Minnesota Legislature
2020 Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Recommendations
As of July 17, 2019, the Legislative‐Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) has tentatively selected through simple majority 77 projects totaling $61,387,000 to recommend to the 2020 Minnesota Legislature for funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF). A final decision on recommendations is pending. In response to LCCMR's 2020 Request for Proposal (RFP), 290 proposals requesting a total of approximately $203 million were received and considered through a competitive, multi‐stage evaluation. The following tentative recommendations range from funding the full proposal and dollar amount requested to partial funding for specific proposal elements.
LINKS TO:
- Print-ready PDF list of the M.L. 2020 proposals recommended by the LCCMR (7-pages).
- Print-ready PDF list of the M.L. 2020 proposals recommended by the LCCMR with summary (12-pages).
- Summary and process of the M.L. 2020 proposals recommended by the LCCMR.
- Additional information on LCCMR's M.L. 2020 proposal and funding process
Viewing Original Proposals and Draft Work Plans
- Click on the proposal ENRTF ID # to view the original proposal
- To find specific projects within the table you can use your browser's page-search function to search for a project by Project Manager 'Last Name', 'Project Title', or 'Organization'. In most browsers, the page-search function can be accessed under the browser's 'Edit' drop-down menu or by pressing 'Control+F' on a PC or 'Command+F' on a Mac.
| Topic Area | ENRTF $ ($61,387,000) |
Percentage of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Subd. 03 Foundational Natural Resource Data and Information (15 Projects) |
$8,593,000 | 14.00% |
| Subd. 04 Water Resources (8 Projects) |
$3,653,000 | 5.95% |
| Subd. 05 Technical Assistance, Outreach, and Environmental Education (9 Projects) |
$2,738,000 | 4.46% |
| Subd. 06 Aquatic and Terrestrial Invasive Species (7 Projects) |
$10,425,000 | 16.98% |
| Subd. 07 Air Quality and Renewable Energy (3 Projects) |
$573,000 | 0.93% |
| Subd. 08 Methods to Protect or Restore Land, Water, and Habitat (12 Projects) |
$4,219,000 | 6.87% |
| Subd. 09 Land Acquisition, Habitat, and Recreation (21 Projects) |
$29,551,000 | 48.14% |
| Subd. 10 Contract Agreement Reimbursement (1 Project) |
$135,000 | 0.22% |
| Subd. 11 Wastewater Treatment Recommendations (1 Project) |
$1,500,000 | 2.44% |
| Total Project $ | $61,387,000 | 100% |
| Fund Source | $ Amount |
|---|---|
| FY 2021 - Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) | $61,387,000 |
| Total $ | $61,387,000 |
*NOTE: Region designated in the State include Statewide, Central, Metro, NE, NW, SE, SW. Metro region includes the 11 counties of Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright.
| Draft Work Plan Subd. |
Original Proposal ENRTF ID |
Title | Total ENRTF $ FY2021 | Organization | Project Manager |
Region* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subd. 03 Foundational Natural Resource Data and Information (15 Projects - Subtotal = $8,593,000) |
||||||
| 03a | 001-A | Geologic Atlases for Water Resource Management | $2,000,000 | U of MN - Minnesota Geological Survey | Barbara Lusardi | Statewide |
| 03b | 002-A | Expanding Minnesota Ecological Monitoring Network | $800,000 | MN DNR | Hannah Texler | Statewide |
| 03c | 007-A | County Groundwater Atlas | $1,125,000 | MN DNR | Paul Putzier | Statewide |
| 03d | 008-A | Foundational Hydrology Data for Wetland Protection and Restoration | $400,000 | MN DNR | Jennie Skancke | Statewide |
| 03e | 014-A | Voyageurs Wolf Project – Phase II | $575,000 | U of MN | Joseph Bump | NE |
