HF 4124

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/04/2024 04:36pm

A bill for an act
relating to legacy; appropriating money from outdoor heritage fund.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS. new text end

new text begin The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies
and for the purposes specified in this act. The appropriations are from the outdoor heritage
fund for the fiscal year indicated for each purpose. The figures "2024" and "2025" used in
this act mean that the appropriations listed under them are available for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 2024, or June 30, 2025, respectively. "The first year" is fiscal year 2024. "The
second year" is fiscal year 2025. "The biennium" is fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The
appropriations in this act are onetime appropriations.
new text end

			new text begin APPROPRIATIONS new text end
			new text begin Available for the Year new text end
			new text begin Ending June 30 new text end
				new text begin 2024 new text end		new text begin 2025 new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin OUTDOOR HERITAGE FUND new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Total Appropriation new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 0 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 180,711,000 new text end

new text begin This appropriation is from the outdoor heritage
fund. The amounts that may be spent for each
purpose are specified in the following
subdivisions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Prairies new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin 19,439,000 new text end

new text begin (a) Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, Phase 14 new text end

new text begin $4,412,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with The Nature Conservancy, in
cooperation with the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service, to acquire land in fee or
permanent conservation easements and restore
and enhance lands within the Northern
Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area in
western Minnesota for addition to the Northern
Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.
Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota
Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given
to acquiring lands that are eligible for the
native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes,
section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected
native prairie.
new text end

new text begin (b) Accelerating Wildlife Management Area Program, Phase 16 new text end

new text begin $5,315,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire
in fee and restore and enhance lands for
wildlife management area purposes under
Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05,
subdivision 8. Subject to evaluation criteria
in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority
must be given to acquiring lands that are
eligible for the native prairie bank under
Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands
adjacent to protected native prairie.
new text end

new text begin (c) Prairie Chicken Habitat Partnership of Southern Red River Valley, Phase 10 new text end

new text begin $3,794,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Pheasants Forever, in
cooperation with the Minnesota Prairie
Chicken Society, to acquire land in fee and
restore and enhance lands within the southern
Red River Valley for wildlife management
purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section
86A.05, subdivision 8, or to be designated and
managed as waterfowl production areas in
Minnesota, in cooperation with the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service. Subject to
evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part
6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring
lands that are eligible for the native prairie
bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96,
or lands adjacent to protected native prairie.
new text end

new text begin (d) Martin County DNR WMA Acquisition, Phase 8 new text end

new text begin $2,589,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for
agreements to acquire land in fee and to
restore and enhance strategic prairie grassland,
wetland, and other wildlife habitat within
Martin County for wildlife management area
purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section
86A.05, subdivision 8, as follows: $1,921,000
to Fox Lake Conservation League, Inc.;
$613,000 to Ducks Unlimited; and $55,000 to
the Conservation Fund.
new text end

new text begin (e) DNR Grassland Enhancement, Phase 16 new text end

new text begin $1,427,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources to
accelerate restoration and enhancement of
prairies, grasslands, and savannas in wildlife
management areas, in scientific and natural
areas, in aquatic management areas, on lands
in the native prairie bank, in bluff prairies on
state forest land in southeastern Minnesota,
and in waterfowl production areas and refuge
lands of the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service.
new text end

new text begin (f) Enhanced Public Land - Grasslands, Phase 7 new text end

new text begin $1,902,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Pheasants Forever to enhance
and restore grassland and wetland habitat on
public lands within the forest prairie transition,
metro urban, and prairie ecoregions of
Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Forests new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin 32,164,000 new text end

new text begin (a) Minnesota Heritage Forest - Transition to Public Ownership Program new text end

new text begin $22,647,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources to acquire
priority forest habitat lands in fee as wildlife
management areas, scientific and natural areas,
state forests, and county forests. Of this
amount, $11,737,000 is for an agreement with
Northern Waters Land Trust.
new text end

