Zumbro River Watershed Landscape Stewardship Plan June 25, 2017 A vision for healthy waters, ecosystems, and human experiences in the Zumbro River watershed. The Zumbro River Watershed Landscape Stewardship Plan was prepared by: The Nature Conservancy Forest Stewards Guild David Schmidt Michael Lynch 60042 County Rd 84, Kellogg, MN 612 W. Main St., Suite 300, Madison, 55945 WI 53703 Phone: (507) 261-4954 Phone: (608) 333-0551 ©Copyright 2017, The Nature Conservancy The Zumbro River Watershed Landscape Stewardship Plan can be found online at: https://mn.gov/frc/southeast-committee.html Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative‐Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). The Trust Fund is a permanent fund constitutionally established by the citizens of Minnesota to assist in the protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources. Currently 40% of net Minnesota State Lottery proceeds are dedicated to growing the Trust Fund and ensuring future benefits for Minnesota’s environment and natural resources. The Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry division of the U.S. Forest Service also provided funding for this project. Zumbro River Watershed Landscape Stewardship Plan 2 Table of Contents Plan Overview ......................................................................................................................................................... 6 Healthy Lands, Healthy Waters ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Landscape Approach to Natural Resources Stewardship .................................................................................. 6 Project Area Background ................................................................................................................................................. 6 Organization of Plan .......................................................................................................................................................... 8 Plan Audience ....................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Process .................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Why a Landscape Stewardship Plan ........................................................................................................................... 9 Section 1. Landscape Vision and Strategies .............................................................................................. 10 Landscape Vision .............................................................................................................................................................. 10 Desired Future Conditions ............................................................................................................................................ 10 Achieving the Landscape Vision ................................................................................................................................. 11 Public Land Strategies................................................................................................................................................ 12 Private Land Strategies.............................................................................................................................................. 12 Education and Outreach Strategies ...................................................................................................................... 14 Section 2. Implementing the Plan ................................................................................................................. 15 Scaling Project Implementation ................................................................................................................................. 15 Conservation Opportunity Areas ............................................................................................................................... 16 Overview- What to look for in a COA ................................................................................................................... 16 Prioritization Methodology ..................................................................................................................................... 17 Analysis and Results ................................................................................................................................................... 19 Selected Conservation Opportunity Areas ........................................................................................................ 20 Partners and Partnerships ............................................................................................................................................ 23 Related Conservation Plans .......................................................................................................................................... 23 Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS) .................................................................... 24 One Watershed One Plan .......................................................................................................................................... 24 Zumbro Watershed Partnership ............................................................................................................................ 25 Minnesota Forest Resources Council Southeast Landscape Plan ............................................................ 25 Future Plan and Policy Integration ....................................................................................................................... 25 Section 3. Action Plan Template .................................................................................................................... 26 Agency and Organization Recommendations ....................................................................................................... 28 Outreach and Community Engagement Organizations ................................................................................ 28 Technical and Financial Assistance Organizations ........................................................................................ 28 Natural Resource Agencies ...................................................................................................................................... 29 Zumbro River Watershed Landscape Stewardship Plan 3 Board of Water and Soil Resources ...................................................................................................................... 30 Clean Water Fund Advisory Council .................................................................................................................... 30 Conservation and Non-governmental Organizations ................................................................................... 30 Local Officials ................................................................................................................................................................. 31 DNR Forestry Cooperative Forest Management Program .......................................................................... 31 Minnesota Forest Resources Council ................................................................................................................... 32 Forestry and Natural Area Consultants .............................................................................................................. 32 Private Landowners .................................................................................................................................................... 32 Section 4. Monitoring and Evaluation ......................................................................................................... 33 Overview .............................................................................................................................................................................. 33 Short-Term: Monitor Performance and Evaluate Process............................................................................... 33 Long-Term: Assess Results and Evaluate Effectiveness ................................................................................... 34 Section 5. Landscape Context ......................................................................................................................... 36 Ecological Setting .............................................................................................................................................................. 36 Hydrology ............................................................................................................................................................................ 38 Geology and Soils .............................................................................................................................................................. 40 Vegetation ............................................................................................................................................................................ 43 Land