Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates protects Minnesota’s lake and river heritage
by forging powerful links among lakes, lake advocates and policy makers.
The DNR is taking comments on a proposal, the Wright County Enhanced Inspection and Decontamination Pilot Project, and all lake lovers need to write in support. Use the blue ACT NOW button above to voice your support for a mandatory, regional inspection and decontamination pilot project.
As Star Tribune outdoor reporter Dennis Anderson recently wrote, “Canada’s western provinces, along with states in the northwest U.S., are serious about keeping aquatic invasive species (AIS) out of their waters. Compared with their efforts, Minnesota’s early attempts in recent decades to prevent infiltration by the same creepy critters appear lame. And, one could argue, Minnesota’s AIS prevention efforts are still lame.”
Since 2012 the MN DNR has had the authority to set up a mandatory regional aquatic invasive species and inspection program similar to the programs that so impressed Mr. Anderson while he was out West.
The MN DNR has never made use of this authority. Wright County’s citizens and local governments have stepped up to fill the vacuum of leadership at the State level.
But Wright County must operate under a delegation authority from the MN DNR, and DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr has still not signed off on the Wright County pilot project.
Use the ACT NOW button below to register your support of the Wright County pilot project with the MN DNR public input page.
Even if you have already written to DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr, it is important that you post comments on the public input page.
DENNIS ANDERSON, [email protected]
Trailered boats are not allowed in Glacier National Park beginning this summer to avoid contaminating park waters with zebra mussels or other invasive species. Kayaks and paddleboards are allowed, but must be inspected by the National Park Service before launching. Suspect craft are turned away. Some are vacuumed clean of minor debris before being approved for launching.
Despite the fact that there have been 45 public meetings and news articles about the Wright County Water-Related Inspection Pilot Program since January, and despite the fact that the plan has had input from University of Minnesota scientists, Clemson University scientists, MN COLA, MLR, Anglers for Habitat, the Initiative Foundation, MN DNR, business leaders and others since January of this year, the MN DNR asked for one more public meeting before they would consider the program.
Anglers for Habitat has come out forcefully against the Wright County proposal. Their tone and opposition at this late date is surprising given the fact that Anglers for Habitat steering committee member Jay Green serves on the DNR’s Statewide AIS Advisory Committee as well as the review committee that first vetted the Wright County Enhanced Inspection and Decontamination pilot program grant through the Initiative Foundation.
Tension on some social media sites and online was rising and so meeting planners decided upon a less contentious “open house” format. Given the tenor of the social media and email messages I saw and received from these nay-sayers in the days leading up to the public meeting, the planners made the right decision.
At the meeting, the DNR and Wright County Soil and Water Conservation District opened a “public comment” period. It is important for all those who love the lakes to write to the DNR in support of the Wright County pilot project. An outpouring of public support for this long overdue effort will be critical to its approval.
All this drama for a pilot project on only four of Minnesota’s more than ten thousand lakes, a pilot project based on programs that are working well in Western states.
I personally apologize to those of you who took the time to attend the public meeting on August 23rd, and were confused and disappointed. I have heard from many of you. But please do know that just by attending you made a huge impact. Citizens in support of the Wright County Pilot project outnumbered those in opposition by a wide margin. You signaled that the vast majority of citizens support a common sense approach to protecting our lakes and rivers from aquatic invasive species.
Opponents, however, are energized, organized and are ramping up their efforts. Attendance at the meeting is not enough.
Even if you attended the meeting, and even if you have already written to Commissioner Landwehr and Governor Dayton, we need to make our voices heard in the public input process.
Use the ACT NOW Button below to support the Wright County program.
It is wrong for Minnesota’s state agencies to hamstring local water efforts while touring the state asking for more citizen involvement in the 25% by 2025 year of water action.
ACT NOW
Thank you for all you do,
Jeff
[email protected]
anyone else that dumb?!?