HF 1119

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/04/2013 01:51pm

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; appropriating money for wildlife habitat
enhancement and restoration in metropolitan regional parks.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin WILDLIFE HABITAT PROTECTION AND RESTORATION;
METROPOLITAN REGIONAL PARKS.
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new text begin (a) $6,396,000 in fiscal year 2014 is appropriated from the outdoor heritage fund
to the Metropolitan Council to restore and enhance fish and wildlife habitat in forests,
prairies, and wetlands in the metropolitan regional parks system. Of this amount:
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new text begin (1) $500,000 is for Dakota County to convert existing agricultural land and
low-quality woods and grassland in Whitetail Woods Regional Park to prairie and oak
savanna centered around an existing wetland, resulting in substantial habitat improvements
for waterfowl and other wildlife;
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new text begin (2) $60,000 is for Dakota County to protect and enhance Miesville Ravine Park
Reserve through earth shaping, slope stabilization, and perhaps piping of one severe gully
erosion situation and other eroding sites that are presently contributing sediment to Trout
Brook, impairing water quality and the brook trout population;
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new text begin (3) $500,000 is for the city of St. Paul to remove 18,000 tons of contaminated
materials and preserve sensitive access to natural amenities and nature-based recreation in
Lilydale Regional Park. Funding would help to improve access to Pickerel Lake, while
enhancing habitat and improving water quality;
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new text begin (4) $915,000 is for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to protect, restore,
and enhance shorelines; reduce invasive upland species; and repair erosion and unpaved
walking paths at Sweeney and Twin Lakes and to enhance the Wirth Lake wetland
complex; reduce invasive upland species; correct erosion problems; close unauthorized
trails; and repair unpaved walking paths in Theodore Wirth Regional Park;
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new text begin (5) $468,000 is for Ramsey County to restore 72 acres in Battle Creek Regional
Park along the bluff of the Mississippi River, including restoration and enhancement of
prairie, savanna, oak woods, and shrub swamp seeps to improve waterfowl and upland
game bird feeding and nesting habitats;
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new text begin (6) $210,000 is for the Three Rivers Park District to restore the water quality and
game fish habitat in Lake Independence in Barker Park Reserve by reducing phosphorus
loading from Spurzem and Half Moon Lakes through treatment with aluminum sulfate;
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new text begin (7) $400,000 is for the Three Rivers Park District to enhance and restore the quality
of Cleary Lake and restore the fishery by controlling curly-leaf pondweed, reducing
phosphorus runoff from the watershed, and controlling internal phosphorus cycling with
aluminum sulfate;
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new text begin (8) $200,000 is for Carver County to restore and enhance Lake Minnewashta
Regional Park by converting 37 acres of existing turf or old fields to native prairie and oak
savanna. These areas are identified in the park master plan as medium to high potential
sites for restoration;
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new text begin (9) $270,000 is for Anoka County to restore and enhance 120 acres of prairie
and woodland habitat within the 273-acre Mississippi West Regional Park. Outcomes
will include increased habitat for game and nongame species and benefits to migratory
waterfowl on the Mississippi flyway;
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new text begin (10) $200,000 is for Anoka County to restore 45 acres of prairie and oak
savanna and remove invasive species from 40 acres of riparian forest land at Rum
River Central Regional Park. The restoration will benefit the adjacent 550-acre Cedar
Creek Conservation Area, which is open to hunting and was funded through a recent
appropriation from the outdoor heritage fund;
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new text begin (11) $338,000 is for Scott County to restore and enhance 150 acres within the
1,150-acre conservation-focused Doyle-Kennefick Regional Park. The project site is part
of an 850-acre mosaic of natural lands including Minnesota County Biological Survey
forest and some of the highest quality wetlands in Scott County. The park master plan
identifies this natural complex to be conserved for habitat and biological diversity with
very light recreational development;
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new text begin (12) $37,000 is for Scott County to restore and enhance Cedar Lake Farm Regional
Park by partnering with the Cedar Lake Improvement District and Scott Watershed
Management Organization for four years of treatment to control the curly-leaf pondweed
infestation dominating Cedar Lake. The goal is to restore 700 acres of shallow lake,
improve fishing opportunities, and increase native aquatic plant habitat;
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new text begin (13) $1,523,000 is for Scott County to restore and enhance 302 acres of contiguous
forest, wetlands, and lakeshore in Spring Lake Regional Park by improving habitat for
interior forest birds, waterfowl, and amphibians. Adjacent to Upper Prior, Spring, and
Artic Lakes, this site is part of a larger permanent habitat network;
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new text begin (14) $425,000 is for Washington County to restore and enhance Lake Elmo Park
Reserve by creating 168 acres of interconnected tallgrass prairie through the restoration
of 12 wetland basins that are scattered throughout an existing tallgrass prairie complex.
These diverse landscapes provide critical habitat for native ground-nesting birds; and
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new text begin (15) $350,000 is for Washington County to restore and enhance rare and unique
forest communities identified by the Department of Natural Resources in Lake Elmo Park
Reserve and St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park. These forests provide exceptional habitat for
native and migrating bird species and represent some of the best opportunities for avian
habitat improvement in Washington County.
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new text begin (b) Funded projects will implement priority natural resource management plan
components of regional park master plans approved by the Metropolitan Council.
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