Bismarck, ND – The Industrial Commission of North Dakota today approved $3,350,164 in Outdoor Heritage Fund grants for nine 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 projects approved today are:
- $86,000 – Steele County Water Resource District: To replace inlet pipe and diversion rock structure, along with four outlet pipes at Lake Tobiason.
- $52,500 – Pheasants Forever: North Central Soil Health & Habitat. To work with 10-20 growers over 3 years to address soil health issues on 3,250 grower designated salt impacted acres and establish deep rooted salt tolerant perennial vegetation (Benson, Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville, Rolette, Ward Counties). The use of cover crops on adjacent acres will be an additional practice to further promote soil health and salinity management. Educational workshops will also be held.
- $74,000 – Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa: For the purchase and installation of 3 handicapped accessible fishing docks at Sky Chief Park in Rolette County.
- $42,500 – Tri-Cities Job Development Authority: For the installation of a handicapped accessible fishing pier on Lake Tschida that would offer the public opportunities to access depths of 18'.
- $1,250,790 – Ducks Unlimited: To provide cost share for implementation of conservation practices through livestock fencing & water management and cover crop seed costs in 32 counties.
- $104,500 – North Dakota Natural Resources Trust: To assist landowners statewide with cost-share to plant grass and collectively work on a management plan to maximize wildlife benefits and agricultural production. The seeded acres will be used for three main purposes: 1) Livestock grazing, in which a rotational grazing plan will incorporate a grazing and resting/recovery period. 2) Hayland with a haying date after July 15th. 3) Habitat, seeded specifically for wildlife conservation. The goal is to restore 2,000 acres of grassland.
- $1,200,000 – City of Dickinson: For the construction of a 1.6 mile shared-use path that will connect the 1.8 mile phase 1 fitness trail to: a fishing pier at Patterson Lake, a portion of trail along Dickinson Dike, fishing pier and boat launch at Dickinson Dike, Turtle Park, and a shared use path within city limits.
- $10,000 – LaMoure Lions: To assist with the purchase of playground equipment to develop a new play area at Sunset Park as part of a multiphase plan.
- $529,874 – Audubon Dakota: To provide landowners with financial and/or technical assistance to promote conservation practices on approximately 2,700 acres of grazing lands, and prairie enhancement and restoration on 750 acres. Counties include Burleigh, McLean, and Sheridan.
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 next submission deadline for grant applications from state agencies, tribal governments, political subdivisions and non-profit organizations is May 1, 2019. 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.
Karlene 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 $3,350,164 IN OUTDOOR HERITAGE FUNDS.pdf