Did you know that more than 60% of surface waters in Minnesota are impaired. The Big Pine Lake POA, along with Minnesota Lakes and Rivers (MLR), asks you to personally join in the advancement of laws, programs and funding to reverse this trend for the benefit of our lakes.
It is up to each of us to advocate in protecting our shorelines. MLR has various tools on their website to help each of us communicate with our legislators and local media. You can track the bills that are being reviewed and review and analyze the legislation. In fact, MLR has a full-time lobbyist working at the capital. MLR’s Citizens Action Network (CAN) offers a “one click” system that allows you to contact elected officials through email. Through MLR’s email system, voices can be heard through its thousands of emails sent by lake advocates. This can create change.
Sign up to receive emails on current matters affecting our waters:
Citizens Action Network (CAN) Sign-up Form
Call to Action: Review current legislative issues and send an email to be heard.
Citizens Action Network (CAN) Legislative Center
2025 Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates successfully:
- Unlocked $28 million in DNR Community Grants for fighting aquatic invasive species (AIS). Previously, this is a brand new source of funding for lake associations. The applications for those grants open this month.
- Convinced lawmakers to raise the AIS Surcharge on a three year boat license. This will increase Invasive Plant Management Grants from $400,000 to $1,000,000+ each year. Again, creating new sources of funding for lake associations.
- Lobbied to save the full County AIS Prevention Aid for two years. This $10 million annual appropriation is distributed to counties across Minnesota to fund watercraft inspections, hire county AIS management professionals, and treat AIS.
- Worked with the Minnesota DNR to ensure AIS prevention and wake boat best practices were in the new Minnesota boaters education licensure course.
- Lobbied the legislature and Governor Walz to not cut local government aid formulas in 2025. These cuts typically result in property tax increases.
The Minnesota AIS Prevention Aid Program:
Gov. Walz has proposed cutting the County AIS Prevention Aid formula in his 2025 budget recommendations by 50%. In 2025, the Minnesota Legislature decided to continue full funding of the program until July 1, 2027.
If the County AIS Prevention Aid is cut:
- Property taxes on your lake place will increase to fill the budget hole,
- Local jobs doing lake work will be lost,
- Support for lake association programs will be lost,
- AIS will spread, impacting lake ecology and diminishing recreation and fisheries,
- Local tourism economy will suffer.
The data is clear, the County AIS Prevention Aid formula, the MLR successfully lobbied to create in 2014, has had a huge impact. This program literally bent the New AIS Invasion Curve. In addition MN’s County AIS Prevention Aid program:
- AIS Prevention Aid funded grant programs award around $1.8M annually to 200 local partner’s projects leveraging over $1.2M in additional funding.
- AIS Prevention Aid programs conducted AIS surveys on over 640 lakes and rivers in 2022 resulting in 45 new AIS infestations detected in 35 Counties and reported to MN DNR.
- AIS Prevention Aid supported an average of 883 jobs and leveraged 7305 hours contributed by 538 volunteers.
- Networks involved 285 lake associations, over 40 conservation groups, 250 businesses, 80 schools/youth organizations and 145 local governments
- Local planning and implementation efforts have been guided by 35 county AIS task forces and committees which are largely supported by county AIS plans
- Enforcement by training 112 local officers who enforced AIS laws in nearly 20 counties reaching over 5,600 boaters
- Communications and outreach which educated nearly 39,000 residents and visitors during nearly 190 public events, over 30 counties that taught nearly 13, 400 children about AIS prevention and 25 counties posted prevention messages on social media.
The State Boating Act, (S4113) also known as the State Boating Act:
Minnesota did pass its own boating safety legislation in 2023, which began to phase in new watercraft operator’s permit and education requirements for boaters starting July 1, 2025.
Federal Bill: S.4113
- This is a federal bill, not a state law.
- It was introduced in the U.S. Senate in April 2024.
- It proposes to allow states to collect boating fees when issuing a vessel number to fund programs like search and rescue and aquatic invasive species control.
Minnesota State Law
- The Minnesota law, passed in 2023, is separate from the federal bill.
- It requires boaters to obtain a watercraft operator’s permit and complete a safety course, with requirements phasing in over several years based on birth year.
- The first phase took effect on July 1, 2025, for those born on or after July 1, 2004.
- The law aims to improve boating safety through education and training.
This Minnesota law requires boaters born after June 30, 2004, to have a watercraft operator’s permit starting July 1, 2025, and the requirement will gradually expand to older age groups over the next three years. This law, effective July 1, 2025, introduces a boater education requirement to enhance safety on state waters and applies to both motorboats and personal watercraft. To get the permit, individuals must take an online boater safety course and pass an exam.
Key changes in the new law
- Permit requirement: Anyone born after June 30, 2004, needs a watercraft operator’s permit to legally operate a motorboat or personal watercraft.
- Effective date: The new law took effect on July 1, 2025.
- Gradual implementation: The age requirement for the permit will expand to older age groups over the next three years.
- Purpose: The law aims to improve safety on Minnesota’s lakes and rivers.
How to get the permit
- Take a course: Complete an online boater safety course.
- Pass an exam: Pass the final exam to earn the permit.
- Obtain the permit: The permit is nationally accredited, so it is valid in other states as well.
Important safety reminders
- Life jackets: Minnesota law requires one US Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on a boat. Children under ten must wear a life jacket when the boat is underway.
- Registration: All motorized watercraft must be licensed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
- Boating while intoxicated (BWI): It is illegal to operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.