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2016 ENRTF Proposals Received - by Funding Priority Topic Area

2016 Environment and Natural Resouces Trust Fund Proposals Received - by Funding Priority Topic Area

Below proposals are listed within funding priority topic areas in rank order based on preliminary staff evaluation.

In response to the 2016 Request for Proposal (RFP) due May 11, 186 proposals requesting a total of approximately $131 million were received. This RFP process is for funding available beginning July 1, 2016. For that period, approximately $46.3 million from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund is currently expected to be available to recommend for project funding.

The LCCMR will be reviewing, evaluating, and ranking all proposals received. On September 16-17, 2015, the LCCMR is scheduled to select a subset of proposals to receive further consideration and to invite in to present before the Commission. Proposal presentations for those invited are scheduled to occur September 29-30 and October 1, 6, 7, and 8 - dates are as needed depending on the number of proposals selected to present to the Commission. Check the LCCMR schedule for the most up-to-date information on important process dates.


Visit the 2016 Proposal & Funding Process Main Page for additional information.


Click here for print-ready list of 2016 proposals received - listed by category with project summaries (25-page PDF file).

Viewing Proposals

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ENRTF ID # Last Name First Name Project Title Organization $ Requested
A. Foundational Natural Resource Data and Information
(RECEIVED: 34 proposals/subtotal = $15,166,583) )
001-A Kloiber Steve Completing the National Wetland Inventory Update for Minnesota MN DNR $1,644,270
002-A Mulla David Minnesota Vegetative Buffer Assessment and Prioritization U of MN $170,421
003-A Cariveau Daniel Data Driven Pollinator Conservation U of MN $558,611
004-A Wovcha Daniel A Statewide Monitoring Network for Minnesota's Changing Habitats MN DNR $645,821
005-A Boyd Crystal Wild Bee Surveys in Minnesotas Prairie-Forest Habitats MN DNR $707,364
006-A Treml Melissa Sentinel Lakes Monitoring and Data Synthesis MN DNR $401,623
007-A Forester James Feasibility of Restoring Elk to Northeastern Minnesota U of MN $325,541
008-A Ponder Julia Do Neonicotinoids Pose a Risk to Minnesotas Birds? U of MN $349,767
009-A Runquist Erik Prairie Butterfly Conservation, Research and Breeding - Phase 2 Minnesota Zoo $990,042
010-A Kennedy Peter Microbes at SNAs: Preservation of Minnesotas Biodiversity U of MN $417,324
011-A Ng Gene-Hua Assessing Vegetations Control on Minnesota's Groundwater U of MN $212,964
012-A Falteisek Jan State Spring Inventory for Resource Management - Phase 2 MN DNR $518,499
013-A Davros Nicole Insecticide Exposure Risk of Wildlife on Public Grasslands MN DNR $263,299
014-A Kepler Dennis Enhancing Forest Inventory Using Multiple Remote Sensing Technologies MN DNR $1,053,638
015-A Niemi Gerald Emerald Ash Borer and Black Ash: Wildlife Impacts U of MN - Duluth NRRI $334,218
016-A Hafs Andrew Improving Brook Trout Stream Habitat through Beaver Management Bemidji State University $225,210
017-A Moeller David Promoting Prairie Pollinators: Bee Diversity in Fragmented Prairies U of MN $598,569
018-A Nieber John Minnesota: How Much Water? How is it Changing? U of MN $702,231
019-A Montgomery Rebecca Prescribed Burning to Improve Management for Brushland Species U of MN $267,623
020-A Lauer Jack Enhancing Understanding of the Minnesota River Ecosystem MN DNR $573,447
021-A Reavie Euan Past and Future of Minnesota's Coldwater Fish Habitat U of MN - Duluth NRRI $670,335
