Dennis Anderson: Getting moving on conservation

The long-held belief that Minnesotans could save and enhance their state's natural resources if politics were removed from the equation was confirmed Thursday afternoon in Brooklyn Center at a meeting of about 125 conservationists.

The meeting was organized by The Nature Conservancy and similar groups. The intent was to prioritize for the Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council the needs of the state's natural resources across four broad habitat types: forests, wetlands, lakes and rivers, and prairies and grasslands.

The Lessard council was established by the Legislature last year to oversee as much as $90 million in fish and wildlife habitat funds raised by passage of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy constitutional amendment on Nov. 4.

The amendment, which will be in effect 25 years, will increase the state sales tax three-eighths of 1 percent beginning this summer, raising about $270 million annually. In addition to the $90 million set aside for fish and wildlife habitat, $90 million will be designated for clean water, and another $90 million for parks, trails and cultural heritage.

The Lessard Council, established in December, has only until April 1 to recommend to the Legislature how the fish and wildlife habitat money should be spent. Lawmakers will have final approval of the allotments -- which won't begin until August -- but they are expected to follow the council's recommendations closely.

Most amazing about Thursday's gathering of volunteers -- which arguably was the first day of a 25-year journey -- was the positive energy displayed. Finally, the state's citizens had an opportunity to conserve threatened uplands, wetlands and forests, and on their own time, at their own expense, came to organize their thoughts for delivery to the 12-member Lessard Council.

Council chair Mike Kilgore said Thursday he expects his panel will recommend about $78 million (down from the originally estimated $90 due to the struggling economy) in appropriations to the Legislature April 1. Perhaps $2 million will be set aside for matching grants to sportsmen's and other groups, and another $2 million will be set aside for an emergency conservation fund to address needs that might arise unexpectedly.

Here are major recommendations developed Thursday for the Lessard Council, which will meet Monday.

Forests • Acquire threatened forest lands. Purchase access easements. Provide assistance to private landowners.

• Ensure that forest acquisitions and easement purchases demonstrate visible and tangible benefits.

• Enhance outdoor forest recreational opportunities.

Wetlands • Develop better matching system for Re-invest in Minnesota habitat dollars.

• Fund wetland enhancement and acquisition projects that are ready to go.

• Undertake long term maintenance of lands.

• Synthesize and fund existing wetland conservation plans.

• Revisit and revise state drainage laws.

Prairies • Acquire highest quality prairies available as identified by county biological survey.

• Seek out large grassland tracts for acquisition.

• Initiate a strong private lands program for prairies.

• Implement long-term goals of the state wildlife management area program, increasing lands held to 560,000 acres.

Lakes, rivers and waters • Restore shorelines and stream banks.

• Improve watershed management.

• Issue grants to lake associations and other, similar groups, requiring matching funds.

• Protect the state's remaining clean waters, while cleaning up those that are polluted.