M.L. 2020 Projects

In total, 226 monitoring plots were installed in The Ecological Monitoring Network (EMN). Substantial improvements were made to the EMN database, including enhanced security and connections to DNR’s Natural Heritage Information System. Preliminary findings using all 412 plots are available online for land managers, conservation practitioners and decision makers.

Until the formation of The Ecological Monitoring Network (EMN), most information on Minnesota’s native plant communities came from single point in time surveys. Survey data are foundational to understanding native plant communities, but they do not provide information about change through time. The EMN will provide objective, statically rigorous, biodiversity data characterizing change in Minnesota’s native prairies, forests and wetlands. Native systems provide ecosystem services such as recreation, timber, water filtration, pollinator habitat, flood protection, and carbon storage. Once resampling begins, the EMN can serve as an early warning system identifying stressors on those services, such as invasive species and extreme weather effects, and can inform decisions about best management and conservation of native habitats.

This appropriation supported:

1. Installing 226 monitoring plots, out of a project total of 412 (continued from ML16) and an estimated network total 550 (to be continued on ML23).
2. Documenting 20,718 trees, 14,202 saplings, and 43,930 herbaceous plants.
3. Submitting voucher specimens for 28 rare plant populations and 24 new County records.
4. Site-level reporting to landowners or administrators.
5. Security upgrades to the EMN database.
6. Integrating the EMN data within the Natural Heritage Information System.
7. Making project methods available online.
8. Developing a long-term resampling plan.

Lastly, initial findings were made available online. As of 2023, 45% of EMN plots are in upland forests, 27% in open wetlands, 15% in wetland forests and 12% in upland prairies. Overall, the EMN data show clear north-south differences. Forest EMN plots in southern Minnesota have higher browse pressure than northern plots. Southern prairie EMN plots have higher non-native species cover relative to northern prairie plots. This trend can also be seen in most other Ecological Systems. Invasive earthworm impacts are higher in mesic forests in southern Minnesota relative to northern Minnesota.

With initial results available on the EMN webpage, linked in the attachments, information from the EMN is now reaching land managers, conservation practitioners and decision makers. That information will be expanded when the network is finalized, with each network resampling, and as we gather collaborators into the network. For example, we send detailed reports to EMN landowners. We have trained a multi-disciplinary DNR team on how to use EMN methods as part of long-term forest management monitoring. And we are currently collaborating with DNR zoologists to incorporate the EMN within the next 10-year revision of the State Wildlife Action Plan.

The Groundwater Atlas provides foundational, science-based, information for use and management of Minnesota groundwaters. The atlas is valuable to government, industry, and for research. The grant supported work on thirteen atlases and publication of county groundwater atlases (County Atlas Part B) for Cass and Becker counties.

The Groundwater Atlas provides foundational, science-based, information for use and management of Minnesota groundwaters. The atlas is valuable to government, industry, and research. During the period of the grant, county groundwater atlases (County Atlas Part B) were published for Cass and Becker counties. Mapping activities also continued through the end of the grant in Aitkin, Dodge, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Kandiyohi, Nobles, Olmsted, Rock, Steele, and Wadena counties, with publication of completed groundwater atlases for Hubbard, Wadena, Dodge, and Houston expected in 2024.

Groundwater sampling is a key element in the completion of an atlas. Sampling efforts necessarily slowed during the pandemic. However, collection of core samples for the Steele, Aitkin, and Otter Tail County Groundwater Atlases as well as carbon-14 sampling for Kandiyohi, Nobles, Rock, and Steele counties was completed. Letter reports with all sampling results were provided to well owners for all wells sampled as part of this grant. DNR Groundwater Atlas staff completed field work for the geophysical investigation of Pennington, Red Lake, and Polk counties as part of the atlas process.

As part of the atlas development process, DNR staff conduct reviews of draft County Geologic Atlases (Part A) prepared by the MGS. During the grant this included DNR reviews for components of Dakota, Lac Qui Parle, Lake, Lincoln, Otter Tail, Pipestone, Scott, and Traverse County Geologic Atlases.

Dissemination and outreach activities continued throughout the grant period including presentations, news releases, GovDelivery list serve (6,000 recipients) notifications, and virtual meetings with county staff and county boards, seminars, and presentations.

Dissemination activities focused on notification of sampling activities and publication of atlases through news releases and GovDelivery, participation in seminars, presentations, and field trips to a diverse set of stakeholders and resources managers including county SWCDs, county boards, the Clean Water Council, BWSR, MPCA, the Legislative Conference of Minnesota Counties, LCCMR events, and others. Dissemination also included workshops with counties, publication of summary articles, updated website and many personal contacts with users of the atlas. Completed atlas products have been posted to the website noted above, and include PDF products as well as all of the related GIS data.

Our wild bees need nests to grow and overwinter, yet plants used in nest construction remain poorly understood. Alongside volunteers from all ecological sections of Minnesota, we gathered plant matter from bee nests for novel analysis by spectrometry (resins) or genetic sequencing (leaves) to identify the plants these pollinators use.

Wild bees rely on nests to protect their developing young and survive Minnesota winters. Many bee species use plant materials such as resin and leaves to construct the internal structures of their nests. The plants from which bees harvest this material are an integral part of bee habitat but remain largely unknown as the material in nests is in small pieces and not identifiable by sight. To better understand bee nest habitat, we worked with 125 volunteers from 50 counties all around Minnesota to put out 200+ nest-traps. These traps allowed us to sample nest plant material from 150+ bee nests for which we conducted GC-MS analysis of resins or DNA sequencing of leaves to determine the plant species the material came from. We identified >2000 bees from 4000+ specimens. A total of 25 bee species nested in the traps, with the most common being: Osmia lignaria, Heriades carinata, Osmia albiventris, Osmia tersula, Megachile campanulae and Megachile relativa. Based on our analysis, a variety of conifer resins were used most frequently in resin bee nests, including pines, spruces, tamarack and cedar species. However, some bees also used resins from Populus trees, such as cottonwood and quaking aspen. DNA sequencing of leaf material so far highlights that bees often used plants in the Rosa genus. Other plants identified include: raspberries/blackberries, strawberries, bitternut hickory, white goosefoot, black bindweed, ironweed, staghorn sumac and in one location, buckthorn. As results of further analysis and continued identifications become available, we will post them on our improved website, minnesotabeeatlas.umn.edu. Through this project, we gained valuable new information about plants that make up an important part of the habitat needs of Minnesota bee species, with the aim that this information can be used by agencies and landowners to improve management for bee habitat.

We maintained a facebook page, regularly posting about native bees and bee habitat. We also substantially improved our website, now at minnesotabeeatlas.umn.edu, including results pages and an updated species guide with photos and information from MN Bee Atlas 2016-2023. Specimen information is available through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas, and vouchers are at the UMN Insect Collection. We reported results to local agencies that hosted traps, conducted 11 training sessions, ten talks, tabled four events, and were featured on KAXE in northern Minnesota. We anticipate peer reviewed publications once analyses are completed. Results will contribute to a PhD dissertation.

Our goal was to assess if Minnesota native bee pollinators were at risk of disease transmission (pathogen Spillover) from honeybees. We found that honeybees and bumblebees have distinct virus communities and while they do share the same habitat, this has not resulted in widespread transmission and infection in bumblebees.

