III. Completed Research Projects
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III. Completed Research Projects “a summary of any research project completed in the preceding biennium;” This section includes summaries of all projects completed, including research projects. •The following documents are summaries of accomplishments for each appropriation year and short abstracts for all projects completed since the previous biennial report of January 15, 2013. •The abstracts describe the general accomplishments of each project for completed projects. See http://www.lccmr.leg.mn. • Research projects have been marked as such in the description. • Full final reports are available at the LCCMR, Room 65 ‐ State Office Building. The abstracts are current as of 12/31/2014. •95 Projects were completed for a total of $59,562,000. •Legal Citations 1. M.L. 2013, Chapter 52, Section 2 2. M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chapter 2, Article 3, Section 2 3. M.L. 2010, Chapter 362, Section 2 4. M.L. 2009, Chapter 143, Section 2 5. M.L. 2008, Chapter 367, Section 2 • Spreadsheet of all research projects completed between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2014. 1. M.L. 2013 Projects Completed January 15, 2013 – January 15, 2015 MN Laws 2013, Chapter 52, Section 2 M.L. 2013 Projects Completed in 2013‐2014 M.L. 2013 Projects MN Laws 2013, Chapter 52, Section 2 (beginning July 1, 2013) NOTE: For all projects, contact us to obtain the most up‐to‐date work programs for current projects (project updates are required twice each year) or the final reports of completed projects. When available, we have provided links to web sites related to the project. The sites linked to this page are not created, maintained, or endorsed by the LCCMR office or the Minnesota Legislature. Subd. 04 Land, Habitat, Restoration, and Recreation 04e Landscape Arboretum Acquisition Lake Tamarack Landscape Arboretum Acquisition Lake Tamarack Subd. 04e $2,000,000 TF Peter Moe U of MN ‐ MN Landscape Arboretum 3675 Arboretum Dr Chaska, MN 55318 Phone: (952) 443‐1408 Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.arboretum.umn.edu Appropriation Language $2,000,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to acquire land surrounding Lake Tamarack in Carver County as part of the acquisition of approximately 80 acres. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2016, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered. Project Overview The University of Minnesota's Landscape Arboretum is the largest and most diverse horticultural site in Minnesota. It features gardens and natural areas representative of Minnesota and the upper‐Midwest that can be explored using several miles of trails. Additionally it conducts fruit and plant breeding research to develop cultivars that have particular desired characteristics, such as cold hardiness or disease resistance. The arboretum has a long‐term goal of protecting the entire watershed of which it is a part. This appropriation is being used by the arboretum to acquire approximately 80 acres of land surrounding Lake Tamarack in Carver County, which will protect a variety of habitat types and 1,300 feet of shoreline in an area threatened by development. This new portion of the arboretum will have free public access and provide additional land for future research that may pertain to restoration ecology, crop production, bio‐energy, or wildlife habitat. OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS The University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum purchased the property at 400 Arboretum Boulevard, Victoria, (previously known as the Kerber Farm or Lano Burau Property), effective Friday, November 1, 2013. The property consists of 78.13 acres in Carver County. This is the final property purchase identified in the Arboretum's 1995 Boundaries Plan. Over 300 acres have been added to the M.L. 2013 Projects Completed in 2013‐2014 Arboretum during the last 18 years. The property is north of State Highway 5 and directly adjacent to the Horticultural Research Center. The property contains native forest, wetlands, tillable land, and 1,300 feet of lakeshore on Lake Tamarack. Current structures on the property will be evaluated for condition and safety and some will likely be retained for unheated storage while others may be demolished. The property will be used in the future for research; protection of wildlife, wetlands and water quality; protection of big woods, oak savanna and upland meadow; and educational and public low impact recreational purposes. Research uses have not been determined and roads, fencing, and irrigation will be installed in the 10 acre area designated for research. Some of the current soybean fields could also be used for alternative crop, forage crop, or restoration research projects, and the Arboretum is considering partners from across the University of Minnesota