LCCMR recommends $103 million for diverse environmental projects across Minnesota this year.

The Senate Environment, Climate and Legacy Committee recommended passage of Senate File 3857, the LCCMR annual recommendations (109 projects, roughly $103 million), adopting amendments to add a 1.5% community grants allocation and revise conflict-of-interest language; members pressed the University of Minnesota for detailed salary breakout of funded projects.

The House Environment, Natural Resources, Finance and Policy Committee heard presentations on House File 3426, which would appropriate $103.3 million recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) for 109 projects. Members questioned oversight and reimbursement processes and discussed, but did not take up, an amendment to authorize $28.18 million for a new DNR community grants program.

Research that began after the 2021 Greenwood Fire seeks to understand how wildfires affect a lake’s water quality, and for how long. It also looks at what that means for mercury accumulation in fish.

Co-chair Jordan presented House File 3426, the annual Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources appropriation from ENRTF lottery proceeds totaling about $102.0 million, including $28.18 million for a newly created community grants program; the committee recommended the bill for the general register by voice vote.

The Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources subcommittee reviewed a five‑page survey of potential prohibited expenses for the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) and voted to preliminarily prohibit several categories while leaving many as 'generally ineligible' pending exceptions; fringe benefits and graduate tuition were retained as eligible when itemized.

Pine County authorized a resolution allowing a lake association to use the county as fiscal agent for a proposed $3 million LCCMR grant to expand a nanobubble system on Pokegama Lake. Presenters said the system showed immediate water-quality improvement in a pilot and would require a lake improvement district for long-term operations.

The Chaska City Council voted to approve the final Southwest Chaska Park master plan and budget, accepting a $3,047,000 LCCMR grant recommendation and authorizing staff to pursue construction documents and bond financing to cover the remaining costs.

The LCCMR subcommittee launched a review of guidance on allowable, prohibited and generally ineligible project expenses, scheduling five meetings and a public comment period to update definitions and reduce ambiguity for applicants and staff.

Key roll-call outcomes from the LCCMR meeting: easement release approved 15–0; consent agenda approved 11–4; RFP allocation method (Westrom amendment) approved 12–2–1. Payments and staff follow-ups were directed where noted.

The commission approved three ML 2026 work plans on a consent agenda amid objections that one project lists Friends of the Boundary Waters as a no-cost fiscal agent and concerns about political crossover; the consent motion passed 11–4.

After a lengthy debate, the commission adopted an amended plan for 2027 RFP recommendations that trims the five largest average allocations by 10% and reduces the remainder by about 3.4%, while preserving projects under $300,000; the motion passed 12–2–1.

The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources approved a request to release 4.6 acres of a conservation easement to permit construction of a replacement bridge and realignment of County Road 21 in Renville County; county staff said denying the release would jeopardize $5.2 million in time-sensitive funding.

374Water (NASDAQ:SCWO) reported completion of Phase 2 of its mobile AirSCWO deployment at the City of St. Cloud, Minnesota, under a $600,000 Waste Destruction Services contract, and the start of Phase 3. The State of Minnesota is using this campaign, supported by LCCMR and ENRTF, to evaluate AirSCWO for permanent PFAS destruction.Phase 2 processed Class A biosolids from a Lystek thermal hydrolysis process, including a strong run at up to 12% solids, with all planned sampling completed and performance described as consistent with previous AirSCWO campaigns. Phase 3 has begun on pre-anaerobic digestion sludge, a waste stream previously processed by the company with 97% solids reduction and up to 99.99%+ PFAS reduction in earlier campaigns. According to 374Water, each mobile AirSCWO unit is estimated to have the potential to generate $500,000–$1.5 million in annual revenue, depending on deployment cadence, waste composition, and contract structure, and the St. Cloud project is intended to help build a scalable, recurring mobile services business.

A state representative told the International Falls City Council the city secured $5,000,000 in bonding for its water treatment project and highlighted state funding programs including LCCMR and workforce housing allocations; he also discussed ambulance and hospital funding challenges.

SFA provides advanced soil health training and farmer networking in the Upper Midwest and beyond. Visit our homepage at www.sfa-mn.org.

After an unsuccessful LCCMR application, the city will apply to the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks & Trails Commission for two years of legacy funding for an expanded environmental education program and is seeking a 20% county match.

Lawmakers amended House File 3426 (the LCCMR bill) to add guardrails for an emerging issues account and a surety bond requirement for community grant applicants; the committee adopted the A10 and A11 amendments and laid the bill over for further work and incorporation of auditor recommendations.