moist soils guide

RayNorrgard November30,2010

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MINNESOTAMOISTSOILMANAGEMENTGUIDE

PREFACE

WaterfowlareanimportantpartofMinnesota’snaturalandculturalheritage.Despitesubstantiallossesinthequantityandqualityofwaterfowlhabitat,MinnesotaremainsoneofthemostimportantproductionandharveststatesintheMississippiFlyway.Waterfowlingtraditionsreachbacktothe19thCenturyandcontinuetobeanimportantfeatureofMinnesota’soutdoorheritage.Tripandequipment

expendituresbyMinnesotawaterfowlhuntersandwatchersin2001totaledmorethan$224millionandgeneratedmorethan$20millioninstatetaxreceipts.

WhiletheMinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResources(DNR)andourconservationpartnershavecontinuedtomakeprogressinacquiringanddevelopingwildlifeareas,managingshallowlakes,and

acquiringpermanenteasements,recentdeclinesinbreedingduckpopulationsandreducedhunterparticipationandharvesthavefrustratedbothhuntersandmanagers.Basedonthemostrecentavailabledataitisclearthatthebasicissuesofhabitatdegradationandlossarestillmajorbarriersto

success.

Akeywetlandtypeinthishabitatpictureisseasonalwetlands.Criticalforattractingandprovidingfoodforbreedingducks,seasonalwetlandsfloodedinfallalsoprovideattractivehabitatformigratingdabblingducks.Inaddition,seasonalwetlandsintheupperreachesofwatershedsareamongthemost

effectivelandscapefeaturestoreducefloodingandimprovewaterquality.

Atechniquecalledmoistsoilmanagementcreatesseasonalwetlandhabitatthroughintensivewaterlevelmanagement.Muchofthescienceandinformationbehindmoist‐soilmanagementwasdevelopedbywaterfowlmanagersandresearchbiologistsinMissouri.OnJanuary9,2010,DNRCommissioner

MarkHolstencommittedtheMinnesotaDNRtoexpandingtheapplicationofmoistsoilmanagementinMinnesota.

Theprimarypurposeofthisguideistointroducewetlandmanagers,conservationpartners,policydevelopers,andfundingdecisionmakerstotheconceptsofmoistsoilmanagementandprovide

guidanceonthelocation,development,andmanagementofopportunitiesformoistsoilmanagementinMinnesota.Thisguideisaworkinprogress.AsmanagersandothermoistsoilmanagementpractitionersgainexperienceinMinnesota,theyareencouragedtosharetheirsuccessesandfailuresin

anefforttoconstantlyupdateandimprovethisdocument.


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CONTENTS

Preface..........................................................................................................................................................1

ExecutiveSummary ......................................................................................................................................6

Introduction..................................................................................................................................................7

MoistSoilTargets .........................................................................................................................................9

Background.................................................................................................................................................10

WhatisMoistSoilManagement? ..........................................................................................................10

HowisMoistSoilManagementTypicallyConducted?...........................................................................11

MoistSoilManagementinMinnesota .......................................................................................................13

SitingCriteriaforMoistSoilManagementinMinnesota .......................................................................15

Ownership ..............................................................................................................................................15

Location ..................................................................................................................................................15

Topography ............................................................................................................................................16

Soils ........................................................................................................................................................17

WaterSource..........................................................................................................................................17

ApplicableRegulations ...........................................................................................................................18

Cost.........................................................................................................................................................19

DesignConsiderations ................................................................................................................................20

DikesandBasinContouring....................................................................................................................20

BlindsandHunterDensity ......................................................................................................................21

Invasivespecies ......................................................................................................................................21

ManagingWater.....................................................................................................................................21

SpecialManagementConsiderations .........................................................................................................23


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Naturalseasonalwetlands .....................................................................................................................23

Naturalpermanentwetlandsandshallowlakes ....................................................................................23

MississippiRiverPools............................................................................................................................23

Drainedlakeorwetlandbasins ..............................................................................................................24

Farmedwetlandbasins ..........................................................................................................................24

AppendixA.CaseStudies ...........................................................................................................................26

Naturalseasonalwetlands .....................................................................................................................26

TealLakeWMA(ContributedbyRandyMarkl) ..................................................................................26

EldoradoWMA(ContributedbyKevinKotts).....................................................................................26

Drainedlakeorwetlandbasins ..............................................................................................................27

LinesWMA..........................................................................................................................................27

Farmedwetlandbasins ..........................................................................................................................27

WorkingLandsInitiative(CompletedbyRayNorrgard) .....................................................................27

AppendixB.OverviewofBaitingRegulations ............................................................................................29

WaterfowlHuntingandBaiting ..............................................................................................................29

WhatIsBaiting?......................................................................................................................................29

The10‐DayRule......................................................................................................................................29

WaterfowlHuntingonAgriculturalLands ..............................................................................................29

Planting...................................................................................................................................................30

Harvesting&Post‐HarvestManipulation...............................................................................................30

ManipulationofAgriculturalCrops ........................................................................................................31

WildlifeFoodPlots..................................................................................................................................31

OtherAgriculturalConcerns ...................................................................................................................31

HuntingOverNaturalVegetation...........................................................................................................31

ProblemAreas ........................................................................................................................................32


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FeedingWaterfowlandOtherWildlife...............................................................................................32

Distance ..............................................................................................................................................32

WhatisLegal?.........................................................................................................................................32

WhatisIllegal? .......................................................................................................................................33

TheHunter’sResponsibility....................................................................................................................33

OtherResponsibilities.............................................................................................................................34

OverviewofOtherRegulations ..............................................................................................................34

ExcerptsfromTitle50,CodeofFederalRegulations,Part20.21(i) ....................................................35

ForMoreInformation.............................................................................................................................36

IL,IN,IA,MI,MN,MO,OH,WI ...........................................................................................................36

AppendixC.RestAreaOptions...................................................................................................................37

SummaryofOptionsforIncreasingWaterfowlRestAreas ....................................................................37

RestrictingMotorizedWatercraft ..........................................................................................................37

LocalWaterSurfaceUseManagement ..............................................................................................37

WaterfowlFeedingandRestingAreas ...............................................................................................38

WildlifeManagementLake(DesignatedWildlifeLake)......................................................................38

RestrictingHunting .................................................................................................................................38

StateGameRefuge.............................................................................................................................38

RestrictingTrespass................................................................................................................................39

MigratoryWaterfowlSanctuary .........................................................................................................39

StateDuckSanctuary..........................................................................................................................40

StateWildlifeSanctuary .....................................................................................................................40

Whataboutvoluntaryrestrictions? .......................................................................................................40

ApplicableStatutes.................................................................................................................................40


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AppendixD.BoardofWaterandSoilResourcesPolicyforSiteManagementofConservationEasementLands ..........................................................................................................................................................50

AppendixE.Regulationsaffectingmoistsoilmanagement .......................................................................53

AppendixF.AdditionalInformation ...........................................................................................................57

SELECTEDMOISTSOILMANAGEMENT&RELATEDREFERENCES...........................................................57


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EXECUTIVESUMMARY

ThegreatestwetlandlossesinMinnesotaoccurinseasonalandtemporarywetlands.Theirsmallsizeandshallowdepthmadethemaneasytargetforconversiontoagricultureasearlyasthemid19thCentury.LossesinbothquantityandqualityhavecontinuedinMinnesotatothedetrimentof

waterfowl,shorebirds,andotherwetlandwildlifethatdependonthesewetlandsforsurvival.

Protectionthroughacquisitionandrestorationhasbeentheprimarystrategytoincreaseseasonalwetlandhabitat.Moistsoilmanagementisanothertooltohelpaddressthelossesinquantityandqualityofseasonalwetlands.Areasmanagedwithmoistsoilmanagementtechniquesaretypically

created,restored,orenhancedwetlandsthatareintensivelymanagedasshallowwaterseasonallyfloodedbasins1‐12inchesdeep.Thismanagementisintendedtoprovidehighenergyfoodresourcessuchasannualplantseedsandinvertebratesandoptimalfeedingconditionsfordabblingducksand

shorebirdswhenfloodedduringspringandfall.Reducingdisturbancethroughsanctuarieswillincreaseduckandshorebirduseofthesewetlands.

MoistsoilmanagementisnottotallynewtoMinnesota.Minnesotacurrentlyhasasmallamountofmoistsoilmanagementincorporatedintotheoverallmanagementofafewmajorwildlifemanagement

areas(lessthan300acresintotal).Inaddition,thenearlycompletedNorthOttawaProjectinGrantCountyhasopenedthedoortothepotentialofcombiningmoistsoilmanagementwithfloodreduction

efforts.

Ourshortergrowingseason,earlierfreeze‐update,andgreatermixofduckspeciesinourfallharvestpresentchallengestooptimizingthebenefitsofmoistsoilmanagementinMinnesota.However,thehabitatcomplexesprovidedbyourlargenumberofwildlifemanagementareas,waterfowlproduction

areas,andshallowlakescanprovideasynergywithmoistsoilmanagementthatwillbenefitbothduckproductionandhuntingopportunities.Inaddition,theconceptsofmoistsoilmanagementcanbeusedtohelpenhancethequalityofmorepermanentwetlandsincludingshallowlakesandMississippiRiver

pools.

IfadequateresourcesareavailabletheMinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesintendstoworkwithourconservationpartnerstoadd10,000acresofpubliclyownedwetlandsmanagedasseasonalwetlandsusingmoistsoilmanagementtechniquesby2025.Inaddition,wewillapplymoistsoil

managementto20,000acresofwetlandswithinourcurrentwildlifemanagementareasystemandencouragethedevelopmentof5,000acresofmoistsoilmanagementsitesonprivatelandthroughpermanenteasementsandtechnicalassistance.

Establishmentcriteriawillincludeownership,location,topography,soils,watersource,applicable

regulations,andcost.


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INTRODUCTION

ThegreatestwetlandlossesinMinnesotaoccurinseasonalandtemporarywetlands.Theirsmallsizeandshallowdepthmadethemaneasytargetforconversiontoagricultureasearlyasthemid19th

Century.LossesinbothquantityandqualityhavecontinuedinMinnesotatothedetrimentofwaterfowl,shorebirds,andotherwetlandwildlifethatdependonthesewetlandsforsurvival.

Inthespringseasonalwetlandsarecriticallyimportantforattractingandsupportingbreedingwetlandbirds,includingducks,byprovidingabundantfood.Althoughtypicallywithoutsurfacewaterduringthe

summer,theycanprovideabundantfoodresourcesagaininthefalliffloodedbyautumnrains.Protectionthroughacquisitionandrestorationhasbeentheprimarystrategytoincreaseseasonalwetlandhabitat.

Moistsoilmanagementisanothertooltohelpaddressthelossesinquantityandqualityofseasonal

wetlands.Areasmanagedwithmoistsoilmanagementtechniquesaretypicallycreated,restoredorenhancedwetlandsthatareintensivelymanagedasshallowwaterseasonallyfloodedbasins1‐12inchesdeep.Thismanagementisintendedtoprovidehighenergyfoodresourcesandoptimalfeeding

conditionsfordabblingducksandshorebirdswhenfloodedduringspringandfall.Theannualplantstypicallygrowingduringthesummerdryperiodcanalsoprovideexcellentbroodhabitatforpheasantsandattractivefoodfordovesandsongbirds.

Moistsoilmanagementhasbeenusedeffectivelyinmanymid‐latitudestatessuchasMissourito

increaseduckuseduringspringandfallmigration,aswellasprovidehuntingopportunitiesduringthefall.PotentialbenefitsinMinnesotaaresomewhatdifferentthanthoseseeninthesemid‐latitudestatesduetoourshortergrowingseason,earlierfreeze‐update,andgreatermixofduckspeciesinour

fallharvest.

However,thehabitatprovidedbyourlargenumberofwildlifemanagementareas,waterfowlproductionareas,andshallowlakescanprovideasynergywithmoistsoilmanagementthatwillbenefit

bothduckproductionandhuntingopportunities.Inaddition,theconceptsofmoistsoilmanagementcanbeusedtohelpenhancethequalityofmorepermanentwetlandsincludingshallowlakesandthepoolsontheMississippiRiverbetweenlocksanddams.Planningforfuturemoistsoilmanagement

shouldincludetheseopportunities.

MoistsoilmanagementisnottotallynewtoMinnesota.Oneofthekeystrategiesinthe2001planRestoringMinnesota’sWetlandandWaterfowlHuntingHeritagewasthedevelopmentofmoistsoilmanagementsitestoimprovefallmigrationhabitat.TheDNR,U.S.FishandWildlifeServiceand

MinnesotaWaterfowlAssociationco‐sponsoredaprofessionalseminarin2003tointroduceMinnesotaconservationprofessionalstomoistsoilmanagementtechniques.


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Theneedforimprovedfallmigrationhabitatwasechoedinthe2006DuckRecoveryPlanasconcernmountedaboutfallduckuseandhuntersatisfaction.The2006planalsohighlightedtheimportantrole

ofseasonalwetlandsinwaterfowlproduction.Theplancalledforanadditional600,000acresofwetlandsconfiguredinwetlandhabitatcomplexesofatleast4squaremiles.Eachcomplexwouldbetargetedforaminimumof20%wetlandsand40%grassland.One‐halfoftheseadditionalwetlandacres

wererecommendedtobetemporaryandseasonalwetlands.

Minnesotacurrentlyhasasmallamountofmoistsoilmanagementincorporatedintotheoverallmanagementofafewmajorwildlifemanagementareas(lessthan300acresintotal).Inaddition,thenearlycompletedNorthOttawaProjectinGrantCountyhasopenedthedoortothepotentialof

combiningmoistsoilmanagementwithfloodreductionefforts.AlthoughwestillhavemuchtolearntheseareashaveprovidedvaluableinsightsintothepossibilitiesandthepotentiallimitationsofthismanagementinMinnesota.


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MOISTSOILTARGETS

OurpreliminarymoistsoilmanagementtargetsarebasedontheexperiencesofboththeMissouriDepartmentofConservationandtheMinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResources,aswellaswetland

habitatobjectivesfromthe2006DuckRecoveryPlan.IfadequateresourcesareavailabletheMinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesintendstoworkwithourconservationpartnerstoadd10,000acresofpubliclyownedwetlandsmanagedasseasonalwetlandsusingmoistsoilmanagement

techniquesby2025.Inaddition,wewillapplymoistsoilmanagementto20,000acresofwetlandswithinourcurrentwildlifemanagementareasystemandencouragethedevelopmentof5,000acresofmoistsoilmanagementsitesonprivatelandthroughpermanenteasementsandtechnicalassistance.

Thesetargetsshouldberevisitedasourcollectiveexperiencecontinuesandnewinformationbecomesavailable.


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BACKGROUND

WHATISMOISTSOILMANAGEMENT?

