FY2026 Final Appropriation Language and Accomplishment Plans

Subd. 2. Prairies

2(a) Martin County DNR WMA Acquisition, Phase 9
$1,332,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and restore and enhance strategic prairie grassland, wetland, and other wildlife habitat in Martin County for wildlife management area purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, as follows: $970,000 to Fox Lake Conservation League, Inc., $327,000 to Ducks Unlimited, and $35,000 to the Conservation Fund.

2(b) Prairie Chicken Habitat Partnership of the Southern Red River Valley, Phase 11
$3,607,000 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 acquisitions of lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie.

2(c) RIM Grasslands Reserve, Phase 6
$3,375,000 the first year is to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to acquire permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance grassland habitat under Minnesota Statutes, sections 103F.501 to 103F.531. Of this amount, up to $70,000 is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. Subdivision 8, paragraph (b), does not apply to this project. A list of permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the final report.

2(d) RIM Buffers for Wildlife and Water, Phase 11
$4,000,000 the first year is to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to acquire permanent conservation easements and restore habitat under Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.515, to protect, restore, and enhance habitat by expanding the riparian buffer program under the clean water fund for additional wildlife benefits from buffers on private land. Of this amount, up to $60,000 is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. Subdivision 8, paragraph (b), does not apply to this project. A list of permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the final report.

2(e) Accelerating the Wildlife Management Area Program, Phase 17
$4,863,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire in fee and restore and enhance 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 acquisition of lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie.

2(f) Minnesota Prairie Recovery Program, Phase 14
$2,433,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy to acquire land in fee and restore and enhance native prairie, 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. Annual income statements and balance sheets for income and expenses from land acquired with this appropriation must be submitted to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council no later than 180 days following the close of The Nature Conservancy's fiscal year. A list of proposed land acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan and must be consistent with the priorities identified in Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan.

2(g) Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, Phase 15
$3,658,000 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 to restore and enhance 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.

2(h) DNR Wildlife Management Area and Scientific and Natural Area Acquisition, Phase 17
$1,916,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire in fee and restore and enhance 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 acquisition of lands that are eligible for the native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native prairie.

2(i) Enhanced Public Land - Grasslands, Phase 8
$3,440,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever to enhance and restore grassland and wetland habitat on public lands in the forest prairie transition, metro urban, and prairie ecoregions of Minnesota.

2(j) Accelerating the USFWS Habitat Conservation Easement Program, Phase 5
$4,808,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to restore and enhance wetland and prairie habitat on habitat easements of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as follows: $3,100,000 to Ducks Unlimited and $1,708,000 to Pheasants Forever.

Subd. 3. Forests

3(a) Minnesota Forest Recovery Project, Phase 3
$3,464,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Nature Conservancy in cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota Land Trust to acquire permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance degraded forests in Beltrami, Cass, Cook, Itasca, Lake, Koochiching, and St. Louis Counties. Of this amount, up to $84,000 is to the easement holder to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

3(b) Itasca County Memorial Forest Project
$2,720,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Itasca County to acquire priority forest habitat lands in fee as county forests.

3(c) Hardwood Hills Habitat Conservation Program, Phase 2
$1,803,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance forest habitats in the hardwood hills ecological section of west-central Minnesota as follows: $100,000 to St. John's University and $1,703,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Of the amount to Minnesota Land Trust, $196,000 is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

3(d) Camp Ripley Sentinel Landscape Protection Program ACUB, Phase 13
$2,183,000 the first year is to the Board of Water and Soil Resources, in cooperation with the Morrison County Soil and Water Conservation District, to acquire permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance forest wildlife habitat within the boundaries of the Minnesota National Guard Camp Ripley Sentinel Landscape and Army Compatible Use Buffer. Of this amount, up to $110,000 is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. Subdivision 8, paragraph (b), does not apply to this project. A list of permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the final report.

3(e) Minnesota Forests for the Future, Phase 5
$5,241,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire lands in conservation easements and to restore and enhance forests, wetlands, and shoreline habitat through working forest permanent conservation easements under the Minnesota forests for the future program according 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 $400,000 is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

3(f) DNR Forest Habitat Enhancement, Phase 5
$2,543,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore and enhance forest wildlife habitats on public lands throughout Minnesota.

3(g) Moose Habitat Collaborative - Northeast Minnesota Forest Habitat Enhancement, Phase 5
$2,004,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Ruffed Grouse Society to restore and enhance public forest lands in the northern forest region for moose habitat purposes.

