Appropriations committee hears FPR budget, trust‑fund language change proposed to free funds for stewardship and admin The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation asked the House Appropriations Committee to modernize the Lands and Facilities Trust Fund statute to align it with ANR, expand allowable uses to include limited administrative costs, and raise the rolling‑average payout from 5% to 8%; department officials said the fund is healthy at about $6.2 million and projected to grow.

Vermont's House Appropriations Committee is considering exciting changes to the Lands and Facilities Trust Fund that could significantly boost funding for state-land stewardship!

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#VT #CitizenPortal #StewardshipInitiatives #NaturalResources #VermontParks #BudgetTransparency

Local watershed councils report falling participation; members propose tours, shared stewardship and subcommittees Multiple local watershed council presenters reported declining meeting attendance and unclear purpose for some councils; members proposed practical fixes including field tours, shared stewardship demonstrations, joint meeting scheduling, and a temporary subcommittee to develop agenda topics.

Local watershed councils are struggling with dwindling participation, but members are brainstorming exciting solutions like hands-on field tours and collaborative projects to revive engagement.

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#UT #CommunityEngagement #StewardshipInitiatives #CitizenPortal #WaterConservation

State Land Board outlines updates to agriculture leasing, stewardship and RFP process Staff presented a sweeping review of the agriculture leasing program, highlighting that about 96% of trust land is in agricultural use, $16.2 million in lease revenue last year, expanded stewardship work (inspections, cost-share funds, regenerative agriculture), and planned updates to forms, scoring and RFPs with a phased implementation and board engagement.

The State Land Board is revamping its agriculture leasing program, revealing that an impressive 96% of trust land is agricultural and generated a whopping $16.2 million last year—exciting changes are on the horizon!

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#CO #StewardshipInitiatives #LandManagement