MN SF2564

Appropriates $58,939,000 from the outdoor heritage fund for fiscal year 2011 across five categories: prairies ($18,093,000), forests ($5,603,000), wetlands ($16,905,000), habitat ($17,563,000), and administration ($775,000).

Prairie funds support land acquisition and restoration through partnerships with organizations including Pheasants Forever, The Nature Conservancy, and the Redwood Area Communities Foundation across multiple Minnesota counties.

Forest and wetlands appropriations fund habitat protection programs including shoreline conservation, shallow lake restoration, and waterfowl production areas through agreements with conservation organizations and state agencies.

Habitat funds support acquisition and restoration of aquatic management areas, cold water streams, and river systems through partnerships with Trout Unlimited, Dakota County, and other conservation partners.

Establishes comprehensive project requirements including mandatory native plant restoration standards, permanent conservation easement provisions, ecological restoration plans, and annual reporting to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council; all funds available until June 30, 2013.