Our goal is to protect native pollinators from risk of disease transmission and population declines. By screening and possibly neutralizing bee pathogens (if needed) we wish to promote best management practices to maintain honeybee health and prevent pathogen spillover into native bee populations. Native bumblebees, Bombus spp., are important pollinators of wild flowering plants and crops such as tomatoes and berries, and are appreciated for their beauty. Unfortunately, five of Minnesota’s twenty-three species of native bumblebees are considered vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. The potential of pathogen spillover from the western honeybee to other insects is well established. New variants should inevitably emerge following a host expansion, yet to our knowledge no study has shown this within this honeybee to bumblebee transmission system. To investigate the outcome of viral spillover, we sequenced the RNA virus communities of sympatric honeybee (n = 389) and common eastern bumblebee, Bombus impatiens (n = 117), over three years. Distinct virus communities (viromes) occurred within each bee species throughout the study duration, with honeybee viruses forming a minor fraction of the bumblebee virome. Viruses shared by both bees shared over 98 % nucleotide identity, and no bumblebee-specific strains of honeybee viruses occurred, as expected if spillover led to a true host expansion involving bumblebee-bumblebee transmission. We conclude that the honeybee viruses, namely deformed wing virus (DWV), black queen cell virus, and sacbrood virus, were present in the bumblebees due to environmental exposure or dead-end spillover, and not spillover host expansion. We also observed that other potential pathogen spillover species such as Nosema was also present in both bee species but the sequence identity could not speciate the type of Nosema present. Therefore, we could not resolve whether Nosema spillover was occurring in Minnesota bees. Finally, the therapeutic anti-DWV agent proved ineffective in our lab based studies.

Dissemination of our project outcomes have been and will continue to be posted on our Bee Minnesota website (https://beeminnesota.umn.edu/).

We prepared a manuscript on the viral spillover aspect of the project, entitled: "Virome compositions indicate that viral spillover is a dead-end between the western honey bee and the common eastern bumblebee" to Communications Biology (Nature journal) for review. The preprint is available here: https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-4802694/v1

Dr. Schroeder has presented and continues to be invited to speak on the outcomes of this ENTRF funded work at local, regional and national beekeeping meetings.

Environmental, human health, and economic impacts of PFAS in land-applied biosolids were investigated in this multi-part study. Soils that received biosolids had higher levels of PFAS than background. Laboratory studies demonstrated that PFAS do migrate through soils, presenting a potential risk to groundwater. Treatment and destruction costs are not affordable.

Biosolids and the soils they were applied to at three different farms where tested for PFAS using multiple methods. Each of the three farms identified three fields; one that had never received biosolids; one that received biosolids previously but not in the study year; and one that received biosolids during the study year. Soils were tested at 30 cm increments from 0 - 90 cm. Soils that received biosolids had a larger variety and higher concentrations of PFAS compounds than soils that never received biosolids. In addition, crops grown on these fields were collected and tested for PFAS. Corn stover, soybeans, and rye were tested. Uptake did occur in crops, especially in fields that received biosolids during the test year. Corn stover in particular seems to be susceptible to PFAS uptake. Corn stover is used as livestock feed. The same soils and biosolids were used in laboratory leaching tests to determine the rate at which different PFAS move through soil and to estimate potential risks to groundwater. Shorter chain PFAS, in general, move more quickly through the soil than longer chain PFAS, posing a greater risks to groundwater in a shorter time period.

A sorbent material known as polyDADMAC effectively binds PFAS when added to biosolids before application to soils. However, risks associated with polyDADMAC are unknown and effectiveness in the field is untested. Finally, we evaluated the cost and effectiveness of over 50 PFAS removal and destruction technologies in municipal wastewater effluent, biosolids, landfill leachate and compost contact water using currently available technologies. We developed a statewide cost estimate for PFAS removal and destruction in municipal wastewater, biosolids, compost contact water, and landfill leachate. Statewide cost to treat and destroy PFAS in waste streams would range from $14 to $28 billion dollars.

The cost and effectiveness study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Water Environment Research. This publication is open access and readily available to the public. Three manuscripts detailing the results of the field and lab studies are in progress. Submission for peer review is expected in December of 2024. All publications will be open access. In additions, results have already been shared at scientific conferences, with more presentations planned going forward. Finally, the results of the field and laboratory study support MPCA's upcoming biosolids management strategy. Implementation of that strategy will begin in 2025.

Given that it is unclear when the regulatory environment will be stabilized, Dem-Con is withdrawing our current project from LCCMR and returning the funds for reallocation to other projects benefiting Minnesota.

With the uncertain regulatory environment around PFAS in Minnesota and Federally, this project has not started and is on indefinite hold until the regulatory requirements are determined. It is difficult, if not impossible, to build a treatment system while treatment standards continue to change.

Given that it is unclear when the regulatory environment will be stabilized, Dem-Con is withdrawing our current project from LCCMR and returning the funds for reallocation to other projects benefiting Minnesota. We are hopeful that we will be able to submit a new application at a future date once the regulatory environment is determined. Thank you for your consideration and support of our project.

Given that it is unclear when the regulatory environment will be stabilized, Dem-Con is withdrawing our current project from LCCMR and returning the funds for reallocation to other projects benefiting Minnesota. We are hopeful that we will be able to submit a new application at a future date once the regulatory environment is determined. Thank you for your consideration and support of our project.

Pioneer PBS produced 26 new episodes of Prairie Sportsman, a statewide television series designed to inspire Minnesotans to connect with the outdoors and protect our valuable natural resources. Broadcast in 2022 and 2023, the two 13-episode seasons feature a wide range of topics filmed throughout the state.

Pioneer PBS produced 26 new episodes of Prairie Sportsman, a statewide television series designed to inspire Minnesotans to connect with the outdoors and to restore and protect our valuable natural resources. Broadcast in 2022 and 2023 from late January to mid-May, the two 13-episode seasons were filmed at locations throughout the state and feature a wide range of topics targeted to a diverse audience. “Evergreen” episodes are produced to engage and enlighten audiences for years to come through rebroadcasts and online viewing. The two seasons feature 28 environmental science and conservation stories and 26 outdoor sports and recreation stories. In addition, third segments feature a trivia series on how to identify look-alike native and invasive species, how to stop AIS spread, advances in AIS research, a Minnesota state symbols series, sustainable wild food foraging series, and segments on outdoor-themed art and photography.

Many Environment and Natural Resource Trust Fund projects have been featured on Prairie Sportsman over the past two seasons including stories on protecting wood turtles in southeast Minnesota, reintroducing native mussels, restoring prairie and oak savanna habitats, promoting pollinator-friendly habitats, researching and stopping the spread of AIS, supporting educational programs of The Raptor Center and Trout Unlimited, promoting outdoor access through trails and fishing piers, evaluating plants that could absorb road salts, and research into fox and coyote populations increasing in urban areas. The ENRTF story “Conflicting Canines” received an Upper Midwest Emmy award, and “Mike’s Muckets,” “Save the Turtles,” “Raptor Rescue” and “Rock Snot Invasion” received Emmy nominations.

As part of this project, Pioneer PBS also produced two stand-alone videos. “Thanks a Billion Minnesota” highlights Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund projects that have been featured on Prairie Sportsman over the past six seasons. “Stewardship Starts at Home” features ways individuals can protect and restore natural resources.

Prairie Sportsman airs on all Minnesota PBS stations’ main channels, the Minnesota Channel, and online. Each episode, including rebroadcasts, airs 26 times during the year for a total of 676 airings during the two-year project. Stories are heavily promoted on social media and distributed to public agencies, learning centers, outdoor and civic organizations, educational institutions and other groups for public outreach and education. “Thanks a Billion Minnesota” airs on Pioneer PBS November 12 and the segment, “Stewardship Starts at Home,” will air during Prairie Sportsman’s 2024 season. Both will then be available online and distributed to all Minnesota PBS stations.

Wilderness Inquiry’s Freshwater Quest engaged 8,833 youth across all regions of Minnesota. Using place-based outdoor environmental education, this project inspired the next generation of stewards of Minnesota’s natural resources, helping to preserve our state's outdoor economy and the vibrancy and health of our environment and residents.

Engaging with the natural world is a key aspect of stewardship and crucial to the health and wellbeing of communities and natural resources. Research shows that for children, direct experiences in nature are the primary determinant in developing a stewardship ethic as an adult (White, 2006). Many youths are prevented from accessing these experiences due to financial, geographic, and experience-based barriers. By combining opportunities for meaningful outdoor engagement with connection to a community of learners and explorers, Wilderness Inquiry’s Freshwater Quest creates accessible, affordable, and engaging experiences with nature that increase stewardship in the outdoors and invest in the health and vibrancy of Minnesota’s natural resources.