Subd. 4. Wetlands

4(a) Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration Program, Phase 10
$2,853,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to acquire permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance prairie, wetland, and other habitats on permanently protected conservation easements in high-priority wetland habitat complexes in the prairie, forest/prairie transition, and forest ecoregions. Of this amount, up to $168,000 is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

4(b) Shallow Lake and Wetland Protection and Restoration Program, Phase 14
$5,673,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to acquire land in fee for wildlife management purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, or to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas or national wildlife refuges in Minnesota, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and to restore and enhance prairie lands, wetlands, and land-buffering shallow lakes.

4(c) RIM Wetlands - Restoring Most Productive Habitat in Minnesota, Phase 14
$4,291,000 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 $70,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. Subdivision 8, paragraph (b), does not apply to this project. A list of permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the final report.

4(d) Accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area Acquisition Program, Phase 17
$5,121,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Pheasants Forever, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to acquire land in fee and to restore and enhance wetlands and grasslands to be designated and managed as waterfowl production areas in Minnesota.

4(e) Nelson Slough - East Park Wildlife Management Area, Phase 2
$1,543,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Middle-Snake-Tamarac Rivers Watershed District to restore and enhance wetland and upland wildlife habitat in Nelson Slough and the East Park Wildlife Management Area in Marshall County.

4(f) Living Shallow Lakes and Wetlands Enhancement and Restoration Initiative, Phase 11
$5,601,000 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.

4(g) Big Swamp North
$1,442,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Roseau River Watershed District to restore and enhance wetland, stream, and other related wildlife habitat on public lands in the Big Swamp area in Roseau County.

4(h) DNR Accelerated Shallow Lakes and Wetland Enhancement, Phase 17
$2,508,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to enhance and restore shallow lakes and wetland habitat statewide.

Subd. 5. Habitat

5(a) Cannon River Watershed Habitat Restoration and Protection Program, Phase 14
$2,663,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat in the Cannon River Watershed as follows: $62,000 to Clean River Partners; $1,198,000 to Great River Greening; and $1,403,000 to the Trust for Public Land.

5(b) Spring Road Conservation Project
$1,982,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District to acquire priority wildlife habitat lands in fee in Hennepin County.

5(c) Anoka Sand Plain Habitat Conservation, Phase 10
$3,518,000 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 and easements in the Anoka Sand Plain ecoregion and intersecting minor watersheds as follows: $553,000 to Anoka Conservation District; $1,385,000 to Great River Greening; $300,000 to The Nature Conservancy; and $1,280,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $112,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

5(d) Integrating Habitat and Clean Water, Phase 3
$2,691,000 the first year is to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to acquire permanent conservation easements and restore and enhance wildlife habitat identified in One Watershed, One Plan for stacked benefit to wildlife and clean water. Of this amount, up to $80,000 is for establishing a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. Subdivision 8, paragraph (b), does not apply to this project. A list of permanent conservation easements must be provided as part of the final report.

5(e) St. Croix Watershed Habitat Protection and Restoration, Phase 6
$3,184,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance natural habitat systems in the St. Croix River Watershed as follows: $1,199,000 to the Trust for Public Land; $121,000 to Wild Rivers Conservancy; and $1,864,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $168,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

5(f) Mississippi Headwaters Habitat Corridor Project, Phase 9
$2,769,000 the first year is to acquire lands in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore wildlife habitat in the Mississippi headwaters. Of this amount: (1) $1,769,000 is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements as follows: $60,000 to the Mississippi Headwaters Board and $1,709,000 to the Trust for Public Land; and (2) $1,000,000 is to the Board of Water and Soil Resources, of which up to $50,000 is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

5(g) Southeast Minnesota Protection and Restoration, Phase 13
$2,334,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to acquire permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat on public lands and permanent conservation easements in southeast Minnesota. Of this amount, up to $140,000 is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

5(h) Protecting Coldwater Fisheries on Minnesota's North Shore, Phase 3
$2,187,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to acquire permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat in priority coldwater tributaries to Lake Superior. Of this amount, up to $196,000 is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

5(i) Metro Big Rivers, Phase 15
$6,793,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance natural habitat systems associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix Rivers and their tributaries in the metropolitan area as follows: $1,000,000 to Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $488,000 to Friends of the Mississippi River; $975,000 to Great River Greening; $2,151,000 to the Trust for Public Land; and $2,179,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $168,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

5(j) Minnesota River Watershed Habitat Conservation Program
$3,078,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance priority habitat in the Minnesota River watershed as follows: $1,364,000 to Great River Greening and $1,714,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $168,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

5(k) Shell Rock River Watershed Habitat Restoration Program, Phase 14
$2,141,000 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 to restore and enhance habitat in the Shell Rock River watershed.

