1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; appropriating money from outdoor heritage fund; 
1.3 	modifying restoration evaluation requirements; modifying requirements for 
1.4 	acquisition of real property with money from legacy funds; modifying previous 
1.5 	parks and trails fund appropriation;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 
1.6 	84.0272, subdivisions 1, 3; 97A.056, subdivision 10, by adding subdivisions.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	ARTICLE 1
1.9 	OUTDOOR HERITAGE FUND

1.10	Section 1. OUTDOOR HERITAGE APPROPRIATION.
 	
1.11 	The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the 
1.12 	agencies and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations are from the 
1.13 	outdoor heritage fund for the fiscal year indicated for each purpose. The figures "2014" 
1.14 	and "2015" used in this article mean that the appropriations listed under them are available 
1.15 	for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, or June 30, 2015, respectively. "The first year" is 
1.16 	fiscal year 2014. "The second year" is fiscal year 2015. "The biennium" is fiscal years 
1.17 	2014 and 2015. The appropriations in this act are onetime.

1.18				APPROPRIATIONS
	
1.19				Available for the Year
	
1.20				Ending June 30
	
1.21					2014
		2015

1.22	Sec. 2. OUTDOOR HERITAGE FUND

1.23	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	-0-
	$
	 109,320,000
	
2.1 	This appropriation is from the outdoor 
2.2 	heritage fund. The amounts that may be 
2.3 	spent for each purpose are specified in the 
2.4 	following subdivisions.

