Minnesota'sWildlife Management Area Acquisition

Minnesota's Wildlife ManagementArea Acquisition-The Next 50 Years-

Habitat is the Key

Report to the Department of Natural Resources,the Wildlife Roundtable, Legislature, andthe Citizens of Minnesota

byThe Citizens' Advisory Committee

December 2002

Lone.., Ness (Chainnan) -Fish & Wildlife kgislati\'c AllianceKevin Auslund - Game and Fish Coalition

Co",)' Class - Mi~sota Decr Ilurucrs AssociationMalt Holland - PhcaSlnI5 FOIl'''cr

Gabe Ho~r. l1lc NalU(c Constn";mc)Mik.. LaFleur - luak Wahoo wg~

Kc\ in Lines - Board or Soil 8:.. Water Resoun:~Mike McGillt) - Minnesot:I Watcrfo,,1 Association

Gordon Me)",. - Mirll1e$Ol<l COllSCn.uion FederationJane Prohilsk.a· Minnnota Land TrustSusan Schmidt- Trosl for Public Land

(Rpvised Il-la-O})

Director's Mcssage

I "ish to thank Chainnan Lance Ness and thc othcr committee members for their cnonnous personal

eommitmem and time to bring this ambitious effort to complction. lbe Comminee dearly met its taSk, and we

greatly appreciate the value of their reeommendmions to the Division of Wildlife.

The recommendation, in this report will help the division and its partners achie"e ambitious land

acquisition goals for the wildlife management area (WMA) sy>tem. The ta!;k ahead is large and expensive.

Clearly the Department ofNatural Resources can't do it alone. and. as a result. we will need to rely on the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service. counties. townships, cities. the Metropolitan Council. and many private conservation

organizations to compliment and amplify our efforts.

The ten ycar accelcrated acquisition challenge is important to achieve because urbanization and

increasing land costs are creating more barriers to reaching our goals each year. Ollr estimates show that to

accomplish the citizen recommendations. an adtlitional twCnty-two million dollars per year will be required. In

addition. the cost of devdopmem. management. and maimenance of those lands will result in increasing

demands on our staffand funding.

This plan is more than we expccll:d. The Committee clearly pro\'ided a set of blue ribbon

recommendations and a blue print for WMA acquisition for the next fifty years. The Division of Wildlife will

work hard to sec tha! the necessary funding. organizational resourees. and direction are given to realize this

dream

Thanks again.

TIMOTHY 1'. BREMICKER. Director

Division of Wildlife

Table of Contents

Executive Summary ----~••-------------------------- 1Chairman's Report ••------------••••••••••••••••••-.------------••------ 2

Citizens Advisory Committee Recommendations - 3Statewide recommendations ••••--------•••••-----.------.---- 3Regional recommendations .--••---------••••--------------•••-- 4

Ecological section 1······-----········-------------····--- 5Ecological Section 2··----···-----··---------------···--·· 6Ecological section 3·-----·---····--------------····----·· 7Ecological section 4-----·······---------------·····----··· 8Ecological Section 5-·········---------------····---------- 10Ecological Section 6---····--··········--------············ 11Ecological section 7-·-······-·······--------············ 13Ecological Section 8 & 9 ••••••-----------••••••••--------. 15Ecological Section 10···------------····-----------······· 16

Species and Acreage Summary Table ••••-----------•••••--•••• 18Recommendation Summary Table------···-----------·········· 19Advisory Committee Approval ----------••••.----------•••••.•••

Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area System·History and Current Status of the WMA System -------••••••. 20WMA Purpose and Use··-·--···········---------··---··-----····· 21WMA Values ---••-----------••-•••••••••--------•••....------••••• 22Pr~sent Acquisition Priority setting ------••••...------••••••••• 22Collaboration --------•••••••••••••••-------••-•....-------.---.... 23Funding for Wildlife Acquisition .-.---••••--.-----••••••••••-- 23Acquisition Procedures •••••••••-------•••-••..------•••••••••••• 24Future Cha Ilenges --•••••••-••--•••---••••...--------••••••••••-- 25

AppendicesAppendix A ---••••-••.••-.----••-•••-••••------------•••••••••••• 27Appendix B ----••••.••••••----••------••----------•••••••••••••• 28

Executive SummaryThe recommendations of!hl: eitiuns comminec: report reptt5Cnl$lhe direction lhatlhe Wildlife MaNgcmauAm (WillA) land aequisition program sbould lake f~ lhl: next fifty )=r5. The recommmd3.tions are bolbstate"ide and poliey le"el in nature and detailed on an ecological Stttion basis. Acquisition efforts for the first10 >"ears should be accelerated because of the effects of increased development in rural areas. the continuing lossof critical wildlife lands. and the escalating cost orland!. WMAs pia}' a kcy role in providinllthe opponuniticsfor hunting. fishing, trapping and wildlife "<ltching activities. WMA~ also add meaning and vallie toMinnesotan's and non residents lin's. And WMAs provide critical wildlife habitat orten locking in the \'ieimt}"due to intensi\e agricllhll1'lll. buman development. ~ 0Iber activities.

While highl}" sllCl:nSful. the ClllTent W/liA ~"Stcm docs not mcct all of the eum:nt and future needs for \\ildlifehabitat. "ildlife poplllatioo management and hunter access. The population ofMinncsota increased by o"er onellalf million people since 1990. a gro"'h nlle of 12.4 po:rcent. More pt.'Ople mean more demands on !hi: wildliferesource and a desire for more "ildlife rccll:atiomtl opponllnities. The ll:commcndations of this plan are basedon the anticipated needs for the next 50 rears to preserve additional habitat to meet thc needs ofall species of"ildlife. game as wcll as nongamc species. and the rtx:rcalional needs for public hunting and wildlife-rd31edrecll:ation.

Mil1llCSOta has an outdoor lr.lditioo that is demonstrated in the 2001 N:l1ional S\U\t)" offishing. Hunting andWildlifc Related Rccll:ation. Fiftccn pettent of Minnesotans hunt and 52 percenl of Minnesota residents "-.u.chwildlife. the highC'st panieipalion rate in the CClUlltry. Hunting and "ildlife watching are a SI billion dollarindustr)' in i\linncsota. Thell: is no siGn ofdnreasinG partkipation in Minnesota Or Ibc Midwest Since Ih~

population continues to increase we can expect panicipation and thc demand for outdoor rt'cll:ation inMinnesota to ~Ol1tinue, The WMA S}'Slem is an intcgrnl part of the outdoor recreational system WMAs playakey role in providing opponunitics for hunting and "ildlifc walching activities. WMAs also add meaning and,aluc to Minnesotans and non residents lives by protnting critical habitat and public access to it.

Ke~ habitat areas OIICr05S the state ba\'e bttn identified O\ff the pasl 50}'CaT5 11) the [)i\'Woo of Wildlife.Compll:linll the ocquisition and prD(ntion of the 263.000 acm ofunacquired lands "ithin these existingWi\IAs should be a priorit) However. to mcctthc long range n«ds to ensUll: adequate "ildlife lands for futuregenerntions. an additionaI4J9.000 acres ofncw WMAs \\ill need to be identified and acquired.

WMAs provide critical wildlife habillU often lacking in the vicinity duc to intensivc agriculture. development. orother activities. VlMA acquisition efforts should concentrate in thc southern and western ponions ofthc statewhere the l'f"Cssure from thesc these compclmg land uses is greatest.

The state",ide habitat and hunting access needs cannot be accomplished solely through the Wi\1A 5)"Stem. Ifhabitat. "ildlife pDplllations and hunter xcess a«> priorities for the people ofi\linnesota, prl\'3te land ownel"S.the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servicc. cities. counties. and other asencics; state and federal farm programs. andshon term and pennanent easements all need to play their pan in protection and rnanag~mentof \\ildli fe land.

Additional dollars "ill be needed to maintain and enhance habitat quality and public recreational opportunitieson lIe"l) acquired WMA acres. Ways must be found to cnSUll: the dollars are available to meetlbc future needsto maintain and enchance both the current and futuft WMA acres.

The plan is orpniud into S\ate"idc l'eC'OJl1mendations for the WMA system. !hI:n into ecological s«lioorecommendations and juslification for the recommendalions.

Chairman's ReportI wish 10 express my th:mks 10 !he cilizeM commiuec mcmbers for their lime and input inU)!he many

hours of meelings thai I WitS able 10 chair. Your elTort WitS Ilttdcd and valued and gi\'cs e~dit 10 an involvedcilizenry for ils concern for our st:lles nalural rt'sou",cs and Ihe bc:nefilS and uses Ibose: resourees provide 10 us all.

This comminec was formed out oflhe survey and discussion atlhe 2002 Wildlife roundtable at which the50~ anni\'ers:try oflhe WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA SYSTEM (WMA '5) was discussed and celebrated.T1t.allcd to Ibe qucslion of what should be done for the next fifty years and more imponanlly Ibe next ten rears!T1lc lack of quantity and qualil)' of habital, high elJl1l.'nt pressures being put on available habital. and increasingfutul"<: pressures and demand on Minnesota's habitat weI"<: topics of major concern. The DepoJnmenl ofNaluralResources (DNR) asked us 10 fonn and participale in this cili~ellS lIl!.\·isory c:ornminec.

This rt'por1 is ba5cd upon a consensus 19J'!:'C'ment oflho5e c:ornmin« members so listed. "The commilta:spenl many hours and mCClings 10 come 10 lhese recommendalions.. We "ish to thank Kim Hennings and DianaRcgenschcid of the DNR-Division of Wildlife and Bruce Hawkinson ofDrnamics Solutions for their time andassistance in preparing Ihis report, The Division of Wildlife GIS syslem. Ihe fall walerfowl plan. the farmlaoowildl ifc e0111111 ince. and the pheasant comm inee provided \,:11 u:lblc sources of infonnation.

The purpose of the Wildlife Management Area Syslems is threc fold: 1) to provide wildl ifc habitat. 2) toprovide wildlife production. and 3) to provide wildlife rem:alion. hunting, Ii.hing. and trapping opportunilies forthe: public. In addition. these WMA's provide habitat and production for a multitude of non·game "ildlifespecies.. nood control. water storage and filtntion. and scdimenution and erosion filters.. ...hich an: enormouscn"ironmenta! bcncfilS. Those bencfilS an: not the purposes for \\,MA's but an: additimulto the primaJ}'

""<pO><>BUI no" the task falls to us to continue Ibis highly s\ICCcssful progmTI. l1te needs continuc to grow along

"ilb Ihe demands and pressures upon Ibe existing habitat. The eommill« J«ommeoos a 50 )"CaT goal ofacquiring 702.200 acres ofne... WMA lands. nearly equaling the acreage acquired during the fIrst 50 years oflhcWMA Program. Population and urbanization pressures. continuing loss of habitat. escalating land costs, and thegrowing .ost of maintaining land are ever-increasing threats to wildl ife and habitat. Because these factors. lhecommittee I«ommends a ten )'ear aecderattd acquisition plan be: adopted and supported by the state legislaturcover the course of the: next Ii"e biennias. The Icn )-C31 acceleration and !he toul 50 year acquisition plan can nolbe accomplished "ithout the commitment b) !he legislalure and governor for long lenn funding. 001 only foracquisition of land. but also for dnelopmenl. operation. and maintenance oftoc land.

lbc eommitt« also n:cO£Tlizcd !hal Wt\iA's e:mnot be the sole supply of habitat but should be anintegTllted ran ora larger plan for wildlife conscl"ation that mUSI include public. private and non-profitpartnerships and cooperalion. including the federal gD\"ernmenl.

It is our hop<: that me people of Minnesota "ill embrace OUT vision oflhe future ofwildlife managementso lhal future citizens and their children wi It also be able 10 enjoy and participate in our state' s great naturaloutdoors legacy. The qualilY of life we are so fortunate to have experienced in our lifelimes as cilizens oftl1i5great state is dependant on ensuring that wildlife is prosperous for Ihe next fift)· )'ears and beyond.

LANCE K. NESS, CHAIRMAN

2

Citizens Advisory Committee RecommendationsSummary of Statewide Recommendations (nOI in runkorder)

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The acquisition program shaull! acquire 702.200 am:s of additional WMA lands in the ncx! 50 yeaNfrom willing sellers to provide sustainable and diverse populations of wildlife and greater opportunitiesfor wildlife-related recrealion for future gcnnalions.

Acquisitions should COllccntmlC in the southern half and weSl central portions of the state where changesin land usc. development pressures. habitat fragmcmalion. and increased demand for outdoor recreationcreme a larger demand and need 10 expand the WMA system. Emphasis should be On prairie andwellaml conservation and restoralion for waterfowl. pheasants. prairie chicken. and other grasslandSpeCICS.

Because of rising land costS and continued habitat loss. acquisition eITom should be accelewled over thenC.~t 10 years by purchasing 30% of the 50 year goal. or 210,000 acres in 10 years at a rate of21.oooacres per year.

'nle acquisition in the other pans of the state should be considered when needoo to protect endangered.threatened. an<.! rare spetH:s habitat; critical wil<.!1ife corridors and larger blocks of public land; key tractsneeded for \\11dlife species of spedal interest: management access; and parcels where importantmanagement ehallenges exist.

Over the past 50 years. DNR Wildlife Managers have identified key WMA projects across thc Slate.I'riority should be given to acquiring the 263,000 acres oflands remaining in private ownership in theseexisting WMAs (A,K,A.. roundouts). Howt,'er, 439,150 acres of additionl,llands in new WMAs will beneeded to help meet the goals established in this plan.

The eomminee reeogni7.es thaI WMAs alone will not meet the habitat protection needs and public lisedemands, but should be pan of the overall e!Tortlo provide the wildlife values and opponunities thatcitizens wanl in Minnesota.

The Division of Wildlife needs to work collaborativcly with other agencies and units of government.public and private partners, legislators. landowners, and citizens 10 seek addilional. erealive funding toimplement the recommendations in this report and find ways 10 expedite the WMA lan<.! acquisitionprocess.

Ongoing management and maintenance funding for the existing WMA land is inadequat~, Whensknificam additional aCreS of land are added to th~ system, funding for the ongoing maintenance isessential for the system to meet itS full potemial and the public's expectations.

The Division of Wildlife should periodically review the WMA land system to identify which units arcmeeting the needs of the s~'stem and which are no longer viable or produclive for wildlife.

In 2012. another citizens committee should look at the accomplishments of this plan and maha<.!justmems in the 50 years scope and strdtegics for the next 10 years for WM,\ land acquisition,

3

Regional recommendations

Regional recommendations an: broken out ...ithin Ecological Classification S)'stem se<:lions. Each s«tion hasunique soils.. wcather. and ,"egelation that produce certain ildlife:md Tecreational e:01periences. Much ofDNR's current management is being influenced 1))' this lit way of looking atlhe landscape. Sectioru; 8 and 9were combined because ofthc small size ofS«tion 9 and !he fael that it functions similarly 10 Section 8.

Each se<:lion writeup is self-contained and describes that section's focus, goals, needs.. recommendalions.. andjustifications. An i~rt map shows !be location ofWI section in the Slotte. lbc general characteristics.includinll huntablc and pc1TTI;llIoCnlly proteclc<! acres. art' also described forcach scclion.

~ _1:~U_ Ri.... P'r.oin.... -

1,1'"'"

Se<oJ<>.. I:ArroKHad

'- .

Minnesota Ecological Seclions

-- -

senl"" l'1''''Wld,

-.

- --•

.-

.-

_ SK';o.. ~:

N"rthom Look.. _.

---

-.

-,---.-

S....'I .... ~:

Ihd RI'·~r

\'.nO)' 1'",lr

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WMA AcquisitionEcological Section 11 Arrowhead

G.......al ~Io&ic:al. ""il. blllbc.pc and ""olo&i<al dtscnpcion: n"l se<:tion <OIISisls or Iar;e~.uofbcdroc:k nposun: or ""'llow.frq;i~ soils 0_ btdroc:k, tM:.. OK ptt$nII in Iorz< llUmbers, ~-s<1I1<tnom "<g<llllion eonsist~ wG"lr orronifnous upbnd specie:.sur;h 11$ .. h.le pin<. m! p..... andjKk pin<. TopoanpIr) is vWd, -liIIe &om Nlla SIeqI. landfOfTll aNISISlS orlJO'l"d and <ftd""""""'""<~i«dh) lb<iallill Q\'<T bcdm<:Ir. and upoM'd bedfod<.

Und _ is dos\.iIIIIfd by lilmu.. minin&- r=flIllOll (Iuu..... ft>lW>$. h<J.-ing. ..........x,;linI> ond s-.orw hous~ ...b1r.<I"'..masons The...;or _ ....inn"""......... Ouludl, Hibbm&- VirpDia. Ely. Sj~ Iby. TWItIlbrborf..and G.-l MIf3iI.

5.4 ....•• ,.

SIDle <I FftInrIl

C~2wmri"'q<='"P,,"_oaIllyl'roIn:ted A<Tn

•"5.419.1'7'8.257.....MATouIA...,

Sn:1iun CIWxtenlun

Fo......-'kllife 'p<'(in: M~ ruffed j;JOUSC. dca. lharp-ulled l:fO'*'- ",'OlfSp<'(i<$ populilion "0'11: MIJntlin lU5lIinlhle populations ofro.cSll'd laI\d~dtpmr:lmI ..;kllif•.Wl'tA Lud A<qu"ilion I><flh:

Lontlurn: A 5O-rtar 10"1 of3.100.,rn .00chuo,,"1 WMA IIn<h blKd on hlbil» """'- spc<'ie$ popub'ion I<wlI. and Ittrc3lionalacc... lo Intnl and "lew wildlife_Short torm: Aec<lentod ""'Iuisi';"" should 0«'" IlII!M: firs' 10 )'QI"O. "'ith I go.a.l of9llll xru.Mqul,llion Stra,el:)" 2.140 seres should be direaod II eompl«Jnl t~e xqutsilion of niSl,ng WMA' and 160 xrel of new WMAlands should be identified. plannod and xquim!

II. bit., rU<u. ond m.n"~etn<n' n.od"• Identify urtd Icqui,e e.ilicll habitat for end.ngered. t~rea'.nod. ~nd rar. """"ie<,• Ae~uisition .rron, ihould cumplimen, exi<tinH ,,"Ic and olh", p"olie londl to protoel critical corrido.s ond I",., bloc:k$ of ~,bitaLI'uhlle II untln~ r".us "nd ••oe.. needs:

P",v,de imp.ovod XeelS fo, publ it huntin&. p,ni,ularly 10 in •••,ssibl. or landlocked blockJ Of public lond,"ublie'p.!>'at< colllbo.all ... a<qui'ilion nccdo:• The Oi.l,ion 'bould eollaborale wlth addllionai patlMlI to pro.id. t'" long.lrrm hallitolland bas< th",uih 'upph,mcnlal elfons lik.

LCMR 1niI131;'-'5. other ".,e and fod...l acqui,ition progr:lmS. non'go'-cmmen' inn"""n". private lind easemen" and privale elTons.• WMA,lJIoukl cDnIf'linotoU e.."",,,,.,ion pra<tt«l such as privale foc prtIgrarno 10 maximi,e ..'iklltfe COIIS<1'\iaCIOn .ffocu.• WMA,lJIoukl be pM! or,hc ......-all eff"" 10 pro,-ode the .. ildltfe \'II thac ci,;'en, wm' foc 1IIe roture in ~lInt><SOC>.

J ..Slif... lIon ror lbo neonomnda';ons:• Othe. pm< SPCC'" sucII as rabb,,,- "lu.... I.. furbe~lS,and. ''lfoetyofnongarnc bird and mammal spc<'on hmofn ii-om Wo\.lA land•.• Boca.... 91% ..fthlS S«Iion .. in public ",,-ncrs/ljp and .""ilable roo- public:

m:"'aciol\. ....... w;ldlik halIiQI, and _""ion nmb CIOI be met 10)l:Ol~tOlIllId cooperaci'~ lRIILal:cmtol1 cfforss "'llh CCKlI'I) • ..-. and t'ccknJlFflCies thac 00fIlnl1 do< publIC a-k.

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WMA AcquisitionEcological Section 2, Peatlands

General geologioal, ""iL landscapo and coologi,,1 de"rip'ion; Thi, ...c,ion ronsim of lowland bog dominated by spruce .nd,"m"aok and .n upland ,ran.ition ZOnc to tho Can.dlan Shield on Ihe ,," ,ide. Presettlemem ,'e~etation eon,i'ted of foreSled ,nd nonror••,~d bog .nd mixed hardwood-<:onifef. TOl'Og,"phy i. le"ellO gently rolling. The p,imary I.nd is lake plain {part ofGlaoial LakeAg."i.),

Land u..: Low p,oouClivily fo'o>t. f.""ing On the we.tern ,ide and 'eoreation "ethe predon"ttanlland LISe•. In'ernational F.II,.Il.udettc. Warro.d. and Rose.u arc 'he main population .entef$

Section Ch.'l30teriSlic':

To'.1 AClO'5.J09.09~

Oll,«WM" SlnlclCountVJ41.2142.824.944

Feder.1126.856

TOlalHuntable

J.19J.014

'V.TotalHunt.hle

"

Stat,· & Federal(m,'w'q!joq EWfmf'I[{'Pe"".'n<ntlyProle<:led Aere,,.. Acres %Tolal

focus ,.-Ildlife ,pecies: Moo,e. ",!Ted wou,e. dee,. sharp-tailed grou,e, bearSp«ies popul.liou goal: I, Maintain sUSl.inable populalions of fo.eSled landscape dependent wildlife,

1. Ine~asc ,he hunt.ble popul"ion of n,oo...3 locr<ase 'harp_,.iled gruusc populalion< to le.'el, 10 'u<t.in a ha,,,e,, of 30.000 to 40.000 bi,d, .nnually.

WMA bnd Aequi,lhon ueeds:Long Itrm: A 50'yea, go.1 of26. 700 .c.e, .ddition,1 WMA land, based on h.bila! noe<l" speoie. popul.,;on level,. and",crO:llio03J "",CO" 10 hunl and view wildlife.ShoM 'enn: Accelefated aoquisi,ion ,hould o<cu, in the fLI'S' 10 year•. wi,h ago.1 of8.ooo ao...,•.Aequi,ilion Sl nlle~y: I8,70{} ""n,s ,hould be direoled al completing lhe acqui,ilion ofexiSlln& WMA, and 8.000 acfe, of newWMA I.ods should be id,mir.e<l. planned ond ""qui.ed.

l13hi'a' foeu, and man.~."'."t nrod>:• Iden'ify and a"qui,e etilioall..bilal for endangered. lhre.tened. ,nd rare ,pecie"• Acqui,ilion effOrl< should oompl"nonl existing ...Ie nod mher public I.nd, to protect orilical oorrido,s ,nd lorge, bloek. of h.bi'aI.

Idenlify and ",qui", key o.ili.al 'harp_lailed 8'ou", nabital.• Round outs 10 maj", WMA< ,hould bc a high p,iollly.Publie lIulI,llIg fotu, "nd .e<~5S needs:• PlOvide imp",.ed acee" for public hunling. p.rtieulorly '0 ina""."ihle Or land looked block, of public land.Publielpriv... eull.bor.oli... ~<'lul'llioll needs:• The Di,'i$ion ~ould collaborate wilh addilion.1 P"""crs 10 provide the long_"''''' habilalland base through 'upplemenlal eflons like

LCMR initi";ve,, o'hcr "ate ...d fe<l<ral acqui,ilion P"'I:'"""". non-gowmment inve"menl', pri,.,,'c l.nd ea,em<ntllUld p,i,·..e effOrl<.WMA, should complimont ,ou",,,,.tion pro<tice, ,u<n as p,i"Jle foresl p,ogram, to maximize wildlife eonse"""ion effort'WMA, should be p,,, of 'he o"CfllIl effort to provide the wildlife ".Iue, lh.t oiti~en, won' for tk future in Mione$Ola,

.)m,ifIea!ioll for ,he .eeollun<ndOl;on"Dlher game ,peoie, $uoh"" rabbitl, squirrels. furbeare.... and. ,'ariel)' of "ool:"01e bi.d .nd nlOmm.l specie, benefi' from WMA land•.

• Beeuu,," 62t'. ofthi, section i, in publie o,,"ncrship and a".ilable fot public ,eo,eation. mo" wlldlife habital and popul.tion n«d, can beme' by coUaba,",io" and coope,alive manayement effort, ,,'illl COUOty. 'late, ,,,drederal .genci,·s ,~"' oon"ollhe public lands.

• Sh"P'lailed g.ouse popul.'ion. have dedined .1.tewide d.,m.licaUy f",",hi'to,io le"el, I" lhe 1940,. In 1949. ove, 110.000 ,h.rpt,ils we.e h••"eSled<ompared '0 receo, ha",e'" in the 1990s ranying f,om 8.000 to 33.000 bi,d,.

6

WMA AcquisitionEcological Section 3, Northern Prairie Parklands

Gcnenl .eolo$~11. "'11. IIndscap<" _ «olo&i<>1 d",;"pIIOII: Thil .....ion e"",l"" ofltllnSitioR WIlt b<l"C'ftl prairie and fo~ in~ ",,"hlOCS! panion of the _ •. I' """'in.... '0 III. IOQf1hw'0SI1hrolI&h panl"'" of M~IIDba. Sa$k.o"'hc........ and "I~. I' I. limllar 10 Ill.OIl; __ IrII\SllIOIl ton< to "'" ""'Ih. .~~ oak io r«lIKcd by fipl'Il (duo< '0 cJ~J. Thl. 1CC1ion io Ioclllcd IOlIJIy on • 13k. pbin(Glac:iaIl11<. Agass,z). Prl...... land .... io primorlly acrlCUm.... ith "'"" fomuy Kllvilics. Tho"' .... IarI" areal of varioull)'pes of publiclind. Small lOW.... oudI .. Red Uk< Folk. ~arbud. and G<cenblalh pro"lde...".,ices. No I..-i< popullllionl-.n. n"l.

S«lioo ClIlra<l.m,in:

ToulAacs! ....1~

WMA ~:C_ Fedc<:d IfIll'Ubk3OS.5H 155.511 C,UI 5!4..l1J

1l....1c

"

~dF~

Cczrryg'n [«E_art

Pt" M'"_A~

1.195

F....... ildlif.......irs: WII<rlow!.~Icd pouoc. _. d«t. nIfl"ed V"""'5pr<"in popvllollo. 1011' I. M:I.II:IlIioo ......Iin"".. popullllionl orpnific artd bnIIh!lnd ckpc:ndmI .. ikllif.... ics

2. lftcrcaoe chrl rccrooUl>Cnl. W01lI c-mpbuiI OIIlpc:Cin below lbc: ...._ l.-.rapj MllIIIaJIll hunllblc popullt_ or_~ hlC:r.aIt "'"'JHailcd p""'" """"lIIionl: to .....15 10~ •~= of30.000 to ~O.ooo bud< amnrally

,,"' ... Land A'II~lsllio.o«d<:Lon, Itrm: A 5O-yc3t pl of43.400 ..res Id'hlionll WMA !Ind. bued on habit<>! .-.Is. lpc:Cies popularion .....1•. and="'11;01111 ac:<:cos '0 bunt ond .;....' ,,'ildlife.ShOH l.rm, A«.lmuN K<lul.it;"n ohould 0«"'- ;n Ibr lim 10 )Q/"5. ,,'Ilh 1 goal of 13.000 acres.A<qul,ltion S' .... ,<2J': 32,000 ll<In ohould be dirccl<:d II <ompl<ting Ihc ..quililion nf ... illin, WMAI and II ,~OO ..... of n....WMA 1an<IIIltouId be ilkntifi<:d. pllUII'cl and K<l"".d.

lI.billl fO<UII"d ,no"'~'",'"1 nr.d"• IdemifY .nd a,qu;'e "iti,.1 h.bll.l fo' ..\d.n~ered. 'hreatened. and ,Ilt. Ip«i..• A<qu,liliol1 .rrotl! sho"ld ~nmplim.nl.xi'tin~ .t.t. and othr, publi, I.nd, 10 prot«t ~,it;..1<orrido... and I.,~., block. of h,b;!lII.• ldcnlif~ and ""qui,. k.~ or;tlc.l.h''l'"tailed groul. h.bilal• Completion of Ih. ",quisltion orand <oll""lid.l;on ofth. major WMAllhould be a hl~n p,io,it)'.Punll< Hunlil1¥ foen. and ...." o..do:

P'o"ide unpro_td 1<,", fo' public huminJ:. parri<ularly In _ceslib'" or l.tlCllocl<td block. of public latICI.p",.'ide """" and impro"td acc<S.S for I..ro..·1 hunlint oppor<onll,".

