Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to establish a goal for the state of Minnesota to restore and protect its wetlands. The state aims to address environmental concerns by improving and safeguarding wetland areas, which are critical to maintaining biodiversity, water quality, and flood prevention.

Main Provisions

• Restoration and Protection Goal: Minnesota aims to restore or permanently protect no less than 1 million acres of wetlands by the year 2050. This initiative focuses on areas that have been lost or severely degraded.
• Prioritization: Special emphasis is given to counties that have experienced a loss of more than 50% of their wetlands since before Minnesota became a state.
• Agency Responsibilities: State agencies that manage grant programs or control funds related to this environmental goal must consider how their financial decisions can help achieve the wetland restoration target.

Reporting Requirements

• The Board of Water and Soil Resources is required to report annually, starting January 1, 2027, on the progress towards meeting the wetland restoration and protection goal.
• The report will include details on where efforts have succeeded, opportunities for future restoration, and any challenges faced in achieving the 2050 objective.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

The introduction of this bill proposes a new section within Minnesota Statutes chapter 103G, focused on wetland restoration and protection goals. This reflects a formal commitment towards environmental conservation efforts not previously focused on such a large scale.

Relevant Terms

wetland restoration, wetland protection, environmental conservation, biodiversity, flood prevention, Minnesota Statutes chapter 103G, Board of Water and Soil Resources, grant programs, state agencies, environmental policy.