HF 1218

1st Engrossment - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/13/2025 04:07 p.m.

A bill for an act
relating to environment; appropriating money from the environment and natural
resources trust fund; modifying prior appropriations; creating and modifying grant
programs; requiring a report; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116X.03;
Laws 2024, chapter 83, section 2, subdivisions 3, 8; proposing coding for new law
in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 97C; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections
116X.01, subdivisions 2, 4; 116X.05.

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

ARTICLE 1

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND: LCCMR

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS. new text end

new text begin The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies
and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations are from the environment
and natural resources trust fund, or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal
years indicated for each purpose. The figures "2026" and "2027" used in this article mean
that the appropriations listed under them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30,
2026, or June 30, 2027, respectively. "The first year" is fiscal year 2026. "The second year"
is fiscal year 2027. "The biennium" is fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Any unencumbered
balance remaining in the first year does not cancel and is available for the second year or
until the end of the appropriation. These are onetime appropriations.
new text end

			new text begin APPROPRIATIONS new text end
			new text begin Available for the Year new text end
			new text begin Ending June 30 new text end
				new text begin 2026 new text end		new text begin 2027 new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin MINNESOTA RESOURCES new text end

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

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 103,326,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 0 new text end

new text begin This appropriation is from the environment
and natural resources trust fund. The amounts
that may be spent for each purpose are
specified in the following subdivisions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Definition new text end

new text begin "Trust fund" means the Minnesota
environment and natural resources trust fund
established under the Minnesota Constitution,
article XI, section 14.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Foundational Natural Resource Data and Information new text end

new text begin 22,084,000 new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin (a) Fond du Lac Deer Study - Phase 1 new text end

new text begin $1,441,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities for Bemidji State University to
collect baseline deer demographic, movement,
and habitat-use data before elk restoration to
better inform management of both elk and deer
populations on the Fond du Lac Reservation
and surrounding areas.
new text end

new text begin (b) Are All Walleye Created Equal? Probably Not. new text end

new text begin $298,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to investigate Minnesota walleye
strain physiology and disease responses to
warming water and to build a tool to guide
adaptive management of walleye in a warming
climate.
new text end

new text begin (c) Deer Survival Within Minnesota's Densest Wolf Population new text end

new text begin $809,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to evaluate how wolves, winter
severity, and habitat affect deer mortality and
survival across space and time within the
Voyageurs region.
new text end

new text begin (d) Evaluating Anticoagulant Rodenticide Exposure in Minnesota's Carnivores new text end

new text begin $247,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota for the Natural Resources Research
Institute in Duluth to determine anticoagulant
rodenticide exposure rates and concentrations
in Minnesota bobcats and fishers, factors
influencing exposure risk, and negative effects
of rodenticide exposure on carnivore health.
new text end

new text begin (e) Digitizing the Science Museum of Minnesota's Mollusk Specimens new text end

new text begin $386,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Science Museum of Minnesota to make
the museum's Minnesota mollusk specimen
collection available for research and education
by identifying and organizing all relevant
specimens and digitizing the museum's data.
new text end

new text begin (f) Integrating Wildlife Objectives in Long-Term Forest Management Planning new text end

new text begin $316,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to develop a harvest-scheduling
model that integrates wildlife habitat metrics
with timber production objectives in the
forest-planning process for more sustainable
forest landscape-level outcomes.
new text end

new text begin (g) Surveying Minnesota's Secretive Marsh Birds new text end

new text begin $413,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with the National Audubon
Society, Upper Mississippi River office, to
conduct a breeding marsh bird survey and
provide state and federal agencies with an
assessment of marsh bird population status
and wetland habitat. This appropriation is
available until June 30, 2029, by which time
the project must be completed and final
products delivered.
new text end

new text begin (h) Improving Conservation Outcomes for Imperiled Wood Turtles new text end

new text begin $242,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Minnesota Zoological Society to restore
imperiled wood turtles by increasing remnant
populations, quantifying effectiveness of
habitat management strategies, establishing
baseline information on disease prevalence,
and creating a new decision-support tool for
prioritizing future conservation actions.
new text end

new text begin (i) Maximizing the Impact of Wildlife Movement Data new text end

new text begin $216,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to create a centralized and
accessible database of wildlife movement data
from prior trust fund-supported studies and
demonstrate tools biologists can use to analyze
these data to benefit Minnesota wildlife.
new text end

new text begin (j) Expanding the Statewide Motus Wildlife Tracking Network new text end

new text begin $234,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Minnesota Zoological Society to expand
the statewide Motus Wildlife Tracking System
network into southwestern Minnesota and the
North Shore to guide the conservation of
imperiled grassland and boreal migratory birds
and other wildlife. This appropriation may
also be used to develop outreach and
interpretive materials for Motus sites.
new text end

new text begin (k) Updating and Sharing Information on Minnesota's Tick Biodiversity new text end

new text begin $186,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to collaborate with wildlife
organizations and community scientists to
survey the biodiversity and distribution of
ticks in Minnesota and create a publicly
accessible GIS dashboard to share results and
potential disease implications with the public
and wildlife managers.
new text end

new text begin (l) Small Mammals and Hunter Participation: Expanded Offal Wildlife Watching new text end

new text begin $563,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to expand and assess hunter
participation in monitoring scavenger use of
deer gut piles, assess small mammal
occurrence and contaminant and disease
exposure risk at offal sites, and study how
messaging impacts hunters' use of lead
ammunition.
new text end

new text begin (m) Green Heron as an Indicator of Wetland-Dependent Species new text end

new text begin $424,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to collect data on the year-round
habitat use and migratory movements of green
herons, assess potential factors leading to
population decline, and identify conservation
strategies to benefit the green heron and other
wetland-dependent bird species.
new text end

new text begin (n) Visualizing Minnesota's Natural Resources with CT Scanning new text end

new text begin $955,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota, Bell Museum of Natural History,
to acquire a CT scanner, scan Bell Museum
organismal specimens, create 3D prints from
the scans, and share the data and prints through
environmental education and research
programs. The CT scanner purchased with this
appropriation must prioritize use by and be
made available cost-free to other
Minnesota-focused researchers for the duration
of this appropriation. This appropriation may
also be used for equipment, tools, and supplies
needed to acquire, install, and use the scanner
and print 3D models of scanned organisms.
Net income generated as part of this
appropriation may be reinvested in the project
if a plan for reinvestment is approved in the
work plan as provided under Minnesota
Statutes, section 116P.10.
new text end

new text begin (o) Mapping Human-Carnivore Conflicts in Human-Dominated Landscapes new text end

new text begin $563,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota for the Natural Resources Research
Institute in Duluth to evaluate bear, bobcat,
and coyote habitat use, activity, and diet in
Duluth and surrounding areas to map hotspots
for human-carnivore conflicts and fill
knowledge gaps to reduce conflicts. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2029,
by which time the project must be completed
and final products delivered.
new text end

new text begin (p) Geologic Atlases for Water Resource Management new text end

new text begin $1,260,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota, Minnesota Geological Survey, to
continue to produce geologic atlas maps and
databases to inform management of
groundwater and surface water. This
appropriation is to complete Part A, which
focuses on the properties and distribution of
earth materials to define aquifer boundaries
and the connection of aquifers to the land
surface and surface water resources.
new text end

new text begin (q) Leveraging Statewide Datasets for Native Rough Fish new text end

new text begin $250,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to construct species distribution
models that predict presence and abundance
of native rough fish species and identify
potential areas for protection, additional
monitoring, or restoration across the state. This
appropriation may also be used to build an
interactive mapping tool and share results.
new text end

new text begin (r) The Impacts of Climate Change on Northeastern Minnesota new text end

new text begin $772,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Friends of the Boundary
Waters Wilderness to work with collaborators
to aggregate research, data, and other
information about the impacts of climate
change on the habitat and wildlife of
northeastern Minnesota into a publicly
available, web-based database. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2029,
by which time the project must be completed
and final products delivered.
new text end

new text begin (s) Health and Disease Monitoring in Minnesota Wildlife new text end

new text begin $750,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota, Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic
Laboratory, to collaborate with wildlife
rehabilitation organizations and other wildlife
health professionals throughout Minnesota to
enhance the state's health and disease
surveillance, preparedness, and response
efforts.
new text end

new text begin (t) Affordable Statewide Tracking of Forestry Fragmentation and Degradation new text end

new text begin $331,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to merge aircraft and satellite
LiDAR data to build a model and an
interactive real-time web dashboard of forest
boundaries that provides business-ready
information about statewide forest
fragmentation and degradation due to human
activities and natural disasters.
new text end

new text begin (u) Safeguarding Bees While Monitoring Pollinators and Nesting Habitats new text end

new text begin $590,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to pioneer low-mortality methods
for monitoring bee populations and to
investigate nest habitat materials and
antimicrobial properties in cooperation with
community scientists and management
agencies. This appropriation is available until
June 30, 2029, by which time the project must
be completed and final products delivered.
new text end

new text begin (v) Expanding the Application of Minnesota's Wetland Monitoring Data new text end

new text begin $312,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources to
use existing LiDAR and recurring aerial
photographs to determine state grassland
acreage and change over the last twenty years,
evaluate key drivers of wetland change, and
use technology to improve Minnesota's
wetland monitoring.
new text end

new text begin (w) Enhancing the Value of Minnesota Public Grasslands new text end

new text begin $390,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to evaluate a combination of
prescribed fire, brush mowing, and targeted
conservation grazing to develop ready-to-use
management strategies for public land
managers to mitigate woody species
encroachment and increase biodiversity and
carbon sequestration in public grasslands.
new text end

new text begin (x) Foundational Precision Agriculture Data to Reduce Environmental Impacts new text end

new text begin $1,255,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota for the West Central Research and
Outreach Center at Morris to establish data
collection systems and methods at sentinel
farm sites, develop and evaluate best
management practices, and provide outreach
and training to farmers to encourage adoption
of precision agriculture technologies that
reduce fertilizer and chemical use and improve
water and air quality.
new text end

new text begin (y) Continued Aggregate Resource Mapping new text end

new text begin $621,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources to
map the aggregate resource potential in the
state of Minnesota and to make the
information available in print and electronic
format to local units of government to support
informed land-use decisions and resource
conservation.
new text end

new text begin (z) Advancing Collaborative Wild Rice Monitoring Program Technologies new text end

new text begin $900,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources to
continue efforts to create a framework for
long-term wild rice monitoring for
conservation and collaborate with Tribal and
nongovernmental organizations to collect
additional data, improve collection and
analysis methods, and develop a statewide
estimate of wild rice abundance and coverage.
new text end

new text begin (aa) Conserving Natural Resources by Advancing Forever Green Agriculture new text end

