Environment panel OKs $155 million in Outdoor Heritage Fund appropriations

Every year, the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council offers recommendations to the Legislature on how to appropriate money from the state’s Outdoor Heritage Fund.

The council’s recommendations, set forth in HF3726, would appropriate $155.36 million in fiscal year 2023 to 46 programs “to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands, prairies, forest and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife.”

Sponsored by Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL-International Falls), the bill was approved 17-1 by the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee Tuesday and referred to the House Legacy Finance Committee.

“Minnesota has an outstanding record of doing everything it can to help preserve our outdoor heritage,” Ecklund said. “This is a good bill for protecting and preserving our environment.”

The bill would appropriate:

• $81.53 million for a variety of habitat projects and the conversation partners legacy grant programs;
• $34.17 million to restore, enhance and protect prairies;
• $26.11 million to restore, enhance and protect wetlands; and
• $12.93 million to restore, enhance and protect forests.

Another $623,000 would be for administrative fees.

The Outdoor Heritage Fund is generated by 33% of the sales tax revenue from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy amendment.

According to the council, which is comprised of four legislators and eight citizens, 80,929 acres of wildlife habitat would be cared for with the appropriation, including 127 miles of shoreline.

The council’s recommendation would see 29 organizations receiving funding, including two state agencies, nine local governments and 18 non-government organizations.

The council said funds would support “native prairie protection, wetland restoration, trout stream enhancement, public wildlife land enhancements, shallow lake enhancement, forest fragmentation prevention, strategic land acquisition in fee and conservation easement.”

Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn (DFL-Roseville), a former council member, reminded the committee of some of the diversity issues still facing the council.

“This is money that is supposed to benefit all Minnesotans and I think we have to remember that moving forward,” Becker-Finn said.

Rep. Steve Green (R-Fosston), the lone dissenter, worried about the continued acquisition of land that comes in the recommendations.

“With all the land that we have out there, there’s just a lot of angst out here, for lack of a better word, as to why we continue to buy more,” Green said.

The companion, SF2969, is sponsored by Sen. Andrew Lang (R-Olivia) and awaits action by the Senate Finance Committee.