1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; appropriating money from outdoor heritage fund; 
1.3 	extending and modifying prior appropriations;amending Laws 2024, chapter 106, 
1.4 	article 1, section 2, subdivision 5.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. APPROPRIATIONS.
 1.7 	The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies 
1.8 	and for the purposes specified in this act. The appropriations are from the outdoor heritage 
1.9 	fund for the fiscal year indicated for each purpose. The figures "2026" and "2027" used in 
1.10 	this act mean that the appropriations listed under them are available for the fiscal year ending 
1.11 	June 30, 2026, or June 30, 2027, respectively. "The first year" is fiscal year 2026. "The 
1.12 	second year" is fiscal year 2027. "The biennium" is fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The 
1.13 	appropriations in this act are onetime appropriations.

1.14				APPROPRIATIONS
	
1.15				Available for the Year
	
1.16				Ending June 30
	
1.17					2026
		2027

1.18	Sec. 2. OUTDOOR HERITAGE FUND

1.19	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	-0-
	$
	187,528,000
	
1.20 	This appropriation is from the outdoor heritage 
1.21 	fund. The amounts that may be spent for each 
1.22 	purpose are specified in the following 
1.23 	subdivisions.

2.1	Subd. 2.Prairies
 		-0-
		36,387,000
	
2.2 	(a) RIM Grasslands Reserve, Phase 7
2.3 	$2,334,000 the second year is to acquire 
2.4 	permanent conservation easements and to 
2.5 	restore and enhance wildlife habitat. Of this 
2.6 	amount, $191,000 is to the commissioner of 
2.7 	natural resources for an agreement with Ducks 
2.8 	Unlimited and $2,143,000 is to the Board of 
2.9 	Water and Soil Resources. Of the amount to 
2.10 	the Board of Water and Soil Resources, up to 
2.11 	$50,000 is to establish a monitoring and 
2.12 	enforcement fund as approved in the 
2.13 	accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota 
2.14 	Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A 
2.15 	list of permanent conservation easements must 
2.16 	be provided as part of the final report.
2.17 	(b) Accelerating Wildlife Management Area 
2.18 	Program, Phase 18
2.19 	$4,521,000 the second year is to the 
2.20 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
2.21 	agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire 
2.22 	in fee and to restore and enhance lands for 
2.23 	wildlife management area purposes under 
2.24 	Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
2.25 	subdivision 8. Subject to evaluation criteria 
2.26 	in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority 
2.27 	must be given to acquiring lands that are 
2.28 	eligible for the native prairie bank under 
2.29 	Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands 
2.30 	adjacent to protected native prairie.
2.31 	(c) DNR Wildlife Management Area and 
2.32 	Scientific and Natural Area Acquisition, 
2.33 	Phase 18
3.1 	$3,502,000 the second year is to the 
3.2 	commissioner of natural resources to acquire 
3.3 	in fee and to restore and enhance lands for 
3.4 	wildlife management purposes under 
3.5 	Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
3.6 	subdivision 8, and to acquire land in fee for 
3.7 	scientific and natural area purposes under 
3.8 	Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
3.9 	subdivision 5. Subject to evaluation criteria 
3.10 	in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority 
3.11 	must be given to acquiring lands that are 
3.12 	eligible for the native prairie bank under 
3.13 	Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands 
3.14 	adjacent to protected native prairie.
3.15 	(d) Martin County DNR WMA Acquisition, 
3.16 	Phase 10
3.17 	$3,017,000 the second year is to the 
3.18 	commissioner of natural resources for 
3.19 	agreements to acquire land in fee and to 
3.20 	restore and enhance strategic prairie grassland, 
3.21 	wetland, and other wildlife habitat in Martin 
3.22 	and Watonwan Counties for wildlife 
3.23 	management area purposes under Minnesota 
3.24 	Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, as 
3.25 	follows: $2,363,000 to Fox Lake Conservation 
3.26 	League, Inc.; $583,000 to Ducks Unlimited; 
3.27 	and $71,000 to the Conservation Fund.
3.28 	(e) Northern Tallgrass Prairie National 
3.29 	Wildlife Refuge, Phase 16
3.30 	$3,087,000 the second year is to the 
3.31 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
3.32 	agreement with The Nature Conservancy, in 
3.33 	cooperation with the United States Fish and 
3.34 	Wildlife Service, to acquire land in fee or 
3.35 	permanent conservation easements and to 
4.1 	restore and enhance lands in the Northern 
4.2 	Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area in 
4.3 	western Minnesota to add to the Northern 
4.4 	Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. 
4.5 	Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota 
4.6 	Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given 
4.7 	to acquiring lands that are eligible for the 
4.8 	native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, 
4.9 	section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected 
4.10 	native prairie.
4.11 	(f) Minnesota Prairie Recovery Program, 
4.12 	Phase 15
4.13 	$3,492,000 the second year is to the 
4.14 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
4.15 	agreement with The Nature Conservancy to 
4.16 	acquire land in fee and to restore and enhance 
4.17 	native prairie, grasslands, wetlands, and 
4.18 	savanna. Subject to evaluation criteria in 
4.19 	Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority 
4.20 	must be given to acquiring lands that are 
4.21 	eligible for the native prairie bank under 
4.22 	Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands 
4.23 	adjacent to protected native prairie. Annual 
4.24 	income statements and balance sheets for 
4.25 	income and expenses from land acquired and 
4.26 	held by The Nature Conservancy with this 
4.27 	appropriation must be submitted to the 
4.28 	Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council no 
4.29 	later than 180 days after the The Nature 
4.30 	Conservancy's fiscal year closes.
4.31 	(g) Prairie Chicken Habitat Partnership of 
4.32 	Southern Red River Valley, Phase 12
4.33 	$3,094,000 the second year is to the 
4.34 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
4.35 	agreement with Pheasants Forever, in 
5.1 	cooperation with the Minnesota Prairie 
5.2 	Chicken Society, to acquire land in fee and to 
5.3 	restore and enhance lands in the southern Red 
5.4 	River Valley for wildlife management 
5.5 	purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 
5.6 	86A.05, subdivision 8, or to be designated and 
5.7 	managed as waterfowl production areas in 
5.8 	Minnesota, in cooperation with the United 
5.9 	States Fish and Wildlife Service. Subject to 
5.10 	evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 
5.11 	6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring 
5.12 	lands that are eligible for the native prairie 
5.13 	bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, 
5.14 	or lands adjacent to protected native prairie.
5.15 	(h) RIM Buffers for Wildlife and Water, 
5.16 	Phase 12
5.17 	$3,744,000 the second year is to the Board of 
5.18 	Water and Soil Resources to acquire 
5.19 	permanent conservation easements and restore 
5.20 	habitat under Minnesota Statutes, section 
5.21 	103F.515, to protect, restore, and enhance 
5.22 	habitat by expanding the riparian buffer 
5.23 	program under the clean water fund for 
5.24 	additional wildlife benefits from buffers on 
5.25 	private land. Of this amount, up to $60,000 is 
5.26 	to establish a monitoring and enforcement 
5.27 	fund as approved in the accomplishment plan 
5.28 	and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
5.29 	97A.056, subdivision 17. Subdivision 8, 
5.30 	paragraph (b), does not apply to this project. 
5.31 	A list of permanent conservation easements 
5.32 	must be provided as part of the final report.
5.33 	(i) Accelerating USFWS Habitat 
5.34 	Conservation Easement Program, Phase 6
6.1 	$4,509,000 the second year is to the 
6.2 	commissioner of natural resources for 
6.3 	agreements to restore and enhance wetland 
6.4 	and prairie habitat on habitat easements of the 
6.5 	United States Fish and Wildlife Service as 
6.6 	follows: $3,019,000 to Ducks Unlimited and 
6.7 	$1,490,000 to Pheasants Forever.
6.8 	(j) DNR Grassland Enhancement, Phase 17
6.9 	$2,139,000 the second year is to the 
6.10 	commissioner of natural resources to 
6.11 	accelerate restoration and enhancement of 
6.12 	prairies, grasslands, and savannas in wildlife 
6.13 	management areas; in scientific and natural 
6.14 	areas; in aquatic management areas; on lands 
6.15 	in the native prairie bank; in bluff prairies on 
6.16 	state forest land in southeastern Minnesota; 
6.17 	and in waterfowl production areas and refuge 
6.18 	lands of the United States Fish and Wildlife 
6.19 	Service.
6.20 	(k) Enhanced Public Land - Grasslands, 
6.21 	Phase 9
6.22 	$2,948,000 the second year is to the 
6.23 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
6.24 	agreement with Pheasants Forever to enhance 
6.25 	and restore grassland and wetland habitat on 
6.26 	public lands in the forest prairie transition, 
6.27 	metro urban, and prairie ecoregions of 
6.28 	Minnesota.