Publl<lprh'110 .01l11on...11,. ocquisiliGn n iI:• TI>r Divis;,.n Plnuld <l>II:>bo!lll< with addilio...1parrncrs 10 po_Ide the Ion'-ll=l ""bil3llond l>Ue IhrouplUpp"' lld .rr"", like

LCMR iI1~~I"'es. OIherlQl.:md foderal ;u:quilillon provoms. tIOfI-pl\'<mmml in...o"""... prln", lond"1 " and prh..t••ffons.• WMAs should <Ornplimem a>m<rV3tion prxti<:essuch IS pr;...... forCS! Proe=tS 10

""":lrrlllI' w,ldllf. aIIIK1""Jlion dfons.• II. MAs 5/lnukl br pari of the "''eIlI11 .ffort lO prvvlde Ibr wildlife nhIcs thai eitizcm

_ for the t'ulIJre in Monnrwa.

J.'lifonliG. IOrlllr l'"O'<'O..-...:II,in..,• Olhrr pm< ....... such • nbbits.1QUirrch. ""1>0:...... and • ...-ietyof_bird

.............ir$ ......r~ Ii'orII "'~IA bnds.• AIIlIocIuP 62 prt'COM of dllS 1Ot:1D is ..........~ 11"1•• in public: .....",.nhip IIICI

...-..bbk for poIbIO< rK....ioJI arId __ wildlif.!ub,.. and popubl_ ....0. """ be""" ~. eolbbonIinD _ c"",,",'."'" .......'_.fforu ....... .-y.1QIe. _ fakndarm<ir$ tloal COrr1nIllloe pablO< bl>d<..

• SloIrp-wI<d~ populalinM hI>.. der:lined Ka1eWIClc: a-icall)' fi-oao historic:.....k .. the 19o10s. bl 19o19....... 150.000~k ,,= hIr>"eIt<d .......... 'd 1O.-=tIl'->'CSlI .. tho 19901 rlIft&inl f""" 1.000 10 33.000 lmds

7

WMA AcquisitionEcological Section 4, Red River Valley Prairie

~I gcolo&ial soil. populal-. Iandsapo ond ecolosical deoct;p-: This JeClion com.i.c. oftho IWthttD poni(lll of tho tall........."ic in Minneoou. II isocparalC from tho soudlcm partiaoI<M: 10tho~ ~rowirl! IC.I$O/l. Topocn.phy is '"d 10~Iy .011101.1M~ Iadd I'oml is .. 1aJ"pe~ W<c plain.

Uad 05<' ispom.-ilynmsiwap;e.lwn: ofsupr bttu. pouIO, ..1IaI, SIIIIflowtr Iftd Olhtr ~oUyCO'OpS. RMniioo, is .. irur_ft!Ob,lin$. bird _ ... _ r..., .. ran -inc-l'llpuIIIion~ include: CnlobIoa, ThlnRi-'W falk, ",,,,,,IICiWl_.............S«1.... ao.. racI.ri..ics: $MUd: F"~

",mtq.1c t'ltl>1ltdfW Cca<cmtjpQ fgIC/1trlt" TtHtIl 'rt>I~rtI H~Mf~'

""'" T_ "oTOIlil 1'ft>Nnonl1}'T.....IAcTK \I'MA Suto County '.l." llunlJlblo Iluntable ProlOCItd Aan ~'" "IoToul3.9511,521 30.056 5.9.0 5l.l51 81.256 , 56.!!' '.0.516 ,r u. ,,'lldUfc 'p«ia: WIltrfowl. dca, prairie: c~icken, pbcllal>lSSp i•• popul .. ion ~0.1: I. E>:p;>nd prlIili. c~kkcn range .1Id p""jdc for I hun...bk J>01>UIOIion

2. Incre~s. duck rccruilmenl, wj,h emphasis On species belo""1H: lon~·I.rm .v....ge3. Double Ihe pneasani popul'li""

WM,\ Lind Aequi,ilioo "cod"Lon~ lorm: A SO ~e", ~'{)II of2S.JOO addilklnal WMA OCr.S b.tKd on hubi..., n..d.. ,poei., popul.."'" levels.:md ~ru,ional

aoCCS$lo hun' and .iew wildlifeSIlorller... : Accclerated ocqu"liion """"Id occur in Ihc 11m '0 }eo>r>. w,,11 I go.l of7.600 OCr1!$.,,<quisllMln SI.--.I<'V: 11,120 100m ....... ld be direclcd al oompklUl8 !be ..qui.ilion of •.'is"". WMAs and 1.110 ..rn of ......WMA 1~ .......1d be id...lir..d. plantlcd and acquired.

Hlbitll ron.....<1 .a"'l:~ ..nlllCCdl;• lde"t1fy and ICqUiR: critic.al hob_for cn<btI~tcd.lbrcalnlCd. Iftd .- 'PCCies.• E"1 t MIO shoodd bep~ (Ill habf1aI ill large< comploxtl of.. I I'weI1aItd tllac ~f. 1M pass.brad species. The objective slloIIld lot

10 optimize lhc prodllCtiarl of..ktplc~ spec;""• I"riorily stltIUld bcpbco:d 0lI1i1c: aoqu<SJ\D of_;"~ prairie, pMsl ' maonbk~ and n;stine t<"elbnd.witIo adjxenl.......• Idcnlif) and ao.quin: I ",in........ of I0 ccn~ wmpll!:ll.. p--tlIICf thM 2.000 ........ ......, (Ill ,cst'lIrd> on prIiric chiem

populationl and 0Ihcr <pccics rcquinn& Iwcc ex.....,. ofc:r-Jand.• ld....,fy and acquire critical~ t<'irllctinc aeas fOf rcsidcnl "ildlifc ;.p«itl.. tIecdcd IltUing habillllftd other limitinl habilal for

anuland 'flCC'"~ on ibc most '''-'Cl1' II1formalion and rescon:h.A«tui~ition .tTOfU ohould COmplinlftll exi$linc itale and OIlier public lands 10 pfOlcet critical OOfTicIon and lor;er block> ofh:lbita,

• Accclcntl~ ..qui,i'ion '0 1'<",cc,1IId ,mpro.·••hallow bkes. ..asooally flood.d wc,land •. and o,lter k~y "'''mowl miuatioil habitat., ldenlir) InJ ocquir~ key lands ,113' "ill o$lahli.li ""l1i"",,u, or cornplel' "ildlife hahi"1 corrid01'$.

Acquisi,i<)n dTon••oould focu, On thGS. I"Onion, of Section 4 "ill eo""ini"~""uml habital in ~umcl."t Quantity .nd qu.lity to provideIhe basic ,.q"i.." .."" ofkey "ildlife speci... Lillie Ot "0 ..quili'ion 'Itould be largeted for areaS In,1 ate int<nsiwly r>rmN orco"vened 10 olhrr u....

Public llnnllne focus and ICC'" needs:• E~p;lnd opponunitin for humi", of prllific e~jcke,,".

• Double pOOlic hwmng oppoRunitin fOf pheu:ln'• PrnvMlo """" &: i..."""Td >et:C" for ""I..fowl h."umg oppor111/1i',".

l'ublidpri''lIle ooll'''''.. ,i....<qulsllion """.:• The 0;. ision ohould colbboracc ,.,Ib lldd'I-:-1 partacrs 10 prov,lk tho 1onI:......

halnta! land twe tlIrouIh oupplcmtaul dl"ons '.te LCMR l'"llal""n.. Olber~ Iftdr.dtnl_u. "'''!P.... -10.......'" iIIv<s.lJI>CdlS. pl1.- ......__mdpn._elTom..

• WMA~""Id~ poar:tiocn liU C1l.P ao:I oobcr r.mao:I pn"" foresl: P'''ll'.ib .....,~ ..ildlif~ -.- 0ll"0IlS.

• WMAli shoald be pan of tho o~11 effiln to """ilk l/>e "'Jdlif~ \-aItIcs thai citizcns.....m for !be f ia MUIIlC5OCI..

JU'lific".. lIo" for The nda.ionJ:• Oohcr pm< lipCC'" h • dca. rabb,,.. Stl"=k. Ii.obcal.rs. and I ''lIr''"'Y of

I\OIIpme b,rd ond IOlIII"dtU.l .pcc*s b<tIcl11 from WMA lands. ,

•

••

••

••

•

•

Wildlife popuJ.lio.... in lh. al:'i<;"ll\Irall~""\C31J<nttd .ssiWUll'~ witll pl't"idio8 minimum hoblt:u nceds. Approximately 11 ~r~.nl ofthis section is uDder inlens,,,,, cuhivalion.I.tss ,han l pttCtnl of"'" tall Krau prairie ' .......ins aJ>d Pia"" d.1'ftI'b1ll ~i.. "'" in d..,h....Uss ...., 20 p<r<:cn1 oflbe: pr=nltlllC'1l ""..lmds remain in "'is 5«"011. Loues ha"" bun hicJIcsl ;0 "'OCIllll,rnol counTies. ,,'ith """'"COIml,es Ios.inl 90% or~ of1M... ~'Iemonl lO-ellar<h.

Inc•..,...s ,,'ldllf. popubliono ..... hu,,"., oppommiti05 ...,11 pt1lvid< ..lell,.....1btnefiu II> 1IIc loul OCOlIOlllYWidl", Monnnooo'. pnm.yp/letiMt ....~_"" co_ d«lined 3.1 percml peI')" r""" 191710 1997.dc¥iIo lheaddnionof 1.1 million IICfn oree:.-r._R~ f'ro&nnI (CRP) IIIld.F-.. Iond f;OIlI ....... II> 1$ (Of .....~ lICficulnlnl ..... ra:r...oonal JIIl"llOKS.Pnlir~ d1i1:1..... ""'" dot po h __ .,......... P"'" op«ics .. "'" """ioft. .." mad< • """"" bKl: \I) In..... p<nnm~. bIn~iI'd.....-1.-"-_ dlird ofw oho:Jn:tiM .. 1M OWe is prCIICCled. F""" 196710 19'2,lbt __ ofhomel ... lales\artn "'- 14' K'" illlin inc~ by 7~·""

\\l1fflO,,1 nu~"" lis<: """ \he qNIIIit) aDd qLlllily of ..~...w..1 food rtSOIIftOS ........ <k<hr>rd in M,nntSCQ d ... II> "rtland 1osI.a.<kpadal1Oll of .mIlo..' bkes. CO<Iflict;ng "-e\I,md usn, ...... 11... de',,1opm<nl. Mol """er ,,·..land COlInO<:livity leadinllO. hither.~cl"'l. ofnOlic planl opeci.. IIIId acher d."imental orpniill\i..

9

Ac,.s %T01.1

WMA AcquisitionEcological Section 5, Northern Lakes

G,..,oral goologlcal. :<oIl, landseapo and ocologlcal doscription: Thlo ..ction oon,I'" of.n af•• In north o.ntral Mlnne,ot.,Pr••onlcmont ,'ogotation w., prlmMlly fOfo"" Conlfe,. (whit. pin., f.d pin•.•nd j.ok pin.) .nd h...dwoods (.,pon. bird•. and mi"d oak)predominat.d. Topography '''fi.s from I.,'ello rolling. landfo,m, InduM end ond ground morainoo. OUtw.,1t plains. lake pl.ins. anddrumlin f.. lds. Population cemors Indude Ailkln. Docr River. Pcquo' Lake,. Walkcr, Bcmidji, Black Duck. Pa,k Rapid•.•nd Wadcn•.Mrlion Ch....Cl.ri'ti05: SIllI. &, Fode",1

I/r",,,,M: P"hlrc deN.' Cnw£ominn w'''mna! Told /'mlCGled I/"haalOthor Total %Total P.mlOn.mly

WMA S,.t<!Coun,,' Fedoral Huntablc f1unLoble PrOloot.d ACf••To,al Aorc'8.390.J91 104,291 J,8!8.3S7 1,589.350 4sn.O!8 54 943 4,5n.U!8 54

~·""u. wildlif. 'lWeirs: Ruffed grou... deer, wat.rfo,,-I, bear. ,harp-tall.d grouseSp'';'' l,op.I.';on ~o.l: I, locfo""" duok reerultm<nl. with emph.,l. on ,peel,.. below the long.<CITlt .voroge

2. Inere.... oha",.'alled ifOU.. popu; ..ion, '0 I.-'el. to ,u.tain " harvo" of 30.000 to 40.000 birds .nnually3. M.ln..in .ustainable popul.,ions of forested I.od",.pe dependent wildlife.

WMA Lll",1 Aeq"is;lio" need"Long lerm: A 50·ye.. goal of33.700 .ddilion.1 WMA aore. based on habitat needs. spoeies I"'pulation I.vels, and re<featiollalacee" 10 hunlllnd ,'iew wildlifo.Sh<>r1'eITlt; A«,lo",".-<I .cquisi,ion should otOur in the li"t 10 YO'''. wi,h. goal ofl0.ooo "tr~S.

Acqui.itlon Strate~'Y: 23.240 .Ct•••hould be directed .1 eompk'ing tho acquiSition of oxiSting WMA. ond 10,460 'cre, of nowWMA I.nds .hould be id.nlifLed. pl,nnod .nd acquired.

