Photo Courtesy Deb Rose, DNR
Together we have made remarkable progress protecting our lakes
from Aquatic Invasive Species, AIS. Last Fall, as zebra
mussels were found in Mille Lacs, Minnetontka, Prior ad Pelican
Lake, MSRPO decided to act.
At the 2010 MSRPO Annual Meeting, with gubernatorial candidates
present, Executive Director Jeff Forester gave a presentation
on Zebra Mussels, and announced that MSRPO was going to seek
legislation to stop the spread of AIS in Minnesota.
In January Jeff Forester published a
Commentary in the Star Tribune claiming, "Together we can stop
the spread of AIS in Minnesota." MSRPO put AIS on its legislative
agenda and together, with all of your support, we are at the brink
of success.
On Wednesday Gov. Dayton Announced His Plan to
STOP AIS IN MINNESOTA!
What a difference a year makes. Last fall we seemed a very
long way from having a good plan introduced in the legislature -
and yesterday we Governor Dayton fulfilled his campaign promise to
us as he rolled out his AIS proposal - the bill is
SF 847. There is a House companion bill as well. Here is
a Star
Tribune Article with more information.
Before the press conference Commissioner Landwehr met
with MSRPO E.D. Jeff Forester to deliver a main messages from
Governor Dayton, he needs our support to make his plan a
reality.
MSRPO is a grass roots powerhouse - it is only by acting
together, writing our legislators and making our voice heard, that
we are successful.
Gov. Dayton's proposal is a good proposal, and with judicious
amendments, it will be better. But first, we must work to
secure funding to make his plan a reality.
Gov. Dayton and the DNR plan to fund long-term ongoing AIS work
by increasing the AIS surcharge on a three year watercraft licenses
- from about $5 for three years to about $20 for an average sized
boat. This modest increase will generate about $4 million a
year in ongoing funding for AIS mitigation and containment.
While the MSRPO board recognizes that many of you may have more
than one boat, and the increase will not go unnoticed, the
potential threat that zebra mussels, Asian carp and other invasive
species pose certainly demands a dramatic response.
In addition to the surcharge, the legislature is also
considering bills that would supply millions of dollars in one time
funds, and this is most encouraging. In order to be
successful, we need:
- A one time infusion of money to get a workable and complete
plan off the ground
- An ongoing source of funds to do AIS work into the future.
Photo courtesy Deb Rose, DNR
Aquatic Invasive Species will not go away. We must act now
to stop their spread and continue our vigilance into the future.
Some in the Republican caucus are hesitant to raise any fees
believing it would be a violation of campaign promises. There
are others who do understand that zebra mussels represent a crisis,
and ongoing funding is needed. We need to give them support
that they can use in their caucus as they champion our cause. Your
legislator needs to hear from you today.
If you want to stop the spread of Aquatic Invasive
Species, write your state Representative and Senator
today. Ask them to support both SF 847 and the AIS
surcharge increase on three year boat registration.
This is crunch time - we are poised to have a good framework in
place to prevent the spread of AIS in Minnesota. So please
write your legislator.
Thank your legislator for supporting AIS funding, policy and the
surcharge increase. The Governor, many members of the
Legislature and DNR have stepped up, and now we really
need to give them our support.
Onward and Upward. Happy Saint Patrick's Day.
