Morrison SWCD and Crow Wing SWCD Enhance Wildlife Management Area

Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), Morrison SWCD, Crow Wing SWCD, DNR, and Camp Ripley are announcing that the BWSR will be receiving $ 843,000 in Lessard Outdoor Heritage Grant funds to purchase conservation easements surrounding the State Nokassipi Wildlife Management Area and the Little Nokassipi Confluence. The Lessard Outdoor Heritage Funds were established through the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment (approved by voters in 2008).

The Little Nokassipi Confluence and the State Nokassipi Wildlife Management Area are located in a critical area of Army Compatible Use Buffer Area (ACUB) which is 110,000 acres of land within 3-mile radius of Camp Ripley. The ACUB program maintains the separation of training noise, dust, and smoke from local residents, and also provides large tracts of protected habitat for water quality protection and wildlife. The Lessard Outdoor Heritage Grant funds will be matched by Department of Defense funds though the National Guard Bureau allocated to BWSR for the specifically for the ACUB program. The grant and ACUB funds will pay for closing costs, administrative fees, and the acquisition of permanent conservation easements.

Dan Steward, BWSR Board Conservation, states "This project will not only expand an existing WMA by 252 acres for public outdoor recreation (e.g. hunting, fishing, etc.) but it will also protect the viability of the WMA into perpetuity through 634 acres of permanent conservation easements."

Marty Skoglund Environmental Supervisor Department of Military Affairs "This is a great example of Federal, State, and Local Government Units working with landowners to protect the rural character of Central Minnesota and the bountiful natural resources of Crow Wing and Morrison Counties while protecting the mission of Camp Ripley.

To learn more about the ACUB program visit http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/camp_ripley/environment/

If interested in the ACUB program contact Helen McLennan (320) 616-2479 or e-mail helen.mclennan@mn.nacdnet.net

What is the ACUB?

In 2001 the Minnesota National Guard initiated a project to address the growing concern of development and encroachment around the perimeter of Camp Ripley.

The program is designed to minimize intensive residential development by purchasing the development rights through permanent conservation easements. In some cases land is purchased outright for public recreation. The program is not designed to purchase the land for military training

County SWCD’s are working in conjunction with Camp Ripley Training Center (CRTC) and Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR) in executing conservation easements for the ACUB Program

Each year CRTC, through a prioritization process, identifies and ranks parcels of land to be considered for possible funding for the ACUB Program.

A “Short List” is developed and provided to the SWCD’s. SWCD’s approach land owners identified on the “Short List” for possible participation/funding in the ACUB Program

Land owner applications are received by the SWCD’s and sent to BWSR. BWSR requests funds.

Once easements are completed, SWCD’s monitor enrolled lands to ensure they meet the intent of the easement encumbered. The easement is perpetual.

Are there any costs to landowners?

• The landowner pays for the abstract update.

• We pay for the Title, Insurance, and recording fees.

• If the landowner backs out for any reason, they must pay for the Title Commitment work as well.

• If any other documents are necessary, such as unrecorded deeds, divorce decrees, that is a landowner expense.

• 50% of the assessed value of agricultural acres in that township.

• Once the rate is quoted, that’s the rate even though rates may change during the process.

• We can only adjust with allocations.

SWCD Points of Contact

Contact the Morrison SWCD or Crow Wing SWCD.

For more information visit the Minnesota National Guard website.