Open Vistas for Grassland Birds - 2
DescriptionWhen the first settlers reached Minnesota's western prairies, they found a landscape without trees. Today, many conservation lands have high densities of trees. Some of these trees were planted, while others have taken advantage of the wet cycle Minnesota has been in since the 1990s. Ideally, we control trees with fire. However, many of these trees are growing in wet areas that never burn or have become so dense that they have eliminated fuels below them and are virtually fireproof. The goal is to use fire for long-term maintenance after this initial treatment. Trees provide perches for predatory birds and dens for mammals, and obstruct the horizon which inhibits many grassland birds from nesting near trees. Trees are detrimental to the waterfowl, gamebirds, and songbirds that require grassland and prairie habitat. Our goal with this project is to remove trees from public lands in an effort to increase the habitat quality for all the bird species that nest in grasslands. Program Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program Status Completed Dates 11/30/2011 - 06/30/2014 Project Manager Greg Hoch Grant Recipient Mn Prairie Chicken Society Grant Recipient Type Non-Profit Business/Entity Primary Funding Source(s) Outdoor Heritage Fund Grant Amount $125,000 Expended $125,000 Statutory Reference M.L. 2016, Chp. 172, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(K) Management Unit(s) Federal Habitat(s) Prairie Activity Type(s) Restoration/Enhancement Primary County Clay |
OutcomesLatest Indicator Number of acres enhanced Target 136 Acres Measurement 107 Acres Target Summary FY11 Grantees have until June 30, 2014 to complete their projects. Overall, CPL grantees are on track to meet their target # of acres and in some cases exceed those acres. |