1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; appropriating money from outdoor heritage fund; 
1.3 	modifying requirements for use of outdoor heritage fund money; modifying 
1.4 	previous appropriation;amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 97A.056, 
1.5 	subdivision 8, by adding subdivisions; Laws 2014, chapter 256, article 1, section 
1.6 	2, subdivision 5.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8	Section 1. OUTDOOR HERITAGE APPROPRIATION.
 	
1.9 	The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the 
1.10 	agencies and for the purposes specified in this act. The appropriations are from the outdoor 
1.11 	heritage fund for the fiscal year indicated for each purpose. The figures "2016" and "2017" 
1.12 	used in this act mean that the appropriations listed under the figure are available for the 
1.13 	fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, and June 30, 2017, respectively. The "first year" is fiscal 
1.14 	year 2016. The "second year" is fiscal year 2017. The "biennium" is fiscal years 2016 and 
1.15 	2017, respectively. The appropriations in this act are onetime.

1.16				APPROPRIATIONS
	
1.17				Available for the Year
	
1.18				Ending June 30
	
1.19					2016
		2017

1.20	Sec. 2. OUTDOOR HERITAGE FUND

1.21	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	100,008,000
	$
	607,000
	
1.22 	This appropriation is from the outdoor 
1.23 	heritage fund. The amounts that may be 
1.24 	spent for each purpose are specified in the 
1.25 	following subdivisions.

2.1	Subd. 2.Prairies
 		40,948,000
		-0-

2.2
2.3
2.4	(a) DNR Wildlife Management Area and 
Scientific and Natural Area Acquisition - Phase 
VII
					
2.5 	$4,570,000 in the first year is to the 
2.6 	commissioner of natural resources to acquire 
2.7 	land in fee for wildlife management purposes 
2.8 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
2.9 	subdivision 8, and to acquire land in fee 
2.10 	for scientific and natural area purposes 
2.11 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
2.12 	subdivision 5. Subject to evaluation criteria 
2.13 	in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority 
2.14 	must be given to acquisition of lands that 
2.15 	are eligible for the native prairie bank under 
2.16 	Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands 
2.17 	adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of 
2.18 	proposed land and permanent conservation 
2.19 	easement acquisitions must be provided as 
2.20 	part of the required accomplishment plan.

2.21
2.22	(b) Accelerating Wildlife Management Area 
Acquisition - Phase VII
					
2.23 	$7,452,000 in the first year is to the 
2.24 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
2.25 	agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire 
2.26 	land in fee for wildlife management area 
2.27 	purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 
2.28 	86A.05, subdivision 8. Subject to evaluation 
2.29 	criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, 
2.30 	priority must be given to acquisition of 
2.31 	lands that are eligible for the native prairie 
2.32 	bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 
2.33 	84.96, or lands adjacent to protected native 
2.34 	prairie. A list of proposed land acquisitions 
2.35 	must be provided as part of the required 
2.36 	accomplishment plan.

3.1
3.2	(c) Minnesota Prairie Recovery Project - Phase 
VI
					
3.3 	$4,032,000 in the first year is to the 
3.4 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
3.5 	agreement with The Nature Conservancy 
3.6 	to acquire native prairie, wetlands, and 
3.7 	savanna and restore and enhance grasslands, 
3.8 	wetlands, and savanna. Subject to evaluation 
3.9 	criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, 
3.10 	priority must be given to acquisition of lands 
3.11 	that are eligible for the native prairie bank 
3.12 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or 
3.13 	lands adjacent to protected native prairie. 
3.14 	Annual income statements and balance sheets 
3.15 	for income and expenses from land acquired 
3.16 	with this appropriation must be submitted 
3.17 	to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage 
3.18 	Council no later than 180 days following 
3.19 	the close of The Nature Conservancy's fiscal 
3.20 	year. A list of proposed land acquisitions 
3.21 	must be provided as part of the required 
3.22 	accomplishment plan and must be consistent 
3.23 	with the priorities identified in the Minnesota 
3.24 	Prairie Conservation Plan.

3.25
3.26	(d) Northern Tallgrass Prairie National 
Wildlife Refuge Land Acquisition - Phase V
					
3.27 	$3,430,000 in the first year is to the 
3.28 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
3.29 	agreement with The Nature Conservancy 
3.30 	in cooperation with the United States Fish 
3.31 	and Wildlife Service to acquire land in 
3.32 	fee or permanent conservation easements 
3.33 	within the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Habitat 
3.34 	Preservation Area in western Minnesota 
3.35 	for addition to the Northern Tallgrass 
3.36 	Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. Subject 
4.1 	to evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, 
4.2 	part 6136.0900, priority must be given to 
4.3 	acquisition of lands that are eligible for 
4.4 	the native prairie bank under Minnesota 
4.5 	Statutes, section 84.96, or lands adjacent to 
4.6 	protected native prairie. A list of proposed 
4.7 	land acquisitions must be provided as part 
4.8 	of the required accomplishment plan and 
4.9 	must be consistent with the priorities in the 
4.10 	Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan.

4.11
4.12	(e) Accelerated Native Prairie Bank Protection 
- Phase IV
					
4.13 	$3,740,000 in the first year is to the 
4.14 	commissioner of natural resources 
4.15 	to implement the Minnesota Prairie 
4.16 	Conservation Plan through the acquisition 
4.17 	of permanent conservation easements to 
4.18 	protect native prairie and grasslands. Up 
4.19 	to $165,000 is for establishing monitoring 
4.20 	and enforcement funds as approved in 
4.21 	the accomplishment plan and subject to 
4.22 	Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, 
4.23 	subdivision 17. Subject to evaluation criteria 
4.24 	in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority 
4.25 	must be given to acquisition of lands that 
4.26 	are eligible for the native prairie bank under 
4.27 	Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands 
4.28 	adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of 
4.29 	permanent conservation easements must be 
4.30 	provided as part of the final report. 

