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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <br />Date: 8/11/2025 <br />Item No.: 10.f. <br />Department ApprovalCity Manager Approval <br />Item Description:Approve Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program Agreement <br />1 <br />2 Background <br />3 The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources offers the Conservation Partners Legacy <br />4(CPL) grant program to protect, restore, and enhance the state's wetlands, prairies, forests, <br />5 and wildlife habitat. The CPL program "funds conservation projects that restore, enhance, <br />6 or protect forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife in Minnesota. <br />7 Funding for the CPL grant program is from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, created by the <br />8 people of Minnesota. (MNDNR CPL Program Overview)" It provides reimbursable grants <br />9 from $5,000 to $500,000 to local, regional, state, and non-profit organizations. <br />10 <br />11 This spring, staff and consultants completed a CPL application to implement a significant <br />12 portion of the work that was defined in the 2024 Natural Resources Management Plan <br />13 Update. <br />14 <br />15 The City of Roseville has been awarded a $500,000 grant for the implementation of the <br />16 2024 Natural Resources Management Plan update. Specifically, this project will enhance <br />17 wildlife habitat at 23 parks, totaling over 170 acres. Habitats to be enhanced include <br />18 roughly 16 acres of prairie/oak savanna, 145 acres of oak woodland/forest habitat, and 12 <br />19 acres of wetland, plus pond and lake shorelines. In addition to wildlife benefits, most the <br />20 park natural areas support passive recreation on paved trails or are in proximity to trails <br />21 and other areas designed for active recreation where park users may enjoy the aesthetics <br />22 of flowering native plant communities, diverse fall colors, and the overall seasonal changes <br />23 in adjacent natural areas. Volunteer stewardship activities will immerse people in nature <br />24 and provide opportunities for environmental education, exercise, and fostering a sense of <br />25 place and community. Increasing native plant cover will further water quality protection by <br />26 reducing sediment and nutrient flow into wetlands and waterbodies. <br />27 <br />28 The project overall is expected to result in: (1) increased native plant cover and quality <br />29 through over 130 acres of enrichment native seeding and planting, (2) increased native <br />30 plant diversity and improved pollinator habitat through planting species-rich seed mixes that <br />31 supplement existing vegetation, (3) decreased invasive plant cover and abundance with a <br />32 goal of under 10% cover and no fruiting invasive shrubs, and (4) community engagement in <br />33 natural resource stewardship through over 60 planned events and additional volunteer-led <br />34 opportunities. <br />35 <br />Page 1 of 2 <br />Qbhf!234!pg!286 <br /> <br />