2007 PROJECTS

MN Laws 2007, Chapter 30, Section 2 (beginning July 1, 2007)

NOTE: For all projects, contact us to obtain the most up-to-date work programs for current projects (project updates are required twice each year) or the final reports of completed projects.

The following documents are short abstracts for projects funded during the 2007 Legislative Session. The final date of completion for these projects is listed at the end of the abstract. When available, we have provided links to a projects web site. The sites linked to this page are not created, maintained, or endorsed by the LCCMR office or the Minnesota Legislature.

Subd. 3   LCCMR and Contract Administration
Subd. 4   Land
Subd. 5   Water Resources
Subd. 6   Natural Resource Information
Subd. 7   Establishment of an Emerging Issues Account

Subd. 3 LCCMR and Contract Administration
3a	Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources
3b	Contract Administration

Subd. 4 Land
4a	Forest Legacy Conservation Easements
4b	Minnesota's Habitat Corridors Partnership - Phase IV
4c	Metro Conservation Corridors (MeCC) - Phase III
4d	Prairie Stewardship Assistance for Private Landowners
4e	State Parks and Trails Land Acquisition
4f	Metropolitan Regional Park System Land Acquisition
4g	Non-Metropolitan Regional Parks and Natural Scenic Area Acquisition
4h	LAWCON Federal Reimbursement
4i	Biological Control of European Buckthorn and Garlic Mustard - RESEARCH
4j	Neutralization of Reed Canary Grass Rood Exudates - RESEARCH

Subd. 5 Water Resources
5a	Local Water Management Matching Challenge Grants
5b	Protection of Rare and Unique Rock Outcrop Wetlands
5c	Land Retirement Effects on Minnesota River Basin Streams - RESEARCH
5d	Demonstrating Benefits of Conservation Grasslands on Water Quality - RESEARCH
5e	Improved River Quality Monitoring Using Airborne Remote Sensing - RESEARCH
5f	Evaluating Riparian Timber Harvesting Guidelines: Phase 3 - RESEARCH
5g	Innovative Springshed Mapping for Trout Stream Management - RESEARCH
5h	Intra-Lake Zoning to Protect Sensitive Lakeshore Areas
5i	Water Resource Sustainability - RESEARCH
5j	County Geologic Atlas Program Acceleration
5k	Minnesota's Water Resources: Impacts of Climate Change - Phase II - RESEARCH
5l	Pharmaceutical and Microbiological Pollution - RESEARCH
5m	Threat of Emerging Contaminants to Upper Mississippi Walleye - RESEARCH
5n	Cedar Creek Groundwater Project using Prairie Biofuel Buffers
5o	Pyrolysis Pilot Project

Subd. 6 Natural Resource Information
6a	Minnesota County Biological Survey
6b	Soil Surveys
6c	Field Guide for Evaluating Vegetation of Restored Wetlands
6d	For Analysis and Implementation of Critical State Natural Resource Data Collection and Mapping

Subd. 7 Establishment of an Emerging Issues Account

Funding Sources: (**note: all projects are TF, unless otherwise noted)
Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (TF)
State Land and Water Conservation Account (LAWCON)

Subd. 3Administration

Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources
Subd. 3a    $1,278,000

John Velin, Director
LCCMR
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd.
Rm 65 State Office Bldg
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone:  (651) 296-2406
Email:  lccmr@lccmr.leg.mn
Fax:  (651) 296-1321
Web:  http://www.lccmr.leg.mn

This funding provides for two years of the administration of the LCCMR, its project proposal and recommendation process, and the contract management and project reporting of Trust Fund funded projects. Since 1963, the program that LCCMR is a legacy of has played a foundational role in the appropriation of over $550 million to more than 1,250 projects directly benefiting Minnesota's environment and natural resources.

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2009

Contract Administration
Subd. 3b    $40,000

Bill Becker
DNR
500 Lafayette Rd
St.Paul, MN 55155

Phone:  (651) 296-3093
Email:  bill.becker@dnr.state.mn.us
Fax:  (651) 296-6047
Web:  http://www.dnr.state.mn.us

For agency Contract Administration
This funding provides for one year of the monetary administration and accounting of Trust Fund appropriations to projects by non-state entities.

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2009

Subd. 4Land

Forest Legacy Conservation Easements
Subd. 4a    $2,000,000

Richard Peterson
DNR
1810 30th Street NW
Faribault, MN 55021

Phone:  (507) 333-2012
Email:  richard.peterson@dnr.state.mn.us
Fax:  (507) 333-2008
Web:  http://www.dnr.state.mn.us

Much of Minnesota's forests consist of large tracts of land held by private landowners. However, changing economics are making it increasingly attractive for these landowners to subdivide and sell off parcels of their forest. The development of roads and buildings that follows these sales can fragment the large amounts of unbroken forest that many species of wildlife need to thrive. This program will allow the Department of Natural Resources to acquire permanent conservation easements on private forests in southeastern Minnesota. These easements will allow existing uses of the forest, including sustainable timber harvesting, but will prevent development that could adversely affect the forest habitat.

Minimum Standards and Guidelines for State Forest Legacy Easements in Minnesota (pdf file)

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2010
Work Program

Minnesota's Habitat Corridors Partnership - Phase IV
Subd. 4b    $4,200,000

Matt Holland
Pheasants Forever, Inc
679 W River Dr
New London, MN 56273

Phone:  (320) 354-4377
Email:  mholland@pheasantsforever.org
Fax:  (320) 354-4377
Web:  http://www.pheasantsforever.org

The mission of the Partnership is to restore, enhance and conserve habitat corridors for the purpose of sustaining fish, wildlife, and native plant communities. This proposal restores, enhances and/or protects 16,731 acres by working in partnership to leverage additional resources in identified focus areas.

Project partners are DNR, Pheasants Forever; Minnesota Deer Hunters Association; Ducks Unlimited, Inc.; National Wild Turkey Federation; The Nature Conservancy; Minnesota Land Trust; The Trust for Public Land; Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Red Lake Band of Chippewa; Leech Lake Band of Chippewa; Fond du Lac Band of Chippewa; USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service; and the Board of Water and Soil Resources.