| 03f | 016-A | Expanding Restoration and Promoting Awareness of Native Mussels | $489,000 | Minnesota Zoological Society | Seth Stapleton | Statewide |
| 03g | 017-A | Improving Pollinator Conservation by Revealing Habitat Needs | $500,000 | U of MN | Colleen Satyshur | Statewide |
| 03h | 018-A | Bee Minnesota - Protect our Native Bumblebees | $650,000 | U of MN | Declan Schroeder | Statewide |
| 03i | 019-A | Bobcat and Fisher Habitat Use and Interactions | $400,000 | U of MN | Michael Joyce | Central, Metro, NW, NE |
| 03j | 025-A | Healthy Prairies III: Restoring Minnesota Prairie Plant Diversity | $500,000 | U of MN | Ruth Shaw | Central, Metro, NW, SW, SE |
| 03k | 040-A | Freshwater Sponges and AIS: Engaging Citizen Scientists | $400,000 | U of MN | Venugopal Mukku | Statewide |
| 03l | 047-AH | Do Beavers Buffer Against Droughts and Floods? | $168,000 | Voyageurs National Park | Steve Windels | NE |
| 03m | 048-AH | Enhancing Bat Recovery by Optimizing Artificial Roost Structures | $190,000 | MN DNR | Ed Quinn | Statewide |
| 03n | 049-AH | Tools for Supporting Healthy Ecosystems and Pollinators | $198,000 | MN DNR | Jessica Petersen | Statewide |
| 03o | 056-AH | Conserving Black Terns and Forster's Terns in Minnesota | $198,000 | U of MN - Duluth NRRI | Annie Bracey | Statewide |
| Foundational Natural Resource Data and Information Subtotal = | $8,593,000 | |||||
| Subd.04 Water Resources (8 Projects - Subtotal = $3,653,000) |
||||||
| 04a | 070-B | Unprecedented Change Threatens Minnesota's Pristine Lakes | $600,000 | Science Museum of Minnesota | Mark Edlund | Central, NW, NE |
| 04b | 080-B | Managing Highly Saline Waste from Municipal Water Treatment | $250,000 | U of MN | Natasha Wright | Statewide |
| 04c | 083-B | Technology for Energy-Generating On-site Industrial Wastewater Treatment | $450,000 | U of MN | Paige Novak | Statewide |
| 04d | 087-B | Microplastics: Transporters of Contaminants in Minnesota Waters | $425,000 | U of MN | Lee Penn | Statewide |
| 04e | 098-B | Developing Strategies to Manage PFAS in Land-Applied Biosolids | $1,000,000 | Minnesota Pollution Control Agency | Summer Streets | Statewide |
| 04f | 104-B | Quantifying New Urban Precipitation and Water Reality | $500,000 | U of MN | Joe Magner | Statewide |
| 04g | 114-B | Innovative Solution for Protecting Minnesota from PFAS Contamination | $250,000 | Dem-Con | Bill Keegan | Metro |
| 04h | 116-BH | Expanding Protection of Minnesota Water through Industrial Conservation | $178,000 | U of MN | Laura Babcock | Statewide |
| Water Resources Subtotal = | $3,653,000 | |||||
| Subd. 05 Technical Assistance, Outreach, and Environmental Education (9 Projects - Subtotal = $2,738,000) |
||||||
| 05a | 122-C | Statewide Environmental Education via Public Television Outdoor Series | $300,000 | Pioneer Public Television | Cindy Dorn | Statewide |
| 05b | 123-C | Minnesota Freshwater Quest: Environmental Education on State Waterways | $500,000 | Wilderness Inquiry | Julie Edmiston | Statewide |
| 05c | 124-C | Teach Science: Schools as STEM Living Laboratories | $250,000 | Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy | Kristen Poppleton | Statewide |
| 05d | 125-C | Mentoring Next Generation of Conservation Professionals | $500,000 | Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc. | Deborah Loon | Central, Metro, SE |
| 05e | 127-C | Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Supplemental Teaching Staff | $225,000 | City of Austin | Luke Reese | SE |
| 05f | 129-C | 375 Underserved Youth Learn Minnesota Ecosystems by Canoe | $375,000 | YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities | Kurt Simer | Metro, NE |
| 05g | 137-CH | YES! Students Take on Water Quality Challenge - Phase II | $199,000 | Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center | Shelli-Kae Foster | Statewide |
