Each year, the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage CouncilProvides suggestions to the Legislature about how to appropriate money for the Outdoor Heritage Fund.
The council’s recommendations, as outlined in HF3726, would allocate $155.36 million in fiscal 2023 to 46 programs to restore and protect wetlands, prairies and forest habitats for fish, wildlife, and game.
Rep. Rep.
Ecklund stated that Minnesota has a strong record of doing all it can to preserve our outdoor heritage. This bill is a good bill to preserve and protect our environment.
The bill would apply:
- $81.53 million to support a variety of habitat projects as well as the legacy grant programs for Conversation Partners.
- $34.17 Million to restore, enhance, and protect the prairies
- $26.11 million to restore and enhance wetlands;
- $12.93 million to protect, restore, and enhance forests.
Administrative fees would cost $623,000 more.
The Outdoor Heritage Fund was created 33% of the sales tax revenue comes from the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy amendment.
The council, consisting of four legislators, eight citizens, estimates that 80.929 acres of wildlife habitat will be cared for by the appropriation.
29 organizations would be eligible for funding based on the councils’ recommendation, including nine local governments and two state agencies.
The council stated that funds would support native prairie protection and wetland restoration, enhancement of trout streams, public wildlife land enhancements as well as shallow lake enhancements, forest fragmentation prevention, and strategic land acquisition in fee.
Rep. Jamie Becker Finn (DFL-Roseville), who was a former council member, reminded members of some of diversity issues that still face the council.
Becker-Finn stated that this money is supposed to be for all Minnesotans.
Rep. Steve Green (R-Fosston), is the only dissident and is concerned about the ongoing acquisition of land in the recommendations.
Green said that there is a lot to be angst over all the land out there.
The companion SF2969The Senate Finance Committee is expected to act on the proposal, which is sponsored by Senator Andrew Lang (R-Olivia).
