Minnesota can still boast of numerous examples of prime wildlife habitat, but many of these areas are becoming isolated islands in a sea of development. This project marks the fourth and fifth years of an effort to restore and acquire corridors connecting these areas and ensuring healthy populations of fish, wildlife, and plants. Fifteen different organizations are involved with this project, including the Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, Ducks Unlimited, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever, The Nature Conservancy, the Minnesota Land Trust, The Trust for Public Land, the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Trust, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Red Lake, Leech Lake and Fond du Lac bands of Chippewa, the National Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Board of Water and Soil Resources.

The pressure on the Twin Cities area's remaining natural lands is intensifying, with one million more people and 500,000 more households projected to come to the area in the next 30 years. Each day, nearly 60 acres of fields, forests and wetlands in the metro area are lost to development. This project, a joint effort of the Department of Natural Resources, Ducks Unlimited, The Trust for Public Land, the Minnesota Land Trust, Friends of the Mississippi River, Great River Greening, Pheasants Forever, the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust and Friends of the Minnesota Valley, will help acquire, protect, and improve important natural areas in the seven county metro area. Project managers hope to restore up to 830 acres of public and private land and acquire 670 acres of significant habitat.

In-holdings are parcels of privately-owned land located within the boundaries of state parks and recreation areas. The Department of Natural Resources will acquire some of this land from willing sellers.

The Metropolitan Council will use this grant to improve recreational opportunities at Twin Cities area parks, including land acquisition, park development and park rehabilitation.

Non-industrial private forest landowners own 40 percent of Minnesota's forests, but only 20 percent of this is managed under the guidance of a professional forest management plan. The Department of Natural Resources will use this appropriation to help private landowners develop sustainable stewardship plans for their forest emphasizing timber, wildlife, water and recreational values. In some cases the DNR will use matching federal funds to help purchase easements that retain private ownership but prevent the land from being subdivided or developed for non-forest purposes.

The Casey Jones State Trail, when completed, will connect Split Rock Creek State Park south of Pipestone and the city of Walnut Grove. Utilizing an abandoned rail line, the trail will consist of an asphalt path for bicycles and a parallel unpaved path for horseback riding and snowmobiling.

City and county governments will be able to obtain matching funds to develop parks and natural and scenic areas through this program, which will also fund regional parks outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The grant can account for no more than 60 percent of the cost of the project. This grant includes a $500,000 appropriation for a regional park on Kraemer Lake in Stearns County.

The Mesabi Trail is a paved trail for non-motorized recreation that, when completed, will traverse 132 miles between Grand Rapids and Ely. The St. Louis and Lake Counties Regional Rail Authority is developing the trail, which will be one of the longest paved trails in the United States. As of the end of 2005, 97 miles of the trail are already open, including a 51-mile long segment from Nashwauk to Eveleth.

The Board of Water and Soil Resources is making matching grants available for high priority activities in state approved comprehensive water management plans.

Since its beginnings in 1987, the County Biological Survey has systematically surveyed rare biological features in 57 counties. These surveys identify significant natural areas and collect and interpret data on the distribution and ecology of natural communities and rare plants and animals. During 2006, survey work will take place in Becker, Cook, Cottonwood, Hubbard, Itasca, Jackson, Lake, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Rock, St. Louis, and Wadena counties.

The West Central Research and Outreach Center of the University of Minnesota-Morris is developing a demonstration project that uses wind energy to generate hydrogen fuel.

This program provides funds for local governments to acquire, develop, and enhance recreational trails. Local governments must provide matching funds from other sources.

The State Energy Office will help communities implement cost effective energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. $400,000 of this appropriation is to assist two Minnesota communities in developing locally owned wind energy projects.

When the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum was founded in 1958, its Chanhassen location was considered rural. The arboretum is now in the midst of a rapidly growing suburban area. This appropriation, which must be matched by nonstate funds, will allow the arboretum to acquire the land needed for future displays and research projects before it becomes unavailable.

