• Doubles fines for noncompliance of AIS laws, including failure to pull the boat plug when transporting a boat.

• Broadens the definition of Lake Service Provider, including persons moving boats or other water related equipment in the AIS training and permit requirements passed last session.
• Expands the prohibition on placing a watercraft or trailers with AIS on them to all water related equipment.
• Prohibits a boat lift, dock, swim raft or associated equipment that has been removed from the water from being placed into another water body for at least 21 days. Equipment that is partially submerged for long periods of time poses a far greater risk of becoming infested.
• Allows the commissioner of natural resources to delegate inspection authority for watercraft and related equipment to tribal and local governments, but also transfers liability and responsibility for inspection programs on public waters within their jurisdiction and requires a plan, reporting and certain standards to be met.
• Allows conservation officers and other peace officers to require water-related equipment be removed from a water body if necessary to implement aquatic invasive species control measures.
• Allows the commissioner to require mandatory inspections before a person places water-related equipment into a water body.
• Allows inspection stations to be established and establishes location, staffing, and other requirements for the stations.
• Requires the commissioner of natural resources to establish a statewide course for preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species and best management practices. The DNR will issue an aquatic invasive species trailer decal to those who complete the course. A person may not transport watercraft or any water related equipment without an aquatic invasive species decal. Violation of this section carries no penalty.  It becomes effective July 1, 2015.

Funding

There is still no reliable, ongoing funding source for a comprehensive statewide AIS plan.  Last year's doubling of AIS spending was only a two year appropriation of one time money from the lottery proceeds (LCCMR) account.

Governor Dayton proposed increasing the AIS surcharge by $5 for a three year boat registration, raising about $4 million a year in ongoing funding for AIS work.  Surveys by MSRPO found that over 80% of boaters supported this increase. Leadership in the Senate and the House rejected this proposal however.

In addition, Gov. Dayton proposed $12 million in bonding to fund the design and construction of an Asian carp barrier, and pilot two or three AIS decontamination stations to control the spread of zebra mussels. This would have been one-time capital improvement funding. With more carp being caught in Minnesota's rivers, this money was critical. The legislature also rejected this proposal.

The final bill instead increased non-resident fishing licenses which is projected to raise about $600,000 a year for the DNR AIS account.

This does not represent an increase in AIS funding, however.  The large print giveth and the small print taketh away. In order to fund a new AIS research center at the University of Minnesota, the bill takes  $1 million from the money appropriated last year for AIS and redirects it to the University of Minnesota.  MSRPO argued forcibly that it was unwise to impair current work at inspection, decontamination and enforcement.  Research, which MSRPO supports strongly, cannot come at the cost of immediate action. With aquatic invasive species, prevention is worth far more than a pound of cure. The Legislature eventually agreed.

In the end, to make up this difference the legislature transferred $500,000 from the game and fish fund to the invasive species account.  When combined with the new funding from increased non-resident fishing license fees, the funding for AIS work for this year remains essentially unchanged. No long term funding source is in place however.

Research Center at the University of Minnesota

MSRPO has long supported the creation of an Aquatic Invasive Species research center at the University of Minnesota.  With over 50 lakes already infested with zebra mussels research is essential.  Dr. Peter Sorenson at the University of Minnesota proposed a state-of-the-art program with start up costs in the area of $2 million dollars and projected annual costs of another two million.

The remaining funding for the University of Minnesota research center came not from bonding, as the governor had suggested, but from from the Legacy Funding bill.  The Legacy fund is the 25 year 3/8ths of one cent sales tax voters approved in 2008 to protect, enhance and restore Minnesota's environment and cultural heritage.  The legislature appropriated $3,800,000 to the University of Minnesota for research on aquatic invasive species with another $8,500,00 to build structural deterrents for Asian carp on Minnesota's rivers.

MSRPO will continue to advocate that Legacy Account funding go to protect, enhance and restore our lakes and rivers.  We believe that this is an area of need largely overlooked, and such spending was expected by the Minnesotans who voted for the Legacy Amendment.

Next session MSRPO will be back at the legislature seeking reliable ongoing funding for AIS work, and completion of a comprehensive statewide AIS plan.  We will also continue to advocate for increased funding of lake protection and restoration projects across Minnesota.