2.5	Subd. 2.Prairies
 		-0-
		37,435,000
	
2.6 	(a) DNR Wildlife Management Area and 
2.7 	Scientific and Natural Area Acquisition - 
2.8 	Phase VI
2.9 	$8,145,000 in the second year is to the 
2.10 	commissioner of natural resources to acquire 
2.11 	land in fee for wildlife management area 
2.12 	purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 
2.13 	86A.05, subdivision 8, and to acquire 
2.14 	land in fee for scientific and natural area 
2.15 	purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 
2.16 	86A.05, subdivision 5. Of this amount, 
2.17 	$4,250,000 is for the Vermillion River 
2.18 	Wildlife Management Area addition in 
2.19 	Dakota County. Any funds not spent on 
2.20 	the Vermillion River Wildlife Management 
2.21 	Area addition must be used for acquisition 
2.22 	of land in the seven-county metropolitan 
2.23 	area. Lands acquired with this appropriation 
2.24 	may not be used for emergency haying 
2.25 	and grazing in response to federal or state 
2.26 	disaster declarations. Conservation grazing 
2.27 	under a management plan that is already 
2.28 	being implemented may continue. Subject 
2.29 	to the evaluation criteria under Minnesota 
2.30 	Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be 
2.31 	given to acquisition of lands that are eligible 
2.32 	for the native prairie bank under Minnesota 
2.33 	Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to 
2.34 	protected native prairie. A list of proposed 
2.35 	land and permanent conservation easement 
3.1 	acquisitions must be provided as part of the 
3.2 	required accomplishment plan.
3.3 	(b) Accelerating Wildlife Management 
3.4 	Area Acquisition - Phase VI
3.5 	$10,350,000 in the second year is to the 
3.6 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
3.7 	agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire 
3.8 	land in fee for wildlife management area 
3.9 	purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 
3.10 	86A.05, subdivision 8. Lands acquired 
3.11 	with this appropriation may not be used for 
3.12 	emergency haying and grazing in response 
3.13 	to federal or state disaster declarations. 
3.14 	Conservation grazing under a management 
3.15 	plan that is already being implemented may 
3.16 	continue. Subject to the evaluation criteria 
3.17 	under Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, 
3.18 	priority must be given to acquisition of 
3.19 	lands that are eligible for the native prairie 
3.20 	bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 
3.21 	84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native 
3.22 	prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions 
3.23 	must be provided as part of the required 
3.24 	accomplishment plan.
3.25 	(c) Minnesota Prairie Recovery Project - 
3.26 	Phase V
3.27 	$3,940,000 in the second year is to the 
3.28 	commissioner of natural resources for a 
3.29 	contract with The Nature Conservancy 
3.30 	to acquire native prairie, wetlands, 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 and must 
3.35 	be consistent with the priorities identified 
4.1 	in the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. 
4.2 	Lands acquired with this appropriation 
4.3 	may not be used for emergency haying and 
4.4 	grazing in response to federal or state disaster 
4.5 	declarations. Conservation grazing under 
4.6 	a management plan that is already being 
4.7 	implemented may continue. Subject to the 
4.8 	evaluation criteria under Minnesota Rules, 
4.9 	part 6136.0900, priority must be given to 
4.10 	acquisition of lands that are eligible for the 
4.11 	native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, 
4.12 	section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected 
4.13 	native prairie. Annual income statements 
4.14 	and balance sheets for income and expenses 
4.15 	from land acquired with this appropriation 
4.16 	must be submitted to the Lessard-Sams 
4.17 	Outdoor Heritage Council no later than 180 
4.18 	days following the close of The Nature 
4.19 	Conservancy's fiscal year.
4.20 	(d) Northern Tallgrass Prairie National 
4.21 	Wildlife Refuge Land Acquisition - Phase 
4.22 	V
4.23 	$2,450,000 in the second year is to the 
4.24 	commissioner of natural resources for a 
4.25 	contract with The Nature Conservancy in 
4.26 	cooperation with the United States Fish 
4.27 	and Wildlife Service to acquire land in 
4.28 	fee or permanent conservation easements 
4.29 	within the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Habitat 
4.30 	Preservation Area in western Minnesota for 
4.31 	addition to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie 
4.32 	National Wildlife Refuge. Lands acquired 
4.33 	with this appropriation may not be used for 
4.34 	emergency haying and grazing in response 
4.35 	to federal or state disaster declarations. 
4.36 	Conservation grazing under a management 
5.1 	plan that is already being implemented may 
5.2 	continue. Subject to the evaluation criteria 
5.3 	under Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, 
5.4 	priority must be given to acquisition of 
5.5 	lands that are eligible for the native prairie 
5.6 	bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 
5.7 	84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native 
5.8 	prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions 
5.9 	must be provided as part of the required 
5.10 	accomplishment plan and must be consistent 
5.11 	with the priorities in the Minnesota Prairie 
5.12 	Conservation Plan.
5.13 	(e) Accelerated Protection of Grassland 
5.14 	and Prairie Habitat with Reinvest in 
5.15 	Minnesota and Native Prairie Bank 
5.16 	Easements
5.17 	$3,000,000 in the second year is to the 
5.18 	commissioner of natural resources and 
5.19 	$2,450,000 in the second year is to the Board 
5.20 	of Water and Soil Resources to implement 
5.21 	the Minnesota Prairie Conservation 
5.22 	Plan through acquisition of permanent 
5.23 	conservation easements to protect native 
5.24 	prairie and grasslands. Of these amounts, 
5.25 	up to $112,000 to the Department of 
5.26 	Natural Resources and up to $65,000 to the 
5.27 	Board of Water and Soil Resources are for 
5.28 	establishing monitoring and enforcement 
5.29 	funds as approved in the accomplishment 
5.30 	plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, 
5.31 	section 97A.056, subdivision 17. Lands with 
5.32 	easements acquired with this appropriation 
5.33 	may not be used for emergency haying 
5.34 	and grazing in response to federal or state 
5.35 	disaster declarations. Conservation grazing 
5.36 	under a management plan that is already 
6.1 	being implemented may continue. Subject 
6.2 	to the evaluation criteria under Minnesota 
6.3 	Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be 
6.4 	given to acquisition of lands that are eligible 
6.5 	for the native prairie bank under Minnesota 
6.6 	Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to 
6.7 	protected native prairie. A list of permanent 
6.8 	conservation easements must be provided as 
6.9 	part of the final report.
6.10 	(f) Minnesota Buffers for Wildlife and 
6.11 	Water - Phase IV
6.12 	$2,200,000 in the second year is to the Board 
6.13 	of Water and Soil Resources to acquire 
6.14 	permanent conservation easements to protect 
6.15 	and enhance habitat by expanding the clean 
6.16 	water fund riparian buffer program for at 
6.17 	least equal wildlife benefits from buffers 
6.18 	on private land. Up to $112,500 is for 
6.19 	establishing a monitoring and enforcement 
6.20 	fund as approved in the accomplishment 
6.21 	plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, 
6.22 	section 97A.056, subdivision 17. Lands with 
6.23 	easements acquired with this appropriation 
6.24 	may not be used for emergency haying 
6.25 	and grazing in response to federal or state 
6.26 	disaster declarations. Conservation grazing 
6.27 	under a management plan that is already 
6.28 	being implemented may continue. A list of 
6.29 	permanent conservation easements must be 
6.30 	provided as part of the final report.
6.31 	(g) Cannon River Headwaters Habitat 
6.32 	Complex - Phase IV
6.33 	$1,430,000 in the second year is to the 
6.34 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
6.35 	agreement with The Trust for Public Land to 
7.1 	acquire and restore lands in the Cannon River 
7.2 	watershed for wildlife management area 
7.3 	purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 
7.4 	86A.05, subdivision 8. Lands acquired 
7.5 	with this appropriation may not be used for 
7.6 	emergency haying and grazing in response 
7.7 	to federal or state disaster declarations. 
7.8 	Conservation grazing under a management 
7.9 	plan that is already being implemented may 
7.10 	continue. Subject to the evaluation criteria 
7.11 	under Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, 
7.12 	priority must be given to acquisition of 
7.13 	lands that are eligible for the native prairie 
7.14 	bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 
7.15 	84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native 
7.16 	prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions 
7.17 	must be provided as part of the required 
7.18 	accomplishment plan. 
7.19 	(h) Accelerated Prairie Restoration and 
7.20 	Enhancement on DNR Lands - Phase VI
7.21 	$1,530,000 in the second year is to 
7.22 	the commissioner of natural resources to 
7.23 	accelerate the restoration and enhancement of 
7.24 	prairie communities in wildlife management 
7.25 	areas, scientific and natural areas, aquatic 
7.26 	management areas, state forest land, and land 
7.27 	under native prairie bank easements. A list of 
7.28 	proposed land restorations and enhancements 
7.29 	must be provided as part of the required 
7.30 	accomplishment plan.
7.31 	(i) Anoka Sandplain Habitat Restoration 
7.32 	and Enhancement - Phase III
7.33 	$1,190,000 in the second year is to the 
7.34 	commissioner of natural resources for 
7.35 	agreements to restore and enhance wildlife 
8.1 	habitat on public lands in Anoka, Benton, 
8.2 	Isanti, Morrison, Sherburne, and Stearns 
8.3 	Counties as follows: $155,000 is to Anoka 
8.4 	Conservation District; $79,000 is to Isanti 
8.5 	County Parks Department; $901,000 is to 
8.6 	Great River Greening; and $55,000 is to 
8.7 	Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation 
8.8 	District. A list of proposed land restorations 
8.9 	and enhancements must be provided as part 
8.10 	of the required accomplishment plan.
8.11 	(j) Crow-Hassen Prairie Complex 
8.12 	Restoration and Enhancement
8.13 	$370,000 in the second year is to the 
8.14 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
8.15 	agreement with Three Rivers Park District 
8.16 	to restore and enhance prairie habitat 
8.17 	within the Crow-Hassen Park Reserve. 
8.18 	A restoration and enhancement plan and 
8.19 	a list of proposed land restorations and 
8.20 	enhancements must be provided as part of 
8.21 	the required accomplishment plan.
8.22 	(k) Prairie and Oak Savanna Restoration 
8.23 	along Mississippi and Rum Rivers
8.24 	$380,000 in the second year is to the 
8.25 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
8.26 	agreement with Anoka County to restore 
8.27 	and enhance riparian and upland habitat in 
8.28 	the Rum River Central Regional Park/Cedar 
8.29 	Creek Conservation Area complex and 
8.30 	in the Mississippi West Regional Park. 
8.31 	A restoration and enhancement plan and 
8.32 	a list of proposed land restorations and 
8.33 	enhancements must be provided as part of 
8.34 	the required accomplishment plan.

8.35	Subd. 3.Forests
 		-0-
		16,100,000
	
9.1 	(a) Preventing Forest Fragmentation 
9.2 	and Protecting and Restoring Lake and 
9.3 	Stream Habitat in St. Louis River
9.4 	$2,800,000 in the second year is to the 
9.5 	commissioner of natural resources for a 
9.6 	contract with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake 
9.7 	Superior Chippewa to acquire lands in fee in 
9.8 	the St. Louis River watershed to be managed 
9.9 	for fish and wildlife purposes. A list of 
9.10 	proposed land acquisitions must be provided 
9.11 	as part of the required accomplishment plan.
9.12 	(b) Northeastern Minnesota Sharp-Tailed 
9.13 	Grouse Habitat Program - Phase V
9.14 	$3,150,000 in the second year is to the 
9.15 	commissioner of natural resources for 
9.16 	an agreement with Pheasants Forever in 
9.17 	cooperation with the Minnesota Sharp-Tailed 
9.18 	Grouse Society to acquire and enhance lands 
9.19 	in Aitkin, Carlton, Kanabec, Pine, and St. 
9.20 	Louis Counties for wildlife management area 
9.21 	purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 
9.22 	86A.05, subdivision 8. Lands acquired 
9.23 	with this appropriation may not be used for 
9.24 	emergency haying and grazing in response 
9.25 	to federal or state disaster declarations. 
9.26 	Conservation grazing under a management 
9.27 	plan that is already being implemented may 
9.28 	continue. A list of proposed land acquisitions 
9.29 	must be provided as part of the required 
9.30 	accomplishment plan.
9.31 	(c) Protecting Pineland Sands Aquifer 
9.32 	Forest Lands
9.33 	$1,050,000 in the second year is to the 
9.34 	commissioner of natural resources to acquire 
9.35 	forest lands in Cass, Hubbard, and Wadena 
10.1 	Counties for wildlife management area 
10.2 	purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 
10.3 	86A.05, subdivision 8; to acquire land in 
10.4 	fee for scientific and natural area purposes 
10.5 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
10.6 	subdivision 5; or to acquire land in fee 
10.7 	for state forests under Minnesota Statutes, 
10.8 	section 86A.05, subdivision 7. A list of 
10.9 	proposed land acquisitions must be provided 
10.10 	as part of the required accomplishment plan.
10.11 	(d) Protecting Key Forest Lands in Cass 
10.12 	County - Phase V
10.13 	$880,000 in the second year is to the 
10.14 	commissioner of natural resources for a 
10.15 	contract with Cass County to acquire land in 
10.16 	fee in Cass County for forest wildlife habitat 
10.17 	or to prevent forest fragmentation. A list of 
10.18 	proposed land acquisitions must be provided 
10.19 	as part of the required accomplishment plan.
10.20 	(e) State Forest Acquisitions - Phase II
10.21 	$950,000 in the second year is to the 
10.22 	commissioner of natural resources to acquire 
10.23 	lands in fee and permanent management 
10.24 	easements, including for habitat purposes, 
10.25 	in the Richard J. Dorer State Forest under 
10.26 	Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
10.27 	subdivision 7. A list of proposed land 
10.28 	acquisitions must be provided as part of the 
10.29 	required accomplishment plan.
10.30 	(f) Southeast Minnesota Protection and 
10.31 	Restoration - Phase II
10.32 	$5,770,000 in the second year is to the 
10.33 	commissioner of natural resources for 
10.34 	agreements to acquire land in fee for wildlife 
10.35 	management area purposes under Minnesota 
11.1 	Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8; to 
11.2 	acquire land in fee for scientific and natural 
11.3 	areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 
11.4 	86A.05, subdivision 5; to acquire land in fee 
11.5 	for state forest purposes under Minnesota 
11.6 	Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 7; for 
11.7 	permanent conservation easements; and 
11.8 	to restore and enhance habitat on publicly 
11.9 	protected lands as follows: $4,800,000 to 
11.10 	The Nature Conservancy; and $970,000 
11.11 	to Minnesota Land Trust, of which up to 
11.12 	$160,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is for 
11.13 	establishing a monitoring and enforcement 
11.14 	fund as approved in the accomplishment plan 
11.15 	and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
11.16 	97A.056, subdivision 17. Lands acquired 
11.17 	or lands with easements acquired with this 
11.18 	appropriation may not be used for emergency 
11.19 	haying and grazing in response to federal 
11.20 	or state disaster declarations. Conservation 
11.21 	grazing under a management plan that is 
11.22 	already being implemented may continue. 
11.23 	A list of proposed acquisitions, permanent 
11.24 	conservation easements, and restorations and 
11.25 	enhancements must be provided as part of 
11.26 	the required accomplishment plan.
11.27 	(g) Camp Ripley Partnership - Phase IV
11.28 	$1,200,000 in the second year is to the 
11.29 	Board of Water and Soil Resources in 
11.30 	cooperation with the Morrison County Soil 
11.31 	and Water Conservation District to acquire 
11.32 	permanent conservation easements within 
11.33 	the boundaries of the Minnesota National 
11.34 	Guard Compatible Use Buffer to protect 
11.35 	forest wildlife habitat. Up to $45,000 is for 
11.36 	establishing a monitoring and enforcement 
12.1 	fund as approved in the accomplishment plan 
12.2 	and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
12.3 	97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of permanent 
12.4 	conservation easements must be provided as 
12.5 	part of the final report.
12.6 	(h) Floodplain Forest Enhancement on 
12.7 	Mississippi River
12.8 	$300,000 is to the commissioner of natural 
12.9 	resources for an agreement with National 
12.10 	Audubon Society to enhance floodplain forest 
12.11 	habitat for wildlife on public lands along the 
12.12 	Mississippi River. A list of restorations and 
12.13 	enhancements must be provided as part of 
12.14 	the required accomplishment plan.