Moist‐soilmanagementsimulatesseasonalwetlandhydrologybyaddingandremovingwater,mostoftenartificially,inasystematicwaytomaximizefoodproductionforwaterfowlandshorebirds.An

areamanagedfor“moistsoil”isgraduallydewatered(drawndown)afterspring,slowlydriedduringthesummertoencourageseed‐producingannualwetlandplants,andre‐floodedinlatesummerorearlyfall.Theseannualseedproducingplantscanalsoprovidevaluablesummerbroodhabitatforpheasants

andattractivefoodsourcesfordovesandsongbirds.

Whenfloodedinearlyfall,theseedsarereadilyavailableformigratingbirds.Decomposingplantsprovideidealhabitatforaquaticinvertebrates,especiallyinthespringwhenwaterfowlandshorebirdsrequirethisimportantsourceofnutrition.Ideally,basinscanbedriedenoughduringsomegrowing

seasonstoperiodicallytillallorportionsofthesite.Soildisturbancehelpstomaintainproductivityofannualplants,controlsundesirableperennialvegetationincludinginvasivespecies,andcanbeusedinconjunctionwithcroppinginlieuofnaturalseedproduction.

TABLEA.CRITICALFACTORSFORSUCCESSFULMOISTSOILMANAGEMENT.

Thesuccessofmoist‐soilmanagementisdependentonsoiltype,topography,maintainingearlysuccessionalannualplants,thetimingofwaterlevelmanipulations,andannualmonitoringtoassessmanagementeffectiveness(TableA.Criticalfactorsforsuccessfulmoistsoilmanagement).Althoughnaturallyoccurringprecipitationandseasonalfloodingcanproduceresults,moreintensivemanagementisoftenrequiredinalteredlandscapes.Intheseinstances,themostconsistentsuccessisachievedwhenwaterlevelscanbepreciselycontrolledtoencouragemoist‐soilplantsandsubsequentlyprovidethedepthsmostattractivetofeedingwaterfowlandshorebirds.Theresponseofmoistsoilsitestowatermanagementchangeovertime.Annualmonitoringandadjustments(adaptivemanagement)arecriticaltosuccess.

Factor IdealConditionSoil HydricTopography Flattoverygentlyrolling.Individualpoolsorbasinsshouldhavelessthan1footof

fall.Unevenbottomsprovideanidealmixofdepthsforplantproductionandforaging.PlantSuccession

Earlysuccessionnativeannualplantsadaptedtoseasonalflooding.Examplesincludesmartweeds,wildmilletsandbeggartick.Amixofspeciesisideal.Plantedcropsincludemilletandcorn.

WaterLevels Depthsrangingfromsaturatedsoilto12inchesdeep.Floodinganddewateringshouldoccurverygradually,approximately1”aday.Dewateringshouldbeginduringthefirstthirdofthegrowingseason.

AdaptiveManagement

Useannualassessmentsofvegetativeresponseandbirdusetoadjustwaterlevelmanagementandsoildisturbance.


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HOWISMOISTSOILMANAGEMENTTYPICALLYCONDUCTED?

Traditionalmoistsoilmanagementsitesinmid‐latitudestatesaretypicallylocatedinthebroadfloodplainsofmajorrivers.Largepumpsandextensivedikesorleveesareintegralpartsofthedesign.Dikesfollowthetopographiccontourstomaximizetheamountofshallowwater.Openditchesadjacenttodikesareavoidedwhenatallpossibleduetomaintenanceissuescausedbymuskratsandbeaver.Publiclyownedareasareoftenquitelarge,manyinthethousandsofacres.Unlessthereisaspecialmanagementneedsuchascropping,moistsoilmanagementsitesarefloodedinthespringorretainwaterfromthepreviousfall.Waterishelduntillatespring,generallyMaythroughearlyJune.Thishelpspreventsomeundesirableplantsthatneeddryconditionstogerminate.FornorthernstateslikeMinnesota,drawdowns(dewatering)duringthefirstthirdofthegrowingseasontendtofavorsmartweeds.Drawdownsmidtolateinthegrowingseasonbenefitbeggartick,panicgrassesandcrabgrass.Drawdownsinbetweenthesetimesoftenproducewildmillets.Theseedsofalloftheseplantsarevaluabletowaterfowlandnoneofthemtypicallyrequireplanting.Waterlevelsshouldbeloweredataslowrate,graduallyexposingbottomsoilsoverafewweeks.Thisgeneralrule,however,dependsonsoiltype,temperature,precipitationpatterns,andmanagementcapabilities.Slowdrawdownspreventsoilsfromdryingtooquicklyandproduceagreatervarietyofdesirableplantsoverthesite.Morerapiddrawdowns(overafewdays)tendtoproduceextensivestandsofsimilarvegetation.Rapiddrawdownsareparticularlytroublesomeinmid‐summer.Thesoiltendstodrytooquickly,resultingincocklebur,cottonwoodseedlingsandotherundesirablespecies.Careshouldbetakentoavoidaregimented“cookbookrecipe”formoist‐soilmanagement.Eachbasinisuniqueandthewetlandmanagers’experienceandevaluationofvegetativeresponseareimportant.

Waterlevelsneedtobedrawndownearlierinthespring,andthesitesmaintaineddrier,ifcropssuchascornareplanted.Smallgrainswithashortergrowingseasonarenotasdemandingalthoughsoilsneedtobedryenoughfortillage.Installingacontrolleddrainagesystemwithpatterntilingcouldprovideadditionalflexibilityfordrawdownssincesoilmoisturecanbemorepreciselycontrolled.However,theadditionalinvestmentmustbebalancedwiththeexpectedbenefits.Themoreelaboratetheinfrastructurethegreaterthelong‐termcostfordevelopment,operation,andmaintenance.

Longdryperiodsduringsummerfavorundesirableplantspecies.Shallowflooding(irrigation)willstimulatedesirablemoist‐soilplantsandcansetbackorevenkillundesirablespecies.Moist‐soilplantsarenotadverselyaffectedbysummerfloodingaslongasone‐thirdofthegrowingplantisoutofthewater.Summerfloodingisnotbeneficialwhencropssuchascornareplanted.Plantspeciescompositionwillalsobeaffectedbythegeneralstateofannualplantsuccession.Perennialplantslikericecutgrass,reedcanarygrass,cattail,andwillowtendtoincreaseafterthreeormoreyearswithouttillageorothersoildisturbance.Manyoftheprolificseedproducingplantslikewildmilletandlargeseededsmartweedoccurinthefirstfewyearsofmanagementorfollowingsoildisturbance.


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Oftenthemosteffectiveapproachistoannuallyrotatethedisturbancetreatmentoverindividualcellsinthemanagementsitesothattheentiresitereceivestreatmentoverthreetofiveyears.Itmaybepossibletotargettheproductionofcropssuchascornduringyearswhendisturbanceisdesired.Invadingwoodyplantsandmanyotherundesirablespeciescanalsobetemporarilycontrolledbymowing.Mowingisespeciallyeffectivewhendesirablemoist‐soilplantsoccurunderrankcocklebur.Themowingwillremoveshadeandcompetition,andmoist‐soilplantswillbegingrowingrapidly,

especiallyifirrigated.

Mowingcanalsobeusedtoimprovedesirablemoist‐soilstandswhentheplantsbecometoodenseorreachheightsthatwillreducetheiravailabilitytomanywildlifespecies.Midsummermowingtoaheight

of18incheswillmaketheseareasmoreattractive,butmowingshouldbetimedtoensuremaximumseedproduction.Contrarytomowingormanipulatingcultivatedcrops,themowingofnativeplants,eventhosethathavealreadyproducedviableseed,isnotconsideredbaitingforwaterfowl(see

AppendixB.BaitingRegulationsforWaterfowlHunting).

MoistsoilmanagementsitesinnorthernstatesarefloodedfromlateAugusttolateSeptemberdependingonmanagementobjectives.Rowcropssuchascornshouldnotbefloodeduntilaftermaturationofthecrop.Aslow,continuousfloodingoftheunitwillprovideoptimumfeedingconditionsformanywetlandspeciesbygraduallyfloodingnewmarginsofthebasin.Floodingdepthsarecriticaltosuccess.Manyspeciesofwildlife,includingmostdabblingducks,preferwaterdepthsoflessthansixinchesandaslittleastwotothreeinches(Figure1.Preferredforagingdepthsofwaterbirds).Anydepthsover12inchesareundesirableunlessthereisaspecialmanagementneedsuchastargetingdivingduckuse.Generally,providingdivingduckhabitatismoreappropriatewithmanagementofsemipermanentandpermanentwetlandsandshallowlakes.

FIGURE1.PREFERREDFORAGINGDEPTHSOFWATERBIRDS.


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MOISTSOILMANAGEMENTINMINNESOTA

Mostmid‐latitudemoistsoilmanagementopportunitiesarefocusedonthefloodplainsoflargeriversliketheMissouriandMississippi.Withnearly20%ofMinnesotacoveredwithsurfacewaterourstatehasamuchbroaderdistributionofwetlandhabitat.Itclear,however,thatMinnesota’sremainingwetlandhabitatlacksadequatefoodresourcesforwaterfowl,shorebirdsandotherwetlandwildlife.Theshallowwetlandhabitatprovidedbyseasonalwetlandsandthemarginsofpermanentwetlandshasbeenlargelylosttoconversiontootherlandusesortakenoverbyinvasivespeciessuchashybridcattailthatprovidefewfoodresources.ADecember,2009reporttotheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencysuggeststhatmorethanhalfofourremainingprairiewetlandsareofpoorqualityasmeasuredbyplantandinvertebrateindices.Ourremainingwetlandandshallowlakeresources,however,doprovidepotentiallygreatergeographicflexibilityinconductingmoistsoilmanagementandgreateropportunitieswithinexistingwetlandhabitatcomplexestomaximizebenefits.WhilethepotentialsitesidentifiedformostsoilmanagementinMinnesotawilltypicallybemuchsmallerinsizethanthoseinthebroadfloodplainsofthelargeriversfurthersouth,wedohaveopportunitiesforlargerprojectsintheRedRiverValleyandtoalesserextentalongtheMinnesotaRiver.TheconceptsofmoistsoilmanagementhaveapotentiallywiderangeofapplicationsinMinnesota.Ononeendofthescalearerelativelylowcostprojectsenhancingexistingsmallwetlandbasinsorrestoringdrainedwetlandswiththeabilitytofloodordewaterdependingonthesituation.Attheotherendofthescalearelargewetlandrestorationsorimpoundmentscompletewithextensivedikeandpumpingsystems.Inbetweenarenaturalsemi‐permanentorpermanentwetlandssubjectedtointensivewaterlevelmanagementtoreduceundesirablefishandencourageannualplantandinvertebrateproduction.ThebasicconceptsofmoistsoilmanagementcanalsobeappliedtoshallowlakesandMississippiRiverpoolswhendrawdownsarebeingconductedtoimproveaquatichabitat.Althoughthesearenotmoistsoilmanagementsitespersay,theremaybeopportunitiestoachievesomeofthesamebenefitswhenthemanagementobjectivesandmoistsoilconceptsarecompatible.Allofthesesystemshavethesamebasicobjectiveofprovidingrichfoodsourcesthroughtheproductionofinvertebratesandaquaticplants.Moistsoilmanagementfocusesonasummerdrawdownperiodtopromotethegrowthofdesirableannualplantsandshallowwaterfloodinginfallandspringtoincreasetheavailabilityofseedsandinvertebratestodabblingducksandshorebirds.Insomecasespropermanagementofwaterlevelstopromoteaquaticfoodsourceswillnegativelyimpacttraditionalhunteraccess.Forexample,waterdepthssuitableformotorizedwatercraftarenotcompatiblewithmaximizingwaterfowlfoodavailabilitythroughmoistsoilmanagementtechniques.Anotherkeyelementinmoistsoilmanagementisperiodicdisturbancetosetbackplantsuccessiontofavorannualratherthanperennialplants.Thismaybeparticularlyimportantwhenfacedwithinfestationsbyinvasivespeciessuchashybridcattail,reedcanarygrass,andtheinvasiveformofphragmites.


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Themoistsoilareasthatarethemostattractivetowaterfowlarelocatedwithinornearwetlandhabitatcomplexesassociatedwithsometypeofsanctuaryfromdisturbance(Figure2.ExistingrefugeareasinMinnesota).Reduceddisturbancecanbeaccomplishedthrougharangeofrestrictionsincludingnomotorizeduse,nohunting,ornotrespassing(AppendixC.RestAreaOptions).Themosteffectiveatreducingdisturbancearenotrespassingregulationsthroughdesignatedsanctuaryonareasapproaching600acresinsize.Smallersanctuariescanbeeffectiveifthereareotherbarrierssuchaswater,topographyorlandusethatreducedistancetodisturbance.Sensitivitytodisturbanceisgreatestduringopenhuntingseasons,especiallyby migratingbirdsthathavenotestablishedlocalfeedingpatterns.

FIGURE2.EXISTINGREFUGESWITHCALCULATEDZONESOFINFLUENCE.Largemoistsoilmanagementprojects(1000+acres)canprovidebothsanctuaryandhuntingopportunities.Opportunitiestoprovidesanctuaryarenotabsolutelynecessaryforviableapplicationofmoistsoilmanagementtechniques;however,theattractivenessoftheseareastomigratingwaterfowlismuchgreaterwhentheyareprotectedfromdisturbance.Smallermoistsoilprojectscancontributesignificantlytoattractingandholdingmigratorywaterfowlwhentheyarepartofalargerhabitatcomplex.Adjacentornearbymanagedpublicorprivatewildlifeareasandshallowlakesprovidesupportinghabitatandtheopportunitytoestablisheffectivesanctuaryareasaswellashuntingopportunities.Whilewaterfowlhuntersurveyshavedocumentedthatcreatingrefugesisoneofthemostpopularmanagementstrategies,experienceshowsthatestablishingnewrefugesorsanctuariesismucheasierwherethereisnoestablishedpublichuntingtradition.Forexample,designationofnewlyacquiredlandsassanctuaryfacefarlessresistancethanareaspreviouslyopentopublichunting.Moistsoilmanagementisverycompatiblewithdesirestoreducedownstreamfloodingandimprovewaterquality.Floodreductionbenefitsareparticularlynoteworthyifmanagementsitesareallowedtodewaterinlatefallandearlywintertomaximizeretentionofspringrunoff.However,waterlevelsshouldnotmimicdeepermorepermanentwetlandsinlatesummerorfallbecauseoftheattractivenesstoturtlesseekingoverwinteringareas.Turtlessubjectedtodroppingwaterlevelsduringhibernationcanexperiencehighmortality.Bothfloodreductionandwaterqualitybenefitwhenearlysummerdewateringcanbeaccomplishedwithevaporationratherthancreatingrunoff.


