For administration as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.09, subdivision 5.

For contract administration activities assigned to the commissioner in this section.

For expenses of the citizen advisory committee as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.06. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.281, the availability of $15,000 of the appropriation from Laws 2003, Chapter 128, article 1,section 9, subdivision 4, advisory committee, is extended to June 30, 2007.

To plan, restore, and acquire fragmented landscape corridors that connect areas of quality habitat to sustain fish, wildlife, and plants. Expenditures are limited to the 11 project 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.

For the purposes of planning, improving, and protecting important natural areas in the metropolitan region, as defined by Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2 and portions of the surrounding counties, through grants, contracted services, conservation easements, and fee acquisition. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards as determined by the commissioner of natural resources.

To develop and enhance lands designated as scientific and natural areas.

To develop stewardship plans and implement prairie management on private prairie lands on a cost share basis with private or federal funds.

To provide matching grants of up to $20,000 to local government and private organizations for enhancement, restoration, research, and education associated with natural habitat and environmental service projects.

To protect forest resources, develop inventory-based management plans, and provide matching grants to communities to plant native trees. At least $390,000 of this appropriation must be used for grants to communities.

To research new options for controlling common carp.

To research potential insects for biological control of invasive European buckthorn species for the second biennium and to introduce and evaluate insects for biological control of garlic mustard.

For a six-year revolving loan fund to improve public and private land-ownership patterns, increase management efficiency, and protect critical habitat in Aitkin, Cass, and Crow Wing counties. By June 30, 2011, Aitkin County shall repay the $500,000 to the Commissioner of Finance for deposit in the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.

To acquire in-holdings for state park and recreation areas. Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards as determined by the commissioner of natural resources.

For priorities established by the Commissioner for eligible state projects and administrative and planning activities consistent with Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.14, and the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Act.

To enhance revenue generation in the state’s park and recreation system.

To develop and evaluate opportunities to more efficiently manage Minnesota's parks and outdoor recreation areas.

For subgrants for the acquisition, development, and rehabilitation in the metropolitan regional park system, consistent with the metropolitan council regional recreation open space capital improvement plan.

To design and construct approximately two miles of Gitchi-Gami state trail segments

For land acquisition and development of the Casey Jones State Trail in southwest Minnesota.

To acquire land to connect the Paul Bunyan State Trail within the City of Bemidji.

To provide trail planning assistance to three communities along the Minnesota River state trail.

To provide matching grants to local governments for acquisition and development of natural and scenic areas and local parks as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 85.019, subdivisions 2 and 4a, and regional parks outside of the metropolitan area. Grants may provide up to 50 percent of the nonfederal share of the project cost, except nonmetropolitan regional park grants may provide up to 60 percent of the nonfederal share of the project cost. $500,000 of this appropriation is for land acquisition for a proposed county regional park on Kraemer Lake in Stearns County.

To develop a plan for a system of regional recreation areas for major outstate urban complexes in Minnesota.

To provide matching grants to local units of government for the cost of acquisition, development, engineering services, and enhancement of existing and new trail facilities.

To acquire and develop segments of the Mesabi Trail.

For bridge replacement of the Belle Creek bridge on the Cannon Valley Trail. This appropriation must be matched by at least $44,000 of nonstate money.

To analyze the Arrowhead's major bike trails and plan new trail connections

To acquire land for the arboretum. This appropriation must be matched by an equal amount of nonstate money.

To provide technical assistance and matching grants to local communities and recreational shooting and archery clubs for the purpose of developing or rehabilitating shooting and archery facilities for public use. Recipient facilities must be open to the general public at reasonable times and for a reasonable fee on a walk-in basis.

To create a new birding trail guide for the North Shore/Arrowhead region and reprint and distribute guides for three existing birding trails.

To accelerate the local water management challenge grant program under Minnesota Statutes, sections 103B.3361 to 103B.3369, through matching grants to implement high-priority activities in state approved comprehensive water management plans. For the purposes of this paragraph, the match must be a nonstate contribution, but may be either cash or qualifying in-kind.

To accelerate monitoring efforts through assessments, citizen training, and implementation grants.

To evaluate effects of retired or set aside agricultural lands on the water quality and aquatic habitat of streams in the Minnesota River basin in order to enhance prioritization of future land retirements.

To determine the feasibility of recycling treated municipal wastewater for industrial use, characterize industrial water demand and quality, and determine the costs to treat municipal wastewater to meet specific industrial needs.