new text begin (b) Camp Ripley Sentinel Landscape Protection Program ACUB, Phase 12 new text end

new text begin $2,068,000 the second year is to the Board of
Water and Soil Resources, in cooperation with
the Morrison County Soil and Water
Conservation District, to acquire permanent
conservation easements and restore and
enhance forest wildlife habitat within the
boundaries of the Minnesota National Guard
Camp Ripley Sentinel Landscape and Army
Compatible Use Buffer. Up to $110,000 to the
Board of Water and Soil Resources is to
establish a monitoring and enforcement fund
as approved in the accomplishment plan and
subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
97A.056, subdivision 17. Subdivision 8,
paragraph (b), does not apply to this project.
A list of permanent conservation easements
must be provided as part of the final report.
new text end

new text begin (c) Riparian Habitat Protection in Kettle and Snake River Watersheds, Phase 2 new text end

new text begin $1,569,000 the second year is to the Board of
Water and Soil Resources, in cooperation with
the Pine County Soil and Water Conservation
District, to acquire permanent conservation
easements to protect high-quality forests,
wetlands, and shoreline within the Kettle and
Snake River watersheds. Up to $150,000 to
the Board of Water and Soil Resources is to
establish a monitoring and enforcement fund
as approved in the accomplishment plan and
subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
97A.056, subdivision 17. Subdivision 8,
paragraph (b), does not apply to this project.
A list of permanent conservation easements
must be provided as part of the final report.
new text end

new text begin (d) DNR Forest Habitat Enhancement, Phase 4 new text end

new text begin $1,727,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources to restore
and enhance forest wildlife habitats on public
lands throughout Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (e) Young Forest Conservation, Phase 4 new text end

new text begin $2,229,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with the American Bird
Conservancy to enhance publicly owned,
permanently protected forest lands for wildlife
management.
new text end

new text begin (f) Floodplain and Upland Forest Enhancement - Mississippi River, Phase 5 new text end

new text begin $1,924,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with the National Audubon Society
to restore and enhance floodplain and upland
forest habitat for wildlife on public lands along
the Mississippi River and Mississippi River
tributaries.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Wetlands new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin 38,412,000 new text end

new text begin (a) Wild-Rice Shoreland Protection, Phase 9 new text end

new text begin $2,042,000 the second year is to the Board of
Water and Soil Resources to acquire
permanent conservation easements on
wild-rice lake shoreland habitat for native
wild-rice bed protection. Of this amount, up
to $110,000 is for establishing a monitoring
and enforcement fund as approved in the
accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota
Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.
Subdivision 8, paragraph (b), does not apply
to this project. A list of permanent
conservation easements must be provided as
part of the final report.
new text end

new text begin (b) Shallow Lake and Wetland Protection and Restoration Program, Phase 13 new text end

new text begin $7,670,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Ducks Unlimited to acquire
land in fee for wildlife management purposes
under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05,
subdivision 8, or to be designated and
managed as waterfowl production areas or
national wildlife refuges in Minnesota, in
cooperation with the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service, and to restore and enhance
prairie lands, wetlands, and land buffering
shallow lakes.
new text end

new text begin (c) RIM Wetlands - Restoring Most Productive Habitat in Minnesota, Phase 13 new text end

new text begin $3,202,000 the second year is to the Board of
Water and Soil Resources to acquire
permanent conservation easements and to
restore wetlands and native grassland habitat
under Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.515.
Of this amount, up to $50,000 is for
establishing a monitoring and enforcement
fund as approved in the accomplishment plan
and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
97A.056, subdivision 17. Subdivision 8,
paragraph (b), does not apply to this project.
A list of permanent conservation easements
must be provided as part of the final report.
new text end

new text begin (d) Accelerating Waterfowl Production Area Acquisition Program, Phase 16 new text end