Wilderness Inquiry connected 8,833 diverse students to place-based, educational outdoor experiences across the state. The Freshwater Quest brought classroom learning to life with hands-on science and environmental education activities. Students conducted experiments to learn about water quality and watersheds, endangered species, and the significance water has to all living creatures. View the Freshwater Quest here.

This project also developed a network of partners including schools, educators, parents, state and local governments, indigenous-led organizations, and local outdoor clubs, all invested in the development of Minnesota’s next generation of environmental stewards. Through these partnerships this project promoted equity and inclusion in the outdoors. For many participants, Canoemobile and the Freshwater Quest provided a foundation for environmental stewardship through their first immersive experience in the outdoors.

Programs were evaluated using the tool “Hello Insight” to measure program success in increasing social-emotional learning (SEL) capacities, which is foundational to youth experiencing positive wellbeing and academic outcomes. Overall, youth program participants reported that Wilderness Inquiry’s staff excelled at providing a safe and supportive experience and pushed young people to try hard and do their best. A detailed report and evaluation results can be found on our website.

Project updates were shared about the Freshwater Quest to our wide network of diverse partners, stakeholders, and media outlets over the course of this project’s timeline. Some examples of this include: facilitating virtual professional development opportunities for MN educators, participating in MN Teach Outdoors! with over 50 MN educators, direct marketing outreaches, and media releases. After a media release, The Timberjay wrote a story about students from Tower-Soudan and Northeast Range experiencing the Canoemobile. Wilderness Inquiry also shared about the Freshwater Quest in our 2022 Year on Review on our website. The Freshwater Quest is also accessible to all Minnesotans.

In schools, the environment and infrastructure surrounding students can bring science practices to life. TeachScience teachers increased their confidence in environmental education topics and practiced effective teaching strategies proven to build stronger conservation and sustainability ethic in students. Students experienced hands-on learning opportunities; connecting environmental learning opportunities to their curriculum.

As more cities add renewable energy infrastructure and the need for green jobs grows, teachers must integrate renewable energy and green jobs learning into classrooms to better prepare their students to enter a new economy. There is a critical need to provide professional learning opportunities for teachers so they can meet their students’ needs and teach to the new science standards which were adopted in 2019.

The TeachScience program connected 154 teachers to the new standards, renewable energy, and STEM learning opportunities through 3 in-person, two-day workshops and a year-long support program, called a community of practice (COP). Climate Generation (CG) served 266 students directly through classroom presentations on related topics and 5,500 students indirectly by training their teachers.

Teacher confidence rose in climate change science, energy policy, and green career skills, particularly at the intersection of equity. 73% of teachers reported the workshops contributed to their confidence using the new standards; 80% said the COP held them accountable to practicing climate change education in their local context; 80% said the COP increased the time or depth to which they practiced climate change education; and 90% reported the COP was a valuable experience for them as a teacher and had a valuable impact on their students. Students engaged in place-based education; authoring a climate story, identifying energy sources in their schools, and learning about green careers in their regions. Our project suggests that relevant, place-based teacher training can have positive impacts on teacher confidence and students’ sustainability ethic as related to climate change and green careers.

TeachScience events, web pages, and blogs were shared with CG’s network. Events and results were showcased at several local and national education conferences. CG hosted several public presentations featuring TeachScience. CG published two blogs about the project and engaged in an interview for The North 103.3FM. Teach Climate Network Workshops recordings which were a part of the year of support are on CG’s YouTube channel. The Teach Science workshop model will be used to inform future events and the youth-facing presentations will be reused for future events. TCN Workshop Recordings will be reshared through the network annually.

“Mentoring the Next Generation of Conservation Professionals” employed 16 emerging professionals in full-time developmental positions over two years on the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Participants worked alongside USFWS professionals in conservation biology, visitor services, community outreach and environmental education as they learned, built skills, and explored conservation careers.

Four participants became integral members of the team through their two-year apprenticeships at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The two Conservation Biology Apprentices co-led the design and implementation of numerous habitat projects, conducted biological surveys, assisted with educational programs on the Refuge, and helped write an environmental assessment. The two apprentices in Visitor Services and Outreach coordinated the Refuge’s social media and website, helped manage visitor centers, planned events, delivered interpretive programs and engaged community partners.

Twelve participants held one-year internships in Environmental Education (EE) through the project (four each during three terms September 2021 – May 2024). The Educators delivered programming to 6,500 students, families, and teachers annually on the Refuge, in the schools and libraries, and (during the pandemic) virtually. They supported partner schools and teachers, coordinated volunteers, co-led interpretive programs, and engaged the public in the visitor centers and on Refuge trails.

A core objective and outcome of Mentoring the Next Generation of Conservation Professionals is to enable interns and apprentices to explore career opportunities in the conservation field. They participate in numerous trainings, build skills, shadow and network with professionals in the field. Through this project, most participants identified their desired professional future and secured their next opportunity, which included permanent positions with a federal, state or nonprofit conservation agency, or admission to a graduate program in the conservation field.

As FWS match, the Refuge’s High School Internship program (DUCKS) engaged 36 students in paid internships (part-time during the school year and full-time during the summers). Interns were introduced to the conservation field through numerous and varied activities, including ice fishing, snowshoeing, paddling, Refuge education programs, native seed collection, invasive species removal, and job shadowing.

The Minnesota Valley Trust’s website (https://www.mnvalleytrust.org/) prominently features the “Mentoring the Next Generation of Conservation Professionals” program and funding from the ENRTF, as recommended by the LCCMR.

Recruitment materials for the internship and apprenticeship opportunities are available on the Trust (https://www.mnvalleytrust.org/careers) and Refuge websites, as well as through Refuge social media and partner organizations.

A program led by our Community Outreach Apprentice that connected new Minnesotans to nature through fishing was featured in the following Minnesota Public Radio News -- https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/09/13/new-program-connects-english-language-classes-with-minnesotas-green-spaces.

Over three years, funding from the ENRTF through the LCCMR enabled the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center to engage over 4,500 students outside Austin and provide 50% more summer programming. Curricula designed to foster environmental ethics reached many additional families, contributing to the protection of Minnesota’s natural resources.

The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, operated by the City of Austin and funded by taxpayers, focuses on environmental education for local students. In 2017, a new interpretive center was completed, enhancing classroom space and establishing the center as a regional hub for exploring and learning about nature. The primary obstacle to expanding environmental education opportunities was the lack of funding for additional staff.

Funding from the ENRTF through the LCCMR enabled the hiring of an additional naturalist and an intern each year for three years. This initiative aimed to engage more school groups from outside Austin and increase summer programming. The center believes that fostering a connection to the natural world through education is crucial for encouraging the protection of natural resources.

The new naturalist built relationships with various schools and districts, providing their students access to the center's curricula. The goals included reaching at least 250 classes, with 80 being new opportunities for schools outside Austin, and an estimated 1,600 additional students each school year. By the second and third years of the grant, these goals were surpassed, with 1,687 students participating in 91 additional classes during the 2022-23 school year, and 1,924 students in 94 additional classes in 2023-24.

With the additional staff, summer programming increased, with 46 classes scheduled in summer 2023, a 50% rise from previous years. However, extreme drought and poor air quality led to the cancellation of some activities. In June 2024, the final month of the grant, 22 outdoor education classes were held, setting the pace for the summer.

This project underscores the demand for environmental education, with funding from the ENRTF enabling the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center to expand its offerings. Investments in children today will help protect Minnesota naturalist resources in the future.

