Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Stopping aquatic invasive species (new law)

Published (5/25/2012)
By Bob Geiger
Share on: 



Land purchases and funding for aquatic invasive species projects are the primary focus of the 2012 omnibus Legacy Funding law, which provides $99.9 million for prairie, forest and wetlands projects for Outdoor Heritage Fund projects in fiscal year 2013.

Sponsored by Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City) and Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria), the law includes $11.3 million to defend Minnesota waters against Asian carp and other aquatic invasive species. That funding is part of the $28.62 million devoted to habitats.

The largest portion of that funding, $7.5 million, will be appropriated to the Department of Natural Resources to design, construct, operate and evaluate structural deterrents against the fish.

The University of Minnesota will receive $1.8 million to create an Aquatic Invasive Species Cooperative Research Center. The university will collaborate with the DNR to develop aquatic invasive species controls. A portion of the funding will be spent to educate Minnesotans on how to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. The remaining $2.5 million will be available to accelerate existing aquatic invasive species program funding, including a best management practices program for public water access facilities and $50,000 to produce a documentary about the challenges presented by the spread of aquatic invasive species.

The law also contributes:

• $31.14 million for wetlands, including $13.81 million to acquire permanent conservation easements and restore wetlands and associated upland habitat in cooperation with the United

States Department of Agriculture Wetlands Reserve Program;

• $24.64 million for prairie projects, including: $4.3 million for the DNR to accelerate restoration and enhancement of wildlife management areas, scientific and natural areas and land under native prairie bank easements; and

• $15.3 million for forests, including $11.04 million for the Mississippi Northwoods Habitat Complex. Located near Brainerd, the 1,882-acre tract gives the state valuable river frontage.

Other funding includes a framework for a film production jobs program to be administered by the Minnesota Film and TV Board and overseen by the Department of Administration. A related effort designed to attract feature film producers to Minnesota is a $600,000 incentive program. Funding for the incentive program will be dispersed by the board and the Independent Feature Project/Minnesota.

Funding of $80,000 will be appropriated to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War and Dakota Conflict — $50,000 to the Minnesota Public Television Association and $30,000 for public radio grants. The law also contains $35,000 to create a searchable historical rulemaking website for state agency rulemaking.

HF2430/ SF2493*/CH264

Session Weekly More...


Session Weekly Home



Related Stories


Minnesota Index: Enjoying the outdoors
Facts and statistics on state parks and trails
(view full story) Published 4/20/2012

Minnesota Index: Birding
Facts and statistics on birding in Minnesota
(view full story) Published 4/6/2012

A prickly situation
Farmers seek fair fight against noxious weeds
(view full story) Published 3/16/2012

Angling for more participation
DNR looks for ways to get more anglers and hunters into the great outdoors
(view full story) Published 3/2/2012

Meeting halfway
Environment and energy law packs policy changes
(view full story) Published 8/11/2011

Legacy bill brought back to life
More than $449 million appropriated from voter-approved sales tax increase
(view full story) Published 8/11/2011

Trees from start to finish
Environment finance bill would close tree nursery
(view full story) Published 5/20/2011

Legacy spending differences
Conference committee needed to determine parks and trails funding
(view full story) Published 5/20/2011

Less means more
Some Legacy recipients may see increases despite drop in appropriation percentages
(view full story) Published 4/29/2011

Minnesota Index: Outdoor Heritage Fund
Facts and statistics on the Outdoor Heritage Fund
(view full story) Published 4/29/2011

Environment bill reflects ‘priorities’
House addresses wild rice, harvesting timber and closing of state parks
(view full story) Published 4/1/2011

Putting a stop to aquatic invasive species
Broader enforcement, stiffer penalties proposed for violators
(view full story) Published 4/1/2011

Wild rice study proposed
Committee approves policies for wild rice, state parks
(view full story) Published 3/25/2011

Should Minnesotans be hunting for land?
Legislators aim for no-net-loss and no-net-gain targets
(view full story) Published 3/4/2011

Minnesota Index: Horticulture and agriculture
Figures and statistics on horticulture and agriculture in Minnesota
(view full story) Published 3/4/2011

At Issue: Leaving a legacy
Recipients report outcomes of dedicated tax appropriations
(view full story) Published 2/4/2011