The letter also states that Governor Dayton recognizes that property tax bills for private owners have skyrocketed more that 90% in the last years, and again calls for a major tax reform package in the next session. Together we must keep property tax relief front and center of our discussions with candidates through the summer and into the election. In this there is a great deal of hope. With every member of both houses up for election this year, and a Governor who has stated he wants to do a major tax reform, we have a once in a decade opportunity to push a tax plan that is fair, that supports local communities, and that creates incentives to preserve and protect our lakes, rivers and forests.

While the Governor's veto may be disappointing in the short term - with a longer view we see that he does support property tax relief, but requires that any relief add to the long term stability and future of Minnesota. To that end we should all renew our energies, working with the Governor and Legislature to push a plan that provides relief and strengthens our state.

Hope you had good luck on fishing opener, a lovely Mother's Day, or both.

January 14, 2012 - M-State Campus Detroit Lakes - The Becker County Coalition of Lake Associations (COLA), the Pelican River Watershed District and the Lake Detroiters Association held its second (annual?) AIS Legislative Summit, "Do More Now."   Over 400 consituents and a dozen legislators packed the room to learn what more must be done to stop the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species in Minnesota.  MSRPO was a co-Sponsor of the event.

MSRPO presented an agressive AIS agenda at the Bold ActionNow Summit:

Following MSRPO's presentation legislators spoke in support of both the agenda and funding. A number also sang MSRPO's praises, urging lake shore owners to join MSRPO.

Key note speaker Dr. Darby Nelson, past legislator, professor, writer, member of the Lessard Sams council, Conservation Minnesota Board member, said:

Two of our issues are still in process, Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) and Taxes.

On the tax front, both the House and the Senate have passed tax bills that include a phase-out of the State General Tax, also known as the State Business Property Tax. This tax was begun in 2001. It is a property tax on Commercial Industrial Property and, inexplicably, Seasonal Recreational Property. Currently the tax raises about $800 million a year, with cabins paying $40 million of that burden. Originally a portion of the State Business Property Tax was slated to go into an educational reserve account, but the year following enactment, the Legislature diverted the funds into the general account. As such this property tax, unlike all others, provides no revenue for local communities. The differences between the House and Senate versions of the tax bill will be settled in Taxes Conference Committee beginning on April 16th. We encourage all of you to write your legislators using the email form below in support of the phase out.

On the Aquatic Invasive Species front, our goal has been to pursue legislation to slow, or even stop the spread of AIS while simultaneously working to find a solution to control or even eradicate the pests from the waters they currently infest. Just before recess both the Senate and the House passed bills that do advance our goal, but fall short of establishing a comprehensive statewide plan. With intense lobbying and grassroots work, the House passed an amendment to increase the penalties for breaking AIS laws. Proposals to increase the AIS surcharge (average $5 for three year tab) have stalled, however. When the Legislature reconvenes, the House and Senate will form a conference committee to create one bill for approval by Governor Dayton.

The Legacy Funding bill, also passed just before recess, appropriates $4.7 million for the University of Minnesota AIS research facility and $7.5 million in 2012 to fund Asian carp barriers. This is one-time money. MSRPO is working on securing a reliable, ongoing source of funds to support AIS work. Currently property owners and lake associations spend millions of private dollars on inspection, decontamination and AIS mitigation work to protect Minnesota's public waters. While a partnership with local owners will be key to any successful AIS strategy, private owners cannot continue to carry the lion's share of the burden. MSRPO will continue to advocate for a strong AIS Plan that includes reliable, ongoing funding to protect our lakes and rivers.

While this session is nearly at a close, our work will only accelerate over the summer. It is clear that more needs to be done. After this session, MSRPO will be engaged in pushing both meaningful tax reform and a comprehensive statewide plan for AIS. Given the once-in-a-decade election of all Minnesota Senators and Representatives, we have a unique opportunity to advance these dual agendas.

Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to write your legislators on our issues this session. Your work is one of the main reasons for our ongoing success.

