1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to environment; repurposing money appropriated for the Lawns to Legumes 
1.3 	program to grants for local parks, trails, and natural areas;amending Laws 2019, 
1.4 	First Special Session chapter 4, article 2, section 2, subdivisions 8, 9.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 4, article 2, section 2, subdivision 8, 
1.7 	is amended to read:

1.8
1.91.10

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

806,000

~~5,960,000~~
5,866,000

-0-

1.11

1.12

(a) Saving Endangered Pollinators through 
Data-Driven Prairie Restoration

1.13 	$800,000 the first year is from the trust fund. 
1.14 	Of this amount, $630,000 is to the Minnesota 
1.15 	Zoological Garden and $170,000 is to the 
1.16 	commissioner of natural resources to 
1.17 	reestablish populations of Minnesota's 
1.18 	imperiled butterflies through reintroductions 
1.19 	and prairie restorations and by developing 
1.20 	foundational habitat recommendations for 
1.21 	preventing future extinctions. This 
1.22 	appropriation is available until June 30, 2023, 
1.23 	by which time the project must be completed 
1.24 	and final products delivered.

2.1

2.2

(b) Promoting and Restoring Oak Savanna 
Using Silvopasture

2.3 	$750,000 the first year is from the trust fund 
2.4 	to the Board of Regents of the University of 
2.5 	Minnesota to demonstrate, evaluate, and 
2.6 	increase adoption of the combined use of 
2.7 	intensive tree, forage, and livestock 
2.8 	management as a method to restore threatened 
2.9 	oak savanna habitats.

2.10

2.11

(c) Sauk River Dam Removal and Rock Rapids 
Replacement

2.12 	$2,768,000 the first year is from the trust fund 
2.13 	to the commissioner of natural resources for 
2.14 	an agreement with the city of Melrose to 
2.15 	remove an existing fixed-elevation dam, 
2.16 	construct a rock arch rapids, and conduct 
2.17 	in-stream and shoreline habitat restoration to 
2.18 	improve water quality and native fish passage 
2.19 	in the Sauk River. This project requires a 
2.20 	match of at least $1,400,000 that must be 
2.21 	secured before trust fund money is spent. At 
2.22 	least $700,000 of this match must come from 
2.23 	the city of Melrose. City of Melrose expenses 
2.24 	for the Sauk River dam removal and rock 
2.25 	rapids replacement incurred before July 1, 
2.26 	2019, may be counted toward the match.

2.27

2.28

(d) Conserving and Monitoring Minnesota's 
Rare Arctic Plants

2.29 	$135,000 the first year is from the trust fund 
2.30 	to the Board of Regents of the University of 
2.31 	Minnesota to provide monitoring and invasive 
2.32 	species removal to conserve rare and 
2.33 	endangered arctic plants on Minnesota's North 
2.34 	Shore. This appropriation is available until 
2.35 	June 30, 2023, by which time the project must 
2.36 	be completed and final products delivered.

3.1 | (e) Nongame Wildlife Program Acceleration | | | |
3.2 	$513,000 the first year is from the trust fund 
3.3 	to the commissioner of natural resources to 
3.4 	accelerate the nongame wildlife program, 
3.5 	including rare wildlife data collection, habitat 
3.6 	management, collaborative land protection, 
3.7 	conservation education, and a new emphasis 
3.8 	on promoting nature tourism to benefit 
3.9 	wildlife, visitors, and rural communities.

3.10 | (f) Lawns to Legumes | | | |
3.11 	$806,000 in fiscal year 2019 ~~and $94,000 the~~ 
3.12 	~~first year are~~ is from the trust fund to the 
3.13 	Board of Water and Soil Resources for 
3.14 	demonstration projects that provide grants or 
3.15 	payments to plant residential lawns with native 
3.16 	vegetation and pollinator-friendly forbs and 
3.17 	legumes to protect a diversity of pollinators. 
3.18 	The board must establish criteria for grants or 
3.19 	payments awarded under this section. Grants 
3.20 	or payments awarded under this section may 
3.21 	be made for up to 75 percent of the costs of 
3.22 	the project, except that in areas identified by 
3.23 	the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as 
3.24 	areas where there is a high potential for rusty 
3.25 	patched bumble bees to be present, grants may 
3.26 	be awarded for up to 90 percent of the costs 
3.27 	of the project.

3.28

3.29

(g) Agricultural Weed Control Using 
Autonomous Mowers

3.30 	$900,000 is from the trust fund to the Board 
3.31 	of Regents of the University of Minnesota for 
3.32 	the West Central Research and Outreach 
3.33 	Center at Morris to design, integrate, and 
3.34 	field-test new technology mowers to control 
3.35 	weeds, reduce herbicide use, reduce energy 
4.1 	costs, and improve native vegetation and 
4.2 	forage quality on agricultural lands. This 
4.3 	appropriation is subject to Minnesota Statutes, 
4.4 	section 116P.10.

