Legislative Reports
This page contains links to recent reports mandated by the Minnesota Legislature, which sometimes requires reports from agencies to:
- Receive additional background information that could be used to inform future policy discussions.
- Receive updated information on the status of a particular issue of interest to the legislature.
- Summarize outcomes of a new program or approach.
- Identify potential alternative approaches or options for addressing a policy issue.
- Receive written agency recommendations.
Aquaculture 
(13 pages | 74 kb)
Minnesota Session Laws 2007, Chapter 57, Article 1, Section 14 requires by January 15, 2008, the commissioner shall report to the senate and house of representatives committees on natural resource policy and finance on policy recommendations regarding aquaculture.
Aquaculture is the intentional stocking and raising of fish in artificial or natural ponds or wetlands. Aquaculture can be practiced in public or private waters under a license issued by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Wetlands are also used by the DNR to produce game fish fingerlings for stocking.
There is now compelling scientific evidence suggesting that certain raising of fish in wetlands can have detrimental impacts on other wetland values. Therefore, strategies for avoiding or mitigating those impacts are needed, or state policy needs to be modified to clearly address the trade-offs associated with use of public wetlands for fish rearing. This report and recommendations focus on aquaculture activities occurring in public waters.
Lake Trout (10 pages | 46 kb)
Minnesota Session Laws 2007 Chapter 131, Article 1, Section 84 requires the Commissioner of Natural Resources to report by 1 February 2008 to the legislative policy committees with jurisdiction over natural resources on "the pros and cons of changing the winter lake trout season so that it would open from the Saturday nearest January 1 to March 31."
There are currently two winter lake trout seasons on inland lakes in Minnesota. One covers lakes entirely within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), with a couple of exceptions, and runs from the Saturday nearest January 1st to March 31st. The other covers all other inland and border lakes, and runs from the Saturday nearest January 15th to March 15th. The longer season for lakes in the BWCAW was established in 1979 to provide additional angling opportunities after motorized access to that area was eliminated, and was considered sustainable because of lower fishing pressure on those lakes. This report reviews the pros and cons of a season expansion.
Leech Lake (7 pages | 40 kb)
Minnesota Session Laws 2007, Chapter 131, Article 1, Section 90 requires by January 15, 2008, the commissioner of natural resources must report to the chairs of the house of representatives and senate committees having jurisdiction over environment and natural resource policy on the status of the Leech Lake fishery.
Downturns in the Leech Lake walleye fishery in the early 2000s prompted the development and implementation of an aggressive five-year action plan to improve walleye fishing. This plan was developed in consultation with the local business community and local anglers. The goals of this plan were to protect and maintain the existing spawning stock, to increase overall walleye abundance, to improve the population size structure, and to establish two good walleye year classes from 2005-2010. Strategies adopted to achieve these goals included implementation of a protected slot limit to reduce harvest of walleye brood stock (sexually mature fish), double-crested cormorant control, evaluation of potential effects of rusty crayfish predation on walleye eggs, and experimental stockings of marked walleye fry to quantify walleye reproduction in Leech Lake and make comparisons with other natural walleye lakes. This report provides an up to date summary of the status of the fishery and related programs.
Walk-In Program
Minnesota Session Laws 2007, Chapter 131, Article 1, Section 85 requires the commissioner to present a walk-in public access plan to the house and senate committees with jurisdiction over natural resources policy and finance, with recommendations on program implementation, by January 15, 2008.
Public demand for access to the outdoors in general, and hunting and fishing lands in particular likely exceeds current access to existing public lands. The constituent demand is for a farmland private land access program designed primarily for small game (upland bird) and possibly deer hunting. Minnesota already has an active Forest Legacy program that has permanently conserved nearly 57,500 acres of public access. In addition Minnesota's Trout Stream Easement Program has secured 618 miles of perpetual stream access easements.
The DNR surveyed 22 states where walk-in programs are in place. Data from this survey is summarized in the report. Generally speaking, western states, where land values and rental rates are low, ownerships are vast, and populations are sparse, tend to have successful walk-in programs. Eastern states where parcel sizes are small, land prices are high and populations are greater tend to be less successful.
This report describes public and private benefits and costs associated with a walk-in program and provides program cost estimates based on various acreage and payment scenarios.
Wild Rice (116 pages | 2.4 MB)
This report fulfills the requirements of Session Law 2007, Chapter 57, Article 1, Section 163 requiring the Commissioner of Natural Resources to prepare a study for natural wild rice that includes: (1) the current location and estimated acreage and area of natural stands; (2) potential threats to natural stands, including, but not limited to, development pressure, water levels, pollution, invasive species, and genetically engineered strains; and (3) recommendations to the house and senate committees with jurisdiction over natural resources on protecting and increasing natural wild rice stands in the state. Note: This online version contains serveral minor corrections to the printed report.