| 05h | 138-CH | Engaging Minnesotans with Phenology: Radio, Podcasts, Citizen Science | $198,000 | Northern Community Radio, Inc. | Maggie Montgomery | Statewide |
| 05i | 139-CH | Driving Conservation Behavior for Native Mussels and Water Quality | $191,000 | Minnesota Zoo | Emily Kalnicky | Statewide |
| Technical Assistance, Outreach, and Environmental Education Subtotal = | $2,738,000 | |||||
| Subd.06 Aquatic and Terrestrial Invasive Species (7 Projects - Subtotal = $10,425,000) |
||||||
| 06a | 155-D | Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center (MITPPC) - Phase V | $5,000,000 | U of MN - MITPPC | Robert Venette | Statewide |
| 06b | 156-D | Protect Community Forests by Managing Ash for Emerald Ash Borer | $3,500,000 | MN DNR | Valerie McClannahan | Statewide |
| 06c | 157-D | Biological Control of White-Nose Syndrome in Bats - Phase III | $440,000 | U of MN | Christine Salomon | Statewide |
| 06d | 158-D | Applying New Tools and Techniques Against Invasive Carp | $478,000 | MN DNR | Brian Nerbonne | Central, SW |
| 06e | 159-D | Emerald Ash Borer and Black Ash: Maintaining Forests and Benefits | $700,000 | U of MN | Robert Slesak | Statewide |
| 06f | 167-DH | Testing Effectiveness of Aquatic Invasive Species Removal Methods | $110,000 | U of MN - Duluth NRRI | Valerie Brady | Statewide |
| 06g | 168-DH | Invasive Didymosphenia Threatens North Shore Streams | $197,000 | Science Museum of Minnesota | Mark Edlund | NE |
| Aquatic and Terrestrial Invasive Species Subtotal = | $10,425,000 | |||||
| Subd. 07 Air Quality and Renewable Energy (3 Projects - Subtotal = $573,000) |
||||||
| 07a | 173-E | Storing Renewable Energy in Flow Battery for Grid Use | $250,000 | U of MN - Morris | Bryan Herrmann | Central |
| 07b | 198-EH | Eco-Friendly Plastics from Cloquet Pulp-Mill Lignin | $193,000 | U of MN | Simo Sarkanen | Central, NW, NE |
| 07c | 199-EH | Diverting Unsold Food from Landfills and Reducing Greenhouse Gases | $130,000 | Second Harvest Heartland | April Rog | Metro |
| Air Quality and Renewable Energy Subtotal = | $573,000 | |||||
| Subd. 08 Methods to Protect or Restore Land, Water, and Habitat (12 Projects - Subtotal = $4,219,000) |
||||||
| 08a | 207-F | Pollinator Central: Habitat Improvement with Citizen Monitoring | $750,000 | Great River Greening | Rebecca Tucker | Central, Metro |
| 08b | 209-F | Pollinator and Beneficial Insect Strategic Habitat Program | $750,000 | MN Board of Water and Soil Resources | Dan Shaw | Statewide |
| 08c | 215-F | Lignin-Coated Fertilizers for Phosphate Control | $250,000 | U of MN - Duluth NRRI | Eric Singsaas | Statewide |
| 08d | 216-F | Implementing Hemp Crop Rotation to Improve Water Quality | $700,000 | Central Lakes College | Keith Olander | Central, Metro, SW |
| 08e | 218-F | Developing Cover-Crop Systems for Sugar Beet Production | $300,000 | U of MN | Anna Cates | Central, NW |
| 08f | 219-F | Native Eastern Larch Beetle Decimating Minnesota's Tamarack Forests | $398,000 | U of MN | Brian Aukema | Central, Metro, NW, NE |
| 08g | 224-F | Habitat Associations of Mississippi Bottomland Forest Marsh Birds | $275,000 | National Audubon Society | Rob Schultz | SE |
| 08h | 244-FH | Peatland Restoration in the Lost River State Forest | $135,000 | Roseau River Watershed District | Torin McCormack | NW |
| 08i | 245-FH | Prescribed Burning for Brushland-Dependent Species - Phase II | $147,000 | U of MN | Rebecca Montgomery | NE |
| 08j | 247-FH | Pollinator Habitat Creation Along Urban Mississippi River | $129,000 | Friends of the Mississippi River | Betsy Daub | Metro |
| 08k | 255-FH | Increase Golden Shiner Production to Protect Aquatic Communities | $188,000 | U of MN - Duluth - Sea Grant | John Downing | Statewide |
