LeSueur River/Manthey WMA Buffer

The proposed 49 acre project site located within the floodplain of the Le Sueur River will be protected by applying a perpetual conservation easement on the property. The tract is contiguous with the recently acquired Manthey WMA and its protection will add significantly to an existing natural corridor of 400+ acres of permanently protected RIM land. Work associated with the project will include converting 33 acres of cultivated ag land to native vegetation, removal of invasive woody species and securing a perpetual easement. The LeSueur River, known as the primary contributor to the sediment load to the Blue Earth River will benefit from a reduction in sediment delivery and restored floodplain function. Other benefits gained from the project would be protecting critical soils from scour erosion, improve water quality and quanitiy downstream and provide needed habitat for amphibians, shorebirds, deer, pheasant, turkey and aquatic life.