Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund

In 1988 (and twice since then), Minnesota voters approved a constitutional amendment to dedicate lottery proceeds to the protection, conservation, preservation and enhancement of "the state's air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources."

Dubbed the Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF), it has invested over $700 million into more than 1,700 research and restoration projects statewide since its inception. That includes successful FMR habitat projects at Spring Lake Park Reserve and Hampton Woods in Dakota County.

Our letter on the Senate's controversial environment omnibus bill

by Trevor Russell

April 20, 2021

Earlier this week, the Minnesota Senate's Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Omnibus Bill includes some helpful provisions, but also includes cuts to state environmental agencies, a package of policy rollbacks, and a raid on a constitutionally dedicated environmental fund. >>

Star Tribune commentary: Don't let environmental funding fall prey to political games

by Trevor Russell

May 12, 2020

The recent commentary calls on the Legislature to drop a controversial “poison pill” provision that is blocking the use of an important dedicated environmental fund in Minnesota. >>

Revised 2020 state budget outlook casts a shadow on environmental funding

by Trevor Russell

May 7, 2020

A few months ago, Minnesota was looking at a sizable budget surplus. Now we've got a projected $2.4 billion deficit. What does that mean for clean water funding this legislative session? >>

This is not the time to bench MN's Environmental Trust Fund

by Trevor Russell

April 27, 2020

It’s frustratingly familiar territory with a scary new twist: A recent attempt to raid the 2020 Environment Trust Fund threatens to cancel the entire $64M allocation this year — hurting all the research and habitat restoration projects and jobs it supports throughout the state. Let’s dive in. >>

FMR signs on to coalition letter opposing the Senate environment bill

by Trevor Russell

April 24, 2019

April 23, 2019 FMR joined 19 other organizations in formally opposing the Senate Environment Budget and Policy Omnibus Bill (SF 2314). Here's the letter we distributed on the Senate floor prior to the debate. >>

Senate proposes major environmental rollback

by Trevor Russell

April 17, 2019

The Minnesota Senate’s proposed environmental budget bill (SF 2314) makes crippling cuts to general fund spending for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (86% cut), Department of Natural Resources (17%) and Board of Water and Soil Resources (39%). And that’s not all. >>

Environmental Trust Fund restored!

by Trevor Russell

March 12, 2019

On March 5, Gov. Tim Walz signed bipartisan legislation to fix last year’s controversial use of Minnesota’s voter-approved Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund. This is a win for taxpayers and our environment, and restoring the fund was a major priority for FMR this session. Here’s what happened. >>