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Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area Master Plan, 2017-2027 June 2017 1 I. Executive Summary DNR Mission Statement The mission of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is to work with citizens to conserve and manage the state’s natural resources, to provide outdoor recreation opportunities, and to provide for commercial uses of natural resources in a way that creates a sustainable quality of life. WMA Mission Statement Wildlife management areas (WMAs) are part of Minnesota's outdoor recreation system and are established to protect those lands and waters that have a high potential for wildlife production, public hunting, trapping, fishing, and other compatible recreational uses. They are the backbone to DNR's wildlife management efforts in Minnesota and are key to protecting wildlife habitat for future generations, providing citizens with opportunities for hunting, fishing and wildlife watching, and promoting important wildlife-based tourism in the state. Thief Lake WMA Master Plan Summary This plan summarizes management activities for Thief Lake WMA, a 54,957 acre WMA in the northwest portion of Minnesota. The last master plan for Thief Lake was written in 1980, and was intended to cover the period from 1980-1989. Significant planning of various management activities has occurred since that time, but this is the first formal updating of the master plan. The most important change since the 1980 plan is a larger physical footprint (55,957 acres versus 33,255 acres in 1980). Many of these additions to the WMA resulted from a shift in management authority from Division of Forestry (FOR). Other changes include a shift in how forested habitats are managed, a shift in management emphasis to native plant communities, changes in wildlife use and public use of the area, new challenges including invasive species and changing climate, and changes in how we approach farming on the WMA. The plan provides extensive reference material, including the history of the WMA and the surrounding area, the lands included in the WMA, native plant communities, wildlife populations, and the history of public use of the area. Emerging threats to the management area are discussed. Techniques for management of the different habitat types are presented including water level management in wetlands, timber harvest, brush treatments, prescribed fire, prairie restoration, and moist soil management. An annual calendar of management activities is included, as is a discussion of research activities and ongoing monitoring that occurs on the area. There are extensive appendices included that continue to provide reference material for the management of the area, including pertinent statutes and rules, summaries of other guiding documents that were considered in making the plan, and lists and status of species found on the area. 2 Figure 1. Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area 3 II. Table of Contents I. Executive Summary ................................................................................................................. 2 DNR Mission Statement ....................................................................................................... 2 WMA Mission Statement ..................................................................................................... 2 Thief Lake WMA Master Plan Summary .............................................................................. 2 II. Table of Contents .................................................................................................................... 4 III. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 8 Major Unit Definition ........................................................................................................... 8 Purpose of Plan .................................................................................................................... 8 Long-range Goals ................................................................................................................. 9 Planning Process .................................................................................................................. 9 Guiding Documents............................................................................................................ 10 IV. History ................................................................................................................................... 13 Area History ....................................................................................................................... 13 Wildlife Management Area History ................................................................................... 14 Archaeological Aspects ...................................................................................................... 16 Historic Sites ....................................................................................................................... 16 V. Existing Conditions ................................................................................................................ 17 Land Ownership ................................................................................................................. 17 Area Description ................................................................................................................ 19 Habitats and Plant Communities ....................................................................................... 30 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................... 42 Public Use ........................................................................................................................... 58 VI. Threats to Resources ............................................................................................................ 68 Climate Change .................................................................................................................. 68 Invasive Species ................................................................................................................. 70 Operational Constraints ..................................................................................................... 74 Wildlife Disease and Parasites ........................................................................................... 76 Forest Insects and Disease ................................................................................................. 79 4 Habitat Alteration .............................................................................................................. 82 VII. Desired Conditions ............................................................................................................. 85 All Habitat Types ................................................................................................................ 85 Lakes, Wetlands, and Waterways ...................................................................................... 88 Forests ................................................................................................................................ 94 Brushlands .......................................................................................................................... 95 Prairies and Grasslands ...................................................................................................... 97 Agricultural Lands .............................................................................................................. 98 VIII. Implementation Process .................................................................................................. 100 Operational Plan .............................................................................................................. 100 IX. Research, Monitoring, and Adaptive Management ........................................................... 101 Current Research and Monitoring Projects ..................................................................... 101 Potential Research and Monitoring Projects ................................................................... 102 Adaptive Management .................................................................................................... 102 X. References .......................................................................................................................... 103 Appendix A. Guiding Documents ................................................................................................ 107 Rules and Statues ............................................................................................................. 107 Existing Plans .................................................................................................................... 109 Appendix B. Acronyms Used in the Thief Lake WMA Master Plan ............................................. 127 Appendix C. Land Ownership Designations and Implications .................................................... 130 Consolidated Conservation .............................................................................................. 130 Acquired ........................................................................................................................... 130 School Trust Land ............................................................................................................. 131 Swampland

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