022-A Holdsworth Andrew Scientific Asset Management: Digital Preservation for Future Generations MN DNR $406,218
023-A Tipping Bob Protecting Native Brook Trout: Temperature, Streamflow and Hydrogeology Minnesota Geological Survey $119,858
024-A Smanski Michael Biogeographic Characterization of Antibiotics Produced in Minnesota Soils U of MN $171,858
025-A Ditmer Mark Causes and Effects of Human-Related Stress on Mammals U of MN $319,128
026-A Niemi Gerald Tree Retention Following Harvest: Maximizing Benefits for Wildlife U of MN - Duluth NRRI $232,310
027-A McGaugh Suzanne Wildlife Health and Reproduction Among Different Quality Habitats U of MN $484,000
028-A Stanton Daniel Tracking Minnesota Plant Life Below Winter Snow U of MN $180,000
029-A Casper Gary North Shore Wildlife Conservation Toolset Great Lakes Ecological Services, LLC $284,113
030-A Arnold Todd An Integrated Population Model for Minnesota Mallards U of MN $37,013
031-A Mortensen Steve Habitat Use of Minnesotas Rarest Rodent Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe $90,062
032-A MaKarrall Rachel Mobilizing Vital Insect Baseline Data for Northeast Minnesota U of MN $210,757
033-A Owen Andrew Measuring Access to Natural Resources and Recreation U of MN $261,049
034-A Hackett Maureen Protecting Minnesotas Livestock, Wildlife and Farmers Howling For Wolves $739,400
B. Water Resources
(RECEIVED: 55 proposals/subtotal = $23,681,203 )
035-B Arnold William Neonicotinoid Insecticide Effects on Aquatic and Soil Communities U of MN $412,000
036-B Davis Mike Restoring Native Mussels for Cleaner Streams and Lakes MN DNR $744,798
037-B Engstrom Daniel Tracking and Preventing Harmful Algal Blooms Science Museum of Minnesota - St. Croix Research Station $764,300
038-B Hondzo Miki Increasing Harmful Algal Blooms in Minnesota Lakes U of MN, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory $395,249
039-B Hozalski Raymond Is Minnesotas Groundwater Safe to Drink? U of MN $299,829
040-B LaPara Timothy Quantifying Bacteria for Better Wastewater Treatment Process Control U of MN $398,592
041-B Abbas Abdennour Sponge Technology to Remove Mercury from Wastewater/Surface Waters U of MN $146,609
042-B McLennan Helen Morrison County Performance Drainage and Hydrology Management Morrison SWCD $261,000
043-B Romero-Vargas Castrillón Santiago Membrane-Based Process for Decentralized Drinking Water Production U of MN $191,304
044-B Gulliver John Salt Impacts to Minnesota Lakes, Rivers and Groundwater U of MN $497,276
045-B Finlay Jacques Assessing Wetland Restorations for Improved Water Quality U of MN $420,000
046-B Bond Daniel Reducing Salt and Metal Removal Costs with Microbes U of MN $596,599
047-B Finlay Jacques Innovative Assessment of Minnesotas Surface Waters from Space U of MN $458,000
048-B LaPara Timothy Triclosan Impacts on Wastewater Treatment - Phase 2 U of MN $399,063
049-B Runkel Anthony Understanding Bedrock Fracture Flow to Improve Groundwater Quality Minnesota Geological Survey $183,627
050-B Bumgarner Johnathan Protecting Drinking Water Aquifers-Phase 2 U. S. Geological Survey $433,400
051-B Cui Tianhong Tiny Cheap Sensors for Pollutants Monitoring in Waters U of MN $508,878
052-B Olker Jennifer Perfluorochemical Contamination Effects on Amphibians and Wetland Ecosystems U of MN - Duluth NRRI $250,954
053-B Wammer Kristine Eliminating Contaminants to Protect Endangered Native Fish/Mussels University of St. Thomas $287,448
054-B Behrens Sebastian Engineered Biofilter for Sulfate Removal from Mine Waters U of MN $439,817
055-B Ishii Satoshi Novel Algae Bioreactors for Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal U of MN $350,000
