Minnesota is on a mission—a mighty mission—to protect and preserve its natural treasures.
During the June 9, 2025 Special Session, the Legislature approved 124 projects for funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF). These appropriations—totaling just over $300 million from the state’s lottery-funded ENRTF—were signed into law by the Governor on June 14, 2025.
Each year, 40% of lottery dollars returned to the state are dedicated to the ENRTF for projects that are "for the public purpose of protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state's air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources." Proposals undergo a competitive, multi-stage evaluation process by the 17-member Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), which recommends projects to the legislature for funding. Since 1991, the ENRTF has provided approximately $1.1 billion to over 1,700 projects around the state.
Take a look at a few of the inspiring initiatives backed by this new fiscal year’s Lottery-funded ENRTF — each one delivering meaningful environmental and community benefits across Minnesota.
Climate Change Impacts in Northeastern Minnesota
With climate change taking center stage in conversations worldwide, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hard at work studying its effects. This year, the DNR, in partnership with Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, received funding to build a team of collaborators to aggregate critical research, data, and other vital information on how climate change is affecting local habitats and wildlife. This invaluable data will be compiled into an easy-to-access, web-based database that will be available to the public.
Rural Health and Drinking Water
The DNR is taking action to expand water resources for rural communities. The Department received an appropriation to partner with the Freshwater Society and the Mayo Clinic to educate well owners and family health providers about the presence of and risks of arsenic in drinking water. The appropriation also covers free arsenic testing to well owners in Southeastern Minnesota.
Environmental Education Beyond the Classroom
Interactive play is a vital part of childhood development, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and social skills in an engaging, hands-on environment. Because of lottery dollars, Glacial Hills Elementary School in Eagan is set to develop an interactive natural playground which will incorporate engaging landscaping features designed for children. In addition to enriching play experiences, the school will offer environmental education programming that extends learning opportunities beyond regular school hours.
Click here to view all this year’s projects funded by lottery dollars.