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2009
Overall Work Program (For work programs of individual partner projects, click links directly above)

Metro Conservation Corridors (MeCC) - Phase III
Subd. 4c    $2,500,000

Sharon Pfeifer
DNR
1200 Warner Rd
St. Paul, MN 55106

Phone:  (651) 772-7997
Email:  sharon.pfeifer@dnr.state.mn.us
Fax:  (651) 772-7977

Partner organizations will collaborate with local communities to protect/acquire approximately 630 acres and restore/enhance approximately 183 acres of significant upland/wetland and/or riparian habitat within scientifically identified and prioritized focus areas in the greater Metropolitan Region.

Project partners are DNR, Trust for Public Land, Ducks Unlimited, Inc., Friends of the Mississippi River, Great River Greening, Minnesota Land Trust, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc., Pheasants Forever, Inc. and Friends of the Minnesota Valley.

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2009
Overall Work Program (For work programs of individual partner projects, click links directly above)

Prairie Stewardship Assistance for Private Landowners
Subd. 4d    $220,000

Jason Garms
DNR
175 County Rd 26
Windom, MN 56101

Phone:  (507) 831-2900
Email:  jason.garms@dnr.state.mn.us
Fax:  (507) 831-2921
Web:  http://www.dnr.state.mn.us

Overall Project Outcome and Results
This project provided voluntary, long-range conservation planning and management assistance to private landowners with native prairie. Native prairie is Minnesota's most threatened natural habitat. Less than 1% of the state's native prairie survives - and most of this is on private land. This project provided native prairie landowners with stewardship plans that inventoried and evaluated native prairie and other land resources on their property, identified the landowner's goals and objectives, and recommended ecologically sound management strategies. A total of 25 Prairie Stewardship Plans were created with this project's funds. Landowners were also given an opportunity to participate in 3 different workshops and field days where they could learn more about appreciating and managing their prairies. Furthermore, this project helped landowners with existing stewardship plans to implement their plans by providing cost-share assistance for management practices. Examples of practices cost-shared include prescribed burning (349 acre completed), invasive species treatments (65 acres completed), prairie reconstruction (33 acres completed), and woody encroachment removal (273 acres completed).

Project Results Use and Dissemination
Copies of Stewardship Plans are provided to local DNR managers and used by the landowner with other agencies and programs.

FINAL REPORT

Project completed: 6/30/2009

State Parks and Trails Land Acquisition
Subd. 4e    $1,500,000

Larry Peterson (Parks) and Ron Potter (Trails)
DNR
500 Lafayette Rd
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone:  (651) 259-5593 (Larry) or (651) 259-5632 (Ron)
Email:  larry.peterson@dnr.state.mn.us or ron.potter@dnr.state.mn.us
Fax:  (651) 296-6532 (Parks) or (651) 297-5475 (Trails)
Web:   Parks -   http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/index.html
            Trails -   http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_trails/index.html

This funding will help the Department of Natural Resources acquire privately held land within existing state park boundaries and parcels of land along state trail corridors. This includes land in William O'Brien State Park, Frontenac State Park, George Crosby Manitou State Park, the Gateway Trail, and Casey Jones State Trail.

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2009
Work Program

Metropolitan Regional Park System Land Acquisition
Subd. 4f    $2,500,000

Arne Stefferud
Metropolitan Council
390 North Robert Street
St. Paul, MN 55101

Phone:  (651) 602-1360
Email:  arne.stefferud@metc.state.mn.us
Fax:  (651) 602-1674
Web:  http://www.metrocouncil.org/parks/parks.htm

Overall Project Outcome and Results:
This appropriation leveraged a total of $18.1 million of other funds to acquire 528 acres for the Metropolitan Regional Park System as follows:

61 acres on the southern shore of Cedar Lake for Cedar Lake Farm Regional Park in Scott County ($600,000 Environment Trust Funds, $400,000 Metro Council bonds and $3,526,192 of Scott County funds for a total of $4,526,192).
8.2 acres including shoreline on the Mississippi River for Grey Cloud Island Regional Park in Washington County ($109,256 Environment Trust Funds, $72,838 Metro Council bonds, and $273,141 Washington County funds for a total of $455,235).
3 acres including shoreline on Lake Waconia for Lake Waconia Regional Park in Carver County ($600,000 Environment Trust Funds, $400,000 Metro Council bonds and $1,530,000 Carver County funds for a total of $2,530,000).
456 acres which encompasses the entire park for Empire Wetlands Regional Park in Dakota County ($1,020,000 Environment Trust Funds, $680,000 Metro Council bonds, $800,000 other Metro Council grant approved in 2006, $6 million of 2006 State bonds, $3,444,000 of Dakota County funds for a total of $11,940,000).
47 acres including shoreline of St. Catherines Lake for Doyle-Kennefick Regional Park in Scott County ($170,744 Environment Trust Funds, $677,625 Metro Council bonds and $282,789 of FY 2009 Metro Greenways Grant for a total of $1,1131,158).

Project Results Use and Dissemination:
Each regional park agency that received a grant or grants from this appropriation informs the public about the land acquisitionwith its own website and news releases. The Metropolitan Council also publishes a "Regional Parks Directory and Map" that informs the public about the recreation activities available at each regional park and trail and includes website addresses and phone numbers for each park agency for more information. Finally, the Metropolitan Council's website includes an interactive parks map that contains the same information as the paper version of the "Regional Parks Directory and Map" at http://www.metrocouncil.org/parks/r-pk-map.htm

Project completed: 10/22/2008
Work Program

Non-Metropolitan Regional Parks and Natural and Scenic Area Acquisition
Subd. 4g    $1,000,000

Wayne Sames
DNR
500 Lafayette Rd
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone:  (651) 259-5559
Email:  wayne.sames@dnr.state.mn.us
Fax:  (651) 296-6047
Web:  http://www.metrocouncil.org/parks/

Through this program, the Department of Natural Resources will provide matching grants to local governments to help acquire parkland outside the metropolitan area and natural and scenic areas statewide.

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2009
Work Program

LAWCON Federal Reimbursement
Subd 4h    $500,000

Wayne Sames
DNR
500 Lafayette Rd
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone:  (651) 259-5559
Email:  wayne.sames@dnr.state.mn.us
Fax:  (651) 296-6047

Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LAWCON) reimbursements are used to fund state and local outdoor recreation projects and the costs of the required administration and planning activities.

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2010
Work Program

Biological Control of European Buckthorn and Garlic Mustard
Subd. 4i    $300,000

Luke Skinner
DNR
500 Lafayette Rd Box 25
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone:  (651) 259-5140
Email:  luke.skinner@dnr.state.mn.us
Fax:  (651) 296-1811
Web:  http://www.dnr.state.mn.us

RESEARCH

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives

European buckthorn and garlic mustard are non-native plants that have rapidly spread throughout Minnesota to the detriment of native plants and wildlife. This program aims to identify and test insects that will help control these invasive species without causing harm to the native environment.

