All Projects

54 Results for
Recipient
Pheasants Forever
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$7,960,000
Fund Source

The proposal was to accelerate the protection of 1,220 acres of prairie grassland, wetland, and other wildlife habitat as State Wildlife Management Areas open to public hunting. Over the course of the appropriation, we acquired 11 parcels for a total of 1,484.05 acres which exceeded our total acre goal of 1,220 acres by 264.05 acres.  Breaking down acres by ecological section we acquired 876 acres in the metro, 152 acres in the forest/prairie, and 456 acres in the prairie.  We have a balance of $52,798 that will be returned to the Fund despite exceeding our acre goals.

Brown
Carver
Cottonwood
Jackson
Le Sueur
Lincoln
Martin
McLeod
Mower
Murray
Pipestone
Renville
Stearns
Stevens
Recipient
Pheasants Forever
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$6,830,000
Fund Source

The program was to accelerate the protection of 1,230 acres of prairie grassland, wetland, and other wildlife habitat as Waterfowl Production Areas open to public hunting in Minnesota. Over the course of the appropriation, we acquired 14 parcels for a total of 1,240.79 acres which exceeded our total acre goal of 1,230 acres by 10.79 acres.  Breaking down acres by ecological section we acquired 160 acres in the forest/prairie and 1,080.79 acres in the prairie.  We have a balance that will be returned to the Fund despite exceeding our acre goals.

Big Stone
Blue Earth
Clay
Jackson
Kandiyohi
Lac qui Parle
Lyon
Mahnomen
Murray
Rice
Stearns
Wright
Recipient
DNR
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,790,000
Fund Source

Many of Minnesota's wetlands have been lost and the remainder degraded.  The original proposal planned for 15,000 acres of wetland/shallow lake enhancement to provide critical habitat for each life stage of waterfowl and wetland wildlife.  The six projects subsequently completed with this appropriation enhanced 13,800 acres of wetlands and shallow lakes in the Prarie and Forest/Prairie Ecosections of Minnestoa.

Aitkin
Becker
Benton
Big Stone
Freeborn
Jackson
Kittson
Lac qui Parle
Le Sueur
Lincoln
Mille Lacs
Nicollet
Polk
Roseau
Todd
Wilkin
Recipient
Pheasants Forever
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$7,620,000
Fund Source

This proposal accelerates the permanent protection of 900 acres of wetlands (225 acres) and grasslands (675 acres) as Waterfowl Production Areas open to public hunting in Minnesota.

Big Stone
Blue Earth
Carver
Douglas
Faribault
Lincoln
Mahnomen
Murray
Otter Tail
Stearns
Stevens
Swift
Recipient
Pheasants Forever
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$7,452,000
Fund Source

This proposal accelerates the protection of 900 acres of prairie grassland, wetland, and other wildlife habitat as State Wildlife Management Areas open to public hunting.

Carver
Douglas
Grant
Kandiyohi
Martin
McLeod
Meeker
Nobles
Pope
Rock
Stearns
Wright
Yellow Medicine
Recipient
DNR
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$2,130,000
Fund Source

This proposal will address a backlog of shallow lake and wetland habitat work that will otherwise go unfunded. These projects will address work called for in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan, Long Range Duck Recovery Plan, and Shallow Lakes plan.

Aitkin
Anoka
Beltrami
Big Stone
Carver
Cass
Chippewa
Chisago
Cottonwood
Crow Wing
Dakota
Douglas
Freeborn
Kandiyohi
Kittson
Lac qui Parle
Le Sueur
Lincoln
Lyon
Mahnomen
Marshall
Martin
Meeker
Mille Lacs
Morrison
Mower
Murray
Nicollet
Nobles
Olmsted
Otter Tail
Pope
Roseau
Stearns
Swift
Todd
Waseca
Washington
Watonwan
Wright
Yellow Medicine
Recipient
DNR
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$4,880,000
Fund Source

We propose restoration and enhancement of prairie and savanna on WMA’s, SNA’s, and Native Prairie Banks in Minnesota and restoration and enhancement of bluff prairies on State Forest Land in southeast Minnesota.

