HF 2882 Summary

• Appropriates $58.939 million from the outdoor heritage fund for fiscal year 2011 for land acquisition, restoration, and enhancement across multiple habitat categories including prairies, forests, wetlands, and habitat areas.

• Establishes the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council to oversee projects, require accomplishment plans from recipients, and ensure projects comply with specific requirements including ecological restoration standards and native plant use.

• Requires all funded projects to be on land permanently protected by conservation easement or public ownership, with land acquired in fee remaining open to hunting and fishing during open season unless state law provides otherwise.

• Creates detailed restrictions on land acquisition including requirements for permanent conservation easements, long-term stewardship plans, and prohibits alteration of property use without prior written approval from the Outdoor Heritage Council.

• Allocates funds across nine subdivisions: $18.093 million for prairies, $5.603 million for forests, $16.905 million for wetlands, $17.563 million for habitat, and $775,000 for administration, with specific partner organizations identified for each program area.