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MINNESOTA
RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY
SPECIAL PROJECT REPORT
An index of archived Local Projects follows the article.
2005 Partial List of New RGS Minnesota Habitat Projects:
Habitat Projects
We have struggled with funding habitat projects with the MDNR over the past year due to administrative changes and cash flow issues. I am proud to report that these issues are behind us and we are able to fully fund some creative and beneficial habitat projects around the state. Then following table details 13 projects valued at $114,465. In addition, we recently funded a $6,500 road repar project on Morph Meadows WMA in Itasca County, a golden-winged warbler survey and two Becoming an Outdoors Woman events. We are also in the process of purchasing a transportable bridge for the Cass County Land Department.
State Forest Inventory
Field inventory old aspen stands on state forests to prioritize harvests and retain healthy stands for later regeneration.
$30,000
March 2006
Tower Interns
Partial funding for hiring student interns to work on a variety of projects including several that would benefit ruffed grouse habitat, including clover seeding log landings, mowing trails & openings, and brush shearing.
$2,500
August 31, 2005
Woodcock Habitat - Tower
Mow or shear 50 acres of upland brush or lowland- upland brush interface to provide for future nesting cover for woodcock
$6,250
March 2006
Tower RGMAs
Gates, signs and about 1.5 miles of new trail development on three new grouse units, Cilina, Glipi and McNiven.
$15,000
Spring 2007
Tower Trails
Partial funding of maintenance on 38 miles of timber access/hunter walking trail. Total Project cost $5,000. MDHA will match.
$2,500
Fall 2006
Itasca Trail Mowing
Partial funding of maintenance on 25 miles of timber access/hunter walking trail. Total Project cost $5,000. MDHA will match.
$2,500
September 2005
GPS/PDA
Purchase 10-15 handheld GPS/PDA units and supporting software to improve efficiency of mapping and monitoring the condition of forest openings.
$10,000
Anytime (purchase)
Canosia Trail
Create timber access/hunter walking trail by reshaping 1.5 miles of logging trail, dozing and seeding 3 log landings
$3,100
September 2006
I-Falls Gates
Construct and install gates on hunter walking trails on State Forest land at 10 sites to protect them from ATV damage
$4,865
September
2006
Loerch WMA Trail
Build .6 miles of new trail and 2 - 1/2 acre wildlife openings to provide hunter and logger access
$5,250
May 2006
Mower Lease
Partial Funding of brush mower to be used for brushland mowing, firebreak development and maintenance, WMA boundary maintenance and trails
$4000
December 2005
Dodge County WMAs
Treat European Buckthorn, regenerate decadent upland brush and regenerate old aspen inclusions on the Vorce, Naylor, Teapail and Schletty WMAs in Dodge County to provide habitat for woodcock and grouse.
$20,500
June 2007
Region 3 ASV Lease
Partial funding of brush mower lease to be used for brushland mowing, firebreak development and maintenance, WMA boundary maintenance and trails for two winters
$8,000
May 2007
RGS Receives Four Brooks WMA Heritage Enhancement Grant
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Update- June 6, 2003
The prescribed aspen shearing was completed by Hydro-Axe, and inspected by RGS Biologist Rick Horton. An RGS sign will be erected this spring noting the location and our contribution to the project.
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Heritage Enhancement grants are the result of a new law that was a part of the Environment and Natural Resources Finance Omnibus Bill passed by the Legislature last year. The provision allocates money to the Department of Natural Resources to provide grants to local outdoor sports clubs for habitat improvement projects on wildlife management area lands.
"By giving grants to local clubs, these dollars will go directly to protecting Minnesota's valuable natural resources and will further promote the state's partnership with the private sector. Providing grants for habitat improvement projects on wildlife management area lands is a cost effective way to utilize outside expertise, energy and to protect and improve Minnesota's environment for generations to come," said State Representative Mark Holsten (R-Stillwater).
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is administering the grant program, and received 50 proposals that totalled close to $3 million. The DNR approved 30 of the proposals, at a cost of $832,000. The grants will fund brushland prescribed burning and mechanical management; forest stand burns and improvements; oak savanna development; prairie/grassland burns, development, and improvement; and, wetland restorations, water control structure development and enhancement.
"The state of Minnesota will see a large return on the investment of Heritage Enhancement Grant dollars, since local volunteers will contribute their own time and energy to improve the habitat of our wildlife management lands," said Holsten.
Ruffed Grouse Society- Twin Cities Chapter committee members worked with RGS Forest Wildlife Biologist Rick Horton and DNR Area Wildlife personnel to identify a project and submit the application for State funding. 2002's Habitat Day project was done at Four Brooks WMA.
The majority of the aspen forest on the recently acquired Four Brooks WMA was regenerated approximately 15 years ago. As a result, there is little age class diversity in the areas aspen forests. Many wildlife species, including important game animals like ruffed grouse, American woodcock, white-tailed deer and black bear need a diverse forest composed of different aged stands to thrive. We propose to create age class diversity by non-commercial regeneration of a portion of the areas forests. This will be accomplished by winter mowing of the 15-year-old forest in 5 to 30-acre patches. These patches will then regenerate, resulting in a forest composed of two age classes with 15 years of separation.
The following is a description of the project:
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Date of Work Program: April 19, 2002
- DNR Wildlife Manager
- Spring 2002
- Consulting forester
- Late summer 2002
- Contractor
- Winter 2002 - 2003
- DNR Wildlife Manager and RGS Biologist
- Late winter 2002 - 2003
PROJECT TITLE: Four Brooks WMA Forest Diversity Project
Project Manager: Rick Horton
Organization: Ruffed Grouse Society
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 657
Grand Rapids, Minnesota 55744
Telephone Number: 218-697-2820
E-Mail: rgshort@uslink.net
Fax: 218-697-2860
LOCATION: PLANNED SITE NUMBER: PLANNED QUANTITY:
Mille Lacs County
Four Brooks WMA
1. 18 acres
2. 12.5 acres
3. 16 acres
4. 30 acres
5. 20 acres
6. 9.5 acres
106 acres total
Or other State Wildlife Management Areas approved by the State’s representative. (Written approval by the State’s representative is required for changes.)
PROJECT SUMMARY: We propose to create age class diversity by non-commercial regeneration of a portion of the area’s forests. This will be accomplished by winter mowing 106 acres of the 15-year-old forest in six 9-30 acre patches.
Step 1. Identify treatment sites on the ground and on aerial maps
Site 2. Size: 12.5 acres Activity: Regenerate young aspen through winter shearing.
Site 3. Size: _16_ acres Activity: Regenerate young aspen through winter shearing.
Site 4. Size: _30_ acres Activity: Regenerate young aspen through winter shearing.
Site 5. Size: _20_ acres Activity: Regenerate young aspen through winter shearing.
Site 6. Size: _9.5 acres Activity: Regenerate young aspen through winter shearing.
TIME:
Spring 2002 - Identify treatment sites on the ground and on aerial maps
Late Summer 2002 - Mark treatment site boundaries
Winter 2002-2003 - Treat project sites
Late Winter 2003-2003 – Review treatment site
This project is scheduled to be completed in winter 2003.
BUDGET: $19,000 Heritage Enhancement Grant
Step 1. - Performed by Area Manager at no cost to the project.
Step 2. - Funded by the Ruffed Grouse Society……………………$ 745
Step 3. - Heritage Enhancement Grant…………………………….$ 19,000
Step 4. - Performed by Area Manager at no cost to the project.
Sign on project site funded by Ruffed Grouse Society….$ 600
Total Budget………………………………………………………$ 20,345
The Ruffed Grouse society would expend in kind contributions of labor and travel to administer the project.
REPORTING: Grantee will provide annual progress reports by June 30 of each year and a final report no later than June 30, 2004.
Archive of previous Local Projects articles:
www.twincitiesrgs.org
