Section III Completed Research Projects
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III. Completed Research Projects “a summary of any research project completed in the preceding biennium;” The following documents include: • Summaries of accomplishments for each appropriation year and short abstracts for all projects completed since the previous biennial report of January 15, 2019. Research projects have been marked as such in the description. • Spreadsheet of all research projects completed between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2020. Additional information: • The abstracts describe the general accomplishments of each completed project and are current as of 12/31/2020. See http://www.lccmr.leg.mn for additional project information, including Final Reports. • 138 projects were completed with a total of $65,725,832. • Legal citations for completed projects: 1. M.L. 2019, First Special Session, Chapter 4, Article, 2, Section 2 2. M.L. 2018, Chapter 214, Article 4, Section 2 3. M.L. 2017, Chapter 96, Section 2 4. M.L. 2016, Chapter 186, Section 2 5. M.L. 2015, Chapter 76, Section 2 6. M.L. 2014, Chapter 226, Section 2 7. M.L. 2013, Chapter 52, Section 2 1. M.L. 2019 Projects Completed January 15, 2019 – January 15, 2021 MN Laws 2019, First Special Session, Chapter 4, Article 2, Section 2 M.L. 2019 Projects MN Laws 2019, First Special Session, Chapter 4, Article 4 Section 2 (beginning July 1, 2015) Visit the LCCMR website for the most up-to-date project information and reports Subd. 03 Foundational Natural Resource Data and Information Improving Statewide GIS Data by Restoring the Public Land Survey Subd. 03m $135,000 TF (FY2020) Patrick Veraguth Minnesota Association of County Surveyors 526 Willow Drive, PO Box 398 Alexandria, MN 56308 Phone: (320) 762-2964 Email: [email protected] Web: http://macsinfo.org/ Appropriation Language $135,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Minnesota Association of County Surveyors to conduct a pilot project with Grant County to remonument and certify the public land survey corners in Lawrence Township. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2021, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered. Project due to be completed: 12/30/2020 Work Plan Managed Aquifer Recharge Subd. 04t $150,000 TF (FY2020) John Bilotta U of MN - Water Resources Center 173 McNeal Hall 1985 Buford Avenue St. Paul, MN 55108 Phone: (612) 624-7708 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.wrc.umn.edu/ Appropriation Language $350,000 the first year is to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota, Water Resources Center, for a comprehensive study of the economic benefits of managed aquifer recharge and to make recommendations to enhance and replenish Minnesota's groundwater resources. The study must include, but is not limited to: (1) examining the potential benefits of enhancing groundwater recharge in water-stressed areas; (2) assessing the relationship to changing seasonality and intensity of precipitation on groundwater recharge rates; (3) reviewing the approaches to manage recharge in geologically appropriate areas; (4) identifying policy options, costs, and barriers to recharging groundwater; and Page 1 of 4 (5) assessing the economic returns of options for groundwater recharge. In conducting the study, the Water Resources Center must convene a stakeholder group and provide for public participation. Project due to be completed: 12/30/2020 Work Plan Britton Peak to Lutsen Mountain Bike Trail Subd. 09i $350,000 TF (FY2020) Tim Kennedy Superior Cycling Association PO Box 1032 Grand Marais, MN 55604 Phone: (218) 370-0955 Email: [email protected] Web: https://superiorcycling.org/ Appropriation Language $350,000 the first year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Superior Cycling Association to create a sustainably designed single-track mountain bike trail connecting trail clusters and trailheads between Britton Peak in Tofte and Lutsen Mountains as part of northeast Minnesota's effort to become a national recreation destination. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2021, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered. OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS Recreation demands for mountain biking in Minnesota, especially Northeastern Minnesota, have grown to require more sustainably designed and purpose built mountain bike trails. The Cook County Mountain Bike System masterplan prepared for the Superior Cycling Association by the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission calls for development of clusters of mountain bike trails at Britton Peak in Tofte, Pincushion Mountain in Grand Marais and Lutsen Mountains in Lutsen with a connector trail between these three clusters. This project completed the Jackpot and High Climber trails between the existing trail clusters at Britton Peak and Lutsen