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Senate committee lays over bill to extend deadline for Fond du Lac Band elk reintroduction funds
Summary
The Senate Environment, Climate and Legacy Committee agreed to lay over a bill extending the spending deadline for $2.3 million in FY2023 appropriations for the Fond du Lac Band’s elk reintroduction project and $300,000 directed to the DNR; DNR and tribal staff said implementation work and equipment purchases are underway and more time is needed.
A Senate committee on March 17 laid over legislation to extend the spending deadline for a fiscal-2023 appropriation intended to reintroduce wild elk by the Fond du Lac Band.
The author told the Minnesota Senate Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy the Legislature approved $2.3 million for the tribe’s elk-reintroduction project, with $300,000 of that directed to the Department of Natural Resources to assist implementation. "The implementation of these portions directed to the DNR are taking a little bit longer than previously expected, creating the need for this legislation to extend the timeline for the expenditure," the bill author said (presented in committee as ‘43 40’).
That presentation included Mike Schuregg, who identified himself for the record as the wildlife program manager for the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Schuregg said the project has spent roughly $500,000 on infrastructure and equipment — corrals, dart rifles and other items — and that about $1.5 million of the original appropriation remains to be spent as the program completes permitting and the first animal movements.
Committee members pressed staff for specifics about the remaining funds and timeline. Committee testimony said the U.S. Army Corps and project partners are working on the permitting and design steps; staff predicted further work this summer would move implementation forward but that more time would be required to expend the full appropriation.
During public comment, a landowner raised concerns that moving elk to eastern Minnesota could damage fences, harm crops and spread chronic wasting disease (CWD). The commenter urged caution and questioned the difference in restrictions applied to deer farmers versus the government’s proposed animal movements.
The committee laid the bill over for further consideration rather than moving it to the floor immediately. No formal vote to pass the underlying appropriation was taken at the March 17 hearing.
What happens next: The committee will consider the laid-over legislation in a future meeting; staff and tribal representatives said they are available to answer follow-up questions about timelines, permitting and planned on-the-ground actions.