Anoka
Becker
Beltrami
Benton
Big Stone
Blue Earth
Brown
Carver
Chippewa
Chisago
Clay
Cottonwood
Crow Wing
Dakota
Dodge
Faribault
Fillmore
Freeborn
Goodhue
Grant
Hennepin
Houston
Jackson
Kanabec
Kandiyohi
Lac qui Parle
Le Sueur
Lincoln
Lyon
Mahnomen
Martin
McLeod
Meeker
Mille Lacs
Morrison
Mower
Murray
Nicollet
Nobles
Norman
Olmsted
Otter Tail
Polk
Pope
Red Lake
Redwood
Renville
Rice
Roseau
Scott
Sherburne
Sibley
Stearns
Stevens
Swift
Todd
Traverse
Wabasha
Waseca
Washington
Watonwan
Wilkin
Winona
Wright
Yellow Medicine
Recipient
University of St. Thomas
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$203,000

The occurrences of contaminants including antibiotics, other pharmaceuticals, and personal care products in the environment have gained increasing attention in recent years because of their potential health and ecological impacts. However, serious gaps remain in our understanding of these contaminants and the significance of the threats they may pose, such as to drinking water. Through this appropriation scientists at the University of St.

Anoka
Dakota
Goodhue
Hennepin
Ramsey
Sherburne
Stearns
Wabasha
Wright
2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$381,896
Fund Source

This project is studying the response of certain aquifers to groundwater pumping. Research involves an aquifer test, which is an experiment where a well is pumped at a known, constant, pumping rate; changes in groundwater levels and stream flows in the areas around the aquifer test site are observed while the well is being pumped. These tests help us understand how groundwater flows between aquifers, which are underground rock and sand layers that hold water.

Dakota
Recipient
Trust for Public Land
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,780,000
Fund Source

Permanently protected 496 acres (142% of our protect goal) within the Cannon River watershed; areas include wetlands, prairies, Big Woods forest, and shallow lake shoreline. This has reversed habitat loss, improved watershed function, and increased access to public lands.

Rice
Recipient
Trust for Public Land
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,380,000
Fund Source

Through fee-title acquisition, the Trust for Public Land permanently protected 242 acres (88% of our goal) in the Cannon River Watershed. This resulted in one new Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) and four additions to existing WMAs. Now publicly accessible, these protected areas include wetland, prairie, and "Big Woods" forest habitat. The permanent preservation of these places has reversed habitat loss, allowed for habitat restoration, and increased access to public lands for hunting, fishing, hiking, and other outdoor recreation opportunities.

Goodhue
Le Sueur
Rice
Recipient
MN DNR
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$600,000

Grassland ecosystems evolved to depend on periodic disturbances, such as fire and grazing, to maintain their health and stability. Periodic disturbances help control invasive species, add nutrients back into the soil, germinate plant seeds, enhance wildlife habitat, and more. In Minnesota habitat managers have used fire as a disturbance tool for decades but the use of grazing has been much rarer, mostly because of a lack of necessary infrastructure such as fencing.

Becker
Big Stone
Blue Earth
Brown
Chippewa
Clay
Douglas
Faribault
Grant
Kittson
Lac qui Parle
Mahnomen
Norman
Otter Tail
Polk
Pope
Redwood
Stearns
Stevens
Traverse
Wilkin
Recipient
DNR
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$6,690,000
Fund Source

With the ML 2015 appropriation The Conservation Partners Legacy (CPL) Grant Program awarded 70 grants, 22 of these grants were the metropolitan area. Over 24,000 acres were enhanced, 2,500 acres were restored, and 386 acres protected through these 70 projects. Thirty-eight counties had CPL projects completed in them through 47 unique organizations. The average project for the ML 2015 grants was $96,000, with few exceptions most projects were completed on time and many were under budget.

