MNL

MNL is proud to sponsor and attend Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association (MnSEIA)'s Gateway to Solar Conference at the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in St. Paul, MN on October 8 & 9, 2024. Come find us at our exhibitor booth to learn about us, how we support MnSEIA's mission with our ecological restoration work in the solar energy industry and how we collaborate with researchers, developers and energy producers to create win-win-win scenarios with our expertise in ecovoltaics! Our very own Jake Janski will be joining National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Julia Chamberland for a discussion on Argonne National Lab's Co-Location Survey, focusing on innovative practices to enhance insect habitats through solar agrivoltaics and pollinator-friendly solar projects! They'll be leading the discussion on October 9, 2024 at 12:00PM. Don't miss out! 🐑 🌞 🌻 🐑 🌞 🌻 🐑 🌞 🌻 #SolarEnergy #Ecovoltaics #Agrivoltaics #CleanEnergy #Pollinators #Sheep #Grazing #Habitat #EcologicalRestoration #Ecology #Energy #Solar https://lnkd.in/gf2Xu3p7

May is officially Invasive Species Awareness Month but October should be Invasive Buckthorn Awareness Month! If you're new to the game of whack-a-mole that is buckthorn control, you can find our guide on how to identify and control invasive buckthorn on your property or within the project areas you manage right here: https://lnkd.in/gGmZUkxf It's not enough to get rid of buckthorn, however. It also must be replaced by competitive plants to ensure it doesn't come back! MNL has a great solution for this - our MNL Buckthorn Replacement Mix. Simply remove the buckthorn seedlings, trees and stumps and overseed the disturbed soils with this mix. More info here: https://lnkd.in/gvJ8PPpH Remember, buckthorn control requires continual identification and monitoring. Fall is a great time for this because other deciduous trees will change colors and lose their leaves while buckthorn leaves hang onto their dark green color and don't fall off until the first hard frost.

The threats of climate change are real and already upon us. Global events like World Environmental Health Day, this year on September 26, remind all of us to think about how we are contributing to our own resiliency, and the resilience of the ecosystems that surround our homes and communities. We, as in, all of humanity, have the power to do something about it. Ecological restoration is an example of work being done not just to enhance our landscapes and turn them into something more "natural" or ecologically appropriate but also increase our chances for a future where our communities, including the plant communities we depend on for survival, are more resilient. Restoration work is also critical to managing our water systems responsibly, another key component in climate resilience. Controlling erosion, planting deep-rooted native vegetation and using the best methods and practices science and wisdom have to offer is the only way we can reverse the damage done to the environment. When people choose native plants instead of exotic ones to fill green spaces, they are choosing to plant something resilient and that doesn't need our care to thrive. This reduces water use, removes the need for fertilizing and contributes to soil health instead of degrading it. And the idea can be applied to a rain garden in someone's back yard to a massive renewable energy project spanning thousands of acres. Resiliency comes from nature-based-solutions that are cyclical by default. Mitigation work involving identifying the source of the problem - whether it's the disappearance of a keystone species or the degradation of natural or protected lands - and addressing them at the appropriate scale is also crucial to changing the course on our climate future. This often involves a lot of careful planning, monitoring and funding from a variety of sources to keen in on how to restore a wetland, save a species from becoming extinct, or irradicating something invasive or toxic to the environment that affects many ecosystems or water systems that we all share. Our resilience depends on our ability to recognize our greatest needs for environmental change and how to invest in our future by making the right decisions today. This WEHD, consider how you can contribute more to climate resilience. We're all in this together, and MNL is doing something about it every single day. #WEHD2024 #WorldEnvironmentalHealthDay #Environment #EcologicalRestoration #HealTheEarth #Nature #Conservation #Resilience #ClimateChange #ClimateResilience #Ecology #NaturalSciences Link to WEHD 2024 source: https://lnkd.in/gJ6Spwqw. Link to WEHD 2024 Theme: https://lnkd.in/g28zUenE

Oh, for peat's sake! Minnesota is losing its peat bogs at a faster rate than they can regenerate, making this resource unsustainable in the long term if current mining practices continue at the rate they are now. The DNR has been put in a precarious position by being both the protector and the economic manager of peat. You may be surprised by the ROI on acreage sales to peat mining companies. No matter where you stand on this bog, you should know why peat is so important to our ecosystems. Here's why: 💼 Carbon Storage: They act as significant carbon sinks, storing large amounts of carbon that would otherwise contribute to atmospheric CO2 levels. This helps mitigate climate change. 🌲 Biodiversity: Peat bogs are unique habitats that support a variety of plant and animal species, many of which are specially adapted to the acidic and waterlogged conditions. 🚿 Water Regulation: They help regulate water flow and maintain hydrological cycles, reducing flooding and providing a steady water supply during dry periods. ♻ Nutrient Cycling: Peat bogs play a role in nutrient cycling, particularly for nitrogen and phosphorus, helping to maintain soil health in surrounding areas. 📖 Cultural and Historical Significance: Many peat bogs contain archaeological artifacts and preserve ancient landscapes, providing insights into past human and environmental interactions. Read the Star Tribune article linked below to decide for yourself if this is the best way to manage these bogs. How would you like to see these bogs managed instead? Leave a comment! https://lnkd.in/gbCfkR_Z

#Conservation #Ecology #EcologicalRestoration #Environmental #Landscape #Plants #Flowers #Wildlife #HealTheEarth

Lakeshores across Minnesota and all over the Midwest are under threat from unchecked development. Many people who own property on a lake want to see it developed much like an urban property - plenty of turf, manicured garden beds and sand and riprap on the shoreline. While this type of landscaping can be aesthetically pleasing and create welcoming spaces for recreation, it is causing damage to lakeshores at an alarming rate. The good news is, there are many steps that a homeowner can take to be part of the solution instead. 🌱 Planting natives flowers and grasses instead of turf and annuals on your shoreline - Native plants grow deeper roots than turf, requiring less water and little to no fertilizer. Those deep roots help to control erosion by holding soils in place. This helps prevent sediments from dumping into the lake, as well. 🌳 Planting native trees and shrubs near the water's edge can also help prevent erosion and also cleans water through sequestering carbon and filtering nutrients instead of letting them leech into the water. These trees and shrubs also provide shade over the water, which is important for wildlife that need cooler, darker waters to hunt or mate in. 🌲 Choose vegetation over riprap! Riprap has its purposes in landscaping. Maintaining your shoreline shouldn't be one of them. Riprap is often regulated, meaning that a permit is required to install it. It produces no habitat, and only makes it more difficult for aquatic species to thrive in these areas. Homeowners should consider using a bio-engineered control system like coir logs or tow-wood systems that allow for small fish and organisms to pass through but also provide structures for reptiles and amphibians to hide in and sun themselves on. 🌼 Location matters! If you want a lawn for your family or a perfect view from your lake home to the water, you can still plant a buffer strip between your lawn and the shoreline to gain many of the benefits of having native vegetation in your landscape plan - less watering and fertilizing, better erosion control and beautiful flower blooms throughout the season. Most people think of 3-foot-high or taller plants when they imagine native plants, but there are so many rushes, sedges and grasses that do very well in a lakeshore environment and don't grow higher than 24 inches tall. Consider working with a designer who knows which species work best or contact MNL directly with your project ideas and we can help you pick out the perfect seeds or plants mix to create the perfect lakeshore garden. Read the article that's making waves and consider how you can help turn the tide by contacting your lake association to ask how you can help. There are grants and funding available and they can help you get started! Read the MPR article: https://lnkd.in/g7p36rCV #Lakeshores #CleanWater #EcologicalRestoration #NativePlants #Lakes #Nature #Minnesota