4.31
4.32	(f) Minnesota Buffers for Wildlife and Water 
- Phase V
					
4.33 	$4,544,000 in the first year is to the Board 
4.34 	of Water and Soil Resources to acquire 
4.35 	permanent conservation easements to protect 
4.36 	and enhance habitat by expanding the clean 
5.1 	water fund riparian buffer program for at 
5.2 	least equal wildlife benefits from buffers 
5.3 	on private land. Up to $72,500 is for 
5.4 	establishing a monitoring and enforcement 
5.5 	fund as approved in the accomplishment plan 
5.6 	and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
5.7 	97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of permanent 
5.8 	conservation easements must be provided as 
5.9 	part of the final report.

5.10
5.11	(g) Cannon River Headwaters Habitat 
Complex - Phase V
					
5.12 	$1,380,000 in the first year is to the 
5.13 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
5.14 	agreement with The Trust for Public Land to 
5.15 	acquire and restore lands in the Cannon River 
5.16 	watershed for wildlife management purposes 
5.17 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
5.18 	subdivision 8. Subject to evaluation criteria 
5.19 	in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority 
5.20 	must be given to acquisition of lands that 
5.21 	are eligible for the native prairie bank under 
5.22 	Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands 
5.23 	adjacent to protected native prairie. A list of 
5.24 	proposed land acquisitions must be provided 
5.25 	as part of the required accomplishment plan.

5.26
5.27	(h) Prairie Chicken Habitat Partnership of the 
Southern Red River Valley
					
5.28 	$1,800,000 in the first year is to the 
5.29 	commissioner of natural resources for 
5.30 	an agreement with Pheasants Forever in 
5.31 	cooperation with the Minnesota Prairie 
5.32 	Chicken Society to acquire and restore lands 
5.33 	in the southern Red River Valley for wildlife 
5.34 	management purposes under Minnesota 
5.35 	Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, 
5.36 	or for designation and management as 
6.1 	waterfowl production areas in Minnesota, 
6.2 	in cooperation with the United States Fish 
6.3 	and Wildlife Service. A list of proposed land 
6.4 	acquisitions must be provided as part of the 
6.5 	required accomplishment plan.

6.6
6.7	(i) Protecting and Restoring Minnesota's 
Important Bird Areas
					
6.8 	$1,730,000 in the first year is to the 
6.9 	commissioner of natural resources for 
6.10 	agreements to acquire conservation 
6.11 	easements within important bird areas 
6.12 	identified in the Minnesota Prairie 
6.13 	Conservation Plan, to be used as follows: 
6.14 	$408,000 is to Audubon Minnesota and 
6.15 	$1,322,000 is to Minnesota Land Trust, of 
6.16 	which up to $100,000 is for establishing 
6.17 	monitoring and enforcement funds as 
6.18 	approved in the accomplishment plan and 
6.19 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
6.20 	97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of permanent 
6.21 	conservation easements must be provided as 
6.22 	part of the final report.

6.23
6.24	(j) Wild Rice River Corridor Habitat 
Restoration
					
6.25 	$2,270,000 in the first year is to the 
6.26 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
6.27 	agreement with the Wild Rice Watershed 
6.28 	District to acquire land in fee and permanent 
6.29 	conservation easement and to `restore river 
6.30 	and related habitat in the Wild Rice River 
6.31 	corridor. A list of proposed acquisitions and 
6.32 	restorations must be provided as part of the 
6.33 	required accomplishment plan.

6.34
6.35	(k) Accelerated Prairie Restoration and 
Enhancement on DNR Lands - Phase VII
					
7.1 	$4,880,000 in the first year is to the 
7.2 	commissioner of natural resources to 
7.3 	accelerate the restoration and enhancement 
7.4 	of prairie communities on wildlife 
7.5 	management areas, scientific and natural 
7.6 	areas, state forest land, and land under 
7.7 	native prairie bank easements. A list of 
7.8 	proposed land restorations and enhancements 
7.9 	must be provided as part of the required 
7.10 	accomplishment plan.

7.11	(l) Enhanced Public Land Grasslands - Phase II
					
7.12 	$1,120,000 in the first year is to the 
7.13 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
7.14 	agreement with Pheasants Forever to enhance 
7.15 	and restore habitat on public lands. A list of 
7.16 	proposed land restorations and enhancements 
7.17 	must be provided as part of the final report.

7.18	Subd. 3.Forests
 		14,822,000
		-0-

7.19
7.20	(a) Protecting Forest Wildlife Habitat in the 
Wild Rice River Watershed
					
7.21 	$2,188,000 in the first year is to the 
7.22 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
7.23 	agreement with the White Earth Nation 
7.24 	to acquire lands in fee to be managed for 
7.25 	wildlife habitat purposes. A list of proposed 
7.26 	land acquisitions must be provided as part of 
7.27 	the required accomplishment plan.

7.28	(b) Camp Ripley Partnership - Phase V
					
7.29 	$1,500,000 in the first year is to the 
7.30 	Board of Water and Soil Resources in 
7.31 	cooperation with the Morrison County Soil 
7.32 	and Water Conservation District to acquire 
7.33 	permanent conservation easements within 
7.34 	the boundaries of the Minnesota National 
7.35 	Guard Compatible Use Buffer to protect 
8.1 	forest wildlife habitat. Up to $55,000 is for 
8.2 	establishing a monitoring and enforcement 
8.3 	fund, as approved in the accomplishment 
8.4 	plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, 
8.5 	section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of 
8.6 	permanent conservation easements must be 
8.7 	provided as part of the final report.

8.8
8.9	(c) Southeast Minnesota Protection and 
Restoration - Phase III
					
8.10 	$2,910,000 in the first year is to the 
8.11 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
8.12 	agreement with The Nature Conservancy to 
8.13 	acquire land in fee for wildlife management 
8.14 	purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 
8.15 	86A.05, subdivision 8; to acquire land 
8.16 	in fee for scientific and natural areas 
8.17 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
8.18 	subdivision 5; for state forest purposes 
8.19 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
8.20 	subdivision 7; and to enhance grasslands, 
8.21 	forest, and savanna. A list of proposed 
8.22 	acquisitions must be provided as part of the 
8.23 	required accomplishment plan.

