contained remnants of ~ 5 acres of food plots, were planted into a pollinator prairie mix. This prairie planting makes the property compliant with the MN Buffer Law. This east parcel is in the planning stages of an early succession forest manage plan.
Reconstruct the 3,800 SF Cherokee Regional Park Play Area to provide active play opportunities for children between the ages of 2-12. Cherokee Regional Park receives approximately 340,000 visits per year, approximately 10% of which are of Hispanic background
Supplement improvements for a trailhead facility south of Co. Rd. I including design/engineering, construction, demolition, grading, landscaping, trails, parking, building, roads, stormwater management, utilities, signage, site and play equipment, amenities, habitat restoration, access to the water trail, lighting.
