HCP V - Fond du Lac - Wild Rice Habitat Restoration (2e)

$3,150,000 is from the trust fund for the fifth appropriation for acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements. Of this appropriation, $250,000 is to the Board of Water and Soil Resources; $733,500 is to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs; and $2,166,500 is for agreements as follows: $420,000 with Pheasants Forever; $30,000 with Minnesota Deer Hunters Association; $597,500 with Ducks Unlimited, Inc.; $85,000 with National Wild Turkey Federation; $317,000 with the Nature Conservancy; $210,000 with Minnesota Land Trust; $350,000 with the Trust for Public Land; $50,000 with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $30,000 with U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service; $30,000 with the Leech Lake Band of Chippewa; $27,000 with the Fond du Lac Band of Chippewa; and $20,000 with Friends of Detroit Lakes Watershed Management District to plan, restore, and acquire fragmented landscape corridors that connect areas of quality habitat to sustain fish, wildlife, and plants. The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service is a cooperating partner in the appropriation. Expenditures are limited to the project corridor areas as defined in the work program. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum habitat and facility management standards as determined by the commissioner of natural resources. This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program. All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan. Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07. The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title. A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program. All funding for conservation easements must include a long-term stewardship plan and funding for monitoring and enforcing the agreement.