We have acknowledged the ENRTF on our website (https://www.hormelnaturecenter.org/education-programs.html), in our newsletter (https://www.hormelnaturecenter.org/summer-classes.html), and during radio interviews about regional school visits. This recognition also appears in our annual report, at city council and parks and recreation board meetings, at Friends of the Hormel Nature Center meetings, and in outreach to schools (see attached brochure). We consistently use attribution language and the ENRTF logo where appropriate. As we launch a second project, we will soon issue a media release highlighting the success of the first three years of this program.

Since the start of this grant, 650 students across 35 YES Teams have completed 130 eco-action projects, impacting over 65,000 community members. Students volunteered 2,800 hours, partnering with 145 experts. Projects addressed water conservation, invasive species, and more, with over 36 workshops held statewide.

Over the course of two years, Youth Eco Solutions (YES) successfully engaged 650 students across 35 teams, surpassing the goal of recruiting 200 students in over 20 communities. These students selected and led water quality projects, reaching over 65,000 community members and working with 145 experts, including 16 water quality professionals. YES provided 36 workshops, educating students on water quality issues - at times using the 3-Step Water Awareness Model. This training equipped students with the skills to implement impactful projects, while fostering collaboration with local watershed experts to ensure effective action plans.

YES Teams completed 130 eco-action projects, including over 30 new water quality and conservation initiatives. More than 200 students developed and executed these projects, addressing issues such as water quality monitoring, invasive species, and water conservation. These projects positively impacted 20 local watersheds, with students taking a hands-on role in identifying solutions for their communities. In total, YES Students contributed over 2,800 volunteer hours, mobilizing their peers and local volunteers to support these initiatives.

In addition to project work, YES hosted 200 educational events, further raising awareness and providing opportunities for community engagement. The annual Water Quality Stewardship Award recognized outstanding student efforts, including the New London - Spicer Middle School YES Team in 2021-22, the Harbor City International YES Team in 2022-23 and all YES Participants in the 2023-24 season.

By successfully achieving these goals, YES has fostered environmental leadership, increased awareness of water quality issues, and built strong community partnerships. Thanks to ENRTF, the YES program has been able to make a lasting impact on both students and their communities, creating a foundation for continued action and advocacy in water conservation and stewardship.

Effective communication of YES Teams' achievements is a top priority. We keep YES Coaches connected through Bi-Weekly updates to foster community and mutual support. Our monthly e-newsletter highlights team accomplishments, events, website updates, and new blog posts. Social media plays a vital role in quickly sharing success stories, strengthening our online presence. Additionally, we publish the annual YES Team Accomplishments Brochure, celebrating the project's highlights. YES is also actively engaged in key events like the MN State Fair, MN Science Teachers Conference and Earth Day at Prairie Woods. We work closely with media and highlight ENRTF as our main supporter.

The Engaging Minnesotans with Phenology project empowered over 89 educators and 2,500 students to connect deeply with nature. By airing 749 student reports and producing weekly podcasts, we inspired communities to engage with the outdoors, fostering a new generation of conservationists and strengthening Minnesotans’ connection to their natural environment.

The Engaging Minnesotans with Phenology project aimed to deepen Minnesotans’ connection to the natural environment through education and community engagement. Phenology, the study of seasonal changes in plants and animals, is a powerful tool to foster environmental awareness and stewardship. This project sought to inspire a broader understanding of phenology, particularly among educators, students, and the general public, with the ultimate goal of cultivating a new generation of conservation-minded citizens and strengthening community ties to the environment.

To achieve this, the project trained over 89 educators through 15 workshops and 13 follow-up visits. These workshops, led by experts John Latimer, Stephan Carlson, and Charlie Mitchell, provided educators with the tools and knowledge to incorporate phenology into their curriculum. Approximately half of these workshops were day-long events, while the rest were shorter sessions integrated into larger environmental conferences. The workshops received overwhelmingly positive feedback, and as a result, an estimated 2,500 students and 15 additional schools are now benefiting from these lessons. This number is expected to grow as more teachers continue to incorporate phenology into their classrooms.

KAXE, a community radio station, played a pivotal role in promoting and expanding the project’s reach. The station aired 749 student reports on phenology across 119 weekly episodes, along with 48 interviews with environmental scientists and 156 other phenology-related episodes. These segments, hosted by Heidi Holtan and John Latimer, were also made available through the Phenology podcast and the KAXE website.

Additionally, the project developed an interactive website in collaboration with the University of Minnesota. This platform, along with 5,000 phenology calendars were distributed to K-12 teachers and community members, provided valuable resources for observing and understanding seasonal changes.

Overall, this project successfully engaged thousands of Minnesotans in phenology, fostering a deeper connection to the environment and promoting long-term environmental stewardship.

During this project, we launched the Season Watch Newsletter, featuring Phenology Podcast episodes, local news, nature guides, learning resources, and updates from the KAXE-KBXE Season Watch Facebook group. Over 100 editions were released, growing from 164 to 635 subscribers, with a 66% open rate and 16% click rate. The University of Minnesota’s Season Watch website also launched at seasonwatch.umn.edu, offering extensive local phenological data and resources. Additionally, over 5,000 phenology calendars were distributed to K-12 students and community members, and phenology reports aired on KAXE, streamed online, and were made available as podcasts.

Didymo or rocksnot has invaded our North Shore. Two years of sampling showed eight streams whose future recreational opportunities, stream ecologies, and local economies may be threatened. We’ve informed resource managers, the public, stakeholders, colleagues, even kids about the threat of this aquatic invasive species and how we will respond.

The invasive alga, Didymosphenia geminata (aka didymo or rocksnot), has invaded clean, cold streams worldwide impacting recreational opportunities, stream ecology, and local economies. Invasive didymo appeared in the Poplar River in 2018 raising alarms. Didymo is known to grow “well-behaved” in nearshore Lake Superior, but it had never been noted in any North Shore streams. Two years of sampling North Shore didymo showed the problem is not isolated and requires a multi pronged response. We showed that didymo is now confirmed in eight North Shore streams–Caribou, Devil Track, Two Island, Poplar, Kimball, Carlson, Flute Reed, and Kadunce–all north of the Caribou River and representing the primary sites with documented colonizations. The Devil Track had didymo densities greater than 100000 cells/cm2, a bloom comparable to other worldwide invasions. The ecology of didymo in North Shore streams followed a pattern of higher abundances in late summer and fall following spring stream scouring. Stream sites with didymo were characterized by having minimal tree canopy, cobble/boulder substrate, low or base flow, and low nutrient levels. Bacterial communities in the algal mats associated with didymo invasion are less diverse than non-didymo mats. In contrast, didymo in nearshore Lake Superior showed lower density, was limited to very nearshore, and had highly variable populations due to regular wind and wave scouring. The source of didymo in North Shore streams remains enigmatic. Molecular efforts were challenging but did show connections between North Shore didymo and Montana populations; this continues to be a research focus. Our findings have been communicated broadly to state and tribal resource managers, stakeholders, and the public through press, interviews, citizen science, presentations, fliers, a children’s book, even coloring sheets. Raising awareness on the threat of didymo remains paramount as we protect our state and North Shore resources.

We identified three important findings in this project: 1) the didymo problem is larger than ever expected and requires continued study; 2) something has changed on our North Shore to allow the didymo invasion; and 3) the time to respond is now. Our results have been used to inform resource management and response (proposed signage, handouts, and felt-soled wader bans). Dissemination has been extensive and included radio, newspaper, TV, blogposts, presentations to resource managers, colleagues, and stakeholder groups, and tabled events at partner institutions. Outreach and education resources have been developed to target all audiences from policy makers to kids.

The project storing renewable energy in a rural area is demonstrating the use of advanced battery chemistries to focus use cases around load leveling, peak shaving, and market services. Expansion of the solar PV system and efforts to enhance grid stability and a foundation for renewable energy implementation in Minnesota.