Ilobil.t f.<us • nd m.n.gem.nt needs:Id.ntity "nd acquire cri,ieal h.bltat ror ondangerod, lhn:alenod. and rare'p,:eie.,Acc.l.rat. ",quisition to pmle<t and improve .hallow I.k••.•oasonail)' floodN wetlands. and olh.. kC)' w.todowl migrati"" habital,A,quiro and pro,,,,, ..n.ltiv. natural h,bitat ore" thremen.d hy de,'.lopmenl 0' other u.e•.Acqui.i,lon effort. should eompliment e.i"jn~ stat. aod othe' public land. '0 prOlcr\ cr;tical eorrido.. and larger block' of h"bi'al

• Idon,liY .nd aoqulre key critical .harp-tailed grouse habitat.• Round outs to majOf WM,\. should be. high p,IOfil)'.Publi< Hunlin~ fo<u, ,"d ...... ".ods:• Provido higher quaiily hunting expori.n... by lowering nunter d.n,ity and all.vi .. lng o>'Ofcrowding on WMA land,.• Provide more and impmved access ror ,',alcrfowllmnling opportunitie"I"ublirlp,inoto <Ollllbo"I1;'·. 'O<lui.;,;nn needs:• The Divis;"n should collaborllw wi,h additional partners 10 provide lite iong-mm h.bi,at I.od b.se Ihrough suppltmentaleffons like

LCM R ioili'li,·oo. olher sta," ond fedoral a<:qui,illon programs. non-go".mm.nt in" •.,menlS. priv.te land ,,,"omon.. and pri""le effon•.• WMA, should <ompiimcnt "'on·toITlt <:onse,vation pra<tk., such as pr",ato tbre.t pm,,"m. to ma.<imi'e wildlif, <:on""ation effort.<.• 'liMA' should l>e p.n of,he ovorall offort 10 provide tho ,,'ildllfe \',Iue. thai citi,e", w.nt fOf tho futufo In Minneso'a.3u;tlr.eatlon for thr ,rrommonda'lon"

Otlle, ~all1. spoeies such a, rabbi ... wild turk<}... squirr",,, Furboar<", and a vari.ty of oong.me bird .nd mamm.1 .pooi•• benofit fTomWMA land•.Bo<,u,o 54% ofthi, ..etio" is in pubiie o'•.-ne""ip. many wildlife IlObil.t .nd populallonneeds can b. mel by coil"bo""ion and coopo",ti"e l1"na~em.nt effons wilh county. ,"'Ie.•ndFedoral .geneie, thai eontroi the public lands,

• Sharp-t.iied grouw popul.tions h..·• doclin.d drom",ic.lly from hi'torle lovol, in tho 1940,.In 1949. o"or 150,000 ,harpLoil. wer< h:m'eSled eompaf.d to '.COnl h.",<", in lho 1990sranging from 8.000 10 33,000 bird,.Many o,ilital wild ,lco l.ke. and ""I<,fowl migrotion staging are.' aro lotalN ill tJ,is ..etiontJ", n..d prOleClion or onh.noomrllt.Only H.l~. ofshordine;o the state i. publicly o""od. Ffom 1967 10 1982. the number ofhomo> on I,ke. lafger Ih.o 145 aC= in ,iz. ;n<:r.:lSed b)' 74"•.

• Wa,,-rfowl migration u.. and lito quonli,>, and qu,lity of""te,rowl food re«luree, IlOvedrdlne<l in Minne,ola due '0 wetland 10$,... degradation of .halio"' lako$. oonnleting wetlandu"'•. shofelin" drvelopment. and gre'le' wcilond oonneetlvity le.ding to a highe, exchange of.xoti<: pi.n' sp""i,.. and other d.nimenLoI organi.m•.

JO

WMA AcquisitionEcological Section 6, Deciduous Transition

Gene,,1 geolog;"I, soil. populallon. land,capt and e"olo~i"al desc,iplion, Thi' ,"clion ton,is" of lhe Transition 20nO h<:\w""nprJi,ie and fore" through centr.1 and sOUlhoas'ern Minnesola, It i""lude' .,,"' of p,.iri., $3\1>nn., ,nd hJrdwood foreSL tand form' ..cdiv."e, They include cnd moraines, ground mo..lnes, outwash pioin•. and drumlin field"

Land use i. p'edominanlly .gricultu,e wi'h .ccel.,..,ing .uhurhanilOl;on alonG tran'porT.,ion corridors, A 'asl m.jorlty of Minnesolall'this sec'lon. The popul"ion comers ioclud•. Roch",,",. SI. Paul. Minneapoli" St. Cloud. Lillie F.II•. Motley and Park Rapid<-So<lion Ch.r.".ri,,"', SiGle & Federul

336,317 491,578

-,C'",""",,,,"",'i"".,"""""'"''''''''0' Tmal I'fOIe"ed IfahiMPeml.nemlyProteoled Aere.

%T",a[HU"I,ble,

a'her Tot.1Sta'e/Cou"", F.deral HunlObk

56.903 101.976 243.739WMATOlal Ac'e'

9,191,8~9

,

,

,

Pu blitlp,h"ll' eult.bor.li,.. ••q"i,ilion n••d"TIl< Divi,ion ,houtd collabomte wi'h .ddi,ioo,1 partrl<r<10 prOVide ilic long-ten"habllOl land b... lh'oul:h .uppl.mtn",1 efTorts like LCM II. inillali••,. othtr "at. andf~derai .equi,i'ion proWam,_ non_go,'emmenl in,·ut",en". private land ...."'.n"and p,ivat. "ITorTs.

• WMA. 'hould oompliment ,herT·term oon""vation p,atli,e. like CRP and olh,..

,

,

,

Fo,u. wildlife ,pod.., Phe",.nt'. wmerfow!, turkC'}'. d.er. rufTed grou",Sp<<i•• popul'lion go.l, I. Doubl" the pheasan, popu"ti"" in Section 6

2. 100""'" duck recruitment, with empha,;, on 'p<d•• below lhe 1000~.ltrm ""cr.ge:;. Maintain ''''tainahle populalion, of forested land,eap< dcptndcnl wildlife.

\l-'Jl-IA L.nd A<qui,ilin•••ed"Lon~ '.,m, A 50-)'ear go.1 of 122,000 .ddiTion.i WMA .orcs b.,,-d on h.hit.t n""ds, species popul'lion 1.,.. 1" and ,ec,e.tion~1

.cc.., to hunt and "i"w "'ildlife.Sho,l lerm' Acccler~led acqui,ition 'hould occur in the ftrsl 10 y.3I"<. with a goal of36.600 a<:re•.".qui'ilion SlraT.gy, ~l,520 nc,.. ,hould be dilttted '1 completing 'he .cqui,i'ion ofexi'tlng WMA. and 6&,480 ac'eS of newWMA land< ,nould be id'ntifted. planned and acqui,ed.

Habilal foe".• and man.~.m.nln«d"o P,iority .hould be placed on th. a,qui,ition of nalive p",i,;e. grassland. fore".d h.bllal. I.'tombie "'cll"nds. "n~ c.,i"ing wetlands with

adj.cen, upland•.Idenlify ""d ""Guir. "ili"l habitat for endangered. 'h'.'l'ned, aod rar••pede,.Emph.,i, 'hould be pla«d on habilat in I.,g., compl..., of&rassl.ndlwollJndlhat be""ftllhe gra"land .peeie' Tho ohjectiv. 'hould be10 oplim;.. Ih. pr,,"UCl;On of multipl. gT'J"I.nd ,peci."Accelerat. acqui,ilion 10 protect & impro,. 'hallow I.k." ""SOf1ally fl<><><led "'<llond'. and othe' key walOrfo,,·1 mig"'t;on habilal.Id.nli!}' and aoqu;r. e'itiCllI coro winlering are.. fo' re,iden' ",ildMc 'pecies. ocrd,d no"inll habi'aE and Olh.. limilinG h.bitat fo'grassland ,p.ci., b.,ed on th. most current infonnation .nd 'e<earch.

o Acquire ~nd pm"'''t SlOn,i,ive nn'u",1 h.bita' arc" lhrcOlen,d by development or other usc•.o A"qui,il;on effon. 'houid complimenl eX;<ling .t.t. aJ,d ollter pubi;c bnd' to protcel e,i,i".1 co"ido.. and large, blocks of habit.t.

Id.nl;fy and acquire high qu.llty WMA land' within .ignift,an, focu, on:as in th~ 7 "ouoty mmo .,ea ,nciuding nonhem Anob County,Carlo' A.erl' WMA, tho Mississippi "'ld Vermillion Ri"er oo,,;d",,- and the Minnesota Ri,'.r ,·alley.Id.nlify and ",quIre core hardwood fort't cnmplexc<, !llea,er Ih.n 1.700 .c"" ea'h. 10 'u",in b'eeding popul"ion, offore.HI.pend.nt'petie<\I'M"'. in <los' proximilY 10 high popul.ti<ln 'Ie", ,houl~ be larg.' ""ough toprovid•• buffe' from adjacent d."elopment aod p,ov;de for ",fe hunting eondilion•.

Publio 11" riling fo.", ""d ae«....ed"Doubl. public hunting oppol1uniti., for ph....nl and waterfowl.Provide higher Gu,lity hunting .xp.,ienees by lowering hunt.' d.n,ity andalkvi.ting ove'trowding anJ habi'''1 damage on II'Jl-tA land'.Prov;d~ additiona' WMA land, in clo,,"r proximity 10 the ",.jo, popnlation COn.... 10ioo,e.", hu",o, access aEld opporTunitle.,Pro"id. more and imp't,,"ed 'IOC." for waterfowl hunting opporlUnilie,.

,

,

II

___I

••

farm and pri''al~ rC'~l p'0l:'".ms to nwtimiH wHdlifc cOI»C""lion elfMs,WM/u should be~ of tho 0......11 <IT"" 10 provide 1M wildlif. \111 .... II"" ciliRm want for the (ulur.;o MUlIltSOla.

The key 10 acquisition efforts in the ~vefKOIlnly IIICIrO ..... will be the ability 10 le>"TlIg< additional non·DNR <loll.... and partner WIthochtf panioipanl'110 help fund key purc~

Ju"ifin,ioo ror lh. lWOo,,,,eoduio,,,:• UncI~ ...·'11 con""", III incre= rapidly 0Vtt I..... in this _1Ild ~ IS impnxi•• 1Iw key lC'l"is'lJOnS ~ o;omplrmt b(f_ lmd

prien bfcomt 100 prohibiti",. Tho value oflillablc land in C-·tr, O&o<a. Saln.. and She,,,,,, '.. C-.lits II'IlIK than doubled &om 199310 2002. In \\, ub......... Coualy, tdbble land Iriplcd 111 ..... cIunnc !he _ lim< period.

• 1""","'1I'If; popu""" .. S«tiol\'~. hi&fIer demand fOf public br... lt3I'P~-' utbcr wildli(~lMedct'.ille. irt do...pru~lIl\Ily,~ [990 -' 2000. 0ak0Q. Stoa. C....~. W....inCU'fl. ""'iIk _ Sb<.boo... e-ics.~ptl"ien«dthe h;&!><Stpopulal_I'O"U ".125% '" S4.7">,) in Ibo SUIleCllha ..... 5pCCla5Olcll .. dee<. wild Il:lrUyI.. H.....-~. rabbit<. squirRb. ""beaUs, _I ..lCt)'ofllOllpmt bin!-'..-..l JPCC"" bc<ltfil r..... WMA __

• \\'ild~f<lI'OP"._ in the~l~ need M'i" IOpnl"'iocI< ....--.. hablUlll......n. (h-er $(I Jl"tt"lOrw. oeclion is....0... --'w Cllhj,~ion-' -"or I peranl is urbIn Of nnl~"""""'"

• Add,lJOlW opportunllics roo- qlJllily public .......... _ -.lcd 10alit.,. ""'''"'''--'''ms OIl IMIl)' WMAlIIOd ''''' e lulling aDd..ildlif~ YIfIOil!& UlJsfllClirln.1.aJ!han I~ of!he 111lcr- prairie m.ioIs 8IId pn"ll' d""""'" opccies ...~ in decline:

• Tho dc'&rff of ","lind d"'....~ ,-aries """""",,,,,I)' KroSS ibIS l'Cologital se<:liOII. "iIlIl3 10 9~ pncenl of tho prexnlcmenl -.n1Md<remalnlllJ on tho nonherl). holf-.d only I 10.)~ mnll,"n. in !he oouIhefI) portIOn. Lones ho,.., been blJheol;" ~1ruraJcounll<S, ",ib some CO\>IItin losinl9O% Of~ of1Mir ~,Innen' "..,'lands.

• Inornsed .. ;ldlif~ popublions ond buminl opponunulcs .. ill ,,",'·id< oddi'ional benefItS 10 the local ~COI'O<IIY ond rectulionalopportun",cs.

• Within M1/\M101I'$ primary plIeasan' f31't8e. pol~n'i.1 n",,'inl cover declined 3.2 pereent per yem from 1917 '0 1997. de5c>ite Iht addiliO<lof 1.2 mIllion a<:rcs ofCO<Iscrv,Uion Rrserve Program (CRl') 13nd. Tho 1996 farm Bill modified CRP ~nrollrntn, rules. ,,",ulling in llloloss ofone-third oflllo eRP oCTe'ge in Minne>Ola'S phusanl r1lIlgc.

• Fulul'l: I~nd .011S ~onlin"clO ri.. for dt,'clopnlent. 'll'icullural and ,ecr~.';on.1 purpo....• Only an csli",.,cd 88.000 "",c, ofunprol<elod. "'iion.lly si~nifi,"nl """",1 .re.. <lill rem.i" in lh~ m~lro .rn.• L~" lh." Onu third of III. IIl0r~li",,;n lh~ I"'t~ i. prot.cl.d. Frau' 196710 1982, tile number of hom.. on I.... I",~" than 145.0'" in

.in: incro:ucd by 74%.• W,,,enowl mil""ion use and lh~ quarJlity .r<! qu;\lity of "",wfowl food ",,,,u,,,., !Ia,'. d.~lir...d in ~lInnelOl' d~ 10 w~d.r<! k",e•.

d~lIr.>daliO)/\ohh.llow la.~.. eonlliclinJ: w~l""d uses. shofcli"" de'ekJpm<n'. and Sf.".' wu,land ~or"",cliYily lead;n~ to. high~r

~~chanll. of .~OllC pl.nl $pecies and Olher d~uirnenGd OfI:milmS

12

WMA AcquisitionEcological Section 7, Minnesota River Prairie

0 ......1.""Iogical ooil popula.ion. Iaod<npc and ttolol,caJ dO$Ctipli<ln; This >miool coMlitl of III• ..,U\hnn poniool oflJl<, l.Ollcrass praUlC Topognph)< is mm", or I1aL Th< .....u.ern PO'1I0II (tilt Coo:au) is .iKniflCilllllyh;~ in cl<vaI1(W1!l1ar1111¢ rest.

