| 1998 Fiscal Review Appropriations - Natural Resources |
Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
The Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture Supplemental Budget Bill (Chapter 401) appropriated over $10.1 million from the General Fund to the DNR. The following table shows the specific supplemental budget appropriations from the General Fund to the DNR.
| Flood Hazard Mitigation | $ 1,504,000 |
| Well Sealing on DNR-Managed Lands | 476,000 |
| State Park Building Operations | 430,000 |
| RIM Critical Habitat Match | 250,000 |
| White Pine Management | 300,000 |
| State Forest Recreation Areas | 600,000 |
| RIM Wildlife Development/Habitat Improvement | 250,000 |
| SNAs and Prairie Banks | 720,000 |
| Metropolitan Greenways | 340,000 |
| Trail Acquisition/Development/Betterment | 300,000 |
| North St. Paul Trail Grant | 250,000 |
| Stream Protection/Restoration | 500,000 |
| Minerals Co-op Research | 53,000 |
| Forest Land Repair | 75,000 |
| Accelerated Wildlife Habitat Mgmt. & Inventory | 1,175,000 |
| Swan Lake Wildlife Management Area | 100,000 |
| Whitewater Trail | 100,000 |
| Conservation Partners | 200,000 |
| Customer Service Data Access | 465,000 |
| Mississippi River Sediment | 350,000 |
| Forestry Information Management | 203,000 |
| Outdoor Skills | 150,000 |
| Ecosystem Based Workshop | 50,000 |
| Aquatic Plant Restoration | 200,000 |
| Local Initiative Grants Administration | 125,000 |
| Lake Ecosystem Monitoring | 150,000 |
| Lake Classification System | 100,000 |
| Lake Watershed Boundaries | 200,000 |
| Development Effects on Lakes | 150,000 |
| Swede Hollow Grant | 100,000 |
| Brownfields | 100,000 |
| Forest Resources Council | 150,000 |
| RIM License Plate Promotion | 25,000 |
| Total | $ 10,141,000 |
Department of Natural Resources Capital Budget
The Capital Budget Bill (Chapter 404) appropriated almost $130.3 million from the General Fund for capital items in the DNR. Major components of the capital appropriations are $30 million for flood hazard mitigation projects, over $17 million for state parks and recreation areas, over $10.2 million for state trails, $14.4 million for metropolitan parks, $5 million for metropolitan trails, and $4 million for the metropolitan greenways initiative. The table in the capital budget section shows the specific appropriation amounts for all DNR capital budget items.
Personal Watercraft
In Chapter 401 the Legislature enacted a $50 surcharge on a personal watercraft license beginning January 1,1999. The surcharge will be paid when personal watercraft licenses are issued or updated every three years. A portion of the revenue from the fee is for use by the Commissioner of Natural Resources for personal watercraft enforcement and safety education. The remaining revenue is for grants to counties proportional to the use of personal watercraft in each county. Based on revenue estimates from the surcharge, the Legislature appropriated $450,000 from the watercraft account in the natural resources fund for enforcement of personal watercraft laws.
In Chapter 400, the 1998 Legislature also made changes to laws governing the use of personal watercraft. The changes provide for additional youth safety education; increase the number of hours when personal watercraft are prohibited from operation; increase the distance requirements for operating personal watercraft at greater than slow no-wake speed; increase the age of adults required for supervision from 18 to 21 years old; prohibit riding a personal watercraft while facing backward; prohibit riding personal watercraft without a rules decal; exempt launching or landing a person on water skis from the distance restrictions; exempt emergency, safety, and enforcement watercraft from restrictions; and provide additional requirements regarding notification and records for dealers and rental operations.
Snowmobile Traction Devices
The 1998 Legislature provided a ban on the use of snowmobiles with metal traction devices on public lands, roads, trails or on public road or trail rights-of-way after July 1, 1999. Until July 1, 1999: (1) the existing ban on snowmobiles with metal traction devices applies to all paved public trails; (2) a peace officer may seize a snowmobile for a second or subsequent violation of the use ban on paved public trails; and (3) snowmobiles with a track equipped with metal traction devices may not be operated anywhere in Minnesota, unless a metal traction device sticker is affixed to the snowmobile. The cost of the sticker is $50 and the proceeds from the fee are dedicated for repair of paved public trails.
Constitutional Amendments
Two constitutional amendments relating to natural resources were proposed by the 1998 Legislature. Both constitutional amendments will be on the November 3, 1998, general election ballot. They are: (1) to affirm that hunting and fishing are a valued part of our heritage and shall forever be preserved for the people of Minnesota; and (2) to continue the constitutional dedication of 40 percent of the net lottery proceeds to the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund until 2025 and to maximize the long-term total return to the Fund.
Board of Water and Soil Resources
The Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture Supplemental Budget Bill (Chapter 401) appropriated $1.4 million from the General Fund to the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BOWSR). The Capital Budget Bill (Chapter 404) appropriated $19.8 million from the General Fund to BOWSR. The following table shows the combined General Fund amounts from both the Supplemental and Capital Budget Bills.
| Capital Budget | Supplemental Budget | Total General Fund | |
| RIM and PWP Conservation Easements | $ 15,000,000 | $ 15,000,000 | |
| Local Government Wetlands replacement | 2,750,000 | 2,750,000 | |
| Quad Lakes Restoration | 300,000 | $ 200,000 | 500,000 |
| Lakeshore Easements | 250,000 | 250,000 | |
| Area II Minnesota River Basin Grant-in-Aid | 500,000 | 500,000 | |
| Feedlot Water Quality Grants | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 2,000,000 |
| MN Extension Guidance | 100,000 | 100,000 | |
| Guidance | |||
| Living Snow Fences | 100,000 | 100,000 | |
| Totals | $ 19,800,000 | $ 1,400,000 | $ 21,200,000 |