6.29	Subd. 3.Forests
 		-0-
		36,939,000
	
6.30 	(a) Northern Forests Legacy Project
6.31 	$25,090,000 the second year is to the 
6.32 	commissioner of natural resources to acquire 
6.33 	priority forest lands in fee in St. Louis County 
6.34 	as wildlife management areas, scientific and 
7.1 	natural areas, state forests, and county forests.  
7.2 	Of this amount, $12,866,000 is for an 
7.3 	agreement with St. Louis County.
7.4 	(b) Sand Lake and Seven Beavers 
7.5 	Acquisition and Enhancement
7.6 	$7,347,000 the second year is to the 
7.7 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
7.8 	agreement with The Nature Conservancy to 
7.9 	acquire priority forest habitat lands in fee as 
7.10 	The Nature Conservancy lands, Rajala Woods 
7.11 	Foundation lands, state forests, and county 
7.12 	forests.  For lands held in perpetuity by The 
7.13 	Nature Conservancy and Rajala Woods 
7.14 	Foundation, annual income statements and 
7.15 	balance sheets for income and expenses from 
7.16 	land acquired with this appropriation must be 
7.17 	submitted to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor 
7.18 	Heritage Council no later than 180 days after 
7.19 	each organization's respective fiscal year 
7.20 	closes.
7.21 	(c) Hardwood Hills Habitat Conservation 
7.22 	Program, Phase 3
7.23 	$2,558,000 the second year is to the 
7.24 	commissioner of natural resources for 
7.25 	agreements to acquire permanent conservation 
7.26 	easements and to restore and enhance forest 
7.27 	habitats in the hardwood hills ecological 
7.28 	section of west-central Minnesota as follows: 
7.29 	$90,000 to St. John's University, $354,000 to 
7.30 	Stearns Conservation District, and $2,114,000 
7.31 	to Minnesota Land Trust. Of the amount to 
7.32 	Minnesota Land Trust, $252,000 is to establish 
7.33 	a monitoring and enforcement fund as 
7.34 	approved in the accomplishment plan and 
8.1 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
8.2 	97A.056, subdivision 17.
8.3 	(d) DNR Forest Habitat Enhancement, 
8.4 	Phase 6
8.5 	$1,944,000 the second year is to the 
8.6 	commissioner of natural resources to restore 
8.7 	and enhance forest wildlife habitats on public 
8.8 	lands throughout Minnesota.

8.9	Subd. 4.Wetlands
 		-0-
		29,635,000
	
8.10 	(a) Accelerating Waterfowl Production 
8.11 	Area Acquisition Program, Phase 18
8.12 	$5,431,000 the second year is to the 
8.13 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
8.14 	agreement with Pheasants Forever, in 
8.15 	cooperation with the United States Fish and 
8.16 	Wildlife Service, to acquire land in fee and to 
8.17 	restore and enhance wetlands and grasslands 
8.18 	to be designated and managed as waterfowl 
8.19 	production areas in Minnesota.
8.20 	(b) RIM Wetlands - Restoring Most 
8.21 	Productive Habitat in Minnesota, Phase 15
8.22 	$3,502,000 the second year is to the Board of 
8.23 	Water and Soil Resources to acquire 
8.24 	permanent conservation easements and to 
8.25 	restore wetlands and native grassland habitat 
8.26 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.515. 
8.27 	Of this amount, up to $60,000 is to establish 
8.28 	a monitoring and enforcement fund as 
8.29 	approved in the accomplishment plan and 
8.30 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
8.31 	97A.056, subdivision 17. Subdivision 8, 
8.32 	paragraph (b), does not apply to this project. 
8.33 	A list of permanent conservation easements 
8.34 	must be provided as part of the final report.
9.1 	(c) Shallow Lake and Wetland Protection 
9.2 	and Restoration Program, Phase 15
9.3 	$6,087,000 the second year is to the 
9.4 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
9.5 	agreement with Ducks Unlimited to acquire 
9.6 	land in fee for wildlife management purposes 
9.7 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
9.8 	subdivision 8, or to be designated and 
9.9 	managed as waterfowl production areas or 
9.10 	national wildlife refuges in Minnesota, in 
9.11 	cooperation with the United States Fish and 
9.12 	Wildlife Service, and to restore and enhance 
9.13 	prairie lands, wetlands, and land-buffering 
9.14 	shallow lakes.
9.15 	(d) Wetland Habitat Protection and 
9.16 	Restoration Program, Phase 11
9.17 	$3,210,000 the second year is to the 
9.18 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
9.19 	agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to 
9.20 	acquire permanent conservation easements 
9.21 	and to restore and enhance prairie, wetland, 
9.22 	and other habitat on permanently protected 
9.23 	conservation easements in high-priority 
9.24 	wetland habitat complexes in the prairie, 
9.25 	forest/prairie transition, and forest ecoregions. 
9.26 	Of this amount, up to $140,000 is to establish 
9.27 	a monitoring and enforcement fund as 
9.28 	approved in the accomplishment plan and 
9.29 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
9.30 	97A.056, subdivision 17.
9.31 	(e) Living Shallow Lakes and Wetlands 
9.32 	Enhancement and Restoration Initiative, 
9.33 	Phase 12
10.1 	$6,661,000 the second year is to the 
10.2 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
10.3 	agreement with Ducks Unlimited to restore 
10.4 	and enhance shallow lakes and wetlands on 
10.5 	public lands and wetlands under permanent 
10.6 	conservation easement for wildlife 
10.7 	management.
10.8 	(f) Talcot Lake
10.9 	$1,000,000 the second year is to the 
10.10 	commissioner of natural resources for the 
10.11 	survey, design, engineering, and permitting 
10.12 	of the Talcot Lake restoration and 
10.13 	enhancement project in Cottonwood County.
10.14 	(g) Shallow Lakes and Wetlands 
10.15 	Enhancement, Phase 18
10.16 	$3,744,000 the second year is to the 
10.17 	commissioner of natural resources to enhance 
10.18 	and restore shallow lakes and wetland habitat 
10.19 	statewide.

