Who should pay to attack AIS in MN Waters? Strib!

  • carroll58
    Twin Cities, USA
    Posts: 2094
    #1281423

    Yes, Today’s Star Tribune has an article

    Who should pay to attack invasive species in Minnesota waters?
    New proposals offer a permanent funding source to fight invasive species in Minnesota waters — and a way to reach nonresidents, too.

    Article link, Strib on AIS attack funding
    {copyright Star Tribune}

    New proposals offer a permanent funding source to fight invasive species in Minnesota waters — and a way to reach nonresidents, too.

    Who should pay to help battle the spread of zebra mussels, Asian carp and other aquatic invasive species in Minnesota’s lakes and rivers?

    And how much?

    The answers have been as elusive as a lunker walleye.

    A proposal last year to boost boat registration fees to pay for invasive species programs was killed at the Legislature. Only Minnesota boat owners would have had to pay the freight.

    That proposal is back at the Capitol this year, along with another that would create an annual decal required for all boats, including those brought to Minnesota by nonresidents. The decals would cost from $5 for canoes to $20 for boats 25 feet or larger. Nonresidents would pay $30.

    “This would provide a permanent funding source,’’ said Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul, the plan’s chief author.

    Just as important, he said, it would allow state officials to give boat owners invasive species information yearly, instead of every three years, when boat registrations come up for renewal. Boosting state boat registration fees means that out-of-state boat owners who come to Minnesota wouldn’t get that information and that they wouldn’t have to pay to help keep the state’s lakes free of invasives, he said.

    “It’s not only a revenue raiser, it would educate people coming from out of state, and they would contribute to the protection [of lakes], which seems fair,’’ said Jeff Forester, executive director of Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates, which represents thousands of lakeshore owners and lake associations. “It’s not fair now.’’

    Currently, state officials aren’t sure how many nonresident boats are brought into the state each year.

    “We don’t have any idea,’’ said Bob Meier, Department of Natural Resources assistant commissioner.

    But they are potential pathways to the spread of invasive species. Already, about 140 lakes, rivers and wetlands are considered infested with zebra mussels.

    The Legislature has increased funding to fight aquatic invasive species from $3.8 million in 2010 to more than $8 million last year, and it has added millions more for a new research center at the University of Minnesota. But most of the funds are one-time dollars and there is little permanent funding to pay for education, inspection or enforcement.

    Boaters now pay a $5 surcharge with their three-year boat registration fee — or $1.66 a year — that is used to fight invasive species. That fee hasn’t changed since 1993. A $2 surcharge for nonresident anglers was increased last year to $5.

    The state has about $8.5 million budgeted in 2013 to fight aquatic invasive species. But $4.5 million of that is one-time dollars. Gov. Mark Dayton’s budget calls for increasing general fund contributions to $3.75 million, which would keep aquatic invasive spending at about $8 million.

    But Hansen, Forester and others say a reliable stream of dollars is needed to carry on the fight. At stake, Forester says, is not only the state’s $11 billion tourism industry, but a way of life for Minnesotans. Invasive species threaten the ecosystems of lakes and rivers.

    “It’s going to impair fishing, and that’s what we do here,’’ he said.

    His group said that it supports Hansen’s proposal but that it’s only a start. The state hasn’t moved forcefully enough or developed a comprehensive plan to fight the spread, he said.

    “When you look at what’s at stake, the response isn’t commensurate with the threat,’’ he said. “We’ve had a culture of unfettered access to lakes.’’

    Access might have to be restricted in the future, Forester said.

    “The key is inspection prior to launch,’’ he said. “Regional inspection stations are needed, where boats are inspected and decontaminated, if necessary. It’s not an undue burden when you look at risk.’’

    Hansen’s bill would eliminate a provision in the law passed by the Legislature last year that will require Minnesota’s boat owners to pass an online course on how to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species before they can trailer their boats. They will need a special decal for their trailers, which they can get only after successfully completing the course. The provision is to go into effect in 2015.

    But Hansen’s proposal is fraught with questions, too.

    “We have 800,000 registered boats, owned by about 500,000 people,’’ the DNR’s Meier said. “What do you do with people who own multiple boats?’’ Would they have to buy a decal for each?

    “We need to act on invasive species, and this is a good start, but my members have a lot of questions,’’ said Lance Ness, president of the Fish and Wildlife Legislative Alliance and Anglers for Habitat. “Who gets the funding and what will it be used for?’’

    Another question: How would the boat decal requirement be enforced on border waters with other states and Ontario?

    Hansen said those and other issues will be addressed. Legislators are on recess this week, but his bill will be heard in a committee next week.