Help Stop Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species

Both the House and Senate Environment committees have passed legislation that would increase the user fees for hunting and fishing licenses. The increase is needed to keep the DNR's game and fish fund from slipping into the red next year. But, inexplicably, the language that would have increased the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) surcharge on boat registrations by an average of about $5 for a three year tab, was not included in the bill. In order to contain the spread of AIS in Minnesota, we must establish a reliable and ongoing funding source.

Message to your MN State Legislators ...

Provide reliable, ongoing AIS funding by increasing the AIS surcharge on a THREE YEAR boat registration. Some information for your emails:

• This is not a tax - it is a boat user fee. And the boat users overwhelmed overwhelmingly support paying more to do this work.
• To date there is no ongoing funding mechanism to fund work to stop the spread of AIS like Zebra Mussels. This user fee would raise an estimated $4 million a year.
• A recent survey of MSRPO members found that 83.1% support levying $5 on themselves to pay to protect our lakes from AIS.
• On March 12th, the Minnesota Environmental Partnership release the results of an independent survey which found that 72% of boat owners in Minnesota support increasing the AIS surcharge $5 on boat tab fees. 87% of Democrats support the fee increase while 71% of Republicans support it.

Action Alert: Stop Asian Carp and Zebra Mussels

Aquatic Invasive Species are on the march in Minnesota.  Last week three different species of Asain carp were caught by commercial fishermen in the Mississippi River near Winona; a grass carp, big head carp, and the dreaded silver, or flying carp.
Brainerd Dispatch

• Environmental DNA tests this fall have signaled carp DNA in the Minnesota Rivers as far north as the Coon Rapids dam.
• eDNA is a warning signal that carp have been in the area, but it is unlikely that the carp are established and breeding that far north.
• Until now, no silver, or jumping carp have been caught as far north as Winona

Asian carp can destroy Minnesota's rivers and lakes ecology, tourism, fishing and recreation. Minnesota has almost 70,000 miles of interconnected rivers and streams; sport fishing in Minnesota is estimated to support 43,000 Minnesota jobs, and to generate $2,800,000,000 annually in direct retail expenditures, with an economic impact exceeding $4,700,000,000 per year.

• In some  Illinois rivers invasive carp now comprise over 90% of the biomass
• Boat motors frighten silver carp, causing them to jump out of the water.  Many boaters have been injured when hit with one of these fish, which can weigh as much as 60 pounds.
• Asian Carp destroy fisheries, out competing other species
• Asian carp lower property values - one county an estimated loss of 30%
• Increase phosphorous levels, degrading water quality

Governor Dayton held three Carp Summits over the fall, calling for a comprehensive plan.

MSRPO, along with Clean Water Action, Minnesota Conservation Federation, National Wildlife Defense Fund, Izaak Walton League, National Park Service, Audubon Minnesota, Trout Unlimited, Minnesota Coalition of Lake Associations, Friends of the Mississippi River and others have been working together to advance a plan to stop the spread of these fish up Minnesota's Rivers and hence to the thousands of lakes north, and to convince the Minnesota Congressional delegation and Minnesota Legislature to act today.  Last week an MSRPO Board member, along with other members of this coalition, traveled to Washington DC to meet with the Minnesota Delegation, asking them to push for emergency measures to stop the "flying" carp and protect Minnesota's rivers and lakes.

On March 6, introduced a bill that would kick-start the process to consider closing the Upper St. Anthony Falls Dam to help stop the spread of the invasive species, as well as require immediate closure if Asian carp are found. In addition, the bill would direct federal agencies to partner with Minnesota on efforts to root out infestations and prevent the spread of Asian carp in the state's rivers. Klobuchar and Ellison authored the bill in the Senate and House, respectively, and Franken, Paulsen, and Walz are original cosponsors. The legislation is supported by Governor Mark Dayton and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

"The spread of Asian carp in our state's rivers would have a disastrous ecological impact and harm Minnesota's recreation and fishing industries that are so important to our state's economy," Klobuchar said. "It is vital that we take action to stop the spread of this invasive species, and this legislation will help the state protect Minnesota's waterways."

"The threat of the Asian carp has been well documented....  This bill is an important first step in combating this invasive species and I'm proud that we've come together as a Congressional delegation to take decisive action and to protect our environment and our economy," said Ellison.

"We're very pleased with this legislation. The discovery of a silver carp in the Mississippi River near Winona last week enforces the need for faster action, and we believe this legislation is the kind of action we need to protect our waterways," said Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Landwehr.