Becker
Brown
Carlton
Carver
Cass
Dakota
Douglas
Fillmore
Goodhue
Grant
Hennepin
Itasca
Kanabec
Kandiyohi
Kittson
Koochiching
Lake
Lake of the Woods
Martin
Meeker
Mille Lacs
Murray
Nobles
Olmsted
Otter Tail
Pine
Pipestone
Polk
Pope
Ramsey
Rock
Sherburne
Sibley
St. Louis
Stevens
Washington
Wilkin
Recipient
Hiawatha Valley Resource Conservation & Development, Inc.
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$52,000

Terrestrial invasive plants such as buckthorn, wild parsnip, garlic mustard, and others are becoming widespread threats throughout many sites in Minnesota. Present chemical and mechanical control methods tend to be costly, effective only in the short-term, or have other negative environmental impacts. However, an alternative practice of using grazing animals for invasive species management is used successfully in many parts of the western United States.

Dodge
Fillmore
Freeborn
Goodhue
Houston
Mower
Olmsted
Rice
Steele
Wabasha
Winona
Recipient
MN DNR
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,200,000

The Minnesota County Geologic Atlas program is an ongoing effort begun in 1979 that is being conducted jointly by the University of Minnesota’s Minnesota Geological Survey and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This portion, called Part B and conducted by the DNR, analyzes water samples to understand water chemistry and sensitivity to pollution.

Anoka
Blue Earth
Clay
Houston
Morrison
Nicollet
Renville
Sherburne
Sibley
Wright
Recipient
MN DNR
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$2,000,000
Anoka
Brown
Clay
Houston
Kanabec
Meeker
Morrison
Nicollet
Redwood
Renville
Sherburne
Sibley
Winona
Wright
Recipient
MN Land Trust
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,690,000
Fund Source

Through this grant, the Minnesota Land Trust protected 641 acres and 39,415 feet (7.46 miles) of critical shoreland and high-quality wildlife habitats in Minnesota’s Northeast region through permanent conservation easements. Landowners donated $2,100,500 in easement value through this grant, greatly leveraging by 131% the $1,609,000 in grant funding provided by the Outdoor Heritage Fund. The amount of shoreland protected exceeded that proposed for the grant by 299%.

Carlton
Cook
Itasca
Kanabec
Koochiching
Lake
St. Louis
Recipient
Dakota County
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$4,100,000
Fund Source

During this grant time frame, Dakota County was able to protect habitat through acquisition of seven parcels, totaling 409 acres.  The fee title ownership of three of the parcels, totaling 197 acres, was transferred to the Minnesota DNR as part of establishing the new Hampton Woods Wildlife Management Area in Hampton and Castle Rock townships.

Dakota
Recipient
DNR
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$5,250,000
Fund Source

DNR completed nine stream habitat projects with this appropriation. Four fish passage projects opened up access to 180 miles of river and 13,521 acres of lake and wetland habitat. We enhanced habitat on 39 Aquatic Management Areas, totalling 1440 acres, through the efforts of four positions funded by this appropriation. It also funded two stream habitat positions that oversaw the completion of 23 DNR projects and over 50 partner-lead projects funded by various OHF sources.

Aitkin
Becker
Beltrami
Big Stone
Blue Earth
Cass
Chippewa
Clay
Cook
Cottonwood
Crow Wing
Dakota
Douglas
Fillmore
Hubbard
Itasca
Jackson
Le Sueur
Lincoln
Martin
Meeker
Morrison
Otter Tail
Polk
Renville
Rice
Rock
St. Louis
Wabasha
Winona
Recipient
DNR
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$2,220,000
Fund Source

The following table provides a short summary of the accomplishments under this appropriation.  In total, the DNR enhanced and restored 283 sites for a total of 17,087 acres.  