new text begin $7,020,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Pheasants Forever, in
cooperation with the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service, to acquire land in fee and
restore and enhance wetlands and grasslands
to be designated and managed as waterfowl
production areas in Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (e) DNR Accelerated Shallow Lakes and Wetland Enhancement, Phase 16 new text end

new text begin $3,809,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources to enhance
and restore shallow lakes and wetland habitat
statewide.
new text end

new text begin (f) Nelson Slough - East Park Wildlife Management Area new text end

new text begin $4,174,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with the Middle-Snake-Tamarac
Rivers Watershed District to restore and
enhance wetland and upland wildlife habitat
on Nelson Slough and East Park Wildlife
Management Area in Marshall County,
Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (g) Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration Program, Phase 9 new text end

new text begin $2,128,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to
restore and enhance prairie, wetland, and other
habitat on permanently protected conservation
easements in high-priority wetland habitat
complexes within the prairie, forest/prairie
transition, and forest ecoregions.
new text end

new text begin (h) Living Shallow Lakes and Wetlands Enhancement and Restoration Initiative, Phase 10 new text end

new text begin $7,867,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Ducks Unlimited to restore
and enhance shallow lakes and wetlands on
public lands and wetlands under permanent
conservation easement for wildlife
management.
new text end

new text begin (i) Lake Alice Enhancement, Fergus Falls new text end

new text begin $500,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with the city of Fergus Falls to
enhance Lake Alice in Fergus Falls.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end new text begin Habitats new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin 89,294,000 new text end

new text begin (a) St. Croix Watershed Habitat Protection and Restoration, Phase 5 new text end

new text begin $4,711,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for
agreements to acquire land in fee and acquire
permanent conservation easements and to
restore and enhance natural habitat systems in
the St. Croix River watershed as follows:
$1,905,000 to Trust for Public Land; $110,000
to Wild Rivers Conservancy; and $2,696,000
to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $224,000 to
Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a
monitoring and enforcement fund as approved
in the accomplishment plan and subject to
Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056,
subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (b) Pine and Leech Watershed Targeted RIM Easement Permanent Land Protection, Phase 3 new text end

new text begin $2,242,000 the second year is to the Board of
Water and Soil Resources, in cooperation with
the Crow Wing County Soil and Water
Conservation District, to acquire permanent
conservation easements of high-quality forest,
wetland, and shoreline habitat. Up to $120,000
of the total amount is for establishing a
monitoring and enforcement fund as approved
in the accomplishment plan and subject to
Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056,
subdivision 17. Subdivision 8, paragraph (b),
does not apply to this project. A list of
permanent conservation easements must be
provided as part of the final report.
new text end

new text begin (c) Protecting Minnesota's Lakes of Outstanding Biological Significance, Phase 3 new text end

new text begin $3,321,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for
agreements to acquire land in fee and
permanent conservation easements and to
restore and enhance lakes of outstanding
biological significance in northeast and
north-central Minnesota. Of this amount,
$1,083,000 is to the Northern Waters Land
Trust and $2,238,000 is to Minnesota Land
Trust. Up to $224,000 to Minnesota Land
Trust is for establishing a monitoring and
enforcement fund as approved in the
accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota
Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (d) Shell Rock River Watershed Habitat Restoration Program, Phase 13 new text end

new text begin $2,060,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with the Shell Rock River
Watershed District to acquire land in fee and
restore and enhance habitat in the Shell Rock
River watershed.
new text end

new text begin (e) Cannon River Watershed Habitat Restoration and Protection Program, Phase 13 new text end

new text begin $2,555,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for
agreements to acquire lands in fee and restore
and enhance wildlife habitat in the Cannon
River watershed as follows: $54,000 to Clean
River Partners; $888,000 to Great River
Greening; and $1,613,000 to Trust for Public
Land.
new text end

new text begin (f) Mississippi Headwaters Habitat Corridor Project, Phase 8 new text end

new text begin $2,706,000 the second year is to acquire lands
in fee and permanent conservation easements
and to restore wildlife habitat in the
Mississippi headwaters. Of this amount:
new text end

new text begin (1) $1,706,000 is to the commissioner of
natural resources for agreements as follows:
$57,000 to the Mississippi Headwaters Board
and $1,649,000 to Trust for Public Land; and
new text end

new text begin (2) $1,000,000 is to the Board of Water and
Soil Resources, of which up to $100,000 is to
establish a monitoring and enforcement fund
as approved in the accomplishment plan and
subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
97A.056, subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (g) Fisheries Habitat Protection on Strategic North Central Minnesota Lakes, Phase 10 new text end

new text begin $2,687,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for
agreements to acquire land in fee and in
permanent conservation easements and to
restore and enhance wildlife habitat to sustain
healthy fish habitat on coldwater lakes in
Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, and Hubbard
Counties as follows: $2,252,000 to Northern
Waters Land Trust and $435,000 to Minnesota
Land Trust. Up to $56,000 to Minnesota Land
Trust is to establish a monitoring and
enforcement fund as approved in the
accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota
Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (h) Red River Basin Riparian Habitat Program new text end

new text begin $5,119,000 the second year is to acquire
permanent conservation easements to protect,
restore, and enhance stream and riparian
habitat throughout the Red River watershed.
Of this amount, $169,000 is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with the Red River Watershed
Management Board and $4,950,000 is to the
Board of Water and Soil Resources. Up to
$380,000 of the total amount is for
establishing a monitoring and enforcement
fund as approved in the accomplishment plan
and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
97A.056, subdivision 17. Subdivision 8,
paragraph (b), does not apply to this project.
A list of permanent conservation easements
must be provided as part of the final report.
new text end

new text begin (i) Resilient Habitat for Heritage Brook Trout, Phase 2 new text end

new text begin $2,486,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for
agreements to acquire permanent conservation
easements and to restore and enhance habitat
in targeted watersheds of southeast Minnesota
to improve heritage brook trout and coldwater
aquatic communities. Of this amount,
$400,000 is to The Nature Conservancy,
$612,000 is to Trout Unlimited, and
$1,474,000 is to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to
$168,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to
establish a monitoring and enforcement fund
as approved in the accomplishment plan and
subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
97A.056, subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (j) Southeast Minnesota Protection and Restoration, Phase 12 new text end

new text begin $3,052,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for
agreements to acquire lands in fee and
permanent conservation easements and to
restore and enhance wildlife habitat on public
lands and permanent conservation easements
in southeast Minnesota as follows: $970,000
to The Nature Conservancy, $964,000 to Trust
for Public Land, and $1,118,000 to Minnesota
Land Trust. Up to $112,000 to Minnesota
Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and
enforcement fund as approved in the
accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota
Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (k) Lower Wild Rice River Corridor Habitat Restoration, Phase 4 new text end

new text begin $2,345,000 the second year is to acquire land
in permanent conservation easement and to
restore river and related habitat in the Wild
Rice River corridor. Of this amount, $30,000
is to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with the Wild Rice Watershed
District and $2,315,000 is to the Board of
Water and Soil Resources. The Board of Water
and Soil Resources may use up to $60,000 for
establishing a monitoring and enforcement
fund as approved in the accomplishment plan
and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
97A.056, subdivision 17. Subdivision 8,
paragraph (b), does not apply to this project.
A list of permanent conservation easements
must be provided as part of the final report.
new text end

new text begin (l) DNR Wildlife Management Area and Scientific and Natural Area Acquisition, Phase 16 new text end

new text begin $1,359,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources to acquire
in fee and restore and enhance lands for
wildlife management purposes under
Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05,
subdivision 8, and to acquire land in fee for
scientific and natural area purposes under
Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05,
subdivision 5. Subject to evaluation criteria
in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority
must be given to acquiring lands that are
eligible for the native prairie bank under
Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands
adjacent to protected native prairie.
new text end

new text begin (m) Accelerating Habitat Conservation in Southwest Minnesota, Phase 3 new text end

new text begin $2,872,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to
acquire permanent conservation easements
and to restore and enhance high-quality
wildlife habitat in southwest Minnesota. Of
this amount, up to $168,000 is to establish a
monitoring and enforcement fund as approved
in the accomplishment plan and subject to
Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056,
subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (n) Sauk River Watershed Habitat Protection and Restoration, Phase 5 new text end

new text begin $3,965,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for
agreements to acquire lands in fee and
permanent conservation easements and restore
and enhance wildlife habitat in the Sauk River
watershed as follows: $375,000 to Great River
Greening; $1,199,000 to Sauk River
Watershed District; $1,192,000 to Pheasants
Forever; and $1,199,000 to Minnesota Land
Trust. Up to $168,000 to Minnesota Land
Trust is to establish a monitoring and
enforcement fund as approved in the
accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota
Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (o) Metro Big Rivers, Phase 14 new text end

new text begin $8,123,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for
agreements to acquire land in fee and
permanent conservation easements and to
restore and enhance natural habitat systems
associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota,
and St. Croix Rivers and their tributaries
within the metropolitan area as follows:
$1,250,000 to Minnesota Valley National
Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $420,000 to
Friends of the Mississippi River; $803,000 to
Great River Greening; $2,750,000 to Trust for
Public Land; and $2,900,000 to Minnesota
Land Trust. Up to $224,000 to Minnesota
Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and
enforcement fund as approved in the
accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota
Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (p) Anoka Sand Plain Habitat Conservation, Phase 9 new text end

new text begin $1,802,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for
agreements to restore and enhance wildlife
habitat on public lands and easements in the
Anoka Sand Plain ecoregion and intersecting
minor watersheds as follows: $1,508,000 to
Great River Greening and $294,000 to
Sherburne County.
new text end

new text begin (q) DNR Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Enhancement, Phase 7 new text end

new text begin $4,206,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources to restore
and enhance aquatic habitat in degraded
streams and aquatic management areas and to
facilitate fish passage.
new text end

new text begin (r) Minnesota Statewide Trout Habitat Enhancement new text end

new text begin $2,308,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Trout Unlimited to restore and
enhance habitat for trout and other species in
and along coldwater rivers, lakes, and streams
throughout Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (s) Knife River Habitat Rehabilitation, Phase 7 new text end

new text begin $1,572,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with the Arrowhead Regional
Development Commission, in cooperation
with the Lake Superior Steelhead Association,
to restore and enhance trout habitat in the
Knife River watershed.
new text end

new text begin (t) DNR St. Louis River Restoration Initiative, Phase 11 new text end

new text begin $2,163,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources to restore
and enhance priority aquatic, riparian, and
forest habitats in the St. Louis River estuary.
Of this amount, $716,000 is for an agreement
with Minnesota Land Trust.
new text end

new text begin (u) Roseau Lake Rehabilitation, Phase 2 new text end

new text begin $3,054,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with the Roseau River Watershed
District to restore and enhance the Roseau
Lake and Roseau River habitat complex in
Roseau County, Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (v) Highbanks Ravine Bat Hibernaculum new text end

new text begin $2,300,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with the city of St. Cloud to
enhance the Highbanks Ravine Bat
Hibernaculum in St. Cloud.
new text end

new text begin (w) Owámniyomni Native Landscape and River Restoration, St. Anthony Falls new text end

new text begin $1,918,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Friends of the Falls to restore
and enhance wildlife habitat at Upper St.
Anthony Falls. This appropriation may only
be spent for site grading, oak savanna, and
aquatic habitat portions of the project.
new text end