8.24
8.25	(d) Protecting Pinelands Sands Aquifer 
Forestlands - Phase II
					
8.26 	$2,180,000 in the first year is to the 
8.27 	commissioner of natural resources to 
8.28 	acquire forest lands in Cass and Wadena 
8.29 	Counties for wildlife management purposes 
8.30 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
8.31 	subdivision 8, and to acquire land in fee 
8.32 	for state forests under Minnesota Statutes, 
8.33 	section 86A.05, subdivision 7. A list of 
8.34 	proposed land acquisitions must be provided 
8.35 	as part of the required accomplishment plan.

9.1
9.2	(e) Protect Key Forest Lands in Cass County 
- Phase VI
					
9.3 	$442,000 in the first year is to the 
9.4 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
9.5 	agreement with Cass County to acquire land 
9.6 	in fee in Cass County for forest wildlife 
9.7 	habitat or to prevent forest fragmentation. 
9.8 	A list of proposed land acquisitions 
9.9 	must be provided as part of the required 
9.10 	accomplishment plan.

9.11
9.12	(f) Critical Shoreland Protection Program - 
Phase III
					
9.13 	$1,690,000 in the first year is to the 
9.14 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
9.15 	agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to 
9.16 	acquire permanent conservation easements 
9.17 	along rivers and lakes in the northern 
9.18 	forest region. Up to $220,000 is for 
9.19 	establishing a monitoring and enforcement 
9.20 	fund, as approved in the accomplishment 
9.21 	plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, 
9.22 	section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of 
9.23 	proposed permanent conservation easements 
9.24 	must be provided as part of the required 
9.25 	accomplishment plan. 

9.26
9.27	(g) Mississippi Headwaters Habitat 
Partnership 
					
9.28 	$961,000 in the first year is to the 
9.29 	commissioner of natural resources to 
9.30 	acquire lands in fee and for permanent 
9.31 	conservation easements in the Mississippi 
9.32 	Headwaters and for agreements as follows: 
9.33 	$1,217,000 to The Trust for Public Land; 
9.34 	and $824,000 to Minnesota Land Trust, 
9.35 	of which up to $80,000 is for establishing 
9.36 	a monitoring and enforcement fund as 
10.1 	approved in the accomplishment plan and 
10.2 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
10.3 	97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed 
10.4 	acquisitions must be included as part of the 
10.5 	required accomplishment plan.

10.6	(h) Southeast Forest Habitat Enhancement
					
10.7 	$910,000 in the first year is to the 
10.8 	commissioner of natural resources to 
10.9 	enhance forests in southeastern Minnesota. 
10.10 	A list of proposed land enhancements 
10.11 	must be provided as part of the required 
10.12 	accomplishment plan.

10.13	Subd. 4.Wetlands
 		20,390,000
		-0-

10.14
10.15	(a) Accelerating the Waterfowl Production 
Area Acquisition - Phase VII
					
10.16 	$7,620,000 in the first year is to the 
10.17 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
10.18 	agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire 
10.19 	land in fee to be designated and managed as 
10.20 	waterfowl production areas in Minnesota, 
10.21 	in cooperation with the United States Fish 
10.22 	and Wildlife Service. A list of proposed land 
10.23 	acquisitions must be provided as part of the 
10.24 	required accomplishment plan.

10.25
10.26	(b) Living Shallow Lakes and Wetland 
Initiative - Phase V
					
10.27 	$9,040,000 in the first year is to the 
10.28 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
10.29 	agreement with Ducks Unlimited to acquire 
10.30 	land in fee for wildlife management purposes 
10.31 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
10.32 	subdivision 8. A list of proposed acquisitions 
10.33 	must be provided as part of the required 
10.34 	accomplishment plan.

11.1
11.2	(c) Wild Rice Shoreland Protection Program 
- Phase IV
					
11.3 	$131,000 in the first year is to the 
11.4 	commissioner of natural resources for the 
11.5 	acquisition of land in fee and $1,469,000 is 
11.6 	to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to 
11.7 	acquire permanent conservation easements 
11.8 	on wild rice lake shoreland habitat for native 
11.9 	wild rice bed protection. Of this amount, up 
11.10 	to $90,000 to the Board of Water and Soil 
11.11 	Resources is for establishing a monitoring 
11.12 	and enforcement fund as approved in 
11.13 	the accomplishment plan and subject to 
11.14 	Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, 
11.15 	subdivision 17. A list of proposed fee land 
11.16 	acquisitions must be included as part of 
11.17 	the required accomplishment plan by the 
11.18 	Department of Natural Resources and a list 
11.19 	of permanent conservation easements must 
11.20 	be provided as part of the final report by the 
11.21 	Board of Water and Soil Resources. 

11.22
11.23	(d) Accelerated Shallow Lakes and Wetlands 
Enhancement - Phase VII
					
11.24 	$2,130,000 in the first year is to the 
11.25 	commissioner of natural resources to 
11.26 	enhance and restore shallow lakes statewide. 
11.27 	A list of proposed land restorations and 
11.28 	enhancements must be provided as part of 
11.29 	the required accomplishment plan.

11.30	Subd. 5.Habitats
 		22,368,000
		-0-

11.31	(a) DNR Aquatic Habitat - Phase VII
					
11.32 	$4,540,000 in the first year is to the 
11.33 	commissioner of natural resources to acquire 
11.34 	interests in land in fee and permanent 
11.35 	conservation easements for aquatic 
12.1 	management purposes under Minnesota 
12.2 	Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, 
12.3 	and 97C.02, and to restore and enhance 
12.4 	aquatic habitat. Up to $130,000 is for 
12.5 	establishing a monitoring and enforcement 
12.6 	fund as approved in the accomplishment 
12.7 	plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, 
12.8 	section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of 
12.9 	proposed land acquisitions and restorations 
12.10 	and enhancements must be provided as part 
12.11 	of the required accomplishment plan.

12.12	(b) Metro Big Rivers - Phase VI
					
12.13 	$2,000,000 in the first year is to the 
12.14 	commissioner of natural resources for 
12.15 	agreements to acquire land in fee and in 
12.16 	permanent conservation easements and 
12.17 	to restore and enhance natural systems 
12.18 	associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota, 
12.19 	and St. Croix Rivers as follows: $475,000 to 
12.20 	Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge 
12.21 	Trust, Inc.; $275,000 to Friends of the 
12.22 	Mississippi River; $400,000 to Great River 
12.23 	Greening; $375,000 to Minnesota Land Trust; 
12.24 	and $475,000 to The Trust for Public Land. 
12.25 	Up to $60,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is for 
12.26 	establishing a monitoring and enforcement 
12.27 	fund as approved in the accomplishment 
12.28 	plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, 
12.29 	section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of 
12.30 	proposed land acquisitions and permanent 
12.31 	conservation easements must be provided as 
12.32 	part of the required accomplishment plan.

