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Corps quickens Asian carp study May 8, 2012

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - The Obama administration will release a short list of options next year for protecting the Great Lakes from Asian carp and other invasive species.

Previously, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had insisted it needed until 2015 to devise a permanent solution to the carp threat. But administration officials tell The Associated Press ahead of its Tuesday announcement that the corps will offer a few possible methods in 2013 and let Congress and the public decide which one is best.

The report will include estimated costs for each option.

Five states are seeking a federal court order for the corps to move faster. Legislation pending in Congress also would require the agency to pick up the pace.

Scientists say Asian carp could damage the Great Lakes' billion-dollar fishing industry.

By The Associated Press

Governor signs fee increase bill May 5, 2012

SAINT PAUL - The price of Minnesota hunting and fishing licenses will increase in March 2013 for the first time in 12 years, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said.

On Thursday, May 3, Gov. Mark Dayton signed a House- and Senate-approved bill that, among other things, raises the cost of an annual resident fishing license from $17 to $22 and a resident deer hunting license from $26 to $30. Most resident youth hunting and fishing licenses will be $5 or free. Youth under 16 do not need a fishing or small game hunting license.

License fee increases were widely supported by hunting, fishing and conservation organizations. The last general license fee increase was approved in 2000 and implemented in 2001.

"This action was critical to maintaining the world class fishing and hunting that Minnesota enjoys," said DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr. "I appreciate all the efforts of the organized groups and the individual hunters, anglers, trappers and others who supported new license prices. I also thank the Legislature for its bipartisan leadership and support on this important conservation initiative."

Enacting the license fee bill maintains the solvency of the state's Game and Fish Fund for the remainder of this biennium, which ends June 30, 2013. New revenue will begin to come into the game and fish fund in March 2013. The DNR estimates the fees will generate about $5 million in fiscal 2013 and approximately $10 million per year in following years.

"The fishing and hunting community has spoken that they are willing to pay for good conservation," said Landwehr. "We will put these dollars to their highest and best use for game and fish management and enforcement. That means providing the results that hunters, anglers and the conservation community are asking for."

Landwehr said specific uses of new license fee revenues will be proposed in the months ahead as the agency develops a biennial budget proposal that the governor will submit to the Legislature in January 2013.

Changes coming to decal law May 5, 2012

SAINT PAUL - A slate of new laws designed to curb the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) was approved in a recent bill passed by the Minnesota Legislature and signed by Gov. Mark Dayton.

A program requiring watercraft owners to place an AIS rules sticker on their boats is being discontinued and replaced with an online education program. Watercraft owners will no longer be required to place on their boats the rectangular, silver and black decals, which include a summary of the state's AIS laws.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) began distributing the decals earlier this year and will continue to give them to interested boat owners for informational purposes only.

A new law, which goes into effect 2015, will require anyone who transports watercraft or water-related equipment with a trailer to complete an online education course. After completing the course, the person will receive a decal that must be placed on their trailer, certifying they have taken the course. People taking the course can receive extra stickers if they own or use multiple trailers for watercraft or water-related equipment.

"The black and silver decal is no longer mandatory for boaters, but it is still a good informational tool to help boaters know the AIS laws," said Luke Skinner, aquatic invasive species program supervisor. Boaters who have decals can still place them on their boats or trailers as a reminder.

He said the DNR will begin developing the online AIS course soon to implement the new decal requirement for 2015. The penalty for not displaying the decal will be a warning, not a citation.

Other new AIS laws will be instituted July 1, 2012, as a result of the new legislation:

Civil penalties for violating the state's AIS laws will double. Fines that currently range from $50 to $250 will increase to $100 to $500, depending on the type of violation. For example, failure to remove a drain plug while transporting a watercraft will mean a $100 fine, instead of a $50 penalty. The fine for unlawfully possessing and transporting prohibited aquatic invasive species will increase from $250 to $500.

Boat lifts, docks, swim rafts and other water-related equipment (except boats and other watercraft) that are removed from any water body may not be placed in another water body for at least 21 days. The drying out period is designed to kill any AIS that might be attached to the equipment that are high risk and difficult to clean. Two zebra mussel introductions occurred last year as a result of water equipment being sold and moved from one water body to another.

Boat clubs, yacht clubs, marinas and other similar organizations are now considered lake-service providers, requiring permits for the clubs and staff working there to take AIS certification training.

Portable bait containers used while fishing through the ice do not need to be drained before leaving a water body, unless the water body has been declared to have viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), a virus that is deadly to fish.