Land...., III ,tty ""....iV< agricul1uR ..-.do .:atT1c «>IIf"""""", r;ICil~i.. """"ng_ Ph<_ ....nowl and dm" huntlnc~ majorrtt"""ioft;Il nperlt'l'lCft .. Iht <el:lioll. Acncultural ..nocn ..... Jmall _factnrltlr; dominal. 11K 11 populalioll cenlen. Maj<lfpopubiioncmlffJ iacludt: AIe:andria. ManbIo. Nn. UIm. Fa"-. WD;iom. WOflbinJton, ~'''''''IL and Ononv,llo

SIau '" FrtkraICcatmJldV'r f,UWaa T_I """t'<MIlI.~fPet tly

,H_!A.J1.

\\'\1A Sta!b'C.....,.15J....! ~,.IJ

Total ACltsI!.I~I"

r ........ 'ldlif. op«in' PI. " ..~ dttt. p...inu:hil;k.... wild IIWkc}Spr<w. 1101""''';00 .(NII: I Doubl. Ibo~ populMlOOl

2. 1,.;",_ du<k r«nlllment. ..1th tmplwll on opecies belo.... 1M 1onB-1mn lYCnl'"l F-"pand pnirie chicken_~ ..d provilk for • hllr"able population

\\ MA ...... "d Acqlll.lrlo.. a«<ls:IAnl ru..; A ro-y• .,pi (>f In,OOO addllioolol WMA al'1U~ on habiLal nttd.. Sf>C<'i<:s lX'$IUlalioo Icvds, and ,,,,,rwiomlxc... 10 1l\Inl""d ,-,"" "ildlif<:.ShOtl ,.,"', ",•••",,,,,«1 ""qui,i,iOfl ,hould 0«.. In 1M r..... 10)~ ,,'ilh. &.".1 <If 111.600 IlCres.Arqu1>ilion SI"'l.~)·: 99,170 oc,.. ,1>01I1.1 be din,ctcd ., complc';.lllhe ""'luliitian ofexisting WMM and 272,230 aCfO or newWMA 13Ji<b sllould be idenlifted, plan"od arid lOCqu"ed f,om willinll Kllefl,

Ilobit01 focu,."d 11\"."11"01'.' n..dl'o Priority 5110111.1 be pl"".d On the o,qui"tio. of".',.e prli"., lIulll.l\d, ,..lOflble wellands. otld exi.t;lI~ wetl.nds wi,h .dj.c.nt

upl."ds,o Iden,ify and lOCGUIfC critical habitat For crldanllC'W, lh,e~,ened. and rare speci",.o Emph.,i. ~ldlH: plilted on habita, in 1"lIe, complex", or gUlll"lIdIwC\\~nd tMl I><lI<~' th. 1l1'1>1l1.M .pecle., 'The objcrli•• should be

to <>plimi7A the p'oI!l>Cfion of m"lliple grassland ..,..,ies.o Acrelel'3le IlCq,,;.ilion 10 p"""'" &: impro>" "',lIow I;dr."- 5<_""lIy floodw wetlar>d., and o,he, ke-y ",.'e,fowl mignuion h,bilaLo ldenlll'y and acqui.-e a minimum of30 core pU>1MId «>mple.•." ,.e.tef tlwI2,OOO ac..., ba5.ed on ,he mostc"""nl inf........,ion and

'<Sea<ch on prai.-ie chic:k... populario"" and l>oonl.... l"M'd..o Identify 1<1.1 acqUt<c crifie,1 COR ...""..,.inC are.. for midenl wildlife ip<'CKs. ncakd n<$I8>& h:abiw:and Olhc, 1""""'1 babltal ror

.....Iaftd specta bucd on lhe mo>I CUlTClIl informatiOll MId_ch,o Acqoire ond proIec< _ltM nann! communities Ilnd babiu< __ r/ore;>lrned by <kvclopmenl or OI/Ier lI$4!$.

o AcqoisillOll efforu sI>ouJd comphmelll uillinl! _ and othcs public: Imds 10 proICCI critical corridon IOId Iarler block.s or babial.o C...pletion or"", acq.,;uion 10 the~ qoi ParlundTaIcol Lake WMA..hould be a hip pciorily.PablO< H,,1i12 _lOll and U<C:SI leeds:o ~.. publIC """'ia& oppoo_dieo fu< p1_ 0IId __fuwl.

Pnnidc hiP« ....h.y ..... apcr>ca:cs by ................. 6cnf,iIy __

al"'~t"0>01"0".1"'011 WMA lands.o Ex;-d .........,,,,,ilies ror '-iI:tt ofgrnut prui< clMdms.o Pnn><lc..-c I/. ""I'fO"ed acuos lOr-..f....I--a<ll'l"'ftl.W'.....Publi<lprh'." ...rlabcln.n·~."I"W''',_o:o The DI~_~ collab<>noc ..id1 adcI..-a1 parIllCn 10 """.... Ihc iorlg......._Mall land baK lbmu&h IUPPIcmmtaI cfforu lilI: LCMR IIIn~,_ ocher _

r<dnal acqulSn .... 1""1'.'''- ...,.,....,."CfII<I>mI ..,ncmmu. ""vale 1Ind._n pciOle cffons.WMM IhouJd complimcnl >hon~ """",,",-mion phCuccs like CRP aro;\ otherfarm ilfId ",,'-me fOl"$ pmpmlllO muimiu wi\dlik con_I dforu.

o WMAI ihould be p3f1 orthe 0.....11 ~lfon 10 pro>'ldolbc "ildlife 1_1hat cifizens......' for iIIc future in Minnesota.

Ju"il1c.'ion (0< ,h._omnte.d,,;on>:o Addllwl qual;,y habit.t i. need.d in SCction 7 bee"U'" 13 pe,cent U under

Il

in,en,;ve cullivatinn.• Seclion 7 i.lhe primary p'oduction arCa fo, phea<anlS and ""terfowl as well a, a corrido' for migrating waterfowl.• Oth.r game specie••uoh as doe', wild tu,hys, Hungari.n p.rt,idgc, ,abbilS, "1ui=I•. furbeare", and • Yariel)' of ""ngan,e bi'd and

m..-nm.i sp"cit< ben.HI frollt WMA land.,• Wildlife popul"ion' in lhe .g,icullurallandsc'i>< need assiSl.nce "'ilh providing minimum habi"" nccds,• Addilional opportunilies for qualily public humiug are neede<J 10 allevime overero"ding on many WMA, and increase hunting and

wildlife viewing ,atisf.cl;on,• Le"lh.n I po,ccni uflhe lOll II""" prai,ie in lh' ,tate ,emain. and prai,ie dei><ndam ,p<eiC$ arc in dcclinc,• Wetl.nd 10'''' have been lhe "'oond highest in Iili, .cological seclio", wilil le'-' Iil.n I to 4 i><fCem oflhe pre'enlement wetbnd'

remaininll·inore..ed wildlife populations and hunling opportunilies will p,ovide additional benef,ts to 'he local ewnomy.Wilhin Minne"'I'" prim",)' pheas.nl range, polenlial nesting coye' declined 3.2 percenl pOT year from 1981 10 1991, de,pile the additionof 1.2 million acre, ofCon..,,""tion Reser\'e I"osrnm (CRr) I.nd, The 1996 Fann Bill mDdif'ed eRP .n,olln10nl rules. ,"sulling in lh.10'-' ofone_thi'd of lhe CRP acre.g~ in Minnesola's phe.",m "'ngeFutu,e land oo,t. oonlinu. 10 "'" fot wlh a~,ioultural and ,c"..lion,1 pUIJ'O"".

• Less lhan one thi'd oflil, sho'eline in lhe stale is protect.d, From 1967 to 1982, the numher ofhon'cs On lakes larger Ih.n i4S .cres insize increased by 74~~,

• Watorfowl migralion u'" and the quantily and 4U.lity ofwalerfowl food r"",u,ce. h"'e declinod in Minnesot. due 10 well.nd losses,degrndalion uf $h.llow lakes. conflicting wetland u.... ,horelint do, .lapmonl. and c.reate, well,od eonn<e,ivity leading 1o a higherexchange of exoli, pl.nl $p<:eie, and other den,menllli o'\lani,m.,

WMA AcquisitionEcological Section 8 & 9, Superior Uplands

Gmenl~. !Oil. IIndscapt """ ecoklopaldexf~ no.. ",......roo. -.:a........u oflWO .....lftet J.df.".,.. 0.. is lboIak. p....... SCCI"",'11111 lbo 0Iher bc1IIa mel 8Ild CJound rnoorUlc::s. plains. 11K! dnrnI.. fookh" SCCIion 9. 5eelion, is only111.410 1ol;f0ll. Sea_ 9 is 1,170.769 aere:s. P=culemenl 'qew ill bolb is dom2naltIy fon:so. Spec... iDthocle .....~ pine. red p.... jx.pine.1Spt1I. bllth. ml ..... bus"'VOd.1Ild IN.isano r•.~ _ is domlll3led by f""""'Y ond reantlOCL G~...'OOdcoc1l., 8Ild dttr hunlm.~ '1llPOfW'I rtt..,.ion>.l.-.. DIllu,'"

Hi"'.~.... 11..... Mo~ 11K! CJoq...... lIIe "'*" l<I..n<. l:aknboJe""" .."'_ """" de>"lopmeol'ls expand~

"%TotalAcr••

609.016:.604

Ssa'. d· Fcdu<J1Cnw,'mltjna /it"[!!!'"'' TO/af Pra'rrr,'d Ilahi""Pmn'RontlyPro'.c'ed Aere,

"%To,a!HURla.l.

Toto!Hunlable

1,!43

Olne,

SlatefCO"""

s«,lon ell.....,.ri"i"',

Tn,.I,\oreS

rocu... ildlil. 'p«k<: Dttr. ",ff<d 1"'_....,t.,fo"llW~ey.phe""'n1Spftl<. popularioft go.l: 1 In<reaKl.ha<p-ulled IW- popul;>1ions 10 k:~oIs '0 SlJSl/lin • h3rnSl of10.()(l(Ilo 40.000 bmb "",,""II)"

2. M.lflLIin sustolnable popul3lions of fOfe'Sled ....dlal'" depen60nl ..lldhf.\\ M,\ Land ,\.qu;silio••••ds:

Lo.~ I..... ' ,\ SG-yearpi of 12.100 -.Id~i<xW WMA ""," based 0/1 !lab..... meak. opec... popublion 1<;....1<. 11K! rttrnIli<xWaa:<:$$10 hun! ond ' .... ,,·ildlir•.Slo.r1 I : A=1etMed """"'M""' ....ld 0C<:Ul" iIolbo ("" IOyar$. _. goalof1.IOO ..ra.,\«IU;,; StnlCC·' 1.1OO"1a ohould k direclod •~ !be acquioiIion ofex..... WMAs 11K! 4.000 ...... or .....WMA lind< s/Iogkl bl: idmlir>ed. pbnned IIId """,,"ed.

Ihbiul roc",.1Ml .....ce-••, .I'<'fb:• 1...... ,1)- ond """"in: erilial babOllll for~ IIlreo1ened, -.I .- opecies.• Aoquin: ond ptOIect .....iti'" ...nnl bobiLlll areas Ihre3Iened by ...,...1opmmI or ocher uses.• Aequ"i,iorl dl"oru: W1u1d eomph""'nl exis..... _.0Dd otbl:t publIC IarxIs 10 pnnecl criliul con-idon M'Id I¥gn- bloc.. Qfhollitol

• Idc:nlll)- and llCquin: key ~ti"c;tl slwp-u.,Jed gtNO< hobital.• Comp~iQa ofm. ""qui"'ioo ofd... Mill. lacs \\IMA w.uld bt. high p<iorityPublic II "nlin~ r""u••nd .«... n••d"• 1"0' iM mOO' and impwvtd ""co" fo, wlllorfo...1hun,ing opponunill",Publiclpriv"," .ull.l>on"i ... "cqulll'ion need"• The Division $lwuld ,ollabo,a'. wi,h addi,io"ni p3r1Jlcn '0 provide Ihe long·'orm h.bi,~, l.nd base ,h'Qu~ ,uppiem.nlal.ffQl1llik.

LCMR in;tia,iv." OIhe, stale and ftd,r.:i1aoqu"I'ion progroms.I\I)/\'go,'emmt:", In..."ments, P1ivale 1.1Id .asement.aDd priVale etr<ms.WMAI should eompllm<11\ ;hurt_term .00..,,,,,>1,,,,, 1""""'" ,,,,,n", pri",,'. fot... Progf2Sfl. ro nwdnll.le wildlif. OQfl..,rv.,iQa effort•.

• WMA$ IlIoukl k pan of lite 0........11 effortlO provide lite wildl,f. '.,.1.... mOl .i,l,en.....n' for ,Il< f"lure In Minne5Ola.)u>1il1•• 'lon f<>r,h.......mm.ftd.,i..ns:• Other pm< spc<ie5 "",h .. roilbilS. ...ild ,...oys, "'lu....~ furb<otm. ond a ''''-><1)' of

non....... bIrd ond ...........1spc<i" benef" &om WMt\ land•.• ShArp--u'1ed VOIR populllltonl hlIve d«hned dnntatcaJly liom hlWrfC .......11 IIlllle

19.10s. I. 19.19. o'v IXI.lIOO ""'ilo ...... hon..-..m e(lfi~"'hd IQ r«<tll han"",in Ibe 1990s '""line &am '.00010 H.OOO Itink.

• MlIf'I) er"ocol ..'ild nee Iaka ond "Mill &:wI nuporion ""I" Ioto<ed III thil;

...::1_ 1Nt i><ed ptUee:liorI..- enl\aofC......• LomtlYn lhi<d ofdoe .......1..... doe _ it. pmtreted. F...... 196710 1912. doe

....alb« of lakes Ilqet Ihon 1.5 ..... iD$i>% iuu ,d by 7."10.• Woterfov,1 mlgmioll .... -.I dIt' qUMlUly ond quoli'y of ..~l fond raout=

hlI", d«lined .. MiDnesoto due '0 " Iond Ioues. dcpod"""" or","Ilow Iak....coonocllng ..~Iand shorel "'1ofm<ttt. ond pnIer M11and connectivit),..din. 10 • hi", x<:harJge of C.\<IIi< pllft' sptti<:< and ocher det,illl<'lllJJ orpnisms.