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SITINGCRITERIAFORMOISTSOILMANAGEMENTINMINNESOTA

ThereareclearlyopportunitiestoexpandtheapplicationofmoistsoilmanagementinMinnesota.Theseopportunitiesincludeupgradingcurrentmoistsoilmanagementsitesonmajorwildlifemanagementareas(WMAs),developingadditionalmanagementsitesonmajorWMAs,takingadvantageofpotentialopportunitiesonsmallerWMAs,acquiringnewWMAsforthepurposeofdevelopingmoistsoilmanagement,acquiringordevelopingmanagementagreementswithexistingwildricepaddyoperations,workingwithwatershedmanagementorganizationstocombinemoistsoilmanagementwithfloodcontrolandwaterqualitybenefits,workingwithmunicipalitiesandotherstotransformdecommissionedwatertreatmentlagoonsintomoistsoilsites,andworkingwithlandownerstodevelopmoistsoilmanagementonprivateland.Existingownership,location,topography,soils,watersource,applicableregulations,andcostshouldallplayaroleinprioritizingdevelopmentopportunities.Carefulthoughtshouldbegiventohoweachofthesecriteriaapplytopotentialprojects.

OWNERSHIP

Existingandplannedownershipareimportantdeterminantsofprojectcostandbenefits.Sitescurrentlyinfederal,state,orlocalpublicownershippresentthefewestlegalobstaclestomanagementandhelpinsurealong‐termreturnoninvestments.Areasplannedforfeeacquisitionmustundergotheacquisitionprocessbeforemanagementcanproceed;however,thesesitespresumablyofferbetteropportunitiesfordramaticmanagementchanges,includingsanctuarystatus,sincetheybeginwitha“cleanslate”.Landsunderotherpublicownershipsuchaswatersheddistrictsandwatermanagementorganizationsmayprovideopportunitiesaswell.Theseasonalfloodingprovidedthroughmoistsoilmanagementcanbenefitotherwatermanagementobjectivessuchasfloodwaterreductionandimprovingwaterquality.Privatelandsmayalsoofferopportunitiesthrougheasements,costsharing,ormanagementagreements.TheseeffortswillmostofteninvolvetheU.S.NaturalResourceConservationService,MinnesotaBoardofWaterandSoilResources,andlocalSoilandWaterConservationDistricts.Opportunitiesincludewetlandrestorationandmanagement,sharecropping,managedsanctuaries,orsomecombinationofthese.EstablishedmanagementguidelinesforsitesunderBoardofWaterandSoilResourcesagreementsdoprovideopportunitiesformoistsoilmanagementalthoughaspecificsitemanagementplanwouldneedtobedeveloped(AppendixE).Otherregulationsandagreementsneedtobereviewedtoidentifyadditionalopportunitiesandbarrierstomoistsoilmanagementonprivateland.

LOCATION

Locationwilldeterminethepotentialoverallprojectbenefitstowildlife.Growingseasonsbecomeshorterandfreezeupdatesearlierasprojectlocationsmovenorth(Figure3.Typicalfreezeupdatesin


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Minnesota).Onalandscapelevel,siteswithinthePrairieParklandsProvinceareimportantbecauseofthegreaterlossoftemporaryandseasonalwetlandsinthatportionofthestateandtheproximitytotraditionalmigrationroutes(Figure4.ECSProvinceofMinnesota).ProjectsiteswithinportionsoftheTallgrassAspenParklandandEasternBroadleafForestProvincesaremorelikelytooccurwithinexistinghabitatcomplexesthatattractwaterfowlgiventhatlesshabitatlosshasoccurred.ProjectsitesintheLaurentianMixedForestmayfitwellinrelationtowaterfowluseofwildricelakesorcommercialwildricepaddies. FIGURE3.TYPICALFREEZEUPDATESINMINNESOTA FIGURE4.ECSPROVINCESOFMINNESOTAInanycase,siteslocatedwithinornearexistinghabitatcomplexesandshallowlakesaremorelikelytoprovidebenefitstothehuntingpublicaswellasbenefitstomigratingandbreedingbirds.Habitatcomplexesintheprairieandtransitionalforestzonesaredefinedasaminimumof4mi2with20%wetlandsand40%grasslandsbyarea.Complexesfallingshortoftheseminimumstypicallycontributelittletowaterfowlproductionobjectivesandinsomecasesserveaspopulationsinks.Inaddition,distancetolocalstaffcenterscanbecriticalformanagement.Traveltimesofmorethan60minutesroundtripareproblematicforintensivelymanagedprojectsthatrequiredailyattentionduringfloodingordewatering.Smallerprojectsrelyingonmorepassivemanagementsuchasevaporationrequirelessattention.However,overallthisisasignificantconcerngivencurrentstaffinglevelsandmovestowardsofficeconsolidation.

TOPOGRAPHY

Sitetopographyplaysacriticalroleindevelopingmoistsoilmanagementopportunities.Thebestsiteshavelessthanafootoffallacrosstheareatobeflooded.Whenevaluatingthesesitesitisbestto


17

visualizeneededdikeconstructionalongtopographicalcontoursratherthanstraightlineboundaries.Althoughfollowingcontoursmayincreasethelengthofpotentialdikes,itmaximizestheeffectivepoolandinthelongrunmayprovidethebestcostbenefit.StatewideLiDARmappingtechnologywillsoonbeavailableon‐line.TheonefootcontoursthatLiDARprovideswillbeatremendousassetforinitialscopingofsites.However,on‐sitesurveysarestillanecessityforevaluationofpotentialsitesgiventheveryshallownatureofdesiredpools.ThemajorityofMinnesota’sexistingfederalandstatewildlifeareashavebeenestablishedinareasofrollingtohillyterrain.Althoughopportunitiestoapplymoistsoilmanagementtechniquesexistontheseunitsthesitesmaybelimitedinsize.Ontheotherhand,thesesmallerprojectstypicallyrequireminimalinfrastructuretobecomeoperational.Thebenefitsofmanysmallerprojectsarecumulativeandcanbeparticularlyvaluablewhentheyoccurwithinexistingwetlandhabitatcomplexes.TherearemanyareasalongtheMinnesotaRiver,smallerprairierivers,andtheRedRiverValleythathavetopographysuitableforlargermoistsoilmanagementprojectsites.Inaddition,previouslydrainedshallowlakebasinstypicallyhaveveryflatformerlakebottoms.Theseareasprovidethegreatestopportunitytocombinewildlifeobjectiveswithfloodreductionandwaterqualitybenefits.

SOILS

Themostappropriatesoilsformoistsoilmanagementarehydricsoilsorsoilsthathavelowpermeabilityorarestrictiveunder‐lyinglayer.Soilswithsilt,clay,orloamwillholdwaterandarewellsuitedforimpoundmentconstruction,whilesoilscomposedofcoarsesandorgravelaretooporoustoretainwaterandpoorlysuitedforimpoundments.Thesesoiltexturescanerodeorallowwaterseepagethatmayresultinleveedeterioration,highturbiditylevels,andincreasedcostsformaintainingwaterlevels.Sitesthathavesoilsthatarehydricdueonlytohighwatertablesmaynotbeappropriateifthesoilsareporousandwelldrained.Soilsurveysarecriticaltoevaluatingasiteforpotentialmoistsoilmanagement.Fortunately,Minnesotahasallofitscountysoilmapsavailableon‐line.Thesemapsaregreatresourcesforinitialsoildeterminations.On‐sitesamplingisaprerequisiteforsoundprojectplanning.

WATERSOURCE

Adependablesourceofsurfacewatertoallowforspringandfallfloodingisrequiredtomeettheintensivemanagementdemandsofmoistsoilmanagement.Forexample,the110acreKillenMoistSoilUnitattheLacquiParleWildlifeManagementArearequiresapproximately120milliongallonsofwatertoreachfullpool.Calculationsforneededwatersuppliesshouldbedoneinconsultationwithahydrologistwhiletakingintoaccountsoiltypeandexpectedlossestoevaporationandtranspiration.Gravityfedsystemsareclearlythemostdesirablefromacoststandpoint,however,theopportunitiesforsuchsystemsarelimited.Perchedwetlandsandshallowlakesareobviouspotentialsourcesofwater.Again,calculationsofpotentialwatervolumesfromthesetypesofsourcesneedtotakeintoaccounttheeffectsofsummerevaporationandsoilwettingloss.Itwillnotbeuncommonforsitestorequiretheuseofpumpstoachievefallfloodingobjectives.


18

Theuseofportablepumpsratherthanpermanentinstallationsmaybeentirelyappropriate,particularlywhenmanaginganumberofsmallersiteswithinreasonabletraveldistance.Dieselpoweredpumpswithattachedintakeanddischargeunitsareobviouslythemostportablealthoughthepossibilityofportablepumpsthatcanbeconnectedtopermanentlyinstalledinfrastructureshouldalsobeconsidered.Thecostbenefitintermsofinstallation,longevity,operation,andresultsofthesealternativesneedtobecarefullyweighedinprojectdesign.Thelowestinitialcost,forexample,maybeoutweighedbythelong‐termoperatingcostsinfleetandstaff.Manyidentifiedopportunitieswillbeonsiteswithactivedrainagesystems.Whilemoistsoilmanagementmaybenefitratherthandetractfromafunctioningdrainagesystemitwillbeimportanttoworkwithadjacentlandownersandthelegalditchauthority,ifapplicable,toinsuretherearenolegalorpoliticalimpedimentstofuturemanagement.TheuseofgroundwaterforfloodingmoistsoilsiteswillnotbepermittedbytheDepartmentofNaturalResources.

APPLICABLEREGULATIONS

Anumberofregulationsmayapplytodevelopingandmanagingmoistsoilprojects.Developingmoistsoilmanagementopportunitiestypicallyinvolvestheremovalandplacementoffillforconstructionofdikesandwatercontrolstructures,thegradingordiscingofbottomsoils,appropriatingwaterforflooding,andthedischargeofwaterduringdrawdowns.Anyoneoralloftheseactivitiesmayrequirealocal,state,orfederalpermitdependingonthecircumstancesinvolved(AppendixE.Regulationsaffectingmoistsoilmanagement).Oneofthemostimportantdriversfordevelopmentpermitswillbewhetherornotthemanagementsiteisconsideredtobeajurisdictionalwetlandunderlocal,stateorfederallaw.Itisnotexpectedthattherewillbesignificantwaterqualityconcernswithmoistsoilmanagementsincethemanagementmimicsnaturalseasonalwetlanddynamics.Anyconcernswilllikelyfocusonpotentialchangestonutrientloadingandtheaccumulationofmethylmercuryfromfloodedsoils.Relyingasmuchaspossibleonevaporationtodewatermanagementsiteswillmaximizewaterqualitybenefits.Managersofmoistsoilmanagementsiteswillalsoneedtokeepinmindthefederalregulationsconcerningbaitingofwaterfowlduringthehuntingseason.Ingeneral,themanipulationofnaturalvegetationandthesimpleactoffloodingstandingcropsdoesnotconstitutebaiting.However,cropsharingagreementsorothereffortstoharvestsomeofthecropspriortofloodingmayraisebaitingissues.Baitingregulationsmayapplytowaterfowltakenoutsideofthebaitedareaiftheirbehaviorhasbeeninfluencedbyabaitedfield(AsummaryofbaitingregulationsandenforcementisincludedinAppendixB).AnyquestionsorconcernsthatbaitingregulationsmayaffecttheproposedmanagementshouldberesolvedthroughdiscussionswiththeDivisionofEnforcement.Thekeytominimizingandresolvingregulatoryissuesistoconsultwithlocalagencyrepresentativesearlyintheprojectplanningprocess.Determinationofexemptionsfrompotentiallyapplicableregulationsshouldbeclearlydocumentedandfiledwithintheprojectproposal.


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COST

BasedonthedevelopmentandmanagementcostsassociatedwithexistingmoistsoilmanagementinMinnesota,wecanexpectthattheinitialcostfordevelopment(notincludinglandacquisition)oftraditionalmoistsoilmanagementdesignsmaybeashighas$3,000/surfaceacreormoredependingonsitecharacteristicsandtheamountofinfrastructurerequiredtoachievethedesiredbenefits.Developingsmallerprojectswithgravityflowsystemswillsubstantiallyreducecostswhileincorporatingfloodreductionbenefitsintothedesignwilllikelyincreasecosts.Forexample,theBoisdeSiouxWatershedDistrictcurrentlyestimatesfloodreductioncostsatapproximately$1,000peracrefoot.Ontheotherhand,thetimedreleaseofwaterfromanexistingupstreamwatercontrolstructureonashallowlakeorwildlifeareamaynotincuranyadditionalinitialinvestment.Annualoperatingcostsandlong‐termmaintenancewillalsobehighlyvariable,butareexpectedtobenear$300/acrefortraditionalmanagementsitesincorporatingapumpingsystem.Additionalcostswillbeincurredwhenmoistsoilsitesareplantedwithcrops.MinnesotawilllikelydowelltoheedMissouri’sexperiencewithplantingcropsonmoistsoilareas.OvertimeMissourihasreducedtheplantingofcropstoonlyabout10%oftheirfloodedacreage.Managementrefinementsovertheyearshaveproventheattractivenessandnutritionalbenefitsofnaturalannualplants(TableB).TABLEB.NUTRITIONALVALUEOFMOISTSOILPLANTS

MoistSoilSeeds Inverts Acorns RowCrops

Protein + +++

Lipid ++ +++ +++

Minerals ++ ++

Vitamins ++ ++

Thisemphasisonnaturalplantsprovidesdiversehabitatthatbenefitsavarietyofspecies.Minnesota’scombinationofearlierfreezeupandgreatermixofspeciesintheharvestsuggeststhatnaturalannualplantswillprovidebroaderbenefitswhilestillattractingkeyspecies.Thatsaid,theneedforperiodicdisturbancetosetbacknaturalsuccessionevery3tofiveyearsprovidestheopportunity,ifdesired,toplantcropsforthatyearondisturbedsites.


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DESIGNCONSIDERATIONS

DIKESANDBASINCONTOURING

Theemphasisonshallowwaterduringbothspringandfalliscriticaltosuccessfulapplicationofmoistsoilmanagement.Whiledikeandstructuredesignmustmeetsafetyandlongevitystandards,therewillbemanycaseswheresufficientfreeboardcanbeprovidedandstillberelativelymodeststructures.Themaximumwaterdepthsshouldbecalculatedwithrecognitionofspringrunoff,thewatershedtobasinratio,andthetargetelevationsformanagement.Sitesprovidingfloodreductionbenefitsshouldbedesignedwiththosestressorsinmind.Dikedesignsthatareequaltoorgreaterthan6feetinheighthavetobereviewedbyDNRDamSafetystaffandwilllikelyrequireasafetypermitevenwhenthedikewillnotaffectpublicwaters.Moistsoilunitsinthefloodplainoflargeriversneedtobedesignedtohandleextendedfloodevents.Specialdesignconsiderationssuchasorientation,waveprotectionberms,armoring,floodways,andemergencyspillwaysshouldbeincorporatedintotheinitialconstructiontoavoidremedialrepairsaftertheprojectisinoperation.Windandwaveerosionwithinthebasinsarealsoimportantconsiderationsfordesign.Whenatfullpoolduringspringandfall,openwaterareaswilldevelopduetoheavywaterfowlgrazingandplantsenescence.Whitecapscanbecommononbasins,especiallyinNovember.Largermoistsoilmanagementprojectsshouldideallyhaveseveralimpoundmentsorcellsthatcanbeindependentlymanipulatedtopromotetheproductionofdifferentfoodstoattractdifferentgroupsofwildlife.Multiplebasinsalsoallowthemanagertostaggerthetimingandrateofdrawdownsbetweenindividualcellstopromotethegreatestdiversityofplants.Asimilarpatternshouldberepeatedwhentheindividualcellsarefloodedinthefall.Thelocationofdikesshouldideallyfollowtopographiccontourstomaximizepoolsizewhilemaintainingthetargetdepthsof1footorless.Thesecontourswilloftenprovidetheadditionalbenefitofpresentingamorenaturalappearingbasinwithadditionaledge.Althoughfollowingcontoursmayincreasethelengthofpotentialdikes,itmaximizestheeffectivepoolandinthelongrunmayprovidethebestcostbenefit.Theselecteddesignshouldbedrivenbytheprojectobjectives.Constructiondesignmustavoidremovingmaterialadjacenttotheproposeddikelocationsforbuildingmaterialifthatremovalwillcreateopenwaterthatwillattractmuskratsorbeaver.Theintegrityofdikescanbeunderminedbytunnelingandbankdenningactivities.Thesedeeperareascanalsobecomeproblemsourceareasforhybridcattailencroachmentandinvasivefishsurvival.Thetopographyoftheproposedbasinmaybesoflatthatcontouringisnecessarytoprovideadiversityofwaterdepths.Thisworkshouldbedoneafterthedikesareconstructedbutbeforeanyfloodingtakesplace.Carefullyconsidertheneedforthisgiventhatthemaximumtargetfloodingdepthisapproximately12inches.Tillagemaybeallthatisneededtocreatethedesiredvariability.