Becker
Beltrami
Big Stone
Blue Earth
Brown
Clay
Cottonwood
Douglas
Faribault
Fillmore
Goodhue
Grant
Houston
Jackson
Kandiyohi
Kittson
Lac qui Parle
Lyon
Marshall
Martin
Nobles
Norman
Otter Tail
Polk
Pope
Redwood
Renville
Rice
Roseau
Sibley
Stevens
Swift
Traverse
Wabasha
Winona
Yellow Medicine
Recipient
DNR
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$4,540,000
Fund Source

We will use a programmatic approach to achieve prioritized aquatic habitat protection, restoration, and enhancement of lakes and streams across all the LSOHC planning regions of Minnesota.

Aitkin
Becker
Blue Earth
Carlton
Carver
Cass
Clay
Crow Wing
Dakota
Douglas
Faribault
Fillmore
Freeborn
Goodhue
Houston
Hubbard
Itasca
Kanabec
Kandiyohi
Lake
Le Sueur
Meeker
Mower
Olmsted
Otter Tail
Pine
Pope
Redwood
Scott
St. Louis
Wabasha
Winona
Wright
Recipient
DNR
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$4,570,000
Fund Source

Acquire 910 acres of high priority habitats for designation as Wildlife Management Areas or Scientific & Natural Areas emphasizing Prairie Conservation Plan implementation and coordinating with partners. All lands will be open for public hunting, fishing and trapping.

Becker
Big Stone
Kandiyohi
Koochiching
Lincoln
Lyon
Meeker
Murray
Norman
Pine
Polk
Stearns
Recipient
Pheasants Forever
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,120,000
Fund Source

This project will utilize a combination of wetland restoration, invasive tree removal, seeding, and prescribed fire, to improve habitat quality, diversity, and productivity on Wildlife Management Areas and Waterfowl Production Areas within the prairie and metro regions of Minnesota.

Anoka
Brown
Carver
Clay
Cottonwood
Douglas
Faribault
Freeborn
Grant
Jackson
Kandiyohi
Lincoln
Lyon
Martin
McLeod
Meeker
Murray
Nobles
Otter Tail
Redwood
Renville
Rock
Sibley
Stearns
Stevens
Traverse
Washington
Watonwan
2025 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$300,000
2024 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$300,000
2023 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$250,000
2022 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$250,000
2021 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$250,000
2020 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$250,000
2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$250,000
2018 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$250,000
2017 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$250,000
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$250,000
2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$250,000
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$250,000
Fund Source

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.

Aitkin
Anoka
Becker
Beltrami
Benton
Carlton
Cass
Clearwater
Cook
Crow Wing
Fillmore
Goodhue
Houston
Hubbard
Isanti
Itasca
Kanabec
Koochiching
Lake
Lake of the Woods
Mahnomen
Mille Lacs
Morrison
Olmsted
Otter Tail
Pine
Roseau
Sherburne
St. Louis
Stearns
Todd
Wabasha
Wadena
Winona
Recipient
The Trust for Public Land
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,500,000

The Frogtown area of St. Paul is a culturally diverse, low-income neighborhood having less green space per child than any other neighborhood in the city and was recently identified as an area in need of a new park. This appropriation is being used by The Trust for Public Land, in partnership with the City of St. Paul, to acquire a portion of twelve acres of a currently vacant space in the area to establish the multi-purpose Frogtown Farm and Park.

Ramsey
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,808,000
Fund Source

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.

Clearwater
Douglas
Meeker
Swift
Wadena
Anoka
Becker
Hubbard
Pope
Ramsey
Stearns
Washington
Recipient
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$800,000
Becker
Blue Earth
Le Sueur
Nicollet
Olmsted
Ramsey
Sherburne
St. Louis
Stearns
Recipient
DNR and USFWS
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,710,000
Fund Source

The Lower Mississippi River Habitat Partnership included three distinct project components. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service enhanced 700 acres of wetland and bottomland forest habitat on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge’s (Refuge) Root River Tract in Houston County.

