Advocacy

The good, the bad and the dirty: The environment and the 2015 special session

by Trevor Russell

June 15, 2015

Following the chaotic end of the 2015 regular legislative session, the conservation community rallied to build public support for a veto of a highly controversial environmental bill: the Omnibus Environment and Agriculture Bill.

While Governor Dayton is to be commended for his veto of the original bill, a renegotiated bill surfaced during the recent legislative special session and was passed with many of the same dirty water provisions that were in the original bill.

Overall, the Omnibus Environment and Agriculture Bill remains one of the most anti-clean-water measures to come out of the state legislature in recent memory, and includes an especially egregious repeal of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Citizens' Board.

Bold leadership from Governor Dayton on buffers

by Whitney Clark

April 28, 2015

Governor Dayton's proposal to establish shoreland buffers along all Minnesota waters will provide habitat for numerous species and pay dividends in improving water quality. Read more

Myths & facts: The Governor's buffer initiative

by Trevor Russell

April 28, 2015

During this month's State of the State Address, Governor Dayton expressed his displeasure with buffer opposition, saying he is "...unwilling to wait another year — or longer — for legislation that will significantly improve Minnesota’s water. While the Governor's buffer initiative presents an enormous opportunity to improve water quality and habitat in Minnesota, myths about the bill have proliferated in the halls of the capitol, often spread by opponents of the initiative. Read more

Legislative update: The session kicks into high gear

by Trevor Russell

April 28, 2015

The 2015 legislative session moves into high gear this month, as a raft of policy and finance bills move toward the floor in the House and Senate. While buffers, Forever Green research, and a strong biofuels bill are reasons to smile, FMR is also working hard to defeat a series of assaults on clean water protections from the GOP-controlled House. Read more

Ribbons of habitat for water quality: Buffers proposal offers new hope for an old problem

by Harland Hiemstra

April 11, 2015

Earlier this year, Governor Mark Dayton proposed an initiative requiring vegetated buffers along all waters of the state. Although the proposal was initially touted as a way to bolster Minnesota's declining pheasant population, it is clearly one of the most significant water quality initiatives put forward by a Minnesota governor in decades. Read more