IS

I

WMA AcquisitionEcological Section 10, Southeast Blufflands

0<""....1po~il;lli. lOil. popu~ IondKapc ond ccolo&ical desc,ip,,,,,,, This K<"Iion COfISlSlS oh"" lfMl;itkln 7<1"" in !he~ _ of the tralC'. ~1emo1If '~£OIalion eOlUiitsofh..dwood f<lfnl, ""'" .,,,-ama, Ifld p....inc. TClJIOCnPhy is ""ied. ",lh lhcrid~ 1c",,11O If/t'IQlly rollinJ mel ...... adJKenllO "\'nO Ifld elftQ 0'tfY SICqI. Landfumts COIISlSl of pound monioon 10 the ~ery ",=-.

Iocss <:o,~ pial...: Ind an .....Ix':IlCd. Slream disoectcdI~ P'-N11 (1ft the <Worn ,"k. Popu'-iofl CC'IIltrS onclW~ Caledonia,1.aCmaw.' t <lio, Winona, Roche1ler. Plaifl~;e".. E1)"fOIl. z..mtJroli. C_ Falls. mel Red win&-

Land '* is~I .... IM flat lop and __ -.l. no: st<q> >ide hill isf~ "ich "'*- bLKt ..-.Inoll md dInry~ the,n.-y spcclCS. T..... r....me. tudey~ den '--;" md biRI ..whine "'" COOImOii rKK.-ioo\al pursuits.

,I~U.3

CplllUIl!Uan f'l(I!lcnn

,Total Aens

F"u... ildlir~ ......its: Turk<). deer. pheasants, "lllCfro..t and ",!rcd V-S,..-its pop,,'allo. pal: I. 1~a5t populatiolllle",b; "r..ild Nrtoys by a mInimum or:;o~

2, Do"'I~ the pbea<aI, popula"", in Scaioft 10l. 1JIcrt= duck ""nil......... ",11I emp!w;, 00 spoc-ics ""low the kmg·l~rm .~...,.

4. Maintain SUSllIinabl~ POPUIMioM of forO$l<d IarIdscape depcndem ..'ildhr~.WM" Load "<quil;.i"n n......:

Long ,trm: "50-ycar ",al of63.200 add;,;.....1WMA acres Iwood on hab;lal ntt<I•• 'p«ic:s populolion lev~ls. aIld t«rcalionalacee" 10 hull! and view ,,·ildl;f~.

Shoei toeno: Aec<l<nlt<d aequisition should occur in ,he firs' lO y<m. with 11 go.1 of 19.000 ac,".A«l"i,ltlon S'e.t<gy: 6.660 acre' should be ditoCltd at <ompl.ling 'he acqui,ilwn of..iSting WMAs nnd S6.S40 acre. ofn~wWMA I~nds should bot id<n,ificd. planned.nd ocquirtd.

lIabi'., fOCUI ond ",onag.m,n' n~~d"• PrioriI)' sIIould ~ pla,td 00 the acqui,i,ion ofnat;,·" pllli,; •. &rllS$1and, ,,,"onoble ....tland •. ""d ui"ing w.lland. with adja..nr

uplands.Identi!'" and acqu,rc c,;lkol habiw r.... endan~lcd, 1II,•.,.ncd.•nd "". <peciC'S.

• [mplwis sIIoold be pl."cd DI1 h.bita. in larp:' c"",plt.us of Vo'SSlond ...."'Iand that b.:n"r.1 the ~'",slond ."",;,,1. "The obj"'li"" <houkl It<10 ophmllC I"" prodto:lion of molltpk ~,IandSjlCI:IC1.

Ac'lu"••nd prOlKl $OflSni,·~ natural bal>'13l areas lhreOI<n<:d by <k.~lopmen' .... """" lISC'S.

• l<kn1ifY IIICl ""qu~ a minimum of 10 core hardwood fornt compl...... peal" ,han 1,700 ar:res ellCh. to SlISWIl brlleding populationl orro.-est-depcnck... spec;'" locale<! ftWIIly in the easlt11l pan ofSc<:tion 10

• WMAs in close ptO)''''''l)' '" high populal"'" __ shoIlld be brI"f moucJIlO PJOride • buffer liom adjacent de>~1oprnenl an:I provide

ror sar" huN"" comli,ions.• CornplC'tion oflM""Iuisilion of the WhiI...-. WMA sbould be Ihip priority• ....cquisllkln e"oru should ........1irDeno. aisli"I ..... forest and Olber ...., Imds 10 protrcI "",...1coeridon Ifld IaJier bloeb orbab.....r.bli< n".'i., foe", a... .....-_:• Double publIC '-"'C OJIPOfllllUtits for phcaw. waertiwo'l-.l rurte)'$.• f'r<l~icIe [email protected]: ~li"'''u by 1ooo""""l1ullC1 dnsiI)' md

al....-iM.. O'UCiO.llin&:on '1I>'Mt\ bnds.• ,"""ide add ....... WM.... Imds in "Iooer prUl<imily 1O .... tlIIJO" populolion 0UIICn to

in<~__ access and """",_dies.,"""ide IllOR Ifld 1IIlprO''ed access fOJ waIerf....111ontin1 oppclfIIlllibn.

r.l>lieJpri.-.lr <OIlabonl;'·t ""'I,,;';il;o. M'C1k:

• "The D,vlStOll sbould <OI1ahoratc wilh add'lional pannm 10 JlfO"ilk the Ion&""""habillllInd "- """"*" .upplemunal elfom IOU LCMR .."iIIi,'e1. """" $I8U' andfrdcral ""Iu,,,".... prDp2J1tS. _-gm.........,,"n'-ntmcnU. ";'1lle land ~uemen"

and pnval< ciT"",,.• WMA. should «>mphme'u .hon·t<nn <o......""'ahon prxIi<es li~" CRr and <><hrr

f..m and 1"''''1'. forC'S' prognm' '0 ......imiz. wlldlif. <:<IItSU"o'alion crron<.WM .... should It< pan of the "vendi <IT"" 10 prnvlde 'he w,ldl;r~ .al"", tha, <i,il<n.

16

..~ for ,hi: f",un: in M,nllOWia.

J ••• if.... lon for.1ot '"o......ud.>!io."• lMod cmto .. ;o~ lO ......... "'.... Iiaot .. dIis uulnd iI is impcrali\'C dw ~'acquisiti.-... completed bcfOr< IIftd prien

bccom< lOll proIlibiIJ...... The vaIuc oflil.-.It IIncI in this oeax. ........'" &om &6%10 14~ fn:>m 199J lO 2002.• lllCfttiin& poJIUlUIM ill S«t.iI:- 10. I*'i<>datl) -...d dIo< RudJcstcr an. mzc a hi;b<r demand for public: ........ tnppiIIg, Ind

odo<r wildhfe--ttlaled aetivilieo in <lase proximil) r ..... 1990 10 2000. 01rmlcd COIlllIy c:qlOl"_ed a 16.7 pnmll WI'C-tit inpopulllion.

• Other pme ope<ieo sudo .. Ilunpri>n parvidJC. rabbiu, squi",,1i, furbcaren. mel a ,-.itly or"""P"'" bird and IIIaIl1ImI speo:its benefi,&om WMA Imis.

• Wildlife popula';"fU in 1M apic:ulturallancbcapc r.c:ed ...iota• .., w,th p",vidin; minimum hall,w n«<k.• Alk!ili(l<lal a,>p<>nunitiu for quality I'"blic: huntinl .... r.c:ede<ltO Iliovillr ove",,,,,,tlin! OIl mOllY WMA. and i""...ase hunting and

..-HJhfe ,",wing ",,;,f3<,io•.• lAss I~"n I p."'.nt oft~e "" g=s pmi,i. ,em.ins .nd pm;,ie dq..,nd.n' sped.. ar. in dedine.• Wtlland klsl.C. ho.. been II~ hij\h"'l;n this <,<,ololie.1 $«Olion. with less th"" I pere<n' orthc Jl"I'sc<tl,mcnt ....tl.nds ,".,oining.• Increased ...ildlife popul,nj(l<l, and hunting oppo'''oni,Mo< ..·ill provide adduioDII benelit> lO "'" 1oc.1 """"my.• W"hin Minne5Ol.·s pr,mary phcl""" range. poten,ial DCSIInl; ."".. dtchl'ltd J.2 pn<ml per yu, flom 1917 '0 1997. despite the addition

of 1.2 million agn ofConS"""h"", RnctV<: Ptop-am (CRPJ land. The 1996 r .... Bill ",,,,,lirlCd CRP mrollmmt tIlln. rcwh"'l ill theIosI "f.......third or"", CRP otrugc in Minncsola'J~ ""'....

• rllflft bnd C05IJ COflI""'" 10 'isc for dc.do,.".... .,.iadclnllnd_~pwpoocs.lcJI ..... ftIIC thinI of the ...._. cIle....., is...-acd. r""" 1961 '" 19l2.lhc .........or~"" lakes IarJCf thlao 145 0<nS illIi« in=.-d by74'

• WIla'f"",1 mip>ol;"" .51: and lhc ~icy a'id qual1C)' of ..-..rfowlfood ._<<5 bave d«IllIcd .. M........". d... Ii) ..~~

d"lfldal- of-Sbal""" lal:n. coonlClin& .....Iand ..-. shoreline .....'C1opontn<. aDd~ ",,,,land connccci"iIy lead"" .... hictac~dAftg<of"'o<ic p..... Jptc .... and otbc:r dcul"""'tal ocpnisms.

17

Su mmar)' of focus wildlife species, llereage goals, anti estimated acq uisition COSIS b)' ecologicalsec:tion.

Seo:lio. For.. Wildlife Spet'ieI 50 )'nr 10 )r.lr Complelillg lIIe.. [sllm.ledWi\lA WMA EJisri.g WMAs Cost1'l'r.lrGo.l (.ern)' G",,' (.e""'l WMAs (••...,.) (...~) ll'l'"~''',

...Il"

, M""..,. ",If"" I"""". <!«f. l.lIl0· .. 2.~~0ih.,p·...led VOU". ,,<1Ir .. S4H100, M""..,. ",rr,d I"'U><. Jm-.

.ilrd """" 1><_16.100' '.000 11.700 '.000 Sl6l.l00, .... Ol,rfo"t ...........llod.,......,. 4HOO' U.OOO J~.(IOO 11.~00 S~JI.7oo

.......... do.~. ",rr«l •• \l,_L """'. _...-...,,~ ,... 1l,l1O 1.110 S21I.920, l..n<d _.<Joe<.....-... 33.100' ".. ll,l.ul 10._ 5,",UOO_.

M ••'","L lUllc).'n.- - n"]lI ..... SJ.716.9:!O• ..........~, .... ••,"'.1. ..... ; J12.ooo 111.600 M.~ Z72,m 51UJO.4IO. dIio:L<a. w'IId __ ,

••• Oocr. rulJi:d p-. .wri<noL,

12.100' ,.. .... ... 51$).140",<1=. ,

"T~.Ilm"......_ ...fkd

6J.1oo I~.OOO .... 16.HO 52.71l.200"or. ,,~\<rf<not

"ur....s 70l.l00 llO~ 16M~0 ~J9,ISO 5l2,IOI.71W1

A1I3crealle figures arc rounded.•~ ),_",01

S<aions I. ~. J. I. I .t ~."In10 «>mplrl<~""WMA. ~ lJ p<="'IIdd"\on>I oem ........" WMA acqunitiorl '" 0Ii<lc<U h_ and..lIdhfo -'I"CI<S ...,Js.So<-U<- 6.t 10 a~ 1IJd_ '"~ ...... no«Ird 10 _ ~ pl!RIbljoo ~ IIlfFr a>n:~ lOml blod,. 11.700 0I;te< ....

........l_"-_=.""~p"p"._o(bnI-d'" ".<p<n:<_ .. ....-...w.r._-'reJ' hd ... '; cUtA..-20a>n:_ So<-U<-6 .... ,0·J,l'OOO ..... '1 11 ""105m><-.6-.d'"IOSfct_IOSoa.-4.t-; .. d 1"'·\1" _ .._,.....1' ... 1otpt ...... 1' I' 1' ......I~oau ...-1_,,-,.1 1._0(1' 1 «..-._IIlfFr. .... _.ol_C a!lCA>llq;_dlo<l.<a. ,_ 'bot, __ p..;c.~ \; ,.). "-o\OBCAJ-,,~_.sra-~.t7_ .......

1.000'" - IIl.OOCI .....~.5>110oo1.- ~,- .......,-- _._IICA""" --, 1~19'I " ~~" 1..""11 ",~ 16 .oj 111 ,. "M

All =,'''''',, lbc Ibo>" ""reo&< "".1, ""'" In~t<oscd (or ,,,,,h iC,l"," • p<f'<CO"l< rel:umg U> the ""m"", "(people ..,i~inl ;n .""h iCoti<>o., i\<mI~<1lr (10 I<'" J<"'I) I,,.... .\...... WM" laod cosuIocrc by .",loti..1_I.... for the~ fi<c )'C....

, Unacqu,,,,~ fI'''''''' I>n<Ii ""I~,

"

"f-fXt-f--f--f--f,X'-j-f--r=X'-!-fXfXtff-tfXt-f-t-,X'---t-'X,--j-'X'1

'nx x

x x x

x

x

x

x

x xx x

x x x x

>< >< xx

xx

x x

x x

x x xx

x x

x X

x

x x

xx

xx

x x

co-u••~moou·. ~>. .=" "o.occo-•~c•EE8~

~

~o

"•8~c••~uu•u

-•-"•~'0<:-•EE,<n

x xx

Minnesota's Wildlife Management Area System

History and Current Status of the WMA SystemThe \\'~iA S~'51em started in 195 I ......hm the Sl3le cstablishrd its "'Sase the Wctlands- Program lO bu}wCllands and oIher habil3lS from "illing sellen in order lO preserve lhem. Inilialed ~ a handful of"isional)" "ildlifc managers. thaI program C'o'enrually cvoh'cd into JI,tilllll:SOUl's present-day S)"Stc:m of\\'MAs. As a resuh of 50 years of suppon by conse".:nionisl5. hunlers and legislators. 1.1 millionacres of land were broughl under the control and manab'('menl (776.000 acres Of.Clual ov,neBhip) oflhe Di\ision of Wildlift;: as WMAs. makillg il one Oflile best and largesl WMA SySlems in the counll)'.