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BLINDSANDHUNTERDENSITY

Developingspecifichuntingorobservationblindlocationscanfacilitatethemanagementofbothusernumbersandlocation.Duringbottomcontouring,considertheestablishmentofdrylandcorridorsfromhighgroundtotheblindlocationtoallowforeasieraccessbyphysicallychallengedusers.Thedensityofestablishedblindswillvarysomewhatwiththesizeandconfigurationofthebasin.Ingeneralblindsshouldbespacednocloserthan200yardsapart.TheMissouriDepartmentofConservationavoidshunterdensitiesgreaterthanonepartyper40acresontheirmanagedunits.

INVASIVESPECIES

Invasivespeciessuchashybridcattail,reedcanarygrass,purpleloosestrife,andtheinvasiveformofphragmitieswillbemanagementchallengesonmoistsoilmanagementsites.Initialtreatmentshouldtakeplacebeforethemanagementpoolsareoperational.Insomecasescontrolmeasuresmaybenecessaryforseveralyearspriortoactivationofthewaterlevelmanagement.Inothercasescontrolmeasurescanbeincorporatedintoongoingmanagementplans.Avoidanydesignspecificationsthatwillcreatedeeperareasthatcannotbedewateredanddriedsufficientlytoallowcultivationwhennecessary.

MANAGINGWATER

Theremustbeasysteminplacetoefficientlyremovewatertofacilitatethesummerdrawdown.Inmostsituationsthenaturalslopeofthepoolandaproperlylocatedoutletstructureofadequatesizewillbeallthatisneeded.However,therewillbecaseswheresomethingmoreelaboratewillberequiredinordertodrythepoolsufficientlytoallowphysicaldisturbanceofthesoilortheplantingofcrops.Inthesecases,openditcheswithinthemanagementpoolshouldbeviewedwithcaution.Abetterapproachmightbetoinstallacontrolleddrainagesystemwithpatterntilingandanin‐linewaterlevelcontrolstructure.Anaddedbenefitofsuchasystemismoreprecisecontrolofsoilmoisturehorizons.Insomerarecasesapumpingsystemtoremovewaterwillberequired.Inmanycasesthebiggestdesignhurdletoovercomewillbetheinfrastructureandwatersourcetofacilitatefallflooding.Basedonexperienceitisfairtosayprecipitationwillrarelyarriveinaconvenientmanner.Gravityflowfromareliableupstreamsourceisthebestoptioninthosefewsituationswhereitisavailable.Pumpingsystemsprovidethemostrefinedcontrolwhenareliablesourceofsurfacewaterisavailable.Pumpsmustbeadequatelysizedfortheprojectrecognizingthatfloodingrateswillbeverygradual.Pumpssizedtoruncontinuouslyduringfloodingratherthanbeingturnedoffandonwillhavealongerlife.


22


23

SPECIALMANAGEMENTCONSIDERATIONS

Inadditiontotraditionalapproachestomoistsoilmanagement,Minnesotahasanumberofopportunitiesfortheapplicationofsomeorallmoistmanagementtechniquesthatmaynotbereadilyapparent.Intakingadvantageoftheseopportunitiesitiscriticalthatthebasicconceptsofveryshallowwater,emphasisonannualplants,seasonalchangesinwaterlevels,andtheneedforreductionofdisturbancetofeedingbirdsbekeptinmind.ExamplesofthesemanagementeffortsarefoundinAppendixA.

NATURALSEASONALWETLANDS

TooofteninMinnesotathefewremainingseasonalwetlandsinalocalareawillbedominatedbycattail(usuallyhybrid)andreedcanarygrass.Ifthewaterregimeisreasonablyintact,themanagementthrustshouldbetoapplydisturbancetosetbackthesuccessionoftheemergentplantstomoistsoilannuals.Timelymowing,herbicideapplications,summerburns,grazing,ormechanicalsoildisturbanceareallpossibletreatments.Treatmentstoreducecattail,includingburning,shouldbeappliedpostfloweringinlateJulyorearlyAugustforthebestresults.Reedcanarygrassrespondsbesttotreatmentsinearlyfallasitresumesreplenishmentofrootsystems.Inaddition,naturalseasonalwetlandscanoftenbeenhancedbyartificiallyaddingwaterinthefallwithpumpingorgravityflow.

NATURALPERMANENTWETLANDSANDSHALLOWLAKES

Qualityissuesonpermanentwetlandsaregenerallyrelatedtothepresenceofundesirablefish.Bringingwaterlevelsdowninlatesummerwillallowturtlesandamphibianstolocatealternativehibernaculumwhileinsuringsignificantwinterkilloffish.Thelowerwaterlevelswillalsoprovideattractivefeedingconditionsforwaterfowlandshorebirds.Bringingthewaterlevelsbackupwithspringrunoffcanhelpavoidundesirableexpansionsofhybridcattailifthecattailiswellrooted.Thekeymoistsoilconceptstobeappliedaretheemphasisonshallowwaterdepthsandgradualchangesinwaterlevels(ideally1inch/day)duringdrawdownsandreflooding.Theadditionofpumpstothewaterlevelcontrolsystemscanprovideconsiderablygreaterprecisiontothewaterlevelmanagement.

MISSISSIPPIRIVERPOOLS

Overthelast10decadeapartnershipincludingMNDNR,WIDNR,U.S.FishandWildlifeService,andtheArmyCorpofEngineershavebeendoingwaterleveldrawdownprojectsonvariousMississippiRiverpoolscreatedbythelockanddamsystem.Theseprojectsareintendedtoimproveaquaticvegetation,andhavealsoresultedinsubstantiallyincreasedwaterfowluse.Whilethesearenottraditionalmoistsoilmanagementprojectstheydoprovidemanyofthesamebenefitswhenthedrawdownscanbetimedforlatespringandearlysummer.Thedrawdownsarechallengingtoachievebecauseofthecoordinationrequiredtoalternormaloperatingplansandtheeffectsofweather.


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DRAINEDLAKEORWETLANDBASINS

Thetraditionalapproachtotherestorationofdrainedwetlandandshallowlakebasinshasbeentoestablishrunoutelevationsascloseaspossibletohistoricallevels.Giventheneedforseasonalwetlandhabitat,considerationshouldalsobegiventousingthebasinrestorationtoprovidetheneededbalance(50%temporaryandseasonalwetlands)withintheexistingwetlandhabitatcomplex.Inmanycases,betterresponsebywetlandwildlife,floodwaterretention,andimprovedwaterqualitycanbeaccomplishedbymanagingthesitewithmoistsoilmanagementprinciplestoincreaseavailableseasonalwetlandhabitat.

FARMEDWETLANDBASINS

Previouslydrainedcroplandisrarelyconsideredanopportunityforwetlandmanagementwithoutceasingcropproductionandfullyrestoringthewetlandhydrology.However,itmayalsobepossibletoalsoconsiderthepartialrestorationoftemporaryandseasonalwetlandsonfarmedcroplandswhileimprovingcropproduction.Assistinglandownerswiththereplacementofopenditchoropentileinletdrainagesystemswithacontrolleddrainagesystememployingpatterntilingandin‐linecontrolstructurescanprovidesatellitetemporaryspringwetlandsinareaswheretheycontributetoexistingwetlandcomplexes.Forexample,thecostshareagreementcouldincludethecommitmentofthelandownertoretainwateruntilMay1stfiveoutoftenyears.Thebenefittothelandownerisimprovedsoildrainagewhilethebenefittowildlifeisthefoodprovidedbyfloodedharvestedcropland.


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Appendix


26

APPENDIXA.CASESTUDIES‐SPECIALMANAGEMENTCONSIDERATIONS

NATURALSEASONALWETLANDS

TEALLAKEWMA Ownership:MnDNR

Location:Section30‐T104N‐R36W,DelafieldTwp,JacksonCounty.ApproximatelytwomilessouthoftheTownofWilder,MN.

Type:NaturalSeasonalBasin

HabitatComplex:Locatedwithinthe120acreTealLakeWMAandadjacenttothemorethan1700acreTimberLakeWMA/WPAcomplex.Itisalsowithin2milesofHeronLake.

StaffingCenter:WindomAreaDNRofficeislocatedapproximately10milesfromthewetland.Other

laborandequipmentneedsareprovidedbytheTalcotWMAunitheadquartersapproximately20milesaway.

SiteTopography:Thewetlandbottomisslightlyirregularwithchangesofapproximatelyonefoot.

Soils:ClayLoamNinety‐acreTealLakewithawatershedofapproximately800acres.FarmershadusedTealLakesincethe1930’sasastorageareaforagdrainagewatercomingfromtheirtilelines.Waterwasdischargedfromthelakeonlywhenthe10‐inchtileoutletcouldhandleitandnodownstream

floodingofagriculturalcropsoccurred.Anyremainingwaterinthelake,aboveacertainelevation,wasthendrainedoutaftercropharvesttomaximizestoragepotentialforthefollowingyear.

Neededinfrastructure:Controlstructureonthewetlandwasinstalledin2006.NewstructuresforTealLakeareplannedforthefuturetoallowcompletedrawdownofthelakeandstillallowsomedischargethruthiswetland.

Applicableregulations:ThisisarestoredwetlandlocatedonaWMA.Thereforethereisconsiderablelegallatitudeinwaterlevelmanagement.

ELDORADOWMA Ownership:MNDNR

Location:Section13,EldoradoTownship,PopeCounty

Type:NaturalSeasonalBasin

HabitatComplex:SeveralWMAs,WPAsandWRPsitesoccurwithin4squaremiles.TheEldoradoWMAis300acres.Therewerethreetreatedseasonalwetlandscoveringapproximately10acres.

StaffingCenter:45miles(Ihour)fromtheareawildlifeoffice

SiteTopography:Flat.


27

Soils:Hydric

WaterSource:Precipitation

NeededInfrastructure:Noadditionalinfrastructurewasrequired.Thebasinsweretreatedbyhayingin2007andmowingin2010.Themowingwasonlypartiallysuccessfulduetowetconditions.Mid‐summercuttingwouldbethemostadvantageousforencouragingannualmoistsoilplants.

ApplicableRegulations:None

Cost:Thehayingincurrednodirectcosts.Mowingwasaccomplishedatarateof$60/hourcovering2‐3acres/hour.

DRAINEDLAKEORWETLANDBASINS

LINESWMAOwnership:MNDNR

Location:Section23,T113N,R40W,LucasTownship,LyonsCounty

Type:DrainedWetlandBasin

HabitatComplex:TherearesixWMAswithin2milesofLinesWMA.LinesWMAis572acreswithamixtureofemergentwetland,grasslandandcropland.Themanagedbasinisadrained51acreshallowlakethatwillbetypicallyfloodedseasonallytocover33acres.

StaffingCenter:Thesiteis21milesfromtheareawildlifeoffice.

SiteTopography:Flat

Soils:Hydric

WaterSource:Countyditchesandprecipitation.ThereisalsothepossibilityofcapturingrunofffromLadySlipperLake.

NeededInfrastructure:TheoutlettilefromthebasinisfittedwithanAgridrainplasticwatercontrolstructure.

ApplicableRegulations:None,althoughtheLyonCountyboardwasbriefedontheplannedinstallation.

Cost:TBA

FARMEDWETLANDBASINS

WORKINGLANDSINITIATIVE Ownership:Private,BrentOlsonLocation:Sections1‐5,8‐11&14‐23,OtreyTownship,BigStoneCountyType:FarmedWetlandBasinHabitatComplex:Twodrainedwetlandbasins(5acresand10acres)withina14mi2areaofpredominatelyprivatelandwithalandusedominatedbyrowcropping,withsomesmallgraincrop,alfalfahayingandcattlegrazingpractices.ThereareseveralWPAsandWMAswithinthefocusarea,as


28

wellasFWShabitateasementsandgrasslandeasements.SomeprivatewetlandsandgrasslandshavetemporaryprotectionunderFederalConservationPrograms.TheareaiswithintheMNRiverLCMRCorridorandalsoidentifiedbyDNRandFWSthunderstormmodelingashighestPriorityWetlandandGrasslandConservationrankings.StaffingCenter:32milestoLacquiParleWMAheadquarters.SiteTopography:Flat.Soils:Hydric.WaterSource:Precipitationandcontributingrunoff.NeededInfrastructure:Replaceexistingtilewithpatterntileandtilegates(watercontrolstructures).UnderaUSFWSPartnersforFishandWildlifeagreement,thelandowneragreestoclosethetilegatesaftercompletionoffalltillage.Onyearswhenthetiledwetlandsaretobeplantedtosoybeans(roughly5timesduringthe10yearagreementforeachwetland)heleavesthegatescloseduntilMay1.ThelandownerhastheoptionofeitherleavingopenorclosingthegatesuntilearlyAprilonyearswhenthedrainedwetlandsareplantedtocropsotherthansoybeans.Theneteffectwouldbetochangethefunctionofthesewetlandsfromafullydrainedstatetoactingasephemeralwetlandsroughly5yearsoutof10.ApplicableRegulations:None.Thetwobasinswerepreviouslydrainedandconvertedtocropland.Cost:$19,000(Landownercontributed$10,000ofthetotal,USFWScontributed$9,000)


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APPENDIXB.OVERVIEWOFBAITINGREGULATIONS

WATERFOWLHUNTINGANDBAITING

WaterfowlandothermigratorybirdsareanationalresourceprotectedundertheMigratoryBirdTreatyAct.Huntingwaterfowlisapopularsportinmanypartsofthecountry.FederalandStateregulationshelpensurethatthesebirdscontinuetothrivewhileprovidinghuntingopportunities.