12.33
12.34
12.35	(c) Minnesota Trout Unlimited Coldwater Fish 
Habitat Enhancement and Restoration - Phase 
VII
					
13.1 	$1,890,000 in the first year is to the 
13.2 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
13.3 	agreement with Minnesota Trout Unlimited 
13.4 	to restore and enhance habitat for trout 
13.5 	and other species in and along coldwater 
13.6 	rivers and streams in Minnesota. A list of 
13.7 	proposed restorations and enhancements 
13.8 	must be provided as part of the required 
13.9 	accomplishment plan.

13.10
13.11	(d) Lake Bemidji South Shore Restoration and 
Enhancement
					
13.12 	$1,650,000 in the first year is to the 
13.13 	commissioner of natural resources for 
13.14 	an agreement with the city of Bemidji to 
13.15 	restore and enhance fish habitat on Lake 
13.16 	Bemidji. A list of proposed restorations and 
13.17 	enhancements must be provided as part of 
13.18 	the required accomplishment plan.

13.19	(e) Sand Hill River Fish Passage
					
13.20 	$990,000 in the first year is to the 
13.21 	commissioner of natural resources for 
13.22 	an agreement with the Sand Hill River 
13.23 	Watershed District to restore fish habitat 
13.24 	in the Sand Hill River watershed. A list of 
13.25 	proposed restorations must be provided as 
13.26 	part of the required accomplishment plan.

13.27
13.28	(f) Shell Rock River Watershed Habitat 
Restoration Program - Phase IV
					
13.29 	$2,414,000 in the first year is to the 
13.30 	commissioner of natural resources for 
13.31 	an agreement with the Shell Rock River 
13.32 	Watershed District to protect, restore, 
13.33 	and enhance aquatic habitat in the Shell 
13.34 	Rock River watershed. A list of proposed 
13.35 	acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements 
14.1 	must be provided as part of the required 
14.2 	accomplishment plan. 

14.3
14.4	(g) Lake Nokomis Integrated Habitat 
Enhancement
					
14.5 	$444,000 in the first year is to the 
14.6 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
14.7 	agreement with the Minneapolis Park and 
14.8 	Recreation Board to enhance aquatic habitat 
14.9 	on Lake Nokomis. A list of proposed 
14.10 	enhancements must be provided as part of 
14.11 	the required accomplishment plan.

14.12
14.13
14.14	(h) Conservation Partners Legacy Grant 
Program: Statewide and Metro Habitat - 
Phase VII
					
14.15 	$8,440,000 in the first year is to the 
14.16 	commissioner of natural resources for a 
14.17 	program to provide competitive, matching 
14.18 	grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, 
14.19 	state, and national organizations for 
14.20 	enhancing, restoring, or protecting forests, 
14.21 	wetlands, prairies, or habitat for fish, game, 
14.22 	or wildlife in Minnesota. Of this amount, 
14.23 	$3,692,000 is for grants in the seven-county 
14.24 	metropolitan area and cities with a population 
14.25 	of 50,000 or greater. Grants shall not be made 
14.26 	for activities required to fulfill the duties 
14.27 	of owners of lands subject to conservation 
14.28 	easements. Grants shall not be made from the 
14.29 	appropriation in this paragraph for projects 
14.30 	that have a total project cost exceeding 
14.31 	$575,000. Of this appropriation, $596,000 
14.32 	may be spent for personnel costs and other 
14.33 	direct and necessary administrative costs. 
14.34 	Grantees may acquire land or interests in 
14.35 	land. Easements must be permanent. Grants 
14.36 	may not be used to establish easement 
15.1 	stewardship accounts. Land acquired in fee 
15.2 	must be open to hunting and fishing during 
15.3 	the open season unless otherwise provided 
15.4 	by law. The program must require a match 
15.5 	of at least ten percent from nonstate sources 
15.6 	for all grants. The match may be cash or 
15.7 	in-kind resources. For grant applications 
15.8 	of $25,000 or less, the commissioner shall 
15.9 	provide a separate, simplified application 
15.10 	process. Subject to Minnesota Statutes, the 
15.11 	commissioner of natural resources shall, 
15.12 	when evaluating projects of equal value, 
15.13 	give priority to organizations that have a 
15.14 	history of receiving or a charter to receive 
15.15 	private contributions for local conservation 
15.16 	or habitat projects. If acquiring land or a 
15.17 	conservation easement, priority must be 
15.18 	given to projects associated with or within 
15.19 	one mile of existing wildlife management 
15.20 	areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 
15.21 	86A.05, subdivision 8; scientific and natural 
15.22 	areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 
15.23 	84.033 and 86A.05, subdivision 5; or aquatic 
15.24 	management areas under Minnesota Statutes, 
15.25 	sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02. 
15.26 	All restoration or enhancement projects 
15.27 	must be on land permanently protected by 
15.28 	a permanent covenant ensuring perpetual 
15.29 	maintenance and protection of restored 
15.30 	and enhanced habitat, by a conservation 
15.31 	easement, or by public ownership or in 
15.32 	public waters as defined in Minnesota 
15.33 	Statutes, section 103G.005, subdivision 
15.34 	15. Priority must be given to restoration 
15.35 	and enhancement projects on public lands. 
15.36 	Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, 
16.1 	subdivision 13, applies to grants awarded 
16.2 	under this paragraph. This appropriation is 
16.3 	available until June 30, 2018. No less than 
16.4 	five percent of the amount of each grant 
16.5 	must be held back from reimbursement until 
16.6 	the grant recipient has completed a grant 
16.7 	accomplishment report by the deadline and 
16.8 	in the form prescribed by and satisfactory to 
16.9 	the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. 
16.10 	The commissioner shall provide notice of 
16.11 	the grant program in the game and fish law 
16.12 	summary prepared under Minnesota Statutes, 
16.13 	section 97A.051, subdivision 2.

