Chapter 3: Refuge Environment and Current Management Chapter 3: Refuge Environment and Current Management Section 1 – Refuge Environment Introduction Crane Meadows NWR was established in 1992 to protect one of the largest, most intact wetland com- plexes remaining in central Minnesota. Described as a ‘sand plain wetland/upland complex’, the Refuge habitats are a unique mosaic of droughty, sandy uplands consisting of prairies, oak savannas, and mixed forests; and diverse, poorly-drained wetland habitats including sedge meadow, shallow lake, scrub-shrub, and bottomland forest communities. These habitats provide valuable respite from sur- rounding agricultural and developed land uses for many species of migratory birds, fish, reptiles, and other wildlife. Species present on the Refuge include a number of state and federally listed plants and animals such as the tubercled rein-orchid and Blanding’s turtle. Crane Meadows NWR Office. Photo Credit: FWS In the thin transitional zone between the conti- nent’s central prairies and northern boreal forests, surrounding communities through its Partners for Crane Meadows NWR’s location provides an inter- Fish and Wildlife Program, Friends group, and a esting case study for the effects of global climate number of popular Refuge programs. change as weather patterns and disturbance regimes change, biomes shift, and species distribu- As one of the most recent additions to Minne- tions, phenologies, and interactions evolve. The Ref- sota’s 12 national wildlife refuges, it contributes to uge also drains nearly 275,000 acres of upstream the Refuge System mission by enhancing the watershed area extending northeast to the periph- “…national network of lands and waters for…fish, ery of Lake Mille Lacs, making it an important filter wildlife, and plant resources, and their habitats…” for the Mississippi River just 5 miles downstream. Other Units Administered Within the 13,540-acre area proposed for acquisi- tion encompassing the wetland system, the mix of Farm Services Administration Conservation Easements land ownership includes the Service (just over 1,800 The 1985 Farm Bill’s ‘Consolidated Farm and acres), state landholdings (approximately 900 Rural Development Act’ contained provisions for acres), as well as hunt clubs, a diversity of agricul- the protection of wetlands against conversion to ture interests, and private residences. Land acquisi- agriculture. The Farmers Home Administration tion for the Refuge continues slowly as resources (FmHA) was given authority for the Farm Debt permit. Beyond the natural resource conservation Restructure and Conservation Set-aside Conserva- innate to national wildlife refuges in the form of eco- tion Easements – properties foreclosed on by the logical services, habitats, and wildlife, the acquisi- federal government, otherwise known as “inventory tion boundary also contains an array of properties.” Lands appropriate for the conservation archaeological sites and recreation opportunities. easement program had important natural resource With a local staff of two and support from Sher- interests such as wetlands, floodplains, riparian cor- burne NWR (the two refuges form the Sherburne- ridors, endangered species habitat, and the uplands Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Com- necessary to protect bottomland habitats. plex), Crane Meadows NWR maintains strong rela- An agreement between the FmHA and the FWS tionships with conservation partners and authorized the Service, as the ‘easement manager,’ to protect these lands for conservation, recreational, Crane Meadows NWR / Comprehensive Conservation Plan 14 Chapter 3: Refuge Environment and Current Management and wildlife purposes. The Service Easement Man- research regarding water, wetlands, fish and ual (DOI 2005) states that, “The agreed upon pur- wildlife and associated ecology; and any other poses of this easement are the preservation and activity consistent with the preservation and maintenance of the wetland and floodplain areas enhancement of wetland functional values existing as of the date of this conveyance as well as (D.O.I. 2005).” protection and enhancement of plant and animal There is no public access to these easement prop- habitat and populations.” Farm Service Administra- erties unless explicitly stated in an individual ease- tion (FSA, previously FmHA) easements are admin- ment document. According to policy, FSA istered by the Service as part of the National conservation easements are checked annually using Wildlife Refuge System pursuant to the National aerial or ground surveys for compliance, including Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (16 boundary signs, trespass, and various other infrac- U.S.C. 668dd et. seq.), and thus they are subject to tions. compatibility regulations and other relevant