FY2011 Final Appropriation Language and Accomplishment Plans

Subd. 2. Prairies

(a) Accelerated Prairie Grassland Restoration and Enhancement Program on DNR Lands (FINAL)
$5,833,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate the protection, restoration, and enhancement of native prairie vegetation. A list of proposed land acquisitions,restorations, and enhancements, describing the types and locations of acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements, must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph (b).

(b) The Green Corridor Legacy Program (Final)
$1,651,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Redwood Area Communities Foundation to acquire and restore land for purposes allowed under the Minnesota Constitution, article XI, section 15, in Redwood, Renville, Brown, Nicollet, Murray, Lyon, Yellow Medicine, Chippewa, and Cottonwood Counties to be added to the state outdoor recreation system as defined in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 86A. A list of proposed fee title acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The commissioner of natural resources must agree in writing to each proposed acquisition. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph(b).

(c) Prairie Heritage Fund - Acquisition and Restoration, Phase 2 (FINAL)
$3,015,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire and restore land to be added to the state wildlife management area system. A list of proposed fee title acquisitions and a list of proposed restoration projects, describing the types and locations of restorations, must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The commissioner of natural resources must agree in writing to each proposed acquisition. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph(b).

(d) Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Protection (Final)
$2,041,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy to acquire land or permanent easements within the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area in western Minnesota for addition to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. A list of proposed fee title and permanent easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The accomplishment plan must include an easement stewardship plan.

(e) Rum River - Cedar Creek Initiative (FINAL)
$1,900,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Anoka County to acquire fee title to land at the confluence of the Rum River and Cedar Creek in Anoka County. Land acquired in fee must remain open to hunting and fishing, consistent with the capacity of the land, during the open season, as determined in writing by the commissioner of natural resources. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph (b).

(f) Minnesota Prairie Recovery Project (FINAL)
$3,653,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy for a pilot project to acquire interests in land and restore and enhance prairie and prairie/wetland habitat in the prairie regions of western and southwestern Minnesota. The Nature Conservancy may acquire land in fee or through permanent conservation easements. A list of proposed fee title and permanent conservation easements, and a list of proposed restorations and enhancements, must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph (b). The commissioner of natural resources must agree in writing to each acquisition of interest in land, restoration project, and enhancement project. The accomplishment plan must include an easement stewardship plan.

Subd. 3. Forests

(a) Critical Shoreline Habitat Protection Program (FINAL)
$816,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Minnesota Land Trust to acquire permanent conservation easements protecting critical shoreline habitats in Koochiching, Cook, Lake, and St. Louis County portions of the northern forest area in northern Minnesota and provide stewardship for those easements. A list of proposed conservation easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The accomplishment plan must include an easement stewardship plan.

(b) Protect Key Industrial Forest Land Tracts in Central Minnesota (Final)
$594,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Cass County to acquire lands that assist with gaining access for restoration and enhancement purposes to existing public land tracts. A list of proposed acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

(c) Little Nokasippi River Wildlife Management Area (FINAL)
$843,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements to acquire interests in land within the boundaries of the Minnesota National Guard Army compatible use buffer(ACUB) program. Of this appropriation, $225,000 is for the Department of Natural Resources to acquire land for wildlife management areas and $618,000 is for an agreement with the Board of Water and Soil Resources to acquire permanent conservation easements. A list of proposed acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

(d) Accelerated Forest Wildlife Habitat Program (FINAL)
$1,791,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for acceleration of agency programs to acquire, in fee, land for state forests and restore and enhance state forest habitat. A list of projects including proposed fee title acquisitions and restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph (b).

(e) Northeastern Minnesota Sharp-Tailed Grouse Habitat (FINAL)
$1,559,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire interests in land, and to restore and enhance habitat for sharp-tailed grouse in Kanabec, Aitkin, and St. Louis Counties in cooperation with the Minnesota Sharp-Tailed Grouse Society. A list of proposed acquisitions and a list of proposed restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The commissioner of natural resources must agree in writing to each acquisition of interest in land, restoration project, and enhancement project. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph (b).

Subd. 4. Wetlands

(a) Accelerated Shallow Lake and Wetland Enhancement and Restoration Program (FINAL)
$6,505,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources to assess, enhance, and restore shallow lake and wetland habitats, to acquire land in fee or through permanent conservation easements for shallow lake program restoration, and to provide stewardship for acquired easements in cooperation with Ducks Unlimited, Inc. of this appropriation, $1,463,000 is for the Department of Natural Resources agency program acceleration and $5,042,000 is for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited, Inc. A list of proposed projects, describing the types and locations of land acquisitions, restoration projects, and enhancement projects, must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The commissioner of natural resources must agree in writing to each acquisition, restoration project, and enhancement project. The accomplishment plan must include an easement stewardship plan. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph (b).

(b) Accelerate the Waterfowl Production Area Program in Minnesota, Phase 2 (FINAL)
$3,505,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire and restore wetland and related upland habitats, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and Ducks Unlimited, Inc., to be managed as waterfowl production areas. A list of proposed acquisitions and a list of proposed projects, describing the types and locations of restorations, must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. All restorations must comply with subdivision, paragraph (b).