5(l) Protecting Minnesota's Lakes of Outstanding Biological Significance, Phase 4
$3,137,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance lakes of outstanding biological significance in northeast and north-central Minnesota. Of this amount, $1,494,000 is to the Northern Waters Land Trust and $1,643,000 is to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $168,000 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.

5(m) Shakopee Creek: Headwaters Restored, Species and Land Protected
$2,359,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Kandiyohi Soil and Water Conservation District to restore and enhance wildlife habitat in the headwaters area of Shakopee Creek in Kandiyohi County.

5(n) DNR Trout Stream Conservation Easements, Phase 4
$973,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire land in permanent conservation easements to protect trout-stream aquatic habitat. 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.

5(o) Fisheries Habitat Protection on Strategic North-Central Minnesota Lakes, Phase 11
$2,878,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for agreements to acquire land in fee and permanent conservation easements and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat to sustain healthy fish habitat on coldwater lakes in Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, and Hubbard Counties as follows: $1,259,000 to Northern Waters Land Trust and $1,619,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $168,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and enforcement fund as approved in the accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

5(p) Minnesota Statewide Trout Habitat Enhancement, Phase 2
$2,124,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Trout Unlimited to restore and enhance habitat for trout and other species in and along coldwater rivers, lakes, and streams throughout Minnesota.

5(q) Restoring and Enhancing Minnesota's Important Bird Areas, Phase 4
$2,003,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Audubon Minnesota to restore and enhance wildlife habitat in important bird areas or Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan Priority areas of northwestern Minnesota.

5(r) Fall River Restoration
$1,318,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Cook County to restore and enhance coldwater stream habitat in the Fall River in Cook County.

5(s) DNR Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Enhancement, Phase 8
$3,800,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore and enhance aquatic habitat in degraded streams and aquatic management areas and to facilitate fish passage throughout Minnesota.

5(t) Rum River Corridor Fish and Wildlife Habitat Enhancement, Phase 3
$1,356,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Anoka County Soil and Water Conservation District to restore and enhance upland and riverine habitat in the Rum River corridor.

5(u) DNR Roving Crew, Phase 3
$3,054,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Roseau River Watershed District to restore and enhance the Roseau Lake and Roseau River habitat complex in Roseau County, Minnesota.

5(v) Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program: Statewide and Metro Habitat, Phase 17
$11,716,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for a program to provide competitive matching grants of up to $500,000 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, unless not enough eligible grant applications are received, at least $3,000,000 is for grants in the seven-county metropolitan area and cities with a population of 50,000 or more and at least $2,620,000 is for grants to applicants that have not previously applied for money from the outdoor heritage fund. Grants must not be made for activities required to fulfill the duties of owners of lands subject to conservation easements. Grants must not be made from the appropriation in this paragraph for projects that have a total project cost exceeding $1,000,000. Of the total appropriation, $600,000 may be spent for personnel costs, outreach, and support to first-time applicants 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. 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. For grant applications of $25,000 or less, the commissioner must provide a separate, simplified application process. Subject to Minnesota Statutes, the commissioner of natural resources 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. 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 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, 2028. No less than five percent of the amount of each grant must be held back from reimbursement until the grant recipient completes 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 summary of game and fish law prepared under Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.051, subdivision 2.

Subd. 6. Administration

6(a) Contract Management
$410,000 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 on 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. Money appropriated in this paragraph is available until June 30, 2027.

6(b) Legislative Coordinating Commission
$732,000 the first year and $772,000 the second year are to the Legislative Coordinating Commission for administrative expenses of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council and for compensating and reimbursing expenses of council members. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2027. Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.281, applies to this appropriation.

6(c) Technical Evaluation Panel
$157,000 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. Money appropriated in this paragraph is available until June 30, 2027.

6(d) Core Functions in Partner-Led OHF Land Acquisitions
$740,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for administering the initial development, restoration, and enhancement of land acquired in fee with money appropriated from the outdoor heritage fund. This appropriation may be used for land acquisition costs incurred by the department as part of conveyance of parcels to the Department of Natural Resources and initial development activities on fee title acquisitions. Money appropriated in this paragraph is available until June 30, 2033.

6(e) Legacy Website
$4,000 the first year and $3,000 the second year are to the Legislative Coordinating Commission for the website required under Minnesota Statutes, section 3.303, subdivision 10.