Minnesota Headwaters NICK HALL Doug Shaw Rich Biske
Minnesota Headwaters © NICK HALL Doug Shaw, Rich Biske, Kristen Blann, Andrea Brandon
$10 million privately funded investment to accomplish highimpact conservation in water supply source areas of the Mississippi River Goals: • Implement targeted conservation in watersheds • Raise awareness of water quality issues affecting cities • Leverage public resources for conservation • Enable private sector to be part of the solution • Spur long-term investment by water users /2
The Problem: Crop Conversion Degrades Water 3
A Changing Landscape Minnesota has second highest deforestation rate in the country. 400 square miles of forest, grass and wetland plowed 2008 to 2012 4
Loss of Forest = Increased Costs 5
Looking Forward 6
It’s Time to Protect What’s Important 7
Need: Strategic Investment 8
Vigilance: Watershed Conservation “Blueprints” - Focus on monitoring, including land use trends, lake clarity, and forest trends including state land policy (e. g. STL) Aquatic habitat opportunities in top 5% Protection watersheds - High - Total acres needed for securing protection for low hanging fruit, focusing on watersheds close to 75% threshold ; small acreage needs OR flat or declining trend Focus on large parcels with high habitat scores Protection Enhancement watersheds Enhance Vigilance - Restoration watersheds Restore - Protect - Low Total Buffer/ARA acres needed on high value aquatic resource priorities - (a) protection & (b) restoration Protection of high priority groundwater recharge/vulnerable Source Water Protection areas Health High Buffers needed (acres) on aquatic systems upstream of key populations ID Priority lands providing multiple benefits to aquatic habitats and source water
Protecting Groundwater 10
Protecting Drinking Water 11
Protecting Fish and Wildlife 12
Protection Blueprint 13
Strategy Mapping /14
Strategy classification Protection Need (min) Protection/ restoration description and criteria Vigilance 10, 500 High quality aquatic sites such as cisco refuge / wild rice where extra protection is merited Protection (high end, resilient watersheds) 28, 000 Estimated priority protection acres at risk of conversion. Grand Rapids Huc 8 focus: Crow Wing & Pine Protection (generally above impairment thresholds but vulnerable) Targeted Source water protection 15 46, 000 Majority of priority protection acres at risk of conversion. Huc 8 focus: Crow Wing, Rum, and Mississippi mainstem below Brainerd 8500 Watersheds with significant protection & restoration needs Huc 8 focus: Mainstem above St. Cloud, Rum Project focus: biologically significant lakes and high quality ARA, DWSMAs, Avon Hills Goal acres Suggested lead entity 5, 000 DNR AMA/ LLWMF/MHB-OHF 10, 000 CWF/OHF Partners 2000 CWF 9 -10, 000 CWF/Partners 3000 -4000 TNC/CWF
Our Blueprint Stacking Multiple funds for Multiple Benefits Source Water Protection Habitat Protection 16 Clean Water
Leveraging Public Funds 2015 Protection in Southeast Minnesota Private Funds: Public Funds: TOTAL: Acres Protected: $2, 360, 000 $5, 050, 000 $7, 410, 000 1, 608 2016 Partner Protection Activity in Headwaters Public Funds Secured: $6, 600, 000 Projects Under Review: Fee Acquisition 3 Projects 163 Acres Conservation Easement CWF 41 Projects 2, 291 Acres Total Under Review: 2, 454 Acres /17
Protect & Restore Resilience Need: $10 M Private Water Fund to Leverage $20 M Public Funds 18
Questions Rich Biske Freshwater Program Director rbiske@tnc. org (612) 331 -0766 19
- Slides: 19