OUTDOOR TRADITIONS INVESTMENT

Click here to download the list of projects as a PDF

Clean Water

Dam Repair and Removal

$4 million

Unsafe, unsound or obsolete dams are removed, repaired or modified, improving public safety, water quality, recreational opportunities, and fish and wildlife habitat through projects at 10 high-priority public dams across the state.

For more information:

Don Arnosti
Audubon Minnesota
612-718-3626
donarnosti@gmail.com

Drinking Water and Clean Water Revolving Funds

$30 million

State match (1:5 state to federal) to provide loans for a variety of water projects including stormwater, nonpoint source, traditional wastewater treatment, and other water quality projects on the Project Priority List of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

For more information:

Allison Wolf
Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
651-223-5969
awolf@mncenter.org

Groundwater Monitoring

$2 million

New observation wells will be installed in selected priority areas where the current network is insufficient. Data will be used to analyze long-term water level trends, evaluate aquifer recharge, and determine groundwater-surface water interactions and other conservation trends.

For more information:

Don Arnosti
Audubon Minnesota
612-718-3626
donarnosti@gmail.com

Red River Flood Control Projects

$30 million

Projects developed during the Red River Basin mediation process that reduce flood damages and enhance natural resources including water quality.

For more information:

Allison Wolf
Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
651-223-5969
awolf@mncenter.org

Stream Protection and Restoration

$3 million

Improvements and stream channel design projects conducted on 5 of the highest priority rivers and streams in the state, improving fish and wildlife habitat, water quality, and recreational opportunities.

For more information:

Don Arnosti
Audubon Minnesota
612-718-3626
donarnosti@gmail.com

Wastewater Infrastructure Funding Program

$30 million

Loan subsidization or match for U.S. Department of Agriculture investments through the Rural Development Program for high quality water projects in rural areas.

For more information:

Allison Wolf
Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
651-223-5969
awolf@mncenter.org

Water Control Structures

$2 million

Repair, replace or improve high-priority water control structures throughout the state, improving waterfowl habitat on up to 1,000 acres.

For more information:

Don Arnosti
Audubon Minnesota
612-718-3626
donarnosti@gmail.com

Habitat and Natural Areas

Aquatic Management Areas - AMAs

$11 million

Acquisition and development of AMAs to protect the important aquatic habitat complexes needed to sustain productive fish populations.

For more information:

Gary Botzek
Minnesota Conservation Federation
651-293-9295
gary@capitolconnections.com

Community Conservation Assistance

$5 million

Provides grants to local units of government to conserve high value natural habitats through acquisition or easement, leveraging other public and private funding sources.

For more information:

Don Arnosti
Audubon Minnesota
612-718-3626
donarnosti@gmail.com

Minnesota Forest for the Future

$8 million

Perpetual conservation easements or fee title on forest lands primarily within State Forest boundaries. These lands will protect natural resources, provide outdoor recreation opportunities, and maintain the health and economic vitality of Minnesota communities.

For more information:

Isis Stark
The Nature Conservancy
612-331-0791
istark@tnc.org

Native Prairie Acquisition and Development

$5.5 million

Acquisition of conservation easements on approximately 2,500 acres of privately-owned native prairie through the Native Prairie Bank Program and provide management assistance on 800 acres of Native Prairie Bank lands.

For more information:

Isis Stark
The Nature Conservancy
612-331-0791
istark@tnc.org

Reinvest In Minnesota (RIM) Critical Habitat Match

$3 million

This program matches private donations to acquire and improve critical habitat for fish, wildlife, and native plants throughout the state.

For more information:

Gary Botzek
Minnesota Conservation Federation
651-293-9295
gary@capitolconnections.com

Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Program

$50 million

Land conservation easements to restore wetlands and riparian areas on private lands. RIM easements retire marginal and environmentally sensitive agricultural lands, enhance water quality, and protect fish and wildlife habitat.

For more information:

Don Arnosti
Audubon Minnesota
612-718-3626
donarnosti@gmail.com

Scientific and Natural Areas - SNAs

$8 million

Acquisition and development of SNAs emphasizing the conservation of native forests, fens, wetlands, savannas, prairies, and rock outcrop communities of biodiversity significance and their rare plants and animals.

For more information:

Isis Stark
The Nature Conservancy
612-331-0791
istark@tnc.org

Wildlife Management Areas - WMAs

$13.5 million

Acquisition and development of WMAs to protect natural resources, deliver outdoor recreation opportunities to the public, and maintain the health and economic vitality of Minnesota’s communities.

For more information:

Gary Botzek
Minnesota Conservation Federation
651-293-9295
gary@capitolconnections.com

Local and Sustainable Foods

Public Plaza for Midtown Farmers Market at Lake Street Light Rail Station

$4 million

The Midtown Farmers Market is located adjacent to the Hiawatha Light Rail station at Lake Street. It provides local, sustainably grown food to over 40,000 customers annually. The Minneapolis School District owns and plans to sell the site. Bonding would allow Hennepin County to buy a portion of the property to develop a plaza to accommodate the farmers market.

For more information:

Bobby King
Land Stewardship Project
612-722-6377
bking@landstewardshipproject.org

Outdoor Recreation

Gateway to the Outdoors

$17 million

Development of new natural resource based outdoor recreation facilities that provide access to the outdoors and can facilitate introductory outdoor recreation experiences. Projects include camper cabins, trail development, group camp improvements, water access sites, and fishing piers. Up to 10 percent of the appropriation will be used for preliminary design for 2012 projects.

For more information: