Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Just a reminder that the DNR will conduct a webinar with a question-and-answer opportunity for anyone interested in learning more about the department’s project to update Minnesota’s Public Waters Inventory. The webinar will be held from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2. Here is the link and phone option for joining the webinar: Join link (opens in a new browser tab): https://ow.ly/CT4J50TA7KT Webinar number: 2486 954 6512 Webinar password: PWIUpdate (79487328 when dialing from a phone or video system) Join by phone: o +1-415-655-0003 United States Toll o 1-855-282-6330 United States Toll Free Access code: 248 695 46512 More information is available on the project webpage, https://ow.ly/Pb5A50TA7KU

Native brook trout will soon benefit from improved habitat as the Buckingham Creek stream restoration project nears completion. Buckingham Creek has the coldest water of Duluth’s 16 trout streams and runs through the City’s Enger Park Municipal Golf Course. When the City of Duluth needed to make some improvements to the golf course irrigation system, they proposed a partnership with DNR and other resource management agencies to restore 3,000 feet of the trout stream at the same time. The project remeanders the stream out of a ditch and redirects it around ponds that were introducing warm water to the stream. The project replaced perched culverts that were migration barriers with bridges to restore fish passage, while enhancing playability of the golf course and greatly improving the ecological function and aesthetic beauty of Buckingham Creek. Prior to the start of construction, DNR fisheries crews relocated more than 150 trout from the construction area upstream to cold-water refuge. Funding for the project came from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the Minnesota Legacy Amendment – Clean Water Legacy Partners Grant Program, and the City of Duluth.

Minnesota’s nearly 18 million acres of forests provide wildlife habitat, recreation, water quality, timber and other forests products—and are also a big part of the climate solution. Healthy forests absorb heat-trapping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, storing it in leaves, limbs, trunks, roots, soil, and harvested wood products. Together, forests across the state sequester enough carbon dioxide to balance about 12% of the state’s total greenhouse emissions. The DNR is responsible for protecting and managing forests so that they continue to provide these benefits to Minnesotans. The day-to-day work of the Division helps to keep forests as forest, grow more forests, and sustainably manage forests for multiple benefits. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggests that these are the key ingredients to enhancing the role of forests in the fight against climate change. The DNR is also dedicated to making forests in the state more resilient to climate change – and helping landowners and communities grow and maintain a healthy tree canopy, too. From ongoing efforts on public lands to increase forest diversity, promote tree growth, and protect rare and sensitive species to offering grants and expertise to support tree care experts and combat the impacts of pests like emerald ash borer, we’re investing in our forests and all the benefits they provide, today and into the future. This #ClimateWeek, take a moment to notice the trees around you, and appreciate all that they do.

Want to be a forester for the MN DNR? Apply by October 4! We are seeking two individuals to assist with outreach programs and grant initiatives covering Ramsey, Hennepin, Washington, Anoka, and Dakota Counties. Key Responsibilities: 🌳 Carry out outreach, grant activities, and technical assistance to improve public understanding and stewardship of natural resources. 🌳 Support and collaborate with private landowners and area residents, schools, local units of government, public agencies, and organizations to ensure sustainable forest resource management. If you’re ready to help shape the future of Minnesota’s forests, apply today! Type Job ID: 79373 in the careers portal https://lnkd.in/gmxFVHWs

Now stream-ing! Our new documentary dives into the history of the ancient lake sturgeon in the Red River of the North. Follow along as past and present fisheries biologists reveal how this Jurassic-era species was driven to local extinction. Lake sturgeon are iconic “Kings in the North,” and one of our state’s living treasures that has been swimming since the time of the dinosaurs. This prehistoric fish is important to anglers, Indigenous culture and the ecology of Minnesota’s lakes and rivers. Learn more about lake sturgeon restoration efforts, including the role of habitat, hatcheries, and conservation partnerships, in the full version of this amazing story here: https://lnkd.in/gmTRWk6k

The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota is hosting a Fire Safety Education Day on Saturday, September 14. Bring the whole family for a fun, free day packed with fire safety education! Kids will learn what to do in case of a fire, explore fire trucks and emergency vehicles, and meet Sparky the Fire Safety Dog. Plus, check out the smoke simulator house, safety demos, activities, and giveaways throughout the day! DNR staff will be teaching campfire safety and how to prevent and respond to wildfires. Explore our tracked vehicle and fire engines while you're there. And practice putting out a “fire” with water bladder bags! https://lnkd.in/gSDZRe3P

Ready to grow your community’s urban forestry program? If so, check out our Centering Communities in Canopy Solutions Grants! We’re offering $1 million in competitive grants to help more people access the benefits of a healthy tree canopy. Funding can cover staff time, tree planting care, and much more. Projects must be focused in areas with environmental justice concerns. Want to learn more? Join us for an informational webinar on September 11 from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. to find out how you can apply and increase your chances of success. Applications close October 28. Register for the webinar here: https://lnkd.in/gaXvvnqQ This funding is made possible by the U.S. Forest Service Inflation Reduction Act.

No two days are the same when you work at Minnesota State Parks and Trails! If you've visited Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area this summer, you may have seen beloved parks and trails associate Jennifer monitoring several nests of purple martins at Portsmouth Campground, a yearly joy for her since 2011. Purple martins are considered a rare species in Minnesota. While they can be found across Minnesota in the spring and summer, these graceful swallows almost completely depend on human-supplied housing when nesting east of the Rocky Mountains. In 2011, Jennifer and Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area were approached by the local Cuyuna Range Youth Center asking to dedicate grant funds towards beautification projects at the recreation area. A dream of purple martins filling the skies quickly grew into a colony of purple martin houses, four bluebird houses, and a chimney swift tower at the campground thanks to an incredible collaboration between Cuyuna Range Youth Center, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Audubon Minnesota, and staff from Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area itself. These days, from mid-May to early August, Jennifer checks in on the purple martin nests every week, meticulously recording hatchling and growth details, pulling blow fly larvae off the chicks, and admiring them before carefully placing them back into their nests. Nest checks are vital for their survival and are done approximately every five to seven days. Nest replacements (when the old nest is tossed away and replaced with white pine needles) are done usually two times between hatching and fledging. The main purpose of nest replacements is for lice, fleas, mites, and blow fly larvae. Blow fly larvae will attach to the chicks and can eventually lead to death. This year, 118 chicks successfully fledged. Because many of the purple martins have been banded, Jennifer has even found that some find their way back to the campground—and even the same nest compartment!    Check out a few behind-the-scenes snapshots below of Jennifer working with the chicks from earlier this summer, and look for purple martins on their way south in the coming days and weeks!

Our forestry staff had a great time at Bemidji Pride Family Festival last Saturday and enjoyed all the connections they made. They had great conversations about trees, environmental justice, and how to manage your woods. People were engaged and excited to hear about upcoming forestry programs. It was great to see everyone come together to celebrate diversity – which is important to both our communities and our forests! To learn more about what’s going on with our urban and community forestry program, visit https://lnkd.in/gJQwvWKe

Grant Opportunity Alert! Growing a healthy tree canopy depends on fostering the next generation of tree care providers – and we’re dedicated to doing just that! With funding from the U.S. Forest Service Inflation Reduction Act, we’re offering $2.3 million through competitive grants aimed at recruiting, training, and retaining youth and adults from environmental justice areas for careers in urban forestry. The Growing Tomorrow’s Tree Care Professionals Grants will help build the skilled workforce needed to address the growing challenges facing our urban forests. Want to learn more? Join us for an informational webinar on August 27th from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. to find out how you can apply and increase your chances of success. Register at https://lnkd.in/gaXvvnqQ