new text begin $2,146,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota for the Forever Green Initiative to
fund research projects to develop new
perennial and winter-annual crops to protect
water, wildlife, soil, other natural resources,
and the climate. This appropriation is available
until June 30, 2030, by which time the project
must be completed and final products
delivered.
new text end

new text begin (bb) Minnesota's Priority Native Rough Fish: Gars and Bowfin new text end

new text begin $568,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to develop population dynamics,
habitat use, and food web models for
Minnesota gars and bowfins and conduct
outreach to inform conservation and
management and serve as a template for study
of Minnesota's other native rough fish species.
new text end

new text begin (cc) Understanding to Improve Minnesota's Future Lake Water Quality new text end

new text begin $595,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to use decade-long comprehensive
lake, watershed, and weather data and
high-resolution climate models to understand
lake-specific drivers of water quality and
predict the effects of future warming on
harmful algal blooms across Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (dd) Operationalizing State Zooplankton Data to Support Lake Health new text end

new text begin $423,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to use long-term monitoring data
to determine the relationship between
zooplankton communities and ecosystem
services, like fisheries health and water
quality, and develop biotic indices for lake
health.
new text end

new text begin (ee) Trialing Climate-Ready Woodland Trees in Urban Areas new text end

new text begin $255,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to demonstrate performance of
climate-adaptive tree species and study land
manager and public perceptions of these
species to identify the best species and risk
tolerance for future plantings in metropolitan
areas of Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (ff) Superior Shores: Protecting Our Great Lakes Coastal Habitats new text end

new text begin $675,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Science Museum of Minnesota for the
St. Croix Watershed Research Station to map
the locations and survey the biological
diversity and water quality of Lake Superior
coastal rock pools. This appropriation may
also be used to develop outreach materials and
host programs on rock pool understanding and
conservation.
new text end

new text begin (gg) Recruitment and Fecundity of Minnesota Moose new text end

new text begin $2,007,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
state and Tribal biologists to work
collaboratively to estimate survival and
fecundity of yearling and 2-year-old moose in
northeast Minnesota to inform future
management efforts. Of this amount, $841,000
is for an agreement with the 1854 Treaty
Authority. This appropriation is available until
June 30, 2031, by which time the project must
be completed and final products delivered.
new text end

new text begin (hh) Fighting Insect Decline: Minnesota Bumblebees to the Rescue new text end

new text begin $249,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to map historical and current
bumblebee distribution and develop an
identification tool using molecular barcodes
and an online resource hub to improve
conservation of Minnesota's native
bumblebees.
new text end

new text begin (ii) Trace Metals in Municipal Yard Waste and Compost new text end

new text begin $120,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to assess trace metal contamination
from collected residential yard waste, finished
compost, and compost leachate in municipal
yard waste recycling programs.
new text end

new text begin (jj) Chronic Wasting Disease Prions in Minnesota Waters new text end

new text begin $322,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to evaluate the movement of
chronic wasting disease in Minnesota waters,
assess the risk of spread, and share results with
wildlife and watershed managers.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Water Resources new text end

new text begin 11,812,000 new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin (a) Enhancing Our Resources - Rural Health and Drinking Water new text end

new text begin $994,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Freshwater Society to
partner with the Mayo Clinic to educate well
owners and family health providers about the
geologic occurrence and risk of arsenic in
drinking water. This appropriation is also to
provide free arsenic testing to well owners in
southeast Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (b) Restoration and Outreach for Minnesota's Native Mussels new text end

new text begin $1,258,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources to
propagate, rear, and restore native freshwater
mussel populations and the ecosystem services
they provide to Minnesota waters; to evaluate
reintroduction success; and to inform the
public on mussels and mussel conservation.
new text end

new text begin (c) Pristine to Green: Toxic Blooms Threaten Northern Lakes new text end

new text begin $1,362,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Science Museum of Minnesota for the
St. Croix Watershed Research Station to
evaluate drivers that contribute to the
formation of nuisance and toxic algal blooms
in relatively pristine and protected lakes across
Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (d) Training Lake Communities to Track Chloride and Algae new text end

new text begin $274,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota for the Minnesota Sea Grant
college program in Duluth to develop and train
a network of community-based volunteers to
track chloride and harmful algal blooms in
rural Minnesota lakes.
new text end

new text begin (e) Clean Sweep Solution to Nonpoint Source Pollution new text end

new text begin $386,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota for the Water Resources Center to
enhance Clean Sweep programs, identify the
pollutants present in street-sweeping materials,
explore material reuse options, and quantify
benefits of enhanced street sweeping. This
appropriation may also be used to coordinate
county and regional collaborations, develop
resources, and provide training to increase
targeted street-sweeping practices to reduce
nonpoint source pollution to Minnesota's water
resources.
new text end

new text begin (f) Cyanotoxins in Minnesota Lakes: The Role of Sunlight new text end

new text begin $220,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to quantify degradation of
cyanobacterial toxins by sunlight to understand
how increasing frequency of harmful algal
blooms and changing environmental
conditions influence toxin persistence in
natural waters.
new text end

new text begin (g) Enhancing Degradation of Emerging Contaminants via Microbial Starvation new text end

new text begin $390,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to study how wastewater treatment
systems can be improved to more effectively
biodegrade mixtures of pharmaceuticals,
pesticides, and other contaminants of emerging
concern and protect Minnesota's water
resources.
new text end

new text begin (h) Soil Health Management for Water Storage new text end

new text begin $454,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota for the Water Resources Center to
conduct on-farm and model-based research
and develop guidance for watershed planners
and land managers to effectively use soil
health management to achieve water storage
and water quality goals.
new text end

new text begin (i) Predicting Contaminant Movement in Minnesota's Fractured Aquifers new text end

new text begin $650,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, to
develop a software program that predicts the
fate and movement of contaminants, such as
PFAS, chloride, nitrate, and pathogens, in
Minnesota's fractured aquifers.
new text end

new text begin (j) Documentation and Toxicity of Microplastics in Urban Ecosystems new text end

new text begin $300,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to research how land use and
toxicity affect the accumulation of
microplastics and associated contaminants of
concern in stormwater ponds and the wildlife
that use stormwater ponds.
new text end

new text begin (k) Terminating PFAS-Type Pesticides via Enzyme Cocktails new text end

new text begin $297,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to evaluate the ability of selected
enzymes and combinations of enzymes to
biodegrade per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances (PFAS) found in pesticides and to
design a pilot-scale biofilter for effective
elimination of PFAS from water.
new text end

new text begin (l) Addressing 21st Century Challenges for the St. Croix new text end

new text begin $243,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Science Museum of Minnesota for the
St. Croix Watershed Research Station to
develop a watershed model to identify
potential hydrologic and water quality impacts
to the lower St. Croix River over the next 75
years and inform future planning and
management in the watershed.
new text end

new text begin (m) Impact of Statewide Conservation Practices on Stream Biodiversity new text end

new text begin $300,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to use existing monitoring data to
evaluate the effects of wetlands and riparian
buffers on stream and river biodiversity and
biological condition and develop tools and
materials to inform the public and natural
resource managers.
new text end

new text begin (n) Modeling the Future Mississippi River Gorge new text end

new text begin $427,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, to
construct a reduced-scale physical model of
Mississippi River Pool 1, Lock & Dam 1, and
adjacent upstream and downstream reaches;
analyze water flow and sediment movement
under various pool management strategies;
and share results with the public to inform
decisions on the future management of the
lock and dam.
new text end

new text begin (o) Highly Efficient Nutrient Removal Technology for Agricultural Drainage new text end

new text begin $453,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to conduct lab- and field-scale tests
of a novel bioreactor technology for removing
nutrients from agricultural drainage and
disseminate results to farmers and the public.
new text end

new text begin (p) Citizen Scientists Capture Microplastic Pollution Around State new text end

new text begin $419,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to develop adaptable microplastic
sampling and detection methods, develop a
public-access database, and leverage citizen
scientists to survey microplastic pollution
throughout the state to allow for data-driven
risk management decisions and solutions.
new text end

new text begin (q) Healthy Native Prairie Microbiomes for Cleaner Water new text end

new text begin $468,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to identify and characterize prairie
plant microbiomes and study the potential of
native prairie microbes to provide nitrogen for
agricultural crops and reduce industrial
fertilizer use and nitrate contamination of
water.
new text end

new text begin (r) Wastewater Chloride Reduction through Industrial Source Reduction Assistance new text end

new text begin $247,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota for the Minnesota Technical
Assistance Program to provide technical
assistance to businesses to cost-effectively
reduce industrial and commercial chloride use
in communities with high chloride effluent
concentrations.
new text end

new text begin (s) Pilot Water Budget Framework for Managing Water Withdrawals new text end

new text begin $198,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to develop a pilot water budget
framework to identify sensitive areas in
Minnesota where net water withdrawals have
a significant impact on surface water and
groundwater.
new text end

new text begin (t) Biofilm Mediated Destruction of PFAS in Groundwater new text end

new text begin $1,336,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Freshwater Society to
develop biofilm treatment technology and
demonstrate field-scale removal of per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from
contaminated groundwater. A fiscal
management plan must be approved in the
work plan before any trust fund money is
spent.
new text end

new text begin (u) Impact of Microplastics on Wastewater Treatment in Minnesota new text end

new text begin $506,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to quantify the abundance of
microplastics in wastewater treatment plants
in Minnesota, determine how microplastics
affect wastewater treatment plant performance,
and evaluate how different wastewater
treatment processes alter microplastics.
new text end

new text begin (v) Portable Arsenic and Nitrate Detector for Well Water new text end

new text begin $358,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to develop a small, cheap, and
easy-to-use system to detect arsenic and nitrate
in well water and determine whether well
water is safe to drink.
new text end

new text begin (w) Recovering Salts from Highly Saline Wastewater new text end

new text begin $272,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to develop a method to recover
useful salts from concentrated saline
wastewater to increase the economic
sustainability of high water-recovery
softening, sulfate removal, and industrial
wastewater treatment.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end new text begin Environmental Education new text end

new text begin 11,965,000 new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin (a) Eagle's Nest: Where the World Becomes Your Classroom new text end

new text begin $130,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Glacial Hills Elementary
School to create interactive natural playground
and landscaping features for children and
provide environmental education programming
outside of regular school hours.
new text end

new text begin (b) Advancing Equity in Environmental Education new text end

new text begin $700,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Camp Fire Minnesota to
provide needs-based scholarships for
Minnesota youth to attend
state-standards-aligned environmental and
outdoor education programs.
new text end

new text begin (c) Teacher Field School - Phase 2: Increasing Impact new text end

new text begin $712,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Hamline University to
continue the teacher field school program that
trains teachers how to connect academic
content with environmental stewardship,
natural resource conservation, and outdoor
recreation. This appropriation is also to pilot
a train-the-trainer model for nature-based
education practices.
new text end

new text begin (d) Creating Future Leaders in Outdoor and Environmental Leadership new text end

new text begin $330,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota
State Colleges and Universities for North
Hennepin Community College to collaborate
with K-12 education, higher education, and
outdoor organizations to increase
environmental education, leadership,
internship, and career opportunities for
underrepresented college and high school
students.
new text end

new text begin (e) Engaging our Diverse Public in Environmental Stewardship - Phase 2 new text end

new text begin $249,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Great River Greening to
increase participation in natural resources
conservation and restoration efforts and
careers through volunteer, internship, and
youth engagement activities, with a focus on
diverse audiences that more accurately reflect
local demographic and socioeconomic
conditions in Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (f) Outdoor School for Minnesota K-12 Students new text end

new text begin $3,992,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Osprey Wilds
Environmental Learning Center to partner with
four other accredited residential environmental
learning centers in Minnesota to provide
needs-based scholarships to K-12 students
statewide for immersive multiday
environmental learning experiences.
new text end

new text begin (g) Statewide Environmental Education via PBS Outdoor Series new text end

new text begin $415,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Pioneer Public
Broadcasting Service to produce, distribute,
and promote new episodes of a statewide
public television series that inspires
Minnesotans to connect with the outdoors and
to restore and protect the state's natural
resources.
new text end

new text begin (h) Maajii-akii-gikenjigewin Conservation Crew Program new text end

new text begin $678,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Conservation Corps
Minnesota & Iowa to expand a conservation
corps program developed to provide natural
resources career development opportunities
for indigenous young adults and cultivate an
enduring action-based conservation ethic
through the integration of traditional
knowledge, nature immersion, and the
implementation of conservation and
restoration practices in the field.
new text end

new text begin (i) Reuse for the Future: Youth Education and Engagement new text end

new text begin $225,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Reuse Minnesota to provide
curriculum-based opportunities for students
to learn about the reuse economy, reuse skills,
and other opportunities to reduce waste. This
appropriation may also be used to align
materials to state standards and translate
materials to additional languages.
new text end

new text begin (j) River Bend Nature Center Outdoor Diversity Initiative new text end

new text begin $247,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with River Bend Nature Center
to lead a coalition of educational partners and
culturally specific organizations to expand
recognized environmental education
curriculum and provide conservation-based
career exploration and job placement
opportunities for diverse communities in
southern Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (k) Camp Parsons Mississippi Summer new text end

new text begin $225,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with the Phyllis Wheatley
Community Center to provide environmental
education to Minneapolis urban youth through
the Camp Parsons Mississippi Summer
program that fosters connections to nature and
encourages responsible stewardship of our
natural resources.
new text end

new text begin (l) Adult Outdoor Education for Minnesota's Underrepresented Communities new text end

new text begin $247,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Baztec Fishing & Outdoors
to create fishing and hunting education,
training, and opportunities for underserved
and underrepresented communities in
Minnesota. All fishing tackle purchased with
this appropriation must be lead-free. A fiscal
management plan must be approved in the
work plan before any trust fund money is
spent.
new text end

new text begin (m) Minnesota's Road Map for Sustainability and Climate Education new text end

new text begin $491,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Climate Generation to
convene community gatherings and partner
with institutions and organizations across the
education sector to develop a road map on
how to build capacity for equitable and
accessible sustainability and climate education
programs that align with the Minnesota
Climate Action Framework.
new text end

new text begin (n) ESTEP 2.0: Earth Science Teacher Education Project new text end

new text begin $643,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Minnesota Science
Teachers Association to provide professional
development for Minnesota science teachers
statewide in environmental and earth science
content to strengthen environmental education
in schools.
new text end

new text begin (o) Engaging Latine Communities in Conservation and Preservation new text end

new text begin $400,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Comunidades Organizando
el Poder y la Accion Latina to use
community-based partnerships and
communications platforms to host outdoor
events and conduct educational outreach
focused on Latine and BIPOC communities
about the need to protect Minnesota's
environment and natural resources.
new text end

new text begin (p) Inclusive Wildlife Engagement in Classrooms and Communities new text end

new text begin $712,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
the nongame wildlife program to provide three
wildlife conservation, action-based outdoor
educational opportunities to engage
needs-based schools, young adults, and
communities underrepresented in natural
resources through the Bird by Bird,
Empowering Pathways into Conservation, and
Community Science programs.
new text end

new text begin (q) Activating Youth and Family Environmental Stewardship through Raptors new text end

new text begin $228,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota for the Raptor Center to deliver
standards-based environmental education
featuring live raptors through school programs
and community events across Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (r) Moving Minnesota toward a Lead-Free Sporting Future new text end

new text begin $250,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota
State Colleges and Universities for Bemidji
State University to conduct educational
outreach directed at hunters and anglers to
increase awareness of lead-free options for
big-game hunting, small-game hunting, and
fishing as a means of reducing wildlife
exposure to lead.
new text end

new text begin (s) Science Centers Supporting Northern Boys and Girls Clubs new text end

new text begin $1,091,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with the Headwaters Science
Center to expand access to environmental
science education in northern Minnesota and
leverage partnerships between rural and urban
organizations to deliver culturally relevant,
hands-on learning experiences to underserved
students.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end new text begin Aquatic and Terrestrial Invasive Species new text end

new text begin 6,713,000 new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin (a) Aquatic Invasive Species: From Problems to Real-World Solutions new text end

new text begin $5,771,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota for the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive
Species Research Center to conduct
high-priority projects aimed at solving
Minnesota's aquatic invasive species problems
using rigorous science and a collaborative
process. This appropriation may also be used
to deliver research findings to end users
through strategic communication and outreach.
This appropriation is available until June 30,
2029, by which time the project must be
completed and final products delivered.
new text end

new text begin (b) Optimizing Nonnative Cattail Treatment Effectiveness in Prairie Wetlands new text end

new text begin $942,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources to
compare the effectiveness of invasive cattail
treatment methods and provide
recommendations for managers to maximize
benefits of conservation money for native
wetland plants and wildlife. This appropriation
is available until June 30, 2031, by which time
the project must be completed and final
products delivered.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end new text begin Air Quality, Climate Change, and Renewable Energy new text end

new text begin 11,744,000 new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin (a) Protecting Coldwater Fish Habitat in Minnesota Lakes new text end

new text begin $561,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to identify lake-specific watershed
protection targets and management practices
needed to maintain coldwater fish habitat
threatened by warming temperatures and
increasing extreme rain events and to integrate
this information into conservation planning
tools.
new text end

new text begin (b) Agrivoltaics 2.0 Building a Resilient E-Farm new text end

new text begin $535,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota for the West Central Research and
Outreach Center at Morris to evaluate
emerging solar system designs and solar
technology integration with vegetable and
livestock production systems to maximize
energy production and benefits to farmers.
new text end

new text begin (c) Pine Needles Reveal Past and Present Airborne PFAS new text end

new text begin $550,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of the Pollution Control
Agency to use current and historic pine
needles as a low-cost method to assess
statewide per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
(PFAS) levels in ambient air.
new text end

new text begin (d) Facilitated Transport Hybrid Membranes for CO2 Separation new text end

new text begin $1,050,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to develop and test advanced
polymeric membranes for capture and reuse
of carbon dioxide at industrial sources.
new text end

new text begin (e) Renewable Energy Conversion for Farm Diesel and Ammonia new text end

new text begin $726,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to develop a novel charge-swing
catalytic condenser that will enable the
low-cost production of hydrogen from water
using rural electricity for on-the-farm energy
storage or renewable diesel and ammonia
fertilizer.
new text end

new text begin (f) Innovative Solution to Renewable Energy from Food Waste new text end

new text begin $5,167,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with the Ramsey/Washington
Recycling and Energy Board to provide
reimbursements to offset the processing fees
for the public to divert organic materials from
landfills and produce renewable natural gas
through anaerobic digestion and sequestration
of carbon into biochar. Net income generated
as part of this appropriation may be reinvested
in the project if a plan for reinvestment is
approved in the work plan as provided under
Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2029,
by which time the project must be completed
and final products delivered.
new text end

new text begin (g) Fueling the Future: Decarbonizing Regional Transportation Project new text end

new text begin $3,155,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with the city of St. Cloud to
install a green hydrogen production, storage,
and fueling station that provides a renewable,
carbon-free, alternate fuel source to
decarbonize community transportation and
manufacturing sectors. This appropriation may
also be used to convert city fleet and public
transit vehicles to hydrogen fuel. Net income
generated as part of this appropriation may be
reinvested in the project if a plan for
reinvestment is approved in the work plan as
provided under Minnesota Statutes, section
116P.10. This appropriation is available until
June 30, 2029, by which time the project must
be completed and final products delivered.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end new text begin Methods to Protect or Restore Land, Water, and Habitat new text end

new text begin 12,188,000 new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin (a) Minnesota PlantWatch: Community Scientists Conserving Rare Plants new text end

new text begin $1,086,000 the first year is from the trust fund.
Of this amount, $518,000 is to the Board of
Regents of the University of Minnesota for
the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and
$568,000 is to the commissioner of natural
resources to enhance the Minnesota
PlantWatch program to improve the
conservation of Minnesota's natural resources
and support community scientist-driven rare
plant surveys and seed banking and
preservation.
new text end

new text begin (b) Grassland Restoration for Pollinator Conservation and Demonstration new text end

new text begin $250,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota for the Minnesota Landscape
Arboretum to restore a degraded pasture to
grassland as a model for climate-resilient
pollinator habitat; provide interpretive signage,
education, and community engagement; and
conduct species monitoring. This appropriation
is available until June 30, 2031, by which time
the project must be completed and final
products delivered.
new text end

new text begin (c) Planning for Long-Term Natural Resources Protection in Hennepin County new text end

new text begin $250,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Hennepin County to
develop a publicly available interactive map
of natural systems, create a centralized
clearinghouse of data and best practices
toolkit, and provide ongoing technical
assistance for local communities with limited
resources to manage complex natural resources
challenges. Net income generated as part of
this appropriation may be reinvested in the
project if a plan for reinvestment is approved
in the work plan as provided under Minnesota
Statutes, section 116P.10.
new text end

new text begin (d) Native Forages: Growing Drought and Climate Resiliency new text end

new text begin $2,254,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to
collaborate with livestock farmers to establish
native grassland wildlife habitat and enhance
native forages on working lands to improve
ecological, economic, and climate resiliency.
Notwithstanding subdivision 13, paragraph
(e), restoration efforts may be undertaken on
private lands but must occur on properties
enrolled in long-term agreements to protect
and maintain the restored areas in
conformance with approved restoration and
grazing plans as approved in the work plan.
This appropriation is available until June 30,
2031, by which time the project must be
completed and final products delivered.
new text end

