Natural Heritage Review Program

The Minnesota Conservation Explorer is a tool to enhance the delivery of Minnesota’s Natural Heritage Data and to automate the Natural Heritage Review process. This is a tool for the public to view and create maps of Natural Heritage Data for the purpose of conservation planning. Users can also submit a proposed project and request an automated assessment of potential impacts to Minnesota’s rare features. Go to the Minnesota Conservation Explorer

Obtaining NHIS data

The Natural Heritage Information System (NHIS) is a collection of data layers that provides information on Minnesota's rare plants, animals, native plant communities, and other rare features.

• Obtaining NHIS Data / Fee Schedule
• License Agreement Application Form

Natural Heritage Screen

A Natural Heritage Screen is the process of checking for NHIS data in the vicinity of an activity/project to determine if further review is needed. The following optional checklist for recording results of an NH Screen may be useful to licensees and DNR staff conducting NH Screens.

• NH Screen Checklist

Natural Heritage Review

The purpose of a Natural Heritage Review is 1) to determine if there is any potential for a project to impact state-listed species or other rare features, and 2) to identify measures needed to ensure that a project is complying with state laws related to state-listed species and other rare features. A Natural Heritage Review must be conducted for all projects that meet the threshold for formal environmental review. Government units may also require a Natural Heritage Review as part of their license/permit/grant applications. Regardless of whether a Natural Heritage Review is required, compliance with state law is required. It is strongly recommended that all projects undergo a Natural Heritage Review as a project proposer’s due diligence for following state law and considering impacts to Minnesota’s Natural Heritage.

• MCE – Online submission with an immediate response stating the status of your review
• If unable to submit a Natural Heritage Review request via MCE, contact Jim Drake at [email protected]

Exceptions

The following types of projects do not go through the regular Natural Heritage Review process:

• Communication Towers on Existing Structures – no need to review
• Conservation Partners Legacy (CPL) Grants
• Forest Stewardship Plans -contact John Carlson at [email protected]

Rare Species Survey Process

The DNR’s Rare Species Survey Process includes the following steps:

• Choosing a surveyor
• Acquiring a collection permit
• Preparing a survey plan
• Using survey guidance
• Verifying specimens
• Preparing survey reports
• Submitting reports and data
• Documenting avoidance

Related documents are found below:

DNR-certified listed-species surveyors

• Application process
• Animals
• Plants

Rare Species Survey guidance

• Minnesota’s state-listed species
• DNR Rare Species Guide – includes habitat description and best time to search for each species
• MN Mussel Survey and Relocation Protocol
• Rare plant guidance
• Habitat assessment documents
  • Evaluating and Mapping Native Prairie in Minnesota
  • Upland Prairie System – Condition Ranking Guidelines
  • Wetland Prairie System – Condition Ranking Guidelines
  • Prairie Extremely Rich Fen – Condition Ranking Guidelines

Survey plans, survey reports, and avoidance plans

• Survey plans and reports

Report and data submission

• NHIS data submittal – cover sheet
• Data submission – Scroll down to Submitting Data for spreadsheet templates

Contact the Natural Heritage Review Team

Natural Heritage Review staff receive a high volume of emails. Please use the following email addresses to ensure that your inquiry is routed to the correct staff and addressed in a timely manner:

[email protected] – For questions regarding Natural Heritage Review, including status inquiries
[email protected] – To submit survey reports and data
[email protected] – To submit License Agreement application forms
[email protected] – For questions regarding the NHIS Rare Features Data or training materials
[email protected] – For questions or troubleshooting regarding Minnesota Conservation Explorer

If your inquiry does not fit one of the above categories, please contact the team directly: