School Trust Lands

Management

The DNR manages the school trust lands to ensure the permanent school fund is getting the best long-term economic return. The DNR is advised on its management of the school trust lands by the Permanent School Fund Advisory Committee (PSFAC).The PSFAC is an advisory committee that reviews DNR policies and current statutes on school trust land management, and recommends changes to statutes and policies. The DNR regularly reports to the PSFAC on its management of the school trust land.

Timber and Surface Management

The Division of Forestry manages the surface and timber on the school trust lands. Approximately 1.5 million acres of school trust lands are considered commercial forest lands while the remaining 1 million acres are non-commercial or non-forest lands (i.e. unproductive bog forest, lowland brush, grass, marsh, and water). The school trust lands are managed along with other state lands totaling 5.6 million acres.

Timber sales account for most of the revenue generated from the surface of school trust lands. In addition to timber sales, surface revenue is generated from real estate leases, utility licenses, easements, land sales, and forest campground fees.

The Division of Forestry is responsible for the administrative duties of managing the timber and surface which includes:

• Collection and accounting of revenues
• Schedule harvest activities
• Verification of forest products removed from school trust lands
• Reforestation
• Protection
• Other activities

The Divisions of Forestry and Lands & Minerals work together in drafting, negotiating, and administering leases, utility licenses, and easements on school trust lands.

Minerals Management

The Division of Lands & Minerals manages approximately 3.5 million acres of school trust mineral rights, which includes about 1 million acres of severed mineral rights.

Rents and royalties from iron ore/taconite leases are the largest contributor of revenue to the permanent school fund. On average the percentage of revenues that comes from iron ore/taconite leases is approximately 95 percent of the total mineral lease revenue. In addition to iron ore/taconite leases, revenue is also generated from non-ferrous metallic minerals, peat, industrial minerals, and other mineral leases.

The Division of Lands & Minerals is responsible for the administrative duties of managing mineral resources which include:

• Collection and accounting of revenues
• Negotiating and drafting of leases
• Conducting mineral lease sales
• Monitoring and verification of minerals removed from school trust lands
• Mineral potential evaluations
• Related record keeping activities