Nearly $80 million in lottery proceeds going to protect, enhance state resources

The $79.64 million fiscal year 2025 appropriations from the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund cover more than 100 projects as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources.

The fund was established in 1988 via constitutional amendment to “provide a long-term, consistent, and stable source of funding for activities that protect, conserve, preserve, and enhance Minnesota's ‘air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources’ for the benefit of current citizens and future generations.” Money is generated by the state lottery.

Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul) and Sen. Foung Hawj (DFL-St. Paul) sponsor the law that mostly takes effect July 1, 2024.

Funding in the law includes:

• $20.3 million for land acquisition and recreation projects, including more than $5.0 million to develop state trails and $4.7 million for local parks, trails and natural areas;

• $15.0 million for 28 foundational information and data projects. Grants range from $3.2 million to $88,000 and include money to update field guides, track movement of white-tailed deer and prepare geologic atlases;

• $11.3 million for 22 environmental education projects such as $410,000 to support a naturalist and intern at a nature center in Austin and $459,000 to create a mobile earth science education lab for northwest Minnesota;

• $10.9 million for 16 projects exploring methods to protect land, water and habit. Among the projects are studying how microbes can degrade microplastics and if LIDAR can save birds from wind turbines;

• $8.3 million to address invasive species with most going to the University of Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center;

• $6.9 million directed toward water resources research projects such as state flood and drought modeling and nutrient recovery from wastewater treatment plants research;

• $4.8 million for five projects addressing air quality, climate change and renewable energy such as one to develop and test low-cost biofilters; and

• $2.1 million for administrative costs with $1.1 million going to the emerging issues account and $750,000 for the LCCMR administrative budget.

More information on the LCCMR and its project recommendations can be found here.

HF3377*/SF3507/CH83

HF3377* / SF3507 / CH83