new text begin (e) Accelerated Genetic Migration of Bur Oak - Ten-Year Data new text end

new text begin $223,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Great River Greening to
assess the growth and survival of previously
restored bur oak ecotypes to inform techniques
for improved climate resiliency. This
appropriation may also be used to enhance the
previous plantings and disseminate results of
the study to practitioners, students,
landowners, and others. This appropriation is
available until June 30, 2029, by which time
the project must be completed and final
products delivered.
new text end

new text begin (f) Superior Hiking Trail Bridge, Boardwalk, and Trailhead Renewal new text end

new text begin $532,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with the Superior Hiking Trail
Association to renew Superior Hiking Trail
bridges, boardwalks, and trailheads to increase
user safety, improve the user experience, and
protect adjacent land and water.
new text end

new text begin (g) Mississippi Gateway Shoreline Stabilization and Fishing Improvements new text end

new text begin $735,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Three Rivers Park District
to improve water quality and shoreline fishing
access through shoreline stabilization and
construction of accessible trails and fishing
platforms within Mississippi Gateway
Regional Park.
new text end

new text begin (h) Phytoremediation of PFAS from Soil new text end

new text begin $1,066,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to use interdisciplinary research in
biology, nanotechnology, chemistry, and
genetic engineering to develop technology to
remediate soils contaminated with per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This
appropriation may also be used to convene
stakeholders to coordinate and advance PFAS
remediation research in Minnesota. This
appropriation is subject to Minnesota Statutes,
section 116P.10.
new text end

new text begin (i) Removing Mercury from Minnesota Waters new text end

new text begin $247,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to test and refine a biotechnology
approach to remove mercury from the food
chain in Minnesota's lakes and rivers and
potentially make fish consumption in
Minnesota safer. This appropriation is subject
to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10.
new text end

new text begin (j) Evaluating Native Seed Mixes for Grazing new text end

new text begin $208,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Restoravore to assess the
use of native hay and pasture mixes to benefit
biodiversity, soil health, and Minnesota
farmers. A fiscal management plan must be
approved in the work plan before any trust
fund money is spent.
new text end

new text begin (k) Improving Minnesota Forest Health via Post-Duff-Burning Soil Analysis new text end

new text begin $646,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to thoroughly investigate the impact
of forest floor duff fires on soil dynamics,
nutrient cycles, invasive shrubs, earthworms,
and root systems to improve fire management
for Minnesota's forest preservation. This
appropriation may also be used to develop an
outdoor lab-scale duff-burning device.
new text end

new text begin (l) Minnesota Riverbank Protection and Parks Improvements new text end

new text begin $1,400,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with the city of Shakopee to
restore Minnesota River shoreline at Huber
Park by regrading and establishing native
vegetation to protect fish and wildlife habitat,
reduce erosion, and provide public access to
the river. This appropriation is available until
June 30, 2029, by which time the project must
be completed and final products delivered.
new text end

new text begin (m) Restoration at Wakan Tipi and Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary new text end

new text begin $669,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with the Lower Phalen Creek
Project to conduct citizen-science natural
resource data collection events, recruit and
train volunteer site stewards, and enhance
habitat at Wakan Tipi and the Bruce Vento
Nature Sanctuary.
new text end

new text begin (n) Promoting Pollinators on Corporate Campuses new text end

new text begin $547,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with the University of St.
Thomas to use experimental bee lawn
installations on corporate campuses, combined
with landscape modeling and employee
surveys, to determine potential ecological,
economic, and societal benefits of widespread
commercial lawn habitat transformation. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2029,
by which time the project must be completed
and final products delivered.
new text end

new text begin (o) Riparian Area Adaptation Strategy for Southeast Minnesota new text end

new text begin $243,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with The Nature Conservancy,
in partnership with the University of
Minnesota, to assess an alternative adaptation
strategy to restore riparian areas by excavating
and planting riparian shrubs to reconnect the
floodplains. This appropriation may also be
used for outreach materials and educational
activities.
new text end

new text begin (p) Minnehaha Park South Plateau Oak Savanna Restoration new text end

new text begin $242,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with the Minneapolis Park and
Recreation Board to improve wildlife habitat,
enhance recreational experiences, and restore
an area of urban parkland in Minnehaha Park
to an oak savanna ecosystem. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2029,
by which time the project must be completed
and final products delivered.
new text end

new text begin (q) Tree Protection for Minnesota's Tamarack Against Larch Beetle new text end

new text begin $321,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Board of Regents of the University of
Minnesota to evaluate new insect management
techniques and key factors for predicting
future infestations to protect and preserve trees
from native eastern larch beetle infestations.
new text end

new text begin (r) Shoreline Restoration and Enhancement at Minneapolis Lakes new text end

new text begin $819,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with the Minneapolis Park and
Recreation Board to restore and enhance areas
of turf-dominated, eroding, and low habitat
value lakeshore that impacts the water quality
of the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes.
new text end

new text begin (s) Developing Markets for CLC Crops new text end

new text begin $450,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of agriculture to provide
grants to organizations in Minnesota to
develop enterprises, supply chains, and
markets for continuous living cover crops and
cropping systems in the early stage of
commercial development. This appropriation
is exempt from the income repayment
requirements in Minnesota Statutes,
section116P.10, paragraph (c).
new text end

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end new text begin Land Acquisition, Habitat, and Recreation new text end

new text begin 19,553,000 new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin (a) Cannon River Preservation and Access new text end

new text begin $2,717,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Dakota County to
rehabilitate the historic Waterford Bridge for
the Mill Towns State Trail; restore and
enhance upland shoreline, forest, and prairie
habitats; and develop a trailhead and
recreational access to the Cannon River.
new text end

new text begin (b) Mesabi Trail: Aurora to Hoyt Lakes new text end

new text begin $1,325,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with St. Louis and Lake
Counties Regional Railroad Authority for
environmental review and permitting and to
engineer, design, and construct a segment of
the Mesabi Trail beginning at the intersection
of Main Street and Forestry Road in Aurora
toward Hoyt Lakes.
new text end

new text begin (c) RTA Maintenance Trail Stabilization Project new text end

new text begin $500,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with the city of Eden Prairie to
construct a retaining wall and restore adjacent
remnant prairie along the maintenance trail at
Richard T. Anderson (RTA) Conservation
Area to mitigate ongoing erosion and protect
native habitat and plant communities.
new text end

new text begin (d) Local Parks, Trails, and Natural Areas Grant Programs new text end

new text begin $4,769,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources to
solicit, rank, and fund competitive matching
grants for local parks, trail connections, and
natural and scenic areas under Minnesota
Statutes, section 85.019. This appropriation is
for local nature-based recreation, connections
to regional and state natural areas, and
recreation facilities and may not be used for
athletic facilities such as sport fields, courts,
and playgrounds. This appropriation is exempt
from subdivision 13, paragraph (k).
new text end

new text begin (e) Boardwalk Over Boggy Land for Recreational Purposes new text end

new text begin $148,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with the city of Battle Lake to
design and construct a boardwalk over city
land to protect wetlands and to increase
community access to natural areas and wildlife
habitat.
new text end

new text begin (f) Lake Zumbro Park Water Access and Site Improvements new text end

new text begin $1,978,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Olmsted County to enhance
the Lake Zumbro Park water access and the
federal Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) accessibility for boating, fishing, and
viewing, while creating new user-friendly and
accessible amenities for individuals and
families. This may include new fishing docks
or piers, restored shoreline, improved parking,
and ADA accessible access to an existing
kayak and canoe launch.
new text end

new text begin (g) Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) Biodiversity Protection new text end

new text begin $1,104,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
the scientific and natural area program to
conserve Minnesota's most unique places and
rare species and strategically acquire lands
that meet criteria for SNAs under Minnesota
Statutes, section 86A.05. This appropriation
is available until June 30, 2029, by which time
the project must be completed and final
products delivered.
new text end

new text begin (h) Scandia Gateway Trail Connection: Recreation, Wetlands, and Environmental Education new text end

new text begin $907,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with the city of Scandia to
engineer, design, and construct a bike and
pedestrian trail to connect recreational,
cultural, and environmental resources in
Scandia to the state Gateway Trail. This
appropriation is also to create and install
educational interpretive signage about
wetlands and rain gardens near the trail.
new text end

new text begin (i) Lake Byllesby Regional Park Restoration and Recreation new text end

new text begin $1,120,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Dakota County to restore
prairie, woodland, and shoreline habitat and
design and install trails, birding and picnic
areas, and other recreational amenities to
enhance the visitor experience and stewardship
at Lake Byllesby Regional Park. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2029,
by which time the project must be completed
and final products delivered.
new text end

new text begin (j) Thompson County Park Restoration and Accessibility Improvements new text end

new text begin $867,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Dakota County to develop
a pollinator promenade with accessible natural
surface paths, native plantings, and interpretive
signage at Thompson County Park. This
appropriation may also be used to conduct
stream restoration to enhance visitor
experience and provide stormwater storage,
sediment and nutrient reduction, and increased
habitat and species diversity within the park.
This appropriation is available until June 30,
2029, by which time the project must be
completed and final products delivered.
new text end

new text begin (k) Thom Storm Chalet and Outdoor Recreation Center new text end

new text begin $2,312,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with the city of Duluth to
construct a new building and accessible
parking for the Thom Storm Chalet and
Outdoor Recreation Center at Chester Park to
expand high-quality outdoor recreation and
environmental education opportunities that
enhance youth and family understanding of
the importance of natural resource protection,
conservation, and preservation. Net income
generated as part of this appropriation may be
reinvested in the project if a plan for
reinvestment is approved in the work plan as
provided under Minnesota Statutes, section
116P.10.
new text end

new text begin (l) Enhancing Preservation and Accessibility at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve new text end

new text begin $155,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with the city of Duluth to
develop accessible trails and remove invasive
species to enhance outdoor recreation and
education opportunities that promote
conservation of raptors and preservation of
natural resources at Hawk Ridge Nature
Reserve.
new text end

new text begin (m) Echo Bay County Park - Phase 1 Construction new text end

new text begin $1,122,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Otter Tail County to
construct, in accordance with the Echo Bay
County Park Master Plan, access roads, trails,
parking, and bathroom facilities that create
designated public access and use corridors for
outdoor recreation and limit natural resource
impacts in Echo Bay County Park.
new text end

new text begin (n) Chaska Big Woods Property Acquisition new text end

new text begin $529,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with the city of Chaska to
acquire property that contains remnant Big
Woods to protect Minnesota forests and
wetlands and to increase community access
to natural areas.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 10. new text end new text begin Administration, Emerging Issues, and Contract Agreement Reimbursement new text end