The DNR was given additional authority to require mandatory inspections of water-related equipment before a person places or removes equipment into or out of a water body and to set up inspection stations at a centralized location to cover multiple lakes. The new legislation also allows the DNR to delegate this authority to local governments that have an approved inspection plan

More information about the DNR's aquatic invasive species programs can be found online.

Walk-In Access deadline approaching April 28, 2012

SAINT PAUL - A June 1 deadline is in place for landowners in 21 southwestern Minnesota counties to earn money by allowing public hunting on their private land through the Walk-In Access (WIA) program, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Privately owned parcels of 40 acres or more, which are already enrolled in a conservation program such as Conservation Reserve Program or Reinvest In Minnesota, may qualify for WIA. River bottoms, wetlands and other high quality habitat will also be considered for the program.

WIA pays landowners by the acre to allow hunting access. Bonuses are added if more than 140 contiguous acres are enrolled, if the land is within one-half mile of existing state or federal hunting land, or if a multi-year agreement is signed. Local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) offices are handling program details and enrollments.

This is a voluntary program for landowners. Recreational use laws provide extra liability protection for WIA acres.

WIA land is for public hunting only. No target practice, trapping, dog training, camping, horseback riding or fires are allowed. Enrolled acres are for walk-in traffic only; no vehicles are allowed on conservation land. Parking is along roads or in designated parking areas. DNR conservation officers will address trespass and hunting violations.

Once private land is enrolled in the program, bright yellow-green hexagon signs are placed at the property boundaries.

A map of the 21 counties involved in the program and more information on WIA can be found online or by calling Marybeth Block, DNR Walk-in Access coordinator, at 651-259-5223.

Locations of parcels enrolled for 2012 will be on the website in August. WIA is a partnership between the DNR, SWCD, Board of Soil and Water Resources (BWSR) and U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is funding the first two years of the program.

30-pound bighead carp caught on St. Croix April 21, 2012

SAINT PAUL - The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says a commercial fisherman caught a 30-pound bighead carp at the mouth of the St. Croix River near Prescott, Wis.

The fish was caught Thursday. It's the latest instance of invasive Asian carp being caught in state border waters.

The Saint Paul Pioneer Press reports about a dozen bighead and silver carp have been caught in the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers along Minnesota's eastern border since 1996.

The two species of Asian carp are migrating up the Mississippi River. State officials are trying to come up with strategies to limit the carp's impact.

By The Associated Press

DNR seeks input on deer population April 17, 2012

SAINT PAUL - Public input on revised deer population goals in southwestern and north-central Minnesota is being collected through an online survey on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' website.

Earlier this year, the DNR worked with three stakeholder teams to help re-determine deer population goals in 12 permit areas in the southwest and 10 permit areas in north-central Minnesota.

The teams represented such interests as deer hunters, landowners, businesses, counties and conservation/environmental groups, and met to recommend if deer populations should be increased, decreased or stabilized for each of the selected permit areas.

The online survey allows the public to react to team recommendations and inform the DNR on their point of view regarding deer populations. A similar process was used as a final step to gather public input in 2008.

This information, along with the stakeholder team recommendations, will be used to set the 2012 deer season. Deer population goals for the remainder of the state will be revaluated in the next year or two.

"Back in 2008, hundreds of people provided us input using the internet," said Steve Merchant, DNR Wildlife Population Program manager. "This year we expect that level of public participation to increase even more."

Public comment will be accepted through Monday, May 1. Once public input is complete and results are analyzed, a decision on deer populations will be made for each permit area and the 2012 deer season harvest strategies will be adjusted accordingly.

Written comments may be mailed to: Steve Merchant, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Box 20, 500 Lafayette Road, Saint Paul, MN 55155.

Senate panel to consider early fishing opener April 15, 2012

SAINT PAUL - A Minnesota Senate panel will look at whether to open the fishing season a week early.

The House already has approved a bill that would shift the opener to May 5 so the scheduled May 12 opener won't conflict with Mother's Day. Proponents say that's safe because walleyes are expected to finish spawning early thanks to the warm spring.

The Senate environment committee will hold a hearing Monday. Chairman Bill Ingebrigtsen says they won't take a vote, but he wants hear from the Department of Natural Resources. The early opener could be added to the Senate's main game and fish bill when it comes up on the floor this week.

The DNR says it doesn't have biological concerns, but an early opener might affect harvest regulations on Mille Lacs Lake.

By The Associated Press

Judge dismisses lawsuit April 14, 2012

CHASKA - A judge has dismissed a lawsuit by several lake associations alleging the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources didn't do enough to stop the spread of zebra mussels.

Property owners along Lotus Lake, Lake Bavaria, Christmas Lake and Lake Minnewashta had asked for mandatory inspections to prevent the invasive mussels from being carried on boats, trailers and bilge water into their lakes.

