Work with private landowners and build relationships to identify tracts in which protection and restoration can provide “multiple benefits” and the highest wildlife habitat and public value within the Heron Lake watershed while providing downstream benefits to Heron Lake itself.

The Heron Lake Watershed District (HLWD) is working with partners in the Heron Lake Area Conservation Partnership (HLACP) to increase the quality and quantity of wetland wildlife habitat in the Heron Lake watershed. The focus will be on agricultural lands with drained wetlands in the Heron Lake watershed. The Conservation Technician will work with local landowners to assist partners in development and coordination of land easement and acquisition protection and restoration projects.

The HLACP seeks to protect and restore land throughout the watershed, with a focus on restoring wetlands to address water quality/quantity concerns in the HLWD. Although much of the work will focus on restoring natural or semi-natural habitats, the Conservation Technician will also explore extension of land protection and restoration into adjacent agricultural fields.

1.    Proactively contact prospective landowners and explain conservation options for flood-prone land through the HLACP, Minnesota Land Trust (MLT), Reinvest In Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources, Ducks Unlimited (DU), Pheasants Forever (PF), and USFWS.

2.    Build relationships to develop conservation and restoration opportunities. Conduct local coordination and outreach to develop trust and partnerships with landowners and local officials.

3.    Assist in the development of appropriate maps and GIS data to strategically target acquired or eased lands by identifying focus areas within the Heron Lake watershed. Models will be used to identify tracts with numerous restorable wetlands adjacent to existing public and protected lands.

4.    Help MLT manage field aspects of conservation easement projects within the Heron Lake watershed, including assessing the conservation merits of potential projects, negotiating and drafting conservation easements, drafting baseline documentation reports and subcontracts, overseeing the work of subcontractors, and all other tasks essential to completing conservation easement transactions. Assist PF and DU in other aspects related to fee-title land acquisition and restoration tasks as needed, especially pertaining to initial site and landowner referrals to PF and DU.

5.    Ensure the successful completion of the HLACP grant. Ensure that grant deliverables are met in compliance with the standards of the HLWD and those of the funding source.

6.    Participate in external outreach and communication efforts related to the HLACP and its associated land protection projects; communicate the work done with HLWD staff, board, and partners; draft correspondence, memoranda, and complex  documents.