AIS Training & Stickers Postponed

DNR Postpones AIS Training and Trailer Decal Program

Well….there goes our lakes.

It wouldn’t make sense to roll this out then change it…

That would give the impression that no one really knows what’s going on.

I just got the email from the DNR:

DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan. 28, 2015

DNR postpones AIS training and trailer decal program

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will postpone the new aquatic invasive species training and trailer decal program that was due to launch at the end of the month while legislators consider changes to the program.

Under a law passed by the state Legislature in 2012, anyone trailering a boat or water-related equipment such as docks and lifts in Minnesota is required to take aquatic invasive species training and display a decal on their trailer. The effective date is July 1, 2015.

“With the legislative interest in this educational program and ongoing discussions about possible changes, we are postponing the launch until we see if the Legislature acts this session to modify the program,” said Bob Meier, DNR assistant commissioner.

The DNR supports the education that would be provided under this law, but recognizes there are some concerns with the way the law is currently written. For example, people transporting boats on trailers through Minnesota to another destination are required to take the course and display a decal even if they don’t put their boat in Minnesota waters.

Since the training and decal are currently not required until July 1, the DNR wants to remind people that there will be time to see what happens legislatively and still take the course and receive decals. The agency will post any updates on trailers at http://www.trailers.mndnr.gov and alert the media if there are any program changes.

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while legislators consider changes to the program.

There is the part of the sentence that should scare us. As bad as the original was, the revised version I’m guessing will be much worse.

Dutchboy wrote:

while legislators consider changes to the program.

There is the part of the sentence that should scare us. As bad as the original was, the revised version I’m guessing will be much worse.

True, but “changes” could also mean “Scrapping the program altogether.”

To me, the AIS issue is starting to look very similar to the issues of lead shot for waterfowl hunting back in the 1970s. We identified the problem. A solution (steel shot only) was implemented.

Yes, it was not a 100% instant fix. Yes, there was resistance. Yes, education was needed. Yes, there was a LOT of grumbling and some people who chose not to follow the law.

But slowly the attitude changed and the use of steel or non-tox became the norm. People got used to the new reality. There wasn’t the need for tests, stickers, and all manner of trying to fence people in with paperwork.

The AIS law is what it is, clean your boats, don’t transfer water, and don’t move contaminated boats or structures. If you do, you’re going to get your @ss fined. Simple.

The role of anglers is to slow the spread to the maximum extent possible while maintaining our right to access water owned by the people of Minnesota.

The DNR needs to get on-board with this approach and needs to recognize the agenda that is REALLY behind the “shut-em-down” approach to “protecting” lakes. Lakeshore property owners are using AIS as the latest golden excuse to do what they’ve been trying to do for years: Privatize lakes and cut off public access to create private playground for wealthy cabin and home owners.

Grouse

Start on opening fishing weekend by investing some money in large colorful signs right in front of boat launches explaining the AIS rules and ramifications/fine involved. Then randomly assign DNR officers to boat launches to check boats once removed from the water and up on a trailer. For those who didn’t remove weeds or drain livewells, fine them heavily (like $1,000 as an example) I promise you they will pass along their experience to every bloater they know on what to do to avoid the huge fine…use the fine fees to pay for extra DNR officers assigned to more launches and advertise for better awareness. Make the large fine the reason people start opening their eyes to the problem!

or just make boat ownership/operation/transportation so onerous and expensive that, along with the potential for a $1000 fine being not worth the risk, a significant portion of boaters just give up
and the lakehome/cabin owners can have their private playground via that method

Any way you look at this the state is going to want more money from us boat owners to cover educational material, signage, additional weed cops at the access, and hundreds of additional wash down stations and the man power to operate them.

Among other funding, both at the state and federal level, for aquatic invasive species awareness programs all MN licensed boats already have a $5 “Aquatic Invasive Species Surcharge” so why don’t they use that to pay for the educational materials? Oops I forgot as they are already using that money to pay for weed cops.

I personally have no interest in giving the state additional money to cover the costs of education material. If the material is presented on the DNR web site and we are forced to take a knowledge test or merely contest to fact that we, as boat owners, understand and agree to obey the law I don’t see the need for an additional or increased surcharge to support educational materials.

What is steel shot? I gave up duck hunting when that came out.

Make the large fine the reason people start opening their eyes to the problem!

What’s the problem?

Show me one lake in Minnesota that was ruined by any AIS.

I’ll show you German Brown Trout.

Ringneck Pheasants that the Govenor himself is trying to help the populations.

And a Mississippi and St Croix River that has much better visibility then prior to Zeebs. Oh, clearer water promotes aquatic weed growth that’s partially responsible for the awesome numbers of pike, panfish and bass on pool 4 and 5.