new text begin 7,267,000 new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin (a) Emerging Issues Account new text end

new text begin $2,984,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on
Minnesota Resources to an emerging issues
account authorized in Minnesota Statutes,
section 116P.08, subdivision 4, paragraph (d).
new text end

new text begin (b) 2025 Contract Agreement Reimbursement new text end

new text begin $280,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources, at
the direction of the Legislative-Citizen
Commission on Minnesota Resources, for
expenses incurred in preparing and
administering contracts, including for the
agreements specified in this section.
new text end

new text begin (c) LCCMR Administrative Budget new text end

new text begin $4,000,000 the first year is from the trust fund
to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on
Minnesota Resources for administration in
fiscal years 2026 and 2027 as provided in
Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.09,
subdivision 5. This appropriation is available
until June 30, 2027. Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.11,
paragraph (b), Minnesota Statutes, section
16A.281, applies to this appropriation.
new text end

new text begin (d) Legislative Coordinating Commission Legacy Website new text end

new text begin $3,000 the first year is from the trust fund to
the Legislative Coordinating Commission for
the website required in Minnesota Statutes,
section 3.303, subdivision 10.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 11. new text end new text begin Availability of appropriations new text end

new text begin Money appropriated in this section may not
be spent on activities unless they are directly
related to and necessary for a specific
appropriation and are specified in the work
plan approved by the Legislative-Citizen
Commission on Minnesota Resources. Money
appropriated in this section must not be spent
on indirect costs or other institutional overhead
charges that are not directly related to and
necessary for a specific appropriation. Costs
that are directly related to and necessary for
an appropriation, including financial services,
human resources, information services, rent,
and utilities, are eligible only if the costs can
be clearly justified and individually
documented specific to the appropriation's
purpose and would not be generated by the
recipient but for receipt of the appropriation.
No broad allocations for costs in either dollars
or percentages are allowed. Unless otherwise
provided, the amounts in this section are
available for three years beginning July 1,
2025, and ending June 30, 2028, when projects
must be completed and final products
delivered. For acquisition of real property, the
appropriations in this section are available for
an additional fiscal year if a binding contract
for acquisition of the real property is entered
into before the expiration date of the
appropriation. If a project receives a federal
award, the period of the appropriation is
extended to equal the federal award period to
a maximum trust fund appropriation length of
six years.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 12. new text end new text begin Data availability requirements new text end

new text begin Data collected by the projects funded under
this section must conform to guidelines and
standards adopted by Minnesota IT Services.
Spatial data must also conform to additional
guidelines and standards designed to support
data coordination and distribution that have
been published by the Minnesota Geospatial
Information Office. Descriptions of spatial
data must be prepared as specified in the state's
geographic metadata guidelines and final data
must be uploaded to the Minnesota Geospatial
Commons upon project completion. All data
must be accessible and free to the public
unless made private under the Data Practices
Act, Minnesota Statutes, chapter 13. To the
extent practicable, summary data and results
of projects funded under this section should
be readily accessible on the Internet and
identified as having received funding from the
environment and natural resources trust fund.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 13. new text end new text begin Project requirements new text end

new text begin (a) As a condition of accepting an
appropriation under this section, an agency or
entity receiving an appropriation or a party to
an agreement from an appropriation must
comply with paragraphs (b) to (m) and
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116P, and must
submit a work plan and annual or semiannual
progress reports in the form determined by the
Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota
Resources for any project funded in whole or
in part with money from the appropriation.
Modifications to the approved work plan and
budget expenditures must be made through
the amendment process established by the
Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota
Resources.
new text end

new text begin (b) A recipient of money appropriated in this
section that conducts a restoration using
money appropriated in this section must use
native plant species according to the Board of
Water and Soil Resources' native vegetation
establishment and enhancement guidelines
and include an appropriate diversity of native
species selected to provide habitat for
pollinators throughout the growing season as
required under Minnesota Statutes, section
84.973.
new text end

new text begin (c) For all restorations conducted with money
appropriated under this section, a recipient
must prepare an ecological restoration and
management plan that, to the degree
practicable, is consistent with the
highest-quality conservation and ecological
goals for the restoration site. Consideration
should be given to soil, geology, topography,
and other relevant factors that would provide
the best chance for long-term success and
durability of the restoration project. The plan
must include the proposed timetable for
implementing the restoration, including site
preparation, establishment of diverse plant
species, maintenance, and additional
enhancement to establish the restoration;
identify long-term maintenance and
management needs of the restoration and how
the maintenance, management, and
enhancement will be financed; and take
advantage of the best-available science and
include innovative techniques to achieve the
best restoration.
new text end

new text begin (d) An entity receiving an appropriation in this
section for restoration activities must provide
an initial restoration evaluation at the
completion of the appropriation and an
evaluation three years after the completion of
the expenditure. Restorations must be
evaluated relative to the stated goals and
standards in the restoration plan, current
science, and, when applicable, the Board of
Water and Soil Resources' native vegetation
establishment and enhancement guidelines.
The evaluation must determine whether the
restorations are meeting planned goals,
identify any problems with implementing the
restorations, and, if necessary, give
recommendations on improving restorations.
The evaluation must be focused on improving
future restorations.
new text end

new text begin (e) All restoration and enhancement projects
funded with money appropriated in this section
must be on land permanently protected by a
conservation easement or public ownership.
new text end

new text begin (f) A recipient of money from an appropriation
under this section must give consideration to
contracting with Conservation Corps
Minnesota for contract restoration and
enhancement services.
new text end

new text begin (g) All conservation easements acquired with
money appropriated under this section must:
new text end

new text begin (1) be permanent;
new text end

new text begin (2) specify the parties to the easement in the
easement document;
new text end

new text begin (3) specify all provisions of an agreement that
are permanent;
new text end

new text begin (4) be sent to the Legislative-Citizen
Commission on Minnesota Resources in an
electronic format at least 20 business days
before closing;
new text end

new text begin (5) include a long-term monitoring and
enforcement plan and funding for monitoring
and enforcing the easement agreement; and
new text end

new text begin (6) include requirements in the easement
document to protect the quantity and quality
of groundwater and surface water through
specific activities, such as keeping water on
the landscape, reducing nutrient and
contaminant loading, and not permitting
artificial hydrological modifications.
new text end

new text begin (h) For any acquisition of lands or interest in
lands, a recipient of money appropriated under
this section must not agree to pay more than
100 percent of the appraised value for a parcel
of land using this money to complete the
purchase, in part or in whole, except that up
to ten percent above the appraised value may
be allowed to complete the purchase, in part
or in whole, using this money if permission is
received in advance of the purchase from the
Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota
Resources.
new text end

new text begin (i) For any acquisition of land or interest in
land, a recipient of money appropriated under
this section must give priority to high-quality
natural resources or conservation lands that
provide natural buffers to water resources.
new text end

new text begin (j) For new lands acquired with money
appropriated under this section, a recipient
must prepare an ecological restoration and
management plan in compliance with
paragraph (c), including sufficient funding for
implementation unless the work plan addresses
why a portion of the money is not necessary
to achieve a high-quality restoration.
new text end

new text begin (k) To ensure public accountability for using
public money, a recipient of money
appropriated under this section must, within
60 days of a land acquisition, provide to the
Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota
Resources documentation of the selection
process used to identify parcels acquired and
provide documentation of all related
transaction costs, including but not limited to
appraisals, legal fees, recording fees,
commissions, other similar costs, and
donations. This information must be provided
for all parties involved in the transaction. The
recipient must also report to the
Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota
Resources any difference between the
acquisition amount paid to the seller and the
state-certified or state-reviewed appraisal, if
a state-certified or state-reviewed appraisal
was conducted.
new text end

new text begin (l) A recipient of an appropriation from the
trust fund under this section must acknowledge
financial support from the environment and
natural resources trust fund in project
publications, signage, and other public
communications and outreach related to work
completed using the appropriation.
Acknowledgment may occur, as appropriate,
through use of the trust fund logo or inclusion
of language attributing support from the trust
fund. Each direct recipient of money
appropriated in this section, as well as each
recipient of a grant awarded pursuant to this
section, must satisfy all reporting and other
requirements incumbent upon constitutionally
dedicated funding recipients as provided in
Minnesota Statutes, section 3.303, subdivision
10, and chapter 116P.
new text end

new text begin (m) A recipient of an appropriation from the
trust fund under this section that is receiving
funding to conduct children's services, as
defined in Minnesota Statutes, section
299C.61, subdivision 7, must certify to the
Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota
Resources, as part of the required work plan,
that criminal background checks for
background check crimes, as defined in
Minnesota Statutes, section 299C.61,
subdivision 2, are performed on all employees,
contractors, and volunteers that have or may
have access to a child to whom the recipient
provides children's services using the
appropriation.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 14. new text end new text begin Payment conditions and capital equipment expenditures new text end

new text begin (a) All agreements, grants, or contracts
referred to in this section must be administered
on a reimbursement basis unless otherwise
provided in this section. Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.41,
expenditures made on or after July 1, 2025,
or the date the work plan is approved,
whichever is later, are eligible for
reimbursement unless otherwise provided in
this section. Periodic payments must be made
upon receiving documentation that the
deliverable items articulated in the approved
work plan have been achieved, including
partial achievements as evidenced by approved
progress reports. Reasonable amounts may be
advanced to projects to accommodate
cash-flow needs or match federal money. The
advances must be approved as part of the work
plan. No expenditures for capital equipment
are allowed unless expressly authorized in the
project work plan.
new text end

new text begin (b) Single-source contracts as specified in the
approved work plan are allowed.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 15. new text end new text begin Purchasing recycled and recyclable materials new text end

new text begin A political subdivision, public or private
corporation, or other entity that receives an
appropriation under this section must use the
appropriation in compliance with Minnesota
Statutes, section 16C.0725, regarding
purchasing recycled, repairable, and durable
materials, and Minnesota Statutes, section
16C.073, regarding purchasing and using
paper stock and printing.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 16. new text end new text begin Accessibility new text end

new text begin Structural and nonstructural facilities must
meet the design standards in the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility
guidelines.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 17. new text end new text begin Carryforward; extensions new text end

new text begin (a) The availability of the appropriations for
the following projects is extended to June 30,
2026:
new text end

new text begin (1) Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter
6, article 5, section 2, subdivision 3, paragraph
(d), Foundational Hydrology Data for Wetland
Protection and Restoration;
new text end

new text begin (2) Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter
6, article 5, section 2, subdivision 6, paragraph
(b), Protect Community Forests by Managing
Ash for Emerald Ash Borer;
new text end

new text begin (3) Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter
6, article 5, section 2, subdivision 9, paragraph
(t), Chippewa County Acquisition, Recreation,
and Education;
new text end

