Bismarck, ND – The Industrial Commission of North Dakota today approved $4.6 million in Outdoor Heritage Fund grants for 13 conservation and recreation projects benefiting communities across the state. The funding, generated from oil and gas production tax revenue, supports projects such as access to public and private lands for sportsmen, farming and ranching stewardship practices, fish and wildlife habitat preservation, and outdoor recreation areas.
“The Outdoor Heritage Fund provides funding that enhances opportunities for North Dakotans to implement best management practices that improve the state’s waters and lands and also establishes areas where North Dakotans can enjoy the outdoors whether they are hunting, fishing, canoeing or hiking,” the Commission members said in a joint statement. “We are pleased these projects will continue to improve the great quality of life we have in North Dakota.”
The Industrial Commission of North Dakota, which oversees the Outdoor Heritage Fund, consists of Gov. Doug Burgum as chairman, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring.
The projects totaling $4,600,942 approved today by the Industrial Commission are:
- $8,700 - North Dakota Parks and Recreation: Improve accessibility and informational materials for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, camping, and hunting access opportunities on Sheyenne River.
- $104,033 - Morton County Parks: Second phase of stabilization and reinforcement of the Missouri River bank at Graner Park.
- $21,830 - Bismarck Parks and Recreation: Improvements to Atkinson Nature Park including: hiking trail, interpretive program, overlook area, parking for access, and eradication of invasive species.
- $530,000 - Audubon Dakota: Expansion of the Urban Woods and Prairies Initiative by seeding native grasses and wildflowers on 591 acres in Bismarck, Grand Forks and Minot, and 111 acres in Fargo.
- $2,170,000 - ND Natural Resources Trust and Dunn County Soil Conservation District: Create and enhance working agricultural lands and wildlife habitat near energy sites as well as throughout the broader landscape; create urban nature/interpretive sites, and coordinate and facilitate energy site restoration with the Department of Mineral Resources where no current responsible party exists.
- $943,489 - Audubon Dakota: Cost-share to fund native prairie restoration, invasive species control, and grazing system support to private landowners and open up additional grazing acres at Audubon's Alkali Lake Sanctuary. Approximately 8,963 acres in Stutsman County will be impacted.
- $45,000 - National Wild Turkey Federation: Approximately nine riparian restoration projects on approximately 2,700 acres.
- $50,000 - Cass County Soil Conservation District: Financial assistance to establish windbreak, wildlife & riparian tree plantings.
- $38,040 - Wells County Soil Conservation District: Improve the Sheyenne watershed through two grazing management plans and one field windbreak planting.
- $250,000 - North McHenry County Soil Conservation District: Installations of 20-25 grazing systems and completion of 3-5 grass plantings, impacting a total of 12,000 acres.
- $396,850 - ND Natural Resources Trust: Extension of the Working Grasslands Partnership to cover an additional 28 counties, thereby including the whole state in cost share for best management practices.
- $33,000 - Jamestown Parks and Recreational Foundation: Creation of an accessible sensory garden.
- $10,000 - Riding for Dreams Equine Assisted Activities & Therapies: Creation of a half- mile sensory trail for walking and riding horse.
“These projects will ensure that North Dakotans of all ages, skills, and abilities can experience the outdoors in a variety of ways,” said Jim Melchior, chairman of the Outdoor Heritage Fund Advisory Board.
The next application deadline for the funding program is October 1, 2018. More information about the program, including the application process, can be found on the Outdoor Heritage Fund website at http://www.nd.gov/ndic/outdoor-infopage.htm.
For more information, contact Jim Melchior at 701-220-8023.
mKarlene K. Fine, Executive Director and Secretary
State Capitol, 14th Floor - 600 E Boulevard Ave Dept 405 - Bismarck, ND 58505-0840
E-Mail: kfine@nd.gov
Phone: (701) 328-3722 FAX: (701) 328-2820
"Your Gateway to North Dakota”: www.nd.gov
Attachments: INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION AWARDS $4.6 MILLION IN OUTDOOR HERITAGE FUNDS.pdf