1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; appropriating money from the outdoor heritage 
1.3 	fund; modifying restoration evaluation requirements; establishing certain land 
1.4 	acquisition requirements;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 97A.056, 
1.5 	subdivision 10, by adding subdivisions.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7	Section 1.OUTDOOR HERITAGE APPROPRIATION.
 	
1.8 	The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the 
1.9 	agencies and for the purposes specified in this act. The appropriations are from the outdoor 
1.10 	heritage fund for the fiscal year indicated for each purpose. The figures "2014" and "2015" 
1.11 	used in this act mean that the appropriations listed under the figure are available for the 
1.12 	fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, and June 30, 2015, respectively. "The first year" is fiscal 
1.13 	year 2014. "The second year" is fiscal year 2015. The "biennium" is fiscal years 2014 and 
1.14 	2015. The appropriations in this act are onetime.

1.15				APPROPRIATIONS
	
1.16				Available for the Year
	
1.17				Ending June 30
	
1.18					2014
		2015

1.19	Sec. 2.OUTDOOR HERITAGE FUND

1.20	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	97,644,000
	$
	-0-
	
1.21 	This appropriation is from the outdoor 
1.22 	heritage fund. The amounts that may be 
1.23 	spent for each purpose are specified in the 
1.24 	following subdivisions.

2.1	Subd. 2.Prairies
 		27,730,000
		-0-

2.2	(a) Grasslands for the Future
					
2.3 	$2,000,000 in the first year is to the Board of 
2.4 	Water and Soil Resources for a pilot project 
2.5 	to acquire permanent conservation easements 
2.6 	on grasslands in cooperation with the 
2.7 	Minnesota Land Trust and the Conservation 
2.8 	Fund. Up to $1,850,000 may be used 
2.9 	for agreements with the Minnesota Land 
2.10 	Trust to acquire permanent conservation 
2.11 	easements and up to $75,000 may be used 
2.12 	for establishing monitoring and enforcement 
2.13 	funds with the Minnesota Land Trust and 
2.14 	the Board of Water and Soil Resources, 
2.15 	as approved in the accomplishment plan 
2.16 	and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
2.17 	97A.056, subdivision 17. Up to $75,000 
2.18 	may be used for an agreement with the 
2.19 	Conservation Fund for professional services. 
2.20 	Easements funded under this appropriation 
2.21 	are not subject to emergency haying and 
2.22 	grazing orders. Any net proceeds accruing to 
2.23 	a project partner from real estate transactions 
2.24 	related to this project must be used for the 
2.25 	purposes outlined in this appropriation. A 
2.26 	list of permanent conservation easements 
2.27 	must be provided as part of the required 
2.28 	accomplishment plan.

2.29
2.30	(b) Accelerating Wildlife Management Area 
Program - Phase V
					
2.31 	$7,960,000 in the first year is to the 
2.32 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
2.33 	agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire 
2.34 	land in fee for wildlife management purposes 
2.35 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
3.1 	subdivision 8. A list of proposed land 
3.2 	acquisitions must be provided as part of the 
3.3 	required accomplishment plan.

3.4
3.5
3.6	(c) DNR Wildlife Management Area, Scientific 
and Natural Area, and Native Prairie Bank 
Easement - Phase V
					
3.7 	$4,940,000 in the first year is to the 
3.8 	commissioner of natural resources to 
3.9 	acquire land in fee for wildlife management 
3.10 	purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 
3.11 	86A.05, subdivision 8; acquire land in fee 
3.12 	for scientific and natural area purposes 
3.13 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
3.14 	subdivision 5; and acquire native prairie 
3.15 	bank easements under Minnesota Statutes, 
3.16 	section 84.96. Up to $42,000 is for 
3.17 	establishing a monitoring and enforcement 
3.18 	fund, as approved in the accomplishment 
3.19 	plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, 
3.20 	section 97A.056, subdivision 17, for native 
3.21 	prairie bank easements. A list of proposed 
3.22 	land and permanent conservation easement 
3.23 	acquisitions must be provided as part of the 
3.24 	required accomplishment plan.

3.25
3.26	(d) Minnesota Prairie Recovery Project - Phase 
IV
					
3.27 	$5,310,000 in the first year is to the 
3.28 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
3.29 	agreement with The Nature Conservancy 
3.30 	to acquire native prairie, wetland, and 
3.31 	savanna and restore and enhance grasslands, 
3.32 	wetlands, and savanna. A list of proposed 
3.33 	land acquisitions must be provided as part of 
3.34 	the required accomplishment plan. Annual 
3.35 	income statements and balance sheets for 
3.36 	income and expenses from land acquired 
4.1 	with this appropriation must be submitted to 
4.2 	the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council 
4.3 	no later than 180 days following the close of 
4.4 	The Nature Conservancy's fiscal year.