10.20	Subd. 5.Habitats
 		-0-
		82,408,000
	
10.21 	(a) Riparian Habitat Protection in Kettle 
10.22 	and Snake River Watersheds, Phase 3
10.23 	$1,137,000 the second year is to the Board of 
10.24 	Water and Soil Resources, in cooperation with 
10.25 	the Pine County Soil and Water Conservation 
10.26 	District, to acquire permanent conservation 
10.27 	easements and restore high-quality forests, 
10.28 	wetlands, and shoreline in the Kettle and 
10.29 	Snake River watersheds. Of this amount, up 
10.30 	to $70,000 is to establish a monitoring and 
10.31 	enforcement fund as approved in the 
10.32 	accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota 
10.33 	Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. 
10.34 	Subdivision 8, paragraph (b), does not apply 
11.1 	to this project. A list of permanent 
11.2 	conservation easements must be provided as 
11.3 	part of the final report.
11.4 	(b) Cannon River Watershed Habitat 
11.5 	Restoration and Protection Program, Phase 
11.6 	15
11.7 	$2,886,000 the second year is to the 
11.8 	commissioner of natural resources for 
11.9 	agreements to acquire lands in fee and to 
11.10 	restore and enhance wildlife habitat in the 
11.11 	Cannon River Watershed as follows: $92,000 
11.12 	to Clean River Partners and $2,794,000 to 
11.13 	Trust for Public Land.
11.14 	(c) DNR Aquatic Management Area 
11.15 	Acquisition and Trout Stream Easement 
11.16 	Acquisition
11.17 	$2,182,000 the second year is to the 
11.18 	commissioner of natural resources to acquire 
11.19 	land in fee as aquatic management areas and 
11.20 	to acquire permanent conservation easements 
11.21 	to protect trout-stream aquatic habitat. Of this 
11.22 	amount, up to $88,000 is to establish a 
11.23 	monitoring and enforcement fund as approved 
11.24 	in the accomplishment plan and subject to 
11.25 	Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, 
11.26 	subdivision 17.
11.27 	(d) Washington County Habitat Protection 
11.28 	and Enhancement Partnership, Phase 2
11.29 	$2,812,000 the second year is to the 
11.30 	commissioner of natural resources for 
11.31 	agreements to acquire permanent conservation 
11.32 	easements and to restore and enhance wildlife 
11.33 	habitats in Washington County as follows: 
11.34 	$760,000 to Washington County and 
12.1 	$2,052,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Of the 
12.2 	amount to Minnesota Land Trust, $196,000 is 
12.3 	to establish a monitoring and enforcement 
12.4 	fund as approved in the accomplishment plan 
12.5 	and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
12.6 	97A.056, subdivision 17.
12.7 	(e) Fisheries Habitat Protection on Strategic 
12.8 	North Central Minnesota Lakes, Phase 12
12.9 	$2,317,000 the second year is to the 
12.10 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
12.11 	agreement with Northern Waters Land Trust 
12.12 	to acquire land in fee and to restore and 
12.13 	enhance wildlife habitat to sustain healthy fish 
12.14 	habitat on coldwater lakes in Aitkin, Cass, 
12.15 	Crow Wing, and Hubbard Counties.
12.16 	(f) Greenbelt, Phase 1
12.17 	$1,467,000 the second year is to the 
12.18 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
12.19 	agreement with Comfort Lake-Forest Lake 
12.20 	Watershed District to acquire land in fee and 
12.21 	permanent conservation easements and to 
12.22 	restore and enhance wildlife habitat within the 
12.23 	Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District 
12.24 	boundary.
12.25 	(g) Integrating Habitat and Clean Water, 
12.26 	Phase 4
12.27 	$1,827,000 the second year is to the Board of 
12.28 	Water and Soil Resources to acquire 
12.29 	permanent conservation easements and to 
12.30 	restore and enhance wildlife habitat identified 
12.31 	under the One Watershed, One Plan program 
12.32 	for stacked benefit to wildlife and clean water. 
12.33 	Of this amount, up to $40,000 is to establish 
12.34 	a monitoring and enforcement fund as 
13.1 	approved in the accomplishment plan and 
13.2 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
13.3 	97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of permanent 
13.4 	conservation easements must be provided as 
13.5 	part of the final report.
13.6 	(h) Metro Big Rivers, Phase 16
13.7 	$6,776,000 the second year is to the 
13.8 	commissioner of natural resources for 
13.9 	agreements to acquire land in fee and to 
13.10 	restore and enhance natural habitat systems 
13.11 	associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota, 
13.12 	and St. Croix Rivers and their tributaries in 
13.13 	the metropolitan area as follows: $1,491,000 
13.14 	to Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge 
13.15 	Trust, Inc.; $892,000 to Friends of the 
13.16 	Mississippi River; $1,055,000 to Great River 
13.17 	Greening; and $3,338,000 to Trust for Public 
13.18 	Land.
13.19 	(i) Mississippi Headwaters Habitat 
13.20 	Corridor Project, Phase 10
13.21 	$2,770,000 the second year is to acquire lands 
13.22 	in fee and permanent conservation easements 
13.23 	and to restore wildlife habitat in the 
13.24 	Mississippi headwaters. Of this amount, (1) 
13.25 	$1,387,000 is to the commissioner of natural 
13.26 	resources for agreements as follows: $60,000 
13.27 	to the Mississippi Headwaters Board and 
13.28 	$1,327,000 to Trust for Public Land; and (2) 
13.29 	$1,383,000 is to the Board of Water and Soil 
13.30 	Resources, of which up to $70,000 is to 
13.31 	establish a monitoring and enforcement fund 
13.32 	as approved in the accomplishment plan and 
13.33 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
13.34 	97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of permanent 
14.1 	conservation easements must be provided as 
14.2 	part of the final report.
14.3 	(j) Protecting Coldwater Fisheries on 
14.4 	Minnesota's North Shore, Phase 4
14.5 	$1,695,000 the second year is to the 
14.6 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
14.7 	agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to 
14.8 	acquire permanent conservation easements 
14.9 	and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat in 
14.10 	priority coldwater tributaries to Lake Superior. 
14.11 	Of this amount, up to $196,000 is to establish 
14.12 	a monitoring and enforcement fund as 
14.13 	approved in the accomplishment plan and 
14.14 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
14.15 	97A.056, subdivision 17.
14.16 	(k) Protecting Minnesota's Lakes of 
14.17 	Outstanding Biological Significance, Phase 
14.18 	5
14.19 	$2,983,000 the second year is to the 
14.20 	commissioner of natural resources for 
14.21 	agreements to acquire land in fee and 
14.22 	permanent conservation easements and to 
14.23 	restore and enhance lakes of outstanding 
14.24 	biological significance in northeast and 
14.25 	north-central Minnesota. Of this amount, 
14.26 	$1,612,000 is to the Northern Waters Land 
14.27 	Trust and $1,371,000 is to Minnesota Land 
14.28 	Trust. Of the amount to Minnesota Land Trust, 
14.29 	up to $140,000 is to establish a monitoring 
14.30 	and enforcement fund as approved in the 
14.31 	accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota 
14.32 	Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.
14.33 	(l) Red River Basin Riparian Habitat 
14.34 	Program, Phase 2
15.1 	$3,920,000 the second year is to acquire 
15.2 	permanent conservation easements to protect, 
15.3 	restore, and enhance stream and riparian 
15.4 	habitat throughout the Red River watershed. 
15.5 	Of this amount, $116,000 is to the 
15.6 	commissioner of natural resources for 
15.7 	agreements with the Red River Watershed 
15.8 	Management Board and $3,804,000 is to the 
15.9 	Board of Water and Soil Resources. Of the 
15.10 	amount to the Board of Water and Soil 
15.11 	Resources, up to $250,000 is to establish a 
15.12 	monitoring and enforcement fund as approved 
15.13 	in the accomplishment plan and subject to 
15.14 	Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, 
15.15 	subdivision 17. A list of permanent 
15.16 	conservation easements must be provided as 
15.17 	part of the final report.
15.18 	(m) Shell Rock River Watershed Habitat 
15.19 	Restoration Program, Phase 15
15.20 	$2,066,000 the second year is to the 
15.21 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
15.22 	agreement with the Shell Rock River 
15.23 	Watershed District to acquire land in fee and 
15.24 	to restore and enhance habitat in the Shell 
15.25 	Rock River watershed.
15.26 	(n) Southeast Minnesota Protection and 
15.27 	Restoration, Phase 14
15.28 	$7,956,000 the second year is to the 
15.29 	commissioner of natural resources for 
