North Dakota Natural Resources Trust Inc

NORTH DAKOTA NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION

PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PERSERVE, ENHANCE, RESTORE AND MANAGE WETLANDS AND ASSOCIATE WILDLIF

NORTH DAKOTA NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST

NORTH DAKOTA HABITAT RESTORATION, ENHANCEMENT AND CREATION PROJECT PHASE II

A SPECIAL EMPHASIS WILL BE PLACED ON RESTORING, CREATING AND ENHANCING WETLAND AND GRASSLAND HABITATS THAT ARE VITAL TO BREEDING POPULATIONS OF A WIDE VARIETY OF BIRD GUILDS. PRIMARY HABITAT CONSERVATION PRACTICES TO BE JOINTLY IMPLEMENTED BY THE SERVICE AND THE TRUST INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, WETLAND CREATIONS, WETLAND ENHANCEMENTS, WETLAND RESTORATIONS, GRASSLAND RESTORATIONS (SEEDINGS), ROTATIONAL GRAZING SYSTEMS, ALTERNATIVE WATERING SYSTEMS FOR LIVESTOCK, PRESCRIBED GRASSLAND BURNS AND RIPARIAN RESTORATIONS. ADDITIONAL EMPHASIS WILL BE PLACED ON OUTREACH, COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATIVE CONSERVATION EFFORTS DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS IN NORTH DAKOTA AND CREATE ADDITIONAL HABITAT CONSERVATION OPPORTUNITIES. ALL INDIVIDUAL HABITAT PROJECTS WILL BE FACILITATED BY SITE-SPECIFIC PRIVATE LANDOWNER AGREEMENTS (PLA'S) AS APPROVED AND ADMINISTERED BY THE SERVICE'S ND PFW PROGRAM.

ND HABITAT RESTORATION, ENHANCEMENT AND CREATION PROJECT

FUNDING TO PRESERVE, ENHANCE, RESTORE, AND MANAGE WETLANDS AND ASSOCIATED WILDLIFE HABITAT, GRASSLANDS AND RIPARIAN AREAS IN THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOT

PROVIDE FUNDING FOR TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL FISH PASSAGE PROGRAM THROUGH THE FISHERIES AND AQUATIC CONSERVATION FIELD OFFICES.

NORTH DAKOTA DRIFT PRAIRIE PROJECT-III, JOHNSON TRACT FEE ACQUISITION

THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO CONTINUE A STRONG AND PRODUCTIVE STATEWIDE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AND THE NORTH DAKOTA NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST TO FACILITATE VOLUNTARY HABITAT CONSERVATION WORK ON PRIVATE AND TRIBAL LANDS. THESE ACTIONS ARE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL TO THE SERVICE THE TRUST AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS RURAL COMMUNITIES TRIBAL COMMUNITIES HUNTERS AND WILDLIFE ENTHUSIASTS. A SPECIAL EMPHASIS WILL BE PLACED ON RESTORING CREATING AND ENHANCING WETLAND AND GRASSLAND HABITATS THAT ARE VITAL TO BREEDING POPULATIONS OF A WIDE VARIETY OF BIRD SPECIES. PRIMARY HABITAT CONSERVATION PRACTICES TO BE JOINTLY IMPLEMENTED BY THE SERVICE AND THE TRUST INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO WETLAND RESTORATIONS GRASSLAND RESTORATIONS ROTATIONAL GRAZING SYSTEMS ALTERNATIVE WATERING SYSTEMS FOR LIVESTOCK AND WETLAND CREATIONS. ALL INDIVIDUAL HABITAT PROJECTS WILL BE FACILITATED BY SITE SPECIFIC PRIVATE LANDOWNER AGREEMENTS AS APPROVED AND ADMINISTERED BY THE SERVICES NORTH DAKOTA PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM. THESE CONSERVATION ACTIONS WILL HAVE DIRECT AND ENDURING BENEFITS TO THE PUBLIC IN THE FORM OF HEALTHIER BIRD POPULATIONS HEALTHIER SOILS AND CLEANER WATER. RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF GRASSLAND AND WETLAND HABITATS FROM THIS PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS MEETING POPULATION AND HABITAT OBJECTIVES IDENTIFIED IN THE SERVICES 2022 TO 2026 MOUNTAIN PRAIRIE REGION STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM THE NORTH DAKOTA STATE WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN AND THE PRAIRIE POTHOLE JOINT VENTURE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND PPJV ND STATE TACTICAL PLAN.