16.14	Subd. 6.Administration
 		1,480,000
		607,000

16.15	(a) Contract Management
					
16.16 	$150,000 in the first year is to the 
16.17 	commissioner of natural resources for 
16.18 	contract management duties assigned in this 
16.19 	section. The commissioner shall provide an 
16.20 	accomplishment plan in the form specified by 
16.21 	the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council 
16.22 	on the expenditure of this appropriation. 
16.23 	The accomplishment plan must include a 
16.24 	copy of the grant contract template and 
16.25 	reimbursement manual. No money may 
16.26 	be expended prior to the Lessard-Sams 
16.27 	Outdoor Heritage Council's approval of the 
16.28 	accomplishment plan. 

16.29	(b) Legislative Coordinating Commission
					
16.30 	$608,000 in the first year and $607,000 
16.31 	in the second year are to the Legislative 
16.32 	Coordinating Commission for administrative 
16.33 	expenses of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor 
16.34 	Heritage Council and for compensation and 
16.35 	expense reimbursement of council members. 
17.1 	This appropriation is available until June 30, 
17.2 	2017. Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.281, 
17.3 	applies to this appropriation.

17.4	(c) Technical Evaluation Panel
					
17.5 	$100,000 in the first year is to the 
17.6 	commissioner of natural resources for a 
17.7 	technical evaluation panel to conduct up to 
17.8 	ten restoration evaluations under Minnesota 
17.9 	Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 10.

17.10	(d) Legacy Web Site
					
17.11 	$15,000 in the first year is to the Legislative 
17.12 	Coordinating Commission for the Web site 
17.13 	required in Minnesota Statutes, section 
17.14 	3.303, subdivision 10.

17.15	Subd. 7.Availability of Appropriation
 					
17.16 	Money appropriated in this section may 
17.17 	not be spent on activities unless they are 
17.18 	directly related to and necessary for a 
17.19 	specific appropriation and are specified in 
17.20 	the accomplishment plan approved by the 
17.21 	Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. 
17.22 	Money appropriated in this section must not 
17.23 	be spent on indirect costs or other institutional 
17.24 	overhead charges that are not directly related 
17.25 	to and necessary for a specific appropriation. 
17.26 	Unless otherwise provided, the amounts 
17.27 	in this section are available until June 30, 
17.28 	2018. For acquisition of real property, the 
17.29 	amounts in this section are available until 
17.30 	June 30, 2019, if a binding agreement with a 
17.31 	landowner or purchase agreement is entered 
17.32 	into by June 30, 2018, and closed no later 
17.33 	than June 30, 2019. Money for restoration or 
17.34 	enhancement is available until June 30, 2020, 
18.1 	or five years after acquisition, whichever is 
18.2 	later, in order to complete initial restoration 
18.3 	or enhancement work. If a project receives 
18.4 	at least 15 percent of its funding from federal 
18.5 	funds, the time period of the appropriation 
18.6 	may be extended to equal the availability 
18.7 	of federal funding to a maximum of six 
18.8 	years, provided the federal funding was 
18.9 	confirmed and included within the first draft 
18.10 	accomplishment plan. Money appropriated 
18.11 	for fee title acquisition of land may be used to 
18.12 	restore, enhance, and provide for public use 
18.13 	of the land acquired with the appropriation. 
18.14 	Public use facilities must have a minimal 
18.15 	impact on habitat in acquired lands.

18.16
18.17	Subd. 8.Payment Conditions and Capital 
Equipment Expenditures
 					
18.18 	All agreements referred to in this section must 
18.19 	be administered on a reimbursement basis 
18.20 	unless otherwise provided in this section. 
18.21 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 
18.22 	16A.41, expenditures directly related 
18.23 	to each appropriation's purpose made 
18.24 	on or after July 1, 2015, or the date of 
18.25 	accomplishment plan approval, whichever is 
18.26 	later, are eligible for reimbursement unless 
18.27 	otherwise provided in this section. For the 
18.28 	purposes of administering appropriations 
18.29 	and legislatively authorized agreements paid 
18.30 	out of the outdoor heritage fund, an expense 
18.31 	must be considered reimbursable by the 
18.32 	administering agency when the recipient 
18.33 	presents the agency with an invoice, or 
18.34 	binding agreement with the landowner, and 
18.35 	the recipient attests that the goods have 
18.36 	been received or the landowner agreement 
19.1 	is binding. Periodic reimbursement must 
19.2 	be made upon receiving documentation that 
19.3 	the items articulated in the accomplishment 
19.4 	plan approved by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor 
19.5 	Heritage Council have been achieved, 
19.6 	including partial achievements as evidenced 
19.7 	by progress reports approved by the 
19.8 	Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. 
19.9 	Reasonable amounts may be advanced to 
19.10 	projects to accommodate cash flow needs, 
19.11 	support future management of acquired 
19.12 	lands, or match a federal share. The 
19.13 	advances must be approved as part of the 
19.14 	accomplishment plan. Capital equipment 
19.15 	expenditures for specific items in excess of 
19.16 	$10,000 must be itemized in and approved as 
19.17 	part of the accomplishment plan.

19.18	Subd. 9.Mapping
 					
19.19 	Each direct recipient of money appropriated 
19.20 	in this section, as well as each recipient of 
19.21 	a grant awarded pursuant to this section, 
19.22 	must provide geographic information to the 
19.23 	Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council 
19.24 	for mapping any lands acquired in fee with 
19.25 	money appropriated in this section and 
19.26 	open to public taking of fish and game. 
19.27 	The commissioner of natural resources 
19.28 	shall include the lands acquired in fee with 
19.29 	money appropriated in this section on maps 
19.30 	showing public recreation opportunities. 
19.31 	Maps must include information on and 
19.32 	acknowledgement of the outdoor heritage 
19.33 	fund, including a notation of any restrictions.