Lots of expensive KoolAid out there.

For what it is worth… where is the Eurasian Milfoil in Mille Lacs where the perch are hiding ???:???:

Halleleujah, Brother Klawitter hath seen the light

(Although, I could’ve done without the “bass” reference)

So. What we have is a bunch of people who don’t believe the AIS message we are being sold.
Gonna be a hard sell for the DNR.

Good to some of the responses earlier in the thread.
I never lost faith in you guys!

Dutchboy wrote:

So. What we have is a bunch of people who don’t believe the AIS message we are being sold.

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TheFamousGrouse wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Dutchboy wrote:</div>
while legislators consider changes to the program.

There is the part of the sentence that should scare us. As bad as the original was, the revised version I’m guessing will be much worse.

True, but “changes” could also mean “Scrapping the program altogether.”

To me, the AIS issue is starting to look very similar to the issues of lead shot for waterfowl hunting back in the 1970s. We identified the problem. A solution (steel shot only) was implemented.

Yes, it was not a 100% instant fix. Yes, there was resistance. Yes, education was needed. Yes, there was a LOT of grumbling and some people who chose not to follow the law.

But slowly the attitude changed and the use of steel or non-tox became the norm. People got used to the new reality. There wasn’t the need for tests, stickers, and all manner of trying to fence people in with paperwork.

The AIS law is what it is, clean your boats, don’t transfer water, and don’t move contaminated boats or structures. If you do, you’re going to get your @ss fined. Simple.

The role of anglers is to slow the spread to the maximum extent possible while maintaining our right to access water owned by the people of Minnesota.

The DNR needs to get on-board with this approach and needs to recognize the agenda that is REALLY behind the “shut-em-down” approach to “protecting” lakes. Lakeshore property owners are using AIS as the latest golden excuse to do what they’ve been trying to do for years: Privatize lakes and cut off public access to create private playground for wealthy cabin and home owners.

Grouse

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Dutchboy wrote:</div>
while legislators consider changes to the program.

There is the part of the sentence that should scare us. As bad as the original was, the revised version I’m guessing will be much worse.

True, but “changes” could also mean “Scrapping the program altogether.”

To me, the AIS issue is starting to look very similar to the issues of lead shot for waterfowl hunting back in the 1970s. We identified the problem. A solution (steel shot only) was implemented.

Yes, it was not a 100% instant fix. Yes, there was resistance. Yes, education was needed. Yes, there was a LOT of grumbling and some people who chose not to follow the law.

But slowly the attitude changed and the use of steel or non-tox became the norm. People got used to the new reality. There wasn’t the need for tests, stickers, and all manner of trying to fence people in with paperwork.

The AIS law is what it is, clean your boats, don’t transfer water, and don’t move contaminated boats or structures. If you do, you’re going to get your @ss fined. Simple.

The role of anglers is to slow the spread to the maximum extent possible while maintaining our right to access water owned by the people of Minnesota.

The DNR needs to get on-board with this approach and needs to recognize the agenda that is REALLY behind the “shut-em-down” approach to “protecting” lakes. Lakeshore property owners are using AIS as the latest golden excuse to do what they’ve been trying to do for years: Privatize lakes and cut off public access to create private playground for wealthy cabin and home owners.

Grouse

Fines$, What FINE$?
The MnDNR seems more focused on educating everyone rather than enforcement. We have plenty of Laws on the Books regarding A.I.S., yet the MnDNR is short staffed and the Legislature doesn’t seem interested in fully funding conservation Officer’s/Enforcement.

If they enforce the current Laws, they would have to FINE the Lakeshore Owners that pay high taxes and the Legislators don’t want to do that, as they’ll lose the Campaign Dollar and Support to get Re-elected!

The MnDNR takes their mission from the Legislators that control the Purse Strings, i.e.: BUDGET!

Normally I don’t use this term, but what is going on at the Minnesota State Capital besides a “C.F.” (Cluster F#*K)?

In reading more and checking the status, I find there are now seemingly Identical Bills in each the Minnesota House (2-Bills) & Senate (3-Bills).

House Bills: H.F. #50 & #184
Senate Bills: S.F. #85, #230 & #235

#50 https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=HF50&y=2015&ssn=0&b=house

#184 https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=HF184&y=2015&ssn=0&b=house

#85 https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=SF85&b=senate&y=2015&ssn=0

#230 https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=SF230&b=senate&y=2015&ssn=0

#235 https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF0235&ssn=0&y=2015

These Bills in each chamber should be merged and moved ahead, just Repeal, Not Postpone as noted in the News Release by the MnDNR!

I saw that last week where another repealer bill was introduced in the house and senate. Head scratcher.
Though I see the second bill introduced in the house went to a different committe.