Riparian land is the green, vegetated land on the banks of rivers and streams. These lands are of particular importance for the role they serve in removing contaminants before they reach the river, reducing the risk of flooding and erosion, and supporting a wide variety of wildlife. The Department of Natural Resources will use this grant to purchase or acquire easements on riparian lands that provide high value for watershed protection.

The Pollution Control Agency will work with the Minnesota Lakes Association, Rivers Council of Minnesota, and the University of Minnesota on this project to monitor the health of Minnesota's lakes and streams.

The University of Minnesota and the Central Lakes College Agricultural Center in Staples are collaborating on this project, which will aid the development and adoption of new farming and land management practices to reduce nitrate and phosphorus pollution of surface water and groundwater in central Minnesota.

The common carp, first imported into the United States in the 1880s, has become a nuisance in waterways throughout the country. They severely reduce the food sources needed by native fish, stir up sediment and reduce water clarity, and harm underwater plants that maintain water quality and provide food and shelter for other fish. Other methods of control have proven either unsuccessful or environmentally damaging, leading to this University of Minnesota program to develop environmentally friendly methods of carp control.

Through this program, the Department of Natural Resources will provide matching grants of up to $20,000 to local governments and private organizations for programs to enhance natural habitat and for environmental service projects.

The Department of Natural Resources will work with the nonprofit Tree Trust on projects to protect the state's forest resources. At least $390,000 must be used for grants to communities to plant native trees.

When completed, the Gitchi-Gami Trail will run 86 miles along the north shore of Lake Superior from Two Harbors to Grand Marais and provide cyclists, skiers, and hikers with an alternative to busy Highway 61. Through 2005, 17.6 miles of trail are complete. This grant will allow continued construction of the trail.

As open pit mines on the Mesabi Iron Range are abandoned, they fill up with water. The resulting lakes can become valuable recreational resources or repositories for pollutants. The Central Iron Range Initiative, a joint program of a number of public and private agencies, will use this grant to help ensure the water quality of these lakes and to evaluate their potential use for electrical generation.

This grant will allow the construction of four floodwater retention projects in the Minnesota River Basin to improve water quality and waterfowl habitat.

The Board of Water and Soil Resources will use this appropriation to make information on soils available in electronic form and for new soil surveys in Pine and Crow Wing counties.

A third crop is a crop other than corn or soybeans. The Blue Earth River Basin Initiative is promoting the introduction of alternative crops into the corn/soybean rotation in order to improve water quality of the Blue Earth River and its tributaries. These rivers drain over 2 million acres in southern Minnesota and contribute half the pollution load found in the Minnesota River.

Biomass is waste made up of plant products-waste wood, sawdust, crop residues and other plant matter-that have the potential for conversion to steam and electricity. It is attractive as a power source because it is renewable, clean, and does not produce greenhouse gases. The Phillips Community Energy Cooperative is building a plant that will use biomass to generate 24.5 megawatts of electricity and at the same time heat more than 3 million square feet of space in south Minneapolis' Phillips neighborhood.

Development of the Paul Bunyan State Trail from Brainerd to Bemidji was one of the first projects funded through the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. This appropriation will enhance the trail by allowing the Department of Natural Resources to acquire land connecting the trail within the city of Bemidji.

The Cedar Creek Natural History Area, located on the Anoka County/Isanti County border, is one of the few places where the three great natural communities of North America-deciduous forest, boreal forest and prairie-come together. This grant will allow the University of Minnesota to restore 400 acres of savanna and prairie, construct a Science Interpretive Center, and create interpretive trails.

Biomass is waste made up of plant products that have the potential for conversion to steam and electricity. It is attractive as a power source because it is renewable, clean, and does not produce greenhouse gases. While plant waste is often used for biomass power generation, it is also possible to use plant material specifically grown for that purpose. This project will allow the Virginia Public Utility to plant over 1,000 acres in Aitkin and Koochiching counties with fast-growing hybrid poplar that will eventually allow the conversion of an existing power plant to one based on biomass capable of generating 35 megawatts of electricity.

Forest certification is a system for identifying forestland that is well managed with a goal toward ecological, economic, and social sustainability. Products from certified forestland are identified by a special label. Similar to a financial audit, third party certification is an evaluation of forest management conducted by an accredited organization and based on accepted standards. This program will help develop an assessment framework for non-industrial private forest owners.