    Despite the continued spread of invasive species in recent years, Forester said, it’s not inevitable that all of the state’s lakes will be infested.

    “People say there’s nothing we can do; we can’t stop it. That’s inaccurate,’’ he said. “We can stop it. It will take really good education and reliable ongoing funding.’’

    Doug Smith • doug.smith@ startribune.com

    Map of Zebra/Quagga Mussel’s link

    Related post on legislation by BUZZ

    Brian Hoffies
    Land of 10,000 taxes, potholes & the politically correct.
    Posts: 6843
    #1156619

    “People say there’s nothing we can do; we can’t stop it. That’s inaccurate,’’ he said. “We can stop it. It will take really good education and reliable ongoing funding.’’

    So said the bottomless pit.

    bullcans
    Northfield MN
    Posts: 2000
    #1156622

    So boat owners pay to restore a lake and shore fisherman get to reap the benefits from that?

    Why don’t they consider adding a small fee to any licensed purchased? (Res and Non- Res)?

    What about the Jet Ski and Wave runner owners benefiting from not contributing to the cause as well?

    This is BS

    BBKK
    IA
    Posts: 4033
    #1156624

    If I have to pay $30 to take my boat to MN I will cancel the annual trip and go to Wisc.

    Joel Ballweg
    Sauk City, Wisconsin
    Posts: 3295
    #1156626

    Quote:


    “People say there’s nothing we can do; we can’t stop it. That’s inaccurate,’’ he said. “We can stop it. It will take really good education and reliable ongoing funding.’’

    So said the bottomless pit.


    In the land of 10,000 lakes…..and every single one essentially a breeding puddle for all the AIS carried in by waterfowl.
    They’ve got about as much chance of stopping the spread of AIS as Wisconsin did of getting rid of CWD.

    I bet they would love to have that revenue stream coming in though!

    sgt._rock
    Rochester, MN
    Posts: 2517
    #1156627

    I’ll pay for my AIS sticker when the Lake Shore Owners start paying for their leaking septic systems and the abundance of fertilizer run off and shoreline destruction that are ruining “my” lake.

    carroll58
    Twin Cities, USA
    Posts: 2094
    #1156628

    How about a Surcharge on ALL Ships entering the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes?

    They are the ones bringing this crap over here from Foreign Waters, they should pay. Thus, in the end we would all pay with Higher Prices but then the cost gets spread around to everybody. Anybody & Everybody purchasing anything will/would pay higher prices to cover the costs paid by shipping companies.

    They, the Mn/DNR and others are ALL 20+ years too late, they are here and they will likely invade/infest every body of water within the next 10-15 years.

    Just IMHO!

    jerry b
    western WI
    Posts: 1506
    #1156629

    I see reciprocity looming on the horizon jerr

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    #1156631

    Quote:


    At stake, Forester says, is not only the state’s $11 billion tourism industry, but a way of life for Minnesotans. Invasive species threaten the ecosystems of lakes and rivers.


    You people (law makers) are more of a threat to our tourism, lakes and rivers then any invasive we will ever see.

    Damn pheasants and brown trout.

    b-mac
    Hudson, WI
    Posts: 133
    #1156633

    The correct answer clearly has to be tournament anglers

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    #1156639

    I predict this will go the way of the Emissions Control Centers we HAD.

    I’ll leave the political names out of this.

    mark-bruzek
    Two Harbors, MN
    Posts: 3863
    #1156648

    State owned casinos!

    suzuki
    Woodbury, Mn
    Posts: 18537
    #1156652

    Quote:


    I see reciprocity looming on the horizon jerr


    Oh for sure.

    briansmude
    Posts: 184
    #1156665

    Let’s all go to our nearest lake or river and throw our wallets in it because as we all know more money fixes everything.

    Anonymous
    Inactive
    Posts: 0
    #1156674

    How about electronic charitable gambling…. Look how good its working for the vikings stadium

    lhprop1
    Eagan
    Posts: 1899
    #1156684

    Quote:


    How about electronic charitable gambling…. Look how good its working for the vikings stadium


    Maybe the could sell beer at the lakes. It worked great for the Gophers.

    Legal issues aside, girls in bikinis cruising around the lake like the golf course girls probably would raise a huge amount of money.

    desperado
    Posts: 3010
    #1156686

    Quote:


    Legal issues aside, girls in bikinis cruising around the lake like the golf course girls probably would raise a huge amount of money.


    hmmm; when it’s time to implement this idea, I think I know where to recruit the wintertime crew

    danno
    Central MN
    Posts: 323
    #1156720

    It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that much stupidity and ignorance in just one article.

    Bravo to all of those involved. Well done.

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