The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) awarded $630,400 in 13 grants through the Conservation Partners Legacy (CPL) grant program to help restore, enhance or protect fish, game and wildlife habitat in the state.

“CPL grants provide funding to local groups that are ready to put that money to work for conservation,” said Ed Boggess, DNR Fish and Wildlife Division director. “These projects provide long-term habitat benefits for the state.”

This second round of grants was limited to applications for $125,000 or less as part of an effort balance larger grants with smaller grants.

Among recent grant recipients are the Hamburg Hunting and Fishing Club, which received $125,000 to acquire 51 acres to add to Severance Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA); the Balaton Sportsman’s Club, which received $18,000 to restore native grasses to 112 acres of current cropland at the new Peterson/Woodbury Waterfowl Production Area; and the Nicollet Conservation Club, which received $16,200 to enhance and restore 139 acres of Swan Lake

WMA by burning, tree removal and native cover plantings.

A complete list of the successful grant applications can be found online.

During its third funding cycle, the DNR received 21 applications totaling $1.3 million in requests. Local, state and federal nonprofit organizations and governmental entities are eligible to apply for grants ranging from $5,000 to $400,000. To date, more than 80 grants have been awarded for a total of $7.8 million.

The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council recommended the CPL program, which was developed by the 2009 Minnesota Legislature. Funding has been provided annually from the Outdoor Heritage fund, which is part of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment and funded by a voter-approved statewide sales tax of three-eighths of 1 percent.