The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC) issued its FY2016 Call for Funding Request from the Outdoor Heritage Fund on April 1, 2014. Requests are due to the LSOHC Thursday, June 12, 2014. The Council anticipates approximately $100 million (amount available to be revised after the November forecast) will be available. The Council recommends for programs that, under the MN Constitution directly, “restore, protect, and enhance wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife.” The funds for approved programs signed into law during the 2015 legislative session will be available beginning July 1, 2015.
The Council seeks requests for habitat work consistent with its statewide priorities and five geographic section’s vision and priorities as outlined in the Call for Funding Request. The priorities and visions will be used to guide the Council’s review of requests and recommendations. This is a competitive recommendation process, open to all who wish to apply.
This call begins the seventh recommendation cycle by the Council. To-date a total of over $540 million in on-the-ground habitat programs has been recommended. The latest set of recommendations for $109 million is currently before the legislature.
The Council, composed of eight citizens and four legislators, makes recommendations to the Legislature for use of the Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF). The OHF was established as result of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy amendment, passed by Minnesota voters in November of 2008. This amendment established a dedicated sales tax increase of 3/8th of one-percent. One-third of the dollars raised are deposited in the Outdoor Heritage Fund for expenditure to guard or improve habitat in Minnesota.
For more information on the Call for Request for Funding, please visit www.lsohc.leg.mn