| 08l | 259-FH | Restoring Turf to Native Pollinator Gardens Across Metro | $197,000 | Wilderness in the City | Holly Jenkins | Metro |
| Methods to Protect, Restore, and Enhance Land, Water, and Habitat Subtotal = | $4,219,000 | |||||
| Subd. 09 Land Acquisition, Habitat, and Recreation (21 Projects - Subtotal = $29,551,000) |
||||||
| 09a | 261-G | DNR Scientific and Natural Areas | $3,000,000 | MN DNR | Molly Roske | Statewide |
| 09b | 262-G | Private Native Prairie Conservation through Native Prairie Bank | $2,000,000 | MN DNR | Judy Schulte | Central, NW, SW, SE |
| 09c | 263-G | Minnesota State Parks and State Trails Inholdings | $3,500,000 | MN DNR | Jennifer Christie | Statewide |
| 09d | 264-G | Grants for Local Parks, Trails, and Natural Areas | $2,400,000 | MN DNR | Audrey Mularie | Statewide |
| 09e | 265-G | Mississippi River Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Mussel Reintroduction | $1,800,000 | Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board | Adam Arvidson | Metro |
| 09f | 266-G | Minnesota Hunter Walking Trails: Public Land Recreational Access | $300,000 | Ruffed Grouse Society | Gary Drotts | Central, NW, NE |
| 09g | 267-G | Turning Back to Rivers: Environmental and Recreational Protection | $1,000,000 | The Trust for Public Land | DJ Forbes | Central, Metro, SW, SE |
| 09h | 268-G | Metropolitan Regional Parks System Land Acquisition - Phase VI | $1,000,000 | Metropolitan Council | Jessica Lee | Metro |
| 09i | 269-G | Minnesota State Trails Development | $994,000 | MN DNR | Kent Skaar | Statewide |
| 09j | 270-G | Elm Creek Restoration - Phase IV | $500,000 | City of Champlin | Todd Tuominen | Metro |
| 09k | 271-G | Superior Hiking Trail As Environmental Showcase | $450,000 | Superior Hiking Trail Association | Denny Caneff | NE |
| 09l | 274-G | Upper St. Anthony Falls Enhancements | $2,800,000 | Friends of the Lock & Dam | Kjersti Monson | Metro |
| 09m | 275-G | Whiskey Creek and Mississippi River Water Quality, Habitat, and Recreation | $500,000 | Mississippi Headwaters Board | Tim Terrill | Central |
| 09n | 276-G | Perham to Pelican Rapids Regional Trail (West Segment) | $2,600,000 | Otter Tail County | Charles Grotte | Central |
| 09o | 277-G | Crow Wing County Community Natural Area Acquisition | $400,000 | Crow Wing County | Ryan Simonson | Central |
| 09p | 279-G | Rocori Trail - Phase III | $1,200,000 | Rocori Trail Construction Board | Kevin Mooney | Central |
| 09q | 281-G | Mesabi Trail: New Trail and Additional Funding | $1,000,000 | St. Louis and Lake Counties Regional Railroad Authority | Robert Manzoline | NE |
| 09r | 283-G | Ranier Safe Harbor and Transient Dock on Rainy Lake | $762,000 | City of Ranier | Sherril Gautreaux | NE |
| 09s | 284-G | Crane Lake Voyageurs National Park Campground and Visitors Center | $3,100,000 | Town of Crane Lake | Jim Janssen | NE |
| 09t | 285-GH | Chippewa County Acquisition, Recreation and Education | $160,000 | Chippewa County | Scott Williams | SW |
| 09u | 289-GH | Sportsmen's Training and Developmental Learning Center | $85,000 | Minnesota Forest Zone Trappers Association | Ray Sogard | NE |
| Land Acquisition, Habitat, and Recreation Subtotal = | $29,551,000 | |||||
| Subd. 10 Contract Agreement Reimbursement (1 Project - Subtotal = $135,000) |
||||||
| 10 | 290-I | Contract Agreement Reimbursement | $135,000 | MN DNR | Katherine Sherman-Hoehn | Statewide |
| Contract Agreement Reimbursement Subtotal = | $135,000 | |||||
| Subd. 11 Wastewater Treatment Recommendations (1 Project - Subtotal = $1,500,000) |
||||||
| 11 | 291-J | Wastewater Treatment Recommendations | $1,500,000 | Public Facilities Authority | Jeff Freeman | Statewide |
| Wastewater Treatment Recommendations Subtotal = | $1,500,000 | |||||
| Total $ Recommended = | $61,387,000 | |||||