new text begin (4) Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter
6, article 6, section 2, subdivision 3, paragraph
(g), Geologic Atlases for Water Resource
Management;
new text end

new text begin (5) Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter
6, article 6, section 2, subdivision 3, paragraph
(n), Bioacoustics for Broad-Scale Species
Monitoring and Conservation;
new text end

new text begin (6) Laws 2022, chapter 94, section 2,
subdivision 4, paragraph (f), Water and
Climate Information to Enhance Community
Resilience;
new text end

new text begin (7) Laws 2022, chapter 94, section 2,
subdivision 4, paragraph (i), Is the Tire
Chemical 6PPDq Killing Minnesota's Fish?;
new text end

new text begin (8) Laws 2022, chapter 94, section 2,
subdivision 7, paragraph (a), Green Solar Cells
from a Minnesota Natural Resource;
new text end

new text begin (9) Laws 2022, chapter 94, section 2,
subdivision 8, paragraph (d), Hastings Lake
Rebecca Park Area;
new text end

new text begin (10) Laws 2022, chapter 94, section 2,
subdivision 9, paragraph (a), Mesabi Trail:
Wahlsten Road (CR 26) to Tower; and
new text end

new text begin (11) Laws 2022, chapter 94, section 2,
subdivision 9, paragraph (j), Silver Bay
Multimodal Trailhead Project.
new text end

new text begin (b) The availability of the appropriations for
the following projects is extended to June 30,
2027:
new text end

new text begin (1) Laws 2022, chapter 94, section 2,
subdivision 4, paragraph (g), Catch and
Reveal: Discovering Unknown Fish
Contamination Threats;
new text end

new text begin (2) Laws 2022, chapter 94, section 2,
subdivision 9, paragraph (e), Native Prairie
Stewardship and Prairie Bank Easement
Acquisition;
new text end

new text begin (3) Laws 2022, chapter 94, section 2,
subdivision 9, paragraph (h), SNA Habitat
Restoration and Public Engagement; and
new text end

new text begin (4) Laws 2022, chapter 94, section 2,
subdivision 9, paragraph (n), Ranier Safe
Harbor/Transient Dock - Phase 2.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 17 is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Laws 2024, chapter 83, section 2, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3. Foundational Natural Resource Data and Information

-0-

14,993,000

(a) Native Plant Community Data in the City of Duluth

$198,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the commissioner of natural resources
for an agreement with Minnesota Land Trust
to develop field-verified native plant
community data and maps for the city of
Duluth and the St. Louis River estuary to
support conservation and restoration activities.

(b) Reconstructing Historical Wild Rice to Understand Its Future

$200,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Science Museum of Minnesota for
the St. Croix Watershed Research Station to
characterize environmental drivers
contributing to the decline of wild rice using
lake sediment cores to reconstruct historical
wild rice abundance in relation to lake and
watershed stressors.

(c) Characterizing Tree Cavities and Use by Minnesota's Wildlife

$349,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota for the Natural Resources
Research Institute in Duluth to assess the
effects of forest management on Minnesota's
primary cavity engineer, the pileated
woodpecker, and on the wildlife that rely on
the cavities that pileated woodpeckers create.
This appropriation is also to develop
management guidelines.

(d) Fate of Minnesota's Lakes in the Next Century

$453,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota to use new modeling techniques
to quantify how water quality of Minnesota's
lakes will change in the next century under
future land use and climate change scenarios
and to create an online web tool to display the
results. This appropriation is subject to
Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10.This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2028,
by which time the project must be completed
and final products delivered.

(e) Turtle Island Skywatchers - Minnesota Research and Data Visualization

$200,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the commissioner of natural resources
for an agreement with Native Skywatchers
Inc. to engage youth in environmental
stewardship by collecting images and acoustic
data from turtles and other culturally
significant animals and their habitats,
evaluating the differences in these soundscapes
across landscapes, and sharing the results
through scientific storytelling and online
platforms.

(f) Monitoring Minnesota's Insects: Connecting Habitat to Insect Prey

$199,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota to investigate the ecological
roles of and energy transfer by certain
Minnesota insects throughout their life cycles
and to train future insect researchers on field
techniques.

(g) Determining Ambient Background PFAS Concentrations in Minnesota Soils

$621,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the commissioner of the Pollution
Control Agency to determine ambient
background per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance
(PFAS) levels in urban and nonurban soils to
help Minnesota develop management
strategies for PFAS-contaminated soils. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2028,
by which time the project must be completed
and final products delivered.

(h) Investigating Life History Characteristics of Minnesota Elk

$933,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the commissioner of natural resources
to assess Minnesota elk herd health and
genetic diversity, movements, survival, and
causes of mortality and to develop a
noninvasive, safer, and more accurate method
to estimate population size. This appropriation
is available until June 30, 2028, by which time
the project must be completed and final
products delivered.

(i) Foundational Data for Moth and Butterfly Conservation

$195,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the commissioner of natural resources
to perform field surveys and consolidate
existing data to create the first comprehensive
list of Minnesota moths and butterflies. This
appropriation is also to conduct outreach to
inform land managers and to facilitate public
appreciation of these species.

(j) DNR County Groundwater Atlas

$3,200,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the commissioner of natural resources
to continue producing county groundwater
atlases to inform management of surface water
and groundwater resources for drinking and
other purposes. This appropriation is for Part
B, to characterize the potential water yields of
aquifers and aquifers' sensitivity to
contamination.

(k) Voyageurs Wolf Project - Phase III

$996,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota to continue to study summertime
wolf predation on deer, moose, and other
species in the greater Voyageurs ecosystem
to inform wildlife management and to share
natural history of this species with the public.
This appropriation is available until June 30,
2028, by which time the project must be
completed and final products delivered.

(l) Distribution and Population Status of Weasels in Minnesota

$400,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota for the Natural Resources
Research Institute in Duluth to determine the
distribution, relative abundance, and spatial
occupancy patterns of small weasel species in
Minnesota to fill key knowledge gaps in
weasel distribution and status in Minnesota.

(m) Improving Aquatic Plant Knowledge for Healthy Waters

$198,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the commissioner of natural resources
to collect foundational data on Minnesota's
native aquatic plant biodiversity through new
and enhanced lake surveys and to disseminate
results to state resource managers, scientists,
and the public.

(n) New Small Mammal Monitoring Methods for Minnesota

$199,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota for the Natural Resources
Research Institute in Duluth to develop camera
trapping methods as a new tool to collect
foundational data and fill key knowledge gaps
in the status of small mammal species in
Minnesota.

(o) Status of Bats and Roost Trees after White-Nose Syndrome

$195,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota for the Natural Resources
Research Institute in Duluth to study changes
in maternity roost trees and bat populations in
the forested areas of Minnesota and to evaluate
the effects of years of white-nose syndrome
on Minnesota bats.

(p) Sublethal Effects of Pesticides on the Invertebrate Community

$387,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota to provide data on pesticide
contamination in soil and the insect
community across the state and the effect of
insecticide exposure on insect reproduction.
This appropriation is available until June 30,
2029, by which time the project must be
completed and final products delivered.

(q) Modernizing Minnesota's Plant Community Classification and Field Guides

$1,800,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the commissioner of natural resources
to collect additional vegetation and
environmental data and update the state's
20-year-old native plant community
classification guides to incorporate new data,
streamline user application and access to
products, and include analysis of climate and
vegetation trends. Net income generated as
part of this appropriation may be reinvested
in the project if a plan for reinvestment is
approved in the work plan. This appropriation
is subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
116P.10.

(r) Assessing Prairie Health to Inform Pollinator Conservation

$297,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Minnesota Zoological Society to
assess habitat quality and pesticide occurrence
in Minnesota prairies to help inform
management actions, endangered species
recovery plans, and pollinator reintroduction
efforts for endangered and threatened
butterflies and other wildlife.

(s) Understanding Native Fishes in the Bowfishing Era

$588,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota, Duluth, to collect foundational
biological information on a selection of native
Minnesota fish to aid in sustainable
management, improve recreational
opportunities, and educate the public about
these shared aquatic resources. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2028,
by which time the project must be completed
and final products delivered.

(t) Preserving Minnesota Wildflower Information

$199,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota, Bell Museum of Natural
History, to preserve and enhance Minnesota
Wildflowers Information, an online tool for
plant identification, by integrating the content
and functionality of the website with the
Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas for public use
as required by Laws 2017, chapter 96, section
2, subdivision 3, paragraph (e).

(u) White-Tailed Deer Movement and Disease in Suburban Areas

$699,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota to better understand white-tailed
deer movement, habitat use, and disease
dynamics at the suburban-agricultural interface
to inform more efficient deer management and
disease control.

(v) Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and Minnesota Raptors

$187,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota for the Raptor Center to evaluate
Minnesota raptors for current or past infections
with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
to better understand disease transmission and
outbreak impacts on raptor populations.

(w) Geologic Atlases for Water Resource Management

$1,236,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota, Minnesota Geological Survey,
to continue producing county geologic atlases
to inform management of surface water and
groundwater resources. This appropriation is
to complete Part A, which focuses on the
properties and distribution of earth materials
to define aquifer boundaries and the
connection of aquifers to the land surface and
surface water resources.

(x) Remote Sensing for Pollinator Habitat

$180,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the commissioner of natural resources
for an agreement with Monarch Joint Venture
to use remote sensing technology to evaluate
pollinator habitat on energy and transportation
corridors across Minnesota and to host
field-day training workshops. new text begin Net income
generated as part of this appropriation may be
reinvested in the project if a plan for
reinvestment is approved in the work plan as
provided under Minnesota Statutes, section
116P.10.
new text end

(y) Harnessing Cover Crops and Roots for Sustainable Cropping

$375,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota to determine carbon
sequestration, nitrogen credit potential, water
use, and performance of cover crops in
corn-soybean and corn-soybean-wheat
rotations in southern Minnesota.

(z) Effects of Conservation Grazing on Solar Sites Managed for Pollinator Habitat

$88,000 the second year is from the trust fund
to the commissioner of natural resources for
an agreement with Minnesota Native
Landscapes, in partnership with Temple
University, to analyze the effects of sheep
grazing and mowing on the vegetation and
soils of solar sites managed for pollinator
habitat and to improve understanding of the
environmental outcomes from the colocation
of solar panels; grazing; and native,
pollinator-friendly vegetation. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2029,
by which time the project must be completed
and final products delivered.

(aa) Genetic Detection of Endangered Mussels in the Mississippi

$241,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the commissioner of natural resources
for an agreement with the United States
Geological Survey, Ohio Water Microbiology
Lab, to create, optimize, and use eDNA assays
to detect the presence of endangered or
threatened mussel species around Buffalo
Slough near the Prairie Island Indian
Community.