4.5 	Sec. 2. Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 4, article 2, section 2, subdivision 9, is 
4.6 	amended to read:

4.7

4.8

Subd. 9.Land Acquisition, 
Habitat, and Recreation

-0-

~~26,351,000~~
26,445,000

-0-

4.9 | (a) Minnesota Scientific and Natural Areas | | | |
4.10 	$3,500,000 the first year is from the trust fund 
4.11 	to the commissioner of natural resources for 
4.12 	the scientific and natural areas (SNA) program 
4.13 	to restore and enhance wildlife habitat on 
4.14 	SNAs, increase public involvement and 
4.15 	outreach, and strategically acquire high-quality 
4.16 	lands that meet criteria for SNAs under 
4.17 	Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, from 
4.18 	willing sellers. A list of proposed acquisitions 
4.19 	and restorations is required in the work plan.

4.20

4.21

(b) Grants for Local Parks, Trails, and Natural 
Areas

4.22 	~~$3,000,000~~ $3,094,000 the first year is from 
4.23 	the trust fund to the commissioner of natural 
4.24 	resources to solicit, rank, and fund competitive 
4.25 	matching grants for local parks, trail 
4.26 	connections, and natural and scenic areas 
4.27 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 85.019. The 
4.28 	appropriation is for local nature-based 
4.29 	recreation, connections to regional and state 
4.30 	natural areas, and recreation facilities and not 
4.31 	for athletic facilities such as sport fields, 
4.32 	courts, and playgrounds.

4.33

4.34

(c) Minnesota State Parks and State Trails 
In-Holdings

5.1 	$2,000,000 the first year is from the trust fund 
5.2 	to the commissioner of natural resources to 
5.3 	acquire high-priority in-holdings from willing 
5.4 	sellers within the legislatively authorized 
5.5 	boundaries of state parks and trails to protect 
5.6 	Minnesota's natural heritage, enhance outdoor 
5.7 	recreational opportunities, and improve the 
5.8 	efficiency of public land management. 
5.9 	Priorities include but are not limited to 
5.10 	Minneopa, St. Croix, Frontenac, and Crow 
5.11 	Wing State Parks. A list of proposed 
5.12 	acquisitions is required in the work plan.

5.13 | (d) Minnesota State Trails Development | | | |
5.14 	$5,000,000 the first year is from the trust fund 
5.15 	to the commissioner of natural resources to 
5.16 	expand high-priority recreational opportunities 
5.17 	on Minnesota's state trails by developing new 
5.18 	trail segments and rehabilitating, improving, 
5.19 	and enhancing existing state trails. 
5.20 	High-priority trail bridges to rehabilitate or 
5.21 	replace include, but are not limited to, those 
5.22 	on the Arrowhead, Central Lakes, 
5.23 	Harmony-Preston Valley, Matthew Lourey, 
5.24 	and North Shore State Trails. High-priority 
5.25 	trail segments to develop and enhance include, 
5.26 	but are not limited to, the Paul Bunyan, 
5.27 	Gateway, Heartland, Gitchi Gami, and 
5.28 	Minnesota Valley State Trails. A proposed list 
5.29 	of trail projects on legislatively authorized 
5.30 	state trails is required in the work plan. This 
5.31 	appropriation is available until June 30, 2021, 
5.32 	by which time the project must be completed 
5.33 	and final products delivered.

