Budget woes

As a result of the first round of budget cuts, $12.9 million will be trimmed from appropriations for environment and natural resources programs.
Legislators subtracted $103,000 from the general fund in fiscal year 2002, leaving $12.8 million in cuts for fiscal year 2003.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's budget will be reduced by $1.4 million in 2003, and the Office of Environmental Assistance appropriation will be trimmed by more than $2 million.
The state's zoological board, which oversees the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, will face a $383,000 reduction, and the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul will lose out on $65,000, both in 2003.
State spending will also be reduced by $2.9 million in the area of DNR operations support, including more than $1 million set aside to help operate youth programs.
Rep. Rich Stanek (R-Maple Grove) and Sen. Doug Johnson (DFL-Tower) sponsored the law.
HF351*/ SF264/ CH220

Cleaner waters

Public volunteers can take part in a water monitoring program, under a new law designed to keep Minnesota's famous lakes clean.
Effective Aug. 1, 2002, the law directs the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to encourage the development of a citizen water quality monitoring program.
Water quality assessment is mandated by the Clean Water Act, but only about 5 percent of the state's 9,200 river and stream miles are monitored. As for lakes, the state collects water quality data on 225 out of 15,000.
Sponsored by Rep. Chris Gerlach (R-Apple Valley) and Sen. Jane Krentz (DFL-May Township), the law reflects similar policy in Iowa, where more than 17,000 people have volunteered, and Missouri, where 39,000 have signed up for "stream teams."
HF3275/ SF2932*/ CH253

Land designation

A new law designates more than 100,000 acres of northwestern Minnesota land as wildlife management areas.
The law completes an ongoing effort to apply the designation to remaining acres of the state's 1.5 million acres of Consolidated Conservation (Con-Con) lands.
The law also contains provisions on all-terrain vehicle use in state wildlife management areas. It directs the Department of Natural Resources commissioner to designate at least 90 miles of trails for the vehicles by Jan. 15, 2004.
Sponsored by Rep. Dennis Ozment (R-Rosemount) and Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe (DFL-Erskine), the law takes effect Jan. 1, 2003.
HF1359/ SF2125*/ CH353

ATV restrictions

All-terrain vehicle riders will be barred from driving off trails in state forests, under a new law.
Supporters said the law is necessary because heavy ATV use has caused erosion, wetland damage, and rutting in some northern Minnesota forests.
Among other provisions, $1.2 million is appropriated for trail maintenance, monitoring and enforcement, and environmental reviews of proposed trails; ATVs purchased by the DNR are required to be made in Minnesota; and counties will be allowed to raise the speed limit to 65 mph for snowmobiles traveling on marked trails during daylight hours on lakes larger than 10,000 acres.
Rep. Tom Hackbarth (R-Cedar) and Sen. LeRoy Stumpf (DFL-Thief River Falls) sponsored the law.
HF2970*/ SF3010/ CH355

Fighting disease

The Department of Natural Resources is allowed to use money generated from deer hunting licenses to manage chronic wasting disease, under a new law.
The fatal disease attacks the brains of infected deer and elk, causing the animals to lose weight and behave abnormally. There have been no cases in Minnesota, but deer in neighboring states have been found with the condition.
Rep. Mark Holsten (R-Stillwater) and Sen. Leonard Price (DFL-Woodbury) sponsored the law.
HF2973/ SF2738*/ CH376

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