camp ripley and arden hills minnesota army national guard training ...

coming back. Of the 53,000 acres that comprise Camp Ripley, about 50,000 acres are available
for maneuver training space. This allows units that require large amounts of training space to
become proficient on their weapon systems.
Purpose
The purpose of the Camp Ripley Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program, known
locally as “Central Minnesota Prairie to Pines Partnership…preserving our heritage,”, is to
create and enhance a natural undeveloped buffer around Camp Ripley by taking advantage of
available opportunities to prevent encroachment and enhance conservation and land management.
By securing a buffer, Camp Ripley can continue to offer and provide critically important, high
quality military training and operations to ensure combat readiness, as well as mitigate
community development encroachment around the Training Site. Through implementation of
Camp Ripley‟s proposal, Camp Ripley will also be contributing to preserving the local heritage
and enhancing a regional conservation corridor.
Update
Because encroachment is a priority issue for the Minnesota Army National Guard, an
ACUB proposal was prepared for Camp Ripley and subsequently approved by the Army and
National Guard Bureau (NGB) in May 2004. Since then, the following accomplishments have
occurred:
Given the complimentary relationship that ACUB offers from a land management perspective
and the long-standing partnerships that MNARNG has enjoyed with the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) and the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil
Resources (BWSR), both agencies graciously accepted an invitation to assist in implementing
ACUB through a Cooperative Agreement with NGB.
In addition to the MNDNR and BWSR, 20 partners have expressed a willingness to assist in
implementing ACUB including, in some cases, committing their own funds.
To date, 247 willing landowners have expressed interest in ACUB. These landowners
represent about 35,036 acres of land. Over 93 percent of the interested landowners desire
permanent conservation easements rather than acquisition
Federal funding in the amount of $12,981,500 has been awarded to the Camp Ripley ACUB
since 2004.
In addition to federal funding, MNDNR and BWSR attempted to secure state funding in
support of ACUB through the Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources
(LCCMR) and the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC). While the LCCMR
proposal was unsuccessful, the LSOHC proposal was approved in the amount of $843,000.
Funding decisions relative to specific parcels is based on ranking criteria that are weighted
for military considerations (77%) and ecological considerations (23%).
Page 111
2009 Conservation Program Report