Federalbaitingregulationsdefinekeytermsforhuntersandlandmanagers,andclarifyconditionsunder

whichyoumaylegallyhuntwaterfowl.Asawaterfowlhunterorlandmanager,itisyourresponsibilitytoknowandobeyallFederalandStatelawsthatgovernthesport.StateregulationscanbemorerestrictivethanFederalregulations.

Waterfowlbaitingregulationsapplytoducks,geese,swans,coots,andcranes.

Federalregulationsaremorerestrictiveforwaterfowlhuntingthanforhuntingdovesandother

migratorygamebirds.YoushouldcarefullyreviewtheFederalregulations.Youmayalsowanttocheckourinformationondovehuntingandbaiting.

WHATISBAITING?

Youcannothuntwaterfowlbytheaidofbaitingoronoroveranybaitedareawhereyouknoworreasonablyshouldknowthattheareaisorhasbeenbaited.

Baitingisthedirectorindirectplacing,exposing,depositing,distributing,orscatteringofsalt,grain,or

otherfeedthatcouldlureorattractwaterfowlto,on,oroveranyareaswherehuntersareattemptingtotakethem.

Abaitedareaisanyareaonwhichsalt,grain,orotherfeedhasbeenplaced,exposed,deposited,

distributed,orscattered,ifthatsalt,grain,orfeedcouldserveasalureorattractionforwaterfowl.

THE10‐DAYRULE

Abaitedarearemainsofflimitstohuntingfor10daysafterallsalt,grain,orotherfeedhasbeencompletelyremoved.Thisrulerecognizesthatwaterfowlwillstillbeattractedtothesameareaevenafterthebaitisgone.

WATERFOWLHUNTINGONAGRICULTURALLANDS

Agriculturallandsofferprimewaterfowlhuntingopportunities.Youcanhuntwaterfowlinfieldsofunharvestedstandingcrops.Youcanalsohuntoverstandingcropsthathavebeenflooded.Youcanfloodfieldsaftercropsareharvestedandusetheseareasforwaterfowlhunting.


30

Thepresenceofseedorgraininanagriculturalarearulesoutwaterfowlhuntingunlesstheseedorgrainisscatteredsolelyastheresultofanormalagriculturalplanting,normalagriculturalharvesting,

normalagriculturalpost‐harvestmanipulation,ornormalsoilstabilizationpractice.

TheseactivitiesmustbeconductedinaccordancewithrecommendationsoftheStateExtensionSpecialistsoftheCooperativeStateResearch,Education,andExtensionServiceoftheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture(CooperativeExtensionService).

PLANTING

Anormalagriculturalplantingisundertakenforthepurposeofproducingacrop.TheFishandWildlifeServicedoesnotmakeadistinctionbetweenagriculturalfieldsplantedwiththeintenttoharvestacropandthoseplantedwithoutsuchintentsolongastheplantingisinaccordancewithrecommendationsfromtheCooperativeExtensionService.

Normalagriculturalplantingsdonotinvolvetheplacementofseedsinpilesorotherheavy

concentrations.Relevantfactorsincluderecommendedplantingdates,properseeddistribution,seedbedpreparation,applicationrate,andseedviability.

Anormalsoilstabilizationpracticeisaplantingforagriculturalsoilerosioncontrolorpost‐mininglandreclamationconductedinaccordancewithrecommendationsoftheCooperativeExtensionService.

Landsplantedbymeansoftopsowingoraerialseedingcanonlybehuntedifseedsarepresentsolelyas

theresultofanormalagriculturalplantingornormalsoilstabilizationpractice(seesectiononwildlifefoodplots).

HARVESTING&POST‐HARVESTMANIPULATION

Anormalagriculturalharvestisundertakenforthepurposeofgatheringacrop.Ingeneral,thepresenceoflongrows,piles,orotherheavyconcentrationsofgrainshouldraisequestionsaboutthe

legalityoftheareaforwaterfowlhunting.

Anormalpost‐harvestmanipulationfirstrequiresanormalagriculturalharvestandremovalofgrainbeforeanymanipulationofremainingagriculturalvegetation,suchascornstubbleorricestubble.

Tobeconsiderednormal,anagriculturalplanting,agriculturalharvesting,andagriculturalpost‐harvest

manipulationmustbeconductedinaccordancewithrecommendationsoftheCooperativeExtensionService(i.e.,plantingdates,applicationrates,etc.).However,theFishandWildlifeServicewillcontinuetomakefinaldeterminationsaboutwhethertheserecommendationswerefollowed.

Huntersshouldbeawarethatnormalharvestingpracticescanbeuniquetospecificpartsofthecountry.

Forexample,swathingwheatcropsisapartofthenormalharvestingprocessrecommendedbytheCooperativeExtensionServiceinsomeareasoftheupperMidwest.Duringthisprocess,wheatiscut,placedintorows,andleftinthefieldforseveraldaysuntilitdries.Huntingwaterfowloveraswathed


31

wheatfieldduringtherecommendeddryingperiodislegal.Itisillegaltohuntwaterfowloverswathedwheatthatbecomesunmarketableorthatisleftinthefieldpasttherecommendeddryingperiod

becausethesesituationsarenotnormalharvests.

MANIPULATIONOFAGRICULTURALCROPS

Youcannotlegallyhuntwaterfowlovermanipulatedagriculturalcropsexceptafterthefieldhasbeensubjecttoanormalharvestandremovalofgrain(i.e.,post‐harvestmanipulation).

Manipulationincludes,butisnotlimitedto,suchactivitiesasmowing,shredding,discing,rolling,chopping,trampling,flattening,burning,orherbicidetreatments.Grainorseedwhichispresentasa

resultofamanipulationthattookplacepriortoanormalharvestisbait.Forexample,nohuntingcouldlegallyoccuronoroverafieldwhereacorncrophasbeenknockeddownbyamotorizedvehicle.Kernelsofcornwouldbeexposedand/orscattered.

If,forwhateverreason,anagriculturalcroporaportionofanagriculturalcrophasnotbeenharvested

(i.e.,equipmentfailure,weather,insectinfestation,disease,etc.)andthecroporremainingportionofthecrophasbeenmanipulated,thentheareaisabaitedareaandcannotbelegallyhuntedforwaterfowl.Forexample,nowaterfowlhuntingcouldlegallyoccuronoroverafieldofsweetcornthat

hasbeenpartiallyharvestedandtheremaindermowed.

WILDLIFEFOODPLOTS

Youcannotlegallyhuntwaterfowloverfreshlyplantedwildlifefoodplotswheregrainorseedhasbeen

distributed,scattered,orexposedbecausetheseplotsarenotnormalagriculturalplantingsornormalsoilstabilizationpractices.Wildlifefoodplotsmaybeconsideredanormalagriculturalpractice,butthey

donotmeetthedefinitionofanormalagriculturalplanting,harvest,post‐harvestmanipulation,oranormalsoilstabilizationpractice.

OTHERAGRICULTURALCONCERNS

Youcannothuntwaterfowlonoroverareaswherefarmersfeedgraintolivestock,storegrain,orengageinothernormalagriculturalpracticesthatdonotmeetthedefinitionofanormalagricultural

planting,harvest,orpost‐harvestmanipulation.

HUNTINGOVERNATURALVEGETATION

Naturalvegetationisanynon‐agricultural,native,ornaturalizedplantspeciesthatgrowsatasiteinresponsetoplantingorfromexistingseedsorotherpropagules.

Naturalvegetationdoesnotincludeplantedmilletbecauseofitsuseasbothanagriculturalcropandaspeciesofnaturalvegetationformoistsoilmanagement.However,plantedmilletthatgrowsonitsown

insubsequentyearsisconsiderednaturalvegetation.


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Ifyourestoreandmanagewetlandsashabitatforwaterfowlandothermigratorybirds,youcanmanipulatethenaturalvegetationintheseareasandmakethemavailableforhunting.

Naturalvegetationdoesnotincludeplantsgrownasagriculturalcrops.Undernocircumstancescanyou

huntwaterfowlovermanipulatedcropspriortoanormalharvest.Norcanyouhuntwaterfowlovermanipulatedwildlifefoodplotsormanipulatedplantingsforsoilstabilization.

PROBLEMAREAS

FEEDINGWATERFOWLANDOTHERWILDLIFE

Manypeoplefeedwaterfowlforthepleasureofbirdwatching.Itisillegaltohuntwaterfowlinanareawheresuchfeedinghasoccurredthatcouldlureorattractmigratorygamebirdsto,on,oroveranyareawherehuntersareattemptingtotakethem.The10‐dayruleappliestosuchareas,andanysalt,grain,orfeedmustbegone10daysbeforehunting.Theuseofsandandshellgritisnotprohibited.

Insomeareas,itisalegalhuntingpracticetoplacegraintoattractsomeState‐protectedgamespecies

(i.e.,white‐taileddeer).Buttheseareaswouldbeillegalforwaterfowlhunting,andthe10‐dayrulewouldapply.

DISTANCE

Howclosetobaitcanyouhuntwithoutbreakingthelaw?Thereisnosetdistance.Thelawprohibitshuntingifbaitispresentthatcouldlureorattractbirdsto,on,oroverareaswherehuntersareattemptingtotakethem.Distancewillvarydependingonthecircumstancesandsuchfactorsastopography,weather,andwaterfowlflightpatterns.Therefore,thisquestioncanonlybeansweredonacase‐by‐casebasis.

WHATISLEGAL?

Youcanhuntwaterfowlonoroverorfrom:

• Standingcropsorfloodedstandingcrops,includingaquaticplants.• Standing,flooded,ormanipulatednaturalvegetation.• Floodedharvestedcroplands.• Landsorareaswheregrainshavebeenscatteredsolelyastheresultofanormalagricultural

planting,harvesting,orpost‐harvestmanipulation.• Landsorareaswheretop‐sownseedshavebeenscatteredsolelyastheresultofanormal

agriculturalplanting,oraplantingforagriculturalsoilerosioncontrolorpost‐mininglandreclamation.

• Ablindorotherplaceofconcealmentcamouflagedwithnaturalvegetation.• Ablindorotherplaceofconcealmentcamouflagedwithvegetationfromagriculturalcrops,

providedyouruseofsuchvegetationdoesnotexpose,deposit,distributeorscattergrainorotherfeed.


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• Standingorfloodedstandingcropswheregrainisinadvertentlyscatteredsolelyastheresultofhuntersenteringorleavingthearea,placingdecoys,orretrievingdownedbirds.Huntersarecautionedthatwhileconductingtheseactivities,anyintentionalscatteringofgrainwillcreateabaitedarea.

WHATISILLEGAL?

Someexamplesofareaswhereyoucannothuntwaterfowlinclude:

• Areaswheregrainorseedhasbeentop‐sownandtheCooperativeExtensionServicedoesnotrecommendthepracticeoftopsowing(seesectiononwildlifefoodplots).

• CropsthathavebeenharvestedoutsideoftherecommendedharvestdatesestablishedbytheCooperativeExtensionService(includinganysubsequentpost‐harvestmanipulations).

• Unharvestedcropsthathavebeentrampledbylivestockorsubjectedtoothertypesofmanipulationsthatdistribute,scatter,orexposegrain

• Areaswheregrainispresentandstored,suchasgrainelevatorsandgrainbins.• Areaswheregrainispresentforthepurposeoffeedinglivestock.• Freshlyplantedwildlifefoodplotsthatcontainexposedgrain.• Croplandswhereacrophasbeenharvestedandtheremovedgrainisredistributedor“added

back”ontotheareawheregrown.

THESEEXAMPLESDONOTREPRESENTANALL‐INCLUSIVELISTOFWATERFOWLBAITINGVIOLATIONS.

THEHUNTER’SRESPONSIBILITY

Asawaterfowlhunter,youareresponsiblefordeterminingwhetheryourproposedhuntingareaisbaited.Beforehunting,youshould:

• FamiliarizeyourselfwithFederalandStatewaterfowlhuntingregulations.

• Askthelandowner,yourhostorguide,andyourhuntingpartnersiftheareahasbeenbaitedandinspecttheareaforthepresenceofbait.

• Suspectthepresenceofbaitifyouseewaterfowlfeedinginaparticularareainunusuallylarge

concentrationsordisplayingalackofcaution.• Lookforgrainorotherfeedinthewater,alongtheshore,andonthefield.Payparticular

attentiontothepresenceofspilledgrainonharvestedfieldsandseedsplantedbymeansoftop

sowing.• Confirmthatscatteredseedsorgrainsonagriculturallandsarepresentsolelyastheresultofa

normalagriculturalplanting,normalagriculturalharvesting,normalagriculturalpost‐harvestmanipulation,ornormalsoilstabilizationpracticebyconsultingtheCooperativeExtensionService.

• Abandonthehuntingsiteifyoufindgrainorfeedinanareaandareuncertainaboutwhyitisthere.


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OTHERRESPONSIBILITIES

Ifyoupreparelandsforhunting,participateinsuchpreparations,ordirectsuchpreparations,itisimportantforyoutoknowandunderstandwhatpracticesconstitutebaiting.Youshouldknowwhat

activitiesconstitutebaitingandwhenlandsorotherareaswouldbeconsideredbaitedbeforesuchareasarehunted.Ifyoubaitordirectthatanareabebaitedandallowwaterfowlhuntingtoproceed,youriskbeingchargedwithanoffensethatcarriessignificantpenalties.

OVERVIEWOFOTHERREGULATIONS

AdditionalFederalandStateregulationsapplytowaterfowlhunting,includingthosesummarizedbelow.

Illegalhuntingmethods.Youcannothuntwaterfowl:

• Withatrap,snare,net,rifle,pistol,swivelgun,shotgunlargerthan10gauge,puntgun,batterygun,machinegun,fishhook,poison,drug,explosive,orstupefyingsubstance.

• Fromasinkboxoranyotherlowfloatingdevicethatconcealsyoubeneaththesurfaceofthe

water.• Fromamotorboatorsailboat,unlessyoushutthemotorofforfurlthesailandthevesselisno

longerinmotion.

• Usinglivebirdsasdecoys.• Whilepossessinganyshototherthanapprovednontoxicshot.• Fromorbymeans,aid,oruseofanymotorvehicle,motor‐drivenlandconveyance,oraircraft(if

youareaparaplegicoraremissingoneorbothlegs,youmayhuntfromastationarycarorotherstationarymotor‐drivenlandvehicleorconveyance).

• Usingrecordedorelectricallyamplifiedbirdcallsorsounds,orimitationsofthesecallsand

sounds• Withashotgunthatcanholdmorethanthreeshells,unlessyouplugitwithaone‐piecefiller

thatcannotberemovedwithoutdisassemblingthegun.

(Thelattertworestrictionsdonotapplyduringlight‐goose‐onlyseasonsincertainauthorizedareasoftheCentralandMississippiFlyways.)

Shootinghours.Youcannothuntwaterfowlexceptduringthehoursopentoshooting.

Closedseason.Youcannothuntwaterfowlduringtheclosedseason.

