Background:
History: In May 2016, the board approved the Hennepin County Natural Resources Strategic Plan and the Hennepin County Conservation Easement Program (Resolution 16-0144R2), which together established a framework to pursue conservation easements and criteria for evaluating conservation easement opportunities.
A conservation easement is a set of development restrictions a landowner voluntarily places on his or her property in order to preserve its conservation value. The landowner retains ownership of the land and continues to pay property taxes.
In May 2017, the board authorized the county to submit an application to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC) for $5 million to fund acquisition of conservation easements and to restore and enhance natural resource corridors and ecologically significant natural areas and other existing permanently protected areas on behalf of the county (Resolution 17-0181). The county was awarded $1.514 million from the LSOHC, which became available July 1, 2018 (Phase 1 Grant). This funding supports the goals and efforts of the county’s Habitat Conservation Program and is consistent with the board-approved Hennepin County Conservation Easement Program.
Targeted outreach efforts to landowners and existing easement holders has generated significant interest in the program. Staff have identified easements that will consume about half of our current grant, and expect to commit the remaining amount by the end of 2019. Applying for additional funding to LSOHC is necessary to continue the momentum of the program and facilitate future protection, enhancement, and restoration of land and water within Hennepin County.
Natural areas and open spaces within the county face growing threats as development continues to expand and increase in density, making it critical to protect these areas while they remain.
Priorities for protection and enhancement efforts will focus on areas within or adjacent to natural resource corridors and ecologically significant areas. Natural resource corridors are open spaces that contain and connect natural areas, lakes, streams, wetlands, and regional parks. They contain ecologically significant natural areas, which include forests, prairies and wetlands with primarily native vegetation that have not been significantly altered by human activity since European settlement. Grant funds will support the protection and enhancement of these last remaining natural areas in Hennepin County.
LSOHC is comprised of 12 appointed members (eight public, four legislators) charged with making annual recommendations to the Minnesota Legislature for appropriations from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, which was created by the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment. The LSOHC estimates approximately $100 million will be available for appropriation from the Outdoor Heritage Fund in fiscal year 2020 (July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020). Proposals are due May 31, 2019.
Current Request: Authorize the County Administrator to submit a proposal to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council in an amount not to exceed $9 million to fund the acquisition of conservation easements and to fund the restoration and enhancement of natural resource corridors, ecologically significant areas, and other existing permanently protected areas.
The Minnesota Land Trust is the county’s easement acquisition partner in this proposal. Other partners that may assist the county with protection, restoration, and enhancement efforts include the Three Rivers Park District, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, watershed districts, cities, and the Minnesota Waterfowl Association.
Impact/Outcomes: The county would permanently preserve some of the most unique and important natural areas (for example, the remaining Big Woods forests, tamarack bogs, and native tall grass prairies), as well as restore the natural areas and habitat on current and future easement properties.
Protecting and restoring natural areas benefit the county and its residents by facilitating groundwater recharge, aiding in stormwater management and flood control, protecting and improving air and water quality, providing wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities, and increasing the value of neighboring properties.