new text begin (x) Silver Lake Dam Fish Passage Modification new text end

new text begin $2,368,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with the city of Rochester to restore
and enhance aquatic habitat in Silver Lake and
the south fork of the Zumbro River by
modifying the existing low-head dam in
Rochester.
new text end

new text begin (y) Little Devil Track River Restoration new text end

new text begin $3,000,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Cook County to restore and
enhance stream habitat in the Little Devil
Track River.
new text end

new text begin (z) Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program: Statewide and Metro Habitat, Phase 16 new text end

new text begin $15,000,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for a
program to provide competitive matching
grants of up to $500,000 to local, regional,
state, and national organizations for enhancing,
restoring, or protecting forests, wetlands,
prairies, or habitat for fish, game, or wildlife
in Minnesota. Unless there are not enough
eligible grant applications received, of this
amount, at least $4,000,000 is for grants in the
seven-county metropolitan area and cities with
a population of 50,000 or more and at least
$4,000,000 is for grants to applicants that have
not previously applied for money from the
outdoor heritage fund. Grants must not be
made for activities required to fulfill the duties
of owners of lands subject to conservation
easements. Grants must not be made from the
appropriation in this paragraph for projects
that have a total project cost exceeding
$1,000,000. Of the total appropriation,
$600,000 may be spent for personnel costs,
outreach, and support to first-time applicants
and other direct and necessary administrative
costs. Grantees may acquire land or interests
in land. Easements must be permanent. Grants
may not be used to establish easement
stewardship accounts. The program must
require a match of at least ten percent from
nonstate sources for all grants. The match may
be cash or in-kind. For grant applications of
$25,000 or less, the commissioner must
provide a separate, simplified application
process. Subject to Minnesota Statutes, the
commissioner of natural resources must, when
evaluating projects of equal value, give
priority to organizations that have a history of
receiving, or a charter to receive, private
contributions for local conservation or habitat
projects. All restoration or enhancement
projects must be on land permanently
protected by a permanent covenant ensuring
perpetual maintenance and protection of
restored and enhanced habitat, by a
conservation easement, or by public ownership
or in public waters as defined in Minnesota
Statutes, section 103G.005, subdivision 15.
Priority must be given to restoration and
enhancement projects on public lands.
Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056,
subdivision 13, applies to grants awarded
under this paragraph. This appropriation is
available until June 30, 2027. No less than five
percent of the amount of each grant must be
held back from reimbursement until the grant
recipient completes a grant accomplishment
report by the deadline and in the form
prescribed by and satisfactory to the
Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. The
commissioner must provide notice of the grant
program in the summary of game and fish law
prepared under Minnesota Statutes, section
97A.051, subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end new text begin Administration new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin 1,402,000 new text end

new text begin (a) Contract Management new text end

new text begin $350,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for contract
management duties assigned in this section.
The commissioner must provide an
accomplishment plan in the form specified by
the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council
on expending this appropriation. The
accomplishment plan must include a copy of
the grant contract template and reimbursement
manual. No money may be expended before
the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council
approves the accomplishment plan. Money
appropriated in this paragraph is available until
June 30, 2026.
new text end

new text begin (b) Technical Evaluation Panel new text end

new text begin $160,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for a
technical evaluation panel to conduct up to 25
restoration and enhancement evaluations under
Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056,
subdivision 10. Money appropriated in this
paragraph is available until June 30, 2026.
new text end

new text begin (c) Core Functions in Partner-led OHF Land Acquisitions new text end

new text begin $892,000 the second year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for
administering the initial development,
restoration, and enhancement of land acquired
in fee with money appropriated from the
outdoor heritage fund. This appropriation may
be used for land acquisition costs incurred by
the department in conveying parcels to the
department and for initial development
activities on fee title acquisitions. Money
appropriated in this paragraph is available until
June 30, 2032.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end new text begin Availability of Appropriation new text end

