M.L. 2024 Projects

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$198,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to develop field-verified native plant community data and maps for the city of Duluth and the St. Louis River estuary to support conservation and restoration activities.

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$200,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Science Museum of Minnesota for the St. Croix Watershed Research Station to characterize environmental drivers contributing to the decline of wild rice using lake sediment cores to reconstruct historical wild rice abundance in relation to lake and watershed stressors.

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$349,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for the Natural Resources Research Institute in Duluth to assess the effects of forest management on Minnesota's primary cavity engineer, the pileated woodpecker, and on the wildlife that rely on the cavities that pileated woodpeckers create. This appropriation is also to develop management guidelines.

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$453,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to use new modeling techniques to quantify how water quality of Minnesota's lakes will change in the next century under future land use and climate change scenarios and to create an online web tool to display the results. This appropriation is subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

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$200,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Native Skywatchers Inc. to engage youth in environmental stewardship by collecting images and acoustic data from turtles and other culturally significant animals and their habitats, evaluating the differences in these soundscapes across landscapes, and sharing the results through scientific storytelling and online platforms.

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$199,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to investigate the ecological roles of and energy transfer by certain Minnesota insects throughout their life cycles and to train future insect researchers on field techniques.

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$621,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency to determine ambient background per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) levels in urban and nonurban soils to help Minnesota develop management strategies for PFAS-contaminated soils. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

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$933,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to assess Minnesota elk herd health and genetic diversity, movements, survival, and causes of mortality and to develop a noninvasive, safer, and more accurate method to estimate population size. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

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$195,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to perform field surveys and consolidate existing data to create the first comprehensive list of Minnesota moths and butterflies. This appropriation is also to conduct outreach to inform land managers and to facilitate public appreciation of these species.

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$3,200,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to continue producing county groundwater atlases to inform management of surface water and groundwater resources for drinking and other purposes. This appropriation is for Part B, to characterize the potential water yields of aquifers and aquifers' sensitivity to contamination.

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$996,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to continue to study summertime wolf predation on deer, moose, and other species in the greater Voyageurs ecosystem to inform wildlife management and to share natural history of this species with the public. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

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$400,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for the Natural Resources Research Institute in Duluth to determine the distribution, relative abundance, and spatial occupancy patterns of small weasel species in Minnesota to fill key knowledge gaps in weasel distribution and status in Minnesota.

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$198,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to collect foundational data on Minnesota's native aquatic plant biodiversity through new and enhanced lake surveys and to disseminate results to state resource managers, scientists, and the public.

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$199,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for the Natural Resources Research Institute in Duluth to develop camera trapping methods as a new tool to collect foundational data and fill key knowledge gaps in the status of small mammal species in Minnesota.

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$195,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for the Natural Resources Research Institute in Duluth to study changes in maternity roost trees and bat populations in the forested areas of Minnesota and to evaluate the effects of years of white-nose syndrome on Minnesota bats.

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$387,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to provide data on pesticide contamination in soil and the insect community across the state and the effect of insecticide exposure on insect reproduction. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2029, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

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$1,800,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to collect additional vegetation and environmental data and update the state's 20-year-old native plant community classification guides to incorporate new data, streamline user application and access to products, and include analysis of climate and vegetation trends. Net income generated as part of this appropriation may be reinvested in the project if a plan for reinvestment is approved in the work plan. This appropriation is subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10.

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$297,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Minnesota Zoological Society to assess habitat quality and pesticide occurrence in Minnesota prairies to help inform management actions, endangered species recovery plans, and pollinator reintroduction efforts for endangered and threatened butterflies and other wildlife.

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$588,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota, Duluth, to collect foundational biological information on a selection of native Minnesota fish to aid in sustainable management, improve recreational opportunities, and educate the public about these shared aquatic resources. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

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$199,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota, Bell Museum of Natural History, to preserve and enhance Minnesota Wildflowers Information, an online tool for plant identification, by integrating the content and functionality of the website with the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas for public use as required by Laws 2017, chapter 96, section 2, subdivision 3, paragraph (e).

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$699,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to better understand white-tailed deer movement, habitat use, and disease dynamics at the suburban-agricultural interface to inform more efficient deer management and disease control.