5.34 | (e) National Loon Center | | | |
6.1 	$4,000,000 the first year is from the trust fund 
6.2 	to the commissioner of natural resources for 
6.3 	an agreement with the National Loon Center 
6.4 	Foundation, in partnership with a fiscal agent 
6.5 	to be approved by the Legislative-Citizen 
6.6 	Commission on Minnesota Resources, to 
6.7 	construct an approximately 15,000-square-foot 
6.8 	National Loon Center in Cross Lake dedicated 
6.9 	to loon survival, loon habitat protection and 
6.10 	research, and recreation. Of this amount, up 
6.11 	to $1,449,000 is for planning, design, and 
6.12 	construction of approximately six outdoor 
6.13 	demonstration learning kiosks, interpretive 
6.14 	trails, boardwalks and boat docks, a fishing 
6.15 	dock, and native landscaping along 
6.16 	approximately 3,100 feet of shoreline. Any 
6.17 	remaining funds are for planning, engineering, 
6.18 	and constructing the building and indoor 
6.19 	exhibits. A land lease commitment of at least 
6.20 	25 years and fiscal sponsorship must be 
6.21 	secured before any trust fund money is spent. 
6.22 	This project requires a match of at least 
6.23 	$6,000,000. At least $2,000,000 of this match 
6.24 	must come from nonstate sources. If naming 
6.25 	rights will be conveyed, the National Loon 
6.26 	Center Foundation must include a plan for this 
6.27 	in the work plan. All matching funds must be 
6.28 	legally committed before any trust fund money 
6.29 	may be spent on planning activities for or 
6.30 	construction of the building and indoor 
6.31 	exhibits. Net income generated from 
6.32 	admissions, naming rights, and memberships 
6.33 	to the National Loon Center as a result of trust 
6.34 	fund contributions may be reinvested in the 
6.35 	center's long-term loon conservation efforts 
6.36 	as described in the work plan approved by the 
7.1 	Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota 
7.2 	Resources according to Minnesota Statutes, 
7.3 	section 116P.10.

7.4 | (f) Accessible Fishing Piers | | | |
7.5 	$320,000 the first year is from the trust fund 
7.6 	to the commissioner of natural resources to 
7.7 	provide accessible fishing piers in locations 
7.8 	that have a high potential to serve new angling 
7.9 	communities, underserved populations, and 
7.10 	anglers with physical disabilities. This 
7.11 	appropriation is available until June 30, 2021, 
7.12 	by which time the project must be completed 
7.13 	and final products delivered.

7.14 | (g) Mesabi Trail Extensions | | | |
7.15 	$3,000,000 the first year is from the trust fund 
7.16 	to the commissioner of natural resources for 
7.17 	an agreement with the St. Louis and Lake 
7.18 	Counties Regional Railroad Authority for 
7.19 	environmental assessment, permitting, 
7.20 	right-of-way easements or other acquisition 
7.21 	as needed, and engineering for and 
7.22 	construction of four trail segments beginning 
7.23 	and ending at the following approximate 
7.24 	locations: Darwin Meyers Wildlife 
7.25 	Management Area to County Road 21, 
7.26 	Embarrass to Kugler, County Road 128 to the 
7.27 	Eagles Nest Town Hall, and Wolf Creek to 
7.28 	the Highway 169 underpass.

7.29 | (h) Birch Lake Recreation Area Campground | | | |
7.30 	$350,000 the first year is from the trust fund 
7.31 	to the commissioner of natural resources for 
7.32 	an agreement with the city of Babbitt to 
7.33 	expand Birch Lake Recreation Area by adding 
7.34 	a new campground for recreational vehicles 
8.1 	and tent campers. This project requires a 
8.2 	match of at least $2,800,000 that must be 
8.3 	secured before trust fund money is spent. At 
8.4 	least $800,000 of this match must come from 
8.5 	the city of Babbitt. Net income generated from 
8.6 	admissions to the campground created as a 
8.7 	result of trust fund contributions may be 
8.8 	reinvested into the campground's long-term 
8.9 	operations as described in the work plan 
8.10 	approved by the Legislative-Citizen 
8.11 	Commission on Minnesota Resources 
8.12 	according to Minnesota Statutes, section 
8.13 	116P.10.

8.14 | (i) Britton Peak to Lutsen Mountain Bike Trail | | | |
8.15 	$350,000 the first year are from the trust fund 
8.16 	to the commissioner of natural resources for 
8.17 	an agreement with the Superior Cycling 
8.18 	Association to create a sustainably designed 
8.19 	single-track mountain bike trail connecting 
8.20 	trail clusters and trailheads between Britton 
8.21 	Peak in Tofte and Lutsen Mountains as part 
8.22 	of northeast Minnesota's effort to become a 
8.23 	national recreation destination. This 
8.24 	appropriation is available until June 30, 2021, 
8.25 	by which time the project must be completed 
8.26 	and final products delivered.

8.27

8.28

(j) Preserving Avon Hills with Reverse-Bidding 
Easements

8.29 	$1,600,000 the first year is from the trust fund 
8.30 	to the commissioner of natural resources for 
8.31 	an agreement with Saint John's University in 
8.32 	cooperation with Minnesota Land Trust to 
8.33 	restore and enhance protected lands, provide 
8.34 	public outreach, and prepare management 
8.35 	plans for and use a reverse-bid ranking system 
9.1 	to secure permanent conservation easements 
9.2 	on high-quality natural habitat in the Avon 
9.3 	Hills area of Stearns County. Of this amount, 
9.4 	up to $168,000 is for use by Minnesota Land 
9.5 	Trust in a monitoring fund as approved in the 
9.6 	work plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, 
9.7 	section 116P.20. An annual financial report is 
9.8 	required for any monitoring, management, and 
9.9 	enforcement fund, including expenditures from 
9.10 	the fund. A proposed list of acquisitions and 
9.11 	restorations must be provided in the work plan. 
9.12 	This appropriation is available until June 30, 
9.13 	2024, by which time the project must be 
9.14 	completed and final products delivered.

