§ 97A.141 — Public-water Access Sites
Plain-Language Summary
This section directs the commissioner to acquire public-water access sites next to public waters, along with the easements and rights-of-way needed to connect them to public highways, by gift, lease, purchase, or (with Executive Council approval) condemnation. The commissioner must maintain these sites and may arrange for maintenance with a county or town board when the connecting road is a county or town highway. Local governments in the seven-county metropolitan area must cooperate in using their waterfront lands for public access, and the commissioner may use condemnation if they do not. Hunting is generally prohibited on water-access sites unless allowed by rule of the commissioner.
97A.141 PUBLIC-WATER ACCESS SITES.
§
Subdivision 1.Acquisition; generally.
The commissioner shall acquire access sites adjacent to public waters and easements and rights-of-way necessary to connect the access sites with public highways. The land may be acquired by gift, lease, or purchase, or by condemnation with approval of the Executive Council. §
Subd. 2.
[Repealed, 2008 c 357 s 40] §
Subd. 3.Maintenance.
The commissioner shall maintain the sites, easements, and rights-of-way acquired under this section. The commissioner may make an agreement for the maintenance of the site easements and rights-of-way with a county board if the connecting public highway is a county state-aid highway or county highway, or the town board if the connecting highway is a town road. The county board and town board may spend money from its road and bridge funds for maintenance under the agreement. §
Subd. 4.Cooperation with metropolitan governmental units.
Local units of government owning lands adjacent to public waters within the seven-county metropolitan area shall cooperate with the commissioner to use those lands for public access purposes when identified by the commissioner under subdivision 1. If cooperation does not occur, the commissioner may use condemnation authority under this section to acquire an interest in the local government lands for public access purposes. §
Subd. 5.Hunting generally prohibited.
A person may not hunt on water-access sites unless allowed by rule of the commissioner.
History:
1986 c 386 art 1 s 27; 1991 c 254 art 2 s 26; 1991 c 259 s 19; 2008 c 357 s 25
History: History: 1986 c 386 art 1 s 27; 1991 c 254 art 2 s 26; 1991 c 259 s 19; 2008 c 357 s 25