NWRS policy. The Local Conservation Landscape The Sherburne-Crane Meadows NWR Complex With a greater emphasis now being placed on is responsible for the FSA easements in six Minne- sota counties: Benton, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, land conservation networks, habitat corridors, and the strategic growth of the conservation estate, Morrison, and Pine. Of these counties, Crane Mead- existing conservation landholdings may serve as the ows NWR staff is responsible for the oversight and foundation on which a web of lands with conserva- management of the 21 easements in Morrison tion values can be designed and created. County, including a total of 1,683.2 acres (see Figure 3 on page 16). The Minnesota DNR is the single largest player in the conservation landscape of Minnesota. There The Service is authorized to protect and manage are also a number of other constituent groups that important natural resource interests on FSA ease- contribute to the conservation estate of the area sur- ment properties. Ownership of the easement land is rounding Crane Meadows NWR. See Figure 4 on typically retained by private individuals, but with page 17 and Figure 5 on page 18 for illustration of deed restrictions related to conservation manage- the conservation lands within the acquisition bound- ment. Because of the high degree of variability ary, those within 5 and 10 mile buffers of the acqui- between individual FSA easements, review of the sition boundary, and the large conservation easement files is necessary in evaluating Service- la related management actions and enforcement activ- ndholdings in the broader landscape. ities. Within the Crane Meadows NWR authorized acquisition boundary, three DNR divisions own a In general, service employees are responsible for combined acreage of almost 900 acres. The largest is habitat management and are granted access for held by the Division of Fish and Wildlife (848 acres) maintenance, monitoring, enforcement, and other and is divided among the four units of its Rice- necessary management activities. The Service Skunk Wildlife Management Area and the single- Easement Manual describes management rights as unit Crane Meadows Wildlife Management Area. follows: State Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) form the “…include, but are not limited to, inspection for backbone of Minnesota DNR wildlife management compliance with the terms of this easement; by providing important habitat for wildlife, as well as public recreation opportunities including hunting, trapping, fishing, hiking, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, and wildlife observation. Currently there are more than 1,380 WMAs in the state of Minne- sota, encompassing over 1.2 million acres. The larger of the two WMAs inside the Refuge acquisition boundary is the Rice-Skunk WMA at 659 acres. The largest of its four units is the Skunk Lake East Unit (426 acres), and as the name infers it is located on the southeast side of Skunk Lake. This unit is accessible from 113 Street on the north side of the parcel, with some limited access from the Soo Line trail, and provides public access onto Mud Lake during waterfowl season. The other Rice- Lesser and Greater Scaup, Crane Meadows NWR. Photo Credit: Skunk WMA units include the Skunk Lake West Beau Liddell Crane Meadows NWR / Comprehensive Conservation Plan 15 Chapter 3: Refuge Environment and Current Management Figure 3: FSA Easements Administered by Crane Meadows NWR Crane Meadows NWR / Comprehensive Conservation Plan 16 Chapter 3: Refuge Environment and Current Management Figure 4: Surrounding Conservation Lands, Crane Meadows NWR (1) Crane Meadows NWR / Comprehensive Conservation Plan 17 Chapter 3: Refuge Environment and Current Management Figure 5: Surrounding Conservation Lands, Crane Meadows NWR (2) Crane Meadows NWR / Comprehensive Conservation Plan 18 Chapter 3: Refuge Environment and Current Management Unit, 112 acres located on the southwest edge of Refuge, and a number of additional Division of For- Skunk Lake, just north of a Crane Meadows NWR estry School Trust Fund sections are found within tract, and providing access to Skunk Lake; the Rice the 5-mile radius. Lake Unit located east of where Rice Lake empties into the Platte River. This 84-acre area contains the Several conservation areas are located within a George Selke Memorial Dam and provides public 10-mile radius of the Refuge’s acquisition boundary. access to the Platte River above the dam and to the Areas south of the Refuge and east of the Missis- entire shallow lake complex. The last unit of the sippi River in Benton County include: Rice-Skunk WMA is called the Platte River 40. This Graham WMA (Main Unit is 329 acres, North- 37-acre tract is located along the east side of the west Unit is 40 acres) Platte