State Park and Recreation Area Operations and Improvements
Funds from this appropriation were directed wholly toward the Division of Parks & Trails (PAT) resource management program. The PAT resource management program was established in 1978 and is responsible for planning, coordinating and implementing natural/cultural resource management efforts on division-administered lands. PAT administers approximately 250,000 acres of land, of which less than 5% is developed as campgrounds, roads/trails or other use areas. Nearly half of all MN endangered, threatened and special concern species are found on PAT lands as well as thousands of acres of high quality remnant and restored prairie, forests, wetlands and other natural communities. The division also protects approximately 600 National Register structures, sites and objects as well as over 900 known archaeological sites.
This appropriation provided the monies necessary to fund the 16 positions within the PAT resource program as well as part-time labor at state park units to accomplish resource management work. These monies were supplemented by approximately $1.8 million in project funds annually from primarily the Parks and Trails Fund and the State Parks Working Capital Account.
M.L. 2011, 1st Special Session, Ch. 2, Art. 3, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(a) State Park and Recreation Area Operations and Improvements. $1,877,000 the first year and $1,750,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for state park and recreation area operations and improvements, including activities directly related to and necessary for this appropriation. This appropriation is not subject to Minnesota Statutes, sections 116P.05, subdivision 2, paragraph (b), and 116P.09, subdivision 4.
ProjectNat. Community RestorationPrescribed BurningInvasive Species ManagementRare Species & Cultural Res Mgmt.Nat. community mapping & resource inv.Resource Assessments of prop. development
Project2012Nat. Community Restoration 719 acresPrescribed Burning4,848 acresInvasive Species Management11,738 acresRare Species & Cultural Res Mgmt.20 projectsNat. community mapping & resource inv.19 projectsResource Assessments of prop. development 166
Parks and Trails Fund, State Parks Working Capital Account
M.L. 2011, 1st Special Session, Ch. 2, Art. 3, Sec. 2, Subd. 4(a) State Park and Recreation Area Operations and Improvements. $1,877,000 the first year and $1,750,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for state park and recreation area operations and improvements, including activities directly related to and necessary for this appropriation. This appropriation is not subject to Minnesota Statutes, sections 116P.05, subdivision 2, paragraph (b), and 116P.09, subdivision 4.
ProjectNat. Community RestorationPrescribed BurningInvasive Species ManagementRare Species & Cultural Res Mgmt.Nat. community mapping & resource inv.Resource Assessments of prop. development
Project2013Nat. Community Restoration 920 acresPrescribed Burning4,153 acresInvasive Species Management15,363 acresRare Species & Cultural Res Mgmt.19 projectsNat. community mapping & resource inv.28 projectsResource Assessments of prop. development 118
Parks and Trails Fund, State Parks Working Capital Account