HCP VI - Fisheries Habitat Restoration (2h)
Overall Project Outcome and Results
Citizens of the state of Minnesota benefit from this project by having a better fish community structure in Mills Lake, Blue Earth Co, and Horseshoe Lake, Rice County. They also benefit from improved stream habitat for trout on Winnebago Creek, Houston Co. This then creates better fishing and recreation available in high priority waterbodies. The portions of the work that the DNR was responsible for was completed on June 30, 2011. Design and planning for two barriers to prevent carp migration was the basis for these two projects. The projects were installed with the assistance of partners. The Horseshoe Lake barrier is completed while high water resulted in the Mills Lake installation being delayed until this fall. Once both are completed, we will have enhanced approximately 654 acres total. Another project done was plans, designs, and purchase of materials to restore 3,200 feet of trout waters on Winnebago Creek. Due to high waters, the partners will finish the installation this fall. Long term maintenance of these projects is going to be shared with the partners. These funds were also used to get the designs done for the Hartley Lake fish passage project.
Project Results Use and Dissemination
Information on HCP project results have been shared and disseminated through all partner organizations. The Environmental Trust Fund provides information to the general public on how the lottery funds are spent for natural resource activities.
$3,375,000 is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the sixth appropriation for acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $770,000 is for the Department of Natural Resources agency programs and $2,605,000 is for agreements as follows: $450,000 with Pheasants Forever; $50,000 with Minnesota Deer Hunters Association; $895,000 with Ducks Unlimited, Inc.; $85,000 with National Wild Turkey Federation; $365,000 with the Nature Conservancy; $210,000 with Minnesota Land Trust; $350,000 with the Trust for Public Land; $100,000 with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $50,000 with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and $50,000 with Friends of Detroit Lakes Watershed Management District to plan, restore, and acquire fragmented landscape corridors that connect areas of quality habitat to sustain fish, wildlife, and plants. The United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service is a cooperating partner in the appropriation. Expenditures are limited to the project corridor areas as defined in the work program. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum habitat and facility management standards as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program. All funding for conservation easements must include a long-term stewardship plan and funding for monitoring and enforcing the agreement. To the maximum extent practical, consistent with contractual easement or fee acquisition obligations, the recipients shall utilize staff resources to identify future projects and shall maximize the implementation of biodiverse, quality restoration projects in the project proposal into the first half of the 2010 fiscal year.
Click on "Final Report" under "Project Details".
Click on "Final Report" under "Project Details".