The Orll:inal goal was 10 acquire 200.000 acres ofwcll.llds alld surrounding uplands. This goal haschallged ol'cr lhc decades 10 renect changes in habitat losses. population gro\\,h, and recreationaldemand. Thc Insllong-runllc WMA lund acquisition plan was developed in 1975 under "Resouree2000," a progmm allthorized by Ihe Minnesota Legisblllre to Dccelerate naluml resource landacquisition. Thc goal oflhal plan was based on Ihe habilal needs ofMinlleSQla's wildlife species. thedisappeamnce of habitat on private lands, Ihc future demands for wildlife related recreationalopponunities. and thc availability of remaining sillnificant wildlife lands in Ihe state. Th<' long-rangepi established in !he plan 1'035 10 acquire I million acres of"ildlife habilal by lhe )~ar 2.000.

1 Figure I.Each WMA projccl idcntifics aproject boundary. consisting ofone or more o\\l1er.lhips thaI areproposed to be acquired lhal areIM:eded In mak" a viable WMA.These ownerships are identified on• W1\1I\ projecl proposal and IlUpas KJl"f;I~ 1IXtS. The projeclboundary. oomprised of the !lX1

or uatl$. is !be "plan" for "hal theDivision nfWildlife would like toacquire and is the projeclllerWgf. It is the lotalacreal:f oflhe lroCIS idcntified in lheproposal. Qoce a InICI or Imcts in

In 1975. approximale!) 450.000 acres of WMA lands had ~cn acquired. Since thaI time_ Minn~I3'sW~IA acquisition program has added 326.000 acres. bnnging the total acquired \\'MA acres up 10716.000. The Dh'ision of \\'ildlife cooper3live!y manages an addilional 32-1.000 acres ofSlale lands inWMAs. bringing the tOlal acquired and controlled WMA lands 10 1.\ million acres. lkse lands makeup 1.355 WMAs scattered through 86 ofMinnesou:s 87 COUIllies. !k'~n of!hese arc major unit:;; I'oithresident managers and tOlal more than 228.700 acres. 1be 1.348 smalla I'oildlifc lITeM a'<erage aboul400 acres in size. These smaller WMAs are ooncenU1ltcd in !he agricultural areas of the state: becauseofIhe conlinuing eliminalion of wildlife habital in these areas caused by draining. clcaring< andintensive agriculturol pmclices, Figun: I illuslnllcs lhe statewide dislribulion ofMinneSO\Jl's WMAs.During Ihe: past 5 ycars. WMA land acquisition has averaged bch\CCn 4,000 10 5.000 acres per year al aCOSI ofS3 10 3.5 million pc:ryear.

llle project art acquired. these become ~Clluirtd Wi\1;\ Dcrcs.

WMA Purpose and UseMinnesota's WMAs an: pan afthe Slalt's Outdoor Recreation S}'Stem (ORA) established in SlalUtc(Minnal,ll.;l Statute 86A) b} tJu: Legislature in 1975. The ORA cstablishc1l a system ohtalt units.Ulcluding WMAs. Slate parks. state romlS. Sl:icntilic Md nalUl1lJ areas. state ~rcalion areas. stlIltll1Iils. "'lItC1' lII:CCSS sil~ and defined lht: purpose and use oftach unit.

Subd. 8 ofthis SUlute. pro\ ides tnat:(I) A _ wildl<fc~ area [t}"SlCaI] Iohall bo nlabllShed In fl<Olt<'I ..... lMdsand -.en ...flich """".~;p potential ror "ildlif" ~"""10 lk>'riop -' ..... dIcst Ionds_..,..., for .. prodtotl_ of...'lo:Il;fc. lOr poibhc -in&- fut>in;. _lIapp _ ro. odIa cornpa<iblc 0IIld0ur ~.~ionlol ......,(bl 1'0 .... $hall ""~ ,.. a_ ."jdld : ' _ ...m ..~ 1ocaI_ lUbsQnliall)' wiot"""Ihe l'olkwo"" o:riI<ria:

(1) Inchok< ........""""'i.IIe ..ikllifc Iancb and hobitlt, 1IlC1..'h"t .... DOI1~ '" manti 01' "'OI1ancIs _ !he1MI'll..... lhefeof. ponds. I&os, Uttam bobom'-ds. ond "plan<k, "f1idl pmait chc propqat.... IIId~of. o"bOllrnw populalion cor"", ~itcd wildlife J.p«ict.; ODd(2) lnchld.. III ..,. btF <'I>OUIh 10~ od",!lIllC .....ldl,(" mana:<menl aI>d "'JUIIlJOII of tho prn1I"'C'<!l«r...iorW~

(e) SWt wildlife mllNllemtJll OKa! oIIall be Idm,ni.l<:m:I by t!Ie commi>&iontt of <w""'1 fflOUr= In • rnanne<..lIidl is comi'lenl ,,-ilk u.. Pu"""" of'his iUbd,vision 10 perpetua'e, and if llC«..ar)', ~",blishqualily wildlifeh3bila' for maximum prQdoc,ion oh ,-wkly ofwlldlir. Ip«:i<s. Public hunlln~, fi,hi-ng. lrapp,n., lIId OIh1:r .....5/1,11 be ,Onm'",,' wi'" l!1e limitations ofu.. rtSOUr~, includ;n~u.. need to preserve an itdequlte brood $llXk IlJIdprov,nt IonS ',rm IuIbila' injury or .x'<Slh~ wildlifo population rodoetton c< in<:tuSC

Pny.i,al developm"nl may pro"ide ae<:eSS '0 lhe area, but 'hall be so dovelopo<l as (0 minimi ..., intru,ion 0<1

lho nalur.1 environmonl.

There ~!"C two types of WMAs. 'Ibe "major unils" have large eontiguollS areas in SIal< O\ll1ership ant]are managed by pl'nnanen! unit managers, These include llticfLake, Lac qui Parle, Milte Lacs, CarlosA\'cr;.. Whit.waler, Roseau River and Taicol Lake. The !"CS! ofthc WMA system eonsiSIS ofdispersedunits in a wide range of sizes and are managed by area \I;ldlif. managers who ha,'e man) WMA unitsto develop. maintain and operale in lheir \-I"Drk areas.

W~ lA lands are posted with signs identif) ing lhe lands II!I a S\-'Ite \-lildlife management llrea and open 10public hunting. While almost all oflhe WMA lands are open 10 public hWlUng. small ponions ofttnain WMAs may be ~tablished3$ a \-lildlife s:mc:tu:lrics and dosed to some t)-P<S of public huntingifil is detenninc:d n«essary 10 prolecl populations of certain \-li]dlife speci~. The use of WMAs isregulated by Minnesota. Rules. Chapter 6210,0110. General Provisions for Use of WildlifeManagemenl Areas.

WMAs have~ poIential for a variety ofust:s and productS within their boundaries. If the USL'S arecompatible \\ith the WMA policy. the use may be accommodated. In many eases. lhe han'esl of timberis VCI)' alh"an\-'lgcollS '0 manr "ildlife species. In other cases. the harveSI ofold timber is harmful 10some \-lildlife and ma~' be prohibited. Individual WMA unit plans describe the unil objecli\'cs and !hemanagemenlthal has 10 be done and !he timing oflhose In:atmenlS. Many WMAs also ha,'e a histOI)ofmmtlOw and leech harvesting and sand and grovel mining being done on them. Only uses compatiblewith the unit's obj«:livcs are pencilled. All the !"Cvenues generated OIl WMAs an: relurned 10 theGame and Fish Fund.

21

WMAValues1l1e 2001 l"ational SUI'\'C'Y of Fishing, Hunting. and Wildlife-Associated Rttreation, conducled by IncU.S. Fish and Wildlife Sen·iee. ranks Minoemla second in !he nalion fOl'" ....ildlife related aeth·ities.....ith a citiun participation MIte of 54 pert:enl WMAs pia)' a key role in providing lhe opportunities forthest ....ildlife watching acti\·ities. WMAs also add meaning and value to Minnesolall's and nonrt"SidenlS' lives. Minnesotans ,'alUIC lomdscapes ..ith hills, lTttS. water and ....ildlife. Many of the "'MAsllrt" in close proximity- ofw:ner. That made them valuable in !he past 10 Natiw American's omd to5('1Ilcn bul also makes lhem valuable now for hunters. U1lppers. and OIJtdoor recreationislS.

WMAs pro\'ide critical wildlife habilal onen lacking in the vicinity' due to intensivc agricullUl1Il.de,·clopmenl. or other aClivilic;, Prairie and Ill1Isslands are planted on WMAs to provide primcnesting cover critical 10 watcrfowl and pheasant production. Wellands arc restored and enhanced 10benefit wmerfow] and olher wctland wildlife species. I'heasallls also f1 nd excellcm winler COVer illcallails and olher marsh vegclalion. Grasslands, prairies, and brush lands provide important habilal forsharp-lailed grouse and prolirie chickens. Fore;t openings and regeneralion projeelS bencfil ruffedgrouse, wild lurkeys. deer. and moose. Wildlife food plOIS fei.'d bolh residem and migralory wildlife.Woody shelter bells provide winter cO"er and nesling sites for upland birds and a vllriety of nongamespc<:ics as welL

In late August hunters begin scouting hunting llmIS and ....ildlife use llrt"u. Bear season opens in lateAugUSl: follo....'ed in mid-September b). the !ilIIail~ season. Hunting peaks ....ith .."teTfo..1 andpheasant hunting in October and !be firearms deff seuon in No,·embcT. Huntins has a profoundimpact on business in MilUlCSOUl. Many' pri'llte businesses make a large ponion oflheir income durinathe hunting seasons. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Sm'i« survey detennined thaI the estimated 597,000hunters in MinnCS01ll spent about :5476 million in 2001 for hUlltin&- Hunting equipment retailers,distributors and manufaelures, gas stations. reslauraRlS, grocery stores. bars. resortS and motels allbenefil from hunlers. During olber limes of the )'ear, wildlife ""tehing, photogl11phy. and fishing. canprovide additional significanl values to Minnc!iOta bUilinesscs. lbe survey sllowed lhat wildlife\\-atcllers spenl SS23 million in the sUte in 200 I pursui ng lheir activities.

Present Acquisition Priority SettingLands to be purcllased arc currently idenlified by 40 wildlife managers under the supenoision of fourregional wildlife managers. All acquisition efforts are coordinated lhroUllh tile 51. I'aul Ol'lice by theWildlife Land Acquisition Consullalli. Within eacll work area. the indi"idual manager detenninespriority p:m:els and identifies ..illing sellers. 1lle manager rates the parcels and assigns a priority toeach U1lCl. The top priority pateels are submitted to the regional \\ildlife mallaliler for re"iew andreaionall11nking. Regional priorities~ submined to lhe St. Paul office for appro,1t1 and statewidepriootiution. The number ofpareels appro"ed for purthase at any given time is. function of theamounl ofacqwilition funding. the type of funding...ilhng sellers.. and lhe s\ale..ide priority of.uilable parcels. Final re\'iew and apprO':al for all WMA acquisitions are made by !be DNR WildlifeLand Acquisition Consullallt and !be Director of the Di"ision of Wildlife.

The Wildlife Management Area Polic)'. approved by the DNR in 1983 and revised in 2002. provides aset ofguidelincs for establishing WMA acquisition priorities (Appendix A). In addition 10 these

22

priorities. the: Division of Wildlife has implemented other policies penaining to WMA land acquisition.In response to significant booget cuts in 1995, the Division deeided that the purchase ofWMA lands

with Surcharge. booding. En\-iroomenlal Trust Fund. n:\'rnuc: from the sale of land. and v,eliandmiligation banking funds ....'QUld be latgeted to troClS ....ithin units that have existing acquimllands.The purchase ofne.... WMAs was limited to funding through the RI~I Match Program or federal fundsfrom the Nooh American Weiland Conservation Att.

In 1999. the Division implemented a policy to not purchase or accept donations ofland a\read) underpefllCU.131 conservalion e35l:ment under lbe RIM Rese....-e or federal Wetland Resen'e Program. e:<~ptunder the follo.....ing conditions:

I. If a lando.....ner as ....ilJing to donate or sell an inholding ....ithin a WMA Ihat would "round·out" our e:<isting o nership. or2. If we afC' currently purchasing the remaining lands from the landowner who is inten:sled inselling or donating his easemcnt lands to us.

CollaborationThe statewide habitat needs cannOI be accomplished solely through the: WM" system. Ifhabilat ..... ildlife populations. and hunter access arc priorities for the people of Minnesota. private landowners.the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. state and fcdel"ll.l fann programs. and shon lerm and pennanentusc:mcnts all need to play their pan in the protttliO/l and management of ....ildlife land.

Funding for Wildlife AcquisitionMinnesota's legislature and sporwnen ha\'e funded land acquisition in a mullilude ofdiffel'C1lt

.....ays. Hunting licenses fees. bonding ftmds. Rein\CSl in MiOMSOta funds. LCMR (Legislati\eCommission on Minncsoll RCSOUTCCS) funds and hunling license surehargcs ha\e been usc:d to buyWMAs. In addition. f01kral and Mate tax codes make it advantageous for consc:n'ationistlO donatetheir land 10 the: Ikpanment for .....ildlife pwposes.

The mainstay offunding for the WMA Land Acquisition Program has been the S4 Sureharge onthe small game hunting licen;;c. Implemented in 1957, proceeds from thc sureharge are dedicated tothe Wildlife Acquisition Fund to be used for WMA bnd acquisition and WMA development. Thesmall game license surcharge generates appro:<immcly $1.4 million per year. halfof I'hieh is spent fordirect land acquisition. Over the years. additional funding for WMA acquisition has come from 5t,Hebonding dollars and cigaretlc ta:< money.