At the State Level

The same day that the Asian Carp was caught near Winona, Governor Mark Dayton published a prescient Op-Ed in Outdoor News, writing, "The first step, which is gaining the most attention, is the need to construct deterrent barriers and slow the carps' migration... at Lock and Dam 1 (Ford Dam) and Upper St. Anthony Falls."

The Legislature has approved funds to retrofit the Coon Rapids Dam to make it a more effective barrier.   The Governor continued, "The Legislature is currently considering several funding options using state bonding or the Outdoor Heritage Fund to pay for engineering and construction of one (or more) additional barriers. Funding is critically needed in this legislative session if we are to make the necessary progress."

Zebra Mussels Action

Last session MSRPO members with a broad coalition of COLAs and Lake Associations, joined with the DNR and legislators from both sides of the aisle to push the most comprehensive AIS legislation in two decades.  Together we proved the coordinated grass roots action, when combined with professional advocacy at the capitol, can achieve great things:

• Western Regional Panel definitions adopted
• Inspectors empowered to order inspection/decontamination
• AIS laws express condition of operating watercraft in MN
• Conservation officers empowered to set up check stations for AIS
• AIS funding doubled to about $8 million for 2012/2013
• Required AIS training for water service providers
• Control of AIS may be required of fishing tournaments

In January, before the 2012 Legislative Session began, MSRPO co-sponsored a Legislative Summit on AIS with the Becker COLA, Pelican River Watershed Dist. and the Lake Detroiters Assoc.  Over 400 people attended and 12 legislators.  At that event keynote speaker Dr. Darby Nelson, past legislator, professor, writer, member of the Lessard Sams council, and Conservation Minnesota Board member, said: "You and others like you across the state have significantly moved the AIS agenda forward ... lobbyists and constituents play very, very important roles... Jeff and his organization... play a crucial role in Saint Paul influencing lake policies... help Jeff in his lobbying effort by joining his organization or at least contributing some money toward that cause.  It is an extremely important effort."

2012 Legislative Effort

Despite last year's success, more needs to be done.  Last summer over five new lakes became infested with Zebra Mussels.  We could have open water in a few weeks, yet Minnesota still lacks a comprehensive and effective statewide plan to control AIS spread.  Funding is short and research lacking.  Events over the summer and the recent court case involving a Fargo  man, George Wynn, 54, who launched a zebra mussel infested boat lift into un-infested Rose Lake after a bystander pointed out that zebra mussels were attached to the equipment. Wynn pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, and received a wrist slap - $500 in fines and $500 in restitution.  The state paid $18,000 to apply a chemical treatment in an attempt to keep Rose lake clean. Rose Lake lovers are forced to wait and see if the treatment was effective.

This case, and other events, illustrate the need for further legislative action in 2012:

• Authority to remove docks/equipment already in the water
• Increased control of water related equipment as it is moved around the state
• Increased penalties for violation
• Reliable source of funding for ongoing AIS containment and control
• Increased funding for research into AIS solutions
• Creation of a comprehensive statewide plan to contain AIS like carp and zebra mussels

There are bills in both the House and Senate, sponsored by the respective Environment Committee Chairs Rep Denny MacNamara and Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, that meet some of these goals.  But there are also some problems with the legislation as it stands at present.

Problems With Funding

Funding in the current legislation comes mainly from an increase in the AIS surcharge on boat registrations from $5 for three years to about $20 for a three year license.

This fall, MSRPO conducted a survey looking at a wide variety of issues. The survey was conducted with SurveyMonkey with about 250 respondents. There was broad support for increasing the AIS surcharge, 83% among respondents.

But there was also a strong statement that all Minnesotans should be involved in helping to protect our public lakes and rivers from these invaders.

Slightly more than half, 52% of respondents, voted for the Legacy Amendment, and the same percentage believed that a portion of the money "would be going to 'protect, enhance and restore,' lakes."  A whopping 91.2% felt it was appropriate to use Legacy Funds to help stop the spread of AIS.  When asked if the hundreds of millions of dollars raised by the 3/8ths of one cent sales tax increase was being wisely spent, 10.3% said yes, 42.5% said no, and 47.2% didn't know.

