History

The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc. was created in 2000 through a settlement agreement between the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Metropolitan Airports Commission.

The purpose for this new nonprofit corporation was “to mitigate the impact on the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge of the north-south runway at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport." As the new runway was intended to send all inbound and outbound flights over the Refuge, federal law required mitigation of its impact on the public’s enjoyment and use of the Refuge. 

The settlement of $26.09 million was transferred to this brand new 501(c)3 tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation, thereby keeping the funds local and singularly focused on the Refuge. Commonly called the Minnesota Valley Trust, the first 12 years of the organization were dedicated to completing the “Refuge Mitigation Plan” as prescribed by the USFWS. Under that plan, the Trust acquired more than 4,090 acres to expand the Refuge and Wetland Management District, built a second Education and Visitor Center on the Refuge’s Rapids Lake Unit in Carver County, and created numerous other public use opportunities on the Refuge.

By 2013, the Minnesota Valley Trust had essentially completed the Mitigation Plan. Thanks to prudent investing and budgeting, as well as aggressive leveraging with other funds, the Minnesota Valley Trust continues its work in support of the Refuge today. We invite you to learn more about our work and the Refuge through this website.