Minnesota’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) was approved by voters and established, “for the public purpose of protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state's air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources."
The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) made recommendations for appropriating the ENRTF dollars, but now it is up to the Minnesota Legislature to pass the bill to fund conservation projects. The bill was heard in the House, but has yet to be heard by the Senate and there is very little time left to get this bill passed. Many important projects for Minnesota's environment need this funding to continue this year. You can read more about this in the Star Tribune.
Several projects in the Voyageurs National Park area would be impacted, even halted, if this funding is not secured. They include:
The Voyageurs Wolf Project has been doing internationally renowned, ground-breaking research to gain a comprehensive understanding of the summer ecology of wolves in the Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem in northern Minnesota. Studies on the predation and breeding are answering questions that have never before been answered. They have over 50,000 followers on social media which is growing every day.
"Do Beavers Buffer Against Droughts and Floods?" Among the main goals of the proposed research is to help better quantify the importance of beavers to our state’s current and future water supply. Voyageurs National Park has accrued nearly 40 years of monitoring beaver populations. It is the largest and longest ongoing study of beaver populations in North America, in a place where beavers are central to so many components of the boreal ecosystem and the treasured waters that are so important to our way of life in Minnesota.
A new campground and visitor facility will have a large economic impact in the small community of Crane Lake while providing much needed services for those who enjoy Voyageurs National Park as well as the adjacent BWCAW. There will be 35 campsites and approximately 22 full-time equivalent construction jobs related to the campground construction. The area’s small businesses such as lodges, stores, restaurants, and outfitters will also see growth and potential for expansion with an increase in tourism after the completion of this project.
The City of Ranier, one of Voyageurs’ gateway communities, has been working on an expansion of its Spruce Street dock. This dock would accommodate boats longer than 26 feet. Amenities for this new dock would include electrical services, overnight boat parking, sewage pump-out, and freshwater. This will increase public access for boat recreation on Rainy Lake by persons who will also be utilizing the resources of beautiful Voyageurs National Park. Local small businesses in this area such as restaurants, a brewery, a distillery, a hotel, retail shops, and an outfitter will also see growth and huge potential for expansion in their businesses from the increase in tourism.
Funding for these projects is critical to the people, wildlife, and local businesses in the Voyageurs region.
You can email your legislator today to support the advancement of Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund bill so that conservation and research work like the Voyageurs Wolf Project can continue. Contact:
Senator Bill Ingebrigsten, LCCMR member, Assistant Majority Leader, and Chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee
Your Senator! If you live in Minnesota, find out who that is here in the “Who Represents Me?” box for the Senate.