But the Star Tribune reports Judge Philip Kanning ruled the associations did not meet the high burden necessary to begin centralized inspections proposed for Lake Minnewashta Regional Park.

A spokesman for the associations says they are disappointed and are considering their next steps.

DNR officials contended they don't have legal authority to require boaters to travel to an off-lake inspection site before they use public boat launches elsewhere.

By The Associated Press

New invasive species decal available April 7, 2012

SAINT PAUL - A new required decal is now available for Minnesota boaters to help remind them of the state's aquatic invasive species laws, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

The free decals are available from:

• DNR offices.
• Deputy registrar offices where licenses are sold.
• Large sporting goods shops.
• DNR watercraft inspectors and conservation officers.

The decals will also be included in envelopes with new and renewal watercraft licenses mailed from the DNR. The decal should be attached to all types of watercraft including canoes, kayaks and duckboats before launching on, entering into, or operating on any Minnesota waters. The two-piece, gray-and-black decals detail new state laws that watercraft users must follow in order to avoid spreading aquatic invasive species such as zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil and spiny waterfleas. The decal must be attached to the watercraft, but state law does not specify where that must occur. DNR officials recommend displaying it where it can be read and can be shown to an officer upon request. However, the decal does not need to be in view of the operator (as is the case with the state's personal watercraft decal), and it does not need to be placed near the watercraft registration decals. If a watercraft owner does not want to stick the decal on the boat because it is an antique wooden boat or other unique boat, the decal can be attached or laminated to an object like a luggage tag and kept in the boat.

There are two parts to the decal. Watercraft owners and operators must display the top portion of the decal on all watercraft prior to launching on, entering into, or operating on any waters of Minnesota.

The second portion of the decal is intended to be placed on the winch post of watercraft trailers or in another area to remind boaters to remove the boat's drain plug when leaving a water access area as required by state law. It also reminds boaters to replace the plug before launching. This decal is not required by law.

There is no penalty in effect, but conservation officers can issue a warning for not displaying the decal. After Aug. 1, 2014, it will be a petty misdemeanor for boaters who fail to display the decal on their watercraft.

More information about aquatic invasive species laws is available online.

Confiscated equipment auction scheduled April 6, 2012

SAINT PAUL - The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be having an auction of confiscated hunting and fishing equipment at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 28. The auctions items are from people who forfeited their equipment after committing serious game violations.

The auction, which is open to the public, will be held at Hiller Auction Service, 10785 261st Ave., Zimmerman.

Items being offered for sale include, but are not limited to: firearms, bows, tree stands, fishing rods and reels, tip ups, traps, trail camera, depth finder, spotlights, scopes, spears, hand ice augers. There are 309 firearms, 72 bows, 236 other items, and 37 firearms being sold for parts.

Inspection of items is available from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday, April 27 and at 8 a.m. the day of the auction. Once the auction begins, there will not be any access to the firearms.

All equipment is sold as is, including all defects or faults, known or unknown. Items cannot be returned once they have been purchased. Buyers may bring their own cases or there will be cases available for purchase to transport firearms. Note: Anyone purchasing a firearm will be required to pass a background check.

A list of firearms and bows being offered for sale is available by visiting the auction website.

DNR will resume taking camping reservations March 21, 2012

SAINT PAUL - The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources plans to resume taking some camping and lodging reservations for state parks and recreation areas on Thursday.

The state's new park reservation system crashed soon after its launch March 1.

The DNR says the system couldn't handle the unexpected flood of traffic when it went live and was overwhelmed with 4,500 hits in its first hour.

The DNR says the system has been upgraded since it crashed, but because of anticipated high demand, reservations will only be accepted for specific dates during the initial eight-day rollout.

On Thursday, reservations will be accepted for arrival dates through April 21 and on Friday for arrival dates through May 12.

Next week's reservation schedule, as well as other information, can be found online.

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Thousand of fish die in Pelican River March 21, 2012

ORR - The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources suspects low oxygen levels caused thousands of fish to die in the Pelican River over the past several days.

A DNR fisheries crew paddled the river by canoe Monday to assess the extent of the fish kill near Orr. Fisheries supervisor Kevin Peterson says it stretches about 2 miles, from the dam at St. Louis County Highway 23 downstream past Highway 53.

Peterson says the dead fish include northern pike, smallmouth bass, bluegills, yellow perch, black crappies and bullheads.

He tells the Duluth News Tribune that low water levels last fall probably exacerbated reduced oxygen levels. Many streams and lakes were at low levels as winter arrived.

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Warm weather, cold water can be dangerous March 17, 2012

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