19.34 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 97A.056, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
20.1 		Subd. 8.Revenues. (a) When a parcel of land that was previously purchased with 
20.2 	money from the outdoor heritage funds fund is transferred to the state, the owner of the 
20.3 	land shall disclose to the council and commissioner of natural resources:
20.4 	(1) all revenues generated from activities on the land from the time the land was 
20.5 	purchased with money from the outdoor heritage funds fund until the land was transferred 
20.6 	to the state;
20.7 	(2) all holding costs associated with managing the land between the time of purchase 
20.8 	with money from the outdoor heritage funds fund and the time the land was transferred to 
20.9 	the state; and
20.10 	(3) the total net revenues as determined by subtracting the costs described in clause 
20.11 	(2) from the revenues described in clause (1).
20.12 	(b) The owner of the land shall submit the total net revenues determined under 
20.13 	paragraph (a), clause (3), to the state no later than 60 days after the land is transferred to 
20.14 	the state.

20.15 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 97A.056, is amended by adding a subdivision 
20.16 	to read:
20.17 		Subd. 20.Donations. A recipient shall not accept a monetary donation or payment 
20.18 	from an owner of land that is acquired in fee in whole or in part with an appropriation from 
20.19 	the outdoor heritage fund that exceeds the documented expenses that are directly related 
20.20 	to and necessary for activities specified in the accomplishment plan approved by the 
20.21 	Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, unless expressly approved by the Lessard-Sams 
20.22 	Outdoor Heritage Council in the accomplishment plan. This subdivision does not apply to 
20.23 	donations that are not connected with the acquisition transaction or bargain sales, as defined 
20.24 	by Code of Federal Regulations, title 26, section 1.1011-2, provided that the purchase 
20.25 	price reimbursed by the state does not exceed the purchase price paid by the recipient.

20.26 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2016, and applies to money 
20.27 	appropriated on or after that date.

20.28 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 97A.056, is amended by adding a subdivision 
20.29 	to read:
20.30 		Subd. 21.Haying and grazing. Lands acquired with money appropriated from the 
20.31 	outdoor heritage fund may not be used for emergency haying and grazing in response to 
20.32 	federal or state disaster declarations. This subdivision does not apply to conservation 
20.33 	grazing under a management plan implemented before the effective date of this section.