12.15	Subd. 4.Wetlands
 		-0-
		24,010,000
	
12.16 	(a) Reinvest in Minnesota Wetlands 
12.17 	Partnership - Phase VI
12.18 	$9,710,000 in the second year is to the 
12.19 	Board of Soil and Water Resources to 
12.20 	acquire permanent conservation easements 
12.21 	and restore wetlands and associated upland 
12.22 	habitat in cooperation with the United 
12.23 	States Department of Agriculture and 
12.24 	Ducks Unlimited, including $645,000 
12.25 	for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited 
12.26 	to provide technical and bioengineering 
12.27 	assistance. Up to $190,000 to the Board of 
12.28 	Water and Soil Resources is for establishing 
12.29 	a monitoring and enforcement fund as 
12.30 	approved in the accomplishment plan and 
12.31 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
12.32 	97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of permanent 
12.33 	conservation easements must be provided as 
12.34 	part of the final report. The appropriations 
12.35 	in Laws 2012, chapter 264, article 1, section 
13.1 	2, subdivision 4, paragraph (a), and Laws 
13.2 	2013, chapter 137, article 1, section 2, 
13.3 	subdivision 4, paragraph (a), may be used for 
13.4 	the purposes of this appropriation.
13.5 	(b) Accelerating Waterfowl Production 
13.6 	Area Acquisition - Phase VI
13.7 	$7,280,000 in the second year is to the 
13.8 	commissioner of natural resources for a 
13.9 	contract with Pheasants Forever to acquire 
13.10 	land in fee to be designated and managed as 
13.11 	waterfowl production areas in Minnesota, 
13.12 	in cooperation with the United States Fish 
13.13 	and Wildlife Service. A list of proposed land 
13.14 	acquisitions must be provided as part of the 
13.15 	required accomplishment plan.
13.16 	(c) Living Shallow Lakes and Wetland 
13.17 	Initiative - Phase IV
13.18 	$4,910,000 in the second year is to the 
13.19 	commissioner of natural resources for 
13.20 	an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to 
13.21 	assess, enhance, and restore shallow lakes 
13.22 	and wetlands, including bioengineering, 
13.23 	technical assistance, feasibility investigation, 
13.24 	survey, and design to develop new 
13.25 	enhancement and restoration projects for 
13.26 	future implementation. A list of proposed 
13.27 	enhancements and restorations to be 
13.28 	constructed through this appropriation 
13.29 	must be provided as part of the required 
13.30 	accomplishment plan.
13.31 	(d) Wild Rice Shoreland Protection 
13.32 	Program - Phase III
13.33 	$198,000 in the second year is to the 
13.34 	commissioner of natural resources for 
13.35 	acquisition of land in fee and $862,000 is to 
14.1 	the Board of Water and Soil Resources to 
14.2 	acquire permanent conservation easements 
14.3 	on wild rice lake shoreland habitat for native 
14.4 	wild rice bed protection. Of this amount, up 
14.5 	to $70,000 to the Board of Water and Soil 
14.6 	Resources is for establishing a monitoring 
14.7 	and enforcement fund as approved in 
14.8 	the accomplishment plan and subject to 
14.9 	Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, 
14.10 	subdivision 17. A list of proposed fee land 
14.11 	acquisitions must be included as part of 
14.12 	the required accomplishment plan by the 
14.13 	Department of Natural Resources and a list 
14.14 	of permanent conservation easements must 
14.15 	be provided as part of the final report by the 
14.16 	Board of Water and Soil Resources.
14.17 	(e) Accelerated Shallow Lakes and 
14.18 	Wetlands Enhancement - Phase VI
14.19 	$1,050,000 in the second year is to the 
14.20 	commissioner of natural resources to enhance 
14.21 	and restore shallow lakes statewide. A list of 
14.22 	proposed land restorations and enhancements 
14.23 	must be provided as part of the required 
14.24 	accomplishment plan.

14.25	Subd. 5.Habitats
 		-0-
		 30,890,000
	
14.26 	(a) DNR Aquatic Habitat - Phase VI
14.27 	$2,560,000 in the second year is to the 
14.28 	commissioner of natural resources to 
14.29 	acquire interests in land in fee for aquatic 
14.30 	management purposes under Minnesota 
14.31 	Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, 
14.32 	and 97C.02, and to restore and enhance 
14.33 	aquatic habitat. A list of proposed 
14.34 	land acquisitions and restorations and 
15.1 	enhancements must be provided as part of 
15.2 	the required accomplishment plan.
15.3 	(b) Fisheries Habitat Protection on 
15.4 	Strategic North Central Minnesota Lakes
15.5 	$2,130,000 in the second year is to the 
15.6 	commissioner of natural resources for 
15.7 	agreements with the Leech Lake Area 
15.8 	Watershed Foundation and Minnesota Land 
15.9 	Trust to acquire land in fee and permanent 
15.10 	conservation easements to sustain healthy 
15.11 	fish habitat on lakes in Aitkin, Cass, Crow 
15.12 	Wing, and Hubbard Counties as follows: 
15.13 	$1,150,300 to Leech Lake Area Watershed 
15.14 	Foundation; and $979,700 to Minnesota 
15.15 	Land Trust, of which up to $120,000 to 
15.16 	Minnesota Land Trust is for establishing 
15.17 	a monitoring and enforcement fund as 
15.18 	approved in the accomplishment plan and 
15.19 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
15.20 	97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed 
15.21 	land acquisitions must be provided as part of 
15.22 	the required accomplishment plan.
15.23 	(c) Habitat Protection in Dakota County 
15.24 	- Phase V
15.25 	$1,190,000 in the second year is to the 
15.26 	commissioner of natural resources for a 
15.27 	contract with Dakota County to acquire 
15.28 	permanent conservation easements and land 
15.29 	in fee and to restore and enhance habitats in 
15.30 	rivers and lake watersheds in Dakota County. 
15.31 	Up to $15,000 to Dakota County is for 
15.32 	establishing a monitoring and enforcement 
15.33 	fund as approved in the accomplishment 
15.34 	plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, 
15.35 	section 97A.056, subdivision 17. Lands 
16.1 	acquired or lands with easements acquired 
16.2 	with this appropriation may not be used for 
16.3 	emergency haying and grazing in response 
16.4 	to federal or state disaster declarations. 
16.5 	Conservation grazing under a management 
16.6 	plan that is already being implemented may 
16.7 	continue. A list of proposed land acquisitions 
16.8 	and restorations and enhancements must 
16.9 	be provided as part of the required 
16.10 	accomplishment plan.
16.11 	(d) Metro Big Rivers - Phase V
16.12 	$2,650,000 in the second year is to the 
16.13 	commissioner of natural resources for 
16.14 	agreements to acquire land in fee and 
16.15 	permanent conservation easements and 
16.16 	to restore and enhance natural systems 
16.17 	associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota, 
16.18 	and St. Croix Rivers as follows: $600,000 
16.19 	to Minnesota Valley National Wildlife 
16.20 	Refuge Trust, Inc.; $160,000 to Friends of 
16.21 	the Mississippi River; $400,000 to Great 
16.22 	River Greening; $590,000 to Minnesota 
16.23 	Land Trust, of which up to $77,000 is for 
16.24 	establishing a monitoring and enforcement 
16.25 	fund as approved in the accomplishment plan 
16.26 	and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
16.27 	97A.056, subdivision 17; and $900,000 to 
16.28 	The Trust for Public Land. Lands acquired 
16.29 	or lands with easements acquired with 
16.30 	this appropriation may not be used for 
16.31 	emergency haying and grazing in response 
16.32 	to federal or state disaster declarations. 
16.33 	Conservation grazing under a management 
16.34 	plan that is already being implemented may 
16.35 	continue. A list of proposed land acquisitions 
16.36 	and permanent conservation easements 
17.1 	must be provided as part of the required 
17.2 	accomplishment plan.
17.3 	(e) Mustinka River Fish and Wildlife 
17.4 	Habitat Corridor Rehabilitation
17.5 	$2,440,000 in the second year is to the 
17.6 	commissioner of natural resources for 
17.7 	an agreement with the Bois de Sioux 
17.8 	Watershed District to acquire land in fee 
17.9 	and to restore natural systems associated 
17.10 	with the Mustinka River located within the 
17.11 	Bois de Sioux Watershed. Lands acquired 
17.12 	with this appropriation may not be used for 
17.13 	emergency haying and grazing in response 
17.14 	to federal or state disaster declarations. 
17.15 	Conservation grazing under a management 
17.16 	plan that is already being implemented may 
17.17 	continue. A list of proposed land acquisitions 
17.18 	must be provided as part of the required 
17.19 	accomplishment plan.
17.20 	(f) Minnesota Trout Unlimited Coldwater 
17.21 	Fish Habitat Enhancement and 
17.22 	Restoration - Phase VI
17.23 	$1,900,000 in the second year is to the 
17.24 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
17.25 	agreement with Minnesota Trout Unlimited 
17.26 	to restore and enhance habitat for trout 
17.27 	and other species in and along coldwater 
17.28 	rivers and streams in Minnesota. A list of 
17.29 	proposed land restorations and enhancements 
17.30 	must be provided as part of the required 
17.31 	accomplishment plan.
17.32 	(g) St. Louis River Restoration Initiative - 
17.33 	Phase II
17.34 	$2,290,000 in the second year is to the 
17.35 	commissioner of natural resources to restore 
18.1 	habitat in the lower St. Louis River estuary. 
18.2 	Of this appropriation, up to $500,000 is for 
18.3 	an agreement with Minnesota Land Trust. A 
18.4 	list of proposed restorations must be provided 
18.5 	as part of the required accomplishment plan.
18.6 	(h) Knife River Habitat Rehabilitation - 
18.7 	Phase II
18.8 	$1,410,000 in the second year is to the 
18.9 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
18.10 	agreement with the Lake Superior Steelhead 
18.11 	Association to enhance trout habitat in the 
18.12 	Knife River watershed. A list of proposed 
18.13 	enhancements must be provided as part of 
18.14 	the required accomplishment plan.
18.15 	(i) Restoration and Enhancement of 
18.16 	Washington County Public Lands
18.17 	$430,000 in the second year is to the 
18.18 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
18.19 	agreement with Washington County to 
18.20 	restore and enhance habitat on public lands 
18.21 	in Washington County. A restoration and 
18.22 	enhancement plan and a list of proposed 
18.23 	land restorations and enhancements 
18.24 	must be provided as part of the required 
18.25 	accomplishment plan.
18.26 	(j) Wirth Park Enhancements
18.27 	$600,000 in the second year is to the 
18.28 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
18.29 	agreement with the Minneapolis Park Board 
18.30 	to enhance riparian and upland habitat 
18.31 	within Wirth Park in Hennepin County. 
18.32 	A restoration and enhancement plan and 
18.33 	a list of proposed land restorations and 
18.34 	enhancements must be provided as part of 
18.35 	the required accomplishment plan.
19.1 	(k) Evaluate Effectiveness of Aquatic 
19.2 	Invasive Species Prevention Strategies
19.3 	$4,040,000 in the second year is to the 
19.4 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
19.5 	agreement with the Central Minnesota 
19.6 	Initiative Fund to develop a series of pilot 
19.7 	projects to enhance aquatic habitat by 
19.8 	preventing the spread of aquatic invasive 
19.9 	species, including pilot projects conducting 
19.10 	education and outreach, inspection and 
19.11 	decontamination, enforcement, and other 
19.12 	activities. All pilot projects must be 
19.13 	conducted on a reimbursement basis and 
19.14 	require a match of nonoutdoor heritage fund 
19.15 	dollars. A required evaluation of results 
19.16 	must be funded with nonoutdoor heritage 
19.17 	fund dollars. The required evaluation must 
19.18 	evaluate the efficacy of inspection and 
19.19 	decontamination activities utilized in any of 
19.20 	the pilot projects in preventing the spread 
19.21 	of aquatic invasive species. A list of pilot 
19.22 	projects must be included in the required final 
19.23 	report. This appropriation is available until 
19.24 	June 30, 2019. The accomplishment plan 
19.25 	must accelerate the start of the pilot project.
19.26 	(l) Albert Lea Lake Management and 
19.27 	Invasive Species Control Structure - 
19.28 	Supplement
19.29 	$700,000 in the second year is added to 
19.30 	the appropriation contained in Laws 2013, 
19.31 	chapter 137, article 1, section 2, subdivision 
19.32 	5, paragraph (h), to the commissioner of 
19.33 	natural resources for an agreement with 
19.34 	the Shell Rock River Watershed District to 
20.1 	construct structural deterrents and lake level 
20.2 	controls.
20.3 	(m) Conservation Partners Legacy Grant 
20.4 	Program - Phase V
20.5 	$4,550,000 in the second year is to the 
20.6 	commissioner of natural resources for a 
20.7 	program to provide competitive, matching 
20.8 	grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, 
20.9 	state, and national organizations for 
20.10 	enhancing, restoring, or protecting forests, 
20.11 	wetlands, prairies, or habitat for fish, game, 
20.12 	or wildlife in Minnesota. Grants shall not 
20.13 	be made for activities required to fulfill 
20.14 	the duties of owners of lands subject to 
20.15 	conservation easements. Grants shall not 
20.16 	be made from the appropriation in this 
20.17 	paragraph for projects that have a total 
20.18 	project cost exceeding $575,000. Of this 
20.19 	appropriation, $460,000 may be spent 
20.20 	for personnel costs and other direct and 
20.21 	necessary administrative costs. Grantees may 
20.22 	acquire land or interests in land. Easements 
20.23 	must be permanent. Grants may not be used 
20.24 	to establish easement stewardship accounts. 
20.25 	Land acquired in fee must be open to hunting 
20.26 	and fishing during the open season unless 
20.27 	otherwise provided by law. Lands acquired 
20.28 	or lands with easements acquired with this 
20.29 	appropriation may not be used for emergency 
20.30 	haying and grazing in response to federal 
20.31 	or state disaster declarations. Conservation 
20.32 	grazing under a management plan that is 
20.33 	already being implemented may continue. 
20.34 	The program shall require a match of at 
20.35 	least ten percent from nonstate sources 
20.36 	for all grants. The match may be cash or 
21.1 	in-kind resources. For grant applications 
21.2 	of $25,000 or less, the commissioner shall 
21.3 	provide a separate, simplified application 
21.4 	process. Subject to Minnesota Statutes, the 
21.5 	commissioner of natural resources shall, 
21.6 	when evaluating projects of equal value, 
21.7 	give priority to organizations that have a 
21.8 	history of receiving or charter to receive 
21.9 	private contributions for local conservation 
21.10 	or habitat projects. If acquiring land or a 
21.11 	conservation easement, priority shall be 
21.12 	given to projects associated with or within 
21.13 	one mile of existing wildlife management 
21.14 	areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 
21.15 	86A.05, subdivision 8; scientific and natural 
21.16 	areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 
21.17 	84.033 and 86A.05, subdivision 5; or aquatic 
21.18 	management areas under Minnesota Statutes, 
21.19 	sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02. 
21.20 	All restoration or enhancement projects 
21.21 	must be on land permanently protected by 
21.22 	a permanent covenant ensuring perpetual 
21.23 	maintenance and protection of restored 
21.24 	and enhanced habitat, by a conservation 
21.25 	easement, or by public ownership or in public 
21.26 	waters as defined in Minnesota Statutes, 
21.27 	section 103G.005, subdivision 15. Priority 
21.28 	shall be given to restoration and enhancement 
21.29 	projects on public lands. Minnesota Statutes, 
21.30 	section 97A.056, subdivision 13, applies 
21.31 	to grants awarded under this paragraph. 
21.32 	This appropriation is available until June 
21.33 	30, 2018. No less than five percent of the 
21.34 	amount of each grant must be held back from 
21.35 	reimbursement until the grant recipient has 
21.36 	completed a grant accomplishment report by 
22.1 	the deadline and in the form prescribed by 
22.2 	and satisfactory to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor 
22.3 	Heritage Council. The commissioner shall 
22.4 	provide notice of the grant program in 
22.5 	the game and fish law summary prepared 
22.6 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.051, 
22.7 	subdivision 2.
22.8 	(n) Conservation Partners Legacy Metro 
22.9 	Grant Program
22.10 	$4,000,000 in the second year is to the 
22.11 	commissioner of natural resources for a 
22.12 	program to provide competitive, matching 
22.13 	grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, 
22.14 	state, and national organizations for 
22.15 	enhancing, restoring, or protecting forests, 
22.16 	wetlands, prairies, or habitat for fish, game, 
22.17 	or wildlife in the seven-county metropolitan 
22.18 	area and cities with a population of 50,000 
22.19 	or greater. Grants shall not be made for 
22.20 	activities required to fulfill the duties of 
22.21 	owners of lands subject to conservation 
22.22 	easements. Grants shall not be made from the 
22.23 	appropriation in this paragraph for projects 
22.24 	that have a total project cost exceeding 
22.25 	$575,000. Of this appropriation, $70,000 
22.26 	may be spent for direct and necessary 
22.27 	administrative costs. Grantees may acquire 
22.28 	land or interests in land. Easements must 
22.29 	be permanent. Grants may not be used to 
22.30 	establish easement stewardship accounts. 
22.31 	Land acquired in fee must be open to hunting 
22.32 	and fishing during the open season unless 
22.33 	otherwise provided by law. Lands acquired 
22.34 	or lands with easements acquired with this 
22.35 	appropriation may not be used for emergency 
22.36 	haying and grazing in response to federal 
23.1 	or state disaster declarations. Conservation 
23.2 	grazing under a management plan that is 
23.3 	already being implemented may continue. 
23.4 	The program shall require a match of at 
23.5 	least ten percent from nonstate sources 
23.6 	for all grants. The match may be cash or 
23.7 	in-kind resources. For grant applications 
23.8 	of $25,000 or less, the commissioner shall 
23.9 	provide a separate, simplified application 
23.10 	process. Subject to Minnesota Statutes, the 
23.11 	commissioner of natural resources shall, 
23.12 	when evaluating projects of equal value, 
23.13 	give priority to organizations that have a 
23.14 	history of receiving or charter to receive 
23.15 	private contributions for local conservation 
23.16 	or habitat projects. If acquiring land or a 
23.17 	conservation easement, priority shall be 
23.18 	given to projects associated with or within 
23.19 	one mile of existing wildlife management 
23.20 	areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 
23.21 	86A.05, subdivision 8; scientific and natural 
23.22 	areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 
23.23 	84.033 and 86A.05, subdivision 5; or aquatic 
23.24 	management areas under Minnesota Statutes, 
23.25 	sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02. 
23.26 	All restoration or enhancement projects 
23.27 	must be on land permanently protected by 
23.28 	a permanent covenant ensuring perpetual 
23.29 	maintenance and protection of restored 
23.30 	and enhanced habitat, by a conservation 
23.31 	easement, or by public ownership or in public 
23.32 	waters as defined in Minnesota Statutes, 
23.33 	section 103G.005, subdivision 15. Priority 
23.34 	shall be given to restoration and enhancement 
23.35 	projects on public lands. Minnesota Statutes, 
23.36 	section 97A.056, subdivision 13, applies 
24.1 	to grants awarded under this paragraph. 
24.2 	This appropriation is available until June 
24.3 	30, 2018. No less than five percent of the 
24.4 	amount of each grant must be held back from 
24.5 	reimbursement until the grant recipient has 
24.6 	completed a grant accomplishment report by 
24.7 	the deadline and in the form prescribed by 
24.8 	and satisfactory to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor 
24.9 	Heritage Council. The commissioner shall 
24.10 	provide notice of the grant program in 
24.11 	the game and fish law summary prepared 
24.12 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.051, 
24.13 	subdivision 2.

