Minnesota Sharp-Tailed Grouse Society Inc

THE MINNESOTA SHARP-TAILED GROUSE SOCIETY WILL WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ACROSSTHE STATE TO ASSIST IN ADMINISTERING THE PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM FOR THE BENEFIT OF FEDERAL TRUSTRESOURCES ON PRIVATE LAND. OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE TO RESTORE AND ENHANCE WETLAND, GRASSLAND, AND BRUSHLANDHABITAT RESOURCES IN HIGH PRIORITY AREAS AS IDENTIFIED IN THE PRAIRIE POTHOLE JOINT VENTURE, THE UPPERMISSISSIPPI GREAT LAKES JOINT VENTURE AND THE MINNESOTA PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM 2022-2026 STRATEGIC PLAN. FUNDS WILL BE OBLIGATED AND SPENT ON HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS ON PRIVATE LANDS THAT MEET FWS640.1 PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM POLICIES. GOALS ARE TO RESTORE 800 ACRES OF WETLAND AND UPLAND HABITAT IN HIGH PRIORITY FOCUS AREAS THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA.

2021 MSGS AND PFW COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

THE MINNESOTA SHARP-TAILED GROUSE SOCIETY WILL WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ACROSS THE STATE TO ASSIST IN ADMINISTERING THE PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM FOR THE BENEFIT OF FEDERAL TRUST RESOURCES ON PRIVATE LAND. OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE TO RESTORE AND ENHANCE WETLAND, GRASSLAND, AND BRUSH-LAND HABITAT RESOURCES IN HIGH PRIORITY AREAS AS IDENTIFIED IN THE PRAIRIE POTHOLE JOINT VENTURE, THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI GRAET LAKES JOINT VENTURE, AND THE MINNESOTA PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUS AREAS. FUNDS WILL BE OBLIGATED AND SPENT ON HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS ON PRIVATE LANDS THAT MEET FWS 640.1 PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM POLICIES. GOALS ARE TO RESTORE 334 ACRES OF WETLAND AND 506 ACRES OF UPLAND HABITAT IN HIGH PRIORITY FOCUS AREAS THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA.

COLLABORATION BETWEEN MSGS AND MINNESOTA PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM TO RESTORE WETLANDS AND UPLAND HABITAT ON PRIVATE LANDS AND HABITAT CONSERVATION EASEMENTS.THE MINNESOTA SHARP-TAILED GROUSE SOCIETY WILL WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ACROSS THE STATE TO ASSIST IN ADMINISTERING THE PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM FOR THE BENEFIT OF FEDERAL TRUST RESOURCES ON PRIVATE LAND. OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE TO RESTORE AND ENHANCE WETLAND, GRASSLAND, AND BRUSHLAND HABITAT RESOURCES IN HIGH PRIORITY AREAS AS IDENTIFIED IN THE PRAIRIE POTHOLE JOINT VENTURE, THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI GREAT LAKES JOINT VENTURE AND THE MINNESOTA PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM STRATEGIC PLAN. FUNDS WILL BE OBLIGATED AND SPENT ON HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS ON PRIVATE LANDS THAT MEET FWS 640.1 PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM POLICIES. GOALS ARE TO RESTORE 400 ACRES OF HABITAT IN HIGH PRIORITY FOCUS AREAS THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA.

THE MINNESOTA SHARP-TAILED GROUSE SOCIETY, INC. IS REQUESTING FUNDING FROM THE PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM (PFW) TO DELIVER COST-SHARE FUNDING TO PRIVATE LANDOWNERS IN MINNESOTA. THE FUNDING WILL BE USED TO RESTORE AND ENHANCE HABITAT ON PRIVATE LANDS FOR WATER QUALITY PURPOSES (BOTH WETLAND AND UPLAND HABITAT IMPROVEMENTS) WHICH PROVIDES MUTUAL BENEFIT TO MIGRATORY BIRDS, POLLINATORS, AND LISTED, AT-RISK, AND OTHER ENDEMIC SPECIES OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WATERSHED. THOSE SPECIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO MALLARD, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, WOOD DUCK, BLACK-CROWED NIGHT HERON, AMERICAN BITTERN, BLANDINGS TURTLE AND MONARCH BUTTERFLY. THE FUNDING TO SUPPORT THIS WORK IS REQUESTED AT 157,500. WITH THIS FUNDING, IT IS REASONABLE TO EXPECT 15-20 PRIVATE LANDOWNER PROJECTS AND RESTORATION OF 150 ACRES (20 WETLAND ACRES PER YEAR AND 30 ACRES OF UPLAND PER YEAR FOR THREE YEARS).

THE PROJECTS IDENTIFIED IN THIS AWARD WILL SUPPORT LOCAL ECONOMIES THROUGH HIRING SPECIALIZED AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS TO COMPLETE THE SCOPE OF WORK (E.G. REMOVING SEDIMENT WITH EXCAVATORS, BULLDOZERS, BACKHOES AND OTHER EQUIPMENT THAT HAS WASHED IN FROM THE UPLANDS INTO WETLAND BASINS FOR THE PURPOSES OF RESTORING THE HYDROLOGY AND IMPROVE WATER STORAGE OF THE WATERSHED USE TRACTORS AND BROADCAST SEEDERS TO PLANT SEED IMPORTANT TO WILDLIFE OF THE LOCAL AREA). THE EXPECTED DELIVERABLE AND OUTCOMES OF THIS SPECIFIC FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AWARD IS TO PROVIDE IMPROVED WILDLIFE HABITAT FOR FEDERAL TRUST RESOURCES SUCH AS MIGRATORY WATERFOWL, SHOREBIRDS, AND POLLINATORS BY PERFORMING RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT ACTIVITY ON A MINIMUM OF 500 ACRES. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES ARE: THE PRIVATE LANDOWNERS PARTICIPATING WITH USFWS PFW, CONTRACTORS OPERATING HEAVY EQUIPMENT FOR RESTORATION, LOCAL ECONOMIES, AND GENERAL PUBLIC BENEFITING FROM THE IMPROVED WATER QUALITY, HABITAT CONNECTIVITY FOR WILDLIFE THAT SUPPORTS SPORTSMEN AND OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS. THIS PROJECT SUPPORTS THE PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE ACT (16 U.S.C. 3771-3774) WHICH PROVIDES RESTORATION, ENHANCEMENT, AND MANAGEMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT THROUGH THE PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM, A PROGRAM THAT WORKS WITH VOLUNTARY PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO CONDUCT COST-EFFECTIVE HABITAT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES IN THE UNITED STATES.