Legislative Director Report
Legislative Liaison Director of Minnesota Trappers Association
Dark River Field Trip
On Saturday, April 24, 2010, a group of MTA District Directors met with representatives of the Dark River Basin Association (DRBA) for a tour of selected stretches of the Dark River. The tour was set up and guided by MTA members Dave Holmbeck and Steve Loch. The MTA was first contacted by the DRBA about a year ago regarding a DNR Fisheries Section’s proposal for a stream restoration project on that river. At that time, they encouraged MTA to send a group of members to view the project site and gather first hand information to take back to the membership.
Brook and brown trout now inhabit the cooler spring fed stretches of the river’s lower reaches. Fisheries managers hope to extend that use into stretches farther upstream. Federal trappers have been removing beaver from the stream under a contract with the Fisheries Section for several seasons. Removal of beaver and their dams is expected to reduce the warming effect those impounded waters along the course of the stream. Private individuals also trap beaver and other species along the Dark River.
In addition to beaver trapping, fisheries managers are planning an extensive channel restoration project for which State funds have already been appropriated. The DRBA maintains that the project is not a true restoration but is, instead, a modification. There are differences between restorations and modifications. Stream restorations rebuild physical components of the bed and banks of damaged stream sections in an attempt to copy original conditions. Damage is usually caused directly or indirectly by human activities. A stream modification is usually a project aimed at improving conditions for a group of species. A stream modification might change conditions in either an undamaged and natural watercourse or a damaged one. Modifications simply change any existing conditions to a set of new conditions which we choose. Changing conditions in a stream always gives some species a new advantage over others.
With the project site review behind us, we have a clearer understanding of the project and will be better equipped to seek answers. Fisheries managers have been contacted with our request to discuss the project. Stay tuned.
Legislative Update
There has been no word on legislative proposals to change fox and other species trapping opening dates and other regulations for the “northern forest zone”. At last report the House had taken preliminary action on these proposals but the Senate had not discussed them in committee. In the meantime MTA representatives are working with DNR staff on gaining MTA’s proposed changes through the DNR rule writing processes. It is our view that changes being asked for by the MTA membership are more simply and appropriately gained by that legislatively mandated process.