$103 Million for 108 Projects Across Minnesota
ST. PAUL, Minn. — On Monday, May 11, the Minnesota Senate voted 44-23 to pass the 2026 recommendations from the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources for projects requesting Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) dollars. The 108 projects were selected from 400 proposals in a competitive, multi-stage evaluation and span education and outdoor recreation, fish and wildlife, water and conservation and more.
Senate Environment, Climate and Legacy Chair Senator Hawj (DFL-St. Paul) releases the following statement:
“Minnesotans’ love for our natural resources is second only to our dedication to protecting them. These 108 projects across the state will help preserve our air and water quality, restore critical habitats, and maintain the parks and trails that we love year-round. Creating Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund is one of the most popular, bipartisan decisions Minnesotans make together. We all agree: our lakes, parks, and skies are important, and we must preserve them for future generations.”
Of the 108 projects, 67% are statewide initiatives 12% are regional, 16% are Twin Cities metro area, and 3% span the metro and other regions. Voters first approved the ENRTF in 1988 and most recently reaffirmed it in the 2024 election. The money in the trust fund comes from the Minnesota State Lottery. Those funds must be used for the public purpose of protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of Minnesota’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources. Since 1991, the ENRTF has provided approximately $1.1 billion to over 1,700 projects around the state.
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