Lack of a Comprehensive Statewide Plan

We need to::

• Establish a Blue Ribbon panel of experts from other parts of the world who have had success containing and managing AIS, and develop a statewide plan
• Without such a plan we will be unable to best leverage any money we spend on this problem
• The legislation creates an exclusion for ice fishing with regards to transporting water via bait buckets.  Zebra mussel larva, veligers, can survive temperatures of zero degrees.  Pull-the-plug must apply to ice fishing on zebra mussel infested lakes as well
• The current legislation empowers the DNR to shift the financial, enforcement, decontamination and legal liability to local units of government and/or the tribes.  Without a strong financial commitment from the state, local units may be forced to raise revenue in their jurisdictions, increasing property taxes and creating a patchwork of measures.

Research

There is a great need for research into effective ways to control and eradicate Aquatic Invasive Species. A number of bills are up that would provide funding to develop an aquatic invasive species research center at the University of Minnesota.  We strongly support the funding of AIS research.  All areas of the world are now confronting aquatic invasive species issues to some degree, and there is no reason that the University of Minnesota could not create the "Honeycrisp Apple" of AIS solutions, creating a great benefit to the state and the University.

Action Alert - ask your legislators to take action to stop AIS spread

Use this link to take you to media outlets in Minnesota.  A letter to the editor carries a lot of weight with legislators.  ClickHERE for resources to get you started.

E.D. Jeff Forester talks Carp with Jake Judd, KRCQ Radio:

Part 1 (mp3 audio - 13.52 MB)
Part 2 (mp3 audio - 9.77 MB)

Asian Carp

Since last spring MSRPO has been meeting with a coalition of groups to stop Asian Carp from spreading into Minnesota. With the discovery of environmental DNA, or eDNA in the Minneapolis area, our work is even more urgent.

If Asian carp make it past the Coon Rapids Dam, they threaten the lakes, rivers and streams of the Upper Mississippi River basin. Minnesota's way of life is incompatable with Asian carp.

On December 7th, the Army Corps of Engineers closed the locks at St. Anthony Falls for the winter. MSRPO was part of a tele-press conference held to publically advocate that the locks remain closed until a redundant system of carp barriers is established to prevent the carps' northward migration.

Star Tribune "Close the Lock Campaign Kicks Off"

KSTP :Coalition Meets to Find Solution to Asian carp Spread

Grand Forks Herald "Minnesota outdoors, environment groups see 120 days toi stop asian carp"

On December 19th, Gov. Dayton hosted his third  Carp Summit, affirming his commitment to stopping the spread of Asain carp and Aquatic Invasive Species, AIS in Minnesota. Sen. Klobuchar, who has attended the last two summits, also committed her office to pressing legislation that would require the Army Corp of Engineers to manage the locks in a way that prevented AIS spread, even if that means temporarily closing the locks.

Hometopwn Source, "Dayton urges state officials to take quick action in fighting Asian carp"

Property Tax Reform Now!

Greetings:

Many of us received bad news when we opened our truth in taxation statements. But there is light at the end of the tunnel, and it may not be the train.

* Minnesota is projected to have a budget surplus in the short term.

* Efforts to redesign government and our tax system are gaining traction and momentum.

As this article, Local leaders look for way to reshape government, makes clear Minnesotans at all levels of government and non-governmental organizations are working to steer our state back onto firm ground.

Now is the time to make our case to legislators...to let them know:

* Lake shore property has born incredible property tax pressure for a decade. This unsustainable tax pressure is forcing sales and subdivision of riparian land.

* It is past time for a major state and local fiscal system overhaul including property tax relief for sensitive shore lines.

Send this email to your legislator and let them know what has happened to your property taxes as a result of the last budget resolution. Please look at your truth in taxation notice, and insert the projected increase into the blank in the email.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK

MSRPO takes no money from state agencies, foundations, or other groups. We are entirely funded by voluntary membership contributions. We are TOTALLY DRIVEN by our members' concerns. Therefore it is critical we know what those concerns are.

If you have not yet taken our 2011 Membership Survey, please do so today.

MSRPO Members Speak Up Survey

Thank you for your support and your ideas. Please keep in touch.