9.15 | (k) Bailey Lake Trail and Fishing Pier | | | |
9.16 	$550,000 the first year is from the trust fund 
9.17 	to the commissioner of natural resources for 
9.18 	an agreement with the city of Virginia to 
9.19 	reconstruct the existing Bailey Lake Trail and 
9.20 	construct a new fishing pier on Bailey Lake 
9.21 	that is accessible from the trail.

9.22 | (l) Vergas Long Lake Trail | | | |
9.23 	$290,000 the first year is from the trust fund 
9.24 	to the commissioner of natural resources for 
9.25 	an agreement with the city of Vergas to 
9.26 	construct a bicycle and pedestrian bridge, trail, 
9.27 	and floating boardwalk along Long Lake 
9.28 	including shoreline restoration and 
9.29 	stabilization with native plants. This 
9.30 	appropriation is available until June 30, 2021, 
9.31 	by which time the project must be completed 
9.32 	and final products delivered.

9.33

9.34

(m) Glacial Edge Trail and Downtown 
Pedestrian Bridge

10.1 	$600,000 the first year is from the trust fund 
10.2 	to the commissioner of natural resources for 
10.3 	an agreement with the city of Fergus Falls to 
10.4 	acquire easements for and construct a trail 
10.5 	along the Otter Tail River in downtown Fergus 
10.6 	Falls and a bicycle and pedestrian bridge 
10.7 	crossing the river. This appropriation is 
10.8 	available until June 30, 2021, by which time 
10.9 	the project must be completed and final 
10.10 	products delivered.

10.11 | (n) Crane Lake to Vermilion Falls Trail | | | |
10.12 	$400,000 the first year is from the trust fund 
10.13 	to the commissioner of natural resources for 
10.14 	an agreement with St. Louis County in 
10.15 	cooperation with Voyageur Country ATV 
10.16 	Club to designate and improve a wooded trail 
10.17 	from Crane Lake to Vermilion Falls to 
10.18 	accommodate all-terrain vehicle and 
10.19 	snowmobile users. This appropriation is 
10.20 	available until June 30, 2021, by which time 
10.21 	the project must be completed and final 
10.22 	products delivered.

10.23

10.24

(o) Restoring Five Sections of Superior Hiking 
Trail

10.25 	$191,000 the first year is from the trust fund 
10.26 	to the commissioner of natural resources for 
10.27 	an agreement with the Superior Hiking Trail 
10.28 	Association to restore and repair the most 
10.29 	damaged parts of five sections of the Superior 
10.30 	Hiking Trail and restore an abandoned route 
10.31 	to a natural footpath for hikers.

10.32

10.33

(p) Rainy Lake Recreational Access and Boat 
Wash Station

10.34 	$200,000 the first year is from the trust fund 
10.35 	to the commissioner of natural resources for 
11.1 	an agreement with the city of Ranier to 
11.2 	enhance and increase public access to Rainy 
11.3 	Lake by constructing an Americans with 
11.4 	Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant recreational 
11.5 	parking lot, an ADA-compliant public 
11.6 	restroom, and an aquatic invasive species boat 
11.7 	wash station.

11.8

11.9

(q) Historic Bruce Mine Park and Mesabi 
Trailhead

11.10 	$1,000,000 the first year is from the trust fund 
11.11 	to the commissioner of natural resources for 
11.12 	a grant to the St. Louis and Lake Counties 
11.13 	Regional Railroad Authority to engineer, 
11.14 	design, renovate, and construct the Historic 
11.15 	Bruce Mine Park and Mesabi Trailhead and 
11.16 	access in the city of Chisholm. This 
11.17 	appropriation is available until June 30, 2023, 
11.18 	by which time the project must be completed 
11.19 	and final products delivered.

11.20 	Sec. 3. TRANSFER OF UNENCUMBERED FUNDS.
 11.21 	On the effective date of this section, any unencumbered money from the fiscal year 2019 
11.22 	appropriation in Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 4, article 2, section 2, subdivision 
11.23 	8, paragraph (f), must be transferred to the appropriation for grants to local parks, trails, 
11.24 	and natural areas under Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 4, article 2, section 2, 
11.25 	subdivision 9, paragraph (b).

11.26 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.