Dailybaglimit.Youcantakeonlyonedailybaglimitinanyoneday.Thislimitdeterminesthenumberofwaterfowlyoumaylegallyhaveinyourpossessionwhileinthefieldorwhileinroutebacktoyourcar,

huntingcamp,home,orotherdestination.

Wantonwaste.Youmustmakeareasonableefforttoretrieveallwaterfowlthatyoukillorcrippleandkeepthesebirdsinyouractualcustodywhileinthefield.Youmustimmediatelykillanywoundedbirdsthatyouretrieveandcountthosebirdstowardyourdailybaglimit.


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Tagging.Youcannotputorleavewaterfowlatanyplaceorinthecustodyofanotherpersonunlessyoutagthebirdswithyoursignature,address,numberofbirdsidentifiedbyspecies,andthedateyoukilled

them.

Rallying.Youcannothuntwaterfowlthathavebeenconcentrated,driven,rallied,orstirredupwithamotorizedvehicleorsailboat.

Dressing.Youcannotcompletelyfield‐dresswaterfowlbeforetakingthemfromthefield.Theheadoronefully‐featheredwingmustremainattachedtothebirdswhileyoutransportthemtoyourhomeor

toafacilitythatprocesseswaterfowl.

Dualviolation.AviolationofaStatewaterfowlhuntingregulationisalsoaviolationofFederalregulations.

Duckstamp.Ifyouare16orolder,youmustcarryonyourpersonanunexpiredFederalmigratorybirdhuntingandconservationstamp.Youmustvalidateyourduckstampbysigningitininkacrosstheface

beforehunting.

MigratoryBirdHarvestInformationProgram(HIP).UnlessexemptfromlicenserequirementsintheStatewhereyouarehunting,youmustenrollintheHIPandcarryproofofcurrentenrollmentwhilehunting.

Protectedbirds.Federallawprohibitsthekillingofnon‐gamemigratorybirds.Protectedbirdsthatyoucouldencounterwhilewaterfowlhuntingincludesongbirds,eagles,hawks,owls,vultures,herons,

egrets,andwoodpeckers.

Bandedbirds.WaterfowlhuntersareencouragedtoreportbandedbirdstotheU.S.FishandWildlifeServicetoll‐freebirdbandreporthotlineat1‐800/327‐2263.

EXCERPTSFROMTITLE50,CODEOFFEDERALREGULATIONS,PART20.21(I)

Nopersonsshalltakemigratorygamebirds:

(i)Bytheaidofbaiting,oronoroveranybaitedarea,whereapersonknowsorreasonablyshouldknow

thattheareaisorhasbeenbaited.However,nothinginthisparagraphprohibits:

(1)Thetakingofanymigratorygamebird,includingwaterfowl,coots,andcranes,onoroverthefollowinglandsorareasthatarenototherwisebaitedareas‐‐

(i)Standingcropsorfloodedstandingcrops(includingaquatics);standing,flooded,ormanipulated

naturalvegetation;floodedharvestedcroplands;orlandsorareaswhereseedsorgrainshavebeenscatteredsolelyastheresultofanormalagriculturalplanting,harvesting,post‐harvestmanipulationornormalsoilstabilizationpractice;

(ii)Fromablindorotherplaceofconcealmentcamouflagedwithnaturalvegetation;


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(iii)Fromablindorotherplaceofconcealmentcamouflagedwithvegetationfromagriculturalcrops,aslongassuchcamouflagingdoesnotresultintheexposing,depositing,distributingorscatteringofgrain

orotherfeed;or

(iv)Standingorfloodedstandingagriculturalcropswheregrainisinadvertentlyscatteredsolelyasaresultofahunterenteringorexitingahuntingarea,placingdecoys,orretrievingdownedbirds.

(2)Thetakingofanymigratorygamebird,exceptwaterfowl,cootsandcranes,onoroverlandsorareasthatarenototherwisebaitedareas,andwheregrainorotherfeedhasbeendistributedorscattered

solelyastheresultofmanipulationofanagriculturalcroporotherfeedonthelandwheregrown,orsolelyastheresultofanormalagriculturaloperation.

FORMOREINFORMATION

Ifyouhaveadditionalquestionsaboutwaterfowlhuntingandthelaw,contactthenearestU.S.FishandWildlifeServicelawenforcementofficeoroneoftheService’sregionallawenforcementofficeslisted

below.YoushouldalsoconsulttheappropriateStateconservationagencytodeterminewhatStateregulationsapply.

IL,IN,IA,MI,MN,MO,OH,WI

U.S.FishandWildlifeServiceOfficeofLawEnforcementP.O.Box45,FederalBuildingFortSnelling,Minnesota55111‐0045

Telephone:612/713‐5320


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APPENDIXC.RESTAREAOPTIONS

SUMMARYOFOPTIONSFORINCREASINGWATERFOWLRESTAREAS

Thereareseveralmanagementapproachesavailablethroughourpresentlegalsystem.Forthepurposesofthisdiscussiontheseapproachesaregroupedbytheirprimaryimpactontheuser.Theimpactsarerestrictingmotorizeduse,restrictinghuntingandrestrictingtrespass.Thestatutesprovidingthelegal

frameworkforthesemanagementoptionsarepresentedattheendofthedocument.

RESTRICTINGMOTORIZEDWATERCRAFT

LOCALWATERSURFACEUSEMANAGEMENT

Purpose:Imposerestrictionswhereappropriateonspeed,traveldirection,motortypeandsize,ortimeandareazoning.Mostoftenusedtoaddresssafetyconcernsalthoughmaybeusedtoreducedisturbancetowildlife.

Procedure:Citizenconcernsarebroughttothelocalunitofgovernmentwherethelakeorriverislocated.Proposedordinancesaresubjecttoalocalpublichearingandapprovalbythelocalunitofgovernment.MustalsobeapprovedbytheDepartmentofNaturalResources.OrTheDepartmentofNaturalResourcesmayrestrictmotorizeduseonlakesformallydesignatedforwildlifemanagement.SeeWildlifeManagementLakebelow.Statute:86B.205,97A.101


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WATERFOWLFEEDINGANDRESTINGAREAS

Purpose:Prohibittheuseofmotorizedwatercraftonpartorallofalake.Mayormaynotallowtheuseof12voltorlesselectricmotors.

Procedure:Departmentreceivesapetitionfrom10local,resident,licensedhunters.Proposalisannouncedthroughnewsreleasesandconsideredattheannualpublicinputmeetingsinlatewinter.ProposalandcommentsareconsideredforrecommendationbytheDivisionofFishandWildlife’sWaterfowlPolicyCommittee.Departmentmakesthefinaldetermination.PetitionsshouldbepresentedtotheDivisionofFishandWildlifebeforeDecember31toinsureconsiderationforthefollowingyear.

Statute:97A.095subd.2

WILDLIFEMANAGEMENTLAKE(DESIGNATEDWILDLIFELAKE)

Purpose:Restrictionsonmotorizedwatercraftandrecreationalvehiclesmaybeconsideredaspartoftheapprovedlakemanagementplan.

Procedure:Lakemustbeformallydesignatedforwildlifemanagementthroughapublichearingprocess.Proposedrestrictionsareannouncedandconsideredatlocalpublicinformationmeetingsandtheformalhearingaspartofthedraftmanagementplan.Restrictionsproposedforexistingdesignatedlakesareincludedinadraftrevisionofthemanagementplanandconsideredatlocalinputmeetings.TheplanisapprovedbytheDepartment.

Statute:97A.101

RESTRICTINGHUNTING

STATEGAMEREFUGE

Purpose:Prohibitthehuntingortrappingofsomeorallwildanimalswithinageographicarea.AnexampleofapartialrestrictionwouldbeaStateGooseRefuge.Maybeopenorclosedatthediscretionofthecommissioner.

Procedure:MaybedesignatedbytheCommissionerifmorethan50%oftheproposedareaispubliclyowned.Theproposedareamustbeatleast640acresinsizeunlessitbordersorincludesawetlandorotherbodyofwater.


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Or

MaybedesignatedbytheCommissionerafterreceivingapetitionsignedbyeverylandownerorlesseeintheproposedarea.Areamustbeatleast640acresinsizeunlessitbordersorincludesawetlandorotherbodyofwater.Petitionmustincludeanaffidavitfromthecountyauditor.

Or

MaybedesignatedbytheCommissionerafterreceivingapetitiondescribingacontiguousareaorapublicwaterandsignedby50ormoreresidentsofthecountywheretheproposedrefugeislocated.Theareamustbeatleast640acresunlessitbordersorincludesawetlandorotherbodyofwater.Petitionmustincludeanaffidavitfromthecountyauditor.Beforedesignatingastategamerefuge,theCommissionermustholdapublichearingwithinthecountyinwhichthemajorityoftheproposedrefugeislocated.Thecommissionermaydesignateagamerefugeunderthissectionforonlyspecifiedspecies.Thegamerefugemustbepostedaccordingly.

Statute:97A.085

RESTRICTINGTRESPASS

MIGRATORYWATERFOWLSANCTUARY

Purpose:Notrespassisallowedduringthewaterfowlhuntingseason.

Procedure:MustbepartofaStateGameRefugeorlakeformallydesignatedforwildlifemanagement.SeeWildlifeManagementLake(page1).MaybedesignatedbytheCommissionerafterreceivingapetitionfrom10resident,licensedhunters.Statutes:97A.095subd.1


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STATEDUCKSANCTUARY

Purpose:NotrespassisallowedfromSeptember1throughtheendofthewaterfowlhuntingseason.

Procedure:MustbewithinastateWildlifeManagementArea(WMA).MaybedesignatedbytheDivisionofFishandWildlife.AtleasttwothirdsoftheacquiredWMAswithinacountymustbeopentopublichunting.

Statutes:97A.083,97A.135Subd.1(a),97A.137

STATEWILDLIFESANCTUARY

Purpose:Notrespassisallowed.

Procedure:MustbewithinastateWildlifeManagementArea.MaybedesignatedbytheDivisionofFishandWildlife.AtleasttwothirdsoftheacquiredWMAswithinacountymustbeopentopublichunting.

Statutes:97A.083,97A.135Subd.1(a),97A.137

WHATABOUTVOLUNTARYRESTRICTIONS?

Voluntaryrestrictionshavebeenapartofourwaterfowlhuntingheritagefornearly100years.Theyareusuallylandownerorhunterdrivenforsafetyreasonsortorestrictmotoruse,hunting,ormethodofhunting.Theserestrictionscanbequitesuccessfulwhenthereisstrongconsensus,andpeergrouppressure,amongthelandownersandusersofthearea.

APPLICABLESTATUTES

Chapter8686B.205Watersurfaceuseordinance.

Subd.1.Assistance.Thecommissionershalldevelopandpublishguidelinestoassistcountiesadoptingwatersurfaceuseordinancesforwaterswithintheirjurisdiction.Subd.2.Surfaceuseordinances.(a)Acountyboardmay,byordinance,regulatethesurfaceuseofbodiesofwaterlocatedentirelyorpartiallywithinthecountyandnotlocatedentirelywithintheboundaryofasinglecityorlakeconservationdistrictestablishedbylaw.


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(b)Ifabodyofwaterislocatedwithinmorethanonecounty,asurfaceuseordinanceisnoteffectiveuntiladoptedbythecountyboardsofallthecountieswherethebodyofwaterliesundersection471.59orplacedintoeffectbyorderofthecommissionerundersubdivision9.(c)Withtheauthorizationofanaffectedcityorlakeconservationdistrict,acountyboardmayassumeandexercisethepowersinsubdivisions2to5withrespecttobodiesofwaterlyingentirelywithinthatcityorlakeconservationdistrict.TheregulationbythecountyofthesurfaceuseofaportionofabodyofwaterlocatedwithintheboundaryofacitymustbeconsistentwithanycityregulationexistingonMay25,1973,ofthesurfaceuseofthatportionofthebodyofwater.AfterJanuary1,1975,theordinancemustbeconsistentwiththeprovisionsofthischapterandrulesofthecommissionerunderthischapter.Subd.3.Priorordinancesinvalidwithoutapproval.Asurfaceusezoningordinanceadoptedundersubdivisions2to5byalocalgovernmentalunitafterMay25,1973,isinvalidunlessitisapprovedbythecommissioner.Subd.4.Approvalofordinances.Aproposedsurfaceusezoningordinancemustbesubmittedtothecommissionerforreviewandapprovalbeforeadoption.Thecommissionermustapproveordisapprovetheproposedordinancewithin120daysafterreceivingit.Ifthecommissionerdisapprovestheproposedordinance,thecommissionermustreturnittothelocalgovernmentalunitwithawrittenstatementofthereasonsfordisapproval.Subd.5.

Countyregulatoryauthority.Acountyboardmay:(1)regulateandpolicepublicbeaches,publicdocks,andotherpublicfacilitiesforaccesstoabodyofwater,except:(i)regulationsaresubjecttosubdivision6;(ii)acountyboardmaynotregulatestateaccesses;and


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(iii)amunicipalitymaybyordinancepreemptthecountyfromexercisingpowerunderthissubdivisionwithinitsjurisdiction;(2)regulatetheconstruction,configuration,size,location,andmaintenanceofcommercialmarinasandtheirrelatedfacilitiesincludingparkingareasandsanitaryfacilitiesinamannerconsistentwithotherstatelawandtherulesofthecommissionerofnaturalresources,thepollutioncontrolagency,andthecommissionerofhealth,andwiththeapplicablemunicipalbuildingcodesandzoningordinanceswherethemarinasarelocated;(3)regulatetheconstruction,installation,andmaintenanceofpermanentandtemporarydocksandmooringsinamannerconsistentwithstateandfederallaw,permitsrequiredunderchapter103G,andsections86B.111and86B.115;(4)exceptasprovidedinsubdivision6,regulatethetypeandsizeofwatercraftallowedtousethebodyofwaterandsetaccessfees;(5)subjecttosubdivision6,limitthetypesandhorsepowerofmotorsusedonthebodyofwater;(6)limittheuseofthebodyofwateratvarioustimesandtheuseofvariouspartsofthebodyofwater;(7)regulatethespeedofwatercraftonthebodyofwaterandtheconductofotheractivitiesonthebodyofwatertosecurethesafetyofthepublicandthemostgeneralpublicuse;and(8)contractwithotherlawenforcementagenciestopolicethebodyofwateranditsshore.Subd.6.Publicaccessrestrictions.Thecountyboardmustallowthesametypesandsizesofwatercraftandhorsepowerofmotorstoaccessandenterthelakeorwaterbodyasaregenerallyallowedtobeoperatedonthelakeorwaterbody.Specialuseexceptionsthatarenotdependentonlakeshoreorpropertyownershipmaybegrantedbypermit.Subd.7.Countyacquisitionofpublicaccess.Acountyboardmayacquirebypurchase,gift,ordeviselandforpublicaccesstoalakeorstreamandmayimprovethelandasaparkorplaygroundifthelandislessthantenacresandis


