The project goals are to:1. Restore the ecological processes on state lands that were degraded by agricultural ditching inthe early 1900S.2. Provide habitat benefits in the immediate area of the…

The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service has awarded the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources a $806,250 Project Grant under the National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements program (CFDA 15.654). The funding will be used to restore degraded ecological processes on state lands in Minnesota that were impacted by agricultural ditching in the early 1900s. The project aims to provide habitat benefits, improve downstream water quality and quantity, and allow rewetted peat to function as a carbon sink. Outreach and data sharing on the restoration methods and outcomes will be provided to local partners to enable replication of the work across Minnesota. The project period is from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2029.

The project goals are to:1. Restore the ecological processes on state lands that were degraded by agricultural ditching inthe early 1900S.2. Provide habitat benefits in the immediate area of the restoration, as well as downstreamimprovements in water quality and quantity by decreasing the amount of drainage occurring onstate lands.3. Allow the rewetted peat to function as a carbon sink instead of a carbon source, as has beencaused by drainage.4. Provide outreach via demonstration sites and data that indicate our success and providemethods moving forward that can be applied to other lands across minnesota. A final report willbe completed and distributed to local partners (state, tribal, federal agencies, as well as localwatershed boards) who may be interested in replicating the work. DNR staff will also engagewith local governmental units (lgus) about project outcomes at conferences and annualmeetings.