Native landscape management involves a lot more than planting natives and leaving nature to do its thing. A vital component to proper site management is monitoring and surveying to make the best decisions with the most data available. As ecologists, MNL staff take this activity very seriously and our Professional Services division spends a lot of time out in the field observing, measuring and documenting their findings so we can be proactive in our management strategies instead of reactive. We are constantly asking ourselves how to make our process better, instead of accepting it as "good enough." Ecologists Dan and Ashley were in the field this week conducting meander vegetation surveys at wetland restoration sites. Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative is working with MNL to restore two wetland sites in western Minnesota. These sites were converted from agriculture fields to include wetland areas, with species like water plantain (Alisma triviale), as well as accompanying upland buffers with prairie plants, like gray-headed coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) and wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa). MNL also monitors water levels at these sites. Vegetation surveys and water level monitoring enable MNL to determine management needs and track progress in the wetland restoration journey. Needless to say, the wetlands are quite wet this year! (In some places, up to thigh-deep!) No matter the site conditions or the time of year, MNL has the expertise and the grit to get our work done. We produce real, nature-based solutions for our clients and never settle for "good enough." If you have a project that requires ecological expertise, site monitoring and proactive decision making to reach its goals, MNL has you covered. Give us a call, send us an email or find us online at mnlcorp.com to learn more about our ecological restoration experience! #NatureBasedSolutions #EcologicalRestoration #LandManagement #HealtheEarth #Wetlands

It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the passing of a member of the MNL family. Gina spent countless hours working with her parents in the prairie, helped raise bison and lambs, and always surprised the office with her delicious treats. Please join us in holding the entire Schaffer family in our hearts as they navigate these difficult times. https://lnkd.in/g2a8SnQg

Lakeshore restoration projects, no matter the size, have a HUGE impact on local ecosystems. There are so many benefits to lakeshore restorations, here are just a few: 🚰 Planting #NativePlants in buffer zones and along shorelines will help trap nutrients and sediment, effectively filtering runoff before it can reach bodies of water. They are also perennial, meaning they continue to grow year after year, and only increase their ability to filter as they grow bigger root systems that process more nutrients effectively. 🔬 Native plants improve #SoilHealth in a number of ways: they increase biomass in the soil, feed beneficial microorganisms and absorb harmful chemicals. They also don't require inputs like fertilizers, saving you money and keeping those concentrated nutrients out of our water! 🚧 Native plants have strong, deep roots that stabilize soil and keep it from eroding. Turf grasses, with their incredibly short root systems, do not. If you're tired of losing ground on your shoreline, consider planting native wildflowers and shrubs instead of a turf lawn butting up to riprap. The difference in erosion control between native plants and exotic turf grasses is staggering. Even if you love having a lawn to play on, consider a buffer strip of native plants to hold everything in place for the long-term! 💐 Restored ecosystems are aesthetically pleasing, especially when planted with diversity in mind. Different wildflower species have a variety of bloom seasons, making it possible to have natural blooms between May to October! If you're not sure what to plant to maximize your blooms, MNL can help you design your restoration project with custom seed mixes and over 25 years of expertise in restoration projects big or small. 🌻 #Pollinators benefit from all flowering plants, but not all plants help all pollinators. Native plants have been proven to be more beneficial than cultivated plants because they have adapted along with generalist and specialist pollinators for thousands, even tens of thousands of years as opposed to a cultivar that was introduced more recently. Pollinators are attracted to what they recognize, and simply put, they recognize native plants more easily and in some cases, can only thrive on native vegetation. If you want to make a difference to the bees, plant natives, please! (Pictured: Shoreline restoration project in Shell Lake, WI. Graded the soil, installed retaining wall, blanketed with straw and planted native plug species that are fast-growing and adaptive to lakeshore conditions.) #LandManagement #Lakeshores #CleanWater #EcologicalRestoration #HealTheEarth

Removing dams helps to improve river ecosystems by restoring natural flow, temperature, and sediment to the stream. These factors are important for the aquatic life and the water quality in rivers and streams. MNL is proud to have worked with the Minnesota DNR to remove the Pine River dam mentioned in this article. Dam removals and stream restoration are another way that we are working to Heal the Earth. #Restoration #NatureBasedSolutions #Water #Ecology #LandManagement https://lnkd.in/gVsj_XTh