24.14	Subd. 6.Administration
 		-0-
		885,000
	
24.15 	(a) Contract Management
24.16 	$150,000 in the second year is to the 
24.17 	commissioner of natural resources for 
24.18 	contract management duties assigned in this 
24.19 	section. The commissioner shall provide an 
24.20 	accomplishment plan in the form specified by 
24.21 	the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council 
24.22 	on the expenditure of this appropriation. 
24.23 	The accomplishment plan must include 
24.24 	a copy of the grant contract template 
24.25 	and reimbursement manual. No money 
24.26 	may be expended prior to Lessard-Sams 
24.27 	Outdoor Heritage Council approval of the 
24.28 	accomplishment plan.
24.29 	(b) Legislative Coordinating Commission
24.30 	$570,000 in the second year is to the 
24.31 	Legislative Coordinating Commission for 
24.32 	administrative expenses of the Lessard-Sams 
24.33 	Outdoor Heritage Council and for 
24.34 	compensation and expense reimbursement 
24.35 	of council members. This appropriation is 
25.1 	available until June 30, 2015. Minnesota 
25.2 	Statutes, section 16A.281, applies to this 
25.3 	appropriation.
25.4 	(c) Technical Evaluation Panel
25.5 	$100,000 in the second year is to the 
25.6 	commissioner of natural resources for a 
25.7 	technical evaluation panel to conduct up to 
25.8 	ten restoration evaluations under Minnesota 
25.9 	Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 10.
25.10 	(d) High Priority Pre-Transaction Service 
25.11 	Acceleration for Lessard-Sams Outdoor 
25.12 	Heritage Council
25.13 	$50,000 in the second year is to the 
25.14 	commissioner of natural resources to provide 
25.15 	land acquisition pre-transaction services 
25.16 	including but not limited to appraisals, 
25.17 	surveys, or title research for acquisition 
25.18 	proposals under consideration by the 
25.19 	Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. A 
25.20 	list of activities must be included in the final 
25.21 	accomplishment plan.
25.22 	(e) Legacy Web Site
25.23 	$15,000 in the second year is to the 
25.24 	Legislative Coordinating Commission for 
25.25 	the Web site required in Minnesota Statutes, 
25.26 	section 3.303, subdivision 10.