The project was designed to improve renewable energy integration and grid stability at UMN Morris through the development of a large-scale demonstration of advanced battery chemistries and installation of a solar PV system. The primary objective is to optimize energy management within a community-scale grid by leveraging renewable energy sources like solar and wind.

The installation of the solar PV system will be completed soon. This enhancement enables more comprehensive research on integrating solar energy with battery storage, providing consistent power throughout the day and night. The near completion of this solar array represents a key milestone in our project, setting the stage for further studies on renewable energy management.

In parallel, significant progress has been made in the RFP and battery chemistry selection phase for advanced energy storage systems. We have also leveraged OATI’s analysis and insights from their report to guide our strategy. We have established connections with leading national labs, including Pacific Northwest National, Oak Ridge National, Sandia National, and the Department of Energy, to leverage their expertise in advanced battery chemistries. Additionally, we are evaluating battery options based on data analysis from our current generation assets, including solar and wind, as well as energy usage patterns. The preliminary use case for the battery system focuses on load leveling and peak shaving, which aligns with the university’s needs and will be Otter Tail Power's default strategy. Additionally, Otter Tail Power is exploring the potential to leverage the battery in the MISO market for ancillary services and energy arbitrage.

Overall, the project’s outcomes are expected to provide valuable insights into renewable energy integration including experience for the utilities supporting Minnesota’s energy transition efforts. The findings will inform future policy and management decisions, contributing to a more resilient and sustainable energy grid that is less carbon intensive.

Results of the project have been disseminated through university communication channels, social media, and industry forums. Hundreds of people have visited campus and learned about our battery project and the solar expansion. Key updates, including the solar PV system and progress on the RFP process for advanced battery chemistries, have been shared to inform and engage stakeholders; continuing as the project advances. A large sign announces the solar project including the ENRTF logo. The goal is to have the project's findings accessible to the public, industry stakeholders, and policymakers, contributing to the broader energy transition initiatives in Minnesota.

During the grant period, we collected over 400,000 pounds of prepared and perishable foods that helped to serve our partners and diverted food waste from landfills. We enrolled 150 new donors to the program and 29 agencies that can receive donations.

While we were not able to get back to pre-Covid levels of engagement for this program, we found many new partners and expanded our relationships with others. During the grant period, we collected over 400,000 pounds of prepared and perishable foods that helped to serve our partners and diverted food waste from landfills. We enrolled 150 new donors to the program and 29 agencies that can receive donations. St. Paul Public Schools has been one of our most engaged partners, which has led us to connect with and start donation programs with several other school districts. Overall, this project has resulted in less organic material being put into landfills, lower greenhouse gas emissions through this reduction, increased amounts of food going to hungry and food-insecure Minnesotans, and the establishment of a new framework for food rescue partners to continue reductions into the future. We continue to look at new and innovative ways of increasing these donations and how the donations make it to our partners using both donor volunteers and middle mile volunteers. We remain focused on increasing partners and donations available and ensuring that the capabilities of the Meal Connect platform are widely known.

We highlighted the work of this project in several ways - web stories featuring donors (D'Amico, VA Medical Center, and St. Paul Public Schools) and agencies (Ascension Place). We also distributed 45 media kits to existing and potential donors that acknowledge ENRTF as we are onboarding new partners.

The Turf to Pollinator Gardens Project transformed six areas of turf grass into diverse pollinator plantings in parks across the metro. The gardens serve as demonstration sites to inspire park visitors to restore some of their home yards to pollinator beneficial native plantings.

Across the state, high-quality pollinator habitat has been declining, contributing to our current pollinator crisis. In the metro region, nature-based regional parks meant to preserve quality natural areas have seen land transition to mowed turfgrass or otherwise lose their diversity of native plants, limiting available food sources and nesting sites for native pollinators. We saw an opportunity to work directly with community members to restore native plants to regional parks through pollinator gardens designed to inspire all park visitors to create space in their home landscapes to support pollinators.

The completed gardens in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Maplewood, Eagan, and Coon Rapids add up to 50,000 square feet of new pollinator habitat in areas that were previously turfgrass and other invasive species. Over the course of installing the gardens, we hosted 37 planting and maintenance events that engaged around 550 community volunteers of all ages. Among these volunteers were students from 4 different schools and 5 youth employment programs. Beyond the in-kind time contributed by volunteers, our project partners contributed nearly $60,000 in matching funds and staff hours to enhance the parklands with pollinator habitat.

These new gardens may have a small footprint in comparison to the size of the regional parks, but their installation in highly visible areas of the parks brings park visitors closer to the beauty of our Minnesota native plants and pollinators. Between the highly designed nature of the gardens and the educational signage with information on where you can go to learn more, we hope that park visitors will feel inspired to join the movement of reintroducing native plants to their landscape. Supporting native plants in our parks, neighborhoods, and communities has a lasting and restorative effect on soil and water quality and improves habitat for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.

Design and planting templates were created in partnership with Blue Thumb Partners, Park Staff, and in the case of Keller Lake, Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi staff. Educational signage to highlight the plants in the garden and techniques for planting for pollinators at home were created and installed. Primary promotion of the project was through active social media posts, including accounts of park partners, blog posts, and webpages established on the Wilderness in the City and Metro Blooms’ websites.

The Lawns to Legumes Program is focused on building a movement to support at-risk pollinator species. The project resulted in nearly 3000 high diversity residential plantings covering, 4.6 million square feet, and a large numbers of DIY projects across Minnesota inspired and guided by the program.

Phase Two of the Lawns to Legumes Program was extremely successful on building the current momentum to further engage residents across Minnesota to establish pollinator habitat and expands into community parks and school landscapes. Minnesota residents proved that they care about our at-risk insects and are motivated to assist through offering up their own property to establish their habitat. The Individual Support grant received over 26,000 applications, funding was provided, and habitat was created on 2613 parcels of land in Minnesota in Phase 2 of this program. Individual Support recipients contributed $434,636 in match. Through the competitive Demonstration Neighborhood Grant (2020-076) 5 grants were funded, participants reported implementing 98 projects creating 84,751 square feet of habitat in community and residential places. The grantees for Demonstration Neighborhood also leveraged over $23,748. We have also seen large numbers of DIY projects being implemented through residents using program technical resources and participating in the program outreach and education. We have nearly three-quarters of a million visits to the program websites demonstrating the reach and momentum of the program.

By the Numbers

1. 26,262 residents applied for assistance from all 87 of Minnesota’s counties.
2. Around 4.6 million square feet (105 acres) of high diversity urban habitat was planted as part of nearly 3000 plantings.
3. 40% of the projects were completed in environmental justice areas of Minnesota.
4. Participants contributed about 1.03:1 match for their projects.
5. Nearly 2,500 people participated in program workshops and presentations.
6. Over 350 volunteer coaches were involved assisting nearly 840 grantees
7. A community of practice website called The Hive was established for grantees to support each other.
8. Over 60 local organizations collaborated on the program.
9. Three-quarters of a million visits to program

Outreach and education was an important component of the Lawns to Legumes Program to help build a movement to protect pollinators. A large number of resources were incorporated into the Board of Water and Soil Resources Lawns to Legumes Program website including a popular “Planting for Pollinators Habitat Guide” and many planting templates and lists of plant species beneficial to pollinators. The Blue Thumb Partnership played a key role in assisting the Individual Support component of the program and they developed a Program webpage and grantee guide to help guide residents through the process of applying for individual support.

Protected Dry Mesic Oak (Red Maple) Forest with exposed granite outcrops home to several state Species in Greatest Conservation Need and a wide variety of other species. Restored and enhanced over 1,111 acres across 58 SNAs. Co-hosted the 2022 Natural Areas Conference with over 300 attendees from 32 states.