15.30 	agreements to acquire land in fee and 
15.31 	permanent conservation easements and to 
15.32 	restore and enhance wildlife habitat in 
15.33 	southeast Minnesota. Of this amount, 
15.34 	$1,035,000 is to The Nature Conservancy, 
15.35 	$5,825,000 is to Trust for Public Land, and 
16.1 	$1,096,000 is to Minnesota Land Trust. Of the 
16.2 	amount to Minnesota Land Trust, up to 
16.3 	$140,000 is to establish a monitoring and 
16.4 	enforcement fund as approved in the 
16.5 	accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota 
16.6 	Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.
16.7 	(o) St. Croix Watershed Habitat Protection 
16.8 	and Restoration, Phase 7
16.9 	$3,859,000 the second year is to the 
16.10 	commissioner of natural resources for 
16.11 	agreements to acquire land in fee and acquire 
16.12 	permanent conservation easements and to 
16.13 	restore and enhance natural habitat systems in 
16.14 	the St. Croix River watershed as follows:  
16.15 	$2,157,000 to Trust for Public Land, $130,000 
16.16 	to Wild Rivers Conservancy, and $1,572,000 
16.17 	to Minnesota Land Trust. Of the amount to 
16.18 	Minnesota Land Trust, up to $140,000 is to 
16.19 	establish a monitoring and enforcement fund 
16.20 	as approved in the accomplishment plan and 
16.21 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
16.22 	97A.056, subdivision 17.
16.23 	(p) Upper Mississippi Flyway Habitat 
16.24 	Conservation Program
16.25 	$2,156,000 the second year is to the 
16.26 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
16.27 	agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to 
16.28 	acquire permanent conservation easements 
16.29 	and to restore and enhance wetlands, stream 
16.30 	corridors, and associated uplands in central 
16.31 	Minnesota.  Of this amount, up to $196,000 is 
16.32 	to establish a monitoring and enforcement 
16.33 	fund as approved in the accomplishment plan 
16.34 	and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
16.35 	97A.056, subdivision 17.
17.1 	(q) A River of Birds in the Sky: Conserving 
17.2 	Minnesota's Flyway
17.3 	$1,227,000 the second year is to the 
17.4 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
17.5 	agreement with National Audubon Society to 
17.6 	restore and enhance priority wildlife habitat 
17.7 	along the St. Croix, Minnesota, and 
17.8 	Mississippi river valleys.
17.9 	(r) Bone Lake South, Phase 2
17.10 	$1,432,000 the second year is to the 
17.11 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
17.12 	agreement with Comfort Lake-Forest Lake 
17.13 	Watershed District to restore and enhance 
17.14 	wildlife habitat in the Bone Lake south habitat 
17.15 	complex in Washington County.
17.16 	(s) DNR Aquatic Habitat Restoration and 
17.17 	Enhancement, Phase 9
17.18 	$6,517,000 the second year is to the 
17.19 	commissioner of natural resources to restore 
17.20 	and enhance aquatic habitat in degraded 
17.21 	streams and aquatic management areas and to 
17.22 	facilitate fish passage throughout Minnesota.
17.23 	(t) Little Cannon River Stream Habitat 
17.24 	Restoration
17.25 	$500,000 the second year is to the 
17.26 	commissioner of natural resources for 
17.27 	agreements for survey, design, engineering, 
17.28 	and permitting of the Little Cannon River 
17.29 	restoration and enhancement project in 
17.30 	Goodhue County as follows: $40,000 to Clean 
17.31 	Rivers Partners, $10,000 to Great River 
17.32 	Greening, and $450,000 to Trout Unlimited.
17.33 	(u) Mission Creek Watershed Connectivity
18.1 	$1,296,000 the second year is to the 
18.2 	commissioner of natural resources to restore 
18.3 	and enhance coldwater stream habitat in the 
18.4 	Mission Creek watershed in St. Louis County.
18.5 	(v) Mud River Enhancement Project
18.6 	$2,957,000 the second year is to the 
18.7 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
18.8 	agreement with Red Lake Watershed District 
18.9 	to restore and enhance the Mud River habitat 
18.10 	complex in Marshall County.
18.11 	(w) Oak Savanna Restoration for Living 
18.12 	Landscapes
18.13 	$1,702,000 the second year is to the Board of 
18.14 	Water and Soil Resources, in partnership with 
18.15 	the Xerces Society, to restore and enhance oak 
18.16 	savanna and associated ecosystems on local 
18.17 	public and Tribal lands.
18.18 	(x) Swift Coulee Channel Restoration and 
18.19 	Enhancement, Phase 2
18.20 	$2,671,000 the second year is to the 
18.21 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
18.22 	agreement with the Middle-Snake-Tamarac 
18.23 	Rivers Watershed District to restore and 
18.24 	enhance priority habitat associated with the 
18.25 	Swift Coulee channel restoration in Marshall 
18.26 	County.
18.27 	(y) Woods Creek Restoration
18.28 	$750,000 the second year is to the 
18.29 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
18.30 	agreement with Cook County to restore and 
18.31 	enhance coldwater stream habitat in Woods 
18.32 	Creek in Cook County.
19.1 	(z) Minnesota Statewide Trout Habitat 
19.2 	Enhancement and Protection
19.3 	$750,000 the second year is to the 
19.4 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
19.5 	agreement with Trout Unlimited for survey, 
19.6 	design, engineering, and permitting of trout 
19.7 	stream restoration and enhancement projects 
19.8 	throughout Minnesota.
19.9 	(aa) Conservation Partners Legacy Grant 
19.10 	Program: Statewide and Metro Habitat, 
19.11 	Phase 18
19.12 	$13,797,000 the second year is to the 
19.13 	commissioner of natural resources for a 
19.14 	program to provide competitive matching 
19.15 	grants of up to $500,000 to local, regional, 
19.16 	state, and national organizations for enhancing, 
19.17 	restoring, or protecting forests, wetlands, 
19.18 	prairies, or habitat for fish, game, or wildlife 
19.19 	in Minnesota. Unless there are not enough 
19.20 	eligible grant applications received, of this 
19.21 	amount, at least $3,500,000 is for grants in the 
19.22 	seven-county metropolitan area and cities with 
19.23 	a population of 50,000 or more and at least 
19.24 	$3,000,000 is for grants to applicants that have 
19.25 	not previously applied for money from the 
19.26 	outdoor heritage fund. Grants must not be 
19.27 	made for activities required to fulfill the duties 
19.28 	of owners of lands subject to conservation 
19.29 	easements. Grants must not be made from the 
19.30 	appropriation in this paragraph for projects 
19.31 	that have a total project cost exceeding 
19.32 	$1,000,000. Of the total appropriation, 
19.33 	$600,000 may be spent for personnel costs, 
19.34 	outreach, and support to first-time applicants 
19.35 	and other direct and necessary administrative 
20.1 	costs. Grantees may acquire land or interests 
20.2 	in land. Easements must be permanent. Grants 
20.3 	may not be used to establish easement 
20.4 	stewardship accounts. The program must 
20.5 	require a match of at least ten percent from 
20.6 	nonstate sources for all grants. The match may 
20.7 	be cash or in-kind. For grant applications of 
20.8 	$25,000 or less, the commissioner must 
20.9 	provide a separate, simplified application 
20.10 	process. Subject to Minnesota Statutes, the 
20.11 	commissioner of natural resources must, when 
20.12 	evaluating projects of equal value, give 
20.13 	priority to organizations that have a history of 
20.14 	receiving, or a charter to receive, private 
20.15 	contributions for local conservation or habitat 
20.16 	projects. All restoration or enhancement 
20.17 	projects must be on land permanently 
20.18 	protected by a permanent covenant ensuring 
20.19 	perpetual maintenance and protection of 
20.20 	restored and enhanced habitat, by a 
20.21 	conservation easement, or by public ownership 
20.22 	or in public waters as defined in Minnesota 
20.23 	Statutes, section 103G.005, subdivision 15. 
20.24 	Priority must be given to restoration and 
20.25 	enhancement projects on public lands. 
20.26 	Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, 
20.27 	subdivision 13, applies to grants awarded 
20.28 	under this paragraph. This appropriation is 
20.29 	available until June 30, 2029. No less than five 
20.30 	percent of the amount of each grant must be 
20.31 	held back from reimbursement until the grant 
20.32 	recipient completes a grant accomplishment 
20.33 	report by the deadline and in the form 
20.34 	prescribed by and satisfactory to the 
20.35 	Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. The 
20.36 	commissioner must provide notice of the grant 
21.1 	program in the summary of game and fish law 
21.2 	prepared under Minnesota Statutes, section 
21.3 	97A.051, subdivision 2.