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contiguoustothemeanderlineofanavigablelakeorstreamwhollyorpartlywithinthecountyandnotentirelywithinthecorporatelimitsofacity.Subd.8.Advisoryassistance.Thecountyboardmayinviteanymunicipalcouncilortownboardorthesoilandwaterconservationdistrictboardofsupervisorsorwatersheddistrictboardofmanagerstodesignatearepresentativetoadviseandconsultwiththecountyboardonwateruseregulationandimprovement.Subd.9.Watercraftuserulesforlocalwaters.(a)Onrequestofacounty,city,ortown,thecommissionermay,afterdeterminingittobeinthepublicinterest,establishrulesrelatingtotheuseofwatercraftonwatersofthisstatethatborderuponorarewithin,inwholeorinpart,theterritorialboundariesofthegovernmentalunit.(b)Therulesshallbeestablishedinthemannerprovidedbysections14.02to14.62,butmaynotbesubmittedtotheattorneygeneralnorfiledwiththesecretaryofstateuntilfirstapprovedbyresolutionsofthecountyboardsofamajorityofthecountiesaffectedbytheproposedrules.(c)Therulesmayrestrict:(1)thetypeandsizeofwatercraftandsizeofmotorthatmayusethewatersaffectedbytherule;(2)theareasofwaterthatmaybeusedbywatercraft;(3)thespeedofwatercraft;(4)thetimespermittedforuseofwatercraft;or(5)theminimumdistancebetweenwatercraft.(d)Whenestablishingrules,thecommissionershallconsiderthephysicalcharacteristicsofthewatersaffected,theirhistoricaluses,shorelandusesandclassification,andotherfeaturesuniquetothewatersaffectedbytherules.(e)Thecommissionershallinformtheusersofthewatersoftherulesaffectingthematleasttwoweeksbeforetheeffectivedateoftherulesbydistributingcopiesoftherulesandbypostingofthepublicaccessesofthewaters.Thefailureofthecommissionertocomplywiththisparagraphdoes


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notaffectthevalidityoftherulesoraconvictionforviolationoftherules.(f)Thecostofpublishingrulesandofmarkingandpostingwatersunderthissubdivisionshallbepaidbythecountiesaffectedbytherules,asapportionedbythecommissioner.(g)RegulationsorordinancesrelatingtotheuseofwatersofthisstateenactedbyalocalgovernmentalunitbeforeJanuary1,1972,shallcontinueineffectuntilrepealedbythelocalgovernmentalunitorsupersededbyaruleofthecommissioneradoptedunderthissubdivision.

HIST:1990c391art9s10Chapter97A 97A.083Huntingandfishingonstateland.Thecommissionershallalloworprohibithuntingandfishingonstatelandasprovidedunderthegameandfishlaws.Thecommissionershallpublishinformationonhuntingandfishingonstateland,includingareaswheretakingwildanimalsisallowedorprohibited.HIST:1991c259s1697A.085Gamerefuges.Subdivision1.Stateparks.Allstateparksaredesignatedasgamerefuges.Subd.2.Establishmentbycommissioner.Thecommissionermaydesignateagamerefugeifmorethan50percentoftheareaisinpublicownership.Thegamerefugemustbeacontiguousareaofatleast640acresunlessitbordersorincludesamarsh,orotherbodyofwaterorwatercoursesuitableforwildlifehabitat.Subd.3.Establishmentbypetitionoflandholders.Thecommissionermaydesignatealandareaorportionofalandareadescribedinapetitionasagamerefuge.Thepetitionmustbesignedbytheowner,thelessee,orthepersoninpossessionofeachtractinthearea.Acertificateoftheauditorofthecountywherethelandsarelocatedmustaccompany


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thepetitionstatingthatthepersonsnamedinthepetitionaretheowners,lessees,orpersonsinpossessionofallofthelanddescribedaccordingtothecountyrecords.Thegamerefugemustbeacontiguousareaofatleast640acresunlessitbordersorincludesamarsh,orotherbodyofwaterorwatercoursesuitableforwildlifehabitat.Subd.4.Establishmentbypetitionofcountyresidents.Thecommissionermaydesignateasagamerefugepublicwatersoracontiguousareadescribedinapetition,signedby50ormoreresidentsofthecountywherethepublicwatersorareaislocated.Thegamerefugemustbeacontiguousareaofatleast640acresunlessitbordersorincludesamarsh,orotherbodyofwaterorwatercoursesuitableforwildlifehabitat.Thegamerefugemaybedesignatedonlyifthecommissionerfindsthatprotectedwildanimalsaredepletedandareindangerofextermination,orthatitwillbestservethepublicinterest.Subd.4a.Hearingrequired.Beforedesignatingagamerefugeunderthissection,thecommissionermustholdapublichearingwithinthecountywherethemajorityoftheproposedgamerefugeexists.Noticesofthetimeandplaceofthehearingmustbepostedinfiveconspicuousplaceswithintheproposedgamerefugeatleast15daysbeforethehearing.Anoticeofthehearingmustbepublishedinalegalnewspaperineachcountywheretheareaislocatedatleastsevendaysbeforethehearing.Subd.5.Gamerefugeforspecifiedgame.Thecommissionermaydesignateagamerefugeunderthissectionforonlyspecifiedspecies.Thegamerefugemustbepostedaccordingly.Subd.6.Areaincludedingamerefuge.Astategamerefugeincludesallpubliclands,waters,highways,andrailroadright‐of‐waywithintherefugeboundaryand,inthediscretionofthecommissioner,mayincludeadjacentpubliclandsandwaters.Subd.7.Gamerefugeboundaryposting.(a)Thedesignationofastategamerefugeisnoteffectiveuntiltheboundaryhasbeenpostedwithnoticesthatmeasureatleast12inches.(b)Thenoticesmustbepostedatintervalsofnotmorethan500feetorlessalongtheboundary.Thenoticesmustalsobepostedatallpublicroadentrancestotherefuges,except


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wheretheboundaryisalsoaninternationalorstateboundaryinpublicwaters.Wheretheboundaryofarefugeextendsmorethan500feetcontinuouslythroughabodyofwater,insteadofplacingnoticesinthewater,noticeswiththewords,"AdjacentWatersIncluded,"maybeplacedontheshorelineattheintersectionoftheboundaryandthewater20feetorlessabovethehigh‐watermarkandatintervalsof500feetorlessalongtheshoreline.(c)AcertificationbythecommissionerorthedirectoroftheWildlifeDivision,oracertificationfiledwiththecommissionerordirectorbyaconservationofficer,refugesupervisor,orotherauthorizedofficeroremployee,statingthattherequirednoticeshavebeenpostedisprimafacieevidenceoftheposting.Subd.8.Modificationorabandonment.Astategamerefugemaybevacatedormodifiedbythecommissionerunderthesameproceduresrequiredforestablishmentoftherefuge,exceptthatarefugeestablishedormodifiedundersubdivision2or3maybevacatedormodifiedfollowingapublichearingasspecifiedinsubdivision4a.HIST:1986c386art1s16;1987c149art1s10,11;1992c462s6‐11;1997c187art3s23;1997c226s17;2002c323s4;2004c215s2‐497A.095Waterfowlprotectedareas.Subdivision1.Migratorywaterfowlsanctuary.Thecommissionermaydesignatebyruleanypartofastategamerefugeoranypartofapublicwaterthatisdesignatedformanagementpurposesundersection97A.101,subdivision2,asamigratorywaterfowlsanctuaryifthereispresentedtothecommissionerapetitionsignedbytenresidentlicensedhuntersdescribinganareathatisprimarilyamigratorywaterfowlrefuge.Thecommissionershallposttheareaasamigratorywaterfowlsanctuary.Apersonmaynotenterapostedmigratorywaterfowlsanctuaryduringtheopenmigratorywaterfowlseasonunlessaccompaniedbyorunderapermitissuedbyaconservationofficerorwildlifemanager.Uponarequestfromaprivatelandownerwithinamigratorywaterfowlsanctuary,anannualpermitmustbeissuedtoprovideaccesstothepropertyduringthewaterfowlseason.Thepermitshallincludeconditionsthatallownoactivitywhichwoulddisturbwaterfowlusingtherefugeduringthewaterfowlseason.


47

Subd.2.Waterfowlfeedingandrestingareas.Thecommissionermay,byrule,designateanypartofalakeasamigratoryfeedingandrestingarea.Beforedesignation,thecommissionermustreceiveapetitionsignedbyatleasttenlocalresidentlicensedhuntersdescribingtheareaofalakethatisasubstantialfeedingorrestingareaformigratorywaterfowl,andfindthatthestatementsinthepetitionarecorrect,andthatadequate,freepublicaccesstothelakeexistsnearthedesignatedarea.Thecommissionershallposttheareaasamigratorywaterfowlfeedingandrestingarea.Exceptasauthorizedinrulesadoptedbythecommissioner,apersonmaynotenterapostedmigratorywaterfowlfeedingandrestingarea,duringaperiodwhenhuntingofmigratorywaterfowlisallowed,withwatercraftoraircraftpropelledbyamotor,otherthananelectricmotorwithbatterypowerof12voltsorless.Thecommissionermay,byrule,furtherrestricttheuseofelectricmotorsinmigratorywaterfowlfeedingandrestingareas.Subd.3.HuntingonMuskratLake.ThecommissionermayprohibitmigratorywaterfowlhuntingonMuskratLakeinBeltramiCountybypostingaccordingly.Subd.4.SwanLakeMigratoryWaterfowlSanctuary.ThelanddescribedinLaws1999,chapter81,section2,isdesignatedSwanLakeMigratoryWaterfowlSanctuaryundersubdivision1.HIST:1986c386art1s18;1987c119s1;1991c259s23;1993c231s11;1999c81s1;2000c495s30;2004c215s5‐797A.101Publicwaterreservesandmanagementdesignation.Subdivision1.Reserves.Thecommissionermaydesignateandreservepublicwatersofthestatetopropagateandprotectwildanimals.Subd.2.Managementdesignation.(a)Thecommissionermaydesignate,reserve,andmanagepublicwatersforwildlifeaftergivingnoticeandholdingapublichearing.Thehearingmustbeheldinthecountywherethemajorportionofthewatersislocated.Noticeofthehearingmustbepublishedinalegalnewspaperwithineachcountywherethewatersarelocatedatleastsevendaysbeforethehearing.(b)Thecommissionermaycontractwithriparianownersfor


48

waterprojectsundersection103G.121,subdivision3,andmayacquireland,acceptlocalfunding,andconstruct,maintain,andoperatestructurestocontrolwaterlevelsundersection103G.505tomanagedesignatedwaters.Subd.3.Fishingmaynotberestricted.Seasonsormethodsoftakingfishmaynotberestrictedunderthissection.Subd.4.Restrictionsonairboats,watercraft,andrecreationalvehicles.(a)Theuseofairboatsisprohibitedatalltimesonlakesdesignatedforwildlifemanagementpurposesunderthissectionunlessotherwiseauthorizedbythecommissioner.(b)Thecommissionermayrestricttheuseofmotorizedwatercraftandrecreationalvehiclesonlakesdesignatedforwildlifemanagementpurposesbypostingallpublicaccesspointsonthedesignatedlake.HIST:1986c386art1s19;1990c391art8s23;1991c199art1s13;1997c226s18

97A.135Acquisitionofwildlifelands.Subdivision1.Publichuntingandwildlifeareas.(a)Thecommissionerorthecommissionerofadministrationshallacquireandimprovelandforpublichunting,gamerefuges,andfoodandcoverplanting.Thelandmaybeacquiredbyagift,lease,easement,purchase,orcondemnation.Atleasttwo‐thirdsofthetotalareaacquiredinacountymustbeopentopublichunting.Thecommissionermaydesignatelandacquiredunderthissubdivisionasawildlifemanagementareaforthepurposesoftheoutdoorrecreationsystem.

97A.137Hunting,fishing,andtrespassinginwildlifemanagementareas.Subdivision1.Huntingandfishing.Wildlifemanagementareasareopentohuntingandfishingunlessclosedbyruleofthecommissionerorbypostingundersubdivision2.Subd.2.Commissionermayrestrictentrytodesignatedareas.Thecommissionermay,bypostinginaccordancewithsection97B.001,subdivision4,designateareaswithinwildlife


49

managementareasthatareclosedtoentryforthepurposeofprovidingareaswheredisturbanceofwildlifecanbeminimized.Apersonmaynotenteranareapostedunderthissubdivisionexceptasauthorizedbyruleorapermitissuedbythecommissioner.Subd.3.Useofmotorizedvehiclesbydisabledhunters.Thecommissionermayissueaspecialpermit,withoutafee,authorizingahunterwithapermanentphysicaldisabilitytouseasnowmobileorall‐terrainvehicleinwildlifemanagementareas.Toqualifyforapermitunderthissubdivision,thedisabledpersonmustpossess:(1)therequiredhuntinglicenses;and(2)apermittoshootfromastationaryvehicleundersection97B.055,subdivision3.HIST:1991c259s18;1993c231s15;2000c265s1Copyright2004bytheofficeofRevisorofStatutesoftheStateofMinnesota


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APPENDIXD.BOARDOFWATERANDSOILRESOURCESPOLICYFORSITEMANAGEMENT

OFCONSERVATIONEASEMENTLANDS

POLICYDECEMBER17,2008VEGETATIVEMANAGEMENTANDENHANCEMENTOFCONSERVATIONEASEMENTLANDSTheMNBoardofWaterandSoilResources(BWSR)recognizestheneedtoestablishapolicyandprocedureforvegetativemanagementandenhancementofconservationeasements.Thismayincludethepracticesofmowing,haying,grazing,harvestforseedorenergy,prescribedburning,establishmentofnativegrasses,forestlandandwetlandmanagement.ThispolicyappliestoconservationeasementsheldbytheBWSRandistocomplimentlanguagealreadystatedintheeasementtermsandconditions.Easementsheldinpartnershipwithotheragenciesmayhavelimitationsthatprohibitsomeoralloftheactivitiesoutlinedinthispolicy.AConservationPlanexistsforeacheasementthatidentifiesthelocationandtypeofpracticesfoundonthesite.Easementsrequireongoingmanagementtoassuretheirqualityismaintained.Tothatendthispolicysupportslandownereffortstoachievethehighestdegreeofqualityfromeveryeasement.AManagementPlanneedstobedevelopedandattachedtotheConservationPlanforallactivitiesbeingconductedontheeasementsite.Insomecasesfinancialassistancewillbeavailableforcertainpractices,whileotherswillbeattheownerexpense,entirelyorpartially.Certainpracticesmayproduceaneconomicreturntothelandowner,aslongaswildlifebenefitsareprotected.PracticestobeimplementedarebestdeterminedbythelandownerinconsultationwiththeSWCDandBWSRstaff.TheManagementPlanshallbesignedbyallthreeparties.Consultationwillbemadewithotherprofessionalsasdeemednecessarybythisgroup.ActivitieseligibleforfinancialassistancemustbeconsistentwiththeRIMprogramguidelinesandapprovedbyBWSRpriortopracticesbeingimplemented.Easementvegetationcanbebrokenintothreedistinctcovertypes:I.GrasslandManagement:Forpurposesofspeciesdiversity,wildlifehabitat,waterqualityanderosioncontrol,itmaybenecessarytoundertakepracticestoenhanceormodifysomeorallofthecoverofaconservationeasement.Practicesmayinclude:A.Mechanical(mowing,haying,harvest,energy)Mechanicalmethodscansuccessfullymanipulategrowthstagesofhabitat.Annualmowingandmowingofentirestandsisnotallowedwithouttechnicaljustificationfromtheresourcemanagerpreparingthemanagementplan.Removalofbiomasscanincreasethevigorofdesirablevegetation,removestorednutrientsforwaterqualityandprovideaseedbedforrestorationorenhancement.Generally,mechanicaltreatmentwillbedone