Dakota
Goodhue
Houston
Recipient
Friends of the Mississippi River

Friends of the Mississippi is using this appropriation to permanently protect six acres through fee title acquisition for addition to Fish Creek Natural Area near Maplewood, MN, and to restore and enhance approximately 134 acres of permanently protected prairie, savanna, wetland, and forest habitat in Dakota, Washington, Ramsey, and Hennepin counties. Specific restoration and enhancement activities will include updating management plans, soil preparation, prescribed burning, native vegetation installation, woody encroachment removal, and invasive species control.

Dakota
Hennepin
Ramsey
Washington
Recipient
Great River Greening

These funds will enable Great River Greening to restore approximately 90 acres of permanently protected forests, savanna, prairie, and wetland habitat and 0.18 miles of shoreland habitat while engaging hundreds of volunteers in the stewardship of the Metropolitan area's remaining natural areas. Specific activities include invasive species control, seeding/planting, prescribed burning, and other associated activities.

Anoka
Chisago
Dakota
Goodhue
Hennepin
Isanti
Ramsey
Scott
Sherburne
Washington
Recipient
Dakota County

Through this appropriation Dakota County plans to permanently protect approximately 27 acres of shoreland and contiguous upland in the Marcott Lakes area of Inver Grove Heights by securing a conservation easement from a willing landowner. For all acres protected, natural resource management plans will be prepared to ensure their long term stewardship. Additionally, restoration and enhancement activities are expected to occur on approximately 40 acres.

Dakota
Recipient
Minnesota Land Trust

With this appropriation, the Minnesota Land Trust plans to protect 100 acres of high quality forest, prairie, wetland, or shoreline habitat 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 Chisago, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, and Washington counties.

Anoka
Carver
Chisago
Dakota
Goodhue
Hennepin
Isanti
Le Sueur
Nicollet
Ramsey
Rice
Scott
Sherburne
Sibley
Washington
Wright
Recipient
MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust Inc

The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust is using this appropriation to purchase a total of approximately 100 acres of land and donated to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to expand the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Many benefits are anticipated from this project, including improved habitat connectivity, protection of native species, improved water quality in the Minnesota River, and increased public access to natural lands for activities such as hiking, hunting, and fishing. Restoration and management plans will be completed for all acquired lands.

Carver
Hennepin
Le Sueur
Scott
Sibley
Recipient
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$500,000
Carver
Hennepin
Le Sueur
Scott
Sibley
Recipient
MN VNWR Trust, Friends of Miss, GRG, MLT, TPL
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,720,000
Fund Source

Metro Big Rivers' restoration and enhancement partners (FMR and GRG) achieved their goals, converting through restoration a former rail yard in the urban core to 32 acres of prairie and enhancing 98 acres of prairie and forest at four other public conservation sites in the metropolitan area. The easement partner (MLT) exceeded goals and permanently protected 131 acres under two conservation easements in Washington County.

Anoka
Carver
Chisago
Dakota
Ramsey
Scott
Sherburne
Sibley
Washington
2021 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$0
2020 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$0
2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$0
2018 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$0
2017 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$0
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$0
2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$0
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$0
2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$0
2012 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,000,000
2011 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$4,000,000
Fund Source

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.

Anoka
Carver
Chisago
Dakota
Hennepin
Isanti
Ramsey
Scott
Washington
Wright
Sherburne
Recipient
MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust Inc; Friends of the Mississippi River, Great River Greening, MN Land Trust, Trust for Public Land
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$2,000,000
Fund Source

The Metro Big Rivers (MBR) Partnership successfully completed its work under the Phase 6 / ML2015 OHF appropriation, protecting 485 acres across 5 projects (198% of proposed) and restoring and enhancing a total of 1,055 acres (185% of proposed). The Partnership expended 99% of the OHF funds granted awarded to it and leveraged the grant by 57% with nearly $1,141,000 in other funds.

Carver
Dakota
Isanti
Ramsey
Scott
Sherburne
Wright