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$187,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for the Raptor Center to evaluate Minnesota raptors for current or past infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus to better understand disease transmission and outbreak impacts on raptor populations.

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$1,236,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota, Minnesota Geological Survey, to continue producing county geologic atlases to inform management of surface water and groundwater resources. This appropriation is to complete Part A, which focuses on the properties and distribution of earth materials to define aquifer boundaries and the connection of aquifers to the land surface and surface water resources.

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$180,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Monarch Joint Venture to use remote sensing technology to evaluate pollinator habitat on energy and transportation corridors across Minnesota and to host field-day training workshops.

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$375,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to determine carbon sequestration, nitrogen credit potential, water use, and performance of cover crops in corn-soybean and corn-soybean-wheat rotations in southern Minnesota.

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$88,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Native Landscapes, in partnership with Temple University, to analyze the effects of sheep grazing and mowing on the vegetation and soils of solar sites managed for pollinator habitat and to improve understanding of the environmental outcomes from the colocation of solar panels; grazing; and native, pollinator-friendly vegetation. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2029, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

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$241,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the United States Geological Survey, Ohio Water Microbiology Lab, to create, optimize, and use eDNA assays to detect the presence of endangered or threatened mussel species around Buffalo Slough near the Prairie Island Indian Community.

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$180,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to compile and use all available data to model historical population abundance and estimate future population dynamics of Minnesota trumpeter swans.

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$399,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, to investigate the use of hyperspectral microscopic imaging to detect harmful algal bloom (HAB) species and toxicity levels in Minnesota lakes that will support the development of HAB early-warning remote sensing tools. This appropriation is subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10, and is available until June 30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

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$369,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to identify, analyze, and model the fate of chemicals present in wastewater from extinguished structural fires to better understand potential toxicity to humans and aquatic life.

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$540,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to collect monitoring data and create a model to measure the effects of increased temperature and precipitation on lake and wetland water quality, habitat, and greenhouse gas emissions and evaluate lake management options under changing climate conditions.

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$553,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to generate genome sequences for and assess the ability of bacteria growing in wastewater treatment bioreactors to improve phosphorus and nitrogen removal from wastewater in Minnesota and to produce novel pharmaceutical compounds. This appropriation is subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10.

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$200,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the city of Woodbury to accelerate the implementation of new and innovative water efficiency programs to conserve water and serve as a model for other communities.

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$400,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to identify fluorinated pesticides and pharmaceuticals that degrade into potentially persistent or toxic byproducts and to analyze the microbes, processes, and conditions involved to inform bioremediation and development of more sustainable chemistries.

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$486,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to continue to develop an integrated process to promote nutrient removal and recovery and renewable energy production at rural municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants. This appropriation is subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10.

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$379,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, to conduct an analysis of lake visitor perceptions, management actions, and water quality to inform lake management.

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$297,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for the Natural Resources Research Institute in Duluth to evaluate the long-term effects of wildfires on lake water quality, mercury mobilization, and mercury bioaccumulation in fish and to develop predictive tools that inform management and help protect the health of fisheries and manoomin in wilderness lakes.

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$499,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to compile new and existing data and develop a tool to provide cities and watershed districts with quantitative estimates of the effects of land use and climate change on floods and droughts.

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$1,481,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Barr Engineering Company, in partnership with the city of St. Cloud and the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) at the University of Minnesota, to conduct a full-scale pilot to evaluate supercritical water oxidation of biosolids and drinking water treatment residuals to destroy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and recover energy in the water treatment process. This appropriation is subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10.

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$200,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Saint Mary's University of Minnesota to assess stream habitat improvement projects to improve trout populations and stream health in Minnesota's Driftless Area.

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$1,121,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Science Museum of Minnesota for the St. Croix Watershed Research Station to reconstruct historical lake conditions to identify factors linked to successful walleye fisheries and guide management in the face of warming temperatures, invasive species, and nutrient loading.

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$410,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the city of Austin to continue providing environmental education opportunities at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center for learners from outside the city of Austin.

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$994,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Voyageurs Conservancy to connect Minnesotans to the state's only national park through standards-aligned K-12 education, career-building fellowships, and enhanced programming that engages diverse audiences in the park's conservation.