51

nomorefrequentlythanonceeverythirdyear,withnomorethanonethirdoftheacreagemowedeachyear.Insomecasesitmaybenotbepracticaltomanagesmallersitesinstages,especially,iftheyarewithinalargerhabitatcomplex.Mowing,haying,orharvestisnotallowedduringthenestingseasonMay15toAugust1.Minimumstubbleheightsare4‐6inches.Anymodificationstothesecriteriashouldbeexplainedandspecifiedinthemanagementplan.B.Chemical/BiologicalChemicalApplication:Herbicidesusedmustfollowlabelrestrictionsandbeconductedinawaythatmaintainsplantdiversityandwildlifehabitat.CareshouldbetakentominimizeimpactstodesiredvegetationwhilecontrollingtargetspeciesasspecifiedintheManagementPlan.BiologicalControl:Biologicalcontrolagentsmaybeusedforthecontrolofinvasiveplantspecies.MinnesotaDNRandMinnesotaDepartmentofAgricultureguidelinesforusingbiologicalcontrolagentsshouldbefollowedandincorporatedintotheManagementPlan.C.GrazingLivestockmaybeusedtomanagehealthandvigorofpermanentvegetativecoverwhendoneinaccordancewithagrazingplan.Grazingoneasementlandsrequiresverycarefulmanagementtoassurethesiteisnotovergrazed.Grazingshouldnotberecommendedunlessthelandownerfullyunderstandstheplanandiscapableofmanagingthesystem.GrazingplansaretobedevelopedaccordingtoapplicableNRCSpracticestandards.Generally,grazingwillnotbedonemoreoftenthanonceeverythreeyearsonthesameacres,andonlyonethirdoftheareawillbegrazedeachyear.Insomecasesitmaybenotbepracticaltomanagesmallersitesinstages,especiallyiftheyarewithinalargerhabitatcomplex.GrazingshallnotoccurduringtheprimarynestingseasonofMay15toAugust1.Minimumstubbleheightsare4‐6inches.Livestockwillberemovedfromthesitewhenthegrassonthesiteisgrazedtothesestubbleheights.Anymodificationstothesecriteriashouldbeexplainedandspecifiedinthemanagementplan.D.PrescribedBurningImprovementofplantspeciesdiversity,controlofbrush,andrecyclingofnutrientscanbeachievedbycontrolledburning.Burningwillbeallowedoncoolseasonaswellaswarmseasongrassstands.TheManagementPlanwillindicatethetimingofburnsfortheareabeingtreated.Appropriatepermitsmustbeobtainedbythelandownerpriortoperformanceofaprescribedburn.FollowappropriateNRCSpracticestandardsforprescribedburning.E.NativePrairiePlanting.Enhancementorre‐establishmentofexistingnativeprairieorreplacementofcoolseasonvegetationshallusenativegrasses&forbsoflocaleco‐typewherepossibleorasrequiredbystatuteorrule.Qualityofhabitatcanbeincreasedbyconversionofintroducedgrassstandstonativegrassstands.FollowappropriateNRCSpracticestandardsforhabitatmanagementandrestorationofdeclininghabitats.BWSRhassuggestednativegrassandforbsseedmixesavailableaswellasrecommendationsforinterseedingofgrasslands.


52

II.ForestLandManagement:Necessarytoprovideregeneration,maintenance,orconversionofspeciestomanageforeststandsforwildlifebenefitsandstanddensity.Easementlandsplantedtotreesneedtobemanagedtomaintainandimprovepreferredspeciesthatarecriticaltoprovidingspecificwildlifehabitat.WhentreecoverisrequestedintheRIMconservationplanandestablished,theplantingshouldnotbeconsideredthefinalproduct.Theplantingshouldbeviewedasacomponentofthedesiredfutureconditiontoretaintreecoveronthesite.Harvestingcanbedoneforavarietyofpurposessuchastocreatewildlifeopenings,managebrowseforspecificwildlifespecies,andforforeststandimprovement.TheManagementPlanshouldoutlinethenecessarystepstoachievethisdesiredfuturecondition.III.WetlandManagement:Wetlandmanagementactivitiesforvegetationandwaterlevelcontrolaresitespecific.Wildlifehabitatandnutrientreductionbenefitsofwetlandsareaffectedby:vegetativequality,fish,minnows,invasivespecies,sedimentation,andwaterdepthtonameafew.Detailedplansexistforeachrestorationprojectthatlayouttheengineeringoftherestorationaswellasanyvegetativecomponent.TheBWSRisupdatingtheMNWetlandRestorationGuidewhichshouldbeconsultedforfurtherinformation.AnyquestionsorrequestsregardingmanagementofwetlandareasshouldbedirectedtotheBWSREasementProgramManager.


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APPENDIXE.REGULATIONSAFFECTINGMOISTSOILMANAGEMENT

Note:Forallwetland‐relatedregulations,Consultthe“WetlandRegulationChecklistforDNRProjects,”

availableat:

http://intranet.dnr.state.mn.us/wetland_water/regulations/index.htmlThewetlandchecklistcontainslinkstoforms,contactsandotherresourcesmentionedbelow.

Regulation RegulatoryTrigger Whattodo:

MinnesotaWetlands

ConservationAct

Mayapplyifanywetlands,asdeterminedbythe1987Corpsof

EngineersDelineationManual,arepresentpriortobeginningtheproject.Permanentlydraining,fillingor

excavatingwithinanypre‐existingwetlandsmayrequirereplacement;however,itmayalsoqualifyfora“No‐

loss”determinationunderMinn.RulesChapter8420.0415,itemD.Seasonalwaterlevelmanipulationwillgenerally

qualifyfora“No‐loss”determinationunderMinn.RulesChapter8420.0415,itemC.

Ifpre‐existingwetlandsarepresent,preparePartIofthe“Minn.

Local/State/FederalApplicationFormforWater/WetlandProjects”andconvenea

pre‐projectmeeting(earlyintheplanningprocess)withtheWCATechnical

EvaluationPanel(includesrepresentativesfromcountySoilandWaterConservationDistrictandtheBoardofWaterandSoil

Resources)todetermineapplicationofWCA.

MinnesotaPublicWatersPermits

Mayapplyiftheprojectwillalterthecourse,currentorcross‐sectionofanypublicwateridentifiedonthecounty

publicwatersinventory(PWI)map.

ConsultthecountyPWImaptodetermineifanypublicwatersarepresentattheprojectsite.Ifso,orifthereisany

question,consulttheDNRareahydrologist.

FederalCleanWaterAct

(CWA)Section404

Mayapplyifanywetlands,asdeterminedbythe1987Corpsof

EngineersDelineationManual,arepresentpriortobeginningtheproject.OngoingMSMactivitieswillgenerallybe

authorizedunderageneralpermit(RGP‐03‐MN,ItemJ),butthisdoesnotapplytoinitialconstruction.Wetlands

restoredorcreatedunderaMSMprojectpotentiallybecomejurisdictionalwetlandsundertheCWASection404

Ifpre‐existingwetlandsarepresent,preparePartIofthe“Minn.

Local/State/FederalApplicationFormforWater/WetlandProjects”andsubmittoappropriateCorpsofEngineerproject

manager.InvitetheCorpsprojectmanagertoattendpre‐projectWCATechnicalEvaluationPanelmeeting(see

above).


54

programandfutureworkinthesewetlandsmaybesubjecttoregulation.

FederalCleanWaterActSection401

Section401waterqualitycertificationisissuedbytheMinnesotaPollutionControlAgency(MPCA).Dischargeof

mercury,phosphorusandnitrogenmaybeissueswithMSMoperations.Section401certificationistypicallyhandledas

partoftheCWASection404permitprocessundertheCorpsofEngineers,buttheMPCAcanalsoregulatewater

qualityissuesunderstateauthority.

InviteMPCArepresentativetoattendpre‐projectWCATechnicalEvaluationPanelmeeting(seeabove).

Water

AppropriationPermit

ADNRwateruse(appropriation)permit

isrequiredforalluserswithdrawingmorethan10,000gallonsofwaterperdayor1milliongallonsperyear,either

fromgroundwaterorsurfacewaters.

ConsulttheDNRareahydrologist

NationalPollutant

DischargeEliminationSystem(NPDES)

ConstructionStormwater

Appliestostormwaterrunofffromconstructionsites;administeredby

MPCA.Willapplyifconstructioninvolvesdisturbanceofanacreormoreofsoil.MostMSMprojectsshould

qualifyforthegeneralconstructionstormwaterpermitissuedbyMPCA,butthismustbeverifiedbytheDNRproject

manager.

ConsulttheMPCAwebsiteforstormwaterat:

“http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/water/water‐types‐and‐programs/stormwater/stormwater.html”andfollow

thelinksfor“ConstructionStormwater”

FederalRivers

andHarborsActSection10

Theconstructionofintakestructuresor,

possiblyeventemporarypumpingfromfederallydesignatednavigablewatersmayrequireaSection10permitfrom

theCorpsofEngineers.Foralistofnavigablewaters,see:http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/docs/

regulatory/mn_nav_waters.pdf

IftheMSMprojectwilldirectlyaffect,or

appropriatewaterfromanynavigablewater,contacttheappropriateCorpsofEngineersprojectmanager.

Threatenedandendangered

speciestakingspermits(state

Takingspermitsmayberequiredforanyprojectthatmayaffectstateorfederally

listedspecies.

ConductasearchoftheDNRNaturalHeritageInformationSystemtodetermine

ifanystateorfederallylistedspeciesarepresentattheprojectsite.Ifso,contact


55

andfederal) theDNREndangeredSpeciesPermitCoordinator(651‐259‐5073)andtheU.S.

FishandWildlifeService(612‐725‐3548)

EnvironmentalReviewProgram

(MinnesotaEnvironmentalPolicyAct,

MEPA)

Anenvironmentalassessmentworksheet(EAW)ismandatoryforany

ofthefollowingthatmightapplytoMSMprojects:

• Newpermanentimpoundmentofwatercreatingadditionalwatersurfaceof160ormoreacresoranadditionalpermanentimpoundmentofwatercreatingadditionalwatersurfaceof160ormoreacres,

• Constructionofadamwithanupstreamdrainageareaof50squaremilesormore,

• Diversion,realignmentorchannelizationofanydesignatedtroutstream,oraffectinggreaterthan500feetofnaturalwatercoursewithatotaldrainageareaoftenormoresquaremilesunlessexemptedbypart4410.4600,subpart14,itemE,orsubpart17

• Projectsthatwillchangeordiminishthecourse,currentorcross‐sectionofoneacreormoreofanypublicwaterorpublicwaterswetlandexceptforthosetobedrainedwithoutapermitpursuanttoMinnesotaStatutes,chapter103G,

• Projectsthatwillchangeordiminishthecourse,currentorcross‐sectionof40percentormoreorfiveormoreacresoftypes3through8wetlandof2.5acresormore,excludingpublicwaterswetlands,ifanypartofthewetlandiswithinashorelandarea,delineatedfloodplain,astateorfederallydesignatedwildandscenicriversdistrict,theMinnesotaRiverProjectRiverbendarea,ortheMississippiheadwatersarea


56

Anenvironmentalimpactstatementismandatoryfor:

• ConstructionofaClassIdam• Projectsthatwilleliminateapublic

waterorpublicwaterswetland

AdiscretionaryEAWshouldbepreparedforanyprojectthatmayhave

thepotentialforsignificantenvironmentaleffects.


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APPENDIXF.ADDITIONALINFORMATION

SELECTEDMOISTSOILMANAGEMENT&RELATEDREFERENCES

‐NOTE:SomeofthesereferencescontainrecommendationsdesignedforregionsthatvarygreatlyintheirconditionsfromMinnesota.ThereforecautionisadvisedwhenseekingtoapplythesetoMinnesota.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

ForagingHabitatforBirdSpeciesorBirdDiversityinWetlandDesign

http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/elpubs/pdf/fwrs3‐1.pdf

Moist‐SoilManagementGuidelinesfortheU.S.FishandWildlifeServiceSoutheastRegion

http://www.fws.gov/columbiawildlife/MoistSoilReport.pdf

Moist‐SoilManagementAdvisor(MSMA)

http://www.fort.usgs.gov/products/software/msma/

MOIST‐SOILMANAGEMENTOFWETLANDIMPOUNDMENTSFORPLANTSANDINVERTEBRATES

http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/resshow/perry/impound/impound.htm

ShallowWaterManagementforShorebirds

http://www.mn.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/ecs/wild/shorebirds.pdf

Hands,H.M.M.R.Ryan,andJ.W.Smith.1991.Migrantshorebirduseofmarsh,moist‐soil,andfloodedagriculturalhabitats.Wildl.Soc.Bull.19:457‐464

http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/3782158.pdf

WetlandsofthePrairiePotholeRegion:InvertebrateSpeciesComposition,Ecology,andManagement

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/wetlands/pothole/past.htm

BenefitsofManagingforNativeVegetation(DU)

http://southern.ducks.org/habitat_native‐vegetation.php

13.4.6Strategiesforwater‐levelmanipulationinmoist‐soilsystems‐WaterfowlManagementHandbook

http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/wdb/pub/wmh/contents.html

DISCINGEFFECTSONSEEDPRODUCTIONANDDISTRIBUTIONOFMOIST‐SOILVEGETATION


58

http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd‐033199‐130907/unrestricted/chapter3.pdf

ASSESSINGFUNCTIONALINTEGRITYOFMOIST‐SOILMANAGEDWETLANDS

BYCOMPARISONWITHNEARBYNON‐MANAGEDSYSTEMS

http://www.msstate.edu/courses/ge14/Ervin%20et%20al%202003WRC.pdf

UpperMississippiValley/GreatLakesRegionalShorebirdConservationPlan

http://www.fws.gov/shorebirdplan/regionalshorebird/downloads/UMVGL5.pdf

(discussionofmoistsoilmanagementandseveralliteraturecitationsincluded)

EffectsofManagementPracticesonWetlandBirds

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/literatr/wetbird/wetbird.htm

ManagementofHabitatforBreedingandMigratingShorebirdsintheMidwest‐Eldridge

http://www.mesc.usgs.gov/products/pubs/10000/pdf/13_2_14.pdf

UsingMicroandMacrotopographyinWetlandRestoration

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/wrp/states/In‐final.pdf

moist soils guide

Documents