PROJECT MANAGER QUALIFICATIONS 
 
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.  
 
The Strategic Framework 2019-23 of the Minnesota Valley Trust, Inc. (Trust) states that it “will assist the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in making the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) a premier urban wildlife refuge that: 
- Protects, restores, and enhances large blocks and corridors of habitat to provide sustainable landscapes for people and wildlife and improve water quality in the Minnesota River 

- Provides opportunities for Twin Cities residents to access the Refuge and connect with wildlife, plants and the Minnesota River in a diversity of ways meaningful to them 

- Increases connections with a diversity of residents in the Twin Cities through outreach programming that meets residents of all ages and backgrounds in their communities, introduces them to the natural world and draws them to visit and experience the Refuge themselves 

- Engages a diversity of people as volunteers, interns and employees to improve Refuge habitat, meet Refuge educational objectives and build a conservation ethic throughout the community 

- Introduces children to the wonders of the natural outdoors through educational and interpretive programming, thereby building a pool of future conservationists, employees, volunteers, advocates and philanthropists.” 


The Trust was established in 2001 to mitigate the impact of the thousands of flights sent over the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge from the new north-south runway at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.  The “Mitigation Plan” was completed by the Trust in 2012 and a new Strategic Plan adopted in early 2013.  The Trust continues and expands its work in support of the Refuge through the Strategic Framework 2019-23, adopted in March 2019. The document establishes Operating Parameters to guide the Trust’s work over the five years and is available upon request.  
 
A 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization, the Trust works in cooperation with the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Wetland Management District.  All lands acquired and restored are donated to the USFWS. 
 
The Trust funds its work through government grants and contracts, private donations and investment income. Since 2003, the Minnesota Valley Trust has been appropriated and managed 15 Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund grants, as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. It also has been appropriated 15 Outdoor Heritage Funds grants, 8 as recommended by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council and 7 as awarded by the Conservation Partners Legacy Grants program of the Minnesota DNR.  
 
The Project Manager’s biography is on the next page. 
 
Deborah Loon, Project Manager 
 
Deborah Loon has served as the executive director of the Minnesota Valley Trust almost since its inception in 2001.  In that role, she is the liaison with the USFWS and is the primary contact with all landowners, local communities and grantmaking organizations.  She provides support to the Trust Board of Directors, implements the Strategic Framework and provides overall management of the organization, including grants management. 
 
Loon also serves as the executive director of Minnesota Valley Lands, Inc., the subsidiary to the Trust that holds title to the acquired lands and completes all management and restoration of the lands prior to donation to the USFWS. 
 
Loon brings extensive experience in project management and organizational leadership for both nonprofit and for-profit organizations.  She has served on the staff and boards of directors for numerous nonprofit organizations since 1984, including in the executive director role since 1999. Loon holds a BA in political science from St. Olaf College.