25.27	Subd. 7.Availability of Appropriation
 					
25.28 	Money appropriated in this section may 
25.29 	not be spent on activities unless they are 
25.30 	directly related to and necessary for a 
25.31 	specific appropriation and are specified in 
25.32 	the accomplishment plan approved by the 
25.33 	Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. 
25.34 	Money appropriated in this section must 
26.1 	not be spent on indirect costs or other 
26.2 	institutional overhead charges that are not 
26.3 	directly related to and necessary for a specific 
26.4 	appropriation.  Unless otherwise provided, 
26.5 	the amounts in this section are available 
26.6 	until June 30, 2017. For acquisition of real 
26.7 	property, the amounts in this section are 
26.8 	available until June 30, 2018, if a binding 
26.9 	agreement with a landowner or purchase 
26.10 	agreement is entered into by June 30, 2017, 
26.11 	and closed no later than June 30, 2018. Funds 
26.12 	for restoration or enhancement are available 
26.13 	until June 30, 2019, or five years after 
26.14 	acquisition, whichever is later, in order to 
26.15 	complete initial restoration or enhancement 
26.16 	work. If a project receives federal funds, the 
26.17 	time period of the appropriation is extended 
26.18 	to equal the availability of federal funding. 
26.19 	Funds appropriated for fee title acquisition 
26.20 	of land may be used to restore, enhance, and 
26.21 	provide for public use of the land acquired 
26.22 	with the appropriation. Public use facilities 
26.23 	must have a minimal impact on habitat in 
26.24 	acquired lands.

26.25
26.26	Subd. 8.Payment Conditions and Capital 
Equipment Expenditures
 					
26.27 	All agreements referred to in this section must 
26.28 	be administered on a reimbursement basis 
26.29 	unless otherwise provided in this section. 
26.30 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 
26.31 	16A.41, expenditures directly related 
26.32 	to each appropriation's purpose made 
26.33 	on or after July 1, 2014, or the date of 
26.34 	accomplishment plan approval, whichever is 
26.35 	later, are eligible for reimbursement unless 
26.36 	otherwise provided in this section. For the 
27.1 	purposes of administering appropriations 
27.2 	and legislatively authorized agreements 
27.3 	paid out of the outdoor heritage fund, an 
27.4 	expense must be considered reimbursable 
27.5 	by the administering agency when the 
27.6 	recipient presents the agency with an invoice 
27.7 	or binding agreement with the landowner 
27.8 	and the recipient attests that the goods have 
27.9 	been received or the landowner agreement 
27.10 	is binding. Periodic reimbursement must 
27.11 	be made upon receiving documentation that 
27.12 	the items articulated in the accomplishment 
27.13 	plan approved by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor 
27.14 	Heritage Council have been achieved, 
27.15 	including partial achievements as evidenced 
27.16 	by progress reports approved by the 
27.17 	Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. 
27.18 	Reasonable amounts may be advanced to 
27.19 	projects to accommodate cash flow needs, 
27.20 	support future management of acquired 
27.21 	lands, or match a federal share. The 
27.22 	advances must be approved as part of the 
27.23 	accomplishment plan. Capital equipment 
27.24 	expenditures for specific items in excess of 
27.25 	$10,000 must be itemized in and approved as 
27.26 	part of the accomplishment plan.

27.27	Subd. 9.Mapping
 					
27.28 	Each direct recipient of money appropriated 
27.29 	in this section, as well as each recipient of 
27.30 	a grant awarded pursuant to this section, 
27.31 	must provide geographic information to 
27.32 	the Department of Natural Resources for 
27.33 	mapping of any lands acquired in fee with 
27.34 	funds appropriated in this section and open 
27.35 	to public taking of fish and game. The 
27.36 	commissioner of natural resources shall 
28.1 	include the lands acquired in fee with 
28.2 	money appropriated in this section on maps 
28.3 	showing public recreation opportunities. 
28.4 	Maps shall include information on and 
28.5 	acknowledgement of the outdoor heritage 
28.6 	fund, including a notation of any restrictions.

28.7	Subd. 10.Pollinators
 					
28.8 	Each direct recipient of money appropriated 
28.9 	in this section, as well as each recipient of a 
28.10 	grant awarded pursuant to this section that 
28.11 	conducts a prairie restoration using funds 
28.12 	appropriated in this section, must include 
28.13 	an appropriate diversity of native species 
28.14 	selected to provide habitat for pollinators 
28.15 	throughout the growing season as required 
28.16 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.973.

28.17 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 84.0272, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
28.18 		Subdivision 1.Acquisition procedure. (a) When the commissioner of natural 
28.19 	resources is authorized to acquire lands or interests in lands the procedure set forth in this 
28.20 	section shall apply. The commissioner of natural resources shall first prepare a fact sheet 
28.21 	showing the lands to be acquired, the legal authority for their acquisition, and the qualities 
28.22 	of the land that make it a desirable acquisition. The commissioner of natural resources 
28.23 	shall cause appraise the lands or contract to have the lands to be appraised. An appraiser 
28.24 	shall before entering upon the duties of office take and subscribe an oath to faithfully and 
28.25 	impartially discharge the duties as appraiser according to the best of the appraiser's ability 
28.26 	and that the appraiser is not interested directly or indirectly in any of the lands to be 
28.27 	appraised or the timber or improvements thereon or in the sale thereof and has entered into 
28.28 	no agreement or combination to purchase the same or any part thereof, which oath shall 
28.29 	be attached to the report of the appraisal. 
28.30 	(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c), the commissioner of natural resources 
28.31 	may pay less than the appraised value, but shall not agree to pay more than ten percent 
28.32 	above the appraised value, except that if the commissioner pays less than the appraised 
28.33 	value for a parcel of land, the difference between the purchase price and the appraised 
28.34 	value may be used to apply to purchases at more than the appraised value. The sum of 
28.35 	accumulated differences between appraised amounts and purchases for more than the 
29.1 	appraised amount may not exceed the sum of accumulated differences between appraised 
29.2 	amounts and purchases for less than the appraised amount. New appraisals may be made 
29.3 	at the discretion of the commissioner of natural resources.
29.4 	(c) When acquiring lands in whole or in part with money from a legacy fund, the 
29.5 	commissioner, or other recipient of money from a legacy fund acquiring land to be 
29.6 	transferred to the commissioner, shall not agree to pay more than the county assessor's 
29.7 	most recent estimated market value unless the commissioner determines that the 
29.8 	acquisition is a high priority because the land is adjacent to other public land, would 
29.9 	conserve a high degree of biological diversity, or is otherwise a high priority for the 
29.10 	department. The commissioner shall document the reason for the determination in writing. 
29.11 	For the purposes of this section, "legacy fund" means the outdoor heritage fund, clean 
29.12 	water fund, parks and trails fund, or arts and cultural heritage fund.