or other conservation and natural resources groups. Funding for this purchase was provided by the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) ‐ recommended by the Legislative Citizens Commission for Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), the Lessard Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC) and the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Foundation. Because we received LCCMR and LSOHC funding to purchase the property, the Arboretum will provide FREE public access. The University of Minnesota is charging the City of Victoria $1 for the 50 year Use License Agreement for the Trail that crosses the Lake Tamarack Property and $1 for the Use License Agreement for Temporary Construction Access for this trail. There are no fees beyond the $2 for the entire trail including the sections that do not cross the Lake Tamarack Property. Finally, the Arboretum will work over the next several months to develop public access policies and install signage. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION The acquisition was successfully publicized by the Arboretum with a press release issued on November 11, 2013 and was also covered in the Arboretum E‐News with 10,000 subscribers. It was then covered in the local media: U to expand arboretum with 78‐acre purchase, Minnesota Daily, January 28, 2013 U Arboretum expands base in Chanhassen by 78 acres, Star Tribune, November 12, 2013 Minnesota Landscape Arboretum grows by 78 acres, Finance & Commerce, November 13, 2013 Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Grows By 78 Acres, WCCO‐CBS News Online, November 13, 2013 Project completed: 6/30/2014 2. M.L. 2011 Projects Completed January 15, 2013 – January 15, 2015 MN Laws 2011, First Special Session, Chapter 2, Article 3, Section 2 M.L. 2011 Projects Completed in 2013‐2014 M.L. 2011‐12 Projects MN Laws 2011, 1st Special Session, Chapter 2, Article 3, Section 2 (beginning July 1, 2011) NOTE: Below are shore abstracts for projects funding during the 2011 Legislative Session and ending during 2013‐2014. The final date of completion for these projects is listed at the end of the abstract. Final Reports for all completed projects are available at http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/projects/2011‐ index.html or by contacting the LCCMR office. Subd. 03 Natural Resource Data and Information 03a Minnesota County Biological Survey 03c Completion of Statewide Digital Soil Survey 03e Golden Eagle Survey 03g Prairie Management for Wildlife and Bioenergy ‐ Phase II ‐ RESEARCH 03h Evaluation of Biomass Harvesting Impacts on Minnesota's Forests ‐ RESEARCH 03i Change and Resilience in Boreal Forests in Northern Minnesota ‐ RESEARCH 03k Strengthening Natural Resource Management with LiDAR Training 03l Measuring Conservation Practice Outcomes 03m Conservation‐Based Approach for Assessing Public Drainage Benefits 03n Mississippi River Central Minnesota Conservation Planning 03o Saint Croix Basin Conservation Planning and Protection 03p Species of Concern; Investigations Subd. 04 Land, Habitat, and Recreation 04a State Park and Recreation Area Operations and Improvements 04c Metropolitan Regional Park System Acquisition 04e Scientific and Natural Areas Acquisition and Restoration 04f LaSalle Lake State Recreation Area Acquisition 04h Native Prairie Stewardship and Native Prairie Bank Acquisition 04i Metropolitan Conservation Corridors (MeCC) ‐ Phase VI 04j Habitat Conservation Partnership (HCP) ‐ Phase VII 04k Natural and Scenic Area Acquisition Grants 04l Acceleration of Minnesota Conservation Assistance 04m Conservation Easement Stewardship and Enforcement Program ‐ Phase II 04n Recovery of At‐Risk Native Prairie Species 04o Understanding Threats, Genetic Diversity, and Conservation Options for Wild Rice ‐ RESEARCH 04r Northeast Minnesota White Cedar Plant Community Restoration 04s Land and Water Conservation Account (LAWCON) Federal Reimbursement Subd. 05 Water Resources 05a Itasca County Sensitive Lakeshore Identification 05b Trout Stream Springshed Mapping in Southeast Minnesota ‐ Phase III 05c Mississippi River Water Quality Assessment ‐ RESEARCH 05d Zumbro River Watershed Restoration Prioritization 05e Assessment of Minnesota River Antibiotic Concentrations ‐ RESEARCH Subd. 06 Aquatic and Terrestrial Invasive Species 06b Emerald Ash Borer Biocontrol Research and Implementation ‐ RESEARCH Page 1 of 73 M.L. 2011 Projects Completed in 2013‐2014 Subd. 07 Renewable Energy and Air Quality 07 Supporting Community‐Driven Sustainable Bioenergy Projects Subd. 08 Environmental Education 08a Youth‐Led Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation in West and Southwest Minnesota 08c Experiential Environmental Education for Urban Youth Subd. 09 Emerging Issues 09b Chronic Wasting Disease and Animal Health 09c Aquatic Invasive Species 09d Reinvest in Minnesota Wetlands Reserve Acquisition and Restoration