056-B Sleeper Faye On-Farm Prairie Filter Strips: Optimizing Water Quality Benefits U of MN - Water Resources Center $340,552
057-B Elias Mikael Innovative Methods for the Removal of Trace Phosphate U of MN $345,405
058-B Griffis Timothy Forest to Potatoes Conversion and Sustainable Water Use U of MN $286,658
059-B Johnson Gregory Evaluate and Quantify Streamflow Changes Affecting Aquatic Life MPCA $300,000
060-B Kyser Scott Sulfate/Wild-Rice Muncipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Alternative Analysis MPCA $180,000
061-B Sterner Robert Vanishing Winter: Effects on Lakes Small to Large U of MN - Large Lakes Observatory $600,000
062-B Barney Brett Modular Biological Phosphorus Recapture for Field Application U of MN $618,565
063-B Dutcher Cari On-Site Removal of Metal-Sulfide Particles from Mining Waters U of MN $497,758
064-B Nannenga Katy Vegetated Filter Strips as Optimized Water Purification Systems U of MN $278,744
065-B McGuire Jennifer Evaluating Oils Toxic Effects on Water Resources University of St. Thomas $346,470
066-B Mott Henry Virtual Bioreactor for Improving Treatment of Minnesotas Wastewaters U of MN $536,916
067-B Baker Lawrence Reducing Municipal Sulfate Discharges to Wild Rice Waters U of MN $244,181
068-B Sadowsky Michael Minnesota Resources to Remove Pollutants and Enhance Crop Production U of MN $505,833
069-B Yoo Kyungsoo Impacts of Invasive Earthworms on Water Quality in Minnesota U of MN $406,110
070-B Nater Ed Predicting Climate Change Effects on Mercury in Peatlands U of MN $643,088
071-B Baker Lawrence Reducing Early Spring Nutrient Inputs to Agricultural Streams U of MN $482,563
072-B Ryun Deb St. Croix Harmful Algae Prediction and Alert System St. Croix River Association $312,280
073-B Wackett Lawrence Removal of Nitrates from Minnesota Waters U of MN $198,256
074-B Wickert Andrew Automated Lake and Groundwater Measurements U of MN $368,194
075-B Pagliari Paulo Understanding the Role Sediment plays on Lake Eutrophication U of MN $345,207
076-B Zhang Kechun Production of Value-Added Materials from Wastewater U of MN $946,431
077-B Biske Richard Prioritizing Threats and Actions in the Mississippi Headwaters The Nature Conservancy $396,000
078-B Davenport Mae Riparian Buffer Optimization: Modeling Determinants of Buffer Adoption U of MN $390,093
079-B Shen Lian Development of Models for Oil Spill Trajectory Prediction U of MN $300,000
080-B Zimmer Kyle Mitigating Nitrogen to Protect Aquatic and Human Life University of St Thomas $461,000
081-B Ferrington Leonard Variable Winter Thermal Regimes and Managing Trout Streams U of MN $641,907
082-B Gerber Darrell Hydrologic Trends: Identify, Manage and Adapt Freshwater Society $682,000
083-B Musser Kimberly Integrating Targeted Watershed Planning Tools with Citizen Involvement Mankato State University - Water Resources Center $169,108
084-B Simcik Matt Mercury in Minnesota Ducks, Potential for Consumption Advisories U of MN $358,403
085-B Zanko Lawrence Characterization of Glacial Lake Clay for Mitigative Uses U of MN - Duluth NRRI $363,925
086-B Moore Seth Emerging Chemical Detection in Animals and the Environment Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa $834,878
087-B Wallerstedt Jamie Integrated Water Management for Hugo, Lino Lakes, Rosemount City of Hugo, Lino Lakes, and Rosemount $698,700
088-B Corcoran Brian Surface Water Bacterial Treatment System Pilot Project Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization $991,600
089-B Tedrow O'Niell Shagawa Lake Contaminants of Interest: Source, Fate, Movement Vermilion Community College $171,635