(bb) Integrated Population Modeling for Trumpeter Swans

$180,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota to compile and use all available
data to model historical population abundance
and estimate future population dynamics of
Minnesota trumpeter swans.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective retroactively from July 1, 2024.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Laws 2024, chapter 83, section 2, subdivision 8, is amended to read:

Subd. 8. Methods to Protect or Restore Land, Water, and Habitat

-0-

10,910,000

(a) Long-Term Preservation of Minnesota's Ball Cactus Population

$100,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota for the Minnesota Landscape
Arboretum to protect Minnesota's only
population of ball cactus by supporting
population expansion and establishment,
monitoring transferred plants, and training
long-term volunteer monitors. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2029,
by which time the project must be completed
and final products delivered.

(b) Morrison County Historical Society Streambank Stabilization and Restoration

$519,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the commissioner of natural resources
for an agreement with the Morrison Soil and
Water Conservation District to stabilize and
restore land along the Mississippi River owned
by the Morrison County Historical Society
within the statutory boundaries of Charles A.
Lindbergh State Park to improve water quality
and improve aquatic and terrestrial habit. For
purposes of this appropriation, subdivision 13,
paragraph (e), does not apply. The
commissioner of natural resources may make
reasonable amounts of this appropriation
available on an advance basis to accommodate
the Morrison Soil and Water Conservation
District's cash-flow needs if a plan for the
advances is approved as part of the work plan.

(c) Can Increased Tree Diversity Increase Community Diversity?

$415,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota to evaluate impacts of increasing
tree diversity on wildlife, plant and fungal
communities, and carbon storage within aspen
forests in northern Minnesota to develop best
management practices for mixed woodland
systems.

(d) Restoration of Riverside Park

$141,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the commissioner of natural resources
for an agreement with the city of Long Prairie
to improve water retention, increase native
habitat, and enhance footpaths for recreation
at Riverside Park in Todd County, Minnesota.
The project must create a net increase in
habitat, and this appropriation may not be used
to meet the conditions of any permits received
for the project.

(e) Pollinator Central IV: Habitat Improvement with Public Engagement

$698,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the commissioner of natural resources
for an agreement with Great River Greening
to partner with municipalities, educational
organizations, and volunteers to create and
enhance pollinator habitat along public
corridors from Lakeville to St. Cloud and to
engage youth and the public through education
and monitoring the impact of habitat
improvements. This appropriation is available
until June 30, 2028, by which time the project
must be completed and final products
delivered.

(f) Conservation Grazing for Birds, Beef, and Better Soil

$342,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the commissioner of natural resources
for an agreement with the National Audubon
Society, Minnesota office, to assess Audubon
Conservation Ranching as a strategic approach
to improve grassland biodiversity, soils, and
ecosystem resilience. This appropriation is
available until June 30, 2028, by which time
the project must be completed and final
products delivered.

(g) Minnesota Microbes for Enhanced Biodegradation of Microplastics

$524,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota to investigate the potential of
natural and indigenous microbes to biodegrade
conventional plastics in contaminated soils
and waters across the state. This appropriation
is subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
116P.10.

(h) Completing the Mississippi River Greenway: Dakota County

$657,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the commissioner of natural resources
for an agreement with Dakota County to
restore and enhance habitat on public lands,
establish linear native plantings, and install
electric-vehicle charging stations within and
along the 27-mile Mississippi River Greenway
in Dakota County. Net income generated as
part of this appropriation may be reinvested
in the project if a plan for reinvestment is
approved in the work plan. This appropriation
is subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
116P.10, and is available until June 30, 2028,
by which time the project must be completed
and final products delivered.

(i) Enabling Nature to Destroy Environmental PFAS Contaminants

$378,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota to identify enzymes and
microbes that can break down soil-based per-
and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into
nontoxic elements. This appropriation is
subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10.

(j) Bioacoustics for Species Monitoring and Conservation - Phase 2

$568,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota to assess avian diversity at the
statewide scale by developing a citizen science
bioacoustics monitoring program with an
initial focus on private lands.

(k) Preventing PFAS and Microplastics Contaminants Across Minnesota

$656,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota to help stop the flow of per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and
microplastics contaminants into Minnesota's
environment by developing strategies and
technologies to manage solid waste streams
on site. This appropriation is subject to
Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10.

(l) Shingle Creek Aquatic and Shoreline Habitat Enhancement

$1,100,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the commissioner of natural resources
for an agreement with the Minneapolis Park
and Recreation Board to plan and restore a
section of Shingle Creek in north Minneapolis
with native aquatic and shoreline vegetation,
channel and bank modification, and natural
stream features. This appropriation is also to
monitor plant and animal health following
construction to ensure that the ecological
functioning of the creek corridor is restored.
This appropriation is available until June 30,
2030, by which time the project must be
completed and final products delivered.

(m) LiDAR Technology to Help Prevent Wildlife Fatalities from Wind Turbines

$525,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota to create a low-cost and
advanced LiDAR system to detect bats and
birds approaching wind turbines that may be
used in concert with deterrence or impact
avoidance methods to prevent collisions. This
appropriation is subject to Minnesota Statutes,
section 116P.10.

(n) Road Salt Pollution of Surface Waters from Groundwater

$622,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota to inform source-reduction
efforts by developing a model to identify hot
spots where road-salt-contaminated
groundwater leads to chloride pollution of
surface waters.

(o) Growing the Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd

$1,775,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the commissioner of natural resources
to reintroduce bison to Camden State Park as
part of a statewide effort to preserve the
American Plains bison genome.
Reintroduction includes the design,
construction, and installation of fencing, a
handling facility, signage, exhibits, and other
site improvements. This appropriation is
available until June 30, 2030, by which time
the project must be completed and final
products delivered.

(p) Priority Lakes: Meeting Protection Goals and Multiplying Benefits

$1,890,000 the second year is from the trust
fund to the commissioner of natural resources
for an agreement with the Hubbard County
Soil and Water Conservation District, in
cooperation with Minnesota Land Trust, to
protect habitat, forest health, and water quality
in the best fishing lakes by creating lake
implementation action plans, conducting
community-based habitat restorations and
improvements, and protecting forest lands with
conservation easements and Sustainable Forest
Incentive Act (SFIA) enrollments within
prioritized areas of the upper Mississippi River
basin deleted text begin in Hubbard County deleted text end . Of this amount, up
to $168,000 is for deposit in a monitoring fund
to be used by Minnesota Land Trust as
approved in the work plan and subject to
Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.20.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective retroactively from July 1, 2024.
new text end

ARTICLE 2

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND: GRANT
PROGRAMS

Section 1.

new text begin [97C.364] KEEP IT CLEAN PROGRAM; GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner, in consultation with the Board of
Water and Soil Resources and the commissioners of the Pollution Control Agency and
health, must develop and administer a statewide Keep It Clean program to prevent water
pollution due to garbage and human waste left on the ice of state waters during winter-use
activities. As part of the program, the commissioner must:
new text end

new text begin (1) coordinate and provide outreach to local units of government and nongovernmental
organizations;
new text end

new text begin (2) facilitate other state agencies' participation in local programs and projects;
new text end

new text begin (3) coordinate media efforts;
new text end

new text begin (4) establish a statewide education campaign; and
new text end

new text begin (5) develop and administer a grant program according to subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grants. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must develop a grant program to provide money
to local units of government and nongovernmental organizations to implement local programs
to prevent water pollution due to garbage and human waste left on the ice of state waters
during winter-use activities. Activities eligible for grants under this section include but are
not limited to:
new text end

new text begin (1) installing and maintaining public, sanitary, winterized dumping stations at accessible,
designated locations near lake access points and major travel corridors;
new text end

new text begin (2) providing dedicated seasonal services, facilities, and containers to transport and
dispose of human and pet biowaste at preapproved locations;
new text end

new text begin (3) increasing enforcement of related state and local ordinances by providing the resources
needed to increase state and local law enforcement patrols during the winter months and
establishing volunteer county programs for winter lake patrol;
new text end

new text begin (4) education and outreach efforts promoting local and regional Keep It Clean activities;
new text end

new text begin (5) organizing spring cleanup efforts, excluding cleanup efforts after significant events,
including but not limited to festivals, ice-fishing contests, and ice races; and
new text end

new text begin (6) local advertising and marketing efforts to educate and promote Keep It Clean
messaging and provide information about laws and regulations regarding Keep It Clean.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116X.03, is amended to read:

116X.03 ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND
deleted text begin COMMUNITY deleted text end GRANT deleted text begin PROGRAM deleted text end new text begin PROGRAMS new text end .

Subdivision 1.

Grants.

deleted text begin (a) deleted text end Beginning July 1, deleted text begin 2025 deleted text end new text begin 2026 new text end , each fiscal year 1.5 percent of
the market value of the environment and natural resources trust fund on June 30 one year
before the start of the biennium is available for appropriation to the commissioner of natural
resources to provide grants under this section for the benefit of current residents and future
generations. The commissioner must award grants under this section for purposes authorized
under the Minnesota Constitution, article XI, section 14 deleted text begin , and expand the number and diversity
of recipients who benefit from the environment and natural resources trust fund, especially
in communities that have been adversely affected by pollution and environmental degradation deleted text end . new text begin
Money appropriated to the commissioner for purposes of this section must be distributed
as follows:
new text end

new text begin (1) 40 percent is for local government water quality grants under subdivision 1a;
new text end

new text begin (2) 40 percent is for trail improvements, distributed as follows:
new text end

new text begin (i) 50 percent is for improvement of state trails; and
new text end

new text begin (ii) 50 percent is for local trail improvement grants under subdivision 1b;
new text end

new text begin (3) 15 percent is for the outdoor school for all Minnesota youth programs under
subdivision 1c; and
new text end

new text begin (4) five percent is for community grants under subdivision 1d.
new text end

deleted text begin (b) A grant may be awarded under this section only for:
deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) helping adversely impacted communities respond to environmental degradation and
related health concerns;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) education and awareness related to stewardship of air, land, water, forests, fish,
wildlife, and other natural resources; or
deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) preserving or enhancing air, land, water, and other natural resources that otherwise
may be substantially impaired or destroyed in any area of the state.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (c) A grant awarded under this section must provide measurable results and may not be
awarded to a for-profit business.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (d) Money appropriated from the trust fund under this subdivision must supplement the
traditional sources of funding for environment and natural resources activities and may not
be used as a substitute.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (e) Any appropriated funds under this subdivision that are not encumbered before the
appropriation expires must be credited to the principal of the trust fund.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (f) The commissioner may not award a grant under this section to the Department of
Natural Resources.
deleted text end