To determine where behavior-altering estrogenic compounds come from and how they are distributed in wastewater treatment plants.

To quantify climate, hydrologic, and ecological variability and trends; and identify indicators of future climate change effects on aquatic systems.

To install green, vegetated roofs on four commercial or industrial buildings in Roseville and Falcon Heights and to monitor their effectiveness for stormwater management, flood reduction, water quality, and energy efficiency. The cost of the installations must be matched by at least 50 percent nonstate money.

To treat feedlot runoff with woodchip biofilters to remove pollutants and assess improvements to surface water quality.

To reduce nitrate and phosphorus losses to groundwater and surface waters of sandy ecoregions through the development, promotion, and adoption of new farming and land management practices and techniques.

To analyze conservation drainage systems at University of Minnesota research and outreach centers and for opportunities to retrofit drainage infrastructure with water quality improvement technologies.

For a coordinated effort of the Central Iron Range Initiative to establish ultimate mine water elevations, outflows, and quality; design optimum future mineland configurations for fish habitat and lakeshore development; and evaluate wind pumped hydropower potential and to assess the geology and mine pit morphometry.

To develop a predictive model for on-site determination of beach water quality to prevent outbreaks of waterborne illnesses and provide related water-safety outreach to the public.

To acquire easements and construct four floodwater retention projects in the Minnesota River Basin to improve water quality and waterfowl habitat.

To upgrade and overhaul the Blue Heron Research Vessel.

For design and engineering activities for habitat restoration and water quality and channel improvements for Bassett Creek Valley.

To demonstrate the removal of excess nutrients from Indian Lake in Wright County.

To accelerate the survey that identifies significant natural areas and systematically collects and interprets data on the distribution and ecology of native plant communities, rare plants, and rare animals.

To accelerate digitizing of completed soil surveys for web based user application and for agreements with Pine and Crow Wing counties to begin soil surveys.

To develop GIS tools for prioritizing natural areas for protection and restoration and to update and complete land cover classification mapping.

To protect open space by identifying high-priority natural resource corridors through planning, conservation easements and land dedication as part of development processes.

For third party assessment and certification of 4.47 million acres of DNR administered lands under forest sustainability standards established by two internationally recognized forest certification systems, the Forest Stewardship Council system and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative system.

To pilot a third party certification assessment framework for nonindustrial private forest owners.

To develop stewardship plans for private forested lands, implement stewardship plans on a cost-share basis and for conservation easements matching federal funds.

To assess the timber harvesting riparian management guidelines for post-harvest impacts on terrestrial, aquatic, and wildlife habitat.

To accelerate adoption of 3rd crops to enhance water quality, diversify cropping systems, supply bioenergy, and provide wildlife habitat through demonstration, research and education.

To evaluate the bioconversion of potato waste into marketable biopolymers, plant based plastics.

To provide technical assistance to implement cost effective conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects and to assist two Minnesota communities in developing locally owned wind energy projects by offering financial assistance rebates.

To evaluate the socioeconomic benefits of statewide and community renewable energy production and distribution by analyzing system installation, technical capabilities, cost-competitiveness, economic impacts, and policy incentives.

To research the potential for a centrally located, multi-farm manure digester and the potential use of compatible waste streams with manure digesters.

For a pilot project to evaluate anaerobic digester technology on average size dairy farms of 50-300 cows.

To develop a model, community-scale wind to hydrogen facility.

To demonstrate potential natural gas yield using anaerobic digestion of blends of chopped grasses or crop residue with hog manure and determine optimum operating conditions for conversion to natural gas.

To evaluate the environmental and performance benefits of using renewable biomass-derived oils, such as soybean oil, for generating electricity.

To assist in the distribution system equipment and construction costs for a biomass district energy system. This appropriation is contingent on all appropriate permits being obtained and a signed commitment of financing for the biomass electrical generating facility being in place.

To lease land and plant approximately 1000 acres of trees to support a proposed conversion to a biomass power plant.

To create ground water exhibits and a statewide traveling groundwater classroom program.

To restore 400 acres of savanna and prairie; construct a Science Interpretive Center to publicly demonstrate technologies for energy efficiency; and create interpretive trails.

To train high school students and teachers on environmental problem solving.

To develop interactive ecological exhibits at Tamarack Nature Center.