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2010
Work Program

Neutralization of Reed Canary Grass Root Exudates
Subd. 4j    $115,000

Bradley Cook
MN State University
242 Trafton S
Mankato, MN 56001

Phone:  (507) 389-5728
Email:  bradley.cook@mnsu.edu
Fax:  (507) 389-2788
Web:  http://cset.mnsu.edu/biology/people/cook/index.html

RESEARCH

Reed canary grass was first introduced into the United States in the 1800s as animal forage and to assist in erosion control. However, it has proven to be an extremely aggressive invader that chokes out native species in wetlands. Minnesota State University-Mankato researchers will study chemicals released through the roots of Reed Canary Grass that seem to enable the aggressive spread of the plant by interfering with the growth of native plants. With better understanding of these chemicals, it is possible that management practices can be developed to neutralize or limit the effects of the chemicals and thereby help remove or slow the spread of Reed Canary Grass.

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2009
Work Program

Subd. 5Water Resources

Local Water Management Matching Challenge Grants
Subd. 5a    $350,000

David Weirens
BWSR
520 Lafayette Rd
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone:  (651) 297-3432
Email:  david.weirens@bwsr.state.mn.us
Fax:  (651) 297-5615
Web:  http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us

http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/grantscostshare/lwplanning/index.html

This project will help local governments fund the implementation of their water management plans.

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2010
Work Program

Protection of Rare and Unique Rock Outcrop Wetlands
Subd. 5b    $563,000

Thomas Kalahar
Renville Soil & Water
1008 W Lincoln
Olivia, MN 56277

Phone:  (320) 523-1559
Email:  kalahar@yahoo.com
Fax:  (320) 523-2389
Web:  http://www.renvilleswcd.com

Overall Project Outcome and Results
The Minnesota River Valley contains ancient bedrock outcrops with associated wetlands that provide unique habitats for specialized plant and animal communities rarely found elsewhere in Minnesota. These resources are threatened by mining and other development interests, as removal of the rock results in the severe degradation or permanent loss of the wetlands located among the rock complexes. Although the wetlands vary greatly in size and duration, some of the smallest and most temporary basins harbor the rarest and most specialized plants. Many of these wetlands may not be protected due to de minimis (i.e. minimum size) exceptions to the Wetland Conservation Act. Rock outcrops are also a component of the Minnesota River's riparian zone and destruction of this unique habitat will continue to degrade the water quality and aquatic habitat of the Minnesota River and its tributaries. Unlike other mining operations, there is no reclamation plan possible for replacing this very unique landscape feature once it is removed. This project consisted of efforts to protect these unique habitats through conservation easements and habitat restoration activities.

For the conservation easements portion of the project, applications from 9 landowners totaling 788 acres were scored by a team of natural resource professionals to determine the highest quality sites under grant guidelines. The goal of this project was to protect 200 acres with Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) perpetual conservation easements in Renville and Redwood Counties. That goal was exceeded and 212.4 acres were protected. Four landowners received $517,411 in easement payments from grant funds. In accordance with the RIM program, landowners retain ownership.

For the habitat restoration portion of the project, $16,049 in grant funds were used for invasive species control, along with $31,441 leveraged from other sources to assist in meeting the goals of the conservation plans developed on each easement as part of the RIM process.

Project partners were USDA NRCS, MN DNR Wildlife (Heritage Enhancement), DNR ECO-Non Game (Heritage Enhancement), State of Minnesota Native Buffer Cost Share Program, and US Fish & Wildlife Service.

Project Results Use and Dissemination
Initially staff from the Renville & Redwood Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) had face-to-face contact with landowners. This proved to be a very successful way of generating applications, as 788 acres were offered. The applications that were not funded were kept for future reference and landowners have all been contacted and given an opportunity to apply for dollars from the ML 2009 Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund appropriation for $1.5 million, for which we have a goal of enrolling an additional 530 acres in perpetual easements.

Several newspaper articles have been published since the inception of the 2007 grant. The regional West Central Tribune in Willmar, MN has done articles about the program. In addition local newspapers have included articles about the program. Tom Kalahar, Project Manager, was interviewed by Fred Harris for an article published in the March-April 2009 issue of the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer. The early articles caused landowners in other counties to request information on how they could enroll their land into the program. This landowner interest resulted in Chippewa, Yellow Medicine and Lac qui Parle SWCD offices joining Renville & Redwood in making application for the 2009 funds.

The Renville SWCD continues to update the public on the status of the grants on their website www.renvilleswcd.com Tom Kalahar has done informational/educational talks on the Minnesota River Basin and the unique features of the Granite Rock Outcrops. Audiences included the general public in both Redwood Falls and New Ulm, a presentation for landowners in the Renville/Chippewa DNR Working Lands Initiative area, as well as a presentation to the Upper Sioux Community. DNR Private Lands Program staff have used their one-on-one contacts with landowners to promote the program in addition to sponsoring the Landowner Workshop which included Tom's presentation on the Rock Outcrop program.

In August 2008, Renville SWCD hosted the Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR) meeting. A one day tour for about 60 people included stopping at a rock outcrop site. SWCD staff used this opportunity to inform the BWSR and guests about the uniqueness of the natural resource and to give them an update on progress toward meeting the goals for the grant.

Local SWCD staff and supervisors continue to keep their local County Boards informed about progress of not only the 2007 grant but also about landowner interest for future funding.

FINAL REPORT

Project completed: 6/30/2009

Land Retirement Effects on Minnesota River Basin Streams
Subd. 5c    $275,000

Victoria Christensen
U.S. Geological Survey
2280 Woodale Drive
Mounds View, MN 55112

Phone:  (763) 783-3100
Email:  dinger@smm.org
Fax:  (763) 783-3103
Web:  http://mn.water.usgs.gov/

RESEARCH

Overall Project Outcome and Results
The Minnesota River Basin lies within one of the most productive and intensively managed agricultural regions in the world. Current agricultural practices use large quantities of chemical fertilizer to maintain productivity - as much as 7.4 and 2.9 tons/mi2 for nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively. The excess of these nutrients have the potential for deleterious effects on stream quality through runoff. To address concerns about degradation of agricultural streams, the state of Minnesota was requested to provide funding to retire an additional 100,000 acres of agricultural lands to improve water quality and aquatic biology. This study was designed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of agricultural set-aside programs on a basin scale and their effect on water quality.