new text begin Subd. 1a. new text end

new text begin Local government water quality grants. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must award
local government water quality grants under this subdivision to local units of government,
Tribal governments, and lake associations:
new text end

new text begin (1) to prevent the introduction or limit the spread of aquatic invasive species;
new text end

new text begin (2) to manage invasive aquatic plants; and
new text end

new text begin (3) for the Keep It Clean program under section 97C.364.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 1b. new text end

new text begin Local trail improvement grants. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must award local trail
improvement grants under this subdivision to local units of government, Tribal governments,
and other local, regional, state, and national organizations for restoration and enhancement
of local and regional trails. Grants awarded under this section must be matched with nonstate
money.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 1c. new text end

new text begin Outdoor school for all Minnesota youth program. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must
establish an outdoor school for all Minnesota youth program to facilitate opportunities for
Minnesota youth to experience the outdoors. The commissioner may award grants under
this subdivision to local units of government, Tribal governments, school districts, and
environmental learning centers. Grants awarded under this subdivision may include grants
for activities that:
new text end

new text begin (1) provide transportation to state parks, forests, recreation areas, and environmental
learning centers;
new text end

new text begin (2) support family-focused outdoor initiatives;
new text end

new text begin (3) support development and maintenance of nature areas near schools and in
communities; and
new text end

new text begin (4) engage additional volunteers and expand mentorship and internship opportunities.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 1d. new text end

new text begin Community grants. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner must award grants under this
subdivision to expand the number and diversity of recipients who benefit from the
environment and natural resources trust fund, especially in communities that have been
adversely affected by pollution and environmental degradation. Grants under this subdivision
may be awarded only for:
new text end

new text begin (1) helping adversely impacted communities respond to environmental degradation and
related health concerns;
new text end

new text begin (2) education and awareness related to stewardship of air, land, water, forests, fish,
wildlife, and other natural resources; or
new text end

new text begin (3) preserving or enhancing air, land, water, and other natural resources that otherwise
may be substantially impaired or destroyed in any area of the state.
new text end

new text begin (b) A grant awarded under this subdivision must provide measurable results and may
not be awarded to a for-profit business.
new text end

new text begin (c) Money appropriated from the trust fund under this subdivision must supplement the
traditional sources of funding for environment and natural resources activities and may not
be used as a substitute.
new text end

new text begin (d) Any appropriated funds under this subdivision that are not encumbered before the
appropriation expires must be credited to the principal of the trust fund.
new text end

new text begin (e) The commissioner may not award a grant under this subdivision to the Department
of Natural Resources.
new text end

Subd. 2.

Capital projects and land acquisition.

Notwithstanding section 116P.011,
the requirements of sections 116P.15 to 116P.21 apply to grants awarded under this section,
except that where those sections require a grantee to obtain approval of the
Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources for a proposed action a grantee
must instead obtain the approval of the commissioner of natural resources.

Subd. 3.

Administrative expenses.

Up to five percent of the money appropriated to the
commissioner for grants under this section may be used by the commissioner for
administration, outreach, new text begin and new text end grant monitoring deleted text begin , and advisory council operational support deleted text end .

Subd. 4.

Return of grant money.

The commissioner must require a recipient of a grant
under this section to return all money awarded to the recipient if the recipient does not use
the money in accordance with the applicable agreement.

Subd. 5.

Reporting.

By February 1 each year, the commissioner must submit a report
to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate
committees and divisions with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources on the
administration of this section during the previous fiscal year, including administrative
expenses and the grants awarded.

Sec. 3. new text begin ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND GRANT
PROGRAMS; REPORT.
new text end

new text begin By January 15, 2026, the commissioner of natural resources must submit a report to the
chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over
environment and natural resources that details the commissioner's plan to implement
Minnesota Statutes, section 116X.03. The report must include:
new text end

new text begin (1) a draft of the request for proposal for each of the grant programs and the criteria that
will be used to prioritize applications;
new text end

new text begin (2) plans for grant management, including oversight; and
new text end

new text begin (3) any recommendations for legislative changes necessary to implement the programs.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND
APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin (a) $3,350,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the environment and natural
resources trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for a grant to the city of Carver
for capital improvements to restore the Carver levee, protecting an important historic district
in Minnesota from floodwaters of the Minnesota River. This levee restoration must meet
the requirements of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) certification. The
project includes predesign, design, engineering, land acquisition, and construction of capital
improvements, including raising the height of the Carver levee, constructing internal drainage,
establishing maintainable setbacks to adjacent structures, and certification by FEMA. This
appropriation is in addition to the appropriation in Laws 2023, chapter 72, article 1, section
7, subdivision 8, and for the same purpose. This appropriation is available until the project
is completed or abandoned, subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642.
new text end

new text begin (b) $1,950,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the environment and natural
resources trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for a grant to the Minnesota
Forest Zone Trappers Association for land acquisition, predesign, design, engineering, site
preparation, grading, finishing, and site features for a Sportsman's and Sportswoman's
Outdoor Development Learning Center in the city of Hibbing. This appropriation is available
until the project is completed or abandoned, subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642.
new text end

new text begin (c) $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the environment and natural
resources trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for a feasibility study for and
engineering and construction of three segments of the Camp Ripley/Veterans State Trail
under Minnesota Statutes, section 85.015, subdivision 28. The segments are:
new text end

new text begin (1) from the city of Little Falls to the Camp Ripley Military Museum;
new text end

new text begin (2) from Blanchard Dam in Morrison County to Lindbergh State Park; and
new text end

new text begin (3) from the Paul Bunyan Trail in the city of Baxter to the city of Pillager.
new text end

new text begin This appropriation is available until the project is completed or abandoned, subject to
Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642.
new text end

new text begin (d) $2,500,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the environment and natural
resources trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for a grant to Sherburne County
for Phase 2 development of Two Inlets Regional Park adjacent to Big Elk Lake in Sherburne
County. This appropriation includes money for prairie, shoreline, and other native habitat
restoration; design and construction of trails and other visitor amenities and infrastructure;
and other site and natural resource improvements and betterments necessary to provide safe
and improved visitor access for outdoor recreation and to preserve the site as a public natural
area.
new text end

new text begin (e) $3,150,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the environment and natural
resources trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to engineer, reconstruct, and
rehabilitate two segments of the Casey Jones State Trail. The segments are:
new text end

new text begin (1) the first three miles east from the Pipestone Trailhead, including the Pipestone
Trailhead; and
new text end

new text begin (2) the Currie Loop segment of the state trail.
new text end

new text begin (f) $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the environment and natural
resources trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for a grant to Koochiching
County for capital improvements to the Blue Ox all-terrain vehicle trail systems in
Koochiching County. This appropriation is exempt from the requirements under Minnesota
Statutes, section 16A.86, subdivision 4.
new text end

new text begin (g) $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the environment and natural
resources trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for a grant to the St. Louis
and Lake Counties Regional Railroad Authority to predesign, design, engineer, and construct
a trail segment of the Mesabi Trail with a pedestrian bridge to relocate a segment of the
Mesabi Trail due to a permanent closure of County State-Aid Highway 102 in the city of
Mountain Iron.
new text end

new text begin (h) $7,300,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the environment and natural
resources trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for a grant to Scott County to
acquire property or interests in property and to predesign, design, and construct approximately
4.3 miles of the Louisville Segment of the Merriam Junction Regional Trail from the
Louisville Swamp Trailhead located in Louisville Township to the Big Woods Trail located
in the city of Shakopee.
new text end

new text begin (i) $3,930,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the environment and natural
resources trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for a grant to the Rice Creek
Watershed District for flood hazard mitigation projects in the marked Interstate Highway
35W corridor, including constructing water storage and treatment basins and augmenting
water conveyance systems, to alleviate flooding in the cities of New Brighton, St. Anthony
Village, and Roseville.
new text end

new text begin (j) The appropriations in this section are onetime and Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116P,
does not apply to these appropriations or to projects funded with these appropriations.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 116X.01, subdivisions 2 and 4; and 116X.05, new text end new text begin are
repealed.
new text end

Sec. 6. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Sections 1 to 5 are effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

APPENDIX

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: H1218-1

116X.01 DEFINITIONS.

Subd. 2.

Advisory council.

"Advisory council" means the council created under section 116X.05.

Subd. 4.

Grant program.

"Grant program" means the program established under section 116X.03.

116X.05 ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND COMMUNITY GRANT ADVISORY COUNCIL; REPORTING.

Subdivision 1.

Establishment.

The commissioner of natural resources must establish an Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Community Grant Advisory Council.

Subd. 2.

Membership; terms.

(a) The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioners of health and the Pollution Control Agency, must appoint 11 residents of Minnesota to the advisory council, and the appointees must include:

(1) two members who are members of the Minnesota Ojibwe Tribe;

(2) two members who are members of the Minnesota Dakota Tribe; and

(3) four members who identify as Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian, or Pacific Islander or as members of a community of color.

(b) In addition to the members appointed under paragraph (a), the commissioner, in consultation with the commissioners of health and the Pollution Control Agency, may appoint up to eight additional residents of Minnesota to the advisory council when, in the commissioner's discretion, it is necessary to ensure that the advisory council is sufficiently representative of various Minnesota communities.

(c) The commissioner must make appointments to the advisory council under this subdivision that result in substantially equal representation of rural, suburban, and urban communities.

(d) The membership appointed under paragraphs (a) and (b) must include persons who:

(1) have experience or expertise in the science, policy, or practice of the protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state's air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources, including expertise in understanding the cultural context in which these activities are undertaken from the perspective of Tribal communities;

(2) have strong knowledge of environment and natural resource issues around the state, including those that are of particular importance to Tribal communities; and

(3) have demonstrated the ability to work in a collaborative environment.

(e) Members serve staggered three-year terms, beginning in January of the first year and continuing through the end of December of the final year. Members continue to serve until their replacement is named. Initial appointees may be appointed to terms of less than three years to establish a structure of staggered terms.

(f) A member appointed under this subdivision may not be a registered lobbyist.

Subd. 3.

Duties.

(a) The advisory council must:

(1) advise the commissioner on developing forms and applications and reporting for grants awarded under the grant program;

(2) review proposed grant program policies and budgets for the upcoming year;

(3) propose changes to the grant program, as needed;

(4) review other relevant information;

(5) make recommendations to the legislature and the commissioner for improving management of the grant program; and

(6) review and advise on recipient eligibility.

(b) The commissioner must provide the council with the information required to perform its duties under this subdivision.

Subd. 4.

Per diem.

Members of the council are entitled to per diem and reimbursement for expenses incurred in the services of the commission, as provided in section 15.059, subdivision 3.

Subd. 5.

Open meetings.

Meetings of the advisory council must be open to the public and are subject to chapter 13D.