Minnesota Land Trust

THE MINNESOTA LAND TRUST (MLT), WILL SUPPORT THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (SERVICE) WITHIN THE PRAIRIE POTHOLE REGION (PPR) OF MINNESOTA TO EVALUATE AND RESTORE 3500 ACRES OF NATIVE GRASSLANDS AND WETLANDS ON PRIVATELY OWNED LANDS PROTECTED BY SERVICE HABITAT EASEMENTS OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS. THIS PROJECT WILL IMPLEMENT NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE, WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, HABITAT LOSS AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AS PART OF THE SERVICES REFUGE SYSTEM ENHANCEMENT 2024 PROGRAM. THE SERVICE HAS INITIATED A LANDSCAPE SCALE GRASSLAND AND WETLAND CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION EFFORT TO ACCELERATE CLIMATE RESILIENCY OF NATIVE HABITATS IN THE PRAIRIE POTHOLE REGION (PPR) OF MINNESOTA. THE SERVICE REQUIRES MORE ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY TO DELIVER HABITAT RESTORATION OUTCOMES TO MEET THE SERVICE PROGRAMS OBJECTIVES. THE SERVICE SEEKS TO ADVANCE THIS INITIATIVE BY EXPANDING EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRAMS TO EFFICIENTLY DELIVER CONSERVATION OUTCOMES. THE MINNESOTA LAND TRUST SHALL SPECIFICALLY COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES:1. SERVE AS PROJECT MANAGER FOR APPROVED SUB CONTRACTS THAT SHALL RESULT IN HABITAT RESTORATION.2. WORK TO OBTAIN THE FUNDING FOR SAID SUB CONTRACTS3. COORDINATE WITH THE SERVICE REGULARLY TO PRIORITIZE PROJECTS, TRACK PROGRESS AND ALLOCATERESOURCES TO COMPLETE PROJECTS. PARTICIPATE IN THE SERVICES PARTNER MEETINGS ANDCOORDINATE ACTIVITIES WITH OTHER SERVICE PARTNERS.4. CONDUCT OUTREACH AND DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH AGENCIES AND LANDOWNERS TO ADVANCECONSERVATION OF WETLANDS AND GRASSLANDS IN THE PPR OF MINNESOTA.5 WORK WITH SERVICE PERSONNEL TO IDENTIFY HABITAT RESTORATION ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS TO BESTARTED EACH YEAR (THE WORK PLAN). SECURE AND ADMINISTER NON-FEDERAL FUNDS TOACCOMPLISH WORK PLAN PROJECTS.6. COMPLETE ALL ASSIGNED RESTORATION PLANS, SURVEYS, DESIGNS, MAPS AND AGREEMENTS.

FUNDS UNDER THIS AWARD ARE TO BE USED TO WORK WITH THE SERVICE TO COORDINATE AND FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION DESIGN (LCD) FOR THE LOWER ST. LOUIS RIVER AND WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR. THE LCD PROJECT WILL PROVIDE PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS GEOGRAPHIC AREA A FRAMEWORK AND PROCESS BY WHICH LAND USE DECISIONS MAY BE DEVELOPED TO ENHANCE COMPLEMENTARY LAND-BASED THEMES OF COMMUNITY HEALTH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY.

GREAT LAKES RESTORATION INITIATIVE: PLANTING FOR HABITAT RESILIENCY IN ASH-DOMINATED COASTAL FOREST

COSTAL- FUNDS UNDER THIS AWARD ARE TO BE USED TO RESTORE IMPERILED CRITICAL AVIAN HABITAT IN THE ST. LOUIS RIVER ESTUARY.

FUNDS UNDER THIS AWARD ARE TO BE USED TO RESTORE AND ENHANCE NATIVE RIPARIAN AND EMERGENT COASTAL WETLAND VEGETATION COMMUNITIES AND CONTROL POPULATIONS OF EXOTIC INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES ON UP TO 200 ACRES OF LAND ON, ADJACENT TO, OR WITHIN PROXIMITY OF KINGSBURY BAY AND GRASSY POINT TO ENHANCE LOWER ST. LOUIS RIVER AREA OF CONCERN AQUATIC HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS.

RESTORE COASTAL WETLANDS AT GRASSY POINT

RESTORE 5.5 ACRES OF HABITAT AND 1.1 MILES OF SHORELINE ON INTERSTATE ISLAND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

RESTORE NATIVE RIPARIAN AND EMERGENT COASTAL WETLAND VEGETATION COMMUNITIES AT GRASSY POINT TO ADVANCE LOWER ST LOUIS RIVER AREA OF CONCERN AOC AQUATIC AND WETLAND HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS NRDA FUNDS WILL BE USED TO COMPLETE PLANTING CONSTRUCTION OF THE FULL PROJECT THIS PROJECT ENHANCES HABITAT FOR USFWS LAKE SUPERIOR FOCAL SPECIES CANADA WARBLER, COMMON TERNS AND LAKE STURGEON

CROOKED LAKE BASIN LANDOWNER OUTREACH