Minnesota’s Scientific and Natural Areas (SNAs) are public lands representing the state’s best hope for protecting rare features and averting biodiversity loss. This appropriation strengthened the “science” in SNA through monitoring-based habitat enhancement, citizen-science action and outreach, and strategic acquisition to protect high-quality natural lands. Over 1,111 acres across 58 SNAs had restoration and enhancement activities take place, this includes prairie reconstruction, terrestrial and woody invasive species control, prescribed disturbance (e.g. prescribed fire, haying, grazing), and other site improvement work. Ecological, compliance, and adaptive management monitoring was completed on 32 SNAs. Knowledge gained through this monitoring will help managers and partners improve management of the native plant communities and rare species within SNAs.

From January 2023 to December 2023, 46 interpretive events were held on SNAs across the state with nearly 1390 volunteer hours worked by over 330 volunteers, and over 2700 interpretive event attendees. Many of the in-person on-site events were hosted by our volunteer site stewards, a community which grew to 180 individuals (at 139 SNAs) volunteering their time as the designated local liaison reporting observations and assisting with land-management activities. The 2022 Natural Areas Conference, co-hosted by DNR’s SNA Program, took place September 6-9th in Duluth. This conference brought in 300+ attendees from 32 states. SNA and MBS staff highlighted Minnesota SNAs and the ENRTF during 7 sub-sessions and 4 field trips.

An addition to Quarry Park (LCCMR ID 24-145-001, Submitted 8/14/24), closed on December 23, 2023 for a total of 79.9 acres. This addition was funded by the ML19, ML20 and ML21 ENRTF SNA appropriations (41.9 acres was directly funded through this ML20 appropriation). The Quarry Park addition is a mature hardwood forest―Southern Dry Mesic Oak (Red Maple) Forest with exposed granite rock outcrops.

The SNA website and events calendar were updated frequently. The SNA Facebook channel achieved 11,300 followers. The SNA Program contributed content to the DNR’s Instagram channel, with posts twice per month to DNR’s agency-wide Instagram channel. Through this appropriation, 4 issues (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter 2023) of the Nature Notes e-newsletters were delivered to 14,000 subscribers. Acknowledgement of the ENRTF was included in all project communications per LCCMR’s guidelines.

Elm Creek Restoration Phase IV was an in-stream habitat restoration project that included 5,300 linear feet of stream bank restoration upstream of Mill Pond in the City of Champlin. The project spanned from the Josephine Nunn pedestrian bridge to just passed the Elm Creek Crossings Bridge.

Elm Creek is an impaired water with low dissolved oxygen. This project restored existing eroded stream banks, which will reduce downstream sedimentation, and constructed improvements to provide habitat structure. Construction crews used large equipment during frozen conditions to construct features for this project that included root wads, boulder vanes, toewood, boulder clusters, rock weir,s and riffles. These features were designed to enhance aquatic species’ habitat, including sensitive species such as Blanding's Turtle. The riparian areas of the creek were restored with native planting buffer using native seeding that will filter sediments and nutrients from direct runoff. Overall, the project reduced the amount of total suspended solids and total phosphorus deposited into the Elm Creek and ultimately Mill Pond. Additionally, installation of features like the rock riffles introduce oxygen to the stream which improves dissolved oxygen. This project has preserved the habitat along the Elm Creek and provided an amenity for the community to access for recreation.

Project updates were provided to the public using the city's social media, quarterly Champlin Chronical newsletter, through staff updates at City Council work session meetings and Environment Resources Commission meetings. Dissemination information is provided in the attachment tab. A sign depicting funding by the LCCMR was posted near the Elm Creek Crossing Bridge.

Thirteen acres were acquired by the city of Baxter to develop a stormwater pond that will capture 400 acres of drainage from Hwy. 371 and surrounding impervious surfaces. ENRTF funds were used for acquisition and Clean Water Funds were used to build the pond.

The project started out looking to acquire 13.8 acres on a former golf course in the city of Baxter. While working through the process, a phase one environmental study found that the contaminant mercury was located on the property, and the acquisition could not move forward until it was remediated. The city of Baxter, Crow Wing SWCD, and MHB met with various state partners and LCCMR staff to look at options, and a plan and pathway was developed to ensure remediation on the site using a private and public funding portfolio that didn't involve ENRTF funds. Once funding was acquired, the process of remediation began, and the mercury was removed from the site and placed in a hazardous waste landfill. The Mississippi Headwaters Board and the city of Baxter were then able to work together and get the necessary paperwork done, and the acquisition was completed. During the process, 0.8 acres was omitted out of the acquisition due to the difficulties with wetland influence on the stormwater pond construction. Following the acquisition, construction began on the stormwater pond, and it was completed using Clean Water Funds in the fall of 2023. Seeding will take place in the Spring of 2024.

The Mississippi Headwaters Board held a biennial conference in the fall of 2023 in which this project was highlighted under the agenda title of a stormwater and recreational benefit project. Over 60 state and local elected officials, committee members, and agency personnel attended this meeting to see a comprehensive overview presentation of how partners worked with the LCCMR to complete the fee-title acquisition and restoration of this site. Project partners along with state fund recognition was given during the presentation, and drone footage was provided to show the audience an overall view of the project.

Otter Tail County with the help of funding provided by LCCMR were able to build a 7.02-mile multi-modal trail system that connects the city of Pelican Rapids and residents of Otter Tail County to Maplewood State Park. This infrastructure allows people to get outside and enjoy the natural environment.

Otter Tail County was able to create a multi-modal trail corridor by constructing the West Segment of the Heart of the Lakes Regional Trail. This trail connection from Pelican Rapids to Maplewood State Park enhances the recreational opportunities by connecting one of the most racially-and ethnically-diverse rural communities in outstate Minnesota to the state park. Maplewood State Park is a significant environmental destination for visitors and residents alike, as it hosted over 154,000 visitors in 2017 alone. Residents and visitors are now provided with a low cost and safer off-road option in order to commute between Pelican Rapids to Maplewood State Park. This trail corridor also provides for a safer alternative route for residents to be outside and enjoy outdoor recreation opportunities and enjoy nature while improving their health by walking, bicycling, roller blading, and running. This trail corridor does not allow the use of motorized vehicles during the non-snowy months, but we are working with the local snowmobile clubs to have the corridor groomed for snowmobile usage during the winter. The Pelican Rapids High School men's and women's cross-country teams use the trail as a training ground for their sport, as the trail provides a safer corridor for them to train away from vehicular traffic on the roadways. During the upcoming 2024 construction season, the final segment of the Heart of the Lakes Regional Trail will be constructed through Maplewood State Park that will then connect the communities of Pelican Rapids to Perham by a multi-modal trail.

Otter Tail County has created and placed wayfinding maps at kiosks along the Trail. The ENRTF logo is used on the kiosks and on the County website on the segment-specific pages of the Trail. Otter Tail County will also be creating a trail promotional video in the spring of 2024, which will also display the ENRTF logo.

We acquired nearly 70 acres of private land adjacent to our historic fire tower county park, protecting and buffering the park from nearby development as well as providing additional area for the park to be expanded and protecting the natural resources in the area.

We acquired a historic fire tower and the 40 acres it sits on from the MN DNR in 2018. The property was surrounded by private land on three sides and a county road on one side. This project allowed us to acquire the private land on two sides creating more of a buffer and allowing us to expand the park and protect the natural resources. We acquired an additional three private parcels (67.5 acres) adjacent to the original 40 acre park boundary, making the total county park approximately 107.5 acres in size. This was a very straightforward land acquisition project. We purchased 40 acres from Carl Boberg, and another 27.5 acres from a family trust. County residents and visitors can now enjoy the 100+ acre park, year round, free of charge. It’s conveniently located right off Highway 371 and it’s our highest use park, averaging about 50 vehicles per day. The park includes interpretive signs about the area’s natural resources to help educate folks on land management.

Now that we’ve completed the land purchase, we will create new trails on the property, and we’ll update our maps to reflect the new trails as well as the new park boundary. These maps are available on our county website as well as in our office in a large recreation focused display, free for customers to grab anytime. We also provide maps to local chambers of commerce when requested.

