Purpose

• Establish an appropriation of funds to support a lake sturgeon project in the St. Louis River area.
• Provide public education about the historical, cultural, and biological significance of lake sturgeon.

Main Provisions

• Funding: Amount of 750,000 dollars in fiscal year 2026.
• Source: Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
• Administration: The commissioner of natural resources (DNR) would provide a grant from these funds.
• Recipient and project scope: A grant to the Great Lakes Aquarium to carry out a lake sturgeon project, including rearing (culturing young sturgeon) and stocking (releasing fish into the wild).
• Partnerships: The project is to be conducted in cooperation with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
• Location and focus: The St. Louis River area, with education about the historical, cultural, and biological significance of lake sturgeon.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Creates/authorizes a new appropriation to fund a lake sturgeon project, expanding funding for arts and cultural heritage initiatives tied to wildlife and habitat education.
• Establishes interagency and tribal-Federal collaboration (DNR, Fond du Lac Band, USFWS) for a targeted conservation and outreach effort.
• No explicit changes to existing statutes beyond authorizing the new grant and program; ongoing administration would be through the DNR with partner entities.

Relevant Terms - Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund - Great Lakes Aquarium - lake sturgeon - rearing - stocking - public education - St. Louis River - Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa - United States Fish and Wildlife Service - Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - fiscal year 2026 - appropriation - grant - interagency partnership - conservation education