DEPARTMENT: Environmental Resources
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Execute $6,066,000 State Outdoor Heritage Fund Grant Agreement For Natural Resource Protection And Restoration And Amend 2022 Environmental Resources Capital Improvement Program And Environmental Legacy Fund Budgets
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize execution of a $6,066,000 2022 Minnesota Legislature Outdoor Heritage (OH) Grant Agreement with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and amend the 2022 Environmental Resources (ER) Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Environmental Legacy Fund Budgets (ELF).
SUMMARY
The Minnesota Clean Water, Land, and Legacy constitutional amendment was approved in 2008, increasing the state sales and use tax and dedicating this revenue to natural resources and clean water, arts and cultural heritage, and parks and trails. A portion of the funds is accessed through application to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC), which makes funding recommendations to the state legislature for projects to protect, improve, and enhance wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat. By Resolution No. 21-265 (May 18, 2021), the County Board authorized the submission of an $8.1 million proposal that included funding for habitat restoration and enhancement in Regional Parks, Park Reserves, County Park Conservation Areas, other public lands, and protected private lands and acquisition of conservation easements and fee title of land located within regional greenway corridors, Conservation Focus Areas, and other areas containing priority natural areas. The LSOHC recommended $6,066,000 of OH funds for the County to the 2022 Minnesota Legislature (ML22) in May 2022, and the ML22 appropriated $6,066,000 of OH funds [ML 2022, Chapter 77, Article 1, Section. 2, Subd. 5(a) Dakota County Habitat Protection and Restoration, Ph. VII] to the DNR commissioner for a grant agreement with the County to acquire permanent ...
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