21.4	Subd. 6.Administration
 		-0-
		2,159,000
	
21.5 	(a) Contract Management
21.6 	$450,000 the second year is to the 
21.7 	commissioner of natural resources for contract 
21.8 	management duties assigned in this section. 
21.9 	The commissioner must provide an 
21.10 	accomplishment plan in the form specified by 
21.11 	the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council 
21.12 	on expending this appropriation. The 
21.13 	accomplishment plan must include a copy of 
21.14 	the grant contract template and reimbursement 
21.15 	manual. No money may be expended before 
21.16 	the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council 
21.17 	approves the accomplishment plan. Money 
21.18 	appropriated in this paragraph is available until 
21.19 	June 30, 2028.
21.20 	(b) Core Functions in Partner-led OHF 
21.21 	Land Acquisitions
21.22 	$1,377,000 the second year is to the 
21.23 	commissioner of natural resources to 
21.24 	administer the initial development, restoration, 
21.25 	and enhancement of land acquired in fee with 
21.26 	money appropriated from the outdoor heritage 
21.27 	fund. This appropriation may be used for land 
21.28 	acquisition costs incurred by the Department 
21.29 	of Natural Resources as part of conveyance 
21.30 	of parcels to the department and initial 
21.31 	development activities on fee title acquisitions. 
21.32 	Money appropriated in this paragraph is 
21.33 	available until June 30, 2034.
21.34 	(c) Technical Evaluation Panel
22.1 	$192,000 the second year is to the 
22.2 	commissioner of natural resources for a 
22.3 	technical evaluation panel to conduct up to 20 
22.4 	restoration and enhancement evaluations under 
22.5 	Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, 
22.6 	subdivision 10.  Money appropriated in this 
22.7 	paragraph is available until June 30, 2028.
22.8 	(d) Legislative Coordinating Commission
22.9 	$140,000 the second year is to the Legislative 
22.10 	Coordinating Commission for administrative 
22.11 	expenses of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor 
22.12 	Heritage Council and for compensating and 
22.13 	reimbursing expenses of council members. 
22.14 	This appropriation is in addition to the fiscal 
22.15 	year 2027 appropriation in Laws 2025, chapter 
22.16 	36, article 1, section 2, subdivision 6, 
22.17 	paragraph (b), and is available until June 30, 
22.18 	2027. Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.281, 
22.19 	applies to this appropriation.

22.20	Subd. 7.Availability of Appropriation
 					
22.21 	(a) Money appropriated in this section may 
22.22 	not be spent on activities unless they are 
22.23 	directly related to and necessary for a specific 
22.24 	appropriation and are specified in the 
22.25 	accomplishment plan approved by the 
22.26 	Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. 
22.27 	Money appropriated in this section must not 
22.28 	be spent on indirect costs or other institutional 
22.29 	overhead charges that are not directly related 
22.30 	to and necessary for a specific appropriation. 
22.31 	Money appropriated for fee title acquisition 
22.32 	of land may be used to restore, enhance, and 
22.33 	provide for public use of the land acquired 
22.34 	with the appropriation. Public-use facilities 
23.1 	must have a minimal impact on habitat in 
23.2 	acquired lands.
23.3 	(b) Money appropriated in this section is 
23.4 	available as follows:
23.5 	(1) money appropriated to acquire real 
23.6 	property is available until June 30, 2030;
23.7 	(2) money appropriated to restore and enhance 
23.8 	land acquired with an appropriation in this act 
23.9 	is available for four years after the acquisition 
23.10 	date with a maximum end date of June 30, 
23.11 	2034;
23.12 	(3) money appropriated to restore and enhance 
23.13 	other land is available until June 30, 2031;
23.14 	(4) notwithstanding clauses (1) to (3), money 
23.15 	appropriated for a project that receives at least 
23.16 	15 percent of its funding from federal funds 
23.17 	is available until a date sufficient to match the 
23.18 	availability of federal funding to a maximum 
23.19 	of six years if the federal funding was 
23.20 	confirmed and included in the original 
23.21 	approved draft accomplishment plan; and
23.22 	(5) money appropriated for other projects is 
23.23 	available until the end of the fiscal year in 
23.24 	which it is appropriated.