Minnesota is one of the nation's biggest producers of potatoes, but the processing of this crop leads to the production of an estimated 400,000 tons of waste each year. Scientists at Bemidji State University are exploring ways to convert this waste into useable products, including biodegradable plastics and disposable diapers.

In addition to generating a lot of milk, dairy farms generate a lot of waste. This waste can cause significant environmental harm if not properly managed. Anaerobic digestive systems decompose this waste in the absence of oxygen, producing a “biogas” of methane and carbon dioxide that can be used to generate electricity or heat water. Current systems, however, have proven effective only on farms with 300 or more cows, which is substantially larger than the average Minnesota dairy farm. The Minnesota Project will use this grant to study the effectiveness of a modified anaerobic system on a farm with between 50 and 300 cows.

The University of Minnesota's Department of Forest Resources will use this grant to develop environmentally friendly guidelines for timber harvests along rivers and streams.

The Cannon Valley Trail is a 20 mile recreational trail connecting the cities of Red Wing and Cannon Falls. This appropriation to the Cannon Valley Trail Joint Powers Board will allow replacement of a deteriorating bridge west of Red Wing.

The Department of Natural Resources will provide technical assistance and matching grants to local communities and recreational shooting and archery clubs to develop shooting and archery facilities for public use.

The Minnesota River is frequently cited as the most polluted waterway in the state. Through this project, the Board of Water and Soil Resources and the U.S. Geological Survey will evaluate the effects on water quality of retiring or setting aside agricultural land along streams in the Minnesota River basin.

The Metropolitan Council will use this grant to determine the feasibility of recycling treated municipal wastewater for industrial use.

Estrogen-based compounds are showing up with increasing frequency in Minnesota waterways. While the source of these compounds is currently unknown, health effects in certain fish populations are becoming apparent, and some researchers are concerned over possible human health effects. The University of Minnesota's Department of Civil Engineering is using this grant to help determine the source of the chemicals and how they are coming to be found in state wastewater treatment plants.

The Department of Agriculture is studying the conservation drainage systems at University of Minnesota research centers and looking for opportunities to apply new water quality improvement technology to these systems.

The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources will be issuing a request for proposals to organizations interested in developing a statewide comprehensive plan for conservation and preservation.

This appropriation will allow three north central counties to purchase environmentally sensitive or isolated land in an effort to prevent inappropriate development. The purchase of isolated land in undeveloped areas precludes development that might require additional public services, and purchase of property adjacent to land already owned by the public results in more efficient land management. In a unique twist, the cost of this program will be offset by the sale of tax forfeited land to private owners, with the three counties repaying the Trust Fund by 2011.

The Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District and the University of Minnesota are exploring the use of woodchips to treat the runoff from livestock feedlots.

The University of Minnesota-Duluth's Large Lakes Observatory will use the Blue Heron research vessel (purchased with the help of the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund in the 1997-1999 biennium) to conduct a series of studies of Lake Superior. Conducted during a three year period, these studies will shed light on the chemistry, water circulation, and biology of the world’s largest freshwater lake.

Minnesota Waters, a Brainerd-based nonprofit organization, is training volunteer citizen groups to collect water quality data that can be used for local water management.

The Anoka Conservation District will use this grant to identify high-priority natural resource corridors threatened by development.

Forest certification is a system for identifying forestland that is well managed with a goal toward ecological, economic, and social sustainability. Products from certified forestland are identified by a special label. Similar to a financial audit, third party certification is an evaluation of forest management conducted by an accredited organization and based on accepted standards. Through this project, the Department of Natural Resources will arrange for assessment and certification of 4.47 million acres of forest land under its administration.

The Natural Resources Research Institute of the University of Minnesota-Duluth will study historic records of the state's climate, stream flows, lake levels, water quality, fish populations, aquatic plant distribution, and other data to develop a database of key indicators of the effects of climate change. The result will be a monitoring program that may allow mitigation of some of climate change's more costly effects.