This study was divided into two phases. The primary Phase 1 objective was to compare water quality and aquatic biological conditions across three basins similar with respect to physical setting and hydrology, but differing in the degree of agricultural land retirement. The Phase 2 objective was to assess the relation between biotic integrity and land retirement across the Minnesota River Basin.

Fully-instrumented sampling sites with automated samplers, water-quality monitors, and streamflow gages were installed from 2005-2008. Findings include:

Nitrogen concentrations were highest, with a mean of 15.0 mg/L, in South Branch Rush River, the subbasin with little land retirement; nitrogen concentrations were lower in Chetomba Creek (mean of 10.6 mg/L) and West Fork Beaver Creek (mean of 7.9 mg/L), subbasins with more land retirement at the basin scale.
Total phosphorus concentrations were not directly related to land retirement percentages with average concentrations of 0.259 mg/L at West Fork Beaver Creek, 0.164 mg/L at Chetomba Creek, and 0.180 mg/L at South Branch Rush River.
Index of biotic integrity (IBI) scores increased as local land retirement percentages (within 50 and 100 meters of the streams) increased.
Comparisons made within the basins showed that nutrient, suspended-sediment, and chlorophyll-a concentrations decreased with increasing land retirement.

Data from this study can be used to evaluate the success of land retirement programs for improving stream quality. Two reports will be published in September 2009, describing Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the study.

Project Results Use and Dissemination
The results from this study were disseminated through USGS and BWSR websites, two abstracts, a conference proceeding paper, and several presentations and posters. The water-quality and streamflow information was provided in real-time through the USGS website. USGS and BWSR personnel have participated in basin activities highlighting the selected subbasins and emphasizing the effects of land retirement. A USGS Scientific Investigations Report entitled, "Water-Quality and Biological Characteristics and Responses to Agricultural Land Retirement in Streams of the Minnesota River Basin, Water Years 2006-08" is scheduled to be published by September 30, 2009. A manuscript has been completed covering Phase 2 of the study and will be submitted to a peer reviewed journal in September 2009.

FINAL REPORT

Project completed: 6/30/2009

Demonstrating Benefits of Conservation Grasslands on Water Quality
Subd. 5d    $374,000

James Almendinger
Science Museum of Minnesota
16910 152nd St N
Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047

Phone:  (651) 433-5953
Email:  dinger@smm.org
Fax:  (651) 433-5924
Web:  http://www.smm.org/scwrs

RESEARCH

http://www.smm.org/static/science/pdf/2007-2008highlights.pdf

Natural vegetation on lands adjacent to lakes, streams, and rivers provides important habitat and water quality benefits. The Science Museum of Minnesota will study the long-term benefits of lakeside grasslands to better understand the role such vegetation can play in helping reduce the pollutants that run into our lakes, streams, and rivers.

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2010
Work Program

Improved River Quality Monitoring Using Airborne Remote Sensing
Subd. 5e    $159,000

Fei Yuan
Mankato State University
Earth Science Program, 7 Armstrong Hall
Mankato, MN 56001

Phone:  (507) 389-2617
Email:  fei.yuan@mnsu.edu
Fax:  (507) 389-2980
Web:  http://sbs.mnsu.edu/geography/

RESEARCH

http://sbs.mnsu.edu/geography/people/feiyuan.html

The Earth Science Program at Minnesota State University-Mankato will develop improved methods for monitoring and studying river water quality and riparian habitat in Minnesota.

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2009
Work Program

Evaluating Riparian Timber Harvesting Guidelines: Phase 3
Subd. 5f    $400,000

Charles Blinn
U of M
1530 Cleveland Avenue N
St. Paul, MN 55108

Phone:  (612) 624-3788
Email:  cblinn@umn.edu
Fax:  (612) 625-5212
Web:http://www.forestry.umn.edu/people/facstaff/blinn/

RESEARCH

Overall Project Outcome and Results
This project continues research begun with M.L. 2001 and M.L. 2005 appropriations from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.

Research addressing the long-term effectiveness of riparian guidelines to mitigate harvesting impacts is critical to resolve management conflicts and sustain Minnesota's forest resources. This project:

Evaluated the long-term effectiveness of Minnesota's riparian timber harvesting guidelines within Pokegama Creek (single-basin study) and on eight separate basins located across northern Minnesota (multiple-basin study);
Began to combine and synthesize data from the various study components through a "meta-analysis";
Provided outreach information.

Terrestrial findings that can help guide future management of Minnesota's forests and streams include:

Partially-harvested riparian management zone (RMZ) treatments resulted in fully-stocked stands, however, species composition differed among treatments;
Northern white cedar and balsam fir seedlings survive and grow well in non-wet microsites with medium residual basal area;
Cedar seedlings require protection from deer browsing;
Different treatments had minimal impact on the amount of organic matter input to streams;
Residual tree blowdown was low, but future potential is still high.

Effects of riparian harvest on fish and fish habitat were assessed at the basin scale. Sediment levels remained above 1997 pre-harvest conditions until fall 2007. Riparian harvest may have contributed to increased stream temperatures, but fish abundances were negatively associated with differences in mean summer air temperature.

Aquatic findings that can help guide future management of Minnesota's forests and streams include:

No differences in water chemistry between harvested and unharvested riparian reaches;
Trends toward higher in-stream light levels and elevated periphyton standing crops within harvested riparian areas compared to control reaches;
Trends toward a greater proportion of scraper invertebrates and fewer shredder invertebrates in harvested riparian reaches.

At the single-basin tributary sites, the majority of bird species present were associated with mature forest habitat pre-harvest. After harvest, early successional habitat associated species maintained dominance in all sites. The pre-harvest bird community was neither maintained nor able to reestablish on unharvested riparian buffers 9-11 years after harvest.

We observed interannual variation in diversity and species richness within the macroinvertebrate and fish communities, but few effects related to harvest treatments. Few changes in diversity and richness were observed in the bird community but changes were observed by the replacement of mature forest species by early successional avian species, related closely to the vegetation type.

There is a need to continue monitoring the sites to more fully assess effects over time.

Project Results Use and Dissemination
A workshop entitled "At the Water's Edge: Current State of Riparian Forest Management Research in Minnesota" was presented in Grand Rapids on May 20, 21, and 22, 2008. The purpose of the workshop was to interpret research results from the single- and multiple-basin riparian effectiveness monitoring studies as well as the Minnesota Forest Resource Council's Riparian Science Technical Committee findings for natural resource managers and loggers. The program included both indoor and outdoor components. There were 102 participants over the course of the three days.

A website was developed to provide information about the project, including a project overview, more detailed descriptions of our research, information about project personnel, a listing of project cooperators, project publications, and information presented during our workshop. The url for that website is http://rmzharvest.cfans.umn.edu/. A second website was created to allow project researchers to access data (http://rmzharvest.cfans.umn.edu/login).

Beyond the workshops and website, project results were disseminated to scientists, natural resource managers, private landowners, researchers, and others through nine presentations, one refereed manuscript, and one field tour. Three additional manuscripts are in preparation. One graduate student produced a thesis from their project work. Other graduate students continue to collect, analyze, and summarize data which will result in additional theses. Annual summaries of project results were provided to the Minnesota Forest Resources Council for inclusion in their Annual Report.

As this research study was designed to be a long-term assessment with little dissemination during the initial project phases, researchers will continue to monitor, analyze, and report post-harvest effects in the future as funding permits. With that additional information, we will be able to assess how birds and terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems respond to timber harvesting within RMZs over the long-term. Results will then be used to inform on-the-ground decision making as well as suggest changes to the guidelines to more effectively manage forested riparian areas.

FINAL REPORT

Project completed: 6/30/2009

Innovative Springshed Mapping for Trout Stream Management
Subd. 5g    $270,000

E. Calvin Alexander, Jr.
U of M
Geology & Geophysics
310 Pillsbury Dr. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Phone:  (612) 624-3517
Email:  alexa001@umn.edu
Fax:  (612) 624-3819
Web:  http://www.geo.umn.edu/people/profs/ALEXANDER.html

RESEARCH

Overall Project Outcome and Results
Trout streams depend on a steady supply of clean, cold water to exist. The U of M's Geology and Geophysics Dept. and the DNR Waters worked to identify and map the karst springs and their recharge areas that supply water to southeastern Minnesota's 173 trout streams and to assess the impacts that both land and aquatic development are having on these springs.

Delineation of the recharge areas or springsheds of the trout springs is a crucial first step in the protection of the trout fisheries and the restoration of those that have been degraded. Established fluorescent dye tracing techniques were refined, accelerated and expanded into springsheds parts of southeastern Minnesota not previously traced. Traces in Fillmore and Olmsted counties defined new trout stream springsheds and expanded and refined information on previously known trout stream springsheds in the Galena Aquifer. The traces in Winona and Houston Counties began the definition of trout stream springsheds draining the Prairie du Chien Aquifer. Prairie du Chien springs supply water to several major fish hatcheries and trout streams.

Although many of southeastern Minnesota's trout stream are headed by springs flowing from the St. Lawrence Formation, the St. Lawrence has been assumed to be an aquitard in Minnesota Rules. Three successful traces through the St. Lawrence Formation in Winona and Houston Counties demonstrated that water flows rapidly through the St. Lawrence to trout springs. This unexpected discovery is a major advance in our understanding and management of these trout springs and is resulting in a significant reevaluation the hydrogeology of the St. Lawrence Formation.

In addition to dye tracing, four innovative Trout Springshed Assessment protocols were investigated. The first was the use of data logger technology to characterize time variations in the thermal and chemical properties of trout springs. The temperature loggers identified at least four distinct patterns of temperature variations present in trout springs which inturn yield information about the respective springsheds. The second innovative technique was the construction of new, high precision structural contour maps of the geologic strata hosting trout springsheds. This tool looks promising but will require more precise mapping that is currently available. The third innovation was an investigation of the relationship between the size of springsheds and the base flow volume of the trout springs. This technique is promising but requires more well defined springsheds to become a practical tool. The last technique investigated was the measurement of dissolved organic compounds (DOC) in the springs. Significant differences in the amount and composition of the DOCs were observed which may be relatable to varying land uses in the springsheds.

The springsheds defined by the tracing and the other tools allow an accurate documentation of the rapid, direct impact of surface land uses in the springsheds and the water quality in the trout streams. This inturn allows better management of the springsheds to protect the trout streams and groundwater resources.

Project Results Use and Dissemination
The dissemination and use of the results of the trout springsheds delineation has varied depending on the level of the user. At the local level one of the most effective dissemination tools has been to get the landowners and users involved in the research itself. This has included getting Harmony High School students involved in the traces around Harmony, Minnesota. Getting many of the local residents involved in the tracing. Getting the County staffs, local organizations, the trout fishing community and the trout hatchery staffs involved in the tracing. We send copies of the reports into the hands to the affected landowners and residents involved. All of these people now know the speed at which the surface runoff can reach their trout streams. They are the "first line of defense" in maintaining and improving the water quality in the trout streams.

At the regional and state levels Alexander and Green have made numerous presentations various state water management and ground water meetings. We have led field trips highlighting the results of this project. Contribute the results of this information at a variety of levels inside the Minnesota State Government. The information is built into short courses, training sessions, technical comments and University of Minnesota courses. The discovery that water moves rapidly through the St. Lawrence "aquitard" is already impacting management rules and practices in several State Agencies. The increasingly detailed knowledge of the springsheds is an important part of the TMDL effort to protect and improve water quality in trout streams in southeasten Minnesota.

At the national level the results obtained in this project were presented at the 11th Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkhole and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst, at Geological Society of America meetings and published in their Proceedings. National Science Foundation summer interns have participated in the research effort and taken the knowledge and experience back to other states.

PROJECT REPORTS:

FINAL REPORT

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2009
Work Program

Intra-Lake Zoning to Protect Sensitive Lakeshore Areas
Subd. 5h    $110,000

Paul Radomski
DNR
1601 Minnesota Drive
Brainerd, MN 56401

Phone:  (218) 833-8643
Email:  paul.radomski@dnr.state.mn.us
Fax:  (218) 828-6043
Web:  http://www.dnr.state.mn.us

Overall Project Outcome and Results
Minnesota's lakes are one of its most valuable resources. In particular, naturally vegetated shorelines provide feeding, nesting, and breeding habitat for many species. These areas, defined by natural and biological features that provide unique or critical ecological habitat, are known as sensitive lakeshores. Increasing development pressure within shorelands may have negative impacts on these sensitive areas - and Minnesota's shorelands are being developed at a rapid rate.

With this in mind, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources developed a protocol for identifying sensitive lakeshores. The project focused on seventeen high priority lakes, identified by Cass County. These lakes represent some of the county's most valuable waters - large lakes with significant undeveloped shorelands. Protocol to identify sensitive lakeshores consists of several components:

Field surveys evaluate the distribution of high priority plant and animal species.
An ecological spatial model, based on scientific data, ranks lakeshore areas for sensitive area designation. The model provides objective, repeatable results that can be used as the basis for regulatory action.

Field surveys were conducted on all seventeen high priority lakes as well as three connecting lakes. Sensitive lakeshore area assessments were completed on nine high priority lakes. Reports summarizing these assessments were delivered to Cass County and interested organizations that could use the information to maintain high quality environmental conditions. To date, 48 miles of shoreline (approximately 36 percent of total surveyed shoreline miles) have been identified as sensitive lakeshore. Cass County is working to develop provisions in their land use ordinance that will require conservation-oriented development standards for sensitive areas. They will then propose and implement resource protection zoning districts. These resource protection districts will help promote healthy near-shore communities and protect critical fish and wildlife habitat.

Project Results Use and Dissemination
Nine Sensitive Lakeshore Reports were produced, and these reports are posted on the project's website. Public presentations were made explaining the project and the details of the sensitive lakeshore reports to the Cass County Board of Commissioners, the Cass County Planning Commission, the Association of Cass County Lake Associations, U.S. Forest Service, seven lake associations, and several interested groups and organizations. Cass County will hold public hearings on shoreland ordinance revisions and reclassifications in an effort to protect identified sensitive lakeshores, and all required processes for public input, review, and comment will be adhered to, including the rights afforded to challenge such ordinance and zoning district changes.

FINAL REPORT

Project completed: 6/30/2009

Water Resource Sustainability
Subd. 5i    $292,000

John Nieber
U of M
1390 Eckles Avenue Rm 203
Minneapolis, MN 55108

Phone:  (612) 625-6724
Email:  nieber@umn.edu
Fax:  (612) 624-3005
Web:  http://www.bbe.umn.edu

RESEARCH

http://www.bbe.umn.edu/staff/nieber.html

How much water can be taken from Minnesota's surface and groundwater resources without depleting critical water supplies? The University of Minnesota's Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering will attempt to answer this question by constructing models that integrate what we know about both surface water and groundwater systems. Researchers will produce a set of water resources atlases that will allow improved water resources planning.

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2009
Work Program

County Geologic Atlas Program Acceleration
Subd. 5j    $400,000

Dale Setterholm
MN Geological Survey
2642 University Ave W
St. Paul, MN 55114

Phone:  (612) 627-4780
Email:  sette001@umn.edu
Fax:  (612) 627-4778
Web:  http://www.geo.umn.edu/mgs

http://talc.geo.umn.edu/mgs/county_atlas/countyatlas.htm

Overall Project Outcome and Results
The County Geologic Atlas program creates geologic maps and associated databases at scales appropriate for resource management, especially ground water management, at the local scale. This grant funded progress on such mapping for Benton and Chisago counties. The counties qualified for participation by establishing accurate digital locations for water wells with construction records that are used as a basic data element in creating the maps. For each county the following products have been constructed:

Database of well record information with geologic interpretations and a location map;
Map of the glacial materials occurring at the land surface;
Map of the bedrock types occurring at the surface of the bedrock;
Closely-spaced cross-sectional views of the distribution of glacial materials between the land surface and the bedrock surface;
Map of the elevation of the bedrock surface;
Map of the thickness of glacial materials above the bedrock surface.

Tasks remaining include:

Map or maps of the distribution of aquifers within the glacial materials;
Digital surfaces for multiple sedimentary bedrock formations;
CD or DVD with digital files of all the maps and databases and a GIS project to display and manipulate those maps and data;
Printed copies of all the maps. These unfinished products will be created under our 2008 LCCMR grant.

The final outcome of completed county geologic atlases is an understanding of the distribution of aquifers and wells including how the aquifers are connected with each other, how they are connected to the land surface, and how they are connected to surface water features. Hydrologic maps and databases will be created by DNR Waters. The LCCMR funds were augmented with a matching grant of $41,110 from the United States Geological Survey under the STATEMAP program.

Project Results Use and Dissemination
When the additional products for Benton and Chisago counties are complete (expected December 2009 using M.L. 2008 appropriation from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund) a workshop will be arranged to present this work to local users, and to explain how it was created and how it might be applied to resource management. The MGS provides ongoing support of these products as well. Logical applications that have arisen already include the search for municipal well sites for the City of Foley, evaluation of the effects of quarrying on local ground water in Benton County, and an evaluation of the ground water implications of a proposed power plant in Chisago County. Draft versions of some products have already been distributed to parties involved in these issues. The digital versions of the products will be available on CD or DVD and from the website of the Minnesota Geological Survey, and 1,000 printed copies will be distributed to each county. The County Geologic Atlases are a well-known and well-used source of data and geologic interpretations for state and local agencies, consultants, well construction contractors, and citizens. Many of the elements of the atlases are specifically named in the data needs identified in sustainable ground water management plans under development in Minnesota. They are provided in formats appropriate for the complete spectrum of users, including those who don't use computers through users that require digital files appropriate for modeling and simulation of the ground water system.

FINAL REPORT

Project completed: 6/30/2009

Minnesota's Water Resources: Impacts of Climate Change- Phase II
Subd. 5k    $300,000

Lucinda Johnson
U of M - NRRI
5013 Miller Trunk Highway
Duluth, MN 55811

Phone:  (217) 720-4251
Email:  ljohnson@d.umn.edu
Fax:  (218) 720-4328
Web:  http://www.nrri.umn.edu

RESEARCH

Minnesota's climate is becoming increasingly warmer, wetter, and variable, and this is having extensive impacts on the State's infrastructure and ecosystems. The University of Minnesota's Natural Resources Research Institute will continue and expand a study measuring long-term trends in the state's climate and water resources. This phase of the project adds development of future climate scenarios specific to Minnesota, projections of potential economic and ecological impacts of those scenarios, and identification of key indicators that can be used to monitor changes in Minnesota's climate over time.