4.5
4.6	(e) Minnesota Buffers for Wildlife and Water - 
Phase III
					
4.7 	$3,520,000 in the first year is to the Board 
4.8 	of Water and Soil Resources to acquire 
4.9 	permanent conservation easements to protect 
4.10 	and enhance habitat by expanding clean 
4.11 	water fund riparian wildlife buffers on private 
4.12 	land. Up to $120,000 is for establishing 
4.13 	a monitoring and enforcement fund, as 
4.14 	approved in the accomplishment plan and 
4.15 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
4.16 	97A.056, subdivision 17. Easements funded 
4.17 	under this appropriation are not subject to 
4.18 	emergency haying and grazing orders. A list 
4.19 	of permanent conservation easements must 
4.20 	be provided as part of the final report.

4.21
4.22	(f) Cannon River Headwaters Habitat Complex 
- Phase III
					
4.23 	$1,780,000 in the first year is to the 
4.24 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
4.25 	agreement with Trust for Public Land to 
4.26 	acquire and restore lands in the Cannon River 
4.27 	watershed for wildlife management purposes 
4.28 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
4.29 	subdivision 8, or aquatic management area 
4.30 	purposes under Minnesota Statutes, sections 
4.31 	86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02. A list of 
4.32 	proposed land acquisitions must be provided 
4.33 	as part of the required accomplishment plan.

4.34
4.35	(g) Accelerated Prairie Restoration and 
Enhancement on DNR Lands - Phase V
					
5.1 	$2,220,000 in the first year is to the 
5.2 	commissioner of natural resources to 
5.3 	accelerate the restoration and enhancement 
5.4 	of wildlife management areas, scientific 
5.5 	and natural areas, and land under native 
5.6 	prairie bank easements. A list of proposed 
5.7 	land restorations and enhancements 
5.8 	must be provided as part of the required 
5.9 	accomplishment plan.

5.10	Subd. 3.Forests
 		7,130,000
		-0-

5.11	(a) Young Forest Conservation
					
5.12 	$1,180,000 in the first year is to the 
5.13 	commissioner of natural resources for 
5.14 	an agreement with the American Bird 
5.15 	Conservancy to acquire lands in fee to be 
5.16 	added to the wildlife management area system 
5.17 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
5.18 	subdivision 8, and to restore and enhance 
5.19 	habitat on publicly protected land. A list of 
5.20 	proposed land acquisitions must be provided 
5.21 	as part of the required accomplishment plan.

5.22	(b) Camp Ripley Partnership - Phase III
					
5.23 	$1,150,000 in the first year is to the Board of 
5.24 	Water and Soil Resources and $300,000 in 
5.25 	the first year is to the Department of Natural 
5.26 	Resources to acquire land in fee to be added 
5.27 	to the wildlife management area system 
5.28 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
5.29 	subdivision 8, and to acquire permanent 
5.30 	conservation easements on lands adjacent 
5.31 	to the Mississippi and Crow Wing Rivers 
5.32 	and within the boundaries of the Minnesota 
5.33 	National Guard Army Compatible Use 
5.34 	Buffer. Of the amount appropriated to the 
5.35 	Board of Water and Soil Resources, $49,900 
6.1 	is for a grant to the Morrison County Soil 
6.2 	and Water Conservation District and up to 
6.3 	$33,600 is for establishing a monitoring 
6.4 	and enforcement fund, as approved in 
6.5 	the accomplishment plan and subject to 
6.6 	Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, 
6.7 	subdivision 17. A list of proposed land 
6.8 	acquisitions and permanent conservation 
6.9 	easements must be provided as part of the 
6.10 	required accomplishment plan.

6.11
6.12	(c) Northeastern Minnesota Sharp-Tailed 
Grouse Habitat Program - Phase IV
					
6.13 	$1,180,000 in the first year is to the 
6.14 	commissioner of natural resources for 
6.15 	an agreement with Pheasants Forever in 
6.16 	cooperation with the Minnesota Sharp-Tailed 
6.17 	Grouse Society to acquire and enhance 
6.18 	lands in Aitkin, Carlton, and Kanabec 
6.19 	Counties for wildlife management purposes 
6.20 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
6.21 	subdivision 8. A list of proposed land 
6.22 	acquisitions must be provided as part of the 
6.23 	required accomplishment plan.

6.24
6.25	(d) Protect Key Forest Habitat Lands in Cass 
County - Phase IV
					
6.26 	$500,000 in the first year is to the 
6.27 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
6.28 	agreement with Cass County to acquire land 
6.29 	in fee in Cass County for forest wildlife 
6.30 	habitat or to prevent forest fragmentation. 
6.31 	A list of proposed land acquisitions 
6.32 	must be provided as part of the required 
6.33 	accomplishment plan.

6.34
6.35	(e) Critical Shoreline Habitat Protection 
Program - Phase II
					
7.1 	$820,000 in the first year is to the 
7.2 	commissioner of natural resources for 
7.3 	an agreement with the Minnesota Land 
7.4 	Trust to acquire permanent conservation 
7.5 	easements along rivers and lakes in the 
7.6 	northern forest region. Up to $160,000 is for 
7.7 	establishing a monitoring and enforcement 
7.8 	fund, as approved in the accomplishment 
7.9 	plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, 
7.10 	section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of 
7.11 	proposed permanent conservation easements 
7.12 	must be provided as part of the required 
7.13 	accomplishment plan.

7.14
7.15	(f) Minnesota Moose Habitat Collaborative - 
Phase II
					
7.16 	$2,000,000 in the first year is to the 
7.17 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
7.18 	agreement with the Minnesota Deer Hunters 
7.19 	Association to restore and enhance public 
7.20 	forest lands in the northern forest region 
7.21 	for moose habitat purposes. A list of 
7.22 	proposed land restoration and enhancements 
7.23 	must be provided as part of the required 
7.24 	accomplishment plan.

7.25	Subd. 4.Wetlands
 		31,150,000
		-0-

7.26
7.27	(a) Reinvest in Minnesota Wetlands Reserve 
Program Partnership - Phase V
					
7.28 	$13,390,000 in the first year is to the Board 
7.29 	of Soil and Water Resources to acquire 
7.30 	permanent conservation easements and 
7.31 	restore wetlands and associated upland 
7.32 	habitat in cooperation with the United 
7.33 	States Department of Agriculture Wetlands 
7.34 	Reserve Program and Ducks Unlimited, 
7.35 	including $1,000,000 for an agreement 
7.36 	with Ducks Unlimited to provide technical 
8.1 	and bioengineering assistance. Up to 
8.2 	$120,000 is for establishing a monitoring 
8.3 	and enforcement fund, as approved in 
8.4 	the accomplishment plan and subject to 
8.5 	Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, 
8.6 	subdivision 17. A list of permanent 
8.7 	conservation easements must be provided as 
8.8 	part of the final report.

8.98.10
	(b) Accelerating Waterfowl Production Area 
Acquisition - Phase V
					
8.11 	$6,830,000 in the first year is to the 
8.12 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
8.13 	agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire 
8.14 	land in fee to be designated and managed as 
8.15 	waterfowl production areas in Minnesota, 
8.16 	in cooperation with the United States Fish 
8.17 	and Wildlife Service. A list of proposed land 
8.18 	acquisitions must be provided as part of the 
8.19 	required accomplishment plan.

8.20
8.21	(c) Living Shallow Lakes and Wetland 
Initiative - Phase III
					
8.22 	$3,530,000 in the first year is to the 
8.23 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
8.24 	agreement with Ducks Unlimited to acquire 
8.25 	land in fee for wildlife management purposes 
8.26 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
8.27 	subdivision 8. A list of proposed land 
8.28 	acquisitions must be provided as part of the 
8.29 	required accomplishment plan.

8.30
8.31	(d) Wild Rice Shoreland Protection Program 
- Phase II
					
8.32 	$1,630,000 in the first year is to the Board 
8.33 	of Water and Soil Resources to acquire 
8.34 	in fee wild rice lake shoreland habitat 
8.35 	for native wild rice bed protection and to 
8.36 	acquire permanent conservation easements 
9.1 	in cooperation with Ducks Unlimited. Of 
9.2 	this amount, $100,000 is for an agreement 
9.3 	with Ducks Unlimited for acquisition of land 
9.4 	or interests in land to protect native wild 
9.5 	rice beds. Up to $48,000 is for establishing 
9.6 	a monitoring and enforcement fund, as 
9.7 	approved in the accomplishment plan and 
9.8 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
9.9 	97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed 
9.10 	land acquisitions must be included as part of 
9.11 	the required accomplishment plan.

9.12	(e) Wetland Habitat Program
					
9.13 	$1,980,000 in the first year is to the 
9.14 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
9.15 	agreement with the Minnesota Land Trust to 
9.16 	acquire permanent conservation easements 
9.17 	in high-priority wetland complexes in 
9.18 	the prairie and forest/prairie transition 
9.19 	regions. Up to $280,000 is for establishing 
9.20 	a monitoring and enforcement fund, as 
9.21 	approved in the accomplishment plan and 
9.22 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
9.23 	97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed 
9.24 	land acquisitions must be included as part of 
9.25 	the required accomplishment plan.

9.26
9.27	(f) Accelerated Shallow Lakes and Wetlands 
Enhancement - Phase V
					
9.28 	$1,790,000 in the first year is to the 
9.29 	commissioner of natural resources to 
9.30 	enhance and restore shallow lakes, including 
9.31 	$210,000 for an agreement with Ducks 
9.32 	Unlimited to help implement restorations 
9.33 	and enhancements. A list of proposed 
9.34 	land restorations and enhancements 
10.1 	must be provided as part of the required 
10.2 	accomplishment plan.

10.3	(g) Pelican Lake Enhancement
					
10.4 	$2,000,000 in the first year is to the 
10.5 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
10.6 	agreement with Ducks Unlimited to construct 
10.7 	a gravity outlet, water control structure, and 
10.8 	pump station lift to enhance aquatic habitat 
10.9 	in Pelican Lake in Wright County. A list of 
10.10 	proposed land restoration and enhancements 
10.11 	must be included as part of the required 
10.12 	accomplishment plan.

10.13	Subd. 5.Habitats
 		30,383,000
		-0-

10.14	(a) DNR Aquatic Habitat - Phase V
					
10.15 	$5,250,000 in the first year is to the 
10.16 	commissioner of natural resources to 
10.17 	acquire interests in land in fee for aquatic 
10.18 	management purposes under Minnesota 
10.19 	Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, 
10.20 	and 97C.02, and to restore and enhance 
10.21 	aquatic habitat. A list of proposed 
10.22 	land acquisitions and restorations and 
10.23 	enhancements must be provided as part of 
10.24 	the required accomplishment plan.

10.25
10.26	(b) Habitat Protection in Dakota County - 
Phase IV
					
10.27 	$4,100,000 in the first year is to the 
10.28 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
10.29 	agreement with Dakota County to acquire, 
10.30 	restore, and enhance lands in Dakota County 
10.31 	for fish and wildlife management purposes 
10.32 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
10.33 	subdivision 8, or aquatic management area 
10.34 	purposes under Minnesota Statutes, sections 
10.35 	86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02, and to 
11.1 	acquire permanent conservation easements 
11.2 	and restore and enhance habitats in rivers 
11.3 	and lake watersheds in Dakota County. Up 
11.4 	to $60,000 is for establishing a monitoring 
11.5 	and enforcement fund, as approved in 
11.6 	the accomplishment plan and subject to 
11.7 	Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, 
11.8 	subdivision 17. A list of proposed land 
11.9 	acquisitions and permanent conservation 
11.10 	easements must be provided as part of the 
11.11 	required accomplishment plan.

11.12	(c) Root River Protection and Restoration
					
11.13 	$2,750,000 in the first year is to the 
11.14 	commissioner of natural resources for 
11.15 	agreements to acquire land in fee for 
11.16 	scientific and natural areas under Minnesota 
11.17 	Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 5, and 
11.18 	for state forest purposes under Minnesota 
11.19 	Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 7, 
11.20 	and to acquire permanent conservation 
11.21 	easements as follows: $2,122,000 to The 
11.22 	Nature Conservancy and $628,000 to the 
11.23 	Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $100,000 is for 
11.24 	establishing a monitoring and enforcement 
11.25 	fund, as approved in the accomplishment 
11.26 	plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, 
11.27 	section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list 
11.28 	of proposed acquisitions and permanent 
11.29 	conservation easements must be provided as 
11.30 	part of the required accomplishment plan.

11.31	(d) Metro Big Rivers Habitat - Phase IV
					
11.32 	$1,720,000 in the first year is to the 
11.33 	commissioner of natural resources for 
11.34 	agreements to acquire land in fee and as 
11.35 	permanent conservation easements and 
12.1 	to restore and enhance natural systems 
12.2 	associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota, 
12.3 	and St. Croix Rivers as follows: $450,000 
12.4 	to the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife 
12.5 	Refuge Trust, Inc.; $160,000 to the Friends 
12.6 	of the Mississippi; $210,000 to the Great 
12.7 	River Greening; $450,000 to the Minnesota 
12.8 	Land Trust; and $450,000 to the Trust 
12.9 	for Public Land. Up to $80,000 is for 
12.10 	establishing a monitoring and enforcement 
12.11 	fund, as approved in the accomplishment 
12.12 	plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, 
12.13 	section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of 
12.14 	proposed land acquisitions and permanent 
12.15 	conservation easements must be provided as 
12.16 	part of the required accomplishment plan.

12.17	(e) Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
					
12.18 	$1,000,000 in the first year is to the Board 
12.19 	of Regents of the University of Minnesota 
12.20 	to acquire land in fee surrounding Lake 
12.21 	Tamarack in Carver County to be added to 
12.22 	the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. A land 
12.23 	description must be provided as part of the 
12.24 	required accomplishment plan.

12.25
12.26	(f) Lower Mississippi River Habitat 
Partnership - Phase III
					
12.27 	$1,710,000 in the first year is to the 
12.28 	commissioner of natural resources to 
12.29 	enhance aquatic habitat. Of this amount, 
12.30 	$450,000 is for an agreement with the 
12.31 	United States Fish and Wildlife Service 
12.32 	to enhance aquatic habitat in the lower 
12.33 	Mississippi River watershed. A list of 
12.34 	proposed land restorations and enhancements 
13.1 	must be provided as part of the required 
13.2 	accomplishment plan.

13.3
13.4	(g) Coldwater Fish Habitat Enhancement - 
Phase V
					
13.5 	$2,470,000 in the first year is to the 
13.6 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
13.7 	agreement with Minnesota Trout Unlimited 
13.8 	to restore and enhance coldwater river and 
13.9 	stream habitats in Minnesota. A list of 
13.10 	proposed land restorations and enhancements 
13.11 	must be provided as part of the required 
13.12 	accomplishment plan.

13.13
13.14	(h) Albert Lea Lake Management and Invasive 
Species Control Structure - Phase III
					
13.15 	$1,127,000 in the first year is to the 
13.16 	commissioner of natural resources for 
13.17 	an agreement with the Shell Rock River 
13.18 	Watershed District to construct structural 
13.19 	deterrents and lake level controls to enhance 
13.20 	aquatic habitat on Albert Lea Lake in 
13.21 	Freeborn County. A list of proposed 
13.22 	land restorations and enhancements 
13.23 	must be provided as part of the required 
13.24 	accomplishment plan.

13.25
13.26	(i) Metropolitan Regional Parks Wildlife 
Habitat Protection and Restoration
					
13.27 	$6,396,000 in the first year is to the 
13.28 	Metropolitan Council to restore and enhance 
13.29 	fish and wildlife habitat in forests, prairies, 
13.30 	and wetlands in the metropolitan regional 
13.31 	parks system. Of this amount:
13.32 	(1) $500,000 is for Dakota County to convert 
13.33 	existing agricultural land and low-quality 
13.34 	woods and grassland in Whitetail Woods 
13.35 	Regional Park to prairie and oak savanna 
14.1 	centered around an existing wetland, 
14.2 	resulting in substantial habitat improvements 
14.3 	for waterfowl and other wildlife;
14.4 	(2) $60,000 is for Dakota County to protect 
14.5 	and enhance Miesville Ravine Park Reserve 
14.6 	through earth shaping, slope stabilization, 
14.7 	and perhaps piping of one severe gully 
14.8 	erosion situation and other eroding sites that 
14.9 	are presently contributing sediment to Trout 
14.10 	Brook, impairing water quality and the brook 
14.11 	trout population;
14.12 	(3) $500,000 is for the city of St. Paul 
14.13 	to restore two acres of prairie adjacent to 
14.14 	Pickerel Lake and to plant and enhance 
14.15 	an additional two acres of prairie, five 
14.16 	acres of forest, and one acre of wetland in 
14.17 	Lilydale Regional Park. This will enhance 
14.18 	connectivity of existing natural resources 
14.19 	including floodplain forest, upland prairie, 
14.20 	and emergent marsh;
14.21 	(4) $915,000 is for the Minneapolis Park and 
14.22 	Recreation Board to protect, restore, and 
14.23 	enhance shorelines; reduce invasive upland 
14.24 	species; and repair erosion and unpaved 
14.25 	walking paths at Sweeney and Twin Lakes 
14.26 	and to enhance the Wirth Lake wetland 
14.27 	complex; reduce invasive upland species; 
14.28 	correct erosion problems; close unauthorized 
14.29 	trails; and repair unpaved walking paths in 
14.30 	Theodore Wirth Regional Park;
14.31 	(5) $468,000 is for Ramsey County to restore 
14.32 	72 acres in Battle Creek Regional Park along 
14.33 	the bluff of the Mississippi River, including 
14.34 	restoration and enhancement of prairie, 
14.35 	savanna, oak woods, and shrub swamp seeps 
15.1 	to improve waterfowl and upland game bird 
15.2 	feeding and nesting habitats;
15.3 	(6) $210,000 is for the Three Rivers Park 
15.4 	District to restore the water quality and 
15.5 	game fish habitat in Lake Independence in 
15.6 	Barker Park Reserve by reducing phosphorus 
15.7 	loading from Spurzem and Half Moon Lakes 
15.8 	through treatment with aluminum sulfate;
15.9 	(7) $400,000 is for the Three Rivers Park 
15.10 	District to enhance and restore the quality 
15.11 	of Cleary Lake and restore the fishery by 
15.12 	controlling curly-leaf pondweed, reducing 
15.13 	phosphorus runoff from the watershed, and 
15.14 	controlling internal phosphorus cycling with 
15.15 	aluminum sulfate;
15.16 	(8) $200,000 is for Carver County to restore 
15.17 	and enhance Lake Minnewashta Regional 
15.18 	Park by converting 37 acres of existing 
15.19 	turf or old fields to native prairie and oak 
15.20 	savanna. These areas are identified in the 
15.21 	park master plan as medium to high potential 
15.22 	sites for restoration;
15.23 	(9) $270,000 is for Anoka County to 
15.24 	restore and enhance 120 acres of prairie 
15.25 	and woodland habitat within the 273-acre 
15.26 	Mississippi West Regional Park. Outcomes 
15.27 	will include increased habitat for game and 
15.28 	nongame species and benefits to migratory 
15.29 	waterfowl on the Mississippi flyway;
15.30 	(10) $200,000 is for Anoka County to 
15.31 	restore 45 acres of prairie and oak savanna 
15.32 	and remove invasive species from 40 
15.33 	acres of riparian forest land at Rum River 
15.34 	Central Regional Park. The restoration 
15.35 	will benefit the adjacent 550-acre Cedar 
16.1 	Creek Conservation Area, which is open to 
16.2 	hunting and was funded through a recent 
16.3 	appropriation from the outdoor heritage fund;
16.4 	(11) $338,000 is for Scott County to restore 
16.5 	and enhance 150 acres within the 1,150-acre 
16.6 	conservation-focused Doyle-Kennefick 
16.7 	Regional Park. The project site is part of an 
16.8 	850-acre mosaic of natural lands including 
16.9 	Minnesota County Biological Survey forest 
16.10 	and some of the highest-quality wetlands in 
16.11 	Scott County. The park master plan identifies 
16.12 	this natural complex to be conserved for 
16.13 	habitat and biological diversity with very 
16.14 	light recreational development;
16.15 	(12) $37,000 is for Scott County to restore 
16.16 	and enhance Cedar Lake Farm Regional 
16.17 	Park by partnering with the Cedar Lake 
16.18 	Improvement District and Scott Watershed 
16.19 	Management Organization for four years of 
16.20 	treatment to control the curly-leaf pondweed 
16.21 	infestation dominating Cedar Lake. The 
16.22 	goal is to restore 700 acres of shallow lake, 
16.23 	improve fishing opportunities, and increase 
16.24 	native aquatic plant habitat;
16.25 	(13) $1,523,000 is for Scott County to 
16.26 	restore and enhance 302 acres of contiguous 
16.27 	forest, wetlands, and lakeshore in Spring 
16.28 	Lake Regional Park by improving habitat 
16.29 	for interior forest birds, waterfowl, and 
16.30 	amphibians. Adjacent to Upper Prior, Spring, 
16.31 	and Arctic Lakes, this site is part of a larger 
16.32 	permanent habitat network;
16.33 	(14) $425,000 is for Washington County to 
16.34 	restore and enhance Lake Elmo Park Reserve 
16.35 	by creating 168 acres of interconnected 
17.1 	tallgrass prairie through the restoration of 12 
17.2 	wetland basins that are scattered throughout 
17.3 	an existing tallgrass prairie complex. These 
17.4 	diverse landscapes provide critical habitat for 
17.5 	native ground-nesting birds; and
17.6 	(15) $350,000 is for Washington County to 
17.7 	restore and enhance rare and unique forest 
17.8 	communities identified by the Department 
17.9 	of Natural Resources in Lake Elmo Park 
17.10 	Reserve and St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park. 
17.11 	These forests provide exceptional habitat 
17.12 	for native and migrating bird species and 
17.13 	represent some of the best opportunities for 
17.14 	avian habitat improvement in Washington 
17.15 	County.
17.16 	Funded projects must implement priority 
17.17 	natural resource management plan 
17.18 	components of regional park master plans 
17.19 	approved by the Metropolitan Council.

17.20
17.21	(j) Outdoor Heritage Conservation Partners 
Grant Program - Phase V
					
17.22 	$3,860,000 in the first year is to the 
17.23 	commissioner of natural resources for a 
17.24 	program to provide competitive, matching 
17.25 	grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, 
17.26 	state, and national organizations for 
17.27 	enhancing, restoring, or protecting forests, 
17.28 	wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, 
17.29 	or wildlife in Minnesota. Grants shall not 
17.30 	be made for activities required to fulfill 
17.31 	the duties of owners of lands subject to 
17.32 	conservation easements. Grants shall not be 
17.33 	made from appropriations in this paragraph 
17.34 	for projects that have a total project cost 
17.35 	exceeding $575,000. Of this appropriation, 
17.36 	$366,000 may be spent for personnel costs 
18.1 	and other direct and necessary administrative 
18.2 	costs, and $10,000 is for outreach efforts to 
18.3 	encourage underrepresented communities 
18.4 	to apply for grants under this paragraph. 
18.5 	Grantees may acquire land or interests in 
18.6 	land. Easements must be permanent. Land 
18.7 	acquired in fee must be open to hunting 
18.8 	and fishing during the open season unless 
18.9 	otherwise provided by state law. The program 
18.10 	shall require a cash match of at least ten 
18.11 	percent from nonstate sources for all grants. 
18.12 	For grant applications of $25,000 or less, 
18.13 	the commissioner shall provide a separate, 
18.14 	simplified application process. Subject to 
18.15 	Minnesota Statutes, the commissioner of 
18.16 	natural resources shall, when evaluating 
18.17 	projects of equal value, give priority to 
18.18 	organizations that have a history of receiving 
18.19 	or charter to receive private contributions 
18.20 	for local conservation or habitat projects. If 
18.21 	acquiring land or a conservation easement, 
18.22 	priority shall be given to projects associated 
18.23 	with existing wildlife management areas 
18.24 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
18.25 	subdivision 8; scientific and natural areas 
18.26 	under Minnesota Statutes, sections 84.033 
18.27 	and 86A.05, subdivision 5; and aquatic 
18.28 	management areas under Minnesota Statutes, 
18.29 	sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02. 
18.30 	All restoration or enhancement projects 
18.31 	must be on land permanently protected by a 
18.32 	conservation easement or public ownership 
18.33 	or in public waters as defined in Minnesota 
18.34 	Statutes, section 103G.005, subdivision 
18.35 	15. Priority shall be given to restoration 
18.36 	and enhancement projects on public lands. 
19.1 	Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, 
19.2 	subdivision 13, applies to grants awarded 
19.3 	under this paragraph. This appropriation is 
19.4 	available until June 30, 2017. No less than 
19.5 	five percent of the amount of each grant 
19.6 	must be held back from reimbursement until 
19.7 	the grant recipient has completed a grant 
19.8 	accomplishment report by the deadline and 
19.9 	in the form prescribed by and satisfactory to 
19.10 	the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. 
19.11 	The commissioner shall provide notice of 
19.12 	the grant program in the game and fish law 
19.13 	summaries that are prepared under Minnesota 
19.14 	Statutes, section 97A.051, subdivision 2.

19.15	Subd. 6.Administration
 		1,251,000
		-0-

19.16	(a) Contract Management
					
19.17 	$175,000 in the first year is to the 
19.18 	commissioner of natural resources for 
19.19 	contract management duties assigned in this 
19.20 	section. The commissioner shall provide an 
19.21 	accomplishment plan in the form specified by 
19.22 	the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council 
19.23 	on the expenditure of this appropriation. 
19.24 	The accomplishment plan must include 
19.25 	a copy of the grant contract template 
19.26 	and reimbursement manual. No money 
19.27 	may be expended prior to Lessard-Sams 
19.28 	Outdoor Heritage Council approval of the 
19.29 	accomplishment plan.

19.30	(b) Legislative Coordinating Commission
					
19.31 	$936,000 in the first year is to the Legislative 
19.32 	Coordinating Commission for administrative 
19.33 	expenses of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor 
19.34 	Heritage Council and for compensation and 
19.35 	expense reimbursement of council members. 
20.1 	Funds in this appropriation are available until 
20.2 	June 30, 2015. Minnesota Statutes, section 
20.3 	16A.281, applies to this appropriation.

20.4	(c) Technical Evaluation Panel
					
20.5 	$90,000 in the first year is to the 
20.6 	commissioner of natural resources for a 
20.7 	technical evaluation panel to conduct up to 
20.8 	ten restoration evaluations under Minnesota 
20.9 	Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 10.

20.10
20.11
20.12	(d) High-Priority Pre-Transaction Service 
Acceleration for Lessard-Sams Outdoor 
Heritage Council
					
20.13 	$50,000 in the first year is to the 
20.14 	commissioner of natural resources to provide 
20.15 	land acquisition pre-transaction services 
20.16 	including, but not limited to, appraisals, 
20.17 	surveys, or title research for acquisition 
20.18 	proposals under consideration by the 
20.19 	Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. A 
20.20 	list of activities must be included in the final 
20.21 	accomplishment plan.

20.22	Subd. 7.Availability of Appropriation
 					
20.23 	Money appropriated in this section may 
20.24 	not be spent on activities unless they are 
20.25 	directly related to and necessary for a 
20.26 	specific appropriation and are specified in 
20.27 	the accomplishment plan approved by the 
20.28 	Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. 
20.29 	Money appropriated in this section must 
20.30 	not be spent on indirect costs or other 
20.31 	institutional overhead charges that are not 
20.32 	directly related to and necessary for a specific 
20.33 	appropriation. Unless otherwise provided, 
20.34 	the amounts in this section are available 
20.35 	until June 30, 2016. For acquisition of real 
21.1 	property, the amounts in this section are 
21.2 	available until June 30, 2017, if a binding 
21.3 	agreement with a landowner or purchase 
21.4 	agreement is entered into by June 30, 2016, 
21.5 	and closed no later than June 30, 2017. Funds 
21.6 	for restoration or enhancement are available 
21.7 	until June 30, 2018, or four years after 
21.8 	acquisition, whichever is later, in order to 
21.9 	complete initial restoration or enhancement 
21.10 	work. If a project receives federal funds, the 
21.11 	time period of the appropriation is extended 
21.12 	to equal the availability of federal funding. 
21.13 	Funds appropriated for fee title acquisition 
21.14 	of land may be used to restore, enhance, and 
21.15 	provide for public use of the land acquired 
21.16 	with the appropriation. Public use facilities 
21.17 	must have a minimal impact on habitat in 
21.18 	acquired lands.

21.19
21.20	Subd. 8.Payment Conditions and Capital 
Equipment Expenditures
 					
21.21 	All agreements referred to in this section must 
21.22 	be administered on a reimbursement basis 
21.23 	unless otherwise provided in this section. 
21.24 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 
21.25 	16A.41, expenditures directly related 
21.26 	to each appropriation's purpose made 
21.27 	on or after July 1, 2013, or the date of 
21.28 	accomplishment plan approval, whichever is 
21.29 	later, are eligible for reimbursement unless 
21.30 	otherwise provided in this section. For the 
21.31 	purposes of administering appropriations 
21.32 	and legislatively authorized agreements 
21.33 	paid out of the outdoor heritage fund, an 
21.34 	expense must be considered reimbursable 
21.35 	by the administering agency when the 
21.36 	recipient presents the agency with an invoice 
22.1 	or binding agreement with the landowner 
22.2 	and the recipient attests that the goods have 
22.3 	been received or the landowner agreement 
22.4 	is binding. Periodic reimbursement must 
22.5 	be made upon receiving documentation that 
22.6 	the items articulated in the accomplishment 
22.7 	plan approved by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor 
22.8 	Heritage Council have been achieved, 
22.9 	including partial achievements as evidenced 
22.10 	by progress reports approved by the 
22.11 	Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. 
22.12 	Reasonable amounts may be advanced to 
22.13 	projects to accommodate cash flow needs, 
22.14 	support future management of acquired 
22.15 	lands, or match a federal share. The 
22.16 	advances must be approved as part of the 
22.17 	accomplishment plan. Capital equipment 
22.18 	expenditures for specific items in excess of 
22.19 	$10,000 must be itemized in and approved as 
22.20 	part of the accomplishment plan.

22.21	Subd. 9.Mapping
 					
22.22 	Each direct recipient of money appropriated 
22.23 	in this section, as well as each recipient of 
22.24 	a grant awarded pursuant to this section, 
22.25 	must provide geographic information to 
22.26 	the Department of Natural Resources for 
22.27 	mapping any lands acquired in fee with 
22.28 	funds appropriated in this section and open 
22.29 	to public taking of fish and game. The 
22.30 	commissioner of natural resources shall 
22.31 	include the lands acquired in fee with 
22.32 	money appropriated in this section on maps 
22.33 	showing public recreation opportunities. 
22.34 	Maps shall include information on and 
22.35 	acknowledgement of the outdoor heritage 
22.36 	fund, including a notation of any restrictions.

23.1
23.2	Subd. 10.Appropriations carryforward; fee 
title acquisition
 					
23.3 	The availability of the appropriation for the 
23.4 	following project is extended to July 1, 2015: 
23.5 	Laws 2010, chapter 361, article 1, section 
23.6 	2, subdivision 5, paragraph (h), Washington 
23.7 	County St. Croix River Land Protection, and 
23.8 	the appropriation may be spent on acquisition 
23.9 	of land in fee title to protect habitat associated 
23.10 	with the St. Croix River Valley. A list of 
23.11 	proposed acquisitions must be provided as 
23.12 	part of the accomplishment plan.

23.13	Subd. 11.Conservation Corps Minnesota
 					
23.14 	A recipient of money from an appropriation 
23.15 	under this section must give consideration 
23.16 	to and make timely written contact with 
23.17 	Conservation Corps Minnesota for possible 
23.18 	use of the corps' services to contract for 
23.19 	restoration and enhancement services. A 
23.20 	copy of the written contact must be filed with 
23.21 	the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council 
23.22 	within 15 days of execution.

23.23 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 97A.056, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
23.24 		Subd. 10.Restoration evaluations.  The commissioner of natural resources and the 
23.25 	Board of Water and Soil Resources may convene a technical evaluation panel comprised 
23.26 	of five members, including one technical representative from the Board of Water and Soil 
23.27 	Resources, one technical representative from the Department of Natural Resources, one 
23.28 	technical expert from the University of Minnesota or the Minnesota State Colleges and 
23.29 	Universities, and two representatives with expertise in the project being evaluated. The 
23.30 	board and the commissioner may add a technical representative from a unit of federal or 
23.31 	local government. The members of the technical evaluation panel may not be associated 
23.32 	with the restoration, may vary depending upon the projects being reviewed, and shall 
23.33 	avoid any potential conflicts of interest. Each year, the board and the commissioner may 
23.34 	assign a coordinator to identify a sample of up to ten habitat restoration projects completed 
24.1 	with outdoor heritage funding. The coordinator shall secure the restoration plans for the 
24.2 	projects specified and direct the technical evaluation panel to evaluate the restorations 
24.3 	relative to the law, current science, and the stated goals and standards in the restoration 
24.4 	plan and, when applicable, to the Board of Water and Soil Resources' native vegetation 
24.5 	establishment and enhancement guidelines. The coordinator shall summarize the findings 
24.6 	of the panel and provide a report to the chair of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage 
24.7 	Council and the chairs of the respective house of representatives and senate policy and 
24.8 	finance committees with jurisdiction over natural resources and spending from the outdoor 
24.9 	heritage fund. The report shall determine if the restorations are meeting planned goals, 
24.10 	any problems with the implementation of restorations, and, if necessary, recommendations 
24.11 	on improving restorations. The report shall be focused on improving future restorations. 
24.12 	Up to one-tenth of one percent of forecasted receipts from the outdoor heritage fund may 
24.13 	be used for restoration evaluations under this section.

24.14 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 97A.056, is amended by adding a subdivision 
24.15 	to read:
24.16 		Subd. 20.Acquisitions of lands or interest in lands; commissioner approval; 
24.17 	appraisals. (a) A recipient of an appropriation from the outdoor heritage fund that 
24.18 	acquires an interest in real property must receive written approval from the commissioner 
24.19 	of natural resources prior to the acquisition, if the interest is acquired in whole or in part 
24.20 	with the appropriation. Conservation easements to be held by the Board of Water and Soil 
24.21 	Resources are not subject to commissioner approval under this section.
24.22 	(b) The commissioner shall approve acquisitions under this section only when the 
24.23 	interest in real property:
24.24 	(1) is identified as a high priority by the commissioner and meets the objectives and 
24.25 	criteria identified in the applicable acquisition plan for the intended management status 
24.26 	of the property; or
24.27 	(2) is otherwise identified by the commissioner as a priority for state financing.

24.28 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 97A.056, is amended by adding a subdivision 
24.29 	to read:
24.30 		Subd. 21.Value assessment. Prior to acquiring an interest in real property with an 
24.31 	appropriation from the outdoor heritage fund, a recipient of an appropriation must submit 
24.32 	the most recent tax assessed value of the real property and the amount the recipient plans 
24.33 	to offer for the interest in real property to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council 
24.34 	and the commissioner of natural resources.