FRIENDS OF THE MINNESOTA CONSERVATION CORPS INC
Grant: $9,800 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Aug. 15, 2009
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Award Description: Recovery Act funds totaling $9800 (2 task orders of $4900 each) were granted to the Minnesota Conservation Corps from the USFWS to complete habitat restoration work on Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge in Marshall County, MN. Five AmeriCorps members will complete 530 cumulative hours of environmental work in late summer/fall 2009. Restoration work to include: girdling aspen and ash trees, spraying reed canary grass, and conducting prescribed burns to restore an oak-savannah to pre-settlement conditions. Recovery Act funds enable Conservation Corps members to be engaged in a mutually beneficial environmental project while earning revenue to cover direct program costs. The Minnesota Conservation Corps engages over 200 young people (ages 15-25) annually in full time year-round and seasonal AmeriCorps programs. Members complete natural resource managment projects on public land in cooperation with government and non-profit agencies. Funds generated by restoring public lands supports direct program costs, thereby enabling the Corps to continue engaging young people in outdoor work.
Project Description: As of September 30, 2009 five AmeriCorps members have completed 517 cumulative hours restoring 3.85 acres of oak-savannah habitat on the Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge. Members girdled aspen and ash and applied herbicide to reed canary grass. Invasive removal coupled with prescribed burning in later fall will promote native grass and oak growth. Recovery act funds enabled USFWS to hire dedicated Minnesota Conservation Corps crews for a condensed time frame to make signigicant progress on refuge restoration to oak-savannah.
Jobs Summary: Five year-round, full time AmeriCorps members are in the process of completing 530 cumulative hours on a habitat restoration project for the USFWS (517 hours were completed as of September 30, 2009). Recovery Act funds provided 3 weeks of funded project work for 1 crew of 5 AmeriCorps members, thereby enabling members to further develop technical skills in this environmental service-learning program while improving federally protected habitat. Recovery act funds enabled the Minnesota Conservation Corps nonprofit program to retain AmeriCorps members by earning project revenue to cover direct member costs throughout the duration of this project. Minnesota Conservation Corps members work full time on habitat restoration projects throughout the midwest; each member completes 1700 hours of environmental community service annually. (Total jobs reported: 0)
Project Status: More than 50% Completed
This award's data was last updated on Aug. 15, 2009. Help expand these official descriptions using the wiki below.
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