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$295,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to provide workshops across Minnesota to train middle school and high school teachers in how to meet new state science standards by integrating western science and Indigenous perspectives in sustainability and water conservation education.

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$392,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to provide professional development workshops in greater Minnesota for teachers to use phenology curriculum and community science resources in environmental education.

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$254,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency to protect common loons and wildlife through education and outreach about the dangers of lead fishing tackle and promoting lead-free tackle alternatives.

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$407,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for the Minnesota Sea Grant College Program in Duluth to create a fellowship program to train Minnesota's workforce in water resource science and policy.

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$793,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc. to provide paid internships and apprenticeships for diverse young people to learn about careers in the conservation field from United States Fish and Wildlife Service professionals while working at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Wetland Management District.

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$688,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Belwin Conservancy, in partnership with Anishinabe Academy and other urban Indigenous-based schools and youth programs, to continue to conduct native-led environmental education programming that incorporates ecology and Indigenous land traditions. This appropriation is also to restore and enhance habitat on permanently protected Belwin Conservancy lands using modern scientific standards and traditional ecological knowledge.

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$705,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with YMCA of the North to engage underserved youth in hands-on environmental education by expanding Unlock It!, a self-guided, interactive, and nature-based scavenger hunt, to open spaces and campuses across the state.

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$1,500,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Wilderness Inquiry to promote equity in access to outdoor activities, places, and careers by providing Minnesotans with a continuum of outdoor experiences from the backyard to the backcountry, implementing environmental education curriculum for youth, and delivering professional development workshops for educators.

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$163,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center to provide hands-on environmental education learning opportunities to underserved children through scholarships and transportation to Osprey Wilds' day-use and residential summer camps.

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$639,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Dodge Nature Center to build partnerships with South Washington County Schools and provide standards-aligned, outdoor experiences and hands-on learning at Shepard Farm for Minnesota K-6 youth to increase their environmental skills and knowledge.

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$199,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center to empower Minnesota youth to reduce their carbon footprints through education from local experts and completion of student-driven and community-based team projects.

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$500,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness to connect students from northeastern Minnesota to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness through grade-wide day trips and overnight wilderness experiences.

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$180,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Northern Community Radio, Inc. to continue to build the next generation of Minnesota conservationists by delivering engaging environmental programming to northern Minnesota through radio and podcasts, hosting phenology training and interactive nature events for K-12 students, and expanding KAXE coverage of environmental topics to a digital audience.

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$459,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota, Crookston, to create a mobile lab and deliver innovative standards-based environmental education to students and educators at underserved, underrepresented schools and at community events in northwest Minnesota.

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$228,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Deep Portage Learning Center to enhance the accessibility of environmental education and outdoor recreation at Deep Portage Learning Center through projects that provide opportunities and support independence for physically disabled students visiting the campus.

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$174,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities for Minnesota State University, Mankato, to build partnerships among natural resource professionals, colleges, and schools in southern Minnesota to expose youth to outdoor experiences, environmental issues, and natural resource career paths through internships, field trips, and environmental projects.

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$353,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to provide opportunities for middle school youth to develop skills for measuring water quality using robotic water-quality sensing kits and communicating results through group study and hands-on projects.

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$1,162,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to expand fishing opportunities in urban areas, teach more youth and families how to fish, and inventory and inform the public about safe and legal shore-fishing sites throughout Minnesota.

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$70,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota, Extension Center for Youth Development, to partner with Winona and Rochester alternative learning centers to connect, engage, and empower youth from underserved, culturally diverse, and low-income communities in year-long activities focused on nature, outdoors skills, and environmental service-learning.

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$697,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Loppet Foundation to promote urban nature connections for North Minneapolis residents through storytelling, nature and environmental justice programs, and environmental leadership pathways for high schoolers and young adults.

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$7,000,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota, Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center, for high-priority research projects to better manage invasive plants, pathogens, and pests on Minnesota's natural and agricultural lands. This appropriation is subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10, and is available until June 30, 2030, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

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$470,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to develop integrated pest management strategies to mitigate the threat that invasive jumping worms pose to soil organic matter and seedlings in Minnesota forests.

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$634,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to implement new and innovative methods and to enhance ongoing efforts to detect, monitor, and remove invasive carp and to evaluate watershed boundaries for potential breaches to avoid invasive carp establishment in Minnesota.

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$200,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to create a baseline inventory of the quantity and diversity of viruses in, and determine the threat of these viruses to, Minnesota native bees.

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$2,318,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Better Futures Minnesota to establish a statewide network for sourcing reclaimed building materials; create a tool for cities, counties, and businesses to report environmental impacts of waste diversion; and divert waste from landfills through collections, deconstructing buildings, and converting waste into finished goods. Net income generated by Better Futures Minnesota as part of this appropriation may be reinvested in the project if a plan for reinvestment is approved in the work plan.

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$752,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Great River Greening to partner with municipalities and school districts to create gravel-bed nurseries, conduct tree assessments and mapping, and plant climate-resilient tree species on public lands in St. Cloud, Mankato, and the Twin Cities region. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

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$978,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for the West Central Research and Outreach Center at Morris to develop green hydrogen- and solar-powered autonomous mowers to remove weeds in row crop fields and improve agricultural ecosystems through reduction of herbicide and fossil fuel use. This appropriation is subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10.

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$325,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to develop innovative and low-cost biofilters to decrease the concentration of nitrous oxide (N2O) from various point sources. This appropriation is subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10.

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$460,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to leverage new statewide climate data to assess future change in the duration, frequency, and magnitude of heavy precipitation and drought events and engage communities to prepare for these extremes.

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$100,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum to protect Minnesota's only population of ball cactus by supporting population expansion and establishment, monitoring transferred plants, and training long-term volunteer monitors. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2029, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

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$519,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Morrison Soil and Water Conservation District to stabilize and restore land along the Mississippi River owned by the Morrison County Historical Society within the statutory boundaries of Charles A. Lindbergh State Park to improve water quality and improve aquatic and terrestrial habit. For purposes of this appropriation, subdivision 13, paragraph (e), does not apply. The commissioner of natural resources may make reasonable amounts of this appropriation available on an advance basis to accommodate the Morrison Soil and Water Conservation District's cash-flow needs if a plan for the advances is approved as part of the work plan.

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$415,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to evaluate impacts of increasing tree diversity on wildlife, plant and fungal communities, and carbon storage within aspen forests in northern Minnesota to develop best management practices for mixed woodland systems.

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$141,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the city of Long Prairie to improve water retention, increase native habitat, and enhance footpaths for recreation at Riverside Park in Todd County, Minnesota. The project must create a net increase in habitat, and this appropriation may not be used to meet the conditions of any permits received for the project.

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$698,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Great River Greening to partner with municipalities, educational organizations, and volunteers to create and enhance pollinator habitat along public corridors from Lakeville to St. Cloud and to engage youth and the public through education and monitoring the impact of habitat improvements. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

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$342,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the National Audubon Society, Minnesota office, to assess Audubon Conservation Ranching as a strategic approach to improve grassland biodiversity, soils, and ecosystem resilience. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

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$524,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to investigate the potential of natural and indigenous microbes to biodegrade conventional plastics in contaminated soils and waters across the state. This appropriation is subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10.

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$657,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Dakota County to restore and enhance habitat on public lands, establish linear native plantings, and install electric-vehicle charging stations within and along the 27-mile Mississippi River Greenway in Dakota County. Net income generated as part of this appropriation may be reinvested in the project if a plan for reinvestment is approved in the work plan. This appropriation is subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10, and is available until June 30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

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$378,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to identify enzymes and microbes that can break down soil-based per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into nontoxic elements. This appropriation is subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10.

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$568,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to assess avian diversity at the statewide scale by developing a citizen science bioacoustics monitoring program with an initial focus on private lands.

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$656,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to help stop the flow of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and microplastics contaminants into Minnesota's environment by developing strategies and technologies to manage solid waste streams on site. This appropriation is subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10.

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$1,100,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to plan and restore a section of Shingle Creek in north Minneapolis with native aquatic and shoreline vegetation, channel and bank modification, and natural stream features. This appropriation is also to monitor plant and animal health following construction to ensure that the ecological functioning of the creek corridor is restored. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2030, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

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$525,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to create a low-cost and advanced LiDAR system to detect bats and birds approaching wind turbines that may be used in concert with deterrence or impact avoidance methods to prevent collisions. This appropriation is subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10.

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$622,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to inform source-reduction efforts by developing a model to identify hot spots where road-salt-contaminated groundwater leads to chloride pollution of surface waters.

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$1,775,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to reintroduce bison to Camden State Park as part of a statewide effort to preserve the American Plains bison genome. Reintroduction includes the design, construction, and installation of fencing, a handling facility, signage, exhibits, and other site improvements. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2030, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

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$1,890,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Hubbard County Soil and Water Conservation District, in cooperation with Minnesota Land Trust, to protect habitat, forest health, and water quality in the best fishing lakes by creating lake implementation action plans, conducting community-based habitat restorations and improvements, and protecting forest lands with conservation easements and Sustainable Forest Incentive Act (SFIA) enrollments within prioritized areas of the upper Mississippi River basin in Hubbard County. Of this amount, up to $168,000 is for deposit in a monitoring fund to be used by Minnesota Land Trust as approved in the work plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.20.

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$426,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail to plan, design a route for, secure access for, develop community support for, and begin construction of a backpacking-focused trail across southeast Minnesota's Driftless Area. Construction of trails with this appropriation must occur on public or permanently protected lands or lands secured through long-term agreements as defined in the approved work plan. A trail plan must be complete before money is used for trail construction. Before this appropriation is spent, a fiscal agent for Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail must be approved in the work plan.

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$4,791,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to solicit and rank applications and fund competitive matching grants for local parks, trail connections, and natural and scenic areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 85.019. This appropriation is for local nature-based recreation, connections to regional and state natural areas, and recreation facilities and may not be used for athletic facilities, such as sport fields, courts, or playgrounds.

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$1,886,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota to complete efficient, time-sensitive acquisitions of high-priority state park inholdings from willing sellers, deconstruct buildings and reuse building materials, and convey properties to the state to protect and enhance Minnesota's environment and public recreation opportunities. This appropriation may not be used to purchase habitable residential structures.

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$957,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to strategically acquire from willing sellers high-quality lands that meet criteria for scientific and natural areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

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$3,000,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Metropolitan Council to acquire land within the approved boundaries of the metropolitan regional park system. This appropriation must be matched by an equal amount from a combination of Metropolitan Council and local agency money. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

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$170,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the city of Oronoco to complete a master plan for the Zumbro River Regional Water Trail that considers existing amenities, connections from towns to natural features, and improved user experience. This appropriation may also be used to create a joint powers board among the four counties and multiple jurisdictions connected to the Zumbro River to guide the master plan development.

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$2,925,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Dakota County to create a nonmotorized boat launch; complete a cultural resource management plan; construct hiking trails; and restore prairie, woodland, and savanna along the Mississippi River in Spring Lake Park Reserve. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

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$5,036,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to expand recreational opportunities on Minnesota state trails by rehabilitating and enhancing existing state trails and replacing or repairing existing state trail bridges. The high-priority trail bridges to be rehabilitated or replaced under this appropriation include but are not limited to those on the Arrowhead, Great River Ridge, C.J. Ramstad-Northshore, Harmony-Preston Valley, Shooting Star, and Minnesota Valley State Trails and the Pengilly-Alborn Railroad Trail. High-priority trail segments to develop and enhance include but are not limited to the Brown's Creek, Gitchi Gami, Minnesota Valley, Root River, and Cuyuna Lakes State Trails. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

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$197,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the city of Babbitt to design a new marina at the Birch Lake Recreation Area in Babbitt, Minnesota.

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$934,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Otter Tail County to construct a trail along County State-Aid Highway 35 to connect the cities of Dent and Vergas to the Heart of the Lakes Regional Trail and Maplewood State Park to provide recreation and nonmotorized transportation opportunities.

Appropriation Language
$750,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources for administration in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.09, subdivision 5. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2025. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.11, paragraph (b), Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.281, applies to this appropriation.

Appropriation Language
$1,071,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources for an emerging issues account authorized in Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.08, subdivision 4, paragraph (d).

Appropriation Language
$275,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources, at the direction of the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, for expenses incurred in preparing and administering contracts, including for the agreements specified in this section.