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FY2018 Final Appropriation Language and Accomplishment Plans

M.L. 2017, Chapter 91 Article 1, Section 2


Subd. 2. Prairies

2(a) DNR Wildlife Management Area and Scientific and Natural Area Acquisition - Phase IX (FINAL)
$3,064,000 the first year and $1,373,000 the second year are to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire in fee and restore lands for wildlife management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, and to acquire land in fee for scientific and natural area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 5. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

2(b) Accelerating Wildlife Management Area Acquisition - Phase IX (FINAL)
$5,603,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire in fee and restore lands for wildlife management area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

2(c) Minnesota Prairie Recovery Project - Phase VII (FINAL)
$1,901,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy to acquire land in fee for native prairie, wetland, and savanna and to restore and enhance grasslands, wetlands, and savanna. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. No later than 180 days after The Nature Conservancy's fiscal year ends, The Nature Conservancy must submit to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council annual income statements and balance sheets for income and expenses from land acquired with this appropriation. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan and must be consistent with the priorities identified in Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan.

2(d) Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Land Acquisition - Phase VIII
$2,683,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire land in fee or permanent conservation easements and restore lands in the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area in western Minnesota for addition to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan, and the acquisitions must be consistent with the priorities in Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan.

2(e) Cannon River Headwaters Habitat Complex - Phase VII
$1,436,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Trust for Public Land to acquire in fee and restore lands in the Cannon River watershed for wildlife management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

2(f) Accelerated Native Prairie Bank Protection - Phase VI (FINAL)
$2,481,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire permanent conservation easements to implement the strategies in Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan to protect and restore native prairie. Of this amount, up to $140,000 is for establishing monitoring and enforcement funds as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the final report.

2(g) Reinvest In Minnesota (RIM) Buffers for Wildlife and Water - Phase VII
$5,333,000 the first year is to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to restore habitat and acquire permanent conservation easements under Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.515, to protect, restore, and enhance habitat by expanding the riparian-buffer program of the clean water fund for at least equal wildlife benefits from buffers on private land. Of this amount, up to $858,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the final report.

2(h) Prairie Chicken Habitat Partnership of the Southern Red River Valley - Phase III (FINAL)
$1,908,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever in cooperation with the Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society to acquire land in fee and restore and enhance lands in the southern Red River valley for wildlife management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, or to be designated and managed as waterfowl-production areas in Minnesota in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

2(i) Accelerated Prairie Restoration and Enhancement on DNR Lands - Phase IX (FINAL)
$3,950,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate restoration and enhancement of prairies, grasslands, and savannas on wildlife management areas, scientific and natural areas, native prairie bank land, bluff prairies on state forest land in southeastern Minnesota, and United States Fish and Wildlife Service waterfowl-production area and refuge lands. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

2(j) Anoka Sandplain Habitat Restoration and Enhancement - Phase V (FINAL)
$1,130,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat on public lands in Anoka, Benton, Isanti, Morrison, and Stearns Counties as follows: $41,000 is to the Anoka Conservation District, $231,000 is to the Isanti County Soil and Water Conservation District, $345,000 is to Great River Greening, $163,000 is to the Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District, and $350,000 is to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $40,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is for establishing monitoring and enforcement funds as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed permanent conservation easements, restorations, and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

Subd. 3. Forests

3(a) Carnelian Creek Conservation Corridor
$2,458,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to acquire permanent conservation easements in Washington County. Of this amount, up to $30,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

3(b) Laurentian Forest - St. Louis County Habitat Project (FINAL)
$2,400,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements with the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association in cooperation with The Conservation Fund and St. Louis County to acquire land in fee to be transferred to St. Louis County for wildlife habitat purposes. The amount is for agreements as follows: $2,292,000 to the Minnesota Deer Hunter Association and $108,000 to The Conservation Fund. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

