Conservation Partners Legacy Grants Program

Funded thru the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Constitutional Amendment

2008 election sales tax 3/8 of one percent.

33% of receipts dedicated to the Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF).

Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSHOC) recommends projects to the legislature.

2009 and 2010 MN Legislature approved the recommendation to fund this program.

Why was this program created?

Provide financial support for organizations to collaborate on projects at the local level.

Projects are intended to: enhance, restore, and protect forests, wetlands, prairies,

and habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota.

What’s different this year? Public waters added to eligible sites Match requirement has changed Reimbursement payments only Acquisition of lands in public domain All parcels coming to DNR on priority list All parcels coming to DNR include:

All IDP work and funding $3,000 LAM fees

Revised application system

How much money is available?Is match is required?

Total of $4,216,560 for grants $5,000 - $400,000 per request

Non-state match required 10% for grant amounts requested under $100,000 15% for grant amounts requested over $100,000 Up to 1/3 can be in-kind resources

Who can apply? Local, regional, state and national non-profit

organizations Government entities

DNR is eligible but will not apply DNR staff will work with partners to submit

applications and complete projects on DNR land

What are the timelines? Applications due September 16, 2010 at

5pm If funds remain, applications for a second round

will be due February 25, 2011. Announce funded grants in mid-November.

Earliest possible start January, 2011 Work must be completed by June 30, 2014.

Where can the work be done?

Restoration and enhancement projects must be done on:

Lands under public ownership; Lands under a permanent conservation easement (MN Statute 84C.01, Subd. 1); and Public waters (MN Statute 103G.005, Subd. 15)

What about protection? Acquisition

Fee title Permanent conservation easement

Fee title: Must be open to public hunting and fishing

during open seasons unless otherwise provided by state law.

Easements: Must include provisions for monitoring and

enforcing conditions of the easement.

Acquisitions to be conveyed to DNR

Each parcel must be on DNR’s acquisition priority list DNR Managers should know this but make sure

Must have $3,000 included in budget for LAM fees (can be grant funds)

Must include Initial Development Plan Work to be completed must be specified Specify funding for all work (can be grant $)

Part of Project Review and Approval Form. Work with the Land Manager. Applicant fills in this information on application system.

Who can hold conservation easements?

MN Statute 84C.01, Subd. 2

"Holder" means:(i) a governmental body empowered to hold an interest in real property

under the laws of this state or the United States; or(ii) a charitable corporation, charitable association, or charitable

trust, the purposes or powers of which include retaining or protecting the natural, scenic, or open-space values of real property, assuring the availability of real property for agricultural, forest, recreational, or open-space use, protecting natural resources, maintaining or enhancing air or water quality, or preserving the historical, architectural, archaeological, or cultural aspects of real property.

Lands in Public Domain Can not use OHF funds to acquire:

Land fully or partially owned by state or political subdivision of state.

UNLESS Purchase creates additional direct benefit

to restore, enhance, protect habitat; and Purchase is approved by at least 9

members of the council

How does that work for CPL grants?

If you want to purchase this type of land, you must get it approved as a CPL grant first

CPL staff will work with the Council to get their approval

Expect a delay in receiving your grant agreement until this project is fully approved

Definitions Land Manager (LM): person responsible for the long-term

management of the land that will be acquired or where work will be done. Every parcel of land has a Land Manager.

Provides oversight and input (technical assistance) for grant work Does not do the work. Complete the Project Review and Approval form (including a

Natural Heritage Review) for the project site.  Project (Grant) Manager (PM): person responsible for

applying for and managing the grant. Ensures work meets all grant program, legal, and other

requirements. Ensures work is completed in a timely manner and as proposed. Is not the Land Manager - coordinates with the Land Manager. Completes all reports according to deadlines.

Definitions Initial Development Plan (IDP): lays out the cost,

responsibility, and timing of initial work needed to bring new properties up to agency standards.

Required for DNR acquisition projects. All costs are eligible as grant funds. Includes both facility and habitat work

Match funds: all funds provided by grantee or a partner, as part of the required contributions of non-state origins. This includes in-kind resources that may not be actual cash (supplies, volunteer work, etc.) but have a cash value.

Grant Funds: the state funds awarded through this grant program.

Project Review and Approval Form Gives agency approval for a project on land

that the agency manages. i.e., Forest Service completes for MDHA to work

on Forest Service land. Includes Natural Heritage Database review:

Captures records of any endangered, threatened or special concern species from within project site.

Gives applicant feedback on avoidance/ minimization techniques to complete project.