Mountains, approximately 16 miles. The Superior Cycling Association in partnership with the US Forest Service and Cook County built these mountain bike trails to the highest sustainable trail design standards to minimize environmental impacts while utilizing the relief and geologic features found along the North Shore. This project is part of a growing number of destination mountain bike trails to be found in Northeast Minnesota, including the City of Duluth, Cuyuna in Crosby, Giant’s Ridge, Redhead in Chisholm, Toiga in Cohasset, and more in the works. Recreation trails are a driving force to bring visitors to these areas of the state and make significant impacts on the local economy. PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, this trail was opened for use unceremoniously with no major announcements or Grand Opening celebration. However, riders did hear about the trail on the Superior Cycling Association, Visit Cook County, and other website as well as on trail aps that riders use. Response from riders echoed a similar sentiment, “this is the best trail in the State…I’ll be back”. Page 2 of 4 When COVID restrictions are over and large gatherings are again allowed, the Superior Cycling Association will be holding a Grand Opening which will invite riders, media, partners, and local businesses to celebrate this mountain bike trail resource. Project Completed: 12/30/2020 FINAL REPORT Crane Lake to Vermilion Falls Trail Subd. 09n $400,000 TF (FY2020) Bruce Beste Voyageur Country ATV Box 414 Crane Lake, MN 55725 Phone: (218) 391-5108 Email: [email protected] Web: www.VoyageurCountryATV.com Appropriation Language $400,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with St. Louis County in cooperation with Voyageur Country ATV Club to designate and improve a wooded trail from Crane Lake to Vermilion Falls to accommodate all-terrain vehicle and snowmobile users. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2021, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered. Project due to be completed: 10/30/2020 Work Plan Page 3 of 4 Page 4 of 4 1. M.L. 2018 Projects Completed January 15, 2019 – January 15, 2021 MN Laws 2018, Chapter 214, Article 4, Section 2 M.L. 2018 Projects MN Laws 2018, Chapter 214, Article 4, Section 2 (beginning July 1, 2018) Visit the LCCMR website for the most up-to-date project information and reports Subd. 03 Foundational Natural Resource Data and Information County Geologic Atlases - Part A Subd. 03a $1,240,000 TF Dale Setterholm U of MN - MN Geological Survey 2609 Territorial Rd St. Paul, MN 55114 Phone: (612) 626-5119 Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.mngs.umn.edu Appropriation Language $1,240,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota, Minnesota Geological Survey, to continue producing county geologic atlases for the purpose of informed management of surface water and groundwater resources. This appropriation is to complete part A, which focuses on the properties and distribution of earth materials to define aquifer boundaries and the connection of aquifers to the land surface and surface water resources. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2022, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered. OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS A Geologic Atlas provides the geologic framework of our state. It describes the materials and features at the land surface and extends all the way down to the bedrock surface. An atlas provides information useful for resource management and land-use planning. Each Atlas typically requires more than 7,000 person-hours of work. Some of that work is in the field: drilling test borings, examining, sampling, and describing outcrops. Much of the work follows after: interpreting field measurements, recognizing and formally naming geologic units described in well records, and making maps. The result is a detailed account of the distribution and properties of the rock and sediment that lie below the land surface. These materials, and their ability to store or transmit water, determine where we can find water, and how we can protect and make wise use of that water. This includes our lakes and rivers as well as groundwater. As part of this 2018 award, we completed Kandiyohi County, started work in Cook, Yellow Medicine, Polk and Chippewa counties, and continued working in 11 other counties. We’ve described hundreds of outcrops, taken thousands of hand samples, and drilled nearly 30 continuous cores allowing us to sample rocks and sediment up to 325 ft deep. We completed the equivalent of about 4 atlases with the ML 2018 funds, which were exhausted in one year of spending. This represents a higher number of atlases completed than our average of 5 atlases a year with all (CWF, DNR, and ENRTF) funds combined. Continuing under the M.L 2019 award, atlases for Rock and Nobles counties will be complete within the next 3 months.