C. Environmental Education
(RECEIVED: 31 proposals/subtotal = $8,599,103 )
090-C Gieseke Jenny Minnesota Conservation Apprentice Academy Board of Water and Soil Resources $433,000
091-C Kerber Amy Kay Improving Outdoor Classrooms for Education and Recreation MN DNR $766,563
092-C Foster Shelli-Kae Youth-Led Energy Action Projects in 50 Minnesota Communities Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center $450,500
093-C Ponder Julia Hunters Choice: Alternative Ammunition U of MN $133,054
094-C Peterson Teresa Standards-Based Dakota Indian Land Curriculum for 1,250 Students Dakota Wicohan $197,104
095-C Storck Julie Environmental Education Best Practices Review Wilderness Inquiry $80,000
096-C Strecker Carol Creating Southwest Minnesota High School Student Wildlife Champions Minnesota Zoo $147,400
097-C Geissler John Outdoor Learning Engages Youth: A Model Collaborative U of MN $442,218
098-C Lanahan-Lahti Kim Root for a Tree - Minnesota State Fair Exhibit MN DNR $82,860
099-C Kline David Expanded Wolves at our Door program International Wolf Center $240,012
100-C Yetka Leslie Extension Master Gardeners Expand Habitats for Minnesota's Pollinators U of MM - MN Landscape Arboretum $171,734
101-C Bakken Timothy The New Prairie Sportsman Statewide Broadcast Video Project Pioneer Public Television $300,000
102-C Eckles Joanna Bird City Minnesota-Good for Birds and People Audubon Minnesota $343,943
103-C Stoelb Amanda Building Environmental Stewardship Through Sustainable Farm Ecosystem Exploration Youth Farm $824,900
104-C Hunt Joe Resilient Living Minnesota Television Series and Conference Happy Dancing Turtle $334,975
105-C Deaver Emily Promoting Stewardship through Student Mentoring and River Monitoring Southwest Minnesota State University $39,490
106-C Liebman Alex Public Benefits of Metropolitan Community Agricultural Land Access Twin Cities Agricultural Land Trust $147,017
107-C Halvorson Danni Next Generation Watershed Connections International Water Institute $246,444
108-C Cotner Sehoya Developing Intellectual and Scientific Infrastructure for Clean Waters U of MN $475,000
109-C Mesko John Teaching High School Students to Build Soil Health Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota $160,000
110-C O'Neill Danielle "Real Wildlife, Real Conservation, Real Impact" Wildlife Science Center $476,879
111-C Hueffmeier Ryan "Toasted" Birdhouse Market Readiness Test U of MN - Duluth NRRI $117,846
112-C Knapp Peggy Master Water Steward Program Expansion Freshwater Society $116,000
113-C Tedrow O'Neill Pilot/Bench-Scale Wetlands to Mitigate Potential Aqueous Contaminants Vermilion Community College $37,250
114-C Ceurvorst Robyn Southwestern Minnesota Youth Environmental Education and Training Partnership Mankato State University $415,000
115-C Smith Stacy Developing Connections and Conservation Ethics through Nature Play MN DNR $710,140
116-C Vlasak Raymond Student Outdoor Environmental Education Program Friends of Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, Inc. $96,600
117-C Van Blaircom Susie Nature Walk at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory Como Friends $9,300
118-C Wilson Diane Native Youth Plant a Pollinator Meadow Dream of Wild Health $55,487
119-C Von Korff Ben Visualizing Flow: Education on Flow Sources to Rivers Mankato State University - Water Resources Center $39,647
120-C Conrad Jennifer Connecting Every 4th Grader in State Parks MN DNR $508,740
D. Aquatic and Terrestrial Invasive Species
(RECEIVED: 14 proposals/subtotal = $10,216,759 )
121-D Venette Dr. Robert Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center - Phase 3 U of MN $5,000,000