21.1 	Sec. 6. Laws 2014, chapter 256, article 1, section 2, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

21.2	Subd. 5.Habitats
 		-0-
		30,890,000
	
21.3 	(a) DNR Aquatic Habitat - Phase VI
21.4 	$2,560,000 in the second year is to the 
21.5 	commissioner of natural resources to acquire 
21.6 	interests in land in fee and permanent 
21.7 	conservation easements for aquatic 
21.8 	management purposes under Minnesota 
21.9 	Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, 
21.10 	and 97C.02, and to restore and enhance 
21.11 	aquatic habitat. Up to $32,500 is for 
21.12 	establishing a monitoring and enforcement 
21.13 	fund as approved in the accomplishment 
21.14 	plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, 
21.15 	section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of 
21.16 	proposed land acquisitions and restorations 
21.17 	and enhancements must be provided as part 
21.18 	of the required accomplishment plan.
21.19 	(b) Fisheries Habitat Protection on 
21.20 	Strategic North Central Minnesota Lakes
21.21 	$2,130,000 in the second year is to the 
21.22 	commissioner of natural resources for 
21.23 	agreements with the Leech Lake Area 
21.24 	Watershed Foundation and Minnesota Land 
21.25 	Trust to acquire land in fee and permanent 
21.26 	conservation easements to sustain healthy 
21.27 	fish habitat on lakes in Aitkin, Cass, Crow 
21.28 	Wing, and Hubbard Counties as follows: 
21.29 	$1,150,300 to Leech Lake Area Watershed 
21.30 	Foundation; and $979,700 to Minnesota 
21.31 	Land Trust, of which up to $120,000 to 
21.32 	Minnesota Land Trust is for establishing 
21.33 	a monitoring and enforcement fund as 
21.34 	approved in the accomplishment plan and 
21.35 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
22.1 	97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of proposed 
22.2 	land acquisitions must be provided as part of 
22.3 	the required accomplishment plan.
22.4 	(c) Habitat Protection in Dakota County 
22.5 	- Phase V
22.6 	$1,190,000 in the second year is to the 
22.7 	commissioner of natural resources for a 
22.8 	contract with Dakota County to acquire 
22.9 	permanent conservation easements and land 
22.10 	in fee and to restore and enhance habitats in 
22.11 	rivers and lake watersheds in Dakota County. 
22.12 	Up to $15,000 to Dakota County is for 
22.13 	establishing a monitoring and enforcement 
22.14 	fund as approved in the accomplishment 
22.15 	plan and subject to Minnesota Statutes, 
22.16 	section 97A.056, subdivision 17. Lands 
22.17 	acquired or lands with easements acquired 
22.18 	with this appropriation may not be used for 
22.19 	emergency haying and grazing in response 
22.20 	to federal or state disaster declarations. 
22.21 	Conservation grazing under a management 
22.22 	plan that is already being implemented may 
22.23 	continue. A list of proposed land acquisitions 
22.24 	and restorations and enhancements must 
22.25 	be provided as part of the required 
22.26 	accomplishment plan.
22.27 	(d) Metro Big Rivers - Phase V
22.28 	$2,650,000 in the second year is to the 
22.29 	commissioner of natural resources for 
22.30 	agreements to acquire land in fee and 
22.31 	permanent conservation easements and 
22.32 	to restore and enhance natural systems 
22.33 	associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota, 
22.34 	and St. Croix Rivers as follows: $600,000 
22.35 	to Minnesota Valley National Wildlife 
23.1 	Refuge Trust, Inc.; $160,000 to Friends of 
23.2 	the Mississippi River; $400,000 to Great 
23.3 	River Greening; $590,000 to Minnesota 
23.4 	Land Trust, of which up to $77,000 is for 
23.5 	establishing a monitoring and enforcement 
23.6 	fund as approved in the accomplishment plan 
23.7 	and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
23.8 	97A.056, subdivision 17; and $900,000 to 
23.9 	The Trust for Public Land. Lands acquired 
23.10 	or lands with easements acquired with 
23.11 	this appropriation may not be used for 
23.12 	emergency haying and grazing in response 
23.13 	to federal or state disaster declarations. 
23.14 	Conservation grazing under a management 
23.15 	plan that is already being implemented may 
23.16 	continue. A list of proposed land acquisitions 
23.17 	and permanent conservation easements 
23.18 	must be provided as part of the required 
23.19 	accomplishment plan.
23.20 	(e) Mustinka River Fish and Wildlife 
23.21 	Habitat Corridor Rehabilitation
23.22 	$2,440,000 in the second year is to the 
23.23 	commissioner of natural resources for 
23.24 	an agreement with the Bois de Sioux 
23.25 	Watershed District to acquire land in fee 
23.26 	and to restore natural systems associated 
23.27 	with the Mustinka River located within the 
23.28 	Bois de Sioux Watershed. Lands acquired 
23.29 	with this appropriation may not be used for 
23.30 	emergency haying and grazing in response 
23.31 	to federal or state disaster declarations. 
23.32 	Conservation grazing under a management 
23.33 	plan that is already being implemented may 
23.34 	continue. A list of proposed land acquisitions 
23.35 	must be provided as part of the required 
23.36 	accomplishment plan.
24.1 	(f) Minnesota Trout Unlimited Coldwater 
24.2 	Fish Habitat Enhancement and 
24.3 	Restoration - Phase VI
24.4 	$1,900,000 in the second year is to the 
24.5 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
24.6 	agreement with Minnesota Trout Unlimited 
24.7 	to restore and enhance habitat for trout 
24.8 	and other species in and along coldwater 
24.9 	rivers and streams in Minnesota. A list of 
24.10 	proposed land restorations and enhancements 
24.11 	must be provided as part of the required 
24.12 	accomplishment plan.
24.13 	(g) St. Louis River Restoration Initiative - 
24.14 	Phase II
24.15 	$2,290,000 in the second year is to the 
24.16 	commissioner of natural resources to restore 
24.17 	habitat in the lower St. Louis River estuary. 
24.18 	Of this appropriation, up to $500,000 is for 
24.19 	an agreement with Minnesota Land Trust. A 
24.20 	list of proposed restorations must be provided 
24.21 	as part of the required accomplishment plan.
24.22 	(h) Knife River Habitat Rehabilitation - 
24.23 	Phase II
24.24 	$1,410,000 in the second year is to the 
24.25 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
24.26 	agreement with the Lake Superior Steelhead 
24.27 	Association to enhance trout habitat in the 
24.28 	Knife River watershed. A list of proposed 
24.29 	enhancements must be provided as part of 
24.30 	the required accomplishment plan.
24.31 	(i) Restoration and Enhancement of 
24.32 	Washington County Public Lands
24.33 	$430,000 in the second year is to the 
24.34 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
25.1 	agreement with Washington County to 
25.2 	restore and enhance habitat on public lands 
25.3 	in Washington County. A restoration and 
25.4 	enhancement plan and a list of proposed 
25.5 	land restorations and enhancements 
25.6 	must be provided as part of the required 
25.7 	accomplishment plan.
25.8 	(j) Wirth Park Enhancements
25.9 	$600,000 in the second year is to the 
25.10 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
25.11 	agreement with the Minneapolis Park Board 
25.12 	to enhance riparian and upland habitat 
25.13 	within Wirth Park in Hennepin County. 
25.14 	A restoration and enhancement plan and 
25.15 	a list of proposed land restorations and 
25.16 	enhancements must be provided as part of 
25.17 	the required accomplishment plan.
25.18 	(k) Evaluate Effectiveness of Aquatic 
25.19 	Invasive Species Prevention Strategies
25.20 	$4,040,000 in the second year is to the 
25.21 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
25.22 	agreement with the Central Minnesota 
25.23 	Initiative Fund to develop a series of pilot 
25.24 	projects to enhance aquatic habitat by 
25.25 	preventing the spread of aquatic invasive 
25.26 	species, including pilot projects conducting 
25.27 	education and outreach, inspection and 
25.28 	decontamination, enforcement, and other 
25.29 	activities. All pilot projects must be 
25.30 	conducted on a reimbursement basis and 
25.31 	require a match of nonoutdoor heritage fund 
25.32 	dollars. A required evaluation of results 
25.33 	must be funded with nonoutdoor heritage 
25.34 	fund dollars. The required evaluation must 
25.35 	evaluate the efficacy of inspection and 
26.1 	decontamination activities utilized in any of 
26.2 	the pilot projects in preventing the spread 
26.3 	of aquatic invasive species. A list of pilot 