new text begin (a) Money appropriated in this section may
not be spent on activities unless they are
directly related to and necessary for a specific
appropriation and are specified in the
accomplishment plan approved by the
Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.
Money appropriated in this section must not
be spent on indirect costs or other institutional
overhead charges that are not directly related
to and necessary for a specific appropriation.
Money appropriated for fee title acquisition
of land may be used to restore, enhance, and
provide for public use of the land acquired
with the appropriation. Public-use facilities
must have a minimal impact on habitat in
acquired lands.
new text end

new text begin (b) Money appropriated in this section is
available as follows:
new text end

new text begin (1) money appropriated for acquiring real
property is available until June 30, 2028;
new text end

new text begin (2) money appropriated for restoring and
enhancing land acquired with an appropriation
in this section is available for four years after
the acquisition date with a maximum end date
of June 30, 2032;
new text end

new text begin (3) money appropriated for restoring or
enhancing other land is available until June
30, 2029;
new text end

new text begin (4) notwithstanding clauses (1) to (3), money
appropriated for a project that receives at least
15 percent of its funding from federal funds
is available until a date sufficient to match the
availability of federal funding to a maximum
of six years if the federal funding was
confirmed and included in the original
approved draft accomplishment plan; and
new text end

new text begin (5) money appropriated for other projects is
available until the end of the fiscal year in
which it is appropriated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end new text begin Payment Conditions and Capital Equipment Expenditures new text end

new text begin (a) All agreements referred to in this section
must be administered on a reimbursement
basis unless otherwise provided in this section.
Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section
16A.41, expenditures directly related to each
appropriation's purpose made on or after July
1, 2024, or the date of accomplishment plan
approval, whichever is later, are eligible for
reimbursement unless otherwise provided in
this section. For the purposes of administering
appropriations and legislatively authorized
agreements paid out of the outdoor heritage
fund, an expense must be considered
reimbursable by the administering agency
when the recipient presents the agency with
an invoice or binding agreement with a
landowner and the recipient attests that the
goods have been received or the landowner
agreement is binding. Periodic reimbursement
must be made upon receiving documentation
that the items articulated in the
accomplishment plan approved by the
Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council have
been achieved, including partial achievements
as evidenced by progress reports approved by
the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.
Reasonable amounts may be advanced to
projects to accommodate cash-flow needs,
support future management of acquired lands,
or match a federal share. The advances must
be approved as part of the accomplishment
plan. Capital equipment expenditures for
specific items in excess of $10,000 must be
itemized in and approved as part of the
accomplishment plan.
new text end

new text begin (b) Unless otherwise provided, no money
appropriated from the outdoor heritage fund
in this act may be used to acquire, restore, or
enhance any real property unless the specific
acquisition, restoration, or enhancement is
approved as part of the accomplishment plan
on the parcel list.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end new text begin Mapping new text end

new text begin Each direct recipient of money appropriated
in this section, as well as each recipient of a
grant awarded pursuant to this section, must
provide geographic information to the
Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council for
mapping of any lands acquired in fee with
funds appropriated in this section and open to
public taking of fish and game. The
commissioner of natural resources must
include the lands acquired in fee with money
appropriated in this section on maps showing
public recreation opportunities. Maps must
include information on and acknowledgment
of the outdoor heritage fund, including a
notation of any restrictions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 10. new text end new text begin Carryforward new text end

new text begin (a) The availability of the following
appropriations is extended to June 30, 2025:
new text end

new text begin (1) Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter
2, article 1, section 2, subdivision 5, paragraph
(f), Trout Unlimited Coldwater Fish Habitat
Enhancement and Restoration - Phase XI; and
new text end

new text begin (2) Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter
2, article 1, section 2, subdivision 5, paragraph
(j), Shell Rock River Watershed Habitat
Restoration Program - Phase VIII.
new text end

new text begin (b) The availability of the appropriation in
Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 2,
article 1, section 2, subdivision 4, paragraph
(g), Big Rice Lake Wild Rice Enhancement,
is extended to June 30, 2026.
new text end