122-D Romero-Vargas Castrillón Santiago Using Membranes to Treat Lake Superior Ballast Water U of MN $151,091
123-D Hicks Randall Advancing Microbial Invasive Species Monitoring from Ballast Discharge U of MN $368,995
124-D Salomon Christine White Nose Bat Syndrome Biological Control - Phase 2 U of MN $452,532
125-D Phelps Nicholas Modeling AIS Spread to Evaluate Management Options U of MN $264,141
126-D Aukema Brian Tamarack in Decline: The Resurgence of Larch Casebearer U of MN $344,900
127-D Abrahamson Mark Optimizing Chemical Management of Emerald Ash Borer Minnesota Department of Agriculture $600,000
128-D Chandler Monika Elimination of Target Invasive Plant Species - Phase 2 Minnesota Department of Agriculture $752,100
129-D Henquinet Jeffrey Treating Invasive Species in Laker Ballast Water Izaak Walton League of America - Minnesota Division $347,840
130-D Reich Peter Cover It Up! Using Plants to Control Buckthorn U of MN $307,703
131-D Blanchette Robert Winning the Dutch Elm Disease Battle - Phase 2 U of MN $330,187
132-D Burks Susan PlayCleanGo: Stop (Terrestrial) Invasive Species In Your Tracks MN DNR $609,266
133-D Henquinet Jeffrey Rapid Response Mobile Ballast Water Treatment System Izaak Walton League of America - Minnesota Division $498,068
134-D Arvidson Adam Invasive Carp Applied Research in Lake Nokomis Subwatershed Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board $189,936
E. Air Quality, Climate Change, and Renewable Energy
(RECEIVED: 19 proposals/subtotal = $12,690,897 )
135-E Snyder Peter High Resolution Climate Projections to Aid Planning Efforts U of MN $411,389
136-E Thomas Brenda Improving Health and Environment by Mitigating Airborne Pollutants U of MN $630,614
137-E Sadinski Walt Assessing Climate Effects on Wetlands Water and Species U.S. Geological Survey $1,070,448
138-E Simcik Matt Atmospheric Transport of Antibiotic Resistance Genes U of MN $449,325
139-E Reich Peter Managing for "Climate-Smart" Trees and Forests U of MN $380,026
140-E Cui Tianhong Cheap Solar Cells from Simple Roll-to-Roll Advanced Manufacturing U of MN $388,762
141-E Northrop Will Clean Vehicles Fueled by Hydrogen from Renewable Ammonia U of MN $842,849
142-E Campbell Stephen Making Solar Energy Cheaper than Carbon-Based Energy U of MN $664,180
143-E Forester James Management to Prevent Biofuels from Becoming Invasive Species U of MN $257,837
144-E Nelson Carl Geotargeted Distributed Clean Energy Initiative Center for Energy and Environment $1,850,000
145-E Barney Brett Expanding Biofertilizers for Responsible Nitrogen Application U of MN $659,512
146-E Schweser Greg Modified Terrace System for Climate Adaptive Agricultural Landscapes U of MN $665,037
147-E Wu Xiao Revolutionizing Ammonia Emission Reduction/Nutrient Recovery from Manure U of MN $558,539
148-E Heins Bradley Utilization of Dairy Farm Wastewater for Sustainable Production U of MN $1,451,125
149-E Johnston Lee Innovative Solar Energy Utilization for Minnesota Swine Farms U of MN $928,478
150-E Current Dean BMPs for Sustainable Biomass Production for Clean Energy U of MN $191,077
151-E Kortshagen Uwe Waste Heat Recovery with Efficient Thermoelectric Energy Generators U of MN $404,427
152-E David Andrew Identifying Best Seed Sources for Forest Tree Planting U of MN $396,843
153-E Edens Jason Solar Solutions to Minnesota Energy Poverty Rural Renewable Energy Alliance $490,429
F. Methods to Protect, Restore, and Enhance Land, Water, and Habitat
(RECEIVED: 20 proposals/subtotal = $23,679,305 )
154-F Schottler Shawn Seeding Between the Lines: Permanent Habitat Within Rowcrops Science Museum of Minnesota - St. Croix Research Station $179,400