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2010
Work Program

Pharmaceutical and Microbiological Pollution
Subd. 5l    $302,000

Timothy LaPara
U of M
500 Pillsbury Drive SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Phone:  (612) 624-6028
Email:  lapar001@umn.edu
Fax:  (612) 626-7750
Web:  http://www.ce.umn.edu/people/faculty/lapara/index

RESEARCH

Human and veterinary antibiotics, hormones, and antibiotic resistant bacteria enter Minnesota waters through wastewater discharges, animal manure, and runoff. The University of Minnesota's Department of Civil Engineering is exploring a variety of practical, low cost technologies that can neutralize these substances before they enter the water supply.

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2010
Work Program

Threat of Emerging Contaminants to Upper Mississippi Walleye
Subd. 5m    $97,000

Heiko Schoenfuss
St. Cloud State University
720 Fourth Avenue South WSB-273
St. Cloud, MN 56301

Phone:  (320) 308-3130
Email:  hschoenfuss@stcloudstate.edu
Fax:  (320) 308-4166
Web:  http://web.stcloudstate.edu/hschoenfuss/

RESEARCH

http://web.stcloudstate.edu/aquatictox/

A 2006 survey of the Mississippi River in Minnesota identified several locations where pollutants were disrupting the endocrine (hormonal) systems in various species of fish, notably walleye. This St. Cloud State University study will further assess the threat this poses to the river's fish populations.

FINAL REPORT

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2010
Work Program

Cedar Creek Groundwater Project using Prairie Biofuel Buffers
Subd. 5n    $659,000

Clarence Lehman
U of M
1987 Upper Buford Cir
St. Paul, MN 55108

Phone:  (612) 625-5734
Email:  lehman@umn.edu
Fax:  (612) 624-6777
Web:  http://www.cedarcreek.umn.edu

RESEARCH

Biofuels-substitutes for petroleum-based fuel derived from vegetable crops-are currently largely derived from corn. However, native prairie plants have the potential to provide the raw material for high quality cellulosic biofuels, which require less water and agricultural chemicals. At the same time, these plants can provide wildlife habitat, capture pollutants before they enter groundwater, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The University of Minnesota's Cedar Creek Natural History Area will study the ability of prairie plants to simultaneously achieve these various aims.

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2009
Work Program

Pyrolysis Pilot Project
Subd. 5o    $500,000

Roger Ruan
U of M
Rm 206 BAE Bldg, 1390 Eckles Ave
St. Paul, MN 55108

Phone:  (612) 625-1710
Email:  ruanx001@umn.edu
Fax:  (612) 624-3005
Web:  http://biorefining.cfans.umn.edu/home.php

The University of Minnesota Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering will collaborate with Rural Advantage to test and demonstrate a portable, water-free process for local conversion of a variety of agricultural products into liquid and gas fuels that can be used to heat homes or generate electricity.

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2009
Work Program

Subd. 6Natural Resource Information

Minnesota County Biological Survey
Subd. 6a    $1,500,000

Carmen Converse
DNR
500 Lafayette Rd
St Paul, MN 55155

Phone:  (651) 259-5083
Email:  carmen.converse@dnr.state.mn.us
Fax:  (651) 296-1811
Web:  http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/mcbs/index.html

Overall Project Outcome and Results
This appropriation continued and accelerated the ongoing Minnesota County Biological Survey (MCBS), which identifies significant natural areas and systematically collects and interprets data on the distribution and ecology of native plant communities, rare plants, and rare animals. The information gathered by MCBS serves as a foundation for the conservation of critical components of Minnesota's biological diversity through ecological monitoring, environmental review, planning, and critical habitat protection.

In this phase of the MCBS, surveys were completed in Hubbard, Wadena, Itasca, Lincoln, Murray, Cottonwood, Jackson, Watonwan, and Martin counties. Surveys were accelerated in the Border Lakes and Nashwauk ecological subsections. Since 1987, MCBS has added 17,054 new rare feature records to DNR's Rare Features Database. Over 47,000 polygons of native plant communities and over 7,000 MCBS site polygons are available to external customers on DNR's "Data Deli", including MCBS sites of biodiversity significance. Aquatic plant data have been collected from 1,528 lakes.

New locations of animal species documented during this period included Prairie Vole, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Black-throated Blue Warbler, and Four-toed Salamander. Plants documented included Najas guadalupensis var. olivacea, a Great Lakes endemic aquatic plant and Carex supina, a cliff-dwelling sedge last observed in Minnesota in the 1930's. Sioux quartzite rock outcrop surveys yielded nearly 100 new records of rare plants. Since 1987, Twenty-one species and one hybrid not previously documented in Minnesota were recorded, with a 2008 addition of the aquatic plant Potamogeton confervoides.

Project Results Use and Dissemination
Data delivery and technical assistance were provided as related to:

Forest certification
DNR and US Forest Service forest planning
Peatland management planning
State land exchanges
Woody and grasslands biomass guidelines
Off Highway Vehicle guidelines
State Wildlife Action plan implementation
Quality lake identification
Forest legacy projects
Landscape collaborative planning
Lake and native prairie monitoring
Native prairie bank
Updates to the state lists of rare species and calcareous fens.

Locally, aquatic plant data were delivered to lake associations, staff led field trips for county residents, and training sessions in plant community and plant identification. The publication, Native plant communities and rare species of the Minnesota River Counties was well-received by communities bordering the river corridor.

MCBS provided ecological evaluations for Franconia Bluffs, Seminary Fen, Butternut Valley Prairie, and Langhei Prairie that have since become Scientific and Natural Areas.

A statewide web map of the current extent of native prairie as compared to 100 years ago informs prairie ecosystem conservation planning. Another product is an easily downloaded booklet of the Ecological Systems in the Laurentian Mixed Forest Province.

Several MCBS related articles have been published in the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer; examples include "Elusive orchids" and "Rock pools on the prairie".

FINAL REPORT

Project completed: 6/30/2009

Soil Surveys
Subd. 6b    $400,000

Greg Larson
Board of Water and Soil Resources
520 Lafayette Rd
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone:  (651) 296-3767
Email:  greg.larson@bwsr.state.mn.us
Fax:  (651) 297-5615
Web:  http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us

http://soils.usda.gov/survey/printed_surveys/state.asp?state=Minnesota&abbr=MN

Overall Project Outcome and Results
In the ongoing multi-year process to map, classify, interpret and Web-publish an inventory of the soils of Minnesota, this two-year phase of the project focused on accelerating the completion of soil mapping, developing new soil interpretations and developing linkages of soils data with other related natural resources data. Specifically:

165,000 acres were addressed in Crow Wing County resulting in a digital soil survey for a portion of Crow Wing County, the Glacial Lake Brainerd area, to be released in the fall of 2009;
80,000 acres were addressed by NRCS soil scientists in Koochiching and Saint Louis Counties, resulting in soil mapping for Koochiching County being completed one year ahead of schedule;
Soil productivity indices for cropland and forests were developed for 84 and 19 counties, respectively, in order to replace the outmoded Crop Equivalent Ratings (CER);
Web-based decision support system was developed that integrates soils data with other natural resources data;
Support was provided for the University of Minnesota Land Economics website to better complement USDA Web Soil Survey interpretations;
Six counties (Cass, Carlton, St. Louis-Duluth subset, Lincoln, Scott and Benton) were digitized and posted on the Web Soil Survey bringing the total to 81 survey areas.