(c) Reinvest in Minnesota Wetlands Reserve Program Acquisition and Restoration (FINAL)
$6,895,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to acquire permanent conservation easements and restore wetlands and associated uplands in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture Wetlands Reserve Program. A list of proposed acquisitions and a list of proposed projects, describing the types and locations of restorations, must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph (b).

Subd. 5. Habitat

(a) Metro Big Rivers Habitat Program (FINAL)
$2,397,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements for projects to protect, restore, and enhance natural systems of the Minnesota River, St. Croix River, Mississippi River, and their major tributaries as follows: $500,000 with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc. for fee title land acquisition; $1,500,000 with the Trust for Public Land for fee title land acquisition; $227,300 with the Friends of the Mississippi River for restoration, enhancement, and conservation easement acquisition; and $169,700 with Great River Greening for restoration and enhancement. The accomplishment plan must include an easement stewardship plan. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph(b).

(b) Accelerated Aquatic Management Area Acquisition (FINAL)
$3,416,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate land acquisition by fee title and easements to be added to the state aquatic management area system as defined in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 86A, and to restore and enhance stream habitat and lake habitat. Land acquired in fee must remain open to hunting and fishing, consistent with the capacity of the land, during the open season, as determined in writing by the commissioner of natural resources. A list of proposed fee title and easement acquisitions, stream habitat restorations and enhancements, and lake habitat restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

(c) Cold Water River and Stream Restoration, Protection, and Enhancement (FINAL)
$1,269,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Trout Unlimited to restore, enhance, and protect cold water river and stream habitats in Minnesota. A list of proposed acquisitions and a list of proposed projects, describing the types and locations of restorations and enhancements, must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The commissioner of natural resources must agree in writing to each proposed acquisition, restoration, and enhancement. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph (b).

(d) Dakota County Riparian and Lakeshore Protection and Restoration (Final)
$2,097,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Dakota County for acquisition of permanent easements and enhancement and restoration of aquatic and associated upland habitat. A list of proposed acquisitions and restorations must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The accomplishment plan must include an easement stewardship plan. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph (b).

(e) Valley Creek Protection Partnership (FINAL)
$1,218,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements on projects to protect, restore, and enhance natural systems of Valley Creek in Washington County as follows: $838,000 with Minnesota Land Trust; $218,000 with Washington County; $100,000 with the Belwin Conservancy; $50,000 with Trout Unlimited; and $12,000 with the Valley Branch Watershed District. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph(b).

(f) Anoka Sand Plain Restoration and Enhancement (FINAL)
$747,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Great River Greening to restore and enhance habitat on public property in the Anoka Sand Plain in Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Benton, Washington, Morrison, and Sherburne Counties. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph (b).

(g) Lower Mississippi River Habitat Restoration Acceleration (FINAL)
$1,000,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate agency programs and for cooperative agreements to acquire land in the Root River watershed. A list of proposed acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The commissioner of natural resources must agree in writing to each proposed acquisition, restoration, and enhancement. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph (b).

(h) Washington County St. Croix River Land Protection (FINAL)
$1,033,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Washington County to acquire permanent easements to protect habitat associated with the St. Croix River Valley. A list of proposed acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The accomplishment plan must include an easement stewardship plan.

(i) Outdoor Heritage Conservation Partners Grant Program (FINAL)
$4,386,000 in fiscal year 2011 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, including government, for enhancement, restoration, or protection of forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. Up to four percent of this appropriation may be used by the commissioner of natural resources for administering the grant program. Grantees may acquire land or interests in land. Easements must be permanent. Land acquired in fee must be open to hunting and fishing during the open season unless otherwise provided by state law. The commissioner of natural resources must agree in writing to each proposed acquisition of land or interest in land. The program shall require a match of at least ten percent from nonstate sources for grants of $100,000 or less and a match of at least 15 percent from nonstate sources for grants over $100,000. Up to one-third of the match may be in-kind resources. The criteria for evaluating grant applications must include, in a balanced and equally weighted order of precedence, the amount of habitat restored, enhanced, or protected; local support; degree of collaboration; urgency; capacity to achieve multiple benefits; habitat benefits provided; consistency with current conservation science; adjacency to protected lands; full funding of the project; supplementing existing funding; public access for hunting and fishing during the open season; sustainability; and use of native plant materials. All projects must conform to the Minnesota statewide conservation and preservation plan. Wildlife habitat projects must also conform to the Minnesota wildlife action plan. Subject to the evaluation criteria and requirements of this paragraph and Minnesota Statutes, the commissioner of natural resources shall give priority to organizations that have a history or charter to receive private contributions for local conservation or habitat projects when evaluating projects of equal value. Priority may be given to projects acquiring land or easements associated with existing wildlife management areas. All restoration or enhancement projects must be on land permanently protected by conservation easement or public ownership or in public waters as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 103G.005, subdivision 15. Subdivision 9 applies to grants awarded under this paragraph. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph (b). This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, at which time all grant project work must be completed and final products delivered, unless an earlier date is specified in the grant agreement. 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.