29.13 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 84.0272, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
29.14 		Subd. 3.Minimal value acquisition. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision 1, if the 
29.15 	commissioner determines that lands or interests in land have a value less than $100,000, 
29.16 	the commissioner may acquire the lands for the value determined by the commissioner 
29.17 	without an appraisal. The commissioner shall make the determination based upon:
29.18 	(1) up to the most recent assessed market value of the land or interests in land as 
29.19 	determined by the county assessor of the county in which the land or interests in land is 
29.20 	located, plus ten percent;
29.21 	(2) a sale price of the land or interests in land, provided the sale occurred within 
29.22 	the past year;
29.23 	(3) the sale prices of comparable Department of Natural Resources land sales or 
29.24 	acquisitions of interests in land located in the vicinity and sold within the past year; or
29.25 	(4) an appraisal of the land or interests in land conducted within the past year.
29.26 	(b) In the event the value is less than $1,000, the commissioner may add a 
29.27 	transaction incentive, provided that the sum of the incentive plus the value of the land 
29.28 	does not exceed $1,000.
29.29 	(c) This subdivision does not apply to acquisitions funded in whole or in part with 
29.30 	money from a legacy fund.

29.31 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 97A.056, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
29.32 		Subd. 10.Restoration evaluations.  The commissioner of natural resources and the 
29.33 	Board of Water and Soil Resources may convene a technical evaluation panel comprised 
29.34 	of five members, including one technical representative from the Board of Water and Soil 
30.1 	Resources, one technical representative from the Department of Natural Resources, one 
30.2 	technical expert from the University of Minnesota or the Minnesota State Colleges and 
30.3 	Universities, and two representatives with expertise in the project being evaluated. The 
30.4 	board and the commissioner may add a technical representative from a unit of federal or 
30.5 	local government. The members of the technical evaluation panel may not be associated 
30.6 	with the restoration, may vary depending upon the projects being reviewed, and shall 
30.7 	avoid any potential conflicts of interest. Each year, the board and the commissioner may 
30.8 	assign a coordinator to identify a sample of up to ten habitat restoration projects completed 
30.9 	with outdoor heritage funding. The coordinator shall secure the restoration plans for the 
30.10 	projects specified and direct the technical evaluation panel to evaluate the restorations 
30.11 	relative to the law, current science, and the stated goals and standards in the restoration 
30.12 	plan and, when applicable, to the Board of Water and Soil Resources' native vegetation 
30.13 	establishment and enhancement guidelines. The coordinator shall summarize the findings 
30.14 	of the panel and provide a report to the chair of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage 
30.15 	Council and the chairs of the respective house of representatives and senate policy and 
30.16 	finance committees with jurisdiction over natural resources and spending from the outdoor 
30.17 	heritage fund. The report shall determine if the restorations are meeting planned goals, 
30.18 	any problems with the implementation of restorations, and, if necessary, recommendations 
30.19 	on improving restorations. The report shall be focused on improving future restorations. 
30.20 	Up to At least one-tenth of one percent of forecasted receipts from the outdoor heritage 
30.21 	fund may must be used for restoration evaluations under this section.

30.22 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 97A.056, is amended by adding a subdivision 
30.23 	to read:
30.24 		Subd. 20.Acquisition of lands or interest in lands; commissioner approval. (a) 
30.25 	A recipient of an appropriation from the outdoor heritage fund who acquires an interest in 
30.26 	real property must receive written approval from the commissioner of natural resources 
30.27 	prior to the acquisition if the interest is acquired in whole or in part with the appropriation. 
30.28 	A recipient must request the commissioner's approval at least ten business days before 
30.29 	the proposed acquisition. When a recipient requests approval under this subdivision, the 
30.30 	recipient must simultaneously submit the same information to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor 
30.31 	Heritage Council. Conservation easements to be held by the Board of Water and Soil 
30.32 	Resources and acquisitions specifically identified in appropriation laws are not subject to 
30.33 	commissioner approval under this subdivision.
30.34 	(b) The commissioner shall approve acquisitions under this subdivision only when 
30.35 	the interest in real property:
31.1 	(1) is identified as a high priority by the commissioner and meets the objectives and 
31.2 	criteria identified in the applicable acquisition plan for the intended management status 
31.3 	of the property; or
31.4 	(2) is otherwise identified by the commissioner as a priority for state financing.

31.5 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 97A.056, is amended by adding a subdivision 
31.6 	to read:
31.7 		Subd. 21.Value assessment. At least ten business days prior to acquiring an 
31.8 	interest in real property with an appropriation from the outdoor heritage fund, a recipient 
31.9 	of an appropriation must submit the most recent tax assessed value and most recent tax 
31.10 	statement of the real property and the amount the recipient plans to offer for the interest 
31.11 	in real property to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council and the commissioner of 
31.12 	natural resources. Conservation easements to be held by the Board of Water and Soil 
31.13 	Resources are not subject to the requirements of this subdivision. The board shall keep 
31.14 	a record of the tax assessed value of the real property at the time of acquisition and the 
31.15 	most recent tax statement.

31.16 	ARTICLE 2
31.17 	PARKS AND TRAILS FUND

31.18 	Section 1. CARVER COUNTY PARKS AND TRAILS GRANT MODIFICATION.
 31.19 	The fiscal year 2015 appropriation from the parks and trails fund to the Metropolitan 
31.20 	Council for grants to Carver County contained in Laws 2013, chapter 137, article 3, 
31.21 	section 4, paragraph (d), may be used for a park programmer position, roads, parking lots, 
31.22 	and paving construction at Lake Minnewashta Regional Park.