Two key lessons were learned during this 2007 phase that were incorporated into the on-going 2008 and 2009 project. The use of current NRCS employees brought to Minnesota on a work assignment ("detailees") is an efficient way to increase the completion of soil surveys after the initial investigative phase has been completed and a mapping legend has been developed. Additionally, we have determined that the USDA Web Soil Survey system is effective and sufficient for Web-publishing of Minnesota's soil survey data, so an independent system does not need to be developed by the state.

Project Results Use and Dissemination
Digital data through the WEB Soil Survey http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.govare available for 83 project areas (Two additional survey areas have been completed with 2008 funds). Soil interpretations such as soil erosion and forest productivity indices are available at the University of Minnesota Land Economics Website http://www.landeconomics.umn.edu Soils data for areas not yet mapped and digitized are available to the public on a request basis.

FINAL REPORT

Project completed: 6/30/2009

Field Guide for Evaluating Vegetation of Restored Wetlands
Subd. 6c    $53,000

Paul Bockenstedt
Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik, & Assoc., Inc.
2335 W Hwy 36
St. Paul, MN 55113

Phone:  (651) 604-4812
Email:  pbockenstedt@bonestroo.com
Fax:  (651) 636-1311
Web:  http://www.bonestroo.com

Overall Project Outcome and Results
Wetland mitigations in Minnesota are expected to be required to meet minimum native vegetation requirements for approval in the near future. The Minnesota Field Guide to Wetland & Buffer Plant Seedlings was developed as an easy-to-use guide to assist in evaluation of the quality of vegetation in wetland restorations in Minnesota.

Bonestroo staff gathered necessary graphic resources for the guide and met with BWSR and MPCA staff to discuss and refine the project layout and contents. Bonestroo graphic designers developed a layout template for the guide. Plant drawings and art were purchased from artist Mark Muller, and additional photos/graphics for native plant seeds and seedlings gathered by Bonestroo staff. Michael Bourdaghs of MPCA assisted with preparation of an abbreviated description of the Floristic Quality Assessment Index (FQAI) process for inclusion as the field methodology for evaluating wetlands.

A total of 2,450 guides were printed (original proposed 2,000) by Modern Press of St. Paul following a competitive bid process. These were distributed to a variety of state and county agencies, as well as federal agencies with Minnesota offices, professional organizations, and educational groups/institutions. A small number of printed guides and the final print-ready version of the guide were provided to Dan Shaw of BWSR. This project created the first guide of its kind for identifying wetland plants, their seeds and seedlings, as well as information on the wetland vegetation evaluation methodology being developed by MPCA. Printed guides were distributed to wetland professionals through a broad network of groups, professional organizations, and local, state and federal agencies. The Minnesota Field Guide to Wetland & Buffer Plant Seedlings is also available as a free of charge downloadable PDF on Bonestroo's website at http://www.bonestroo.com. It is also available to State agencies for posting to their websites, should they choose to do so in the future.

Project Results Use and Dissemination
The Minnesota Field Guide to Wetland & Buffer Plant Seedlings is being used as both a printed and online resource by wetland professionals. The guide has been distributed at wetland delineators training sessions, as well as by other wetland and natural resource professional groups. The guide is intended to be a supporting reference for plant identification for the wetland evaluation methodology (FQAI) being developed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. This MPCA-developed methodology is anticipated for completion in 2010. The Guide to Minnesota Wetland and Buffer Plant Seedlings is being promoted both through word of mouth, as well as announcements at meetings, workshops, and conferences, by Bonestroo, agency, and nonprofit staff. A distribution list for printed guides was provided to LCCMR staff along with the final project report in July/August 2009.

Project Publication: Minnesota Field Guide to Wetland & Buffer Plant Seedlings

FINAL REPORT

Project completed: 6/30/2009

For Analysis and Implementation of Critical State Natural Resource Data Collection and Mapping
Subd. 6d    $49,000

John Velin
Legislative-Citizen Commission
Rm 65 State Office Bldg
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone:  (651) 296-2406
Email:  lccmr@lccmr.leg.mn
Fax:  (651) 296-1321
Web:  http://www.lccmr.leg.mn

Natural Resources Data Collection and Mapping

BECAME:

Data Workshop: Democratizing access to Minnesota's data assets - a user friendly data integration and visualization tool - $49,000

http://gisdata.nrri.umn.edu/Tracker/DataWorkshop/

Minnesota has accumulated massive amounts of important data pertaining to successful management of its environment and natural resources, but currently much of it is not easily accessible to many of the organizations and local governments that could benefit from it. As part of the Trust Fund funded Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan (SCPP), this project will create an interactive web-based tool that makes Minnesota's most current environment and natural resources data easily and readily accessible to all.

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2009

Subd. 7Establishment of an Emerging Issues Account

Emerging Issues Account
Subd. 7    $160,000

John Velin , Director
LCCMR
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd.
Rm 65 State Office Bldg
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone:  (651) 296-2406
Email:  lccmr@lccmr.leg.mn
Fax:  (651) 296-1321
Web:  http://www.lccmr.leg.mn

Emerging Issues Account

WENT TO:

Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan (SCPP) - $147,000

http://www.mnconservationplan.net

The Trust Fund funded Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan (SCPP) is a collaborative effort providing a long term vision and guide for Minnesota's environment and natural resources. This funding continues and expands this effort by enabling the SCPP team to do additional more in-depth analysis on transportation and mercury issues in Minnesota.

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2009

and

Statewide Ecological Ranking CRP and Other Critical Lands - $13,000

Other funds include: M.L. 2008, Chp. 367, Sec. 2, Subd. 7 - $155,000 (completion date for this portion is 6/30/2010)

Project due to be completed: 6/30/2009

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