IN SUPPORT OF THE USFWS MISSION TO RECOVER FEDERALLY LISTED SPECIES SUCH AS THE THREATENED DAKOTA SKIPPER, AND TO CONSERVE GRASSLANDS, THE NORTH DAKOTA FIELD OFFICE PROPOSES TO CONDUCT POLLINATOR SURVEYS IN THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE OBJECTIVES, WE PROPOSE TO BEGIN SURVEILLANCE FOR THE AT-RISK POLLINATORS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE DAKOTA SKIPPER AND WESTERN BUMBLEBEE, IN SUITABLE HABITAT THROUGH THE STATE. THE INFORMATION IS THEN TO BE USED TO INFORM HOW MITIGATION FUNDS ARE EXPENDED TO THE BENEFIT OF POLLINATORS AT-RISK. THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS BETWEEN THE USFWS AND NDNRT. THE USFWS WILL PROVIDE NDNRT WITH THE FUNDING AND ASSISTANCE TO CONDUCT THE SURVEYS. ADDITIONALLY THE USFWS WILL PROVIDE FUNDING AND ASSISTANCE TO ANALYZE DATA COLLECTED TO INFORM/IMPLEMENT GRASSLAND CONSERVATION. THESE SURVEYS WILL HELP US TO DETERMINE HOW TO BEST SPEND THE MITIGATION FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT CONSULTATIONS.

THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT (AGREEMENT) IS TO CONTINUE A STRONG AND PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE SERVICE AND THE TRUST TO FACILITATE HABITAT CONSERVATION WORK ON PRIVATE LANDS IN THE PPR, INCLUDING THOSE THAT ARE PROTECTED BY SERVICE PERPETUAL GRASSLAND OR WETLAND EASEMENTS. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO IMPLEMENT PROJECTS IN THE PPR PORTION OF NORTH DAKOTA, HOWEVER FUNDS MAY ALSO BE USED TO COMPLETE ELIGIBLE PROJECTS IN THE PPR OF SOUTH DAKOTA AND MONTANA, AS NEEDED, TO MEET PPR-WIDE OBJECTIVES. A SPECIAL EMPHASIS WILL BE PLACED ON RESTORING OR ENHANCING WETLAND AND GRASSLAND HABITATS THAT ARE VITAL TO BREEDING POPULATIONS OF A WIDE VARIETY OF BIRD GUILDS. PRIMARY HABITAT CONSERVATION PRACTICES TO BE JOINTLY IMPLEMENTED BY THE SERVICE AND THE TRUST INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, WETLAND RESTORATIONS, GRASSLAND RESTORATIONS (SEEDINGS), ROTATIONAL GRAZING SYSTEMS, AND ALTERNATIVE WATERING SYSTEMS FOR LIVESTOCK. ALL INDIVIDUAL HABITAT PROJECTS WILL BE FACILITATED BY SITE-SPECIFIC PRIVATE LANDOWNER AGREEMENTS (PLAS) AS APPROVED AND ADMINISTERED BY THE SERVICES PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE (PFW) PROGRAM. THE HABITAT PROJECTS COMPLETED PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT WILL SIMULTANEOUSLY PROVIDE BENEFITS TO PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, LOCAL RURAL COMMUNITIES, AND POPULATIONS OF A WIDE VARIETY OF BIRD SPECIES. ALL THESE ACTIONS AND ASSOCIATED RESULTS WILL HAVE DIRECT AND ENDURING BENEFITS TO THE PUBLIC IN THE FORM OF HEALTHIER BIRD POPULATIONS AND WILL HELP IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND AIR QUALITY WHILE HELPING ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH LONG-TERM CARBON STORAGE. RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF GRASSLAND AND WETLAND HABITATS FROM THIS PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS MEETING POPULATION AND HABITAT OBJECTIVES IDENTIFIED IN THE SERVICES 2022-2026 MOUNTAIN-PRAIRIE REGION STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM, THE NORTH DAKOTA STATE WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN AND THE PRAIRIE POTHOLE JOINT VENTURE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND PPJV ND STATE TACTICAL PLAN

TO IMPROVE THE GRASSLAND AND WETLAND FUNCTION OF EXISTING NRCS WRE-WRP CONSERVATION EASEMENTS.

