Conservation Programs
Working Lands Initiative
In Minnesota's prairie pothole region, the fate of wildlife is largely determined by what happens on private lands. With technical and financial assistance, private landowners can affect landscape changes that would benefit wildlife.
The Working Lands Initiative (WLI) brings together public, private, and non-profit organizations in local project teams to provide assistance to landowners interested in identifying economically viable conservation focus areas and strategies. In some cases, land might be set aside to restore wildlife habitat. Other projects might involve changes in certain agricultural practices in ways that support both wildlife and the economic vitality of the farming operation.
Target areas are those where investments have already been made or major components of habitat are already in place. The "Working Lands" can add the remaining management needs or restoration work to complete the habitat system, causing maximum wildlife benefit on minimal acres.
WLI is currently being promoted in three "target areas" in Big Stone County. Since 2007, in the Barry and Otrey target areas, funds have been distributed to several cooperators willing to apply these conservation practices. In the fall of 2008, funds have been allocated for cooperators in the Correll Target Area. If you are a landowner in any of the three target areas and are interested in becoming a WLI cooperator, please call the SWCD office for more information.
Native Buffer Strip:
There is a new cost-share program to help
restore prairie buffers in
The program will provide 75% cost-share for establishing the prairie stand. This includes tillage, chemical site prep, seed costs, seeding and establishment (clipping) costs. Contracts will be a minimum of 15 years in length. Most type of riparian lands are eligible provided the 25 species goal is met. The SWCD board can be more restrictive on eligible lands and can set priorities for the program.
WRP/RIM (Wetland Reserve/Re-Invest In Minnesota Program:
The State of Minnesota has paired with the Federal Government to stretch its RIM dollars. Currently, RIM money can be pooled with the Federal Wetland Reserve Program to restore previously drained wetlands. The new WRP/RIM Program can pay landowners a higher payment than the two programs could previously pay on their own. Payments for Big Stone County are around $3,000/acre for land with certified crop history. In addition to restoring wetlands, four acres of upland for every acre of wetland restored is also eligible for the program. This offers landowners an excellent opportunity to restore marginal cropland to its previous wetland condition, provide quality habitat and cover for wildlife, improve water quality and square off the area, making the remainder of the cropland easier to farm. Participating landowners will enter into a 30 year Federal WRP easement, and a perpetual State RIM easement. The WRP easement is in effect for the first 30 years, after which the perpetual RIM easement takes effect. Landowners must have owned the land to be enrolled for seven years prior to applying for the program. If you are interested in the WRP/RIM program and would like further details, call the SWCD/NRCS office at 320-839-6149 ext. #3.
Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMA)
Cooperative Weed Management Areas are
partnerships of federal, state and local government agencies along
with tribes, individual landowners and various other interested
groups that manage invasive plants in a natural plant community.
The interested parties in a CWMA should be located in a
defined geographic area, and share concerns with one or more
invasive species. SWCDs
are the eligible grant applicants for this program.
Other organizations may consider applying in partnership with
SWCDs to help develop and run the Cooperative Weed Management Area.
Grants applications are scored on project specifics and the
amount of local contributions and in-kind donation.
Minnesota Walk-In Access Program
The Minnesota Walk-In Access Program would allow hunters to hunt on private lands that the state pays landowners for access to, to create more hunting opportunities and increase wildlife habitat. Details of the program include:
- the program will ensure lands enrolled for public access have appropriate wildlife habitat by enrolling lands in an existing conservation program such as CREP, CRP, RIM, and WRP
- the program will publicize locations of lands enrolled in the program through printed maps, MN/DNR website press releases, broadcast interviews and feature articles in the MN Volunteer and other appropriate methods
- the program is entirely voluntary for landowners!
- landowners are protected from liability unlike private leases
- landowners are offered an incentive payment for allowing public access for hunting on their previously enrolled )CRP, etc.) land
- minimum size is 40 acres - bonus for more than 160 acres enrolled
- bonus offered if the land is within 1/2 mile of other public hunting land (WMA, WPA, etc.)
- bonus offered if multi-year contract
- locations are posted with Walk-In signs
- locations are published in an annually published book and on the DNR website as downloadable maps and GPS points
- hunters can hunt during any open season (including spring turkey). NO landowner contacts necessary
- detailed landowner agreement specifies the do's and don'ts
- 30-day opt out for landowners in case they have a negative experience
- DNR Conservation Officers will handle trespass and hunting violations