Vegetation Sampling at the Chippewa Prairie Patch - Burn Project

2026-11-03

Procurement Overview and Goals . The Minnesota Biological Survey ( MBS - formerly the Minnesota County Biological Survey ( MCBS )), a program in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources ( DNR ), requests proposals for qualified people to conduct prairie vegetation sampling to assist Minnesota DNR managers and ecologists at the 2 , 700 - acre Chippewa Prairie Patch - BurnGraze ( Chippewa Prairie PBG ) Project located 3 miles south of the town of Appleton , Minnesota . Funds for this project were appropriated from the Game and Fish Fund of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources . Vegetation sampling at the Chippewa Prairie PBG Project in 2026 will focus on 25 pairs of permanently - marked vegetation plots ( 50 total plots ) equally distributed between five grazing units . Vegetation sampling will measure plant species abundances to help inform managers on current and future management practices to better achieve the multiple goals of improving wildlife habitat , controlling invasive species , and maintaining the plant species composition of high quality prairie . Scope of Work and Methods Vegetation sampling will take place in consecutive weeks in late July and / or early August 2026 . We strongly prefer that sampling start in the week of July 27 . Sampling must be conducted on consecutive weeks until it is completed . Sample sites : The project area consists of five management units which vary from 282 to 368 acres in size . Within each management unit , vegetation sampling will be conducted in five , permanently - marked , pairs of plots spaced approximately 200 - 400 meters apart . Within each pair of plots , the members of each pair are sited 15 - 30 meters apart . A total of 50 sample plots ( in 25 pairs ) will be sampled in 2026 . Each pair of sample plots is located in upland mesic prairie . Each plot consists of a 10m x 10 m square marked at each corner with a permanent spike and oriented with the sides parallel to cardinal directions . One member of each pair of plots is enclosed within a circular fence composed of cattle panels . The contractor will be able to drive into the management area but will not be permitted to drive off track from two - track field roads . Field equipment : DNR will provide the following : a shapefile of plot corner locations , magnetic detector , six meter - ruled tape measures pre - marked with sample frame locations , five collapsible subplot frames , one Robel pole , detailed sampling protocol , maps of the management units and sampling locations , GPS locations of plot corners , plant checklists , four field tablet computers with data entry program in Access , and extra field data sheets on write - in - rain paper . The DNR requires the contractor to return the field tablet computers and magnetic detector at the completion of the contract , undamaged , or the contractor will be responsible for replacing these computers or magnetic detector unless the damage is from reasonable use . Contractors are expected to provide appropriate gear for the weather ( preparation for extreme sun exposure and rain ), a GPS unit ( submeter GPS not required ), plant identification manuals , plant press with ventilators and blotters , food , cell phone , adequate water , ice cooler , clipboards , and pencils . Heat exhaustion is a serious threat in this region in July and August . Calibration : The selected vegetation sampling contractor will schedule the field sampling dates with the DNR project coordinator ( Rhett Johnson ). At the beginning of data collection , meet with the project coordinator at the site to practice the protocol and identify difficult taxa . All contractor staff are expected to be skilled in the identification of grasses and forbs of the northern tallgrass prairies in vegetative condition , skilled in the use of plant technical manuals , and able to identify or quickly learn to identify nearly all the plants they encounter in the field . We expect a field team to have a minimum of two people who are highly experienced in identifying plants of native prairies that are in vegetative condition . Preference will be given to field teams that have four field workers , such as a team of 2 staff highly experienced in grass / sedge identification and two staff with strong plant identification skills but less experience . Set - up : The contractors will navigate to each sample site using a GPS unit . The corners of sample sites are marked with metal stakes and buried DEEP - 1 survey magnets . A magnetic detector will be provided to relocate corners .

Minnesota

2026-04-29