Commentary: An open letter to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Conservation Partners Legacy grant changes

Dear Governor Walz:

On behalf of the Pioneer Heritage Conservation Trust board of directors and members, I am writing to express our opposition to the last-minute changes to SF2077-ML2026 (Outdoor Heritage Funding Bill) regarding the Conservation Partners Legacy (CPL) small grants program funding.

It is our understanding a change was made to eliminate out-state funding for 2026, with all $13,797,000 going to the seven-county metro area and/or cities with populations of 50,000 or more. This change exempts our organization from applying for funds in 2026. We find this most perplexing and quite frankly unfair, since the projects of the PHCT focus on rural areas which the “Outdoor Heritage” Funding Bill is also intended to serve.

We have been applying and receiving CPL grants since 2012. To date, PHCT has received $1,019,630 in grants. We received an additional $400,000 in 2025 for projects starting this spring in 2026. This is quite an accomplishment for an organization with a relatively small annual budget, and demonstrates the commitment of the PHCT to conservation projects in this region.

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The Pioneer Heritage Conservation Trust is an all-volunteer non-profit 501C(3) organization, whose purpose is to improve wildlife habitat in the four counties of Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail and Pope. Within our small budget, we rely greatly on the CPL grants to work with the Minnesota DNR and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to complete conservation projects on Minnesota Wildlife Management Areas, USFWS Waterfowl Production Areas as well as private lands with conservation easements.

Due to the success of these projects, PHCT was awarded the “2025 Conservation Award” by the Minnesota Chapter of The Wildlife Society.

Grant funds have been primarily used to remove invasive cattails from these areas, and improve habitat in both public and private wetland regions. The effects of removing cattails on waterfowl and other wild birds and animals is breathtaking. These areas transition from being void of any wildlife to amazing, blooming ecosystems in one year!

Most of these areas are in the prime “prairie pothole” region of the state. In addition, funds have been utilized to install, replace, and maintain water control structures allowing wildlife managers to control water levels for optimal waterfowl nesting and resting. Some funds have been used to plant wild rice on these public lands with great success.

The economic benefit to the local region from the CPL grants is significant. Generally, local contractors complete the work, purchasing heavy equipment such as: backhoes, bulldozers, tractors, and roller choppers. Maintenance and supplies are purchased locally as well.

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As president of the PHCT, I am focused on our organization alone, however, there are many other small conservation groups in outstate Minnesota which will also be negatively affected by the removal of the ability to apply for CPL grant funds. Many Soil and Water Conservation Districts, watershed districts, and lake associations in rural areas are former grant recipients, and will also be negatively affected in the future by this last-minute change.

We do not understand, and certainly do not agree, with the actions of the legislature regarding the CPL funds, and the removal of small organizations from the application process. Hopefully you can see how important these funds are to rural, outstate organizations.

We respectfully request you utilize your veto power to reinstate the CPL Grant program to its original intent to provide grants statewide to any qualifying organization with a qualifying project. You have the ability to remove this inherent bias toward groups like PHCT who are actively involved in fulfilling the vision of the Outdoor Heritage funding and CPL grants.

Thank you for your kind consideration of our concerns.

Michael Nemmers is president of the Pioneer Heritage Conservation Trust. The Pioneer Heritage Conservation Trust is based in Evansville, Minn., in Douglas County.