Minnesota’s largest organization of anglers, MN-FISH, has cast its support urging voters in this November’s election to renew the state’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF).
First established in 1988, voters again in the November election will be asked to approve continuing the work of the trust fund, which is financed by proceeds from the state lottery. Unless approved by voters, revenue from the lottery will no longer be deposited into the trust fund after 2025.
On a unanimous vote, the MN-FISH Board of Directors approved renewing the trust fund, joining other state conservation organizations in a campaign to reach state voters.
‘’Establishing the Trust Fund turned out to be a painless way to pay for fish and wildlife conservation and other environmental challenges,’’ said MN-FISH president, Ron Schara. “You play the lottery for fun but win or lose you’re contributing to improving Minnesota’s environment in so many ways.’’
Since its inception, ENRTF has invested more than $1 billion in roughly 1,600 projects designed to protect and conserve the state’s air, water, wildlife habitat and other resources.
The funded projects are reviewed and approved by a 17-member Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources, composed of 10 legislators and seven citizens. Projects receiving lottery dollars in recent years range from invasive species research to habitat acquisitions and environmental education. This year’s total allotment was more than $103 million.
The MN-FISH Foundation and Coalition holds nonprofit status, recognized by the IRS under section 501(c)3 and 501(c)4.
