Minnesotans love and care about the great outdoors. Year-round outdoor recreation is vital for happy, healthy communities and, luckily, Minnesota ranks among the best states in the nation for outdoor recreation investment. This is in part due to the investment Minnesotans make in our outdoor heritage.
In 1988 (and twice since then), Minnesota voters approved a constitutional amendment to dedicate lottery proceeds for the protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of “the state’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources.” Thousands of projects and over $1 billion dollars have been invested in communities across the entire state.
Renewing the Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund
The constitutional dedication of lottery proceeds to the Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) is set to expire in 2025. State legislators passed a bill in 2023 that put lottery dedication on the ballot as a constitutional amendment, renewing the fund through 2050.
In November 2024, Minnesota voters will have the chance to vote yes to reauthorizing the environmental fund.
A yes vote on Amendment 1 will not only protect our natural areas, wildlife habitat, lakes, and rivers across Minnesota – it will continue to support the places we visit when camping, hiking, biking, fishing, hunting and spending time with family and friends. The Lottery funds the ENRTF which has grown to provide $80 million per year in projects. These projects are “for the public purpose of protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources.”
In the Minnesota River Basin, we have seen program dollars for youth engagement at Prairie Wood’s Environmental Learning Center (Spicer), ongoing support for the Pioneer Public Television program “Prairie Sportsman” which reports on various outdoor programs around the state, funding for Minnesota Scientific and Natural Areas that protect and study native plant communities, rare species and geologic features across the state, research that supports water health, air quality, climate change, land and habitat restoration. These dollars have also funded groups like Ducks Unlimited to support ecosystem function and landscape resiliency projects that bring together partnerships to support waterfowl production. In southern Minnesota, ENRTF has funded well testing to protect drinking water from contaminates like arsenic and other impurities.
When returning the Pomme de Terre river to its natural channel, funds were provided to move the native freshwater mussel population. West Central Research Outreach Center in Morris received fund to research emerging solar system designs that maximize energy production and maximal benefits to farmers.
Minnesota leads the country in addressing invasive species with ENRTF dollars supporting Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Cleaning Stations on public waters and AIS education.
New Community Grants
Efforts are being made to make ENRTF grant dollars more accessible to smaller organizations and communities through a new community grants program. If this fund is renewed, this program will increase equity by ensuring BIOPOC-led organizations and smaller rural communities have greater access to address local environmental issues.
Protecting the Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund
Our mission at CURE is to protect and restore resilient communities and landscapes by harnessing the power of people who care about them. We believe that continuing to invest the lottery funds into the Environment & Natural Resource Trust Fund benefits all Minnesotan’s now and into the future.
Tell family and friends: check the YES box on Election Day
It doesn’t matter which side of the political aisle you land on, everyone in Minnesota loves the outdoors. Encourage those in your circle of influence to check YES for Amendment 1 – Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Renewal in November.
While voters have approved or renewed this amendment twice before, we still need to ensure that this import ballot question isn’t overlooked. Over 50% of voters must vote YES to ensure this critical funding source continues flowing to the Great Outdoors for the next 25 years. Leaving the question blank counts as a NO vote.
Endorse the cause
Help spread the word and share this YouTube video or a social media post from Minnesota Great Outdoors (Instagram, X/Twitter, Facebook)
Organizations and clubs of all kinds — including businesses, religious groups and civic associations — support the amendment.
See the current list, join CURE and over 100+ endorsers and support the effort at MNGreatOutdoors.
Connect with CURE
Tell us what you are interested in, and we will connect you with others in the CURE network – it is everyday Minnesotans like you that make a difference for the work we do – being a voice for the environment/air/land/water….