23.25
23.26	Subd. 8.Payment Conditions and Capital 
Equipment Expenditures
 					
23.27 	(a) All agreements referred to in this section 
23.28 	must be administered on a reimbursement 
23.29 	basis unless otherwise provided in this section. 
23.30 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 
23.31 	16A.41, expenditures directly related to each 
23.32 	appropriation's purpose made on or after July 
23.33 	1, 2026, or the date of accomplishment plan 
23.34 	approval, whichever is later, are eligible for 
24.1 	reimbursement unless otherwise provided in 
24.2 	this section. For the purposes of administering 
24.3 	appropriations and legislatively authorized 
24.4 	agreements paid out of the outdoor heritage 
24.5 	fund, an expense must be considered 
24.6 	reimbursable by the administering agency 
24.7 	when the recipient presents the agency with 
24.8 	an invoice or a binding agreement with the 
24.9 	landowner and the recipient attests that the 
24.10 	goods have been received or the landowner 
24.11 	agreement is binding. Periodic reimbursement 
24.12 	must be made upon receiving documentation 
24.13 	that the items articulated in the 
24.14 	accomplishment plan approved by the 
24.15 	Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council have 
24.16 	been achieved, including partial achievements 
24.17 	as evidenced by progress reports approved by 
24.18 	the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. 
24.19 	Reasonable amounts may be advanced to 
24.20 	projects to accommodate cash flow needs, 
24.21 	support future management of acquired lands, 
24.22 	or match a federal share. The advances must 
24.23 	be approved as part of the accomplishment 
24.24 	plan. Capital equipment expenditures for 
24.25 	specific items in excess of $10,000 must be 
24.26 	itemized in and approved as part of the 
24.27 	accomplishment plan.
24.28 	(b) Unless otherwise provided, no money 
24.29 	appropriated from the outdoor heritage fund 
24.30 	in this act may be used to acquire, restore, or 
24.31 	enhance any real property unless the specific 
24.32 	acquisition, restoration, or enhancement is 
24.33 	approved as part of the accomplishment plan 
24.34 	on the parcel list.
25.1 	(c) Reimbursement of eligible expenses must 
25.2 	be submitted no later than 12 months after the 
25.3 	approval of the final report.

25.4	Subd. 9.Mapping
 					
25.5 	Each direct recipient of money appropriated 
25.6 	in this section, as well as each recipient of a 
25.7 	grant awarded according to this section, must 
25.8 	provide geographic information to the 
25.9 	Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council for 
25.10 	mapping any lands acquired in fee with funds 
25.11 	appropriated in this section and open to public 
25.12 	taking of fish and game. The commissioner 
25.13 	of natural resources must include the lands 
25.14 	acquired in fee with money appropriated in 
25.15 	this section on maps showing public recreation 
25.16 	opportunities. Maps must include information 
25.17 	on and acknowledgment of the outdoor 
25.18 	heritage fund, including a notation of any 
25.19 	restrictions.

25.20	Subd. 10.Carryforward
 					
25.21 	(a) The availability of the appropriation for 
25.22 	Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 1, 
25.23 	article 1, section 2, subdivision 5, paragraph 
25.24 	(l), St. Louis River Restoration Initiative, 
25.25 	Phase VIII, is extended to June 30, 2027.
25.26 	(b) The availability of the appropriation for 
25.27 	Laws 2022, chapter 77, article 1, section 2, 
25.28 	subdivision 5, paragraph (u), Daylighting 
25.29 	Phalen Creek, is extended to June 30, 2028.

25.30 	EFFECTIVE DATE. Subdivision 10 is effective the day following final enactment.

26.1 	Sec. 3. Laws 2024, chapter 106, article 1, section 2, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

26.2	Subd. 5.Habitats
 		-0-
		101,294,000

26.3
26.4	(a) St. Croix Watershed Habitat Protection and 
Restoration, Phase 5
					
26.5 	$4,711,000 the second year is to the 
26.6 	commissioner of natural resources for 
26.7 	agreements to acquire land in fee and acquire 
26.8 	permanent conservation easements and to 
26.9 	restore and enhance natural habitat systems in 
26.10 	the St. Croix River watershed as follows: 
26.11 	$1,905,000 to Trust for Public Land; $110,000 
26.12 	to Wild Rivers Conservancy; and $2,696,000 
26.13 	to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $224,000 to 
26.14 	Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a 
26.15 	monitoring and enforcement fund as approved 
26.16 	in the accomplishment plan and subject to 
26.17 	Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, 
26.18 	subdivision 17.

26.19
26.20	(b) Pine and Leech Watershed Targeted RIM 
Easement Permanent Land Protection, Phase 3
					
26.21 	$2,242,000 the second year is to the Board of 
26.22 	Water and Soil Resources, in cooperation with 
26.23 	the Crow Wing County Soil and Water 
26.24 	Conservation District, to acquire permanent 
26.25 	conservation easements of high-quality forest, 
26.26 	wetland, and shoreline habitat. Up to $120,000 
26.27 	of the total amount is for establishing a 
26.28 	monitoring and enforcement fund as approved 
26.29 	in the accomplishment plan and subject to 
26.30 	Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, 
26.31 	subdivision 17. Subdivision 8, paragraph (b), 
26.32 	does not apply to this project. A list of 
26.33 	permanent conservation easements must be 
26.34 	provided as part of the final report.

27.1
27.2	(c) Protecting Minnesota's Lakes of Outstanding 
Biological Significance, Phase 3
					
27.3 	$3,321,000 the second year is to the 
27.4 	commissioner of natural resources for 
27.5 	agreements to acquire land in fee and 
27.6 	permanent conservation easements and to 
27.7 	restore and enhance lakes of outstanding 
27.8 	biological significance in northeast and 
27.9 	north-central Minnesota. Of this amount, 
27.10 	$1,083,000 is to the Northern Waters Land 
27.11 	Trust and $2,238,000 is to Minnesota Land 
27.12 	Trust. Up to $224,000 to Minnesota Land 
27.13 	Trust is for establishing a monitoring and 
27.14 	enforcement fund as approved in the 
27.15 	accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota 
27.16 	Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

27.17
27.18	(d) Shell Rock River Watershed Habitat 
Restoration Program, Phase 13
					
27.19 	$2,060,000 the second year is to the 
27.20 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
27.21 	agreement with the Shell Rock River 
27.22 	Watershed District to acquire land in fee and 
27.23 	restore and enhance habitat in the Shell Rock 
27.24 	River watershed.

27.25
27.26	(e) Cannon River Watershed Habitat 
Restoration and Protection Program, Phase 13
					
27.27 	$2,555,000 the second year is to the 
27.28 	commissioner of natural resources for 
27.29 	agreements to acquire lands in fee and restore 
27.30 	and enhance wildlife habitat in the Cannon 
27.31 	River watershed as follows: $54,000 to Clean 
27.32 	River Partners; $888,000 to Great River 
27.33 	Greening; and $1,613,000 to Trust for Public 
27.34 	Land.

27.35
27.36	(f) Mississippi Headwaters Habitat Corridor 
Project, Phase 8
					
28.1 	$2,706,000 the second year is to acquire lands 
28.2 	in fee and permanent conservation easements 
28.3 	and to restore wildlife habitat in the 
28.4 	Mississippi headwaters. Of this amount:
28.5 	(1) $1,706,000 is to the commissioner of 
28.6 	natural resources for agreements as follows: 
28.7 	$57,000 to the Mississippi Headwaters Board 
28.8 	and $1,649,000 to Trust for Public Land; and
28.9 	(2) $1,000,000 is to the Board of Water and 
28.10 	Soil Resources, of which up to $100,000 is to 
28.11 	establish a monitoring and enforcement fund 
28.12 	as approved in the accomplishment plan and 
28.13 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
28.14 	97A.056, subdivision 17.

