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Things are heating up at
the Capitol! There are several bills in motion
that could impact the health of Minnesota's lakes
and streams. And Minnesota Waters aims to
provide our members and partners with up to date
information on the legislative initiatives you can
influence today. Please note - we always
strive to send the most current information, but
some bills and amendments are changing on an hourly
basis.
AIS Training for Lake-Service Providers
Senator Mary Olson
introduced legislation to require aquatic invasive
species (AIS) training for Minnesota's lake-service
providers across the state. SF2969
was referred to the Environment and Natural
Resources Committee.
Minnesota Waters AIS
Committee and staff have been working alongside the
citizen leaders of the Brainerd Lakes AIS Task Force
(BLAISTF) and the DNR AIS Program to promote AIS
training for lake-service providers across
Minnesota. Following two years of successful
trainings for regional lake-service providers, the
collaborative has been in discussion with Senator
Olson about the need to implement this program
statewide.
TAKE ACTION
A hearing has not yet
been scheduled and the Committee Chair, Senator
Satveer Chaudhary, needs to hear from you about the
importance of
SF2969.
Contact
Senator Chaudhary's office
to let them know that AIS training for all
lake-service providers will help prevent the spread
and protect Minnesota's most priceless natural
assets, our waters. View
a sample letter that you can use for your
correspondence on this issue.
Other Proposed Bills for Lake and Stream Protection
HF3355
(Bigham) requires water drainage from watercraft
before transportation on public roads and modifies
civil penalties.
HF3230
(Dill) and
SF2890
(Bakk) passes a moratorium on acquiring and
developing new accesses on lakes without public
access. This bill will be heard in the
Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee
meeting on Friday, March 19.
SF2900
(Chaudhary) and
HF3124
(Dill) amends the game and fish bill to make
transportation of aquatic plants on public roads a
misdemeanor.
SF2849
(Olson) and
HF3253
(Persell) funds the Star Lakes and Rivers program to
provide water quality enhancement and citizen
participation grants.
TAKE ACTION
To voice your support for any of the above
legislation, contact the House or Senate Committee
Members to which the bill has been referred.
Budget's tapping of Water Recreation Account is
unprecedented
The Governor's office is
seeking to remove dedicated funds from the Water
Recreation Account for use in the general fund.
This measure would take away funding from the
intended water resource uses outlined in the
Water Recreation Program
report. Minnesotans have advocated for these
dedicated funds to provide long term support for our
state's water resources and recreation
opportunities. Funding for Minnesota's most
precious resource, our waters, is already
underfunded. This action could set a dangerous
precedent for years to come.
Excerpted from the Star Tribune
Gov. Tim Pawlenty's supplemental budget calls for
$1.2 million to be taken from the state's Water
Recreation Account -- funds generated by boat
registration and other boater fees -- and put in the
general fund. The diversion is unprecedented.
TAKE ACTION
Contact Governor Tim Pawlenty's Office
and
Bob Meier,DNR
Asst. Commissioner, Policy & Government Relations
to let them know the Water Recreation Account funds
should be used for their intended purpose: to
preserve Minnesota's water recreation opportunities
on healthy lakes and rivers.
Minnesota Waters/DNR AIS Open Houses Spur
Legislative Activity
After attending the
MW/DNR aquatic invasive species (AIS) open house in
Willmar in January, Representative Juhnke requested
a short list of related actionable items that the
DNR could support. DNR AIS staff developed and
submitted a list of
AIS action items resulting from discussions at
the open houses. HF3355
is a direct response based on these stakeholder
discussion points.
The list of action items
does not include all stakeholder comments received
at the series of AIS open houses. DNR staff is
presently developing a full report on all comments
and input received during the open houses held in
January. The report will be available soon on
the Minnesota Waters website.
Watching for Potholes: Analysis of Governor
Pawlenty's Proposed Budget
Excerpted from Conservation Minnesota
Governor Pawlenty's proposed reductions and fund
shifts for the state's 2010 and 2011 budgets run
afoul of what voters approved at the polls in
November 2008,
Conservation
Minnesota reported today.
Two-tier Boat License Fee
The Minnesota Waters AIS
Committee has been working with legislators on a two
tier boat license law that would give a break to
Minnesota boaters who keep their boats on one water
body, and charge more for boats that use multiple
lakes and rivers. The funding generated by
this proposal would go towards preventing the spread
of AIS and control efforts in waters that are
already infested. There is bi-partisan support
in both the house and senate. This legislation
may not be heard this year due to the short
legislative session, but this year's groundwork is
helping prioritize the issue for the next
legislative session. Watch for status reports
on this initiative as we prepare for the 2011
legislative session.
TAKE ACTION
Let your representatives
know about the bills important to you and that
protecting Minnesota's lake and streams must be a
priority this legislative session.
Legislative District
Finder:
www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/districtfinder.asp
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