The Minnesota Trappers Association used these funds to complete a site evaluation, master plan, and cost estimate for constructing and outfitting a Sportsmen's Training and Developmental Learning Center located on a 38 acre parcel owned by the Minnesota Forest Zone Trappers Association in Hibbing, MN.

The master plan details every aspect of this facility. The main building layout/concept details the indoor exhibit/banquet space that will accommodate 500 people, numerous exhibits, or multiple classrooms as needed. In addition, a commercial kitchen will have the ability and equipment needed to serve a large banquet or daily classrooms in need of nutrition. Further the mechanical, cold storage, retail, office, bathrooms, showers, and janitor space to assure this facility will accomplish the goals of the MFZTA. In addition, the site plan shows how the pond, bog walk, rustic campsites, outdoor classrooms, parking, and RV campsites will all fit. The cost estimates provide the blueprint for the MFZTA to pursue local, state, and Federal grants needed to make this facility a reality. This facility was inspired by a Wisconsin facility that has been successful because the convention is held the same week and month each thus allowing patrons to plan their vacations each year in order to participate in the experience. The MFZTA plans on doing the same. In addition, the partnerships that are being developed with the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, Delta Waterfowl, Pheasants Forever, The Grouse Society, Minnesota Darkhouse and Angling Association, Ducks Unlimited, the National Rifle Association, National Wild Turkey Association, and others will promote the longevity and success of this facility. The master plan provides the blueprint that will allow us to teach individuals how the air, water, land, fish, wildlife and other natural resources interact to create the environment as we know it. Improved state policy is the goal.

The master plan details and defines the areas the MFZTA must now pursue to ensure success. Breaking the project into areas that grant writers can target grants that will ensure success. The master plan will be forwarded to all grant prospects in order that they have a clear understanding of what we are trying to accomplish. In addition signage promoting the LCCMR and ENRTF will be posted as grants become available, as well as promotional articles as they become available will be forwarded to the LCCMR.

The City of Babbitt has completed a new 22-acre campground in the Birch Lake Recreation Area that will includes 49 new campsites to accommodate recreational vehicles and tents. The completion of this project allows area residents and tourists from around the country.

The completion of the campground has provided 49 new ADA compliant campsites for a variety of camping activities and users. The new campground is located along the shores of Birch Lake,. one of the most heavily fished lakes in the Tower fisheries Management Area. The lake is 75% undeveloped and provides a Boundary Waters Canoe Area experience. Along with the new campsites, this project includes a new camp office as well as restrooms and showers. The campground is adjacent to ATV trails and an existing paved pedestrian/hiking trail that connects to the downtown of Babbitt and continues to the Mesabi Trail. As a part of this project, the City of Babbitt extended city water, sewer and electrical services to the campground. The campground is also adjacent to a new boat landing and new road access that was constructed by the city in 2018. This project was planned, designed, and constructed due to the lack of camping sites in the Babbitt area as well as in Northern Minnesota. The total cost of this project was approximately $5,000,000. The funding partners for this project included the LCCMR, MN State Bonding Bill, Iron Range Resources (IRRRB) and the City of Babbitt. The campground opened the spring/summer of 2023.

The City of Babbitt conducted numerous public meetings through the planning, design funding, and construction phases of this project. The project’s updates were discussed in regular council meetings and were open to the general population. The City of Babbitt also updated all of the funding partners during the design and construction phases of the project. At the project site, in at least two (2) locations, signage will be constructed and shall remain in order to identify project name, scope, and parties that funded the project. These signs will include the verbiage “Funding for this project.

This appropriation was used to support the ENRTF contract management program, which ensured that ENRTF grantees expended grant funds in compliance with state law, session law, approved work plans, and Office of Grants Management grants policies.

This appropriation was used to support the ENRTF contract management program, which ensured that ENRTF grantees expended grant funds in compliance with state law, session law, approved work plans, and Office of Grants Management grants policies.

The DNR Grants Unit managed 72 grants active in FY 2021. In FY 2022, the Grants Unit managed 116 active grants.

Between July 1, 2020 and June 30 2022, the DNR Grants Unit:

• Made 296 reimbursements to grantees totaling 16.122 million dollars.
• Finished implementation of fully electronic contract and payment request process and implemented a streamlined reimbursement process for low-risk organizations.
• Monitored all grants in compliance with Office of Grants Management policies.

Project personnel were in frequent contact with appropriation recipients and LCCMR staff. Information was disseminated through manuals, training sessions, orientations, meetings, memos, letters, emails, newsletter, and phone.

We completed a summer of monthly water quality monitoring, a year of continuous buoy and dustfall measurements, and sediment core analysis to study recent unprecedented changes in eight wilderness lakes. We show climate-driven changes in lake behavior are leading to increased incidence of extensive harmful cyanobacterial blooms in mid-depth lakes.

Ecological changes, including increases in cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), are occurring in our remote northern Minnesota lakes. These changes do not fit the traditional paradigm of nutrient loading and eutrophication and may be the result of recent climate warming or the confounding effects of atmospheric nutrient deposition. Climate change has the potential to severely disrupt Minnesota’s aquatic ecosystems directly though changes in temperature and precipitation, indirectly through watershed effects, and in concert with other stressors such as nutrient pollution, invasive species, and land-use change. To explore these drivers, we monitored eight lakes in the Superior National Forest by collecting monthly water quality and atmospheric data and deploying high-resolution buoys to monitor lake temperature from the surface to the lake bottom. We used buoy measurements to assess the thermal structure of the lakes and determine how often they formed distinct layers based on temperature, known as stratification.

Our novel dataset revealed that mid-depth lakes (5-11 m) are particularly sensitive to nutrient recycling because their temperature profiles continually stratify and mix throughout the summer, which draws nutrients from sediments into the water column. Our project provides a first assessment of the stratification and potential of nutrient recycling in these lakes, highlighting the value in buoy monitoring. Nutrient recycling was significantly higher than atmospheric deposition, indicating that climate-driven temperature changes have a greater effect on nutrient dynamics than external inputs.

Finally, we used climate models to predict how lake temperature would change under future climate scenarios. These climate models, while accurate for very deep and shallow lakes, failed to predict changes in the sensitive mid-depth lakes, suggesting current models may not fully capture climate-driven temperature shifts in these systems. This highlights the need for high-resolution monitoring of mid-depth lakes to refine models and better forecast water quality responses to future climate change.

Our group spoke within our organizations, introduced the project to government agencies (DNR, USFS, MPCA, BWSR) and stakeholder groups, and maintained a strong social media presence communicating on Twitter and Instagram. We shared findings at the International Conference of Limnology, Conference on Biological Stoichiometry, ASLO, and the MN Water Resouces Conference. We presented our work through outreach at the Science Museum of Minnesota (Water Fest, Fire and Ice). We are preparing manuscripts for publication in scientific journals. The project was highlighted by the press through 2 pieces by MPR and newsletters in the Quetico Superior Wilderness News (see Attachments).

It is clear that sites using the Steady State Primary Method are achieving better treatment for phosphorus as compared to the baseline sites which were not interested or unable to implement this method. On average, sites using the Steady State Primary Method have 2.25 mg/L less effluent phosphorus.

Over the course of this project, the project team conducted outreach and site visits to roughly five wastewater pond sites every two weeks to share the steady state primary method operational strategy and other best practices to achieve better treatment for nutrients. As the project concludes, 23 sites were already implementing this method prior to a site visit through this project, 37 sites are newly implementing the method as a result of this project, 8 are planning to implement the method, 13 are interested and considering implementation, while 108 are not interested, 30 cannot implement, and 21 were not available for site visit. This is a total of 240 sites contacted and approached for assessment. The population count targets achieved are slightly different than proposed in the original grant document as the project team learned there were not that many to visit in the larger and medium category, so the team assessed as many as possible in those categories and then continued assessments in the small category.