3(c) Southeast Minnesota Protection and Restoration - Phase V (FINAL)
$2,375,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire land in fee for wildlife management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8; to acquire land in fee for scientific and natural areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 5; to acquire land in fee for state forest purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 7; to acquire permanent conservation easements; and to restore and enhance prairie, grassland, forest, and savanna. The amount is for agreements as follows: $1,000,000 to The Nature Conservancy, $675,000 to The Trust for Public Land, and $700,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $80,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. No later than 180 days after the The Nature Conservancy's fiscal year ends, The Nature Conservancy must submit to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council annual income statements and balance sheets for income and expenses from land acquired in fee with this appropriation and not transferred to the state or a local governmental unit. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

3(d) Minnesota Forest for the Future - Phase V (FINAL)
$2,291,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire easements for forest, wetland, and shoreline habitat through working forest permanent conservation easements under the Minnesota forests for the future program pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 84.66. A conservation easement acquired with money appropriated under this paragraph must comply with Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 13. The accomplishment plan must include an easement monitoring and enforcement plan. Of this amount, up to $72,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the final report.

3(e) State Forest Acquisitions - Phase IV (FINAL)
$1,000,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire lands in fee for wildlife habitat purposes in the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 7. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

3(f) Critical Shoreland Protection Program - Phase IV (FINAL)
$1,700,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to acquire permanent conservation easements along rivers and lakes in the northern forest region. Of this amount, up to $120,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

3(g) Bushmen Lake (FINAL)
$4,600,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Conservation Fund in cooperation with the United States Forest Service to acquire lands in fee adjacent to Bushmen Lake in St. Louis County to be managed for wildlife habitat purposes. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

Subd. 4. Wetlands

4(a) Accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area Acquisition - Phase IX (FINAL)
$5,500,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire land in fee and restore and enhance wetlands and grasslands to be designated and managed as waterfowl-production areas in Minnesota in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

4(b) Shallow Lake and Wetland Protection Program - Phase VI (FINAL)
$5,750,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to acquire land in fee and restore prairie lands, wetlands, and land-buffering shallow lakes for wildlife management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8. A list of proposed acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

4(c) RIM Wetlands Partnership - Phase VIII
$10,398,000 the first year is to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to acquire permanent conservation easements and to restore wetlands and native grassland habitat under Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.515. Of this amount, up to $306,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the final report.

4(d) Wild Rice Shoreland Protection Program - Phase V (FINAL)
$750,000 the first year is to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to acquire permanent conservation easements on wild-rice lake shoreland habitat for native wild-rice bed protection. Of this amount, up to $59,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the final report by the Board of Water and Soil Resources.

4(e) Accelerated Shallow Lakes and Wetlands Enhancement - Phase IX (FINAL)
$1,755,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to enhance and restore shallow lakes and wetland habitat statewide. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

4(f) Living Shallow Lakes and Wetland Initiative - Phase VI (FINAL)
$4,716,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to restore and enhance shallow lakes and wetlands on public lands and wetlands under permanent conservation easement for wildlife management purposes. A list of proposed shallow-lake enhancements and wetland restorations must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

Subd. 5. Habitat

5(a) Mississippi Headwaters Habitat Corridor Partnership - Phase III (FINAL)
$1,617,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire lands in fee and restore wildlife habitat in the Mississippi headwaters and for agreements as follows: $60,000 to the Mississippi Headwaters Board and $1,557,000 to The Trust for Public Land. $779,000 the first year is to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to acquire lands in permanent conservation easements and to restore wildlife habitat. Up to $59,000 to the Board of Water and Soil Resources is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed acquisitions must be included as part of the required accomplishment plan.

5(b) Fisheries Habitat Protection on Strategic North-Central Minnesota Lakes - Phase III (FINAL)
$1,716,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire land in permanent conservation easements to sustain healthy fish habitat on coldwater lakes in Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, and Hubbard Counties for agreements as follows: $113,000 to the Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation and $1,603,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $120,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

5(c) Goose Prairie (FINAL)
$600,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Wild Rice Watershed District, in cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources, to enhance aquatic and upland habitat in and adjacent to the Goose Prairie Marsh Wildlife Management Area in Clay County. A list of proposed land enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

5(d) Minnesota Trout Unlimited Coldwater Fish Habitat Enhancement and Restoration - Phase IX (FINAL)
$2,403,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Trout Unlimited to restore or enhance habitat for trout and other species in and along coldwater rivers, lakes, and streams in Minnesota. A list of proposed restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