Hennepin County will lead this project to develop new tools to map and classify land cover in the seven county metropolitan area to help determine priorities for wildlife habitat protection and restoration. More than 140,000 acres in Carver, Hennepin, Scott and Washington counties will be mapped while Washington and Dakota counties will refine and update existing data. The resulting data base will help local governments protect wildlife habitat and water quality as they review proposed development projects.

Garlic mustard and European buckthorn are highly invasive plants introduced from overseas that are causing significant damage to Minnesota's forests by displacing native species. The Department of Natural Resources is working with counterparts around the country and in Europe to identify and test insects that feed exclusively on these plants. Four insects that appear to eat only garlic mustard are being assessed for potential release in the near future, while research on buckthorn control is in earlier stages.

The Minnesota Recreation and Park Association is studying ways to more efficiently manage Minnesota's parks and outdoor recreation areas.

The Minnesota Legislature recently authorized a new recreational trail running along the Minnesota River from Big Stone State Park near Ortonville to LeSueur. Through this grant, the Department of Natural Resources is beginning the planning of the first stage of the trail from Big Stone State Park to Renville County.

Indian Lake is a 146 acre lake located near the town of Silver Creek in northern Wright County. Like many lakes in agricultural Minnesota, its water quality has been adversely affected by nitrate- and phosphorus-laden runoff. The Indian Lake Improvement District is working with Minnesota Environmental Services and Bemidji State University on a demonstration project to remove these excess nutrients from the lake.

This project, administered by the Department of Agriculture, is attempting to reduce children's pesticide exposure by educating parents on alternative pest control methods and safe pesticide use.

Basset Creek is a twelve mile long shallow stream running from Medicine Lake in Plymouth to the Mississippi River in north Minneapolis. Urban development along much of its course has led to the elimination of wetlands and vegetation along with increased flooding and pollution. A significant portion of the creek no longer follows its natural course but has, instead, been diverted into an underground storm sewer. This program seeks to assist efforts to restore the creek to something more closely resembling its natural state.

The University of Minnesota's Department of Mechanical Engineering is exploring the potential for the use of renewable agricultural oil, such as soybean oil, for the generation of electricity.

As part of its "Big Back Yard" outdoor science park, the Science Museum of Minnesota will create a series of interactive displays focusing on a functioning artesian well. The exhibits will help viewers understand how water is able to move through seemingly solid bedrock and how land use affects the quality of the water that many of us drink. They will also develop a traveling exhibit and classroom education programs for students in grades 6 through 12.

The Department of Natural Resources' Scientific and Natural Areas Program seeks to ensure that no rare biological or geological feature is lost from any region of the state. It does so through the establishment and maintenance of more than 125 nature preserves located throughout the state. This grant will assist the department in the development and preservation of these lands.

Native prairie is one of Minnesota's most endangered ecosystems. Much of the prairie that remains is located on private land, and the Department of Natural Resources is combining this appropriation with private and federal funds to help landowners manage this land in an ecologically sound manner.

This appropriation will help Audubon Minnesota create a new birding trail guide for the North Shore/Arrowhead region and reprint and distribute guides for three existing birding trails.

Beaches on Hennepin County lakes are among the most heavily used in the state and, therefore, have high potential for outbreaks of waterborne disease. The county will use this grant to develop a predictive model to determine beach water quality and prevent outbreaks of waterborne illness.

Manure digesters convert farm manure to “biogas”-a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide. An earlier project financed by the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund explored the feasibility of using a fuel cell to convert biogas to electricity. This Department of Agriculture project will explore the possibility of using this technology at a large facility that would collect manure from a number of farms.

Sebaesta Blomberg and Associates, a Roseville engineering firm, is exploring the use of a blend of crop residue or chopped grasses and hog manure to generate natural gas.

The Tamarack Nature Center of White Bear Township in suburban Ramsey County will use this grant to develop new interactive ecological exhibits.

The University of Minnesota's Department of Forestry is developing a plan for a system of regional recreation areas for major urban complexes outside the Twin Cities area.

The Arrowhead Regional Development Commission is using this grant to plan connections between northeast Minnesota's major bike trails.