§ 97A.101 — Public Water Reserves and Management Designation
Plain-Language Summary
This section lets the Department of Natural Resources commissioner designate and reserve public waters of the state to protect and propagate wild animals, and to manage those waters for wildlife. To designate waters for management, the commissioner must give notice and hold a public hearing in the county holding most of the waters, with notice published in a legal newspaper at least seven days before the hearing; these designations are made by written order in the State Register and are exempt from chapter 14 rulemaking. The section does not allow restricting fish seasons or methods (other than for minnows), and it generally bans airboats on designated lakes while letting the commissioner restrict other motorized watercraft and recreational vehicles by posting access points. Before setting perpetual watercraft restrictions, the commissioner must take public comment and hold a meeting, publishing notice at least once between 30 and 60 days before and at least once between seven and 30 days before, though this does not apply to temporary restrictions expiring within 90 days.
97A.101 PUBLIC WATER RESERVES AND MANAGEMENT DESIGNATION.
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Subdivision 1.Reserves.
The commissioner may designate and reserve public waters of the state to propagate and protect wild animals. §
Subd. 2.Management designation.
(a) The commissioner may designate, reserve, and manage public waters for wildlife after giving notice and holding a public hearing. The hearing must be held in the county where the major portion of the waters is located. Notice of the hearing must be published in a legal newspaper within each county where the waters are located at least seven days before the hearing. The designation by the commissioner shall be by written order published in the State Register. Designations are not subject to the rulemaking provisions of chapter 14, and section 14.386 does not apply.
(b) The commissioner may contract with riparian owners for water projects under section 103G.121, subdivision 3, and may acquire land, accept local funding, and construct, maintain, and operate structures to control water levels under section 103G.505 to manage designated waters. §
Subd. 3.Fishing may not be restricted.
Seasons or methods of taking fish other than minnows may not be restricted under this section. §
Subd. 4.Restrictions on airboats, watercraft, and recreational vehicles.
(a) The use of airboats is prohibited at all times on lakes designated for wildlife management purposes under this section unless otherwise authorized by the commissioner.
(b) The commissioner may restrict the use of motorized watercraft and recreational vehicles on lakes designated for wildlife management purposes by posting all public access points on the designated lake. To minimize disturbance to wildlife or to protect wildlife habitat, the commissioner may restrict the type of allowable motorized watercraft or recreational vehicle, horsepower or thrust of motor, speed of operation, and season or area of use. Designation of areas, times, and types of restrictions to be posted shall be by written order published in the State Register. Posting of the restrictions is not subject to the rulemaking provisions of chapter 14, and section 14.386 does not apply.
(c) Before the commissioner establishes perpetual restrictions under paragraph (b), public comment must be received and a public meeting must be held in the county where the largest portion of the lake is located. Notice of the meeting must be published in a news release issued by the commissioner and in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where the waters are located. The notice must be published at least once between 30 and 60 days before the public meeting and at least once between seven and 30 days before the meeting. The notices required in this paragraph must summarize the proposed action, invite public comment, and specify a deadline for the receipt of public comments. The commissioner shall mail a copy of each required notice to persons who have registered their names with the commissioner for this purpose. The commissioner shall consider any public comments received in making a final decision. This paragraph does not apply to temporary restrictions that expire within 90 days of the effective date of the restrictions.
History:
1986 c 386 art 1 s 19; 1990 c 391 art 8 s 23; 1991 c 199 art 1 s 13; 1997 c 226 s 18; 2004 c 221 s 37; 2006 c 281 art 2 s 21; 1Sp2011 c 2 art 5 s 22; 2025 c 20 s 45,46
History: History: 1986 c 386 art 1 s 19; 1990 c 391 art 8 s 23; 1991 c 199 art 1 s 13; 1997 c 226 s 18; 2004 c 221 s 37; 2006 c 281 art 2 s 21; 1Sp2011 c 2 art 5 s 22; 2025 c 20 s 45,46