Bill SF3444

1.1          A bill for an act
1.2          relating to natural resources; establishing a nonlethal beaver management grant
1.3          program; requiring a report; appropriating money.
1.4          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5          Section 1. NONLETHAL BEAVER MANAGEMENT GRANT PROGRAM.
 1.6                        Subdivision 1.Establishment. The commissioner of natural resources must establish a
1.7          program to:
1.8          (1) provide state matching grants to assist individuals and communities with nonlethal
1.9          beaver management and beaver damage deterrence; and
1.10       (2) provide recommendations for nonlethal strategies that can be implemented instead
1.11       of lethal management.
1.12                       Subd. 2.Eligible applicants. The commissioner may award grants under this section
1.13       to:
1.14       (1) local units of government, including cities, counties, regional authorities, joint powers
1.15       boards, towns, townships, Tribal governments, and parks and recreation boards in cities of
1.16       the first class, that are responding to property damage caused by beaver activity; and
1.17       (2) Minnesota residents that own or lease land where beavers are present and are causing
1.18       property damage.
1.19                       Subd. 3.Eligible expenditures. Applicants are eligible for matching grants of up to ...
1.20       percent of costs incurred to deter beaver damage. Eligible expenditures include:
1.21       (1) nonlethally trapping and relocating beavers that are causing property damage;
2.1          (2) fencing and other hardware for tree and plant protection;
2.2          (3) planting native vegetation that is beaver-resistant; and
2.3          (4) creating buffer strips of native vegetation that deter beaver damage to other properties.
2.4                          Subd. 4.Report. The commissioner must report to the legislature by February 1, 2025,
2.5          on the uses and effectiveness of the nonlethal beaver management grant program and make
2.6          recommendations for further changes to the program, including possible future funding
2.7          amounts and sources of funding.
2.8                          Subd. 5.Appropriation. $500,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the heritage
2.9          enhancement account in the game and fish fund to the commissioner of natural resources
2.10       for a nonlethal beaver management grant program.