THE GREAT PLAINS FISH HABITAT PARTNERSHIP IS IMPLEMENTING EFFORTS TO RESTORE THE AQUATIC HABITATS OF THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NATIONAL FISH HABITAT ACTION PLAN. THE OVERALL GOAL IS TO PROTECT RESTORE AND ENHANCE PRIORITY HABITATS IDENTIFIED BY THE PARTNERSHIP.THE NORTH DAKOTA NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST IS RECOGNIZED BY THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AS A NONPROFIT CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION.THE GREAT PLAINS FISH HABITAT PARTNERSHIP IS A CONSORTIUM OF AGENCIES AND STATES THAT IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS FOR PRIORITY AQUATIC SPECIES ACROSS THE GREAT PLAINS. THE PARTNERSHIP IS ALSO RECOGNIZED UNDER THE NATIONAL FISH HABITAT A PROGRAM UNDER THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.

GREAT PLAINS FISH HABITAT PARTNERSHIP HABITAT CONSERVATION.

THE 2017 PPJV IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND THE 2022 STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS PLAN OUTLINE DETAILED OBJECTIVES FORACHIEVING THE GOALS OF THE PPJV. WITH THE VAST MAJORITY OF LAND ACROSS THE PRAIRIE POTHOLE REGION HELD IN PRIVATEOWNERSHIP, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT PPJV PARTNERS BUILD TRUST WITH RANCHERS, FARMERS, AND OTHER PRIVATE LANDOWNERSBY SHOWING HOW MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION AND AGRICULTURE CAN COEXIST AND THRIVE. FROM ITS INCEPTION, THE TRUSTHAS PLAYED A VITAL ROLE AS FACILITATOR BETWEEN AGRICULTURAL AND CONSERVATION INTERESTS IN NORTH DAKOTA. INADDITION TO FACILITATING AND FUNDING SOUND PROJECTS, ITS GOAL IS TO IDENTIFY COMMON ISSUES, CREATE DIALOGUE, ANDRESOLVE CONFLICTS. THE LANDSCAPE OF NORTH DAKOTA IS DOMINATED BY AGRICULTURAL USES, SO DEVELOPING AND MAINTAININGRELATIONSHIPS WITH INDIVIDUAL LANDOWNERS AND WITH AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS IS BOTH DESIRABLE AND CRITICAL TOTHE CONSERVATION APPROACH PRACTICED BY THE PPJV.GIVEN PAST AND CURRENT WORK UNDERTAKEN BY THE NORTH DAKOTA NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST, THEY CONTINUE TO GAIN ACCESS,TRUST, AND ACCEPTANCE OF PRIVATE LANDOWNERS IN NORTH DAKOTA, SO THE PPJV DESIRES TO SUPPORT THE TRUST TO FURTHERCONSERVATION OPPORTUNITIES WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, NAMELY THOSE ENGAGED IN AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES. THE PURPOSEOF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE NORTH DAKOTA NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST TO ADDRESS ACTIONSIDENTIFIED IN THE 2017 PPJV IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND THE 2022 PPJV STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS PLAN AS IT BROADLYRELATES TO PRIVATE LANDOWNERS AND MIGRATORY BIRD HABITAT CONSERVATION. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE EFFORTS TO COORDINATEPARTNERSHIPS AND OUTREACH WITH AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AND ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATE COMPLETE WETLAND ANDGRASSLAND CONSERVATION PROJECTS THROUGH COORDINATION OF PARTNERS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE, OR LEAD IF APPROPRIATE,COMMUNICATION EFFORTS IN SUPPORT OF PPJV GOALS AND OBJECTIVES SUPPORT TOURS, WORKSHOPS AND OUTREACH RELATIVE TOPPJV GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

LINKING AGRICULTURAL AND CONSERVATION INTERESTS TO HELP SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2017 PPJV IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVE PROGRAM

GREAT PLAINS FISH HABITAT PARTNERSHIP HABITAT CONSERVATION

THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (SERVICE) MUST CONDUCT GRASSLAND MONITORING AS PART OF ITS STATUTORY OBLIGATION TO STEWARD NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM (NWRS) IN NATIVE HABITATS IN THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA. THE NORTH DAKOTA NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST (TRUST) IS RECOGNIZED BY THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AS A NONPROFIT CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION UNDER CODE SECTION 501(C)(3). THE MISSION OF THE TRUST IS TO PRESERVE, ENHANCE, RESTORE, AND MANAGE WETLANDS AND ASSOCIATED WILDLIFE HABITAT, GRASSLANDS, AND RIPARIAN AREAS IN THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA. THE TRUST WORKS WITH AN ARRAY OF PARTNERS WITHIN THE STATE, COUNTY, AND FEDERAL SPHERE OF AGRICULTURAL AND CONSERVATION COMMUNITIES TO FACILITATE RECOGNITION, APPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT, AND PROTECTION OF NORTH DAKOTA S UNIQUE NATURAL RESOURCE VALUES. THE TRUST S CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES ARE PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON PRIVATE LAND AND DEVELOPING CONSERVATION SOLUTIONS THAT SUSTAIN FARMING AND RANCHING OPERATIONS WHILE BENEFITING BIRD POPULATIONS AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES ACROSS NORTH DAKOTA.THE SERVICE PLANS TO MONITOR GRASSLAND CONDITIONS ACROSS NORTH DAKOTA TO GUIDE EFFICIENT, ACCOUNTABLE MANAGEMENT ACTIONS AND CONSERVATION PRACTICES. THIS INCLUDES CONDUCTING FIELD BASED VEGETATION ASSESSMENTS SUPPORTED BY GIS TECHNOLOGIES AND STANDARDIZED DATA COLLECTION PROTOCOLS, USING SPECIALIZED TECHNICAL APPLICATIONS TO ENSURE ACCURACY AND CONSISTENCY. BECAUSE THE SCALE OF THIS EFFORT EXCEEDS THE SERVICES CAPACITY TO COMPLETE ALONE, THE NORTH DAKOTA NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST WILL PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE BY CONDUCTING THE SURVEYS NEEDED TO INFORM APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT ACTIONS SUCH AS GRAZING MODIFICATIONS, INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL, PRESCRIBED FIRE, OR OTHER RESTORATION TREATMENTS. THESE TREATMENTS ARE NECESSARY TO IMPROVE HABITAT QUALITY FOR BIRDS, POLLINATORS, AND OTHER WILDLIFE. THE TRUST WILL COLLABORATE CLOSELY WITH THE SERVICE TO COORDINATE SITE SELECTION AND ESTABLISH DATA COLLECTION PROTOCOLS THAT SUPPORT CONSISTENT, SCIENCE BASED MONITORING ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE.DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES:THE INITIAL PLAN IS TO SURVEY 18-25 UNITS TO GENERATE THE DATA NEEDED TO GUIDE ACTIONS FOR MAINTAINING AND RESTORING PRAIRIE ECOSYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT GRASSLAND CONSERVATION AND WILDLIFE, INCLUDING GAME SPECIES. KEY DELIVERABLES INCLUDE: A COMPREHENSIVE DATASET DOCUMENTING GRASSLAND CONDITION METRICS ACROSS ALL SURVEYED SITES. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE IMPROVED DECISION MAKING FOR GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT, MORE EFFICIENT USE OF CONSERVATION FUNDING, AND ENHANCED ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS THAT SUPPORT THE LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF PRAIRIE ECOSYSTEMS. THESE EFFORTS WILL STRENGTHEN HABITAT RESILIENCE AND CONTRIBUTE TO MEASURABLE GAINS FOR WATERFOWL, UPLAND GAME BIRDS, GRASSLAND SONGBIRDS, AND POLLINATOR POPULATIONS.INTENDED BENEFICIARIES:THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES OF THIS WORK INCLUDE: GRASSLAND-DEPENDENT WILDLIFE, SUCH AS MIGRATORY BIRDS, POLLINATORS, AND GAME SPECIES THAT RELY ON HEALTHY PRAIRIE ECOSYSTEMS PRIVATE LANDOWNERS AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS, WHO GAIN ACCESS TO CONSERVATION STRATEGIES THAT COMPLEMENT WORKING LANDS AND SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE RANCHING AND FARMING OPERATIONS THE BROADER CONSERVATION COMMUNITY, INCLUDING STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, NGOS, AND LOCAL PARTNERS ENGAGED IN HABITAT STEWARDSHIP THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, WHO BENEFIT FROM THE PRESERVATION OF NORTH DAKOTAS NATURAL HERITAGE, IMPROVED WILDLIFE POPULATIONS, HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES, AND THE ECOLOGICAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY INTACT GRASSLAND SYSTEMSTHROUGH COORDINATED MONITORING, TARGETED CONSERVATION ACTIONS, AND STRATEGIC USE OF FUNDING, THIS PARTNERSHIP WILL ENSURE THAT HABITAT RESTORATION EFFORTS PROVIDE LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL AND PUBLIC BENEFITS ACROSS NORTH DAKOTAS GRASSLAND LANDSCAPES.

WETLANDS RESERVE PROGRAM

WETLANDS RESERVE PROGRAM

WETLANDS RESERVE PROGRAM

WETLANDS RESERVE PROGRAM

CONSERVATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE - GE