Overview
This project uses Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) easements on targeted private forest, wetlands, and shoreline within the Leech Lake and Pine River Major Watersheds to push towards a 75% protection rate.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources identified a strong correlation between lake water quality and habitat that sustains sensitive cold-water fish populations and maintaining 75% undeveloped land cover in the watershed.
The Leech and Pine River Comprehensive Watershed Plans (CWP) adopted the 75 percent protection goal and pinpointed private woodlands as essential to preserving. The CWPs identified issues and concerns and developed a targeted and measurable 10-year implementation plan. Both plans recognized conservation easements as a critical
tool for protecting priority groundwater, habitat, and surface water.
The Pine River and Leech Lake Watersheds have some of the highest quality lakes and fisheries within the lower 48 states. The protection of private lands within these watersheds ensures that habitat stays intact to maintain water quality and provide habitat for Cisco, Golden-winged Warbler, Northern Long-eared Bat, Blanding’s Turtles, and over 107 unique, rare, endangered, and threatened species that live in uplands, lowlands, and mature forests.
Program Details
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be identified in the 1W1P as a priority area
- High RAQ score
- Must be in the Crow Wing River or Leech Lake watersheds
Easement Application Materials
- RIM Application Guidance (pdf)
- Easement Acquisition Checklist (pdf)
- Conservation Easement Application (pdf)
- Area Assessment Form Word document (docx)
- Pine & Leech Scoresheet
- Conservation Easement Financial Worksheet Tax Assessed Calculation Excel spreadsheet (xlsm)
- Agreement Information Form Word document (docx)
- W-9 Form (IRS Website)
Training Materials
- RIM Application Training Webinar 11/17/2020
- RIM Title Insurance Training Webinar 11/18/202
- RIM Easement Application Spring Training webinar recording 3/29/2022