We calculate that 668 pounds per year of phosphorus reduction as a result of this project from the 12 sites that implemented the method prior to 2024. There are an additional 21 sites implementing the method in 2024, which are also expected to find additional phosphorus savings.

Pond discharge monitoring report data was compared between pond sites using the Steady State Primary Method to a baseline of pond sites who responded with ‘not interested’ or ‘not available’ for assessment. The results show that the Steady State Primary Method seems to be having the intended impact of reducing effluent phosphorus in the pond sites that are using the method.

The project team is in the process of finalizing a case study to highlight the city of Lynd success story in utilizing the Steady State Primary Method to achieve much better nutrient treatment.

Additionally, the project team has presented its preliminary findings at Central States Water and Environment Association and Minnesota Wastewater Operators in February 2024.

This project developed three sulfate reduction technologies—biological reduction, chemical precipitation, and ion exchange—through lab and field pilot testing. These methods reduce sulfate levels in industrial and municipal wastewater from 150 to over 3,000 mg/L to below 10 mg/L, protecting Minnesota's wild rice and ensuring environmental.

Minnesota has enforced a sulfate concentration limit of 10 mg/L for wild rice waters. Achieving this typically requires reverse osmosis, which is costly for industries and small municipalities. This project aimed to identify cost-effective technologies for sulfate treatment. Three technologies—biological reduction, chemical precipitation, and ion exchange— were developed and tested through laboratory and pilot studies to assess feasibility, operational parameters, and process optimization.

A biological treatment system, coupled with sulfide immobilization, treated wastewater with sulfate concentrations of 200-3,000 mg/L and varying characteristics (e.g. sulfate concentration, organic content, and hardness) under different operating conditions (e.g., flow rate, substrate dosing, and sulfur recovery methods), reducing sulfate levels to 20-30 mg/L at optimized operation conditions. Effluents from the biological treatment were further treated with chemical precipitation technology to meet the sulfate limit for wild rice water.

Chemical precipitation technology used barium chloride to react with sulfate, producing barite sediment to remove sulfate from water. This process was tested with two types of wastewater at a flow rate of 1-1.5 gallons per minute for about four months, reducing sulfate from 150-400 mg/L to 10-150 mg/L. Process parameters were refined for different water types and target effluent concentrations. Testing also indicated that this process could simultaneously remove sulfate and phosphate.

Ion exchange was tested using novel peat lignin-derived materials and a sulfate-selective strong base anion exchange (SBA) resin. The peat lignin material performed best at pH 4.75, while the SBA resin was most effective at pH 8.3, achieving a breakthrough capacity of 144 mg/g, removing sulfate to below 1 mg/L. Chloride levels were controlled at 230 mg/L, ensuring compliance with Minnesota regulations for recreational waters.

These findings provide guidelines for designing and operating plant-scale sulfate treatment systems.

This project has produced materials of interest to a wide variety of stakeholders, including the researchers, the city councils, wastewater treatment plant operators, and the community. Among these products are presentations, posters, and publications. Sulfate treatment research results were presented at conferences (Minnesota Water Resources conference, The Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration conference, and the International Mine Water Association conference, American Water Works Association, 2023 Water Network Virtual Poster Symposium) and department seminars at other universities (e.g. Moreover). NRRI organized a webinar on Sulfate Remediation Technologies for stakeholders including public agencies, industries, municipalities, tribal entities, and communities.

This project successfully initiated a groundbreaking line of environmental prion research at MNPRO, University of Minnesota, validating RT-QuIC for detecting chronic wasting disease prions in soils. Notably, it marked the first testing of prion contamination in Minnesota soils from Beltrami County, stemming from infected carcass materials.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a contagious, 100% fatal neurological disease affecting deer, caused by prion proteins (a.k.a prions). Prions are resistant to degradation and can remain infectious in the environment for years. Following the identification of an area of Beltrami county public land where CWD-positive carcasses had been dumped, the contamination of the local environment by prions was a major concern. However, detection of prions in environmental samples, such as soils, is complex and few laboratories possess the capacity and expertise to analyze such samples. Therefore, a primary goal of this project was to establish the Minnesota Center for Prion Research and Outreach (MNPRO) as a leader in this emerging area of research. Specific objectives were to optimize methods for prion detection in Minnesota soils (Activity 1), and to conduct a baseline survey of prion contamination at the Beltrami County carcass dumpsite (Activity 2). Early soil profiles conducted by MNPRO demonstrated compounds known to contribute both to prion binding (e.g., clay minerals) and RT-QuIC interference (e.g., organic matter, such as humic acids). Consequently, a key focus was to optimize soil extraction and analytical protocols to minimize false positives in RT-QuIC. These efforts allowed us to conduct testing of soil samples collected in association with carcass materials at the dumpsite in 2021. Using RT-QuIC, we detected prion activity in 20% of the soils samples from within the dumpsite. No soil samples from outside the dumpsite perimeter tested positive. While we are confident that our research demonstrates prion contamination of dumpsite soil, we remain committed to validating our findings through alternative testing methodologies. As we refine our detection methods for environmental prion detection, we will integrate these advancements into our ongoing research to deepen our understanding of prion persistence and remediation in the environment.

Project activities and results have been shared with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, local landowners in Beltrami Co., and both scientific and public audiences. Two manuscripts detailing this work are currently in preparation for scientific review and publication. These efforts have laid a strong foundation for ongoing and long term research at the Beltrami Co. dumpsite, paving the way for new proposals expected to be submitted for funding opportunities in 2025.

The Lawns to Legumes Program is focused on building a movement to support at-risk pollinator species. The project resulted in nearly 3000 high diversity residential plantings covering, 4.6 million square feet, and a large numbers of DIY projects across Minnesota inspired and guided by the program.

Phase Two of the Lawns to Legumes Program was extremely successful on building the current momentum to further engage residents across Minnesota to establish pollinator habitat and expands into community parks and school landscapes. Minnesota residents proved that they care about our at-risk insects and are motivated to assist through offering up their own property to establish their habitat. The Individual Support grant received over 26,000 applications, funding was provided, and habitat was created on 2613 parcels of land in Minnesota in Phase 2 of this program. Individual Support recipients contributed $434,636 in match. Through the competitive Demonstration Neighborhood Grant (2020-076) 5 grants were funded, participants reported implementing 98 projects creating 84,751 square feet of habitat in community and residential places. The grantees for Demonstration Neighborhood also leveraged over $23,748. We have also seen large numbers of DIY projects being implemented through residents using program technical resources and participating in the program outreach and education. We have nearly three-quarters of a million visits to the program websites demonstrating the reach and momentum of the program.

By the Numbers

1. 26,262 residents applied for assistance from all 87 of Minnesota’s counties.
2. Around 4.6 million square feet (105 acres) of high diversity urban habitat was planted as part of nearly 3000 plantings.
3. 40% of the projects were completed in environmental justice areas of Minnesota.
4. Participants contributed about 1.03:1 match for their projects.
5. Nearly 2,500 people participated in program workshops and presentations.
6. Over 350 volunteer coaches were involved assisting nearly 840 grantees
7. A community of practice website called The Hive was established for grantees to support each other.
8. Over 60 local organizations collaborated on the program.
9. Three-quarters of a million visits to program

Outreach and education was an important component of the Lawns to Legumes Program to help build a movement to protect pollinators. A large number of resources were incorporated into the Board of Water and Soil Resources Lawns to Legumes Program website including a popular “Planting for Pollinators Habitat Guide” and many planting templates and lists of plant species beneficial to pollinators. The Blue Thumb Partnership played a key role in assisting the Individual Support component of the program and they developed a Program webpage and grantee guide to help guide residents through the process of applying for individual support.

Sub-Projects M.L. 2020, Subd. 20c:

• 01: Emerging Issues Reducing Turtle Mortality (ID: 2020-099) - $249,000
• 02: Emerging Issues Haskell Street CE Acquisition (ID: 2020-098) - $104,000