Take Care of What We Have - DNR Projects and Programs

 Accelerating Natural Resource Management:  

FY10 Budget: $1,920,000FY10 Funds Expended/Encumbered as of 12/31/2011: $1,896,852 
FY11 Budget: $1,663,000FY11 Funds Expended/Encumbered as of 12/31/2011: $1,252,072 

 Accelerating Facility Maintenance and Rehabilitation - including energy improvements: 

FY10 Budget: $8,247,000FY10 Funds Expended/Encumbered as of 12/31/2011: $8,071,767
FY11 Budget: $9,654,000FY11 Funds Expended/Encumbered as of 12/31/2011: $9,002,927
Maintain Existing Holdings:      FY 12
Total Budget$7,000,000  
Funds Expended/Encumbered (05/23/2012)$3,486,006 
Administrative Costs$595,000 
Direct Costs $6,405,000 
FTE's7.73

The Minnesota Legislature also appropriated under this bill $38,000 the first year (FY 2012) and $38,000 the second year (FY 2013) for a technical evaluation panel to conduct up to ten restoration evaluations.

New Legislative Reporting Requirements:
FTE: The Minnesota Legislature requires recipients of Legacy funds to report estimated Full Time Equivalents paid out of this fund.  FTE's are the number of full time equivalent positions directly created by a recipient because they received Legacy fund dollars to carry out Legacy fund work.

Administration Costs: General costs incurred to support a project.  Such costs must be directly related to and necessary for the project.  This may include: accounting, clerical support, executive, managerial and supervisory personnel, facilities management, office equipment and supplies, human resources, information technology, communications, insurance, legal services, purchasing, rent/lease, and security.

Direct Costs: Any costs directly related to and necessary for the project.  This may include but is not limited to recreational facility and trail construction or renewal, natural resource management, acquisition, development, interpretive services programming, website and data improvements to provide better information to the public, renewable energy projects, planning, Conservation Corps crew services, contracted services, professional services, travel, equipment, and supplies/materials.

Programs and Projects for Maintain Existing Holdings

Fiscal years 2010 and 2011 Parks and Trails Legacy programs and projects were developed prior to the development of the 25 year Parks and Trails Legacy Plan.  Legislatively-directed DNR Parks and Trails Strategic Objectives from FY2010 and FY2011 years included "Connecting People to the Outdoors, Accelerate Natural Resource Management and Accelerate Facility Maintenance and Rehabilitation." Programs and projects are being updated as part of the DNR's ongoing efforts to align outcomes with this 25 year long range planning process.

For fiscal years 2012 and 2013, the Minnesota Legislature instructed the DNR Division of Parks and Trails to:

  1. Connect people to the outdoors
  2. Acquire land and create opportunities
  3. Maintain existing holdings; and
  4. Improve cooperation by coordinating with partners to implement the 25-year long-range parks and trails legacy plan.