26.4 	projects must be included in the required final 
26.5 	report. This appropriation is available until 
26.6 	June 30, 2019. The accomplishment plan 
26.7 	must accelerate the start of the pilot project.
26.8 	(l) Albert Lea Lake Management and 
26.9 	Invasive Species Control Structure - 
26.10 	Supplement
26.11 	$700,000 in the second year is added to 
26.12 	the appropriation contained in Laws 2013, 
26.13 	chapter 137, article 1, section 2, subdivision 
26.14 	5, paragraph (h), to the commissioner of 
26.15 	natural resources for an agreement with 
26.16 	the Shell Rock River Watershed District to 
26.17 	construct structural deterrents and lake level 
26.18 	controls.
26.19 	(m) Conservation Partners Legacy Grant 
26.20 	Program - Phase VI
26.21 	$4,550,000 in the second year is to the 
26.22 	commissioner of natural resources for a 
26.23 	program to provide competitive, matching 
26.24 	grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, 
26.25 	state, and national organizations for 
26.26 	enhancing, restoring, or protecting forests, 
26.27 	wetlands, prairies, or habitat for fish, game, 
26.28 	or wildlife in Minnesota. Grants shall not 
26.29 	be made for activities required to fulfill 
26.30 	the duties of owners of lands subject to 
26.31 	conservation easements. Grants shall not 
26.32 	be made from the appropriation in this 
26.33 	paragraph for projects that have a total 
26.34 	project cost exceeding $575,000. Of this 
26.35 	appropriation, $460,000 may be spent 
27.1 	for personnel costs and other direct and 
27.2 	necessary administrative costs. Grantees may 
27.3 	acquire land or interests in land. Easements 
27.4 	must be permanent. Grants may not be used 
27.5 	to establish easement stewardship accounts. 
27.6 	Land acquired in fee must be open to hunting 
27.7 	and fishing during the open season unless 
27.8 	otherwise provided by law. Lands acquired 
27.9 	or lands with easements acquired with this 
27.10 	appropriation may not be used for emergency 
27.11 	haying and grazing in response to federal 
27.12 	or state disaster declarations. Conservation 
27.13 	grazing under a management plan that is 
27.14 	already being implemented may continue. 
27.15 	The program shall require a match of at 
27.16 	least ten percent from nonstate sources 
27.17 	for all grants. The match may be cash or 
27.18 	in-kind resources. For grant applications 
27.19 	of $25,000 or less, the commissioner shall 
27.20 	provide a separate, simplified application 
27.21 	process. Subject to Minnesota Statutes, the 
27.22 	commissioner of natural resources shall, 
27.23 	when evaluating projects of equal value, 
27.24 	give priority to organizations that have a 
27.25 	history of receiving or charter to receive 
27.26 	private contributions for local conservation 
27.27 	or habitat projects. If acquiring land or a 
27.28 	conservation easement, priority shall be 
27.29 	given to projects associated with or within 
27.30 	one mile of existing wildlife management 
27.31 	areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 
27.32 	86A.05, subdivision 8; scientific and natural 
27.33 	areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 
27.34 	84.033 and 86A.05, subdivision 5; or aquatic 
27.35 	management areas under Minnesota Statutes, 
27.36 	sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02. 
28.1 	All restoration or enhancement projects 
28.2 	must be on land permanently protected by 
28.3 	a permanent covenant ensuring perpetual 
28.4 	maintenance and protection of restored 
28.5 	and enhanced habitat, by a conservation 
28.6 	easement, or by public ownership or in public 
28.7 	waters as defined in Minnesota Statutes, 
28.8 	section 103G.005, subdivision 15. Priority 
28.9 	shall be given to restoration and enhancement 
28.10 	projects on public lands. Minnesota Statutes, 
28.11 	section 97A.056, subdivision 13, applies 
28.12 	to grants awarded under this paragraph. 
28.13 	This appropriation is available until June 
28.14 	30, 2018. No less than five percent of the 
28.15 	amount of each grant must be held back from 
28.16 	reimbursement until the grant recipient has 
28.17 	completed a grant accomplishment report by 
28.18 	the deadline and in the form prescribed by 
28.19 	and satisfactory to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor 
28.20 	Heritage Council. The commissioner shall 
28.21 	provide notice of the grant program in 
28.22 	the game and fish law summary prepared 
28.23 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.051, 
28.24 	subdivision 2.
28.25 	(n) Conservation Partners Legacy Metro 
28.26 	Grant Program
28.27 	$4,000,000 in the second year is to the 
28.28 	commissioner of natural resources for a 
28.29 	program to provide competitive, matching 
28.30 	grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, 
28.31 	state, and national organizations for 
28.32 	enhancing, restoring, or protecting forests, 
28.33 	wetlands, prairies, or habitat for fish, game, 
28.34 	or wildlife in the seven-county metropolitan 
28.35 	area and cities with a population of 50,000 
28.36 	or greater. Grants shall not be made for 
29.1 	activities required to fulfill the duties of 
29.2 	owners of lands subject to conservation 
29.3 	easements. Grants shall not be made from the 
29.4 	appropriation in this paragraph for projects 
29.5 	that have a total project cost exceeding 
29.6 	$575,000. Of this appropriation, $70,000 
29.7 	may be spent for direct and necessary 
29.8 	administrative costs. Grantees may acquire 
29.9 	land or interests in land. Easements must 
29.10 	be permanent. Grants may not be used to 
29.11 	establish easement stewardship accounts. 
29.12 	Land acquired in fee must be open to hunting 
29.13 	and fishing during the open season unless 
29.14 	otherwise provided by law. Lands acquired 
29.15 	or lands with easements acquired with this 
29.16 	appropriation may not be used for emergency 
29.17 	haying and grazing in response to federal 
29.18 	or state disaster declarations. Conservation 
29.19 	grazing under a management plan that is 
29.20 	already being implemented may continue. 
29.21 	The program shall require a match of at 
29.22 	least ten percent from nonstate sources 
29.23 	for all grants. The match may be cash or 
29.24 	in-kind resources. For grant applications 
29.25 	of $25,000 or less, the commissioner shall 
29.26 	provide a separate, simplified application 
29.27 	process. Subject to Minnesota Statutes, the 
29.28 	commissioner of natural resources shall, 
29.29 	when evaluating projects of equal value, 
29.30 	give priority to organizations that have a 
29.31 	history of receiving or charter to receive 
29.32 	private contributions for local conservation 
29.33 	or habitat projects. If acquiring land or a 
29.34 	conservation easement, priority shall be 
29.35 	given to projects associated with or within 
29.36 	one mile of existing wildlife management 
30.1 	areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 
30.2 	86A.05, subdivision 8; scientific and natural 
30.3 	areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 
30.4 	84.033 and 86A.05, subdivision 5; or aquatic 
30.5 	management areas under Minnesota Statutes, 
30.6 	sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02. 
30.7 	All restoration or enhancement projects 
30.8 	must be on land permanently protected by 
30.9 	a permanent covenant ensuring perpetual 
30.10 	maintenance and protection of restored 
30.11 	and enhanced habitat, by a conservation 
30.12 	easement, or by public ownership or in public 
30.13 	waters as defined in Minnesota Statutes, 
30.14 	section 103G.005, subdivision 15. Priority 
30.15 	shall be given to restoration and enhancement 
30.16 	projects on public lands. Minnesota Statutes, 
30.17 	section 97A.056, subdivision 13, applies 
30.18 	to grants awarded under this paragraph. 
30.19 	This appropriation is available until June 
30.20 	30, 2018. No less than five percent of the 
30.21 	amount of each grant must be held back from 
30.22 	reimbursement until the grant recipient has 
30.23 	completed a grant accomplishment report by 
30.24 	the deadline and in the form prescribed by 
30.25 	and satisfactory to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor 
30.26 	Heritage Council. The commissioner shall 
30.27 	provide notice of the grant program in 
30.28 	the game and fish law summary prepared 
30.29 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.051, 
30.30 	subdivision 2.

30.31 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.