More recent funding SQurces include monies from the Environmental and Natural ResourcesTrust Fund (ETF) and Ihe Reinvest in MinneSQta (RIM) Proy.ram. The ETF fund was established by aconstitutional amcndment approved in 1988. ETF funds can be ~d to finance the protection.eonse....':J.tiOJL prese....':J.tion. and enhancement oflbe state's air......ater. land. fish. "ildlife. and othernatural resources. 1llc Division of Wildlife has received $1 J I0.000 for direct Wl\iA l:md acquisitionfrom the ETF ftmd since 1988.

The Legislalurt established Ibe RIM Pfo¥r3m in 1986. A 10(;1.1 of$3.83 million in RTh'1 funds.....ere appropriated since 1986 for direct WMA land acquisition. As pan of this program. a CriticalHabitat \1alChing ACt:OUnt W3$ established lhat encourages private seclor Oonations that can bematched by appropriations ofst9te funds for the acquisition and development of fish and ....ildlifeh",bitat. Since 1986. S30 million in pri\':J.te donations h",\e been matched through the RThi CriticalHabitat Malching Program. A greater part ofthcsc donations ha\'e come from the major conservationorgani/.3tions and hale been u;;cd primaril)' 10 purehasc critical habitat for WMAs. It is anticipated

23

lhal lhcse groups will continue 10 playa key role as panners in lhc effon to accelcrate WMA landacquisilion.

Minnesota has played a major role in the U.S. Prairie Pothole Joinl Venture under lhe NorthAmerican Waterfowl Management Plan (NA WMP). Six m3jor projeCts, Swan Lake, Heron Lake,Minnesola Rh·cr. Northern TallgrolSs Prairie. Prairie Wetland Heritage. and Greal River Corridor,Centennial POlhole. and Red Riwr Projects. have been approved for funding Ihrough the NorthAmerican WeIland Conservation Act (NA WCA). A IOlal of$9.5 million in NA WeA funds have beenapproved for the purchase ofWMA lands in these projecl arcas.

The 1995 Legislature authorizI'd the issuan<;e of a special critical habitat license platc to mOlOrvehiclc applicams who pay. in addilion to thc nonnal regislration fccs. an extra $10 fee 10 coverlhecosts ofhandhng and manufaCluring the plate and comribulc mlcast $30 annually 10 Ihc Minnesotacritical habital private sector matching account. The contributions are credilcd to the CHM accountand ar<; matched by privale donal ions ofcash Or land 10 purchase or develop erilical habilal for fish andwildlife. A portion oflhe plate funds arc matched with eonlribulions 10 lhe nongame wildlifemanagemem account and used for crilical nongame acquisilion and developmcnt projects. To dalc. lheplates have genera led $5 million and Ihe annual projected income is $1.86 million per year based on62.000 regiSlnltions.

A partncrship of 14 private conservalion organizalions and federal and stale agencies havejoined togelher 10 prolecl and manage erilicallish and wildlife habitats in Minnesota. The program.entilled Resloring Mionesola's Fish and Wildlife Habilal Corridors. received SI1.745 million infunding from Ihe LegislatiVl" Commission on Minnesota's Resources in 2001 The primar)' goal of lhisproject is to connecl fragmented high qualily habitats by reeslablishing a slatewide network of corridors10 benefits !ish. wildlife. and planl communitics. The partners will eonccntrJ.le lheir elTons in 11 highpriorily corridor arl:as and have budgcled $5.4 10 purchase approximately 5.900 acres. Many of theseacquired lraCIS will be transferred 10 thc DNR for management as WMAs.

Acquisition ProceduresMinneSOla's WMA Acquisilion Program is aUlhorized pur:;uanl to Minnesota Statutes 97A.135Acquisition of Wildlife Lands and Minnesota Stawtes 97A.145 Wetlands for Wlidlife. All landsproposed for WMA acquisition mUSl be within an approved WM/\ projeel. WMA projecl proposalsand maps are prepared by lhe area wildlife manager and arc approvcd by thc Regional WildlifeSupervisor and lhe Director of lhe Division of Wildlife as aUlhorizcd by the Commissioner ofNaluralResources. WMA proposals identify the purpose oflhe project. projeCl boundary. habitat types.landown<;r,. proposed wildlife development. present wildlife use. improvement possibilitics. and anyproblems. local sentiment. or recommcndations.

Private lands for WMAs arc purchased only from willing sellers. Qualified real ellale appraiscrsevaluale the propeny and the DNR - Division of lands and Mincrals reviews and ecnilies theappraisals 10 cnsure lhcy represellt the property's fair markel value. Prior 10 purchasing. anenvironmemal assessmenl of the propeny is conducted by the area wildlife manager to delCnnine lheexislencc of any contaminants or Olher cnvironmcnlai concerns.

MinneSOIa SlalUlCS 97A.145 requires lhe Division of Wildlife 10 nOli fy the respeelive IO\\-lIship andobtain county board approval for any proposed WMA land Ilurchascs. DNR policy also requires thenoti!icmion of the respective county board of any land dO}nal;O}ns prior 10 acceptance by the DNR.Counly boards have been, overall. very supponive of WMA acquisilion. Oflhe ovcr 1,000 \VMA tmelS

24

proposed for purchase within the past 20 years. only a small number were turned dO"ll by the countyboanl,.

To offset 10s\ property lax reVenliC of private lands purdlascd for WMAs. the Dl','R nlakes annualpa}11lcms in-licll-of-13xes to counties with acquired wildlife lands. Payments are made from the stmegeneral fund and are calculated based on the following formulas. using whichever amount is greatest:

1. Three-quarters ofone percent of the appraised value ofpurl:hased WMA lands.2. 50 cems per aCre on purchased lands actually used for WMAs.J. 35 percem orlhe gross receipts from all special usc permits and leases ofland, acquired for\VI\1As.

Payments to the counlies for WMA lands are currently aoout 52.3 million per year.

In addition to these paynlellt,. the DNR also makes in-licu-of-tax payments 10 counties for all naturalresourcc lands in the county ineluding othcr acquired lands such as state park, stale forest. SNA, andstate trail lands: county lax-forfcilcd lands; and other Slatc lands such as school trust fund lands. Lastycar. thcse payments lOlaled $9.51 million.

Future ChallengesLands wilh a high polemiallO provide thc primary objectives and urgent preservation needs

have been purchascd as WMAs, Th~y provide biological and ecological values 10 the environmcnt. tohabiwl for game and nongamc animals that could nOl olhe",,~s~ be preserved in other owncrship. [nmany places W1\'!As are islands ofhabital in an urbanizing or agricullurnllandscapc. But as islands,these lands may nut provide their full wildlife or recreational benefIts because of adjacent land use.They also arc heavily used because of their location, Hunlers flO\:k 10 Ihese WMAs because of theirproximity and the lack of other public hunting opportunities.

As urbanization moves furthcr and further into rumllandscapes. WMAs become increasingimportant in providing habitat. public hunting and open space. Extensive rural development in the 18county high population "gro\\1h corridor" from 51. Cloud to the T'\~n Cities to Rochester, threatcnssensitive nalural resources in this area. In many cascs. this may be the last opportunity to protect thesecritical habitats. Increasing populations also create a higher demand for public hunting. trappi ng, andother wi[d[ife·relaled aclivilies in dose pro~imity. Only 7 perccnt ofthc acquircd W/I.1A lands inMinnesota are locatcd in this 18-county arca. Accelcratcd acquisition within this area would protectvaluable wetlands and critical upland wildMe habitat and enhance recreational use. especially publichunting and trapping. Land costs will cominue 10 incrcase over time in tltis corridor arca and keyacquisitions may be [OSI if land prices become 100 prohibiti,'c_

Yet. as people move into these areas next to WMAs, the uses and values that WMAs areestablished for are being limitcd. Whcn structures or corrals are built ncxtto WMAs. laws limit thedischarge ofwcapons within 500 feel. That limits the WMA use for public hunting. Wilh urbanizalioncome Olher problems such as unconlrolled pets. illegal dumping. ,md other illegal uses. In addition.WMAs in urbanizing setting also cost 10 to 100 times more than the same land in an undeveloped oreVCn an agricultural sclting_ The necds for WMA. in urbanizing sCllings is great. but the cost orthcland. the diminished values arc high and concerns by slakeholders are warrantcd to question the valuesofWMAs in these sellings.

The COSI of purchasing additional WMi\ lands continues 10 rise. Over the past decade alone.the average farm real eSlatc price per Hcre has risen from approximately $700lacrc to ovcr $1.200/acre.

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Llmd \'alues ha\'e inc~ased at an ewn steeper rate around major population centers as residentialde\'Clopmenl spreads out into the surrounding TUT:l1 areas. Although there are a number of potentialfunding soun:~ for WMA acquisition. total appropriationl; during the the past 10 yean ha"e beenloweT th:tn previous Ikcades. The hut appropriation for WMA lICquisition was in 2002. but at a muchredLiU'd le\'el from pn:\ious yean (Appendix B). Rettnt pmjC(;lS appro\'ed b)- the Lcgislati"oCommission on Minnesol:l Resources (LCMR) ha\'e sbo"''ll' trend lo",ard funding pri\"3teconsc...."3lion groups to purc~ lOlildlife lands rather than dirn:l!" to DNR.

The Division of Wildlife has increased ilS capaci\)' to plan and manage its land in the lasldct:ade. Arca managcn arc able to describe WMA unit objecth·cs. habitat ,..lue and needs of"ildlife.prioril) species ofinteresl. huming facili!)' needs. and the best land management practices. The regionand central office an: able 10 allocatc organi7.alional resourees 10 lhe most pressing needs and accountfor lhok resoun;c:s and the outcomes from those expenditures.

Lands acquired as part ofthi' WMA system present a significant future commilment formaintcnance. de"c!opmenl and management costs. In lhe short·tenn. initial infrastructure COSlS

(bou!ldary survcy. posting. parking lot and user facilities. building removal. ",ell scaling. roadapproaches. etc.) are estimated to be 513.000 to $1 5.000 per unit. In the mid·ternl and long tenn thereis also a cOlltinuing commitment to tlie Division of Wildlife for developmenl and maintcnanee On ncwWMA lands. Habibt restoration costs may inelude bul 1101 limited to grassland dcvclopmcnt. forest or.....oody covcr de,-e1opment or impro'-ement. brushland management. and food plot development.

l1Je Division of Wildlife has a long range .....ork planning process to eSl:lblish workloads and theCOSI ofpllUlDed maintenance and dc:,-elopment on WMAs annuaHy_ A~a \\ildlife managers identifYmaintenance and management needs for WMAs in their work area on a 5 ~'eal c)"e1e. The DivisionallocateS funding to the ll1t'as and regions based on determining needs and prioriti7ing the a'"3ilablefunds to meet those needs. The Di"ision of Wildlifc is able to fund only approximately 27 pettenl ofthe ClJlTml identified maintenance and management needs annually. As new WMA lands are added 10

the s}'Slcm.lbc unfunded need to adequately maintain and manage these lands ",ill increase: thisobligation unless ..dditional sources of funding are a'"lIilablc:.

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Appendix A

\\ ildliff Manage-mt-nl Area Poli("l' WMA At-gui,ilion Priorih' Guiddinl."!'

Priori", I:l.. Existing high-qualil} "'ildlife nabil:l.llhat isthrtalrned "'im imminent desl1Ul:tion.b. Pl'l:SC1'\lItion of!labilal for rndangen:d or Ihreatened species or sp«ies of spttial ,onccm..t. Trac:l$ "'ithin apprm,ed projf'ClS "'here xquisilion has already O<;tUln'd (i,e. in·holdings).

The ONR already has a subsl.alliial in'tslment in these projccts in xquisition andmanagement COSI.'i and has an obligation 10 purchase lr.ICts "'ilhin exisling proja:ts fromwilling sellers. Proja:1 boundaries were established for each \Vl-IA to muimiu~bcnefilli for "'ildlifc and public usc. Acquisition of the remaining partcls in existingprojccts ",ill improve maJJll,gcment ,apabilitics and rccrl:alional opponunities. Acquisitionetrons CODCCIIlrate on the following I)-pt'$ of partels ",ithin existing WMAs:

I. Major unillnlcls2. Significanl tt.1lllrdl communities thaI are uncommon or diminishing such aswetlands and nalive prairie3. Parcels needed for major development projects4. Parcels lhat resolve management or access problems5. 01hcr kcy wildlife habillll

Priori/\, 1a. An arl:a's wildlifc production capabililies.b. An area's ability to salisfY Ihc Imbilat Ileeds ofa selccl species or ,ommunily ofspeciesc, The degrce to which an area can pro,·ide high-quality hunting or other wildlife oriented

recrealional and educalional opponunities. for "'hich there is a demonSI"Ucd necd.d. High-quality "'ildlife land thaI is open 10 the public and lhreatened wilh a cnangc in

ownership which would preclude public lICcess.e. Unique "'ildlife habitat fealtu"Cs within a geographical area.f. The cost ofacquisition.S. ~Iinimal amount ofm:magemenl and de"dopment lUI ami will ~uire,h. The degl1'1: 10 which a p-oposed WMA complements or imprm"cs conneclions \lith otbcr

\lildlife nabital in the ,icinity.1. The future impilCl ofpolenlial adjacellt land usc changes on an U"Q.

PrioriD" J8. Areas thaI creale more ea.sil~ recogniuble boundaries thai facilitale appropriate public usc

and law enforcemenl.b. An area·s proximity 10 major populalion Cenlers.

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APPENDIX B

WMA Acquisition State Funding 1992-2002

SourceBonding Gen. Envir. Furure Surcharge TOTAL

Revenue Trust ResourcesYear1992 $289,492 $289,492

1993 $382,323 $682,323

1994 $1,700,000 5300,000 $619,600 $2,319,600

1995 $919,697 $1,569,697

1996 $500,000 $510,000 $140,000 $623,376 $1,123,376

1997 $579,102 51,019,102

1998 $1,500,000 $500,000 $479,215 $1,979,215

1999 $627,075 $627,075

2000 5622,830 $622,830

2001 $782,170 $782,170

2002 $400,000 $709,500 $1,109,500

TOTALS 52,600,000 $1,500,000 $1,310,000 $140,000 $6,634,380 $12,184,380

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Minnesota'sWildlife Management Area Acquisition

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