HCP VI - Lakescaping for Wildlife & Water Quality (2j)
Overall Project Outcome and Results
For Phase 6 of the Habitat Corridors Partnership project a total of eight lakescaping buffer zones were proposed for selection, planning, and installation in habitat corridors 3, 4, 7, and 9. This project exceeded that goal for a total of nine buffer zones, which were completed on schedule and under budget, totaling 1298 frontage feet of shoreline. This equates to an average cost of $55.82 per foot for planning, installing, and maintaining these shoreline buffer zones which are designed to improve water quality and fish and wildlife habitat.
In addition to the buffer zones, two field days were provided for the public in 2010 to view buffer zones that had previously been installed. One field day was held near Grand Rapids and one was held in the Alexandria vicinity.
The final component of this activity was to collect native origin plant seeds and propagules in 2009 and 2010 for propagation and subsequent planting on buffer zone sites. The goal was to collect seeds for a total of 80 plant species. However, a total of 92 species of native plant seeds and propagules were collected and subsequently used in the plantings.
This has been a very successful effort and an excellent partnership between the DNR's Division of Ecological and Water Resources and the Division of Fish and Wildlife to carry out this effort to promote stewardship of lakeshore habitat on private shorelands.
Project Results Use and Dissemination
Completion of Phase 6 brings to 73 the total number of lakescaping buffer zone demonstration areas that have been installed in 7 habitat corridors in 22 Minnesota counties since May of 2000 with LCMR and LCCMR support provided from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. This initiative has been instrumental in promoting this concept of lakeshore stewardship not only throughout Minnesota but also in adjacent states and as far off as Washington state and South Carolina. The book Lakescaping for Wildlife and Water Quality and the new on-line version of Restore Your Shore provide a continuing source of information for people to learn how to plan and install their own buffer zones. Also, the DNR Shoreland Habitat Program continues to offer on-the-ground assistance to local lakeshore associations, landowners, and local and county units of government to initiate lakeshore buffer zones throughout the state. The LCCMR deserves considerable credit for providing funding to help promote this essential concept for stewardship of privately owned lakeshore in Minnesota.
$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".