28.15
28.16	(g) Fisheries Habitat Protection on Strategic 
North Central Minnesota Lakes, Phase 10
					
28.17 	$2,687,000 the second year is to the 
28.18 	commissioner of natural resources for 
28.19 	agreements to acquire land in fee and in 
28.20 	permanent conservation easements and to 
28.21 	restore and enhance wildlife habitat to sustain 
28.22 	healthy fish habitat on coldwater lakes in 
28.23 	Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, and Hubbard 
28.24 	Counties as follows: $2,252,000 to Northern 
28.25 	Waters Land Trust and $435,000 to Minnesota 
28.26 	Land Trust. Up to $56,000 to Minnesota Land 
28.27 	Trust is to establish a monitoring and 
28.28 	enforcement fund as approved in the 
28.29 	accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota 
28.30 	Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

28.31	(h) Red River Basin Riparian Habitat Program
					
28.32 	$5,119,000 the second year is to acquire 
28.33 	permanent conservation easements to protect, 
28.34 	restore, and enhance stream and riparian 
28.35 	habitat throughout the Red River watershed. 
29.1 	Of this amount, $169,000 is to the 
29.2 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
29.3 	agreement with the Red River Watershed 
29.4 	Management Board and $4,950,000 is to the 
29.5 	Board of Water and Soil Resources. Up to 
29.6 	$380,000 of the total amount is for 
29.7 	establishing a monitoring and enforcement 
29.8 	fund as approved in the accomplishment plan 
29.9 	and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
29.10 	97A.056, subdivision 17. Subdivision 8, 
29.11 	paragraph (b), does not apply to this project. 
29.12 	A list of permanent conservation easements 
29.13 	must be provided as part of the final report.

29.14
29.15	(i) Resilient Habitat for Heritage Brook Trout, 
Phase 2
					
29.16 	$2,486,000 the second year is to the 
29.17 	commissioner of natural resources for 
29.18 	agreements to acquire permanent conservation 
29.19 	easements and to restore and enhance habitat 
29.20 	in targeted watersheds of southeast Minnesota 
29.21 	to improve heritage brook trout and coldwater 
29.22 	aquatic communities. Of this amount, 
29.23 	$400,000 is to The Nature Conservancy, 
29.24 	$612,000 is to Trout Unlimited, and 
29.25 	$1,474,000 is to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to 
29.26 	$168,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to 
29.27 	establish a monitoring and enforcement fund 
29.28 	as approved in the accomplishment plan and 
29.29 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
29.30 	97A.056, subdivision 17.

29.31
29.32	(j) Southeast Minnesota Protection and 
Restoration, Phase 12
					
29.33 	$3,052,000 the second year is to the 
29.34 	commissioner of natural resources for 
29.35 	agreements to acquire lands in fee and 
29.36 	permanent conservation easements and to 
30.1 	restore and enhance wildlife habitat on public 
30.2 	lands and permanent conservation easements 
30.3 	in southeast Minnesota as follows: $970,000 
30.4 	to The Nature Conservancy, $964,000 to Trust 
30.5 	for Public Land, and $1,118,000 to Minnesota 
30.6 	Land Trust. Up to $112,000 to Minnesota 
30.7 	Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and 
30.8 	enforcement fund as approved in the 
30.9 	accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota 
30.10 	Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

30.11
30.12	(k) Lower Wild Rice River Corridor Habitat 
Restoration, Phase 4
					
30.13 	$2,345,000 the second year is to acquire land 
30.14 	in permanent conservation easement and to 
30.15 	restore river and related habitat in the Wild 
30.16 	Rice River corridor. Of this amount, $30,000 
30.17 	is to the commissioner of natural resources for 
30.18 	an agreement with the Wild Rice Watershed 
30.19 	District and $2,315,000 is to the Board of 
30.20 	Water and Soil Resources. The Board of Water 
30.21 	and Soil Resources may use up to $60,000 for 
30.22 	establishing a monitoring and enforcement 
30.23 	fund as approved in the accomplishment plan 
30.24 	and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
30.25 	97A.056, subdivision 17. Subdivision 8, 
30.26 	paragraph (b), does not apply to this project. 
30.27 	A list of permanent conservation easements 
30.28 	must be provided as part of the final report.

30.29
30.30
30.31	(l) DNR Wildlife Management Area and 
Scientific and Natural Area Acquisition, Phase 
16
					
30.32 	$1,359,000 the second year is to the 
30.33 	commissioner of natural resources to acquire 
30.34 	in fee and restore and enhance lands for 
30.35 	wildlife management purposes under 
30.36 	Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
31.1 	subdivision 8, and to acquire land in fee for 
31.2 	scientific and natural area purposes under 
31.3 	Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
31.4 	subdivision 5. Subject to evaluation criteria 
31.5 	in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority 
31.6 	must be given to acquiring lands that are 
31.7 	eligible for the native prairie bank under 
31.8 	Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands 
31.9 	adjacent to protected native prairie.

31.10
31.11	(m) Accelerating Habitat Conservation in 
Southwest Minnesota, Phase 3
					
31.12 	$2,872,000 the second year is to the 
31.13 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
31.14 	agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to 
31.15 	acquire permanent conservation easements 
31.16 	and to restore and enhance high-quality 
31.17 	wildlife habitat in southwest Minnesota. Of 
31.18 	this amount, up to $168,000 is to establish a 
31.19 	monitoring and enforcement fund as approved 
31.20 	in the accomplishment plan and subject to 
31.21 	Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, 
31.22 	subdivision 17.

31.23
31.24	(n) Sauk River Watershed Habitat Protection 
and Restoration, Phase 5
					
31.25 	$3,965,000 the second year is to the 
31.26 	commissioner of natural resources for 
31.27 	agreements to acquire lands in fee and 
31.28 	permanent conservation easements and restore 
31.29 	and enhance wildlife habitat in the Sauk River 
31.30 	watershed as follows: $375,000 to Great River 
31.31 	Greening; $1,199,000 to Sauk River 
31.32 	Watershed District; $1,192,000 to Pheasants 
31.33 	Forever; and $1,199,000 to Minnesota Land 
31.34 	Trust. Up to $168,000 to Minnesota Land 
31.35 	Trust is to establish a monitoring and 
31.36 	enforcement fund as approved in the 
32.1 	accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota 
32.2 	Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

32.3	(o) Metro Big Rivers, Phase 14
					
32.4 	$8,123,000 the second year is to the 
32.5 	commissioner of natural resources for 
32.6 	agreements to acquire land in fee and 
32.7 	permanent conservation easements and to 
32.8 	restore and enhance natural habitat systems 
32.9 	associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota, 
32.10 	and St. Croix Rivers and their tributaries 
32.11 	within the metropolitan area as follows: 
32.12 	$1,250,000 to Minnesota Valley National 
32.13 	Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $420,000 to 
32.14 	Friends of the Mississippi River; $803,000 to 
32.15 	Great River Greening; $2,750,000 to Trust for 
32.16 	Public Land; and $2,900,000 to Minnesota 
32.17 	Land Trust. Up to $224,000 to Minnesota 
32.18 	Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and 
32.19 	enforcement fund as approved in the 
32.20 	accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota 
32.21 	Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

32.22
32.23	(p) Anoka Sand Plain Habitat Conservation, 
Phase 9
					
32.24 	$1,802,000 the second year is to the 
32.25 	commissioner of natural resources for 
32.26 	agreements to restore and enhance wildlife 
32.27 	habitat on public lands and easements in the 
32.28 	Anoka Sand Plain ecoregion and intersecting 
32.29 	minor watersheds as follows: $1,508,000 to 
32.30 	Great River Greening and $294,000 to 
32.31 	Sherburne County.

32.32
32.33	(q) DNR Aquatic Habitat Restoration and 
Enhancement, Phase 7
					
32.34 	$4,206,000 the second year is to the 
32.35 	commissioner of natural resources to restore 
33.1 	and enhance aquatic habitat in degraded 
33.2 	streams and aquatic management areas and to 
33.3 	facilitate fish passage.