5(e) DNR Stream Habitat - Phase II (FINAL)
$2,166,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore and enhance habitat in degraded streams and critical aquatic-species habitat and to facilitate fish passage. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

5(f) St.Louis River Restoration Initiative - Phase IV (FINAL)
$3,392,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore aquatic habitats in the St. Louis River estuary. Of this appropriation, up to $226,000 is for an agreement with Minnesota Land Trust. A list of proposed restorations must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

5(g) Shell Rock River Watershed Habitat Restoration Program - Phase VI (FINAL)
$1,779,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Shell Rock River Watershed District to acquire land in fee and restore and enhance aquatic habitat in the Shell Rock River watershed. A list of proposed acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

5(h) Lake Wakanda Enhancement Project (FINAL)
$921,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Kandiyohi County to enhance aquatic habitat in and adjacent to Lake Wakanda in Kandiyohi County. A list of proposed land enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

5(i) Wolverton Creek Habitat Restoration (FINAL)
$1,877,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District to acquire permanent conservation easements and restore and enhance aquatic and upland habitat associated with Wolverton Creek in the Buffalo-Red River watershed. A list of proposed acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

5(j) Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program: Statewide and Metro Habitat - Phase IX (FINAL)
$9,294,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for a program to provide competitive matching grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, state, and national organizations for enhancing, restoring, or protecting forests, wetlands, prairies, or habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. Of this amount, up to $2,660,000 is for grants in the seven-county metropolitan area and cities with a population of 50,000 or greater. Grants must not be made for activities required to fulfill the duties of owners of lands subject to conservation easements. Grants must not be for projects that have a total project cost exceeding $575,000. Of the total appropriation, $634,000 may be spent for personnel costs and other direct and necessary administrative costs. Grantees may acquire land or interests in land. Easements must be permanent. Grants may not be used to establish easement stewardship accounts. Land acquired in fee must be open to hunting and fishing during the open season unless otherwise provided by law. The program must require a match of at least ten percent from nonstate sources for all grants. The match may be cash or in-kind resources. For grant applications of $25,000 or less, the commissioner must provide a separate, simplified application process. Subject to Minnesota Statutes, the commissioner must, when evaluating projects of equal value, give priority to organizations that have a history of receiving or a charter to receive private contributions for local conservation or habitat projects. If acquiring land in fee or a conservation easement, priority must be given to projects associated with or within one mile of existing wildlife management areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8; scientific and natural areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 84.033 and 86A.05, subdivision 5; or aquatic management areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02. All restoration or enhancement projects must be on land permanently protected by a permanent covenant ensuring perpetual maintenance and protection of restored and enhanced habitat, by a conservation easement, or by public ownership, or must be in public waters as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 103G.005, subdivision 15. Priority must be given to restoration and enhancement projects on public lands. Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 13, applies to grants awarded under this paragraph. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2021. No less than five percent of the amount of each grant must be held back from reimbursement until the grant recipient has completed a grant accomplishment report by the deadline and in the form prescribed by and satisfactory to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. The commissioner must provide notice of the grant program in the game and fish law summary prepared under Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.051, subdivision 2.

Subd. 6. Administration

6(a) Contract Management
$150,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for contract management duties assigned in this section. The commissioner must provide an accomplishment plan in the form specified by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council for expending this appropriation. The accomplishment plan must include a copy of the grant contract template and reimbursement manual. No money may be expended before the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council approves the accomplishment plan.

6(b) Legislative Coordinating Commission
$571,000 the first year and $578,000 the second year is to the Legislative Coordinating Commission for Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council administrative expenses and for compensating and reimbursing expenses of council members. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2019. Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.281, applies to this appropriation.

6(c) Technical Evaluation Panel
$150,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for a technical evaluation panel to conduct up to 20 restoration and enhancement evaluations under Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 10.

6(d) Legacy Web Site
$8,000 the first year and $7,000 the second year are to the Legislative Coordinating Commission for the Web site required in Minnesota Statutes, section 3.303, subdivision 10.