Text: May 30, 2017The Honorable Kurt DaudtSpeaker of the HouseState Office Building, Room 463100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155Dear Speaker Daudt:Please be advised I have received, approved, signed, and deposited in theOffice of the Secretary of State Chapter 91, House File 707, a bill fundingprovisions for the Outdoor Heritage Fund, Clean Water Fund, Parks and TrailsFund, and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.I am pleased that an agreement was reached on this bill, since there werepolicy provisions in the original bill proposed by the Legislature that I foundobjectionable. I am also glad the Lessard-Sams Citizen Council'srecommendations were restored. Thank you for your commitment to the manysportsmen and women, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, hunters, anglers, andeveryone else committed to the enhancement of our state's priceless outdoorheritage.This bill leaves future work for the Legislature to address stable funding forSoil Water and Conservation Districts (SWCDs) and to fully fund theConservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). SWCDs rooted in our localcommunities supp01i landowners work to protect our soil and the quality of ourwater. They deserve and require certainty to retain staff and provide consistentservices. While the Clean Water Fund meets immediate needs for SWCD funding,a long term solution is needed. The CREP program will support landowners'implementation of buffers and wellhead protection to protect our lakes, rivers, anddrinking water. The tradeoff to reduce my request for CREP funding in order tofund SWCDs through the Clean Water Fund was disappointing. I was very pleasedto set up the possibility of a payback in the event of a positive forecast inNovember.With this, I expect that the Clean Water Fund payback of $22 million willrestore the remainder of my 2017 recommendations including $17.25 million toCREP. Additionally, in 2018 I will be submitting a bonding request that will assurethat CREP is fully funded. It is my hope that we will invest funds in CREP toleverage the maximum federal funding to support Minnesota farmers.Sincerely,Mark DaytonGovernorcc: Senator Michelle L. Fischbach, President of the SenateSenator Paul E. Gazelka, Senate Majority LeaderSenator Thomas M. Bakk, Senate Minority LeaderSenator Carrie Ruud, Minnesota SenateRepresentative Melissa Hortman, House Minority LeaderRepresentative Bob Gunther, House of RepresentativesThe Honorable Steve Simon, Secretary of StateMr. Cal R. Ludeman, Secretary of the SenateMr. Patrick Murphy, Chief Clerk of the House of RepresentativesMr. Paul Marinac, Revisor of Statutes