WHAT IS ACUB?
In 2001 the National Guard Bureau initiated a project to address the growing concern of development and encroachment around the perimeter of Camp Ripley. In 2004 the National Guard Bureau and the State of Minnesota, acting through the Board of Soil and Water Resources entered in to a Cooperative Agreement to implement an Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program for Camp Ripley.
The program is designed to minimize intensive residential and commercial development within a 3-mile radius around Camp Ripley by purchasing the development rights through permanent conservation easements. Landowners are paid a per acre sum to agree to leave the land open. They retain the right to use the property as they are presently, but agreeing to not plat or develop the land with more residential or commercial building sites. Farming, hunting, and normal agricultural activities may continue. The program is for willing landowners only.
Morrison SWCD is working in conjunction with Camp Ripley Training Center (CRTC) and Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR) in executing conservation easements for the ACUB Program.
Landowners interested in participating in the program complete and submit to the SWCD a Landowner Interest Form (see below). The Landowner Interest Form is submitted for Camp Ripley for ranking.
Each year CRTC, through a prioritization process, identifies and ranks parcels of land to be considered for possible funding for the ACUB Program.
A “Short List” of ranked landowners is developed and provided to the SWCD. The SWCD approaches landowners identified on the “Short List” for possible participation in the program as funding becomes available.
Land owner applications are received by the SWCD’s and sent to BWSR. BWSR requests funds.
Once easements are completed, SWCD’s monitor enrolled lands to ensure they meet the intent of the easement encumbered. The easement is perpetual.
POINT OF CONTACT:
For more information or to sign up as an interested landowner, the following contacts and numbers are available.
Morrison Soil and Water Conservation District:
Email Lance Chisholm or Helen McLennan or call (320)616-2479
Camp Ripley contacts:
Marty Skoglund or Jay Brezinka at (320)632-616-2722
CURRENT STATUS:
As of January 1st, 2012:
67 – ACUB Land Deals Under Easement
9,739.4 Acres – Under Easement
9 – Land Deals that we are currently working on
1,040.4 Acres – Ongoing
10,779.8 Acres – Total Acres Under Easement/Ongoing
ACUB Accomplishment – Morrison SWCD and Crow Wing SWCD Enhance Wildlife Management Area
Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), Morrison SWCD, Crow Wing SWCD, DNR, and Camp Ripley are announcing that the BWSR recieved $ 843,000 in Lessard Outdoor Heritage Grant funds to purchase conservation easements surrounding the State Nokasippi Wildlife Management Area and the Little Nokasippi Confluence. The Lessard Outdoor Heritage Funds were established through the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment (approved by voters in 2008).
The Little Nokasippi Confluence and the State Nokasippi Wildlife Management Area (click here to view map) are located in a critical area of Army Compatible Use Buffer Area (ACUB) which is 110,000 acres of land within 3-mile radius of Camp Ripley. The ACUB program maintains the separation of training noise, dust, and smoke from local residents, and also provides large tracts of protected habitat for water quality protection and wildlife. The Lessard Outdoor Heritage Grant funds are matched by Department of Defense funds though the National Guard Bureau allocated to BWSR for the specifically for the ACUB program. The grant and ACUB funds paid for closing costs, administrative fees, and the acquisition of permanent conservation easements.
Dan Steward, BWSR Board Conservation, states “This project will not only expanded an existing WMA by 252 acres for public outdoor recreation (e.g. hunting, fishing, etc.) but it will also protect the viability of the WMA into perpetuity through 634 acres of permanent conservation easements.”
Marty Skoglund Environmental Supervisor Department of Military Affairs “This is a great example of Federal, State, and Local Government Units working with landowners to protect the rural character of Central Minnesota and the bountiful natural resources of Crow Wing and Morrison Counties while protecting the mission of Camp Ripley.
If you are interested in more information regarding the ACUB Program contact Helen McLennan via email or (320) 616-2479.