Sponsor: Parks & Recreation
Title
title
Grant Agreement from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for State Fiscal Year 2024 Conservation Partners Legacy Program
end
Recommendation
recommendation
1. Ratify the submittal of the grant application to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for State Fiscal Year 2024 Conservation Partners Legacy program grant in the amount of $412,300.
2. Accept a grant award and approve a grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for State Fiscal Year 2024 Conservation Partners Legacy program grant for the Battle Creek Woodlands Enhancement Project grant for the period of grant execution through June 30, 2027, in the amount of $412,300.
3. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the grant agreement.
4. Authorize the County Manager to enter into agreements and execute amendments to agreements, in accordance with the county’s procurement policies and procedures, provided the amounts are within the limits of the grant funding.
end
Background and Rationale
body
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) administers the Conservation Partners Legacy Grants program, funded by the Outdoor Heritage Fund, created by the Minnesota Legislature through the Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment. For State Fiscal Year 2024, $2,500,000 was made available for metro grants, for projects located within the seven-county metro area or within city limits of cities with a population greater than 50,000.
The DNR manages the Conservation Partners Legacy Grants program to provide competitive matching grants from $5,000 up to $500,000 to local, regional, state, and national non-profit organizations and government entities. Grants must restore, protect or enhance prairies, wetlands, forests, or habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. A minimum of 10% match is required for all grants, which may be cash or in-kind resources and must be identified at the time of application.
Grant applications are scored based on six criteria:
1) Overall project value
2) Applicant performance
3) Project benefits
4) Public benefits
5) Financial assessment
6) Urgency
Ramsey County Parks and Recreation submitted the grant application: The Battle Creek Woodlands Enhancement Project was awarded $412,300 to further control invasive species and enhance 226 acres of primarily oak woodlands, through invasive species removal and control, prescribed burns of select areas, native seeding, and planting of thousands of oak seedlings, within Battle Creek Regional Park, located in Saint Paul, MN. Woodlands within the project area have responded very well to previous restoration work and much of the native understory has flourished; however, some areas require further enhancement to help further preserve the oak woodlands and boost the native understory.
end
County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☐ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Battle Creek Regional Park is located in a highly underserved community of approximately 37% people of color and concentrated poverty of approximately 20% in the city of Saint Paul. This project will focus on establishing critical natural resource habitat in a degraded natural area that has significant racial equity disparities to high quality natural environments. Degraded natural resource environments cause a lack of balance that effects the ecosystem services such as flood mitigation, carbon sequestration, and diversity in the living environment.
Community Participation Level and Impact
This action is the result of a competitive grant process through the DNR found at: <https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/habitat/cpl/index.html>. Information about the completed project will be posted on the Ramsey County website: <https://www.ramseycounty.us/restorationprojects>.
☒ Inform ☐ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
The Battle Creek Woodlands Enhancement Project grant award of $412,300 will require a match in the amount of $44,000 for a total of $456,300. The required match has been accounted for in the 2024-2025 budget and is from the Regional Parks Operations & Maintenance budget. The grant award was not included in the 2024-2025 budget. The funds associated with this grant will expire on June 30, 2027.
Last Previous Action
On February 21, 2023, the Ramsey County Board approved the State Fiscal Year 2023 Conservation Partners Legacy program grant awards for the Central Battle Creek Oak Woodlands Restoration project grant award of $362,400 (Resolution B2023-034).
Attachments
1. Conservation Partners Legacy Grant