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
COMING SOON: 2024 Annual MLR Membership (12/17/24) Meeting Webinar Link
The State Boating Act, (S4113) also known as the State Boating Act:
For decades Minnesota, and a number of other states, have charged an Aquatic Invasive Species, (AIS) surcharge on boat registration to help pay for AIS prevention and management. MN currently charges $10.60 on a three year boat registration. The proceeds pay for the MN DNR’s AIS program, help fund AIS research at the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center, and provide about $450,000 for Invasive Aquatic Plant Management Grants to Tribes, Lake Associations, and local governments to help pay for the management and control of AIS in lakes and rivers.
Recently the US Coast Guard informed Minnesota and the other states that this surcharge does not conform with federal law. Without this revenue, the MN Aquatic Invasive Species prevention and management program would collapse.
The State Boating Act, (S4113), introduced in the US Senate would correct the Federal language, and allow states to add an AIS Surcharge to their watercraft registration programs. This legislation is critical to protecting Minnesota’s lakes and rivers, and the recreation economies and communities dependent upon them.
Select the Citizens Action Network (CAN) Legislative link above to send a letter in support to your legislators.