Includes IDP information for DNR acquisitions

Project Review and Approval Form, continued

Applicant must upload as a PDF with original signature from agency.

REQUIRED for all project sites. If the work will be done on lands managed

by more than one agencies, multiple forms are required.

Applications will be considered incomplete without all necessary forms attached.

Public waters and Project Review and Approval Forms

All public waters projects need Project Review and Approval Forms from:

DNR Area Hydrologist (Division of Waters) DNR Area Fisheries Supervisor and/or DNR Area Wildlife Manager

That means at least 2 forms

In addition, any agency approval (county, SWCD, USFWS- this depends on applicant)

Any application missing the required forms will be considered incomplete

Call if confused!!

What do applicants need to do?

Begin working ASAP with the Land Managers (DNR, USFWS, USFS, County, etc.)

Decide on project to be done Discuss entire project with Land Manager(s) Receive a completed, signed Project Review

and Approval form Original signature PDF format One from each Land Manager

Then what? Apply online, entire application. New this year:

Log-in and password Save progress, return later Map sites by Land Manager Upload Project Review and Approval form Upload all required financial/ easement

documentation to system Once submitted, no changes Nothing accepted via email this year

Review and Selection Process

Has four steps Expect to be completed by mid-November Most application information is non-public

until the grants have been negotiated with the grantee

Initial Review of Applications

Completed by CPL staff after deadline Ensures you followed directions, and met

program guidelines Pull all ineligible applications from further

review Pull all incomplete applications from further

review

Ineligible Applications Less than $5,000 or more than $400,000 in

grant funds requested. Do not meet the requirements of MN Law

Chapter 361, Article 1. Apps that include:

Legally required mitigation, restoration, compliance to ESA, or court ordered activities.

Projects currently receiving direct appropriations or submitted during L-SOHC’s FY2012 Call for Requests.

Previously funded projects not in active status are eligible.

Incomplete Applications

One or all Project Review and Approval forms missing.

Incomplete or unsigned Project Review and Approval form.

Missing financial documentation (if required). Missing easements or other info (if required) Match amount doesn’t meet requirements.

Technical Review Four committees based on habitat types

Forest, prairie, wetland/water, and fish, game and wildlife habitat

Comprised of DNR, USFWS, Universities/ Colleges, County, SWCD, BWSR and non-profit staff.

Will review each application and score using predetermined criteria

Rank and recommend projects to DNR Division Directors

Criteria and Scoring All applications scored 0-9 on each criteria.

List of criteria in Program Manual (pg. 17) Come from Legislative and DNR requirements Cover variety of topics from urgency to species

diversity Also online; can link to species and landscape

plans Application system requires applicants to

specifically address each criteria.

Division Directors Review Comprised of DNR Division Directors

Fish and Wildlife, Forestry, Ecological Resources and Chief Financial Officer

Attempt to distribute funding evenly: Between all habitat types Above/ below $125,000 grant amount requested Geographically around the state

Makes final funding recommendations to DNR Commissioner

Commissioner’s Approval The Commissioner must approve all

projects that are funded Plan to announce funded grants in mid-

November

How does an organization get paid?

Sign up for electronic payment Makes it all quicker!

Reimbursement only Must submit proof ofvendor payment with request Can do limited advances for acquisitions

State must pay within 30 days

Turnaround has usually been quicker

Final Payment 5 percent holdback on final payments for all

grants Includes acquisitions

Will be paid in full if final accomplishment report submitted at time of request All paperwork and project requirements must

be met

County board approval Required for designation of DNR land as:

WMA/ AMA SNA

Must be obtained before acquisition is complete

Vegetation and seed requirements All vegetation and seed used in all habitat

types: Must be of ecotypes native to Minnesota Preferably of the local ecotype Use high diversity of species originating from as

close to the restoration site as possible. Protect existing native prairies, grasslands,

forests, wetlands and other aquatic systems from genetic contamination

Other tips Read thru all the info on the CPL website,

especially: The Project Information page for project details The FY2011 Grantee page for payment and

documentation info Read the RFP and Program Manual carefully Start early – don’t wait til the last minute Call with any questions

Website Information www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/habitat/cpl

Online Application System www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/habitat/cpl

How to Apply page “Enter Application System”

Contact Leslie Tannahill, Conservation Grants

Coordinator 507-206-2861 or 651-259-5242

Jamie Gangaware, Conservation Grants Specialist 651-259-5174

LSCPLgrants.dnr@state.mn.us