155-F Spivak Marla Bee Pollinator Habitat Enhancement - Phase 2 U of MN $387,085
156-F Lenhart Christian Riparian Management Practice Guidelines for Minnesota's Waterways U of MN $103,594
157-F Holland Matt Pollinator & Habitat Enhancement Program Pheasants Forever $1,767,950
158-F Lenhart Christian A Treatment Wetland Strategy for Nutrient Reduction Goals U of MN $338,097
159-F Schlagenhaft Tim Controlling Reed Canary Grass to Regenerate Floodplain Forest Audubon Minnesota $218,500
160-F Hoek Tabor CREP III Implementation - Phase 1 Board of Water and Soil Resources $8,686,320
161-F Herb William Prioritizing Walleye Spawning Habitat Restoration in Minnesota Lakes U of MN $288,205
162-F Sullivan Lauren Measuring Prairie Fragment Connectivity: Pollen and Seed Dispersal U of MN $556,000
163-F Lemm Les Comprehensive Wetland Planning Framework and Mitigation Pilot Board of Water and Soil Resources $5,600,000
164-F Slesak Robert Identifying Optimal Soil Conditions for Sustainable Forest Management U of MN $412,000
165-F Barrick Melissa Forest Management for Mississippi River Drinking Water Protection Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District $350,000
166-F Buck Wiley Restoring our Metro Lands and Waters: MeCC IX Great River Greening $509,000
167-F Quinn Edward Implementing/Showcasing Shoreline BMP's on Parks and Trails Lands MN DNR $1,035,491
168-F Austinson Craig Agricultural Runoff Water Quality Treatment Analysis - Phase II Blue Earth County Drainage Authority $295,010
169-F Mundahl Neal Restoration/Monitoring of Winona's 40-acre Blufflands Natural Area Winona State University $99,427
170-F Hoganson Howard Sustaining Long-lived Pines on Minnesota's Landscape U of MN - North Central Research and Outreach Center $443,576
171-F Lin Zhibin Functionalized Nanomaterials to Enhance Performance of Pervious Concrete North Dakota State University $131,728
172-F Hokanson Stan C Genetic Analysis of Minnesotas Most Endangered Tree Species U of MN $277,922
173-F Tuominen Todd Restoring the City of Champlins Northern Gateway City of Champlin $2,000,000
G. Land Acquisition for Habitat and Recreation
(RECEIVED: 11 proposals/subtotal = $36,704,768 )
174-G Christie Jennifer State Parks and State Trails Land Acquisitions MN DNR $2,000,000
175-G Booth Peggy SNA Acquisition, Restoration, Enhancement & Public Engagement MN DNR $9,324,826
176-G Schulte Judy Native Prairie Stewardship and Prairie Bank Easement Acquisition MN DNR $10,999,942
177-G Kroll Thomas Preserving the Avon Hills with Reverse-Bidding Easements Saint Johns University $1,307,000
178-G Manzoline Robert Mesabi Trail Segment Highway 135 to Embarrass St. Louis and Lake Counties Regional Railroad Author $1,200,000
179-G Werner Tom Minnesota Point Pine Forest SNA Addition Project Duluth Airport Authority $500,000
180-G Otey Wold Hilary Wilder Forest Acquisition for Conservation, Preservation and Education Minnesota Food Association $6,320,000
181-G Johnson Mark Long-Term Drinking Water Supply Protection, Recreation, Habitat Plan Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water System $2,500,000
182-G Hydukovich Gordon Otter Tail River Protection and Recreation Trail Acquisition City of Fergus Falls $500,000
183-G Keith Linda Tower Historic Harbor Nature Trail/Kayak Route City of Tower $1,430,000
184-G Bissonette Cathy Babbitt Recreation Area Water Protection Project City of Babbitt $623,000
H. Other
(RECEIVED: 2 proposals/subtotal = $270,250 )
185-H Graeber Amanda Contract Agreement Reimbursement MN DNR $135,000
186-H Van Offelen Henry Roseau Lake Watershed: Targeted Water Quality Improvement MN DNR $135,250

2016 Proposal & Funding Process Main Page