The St. Louis River will get a $750,000 infusion of cash to help the ongoing clean-up effort, thanks to a new Minnesota sales tax increase.

The increase will take effect this week as part of an amendment to the state's constitution. The Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment is designed to make investments in mother nature.

$36 million has been set aside for the purchase of 187,000 acres of forest in Northern Minnesota. That land is slated to provide more access for recreation.

Sales tax will jump three-eights of one percent as part of the amendment.

"Minnesotans passed it by an overwhelming majority," said Julie O'Leary of Minnesota Environmental Partnership. "They recognized the need to invest in our natural resources."

The sales tax increase takes effect on Wednesday. Environmentalists say the average household will pay about $5 more a month in taxes as a result of the mandate.