33.4
33.5	(r) Minnesota Statewide Trout Habitat 
Enhancement
					
33.6 	$2,308,000 the second year is to the 
33.7 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
33.8 	agreement with Trout Unlimited to restore and 
33.9 	enhance habitat for trout and other species in 
33.10 	and along coldwater rivers, lakes, and streams 
33.11 	throughout Minnesota.

33.12	(s) Knife River Habitat Rehabilitation, Phase 7
					
33.13 	$1,572,000 the second year is to the 
33.14 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
33.15 	agreement with the Arrowhead Regional 
33.16 	Development Commission, in cooperation 
33.17 	with the Lake Superior Steelhead Association, 
33.18 	to restore and enhance trout habitat in the 
33.19 	Knife River watershed. If the Arrowhead 
33.20 	Regional Development Commission declines 
33.21 	to serve as the fiscal agent for the project, an 
33.22 	alternative fiscal agent must be identified in 
33.23 	the accomplishment plan for the project.

33.24
33.25	(t) DNR St. Louis River Restoration Initiative, 
Phase 11
					
33.26 	$2,163,000 the second year is to the 
33.27 	commissioner of natural resources to restore 
33.28 	and enhance priority aquatic, riparian, and 
33.29 	forest habitats in the St. Louis River estuary. 
33.30 	Of this amount, $716,000 is for an agreement 
33.31 	with Minnesota Land Trust.

33.32	(u) Roseau Lake Rehabilitation, Phase 2
					
33.33 	$3,054,000 the second year is to the 
33.34 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
34.1 	agreement with the Roseau River Watershed 
34.2 	District to restore and enhance the Roseau 
34.3 	Lake and Roseau River habitat complex in 
34.4 	Roseau County, Minnesota.

34.5	(v) Highbanks Ravine Bat Hibernaculum
					
34.6 	$2,300,000 the second year is to the 
34.7 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
34.8 	agreement with the city of St. Cloud to 
34.9 	enhance the Highbanks Ravine Bat 
34.10 	Hibernaculum in St. Cloud.

34.11
34.12	(w) OwÃ¡mniyomni Native Landscape and River 
Restoration, St. Anthony Falls
					
34.13 	$1,918,000 the second year is to the 
34.14 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
34.15 	agreement with Friends of the Falls to restore 
34.16 	and enhance wildlife habitat at Upper St. 
34.17 	Anthony Falls. This appropriation may only 
34.18 	be spent for site grading, oak savanna, and 
34.19 	aquatic habitat portions of the project.

34.20	(x) Silver Lake Dam Fish Passage Modification
					
34.21 	$2,368,000 the second year is to the 
34.22 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
34.23 	agreement with the city of Rochester to restore 
34.24 	and enhance aquatic habitat in Silver Lake and 
34.25 	the south fork of the Zumbro River by 
34.26 	modifying the existing low-head dam in 
34.27 	Rochester.

34.28	(y) Little Devil Track River Restoration
					
34.29 	$3,000,000 the second year is to the 
34.30 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
34.31 	agreement with Cook County to restore and 
34.32 	enhance stream habitat in the Little Devil 
34.33 	Track River.

35.1
35.2
35.3	(z) Conservation Partners Legacy Grant 
Program: Statewide and Metro Habitat, Phase 
16
					
35.4 	$15,000,000 the second year is to the 
35.5 	commissioner of natural resources for a 
35.6 	program to provide competitive matching 
35.7 	grants of up to $500,000 to local, regional, 
35.8 	state, and national organizations for enhancing, 
35.9 	restoring, or protecting forests, wetlands, 
35.10 	prairies, or habitat for fish, game, or wildlife 
35.11 	in Minnesota. Unless there are not enough 
35.12 	eligible grant applications received, of this 
35.13 	amount, at least $4,000,000 is for grants in the 
35.14 	seven-county metropolitan area and cities with 
35.15 	a population of 50,000 or more and at least 
35.16 	$4,000,000 is for grants to applicants that have 
35.17 	not previously applied for money from the 
35.18 	outdoor heritage fund. Grants must not be 
35.19 	made for activities required to fulfill the duties 
35.20 	of owners of lands subject to conservation 
35.21 	easements. Grants must not be made from the 
35.22 	appropriation in this paragraph for projects 
35.23 	that have a total project cost exceeding 
35.24 	$1,000,000. Of the total appropriation, 
35.25 	$600,000 may be spent for personnel costs, 
35.26 	outreach, and support to first-time applicants 
35.27 	and other direct and necessary administrative 
35.28 	costs. Grantees may acquire land or interests 
35.29 	in land. Easements must be permanent. Grants 
35.30 	may not be used to establish easement 
35.31 	stewardship accounts. The program must 
35.32 	require a match of at least ten percent from 
35.33 	nonstate sources for all grants. The match may 
35.34 	be cash or in-kind. For grant applications of 
35.35 	$25,000 or less, the commissioner must 
35.36 	provide a separate, simplified application 
36.1 	process. Subject to Minnesota Statutes, the 
36.2 	commissioner of natural resources must, when 
36.3 	evaluating projects of equal value, give 
36.4 	priority to organizations that have a history of 
36.5 	receiving, or a charter to receive, private 
36.6 	contributions for local conservation or habitat 
36.7 	projects. All restoration or enhancement 
36.8 	projects must be on land permanently 
36.9 	protected by a permanent covenant ensuring 
36.10 	perpetual maintenance and protection of 
36.11 	restored and enhanced habitat, by a 
36.12 	conservation easement, or by public ownership 
36.13 	or in public waters as defined in Minnesota 
36.14 	Statutes, section 103G.005, subdivision 15. 
36.15 	Priority must be given to restoration and 
36.16 	enhancement projects on public lands. 
36.17 	Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, 
36.18 	subdivision 13, applies to grants awarded 
36.19 	under this paragraph. This appropriation is 
36.20 	available until June 30, 2027. No less than five 
36.21 	percent of the amount of each grant must be 
36.22 	held back from reimbursement until the grant 
36.23 	recipient completes a grant accomplishment 
36.24 	report by the deadline and in the form 
36.25 	prescribed by and satisfactory to the 
36.26 	Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. The 
36.27 	commissioner must provide notice of the grant 
36.28 	program in the summary of game and fish law 
36.29 	prepared under Minnesota Statutes, section 
36.30 	97A.051, subdivision 2.

36.31
36.32	(aa) Protecting Upper Mississippi River from 
Invasive Carp
					
36.33 	$12,000,000 the second year is to the 
36.34 	commissioner of natural resources to fund 
36.35 	activities to protect the upper Mississippi 
36.36 	River from invasive carp. Activities within 
37.1 	this appropriation include agreements with 
37.2 	federal partners, such as the United States Fish 
37.3 	and Wildlife Service, to design, construct, and 
37.4 	begin operating and maintaining a structural 
37.5 	deterrent for invasive carp at Lock and Dam 
37.6 	No. 5 on the Mississippi River to protect 
37.7 	Minnesota's aquatic habitat through an 
37.8 	adaptive management approach. Deterrent 
37.9 	design must be fully completed within two 
37.10 	years of the date of this appropriation by June 
37.11 	30, 2027. Deterrent installation must be 
37.12 	completed by June 30, 2029. Money not spent 
37.13 	or obligated for design installation and 
37.14 	operation of the deterrent may be used for 
37.15 	testing technologies to support the future 
37.16 	effectiveness of the deterrent. A detailed 
37.17 	accomplishment plan must be submitted to 
37.18 	and approved by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor 
37.19 	Heritage Council before money is released. 
37.20 	This appropriation is available until June 30, 
37.21 	2029.