$3.5 mil/M. Lacs hatchery

[Lee Borgersen]

    $3.5 million for Mill Lacs hatchery

  .....
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has drafted a plan for a research facility, hatchery and outreach center on Lake Mille Lacs that could cost the state $3.5 million in the next fiscal year.

The planning document, obtained by MPR News through a data practices request, is asking for $500,000 for land acquisition and project design, $3 million for construction, site infrastructure and contingency and $50,000 to pay a new research scientist. Most of the funding could be financed through public debt.

The document says research — including fish surveys, lake monitoring, harvest monitoring and hatchery production — would occur at the facility.

It would also allow for customer service and public engagement, “including more frequent direction communications, enhanced capacity to share data and observations on fishery and lake conditions, and improved accessibility and responsiveness to local needs.

The document marks the first time the DNR has put a dollar amount on a facility officials say is needed to boost the dwindling walleye population in Mille Lacs. The DNR closed the walleye fishing season early this year after the state’s anglers and Native American tribes exceeded their annual harvest limit.

Gov. Mark Dayton has said he wants to hold a special session to help the business owners who will be harmed by the DNR’s action. Officials with the Dayton Administration have estimated that the plan could cost as much as $20 million. That could include funding for the new fisheries station on the lake.

   .............
 Mille Lacs walleye decline may spell trouble for DNR
Dayton has said he has concerns about how DNR staff has interacted in the past with the Mille Lacs community over the walleye issue. He said that he believes they need a lesson in “customer service.” DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr said part of the reorganization will include dedicating staff on the lake and building a new fisheries station.

The plan also shows DNR officials are serious about boosting the walleye population in the lake instead of relying on a natural recovery. That runs counter to internal documents that said stocking the lake with new fish won’t have a dramatic impact. For example, scientists said the current egg, fry and fingerling cycle on Mille Lacs produces more fingerling sized fish than the entire state production system in any given year.

“Stocking more fish in to Mille Lacs today would analogous to adding more water to an already full bucket and could actually harm survival of your fish by increasing competition with naturally hatched fish,” wrote Edward Boggess, Director of the DNR’s Division of Fish and Wildlife.

DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr acknowledged that there has been little scientific basis to stock Mille Lacs but said officials want to be prepared to act if the walleye population drops significantly on the lake.

“This isn’t yesterday’s fishery anymore,” Landwehr said. “This is going in a direction that we don’t know where it’s going to end. The decline has been long-term.”

[The General]

I hope no one gets one cent of public money.  Let the Indians and the resort owners pay for it all. 

[Lee Borgersen]

I hope no one gets one cent of public money.  Let the Indians and the resort owners pay for it all.

With strong talk like that you might have a chance to run for V.P. on the Trump ticket.

                                      USA...USA...USA....

[Lee Borgersen]

DNR will add fisheries staff and hatchery facility at Mille Lacs.

8/28/15
 
  ......
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced Thursday it will create a new fisheries staff and cool-water hatchery dedicated specifically to the recovery of the Mille Lacs Lake walleye fishery.


DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr made the announcement.

Walleye fishing was closed Aug. 3 on Mille Lacs after anglers neared safe-harvest levels agreed to by the DNR and eight Native American bands covered by an 1837 treaty.

Walleye numbers on Mille Lacs have dropped to a 30-year low, according to the DNR. Research shows that many young walleyes are being eaten before they can grow to a catchable size.


Measures the DNR announced Thursday include: .......

New project leader and additional staff — The DNR will create a new fisheries office to focus exclusively on Mille Lacs; assign a new Mille Lacs project leader; add a new outreach specialist; and provide more staff support for monitoring and technical analysis on the lake. These staff positions will provide for more monitoring, help with hatchery and stocking efforts and assist the community with marketing efforts.
New fisheries facility — The DNR will work with the Legislature to secure funding for a new fisheries management facility that will include a cool-water hatchery. The facility will be built in the Mille Lacs community and will provide room for monitoring equipment and staff. Bonding funds will be requested during the 2016 legislative session for facility construction. Until a new facility is available, the DNR will lease an office in a community near the lake to house the project leader and other Mille Lacs Lake staff.
Pilot stocking effort — The DNR will stock walleye fry in Mille Lacs in 2016 in a pilot effort to develop and refine techniques. The DNR maintains that stocking is not necessary today due to abundant natural spawning in the lake, but the agency said it wants to prepare for stocking if it becomes necessary. The DNR staff will chemically mark walleye fry to study their survival throughout their life cycle. Egg-take, hatching and stocking will occur in spring of 2016.
Cormorant control — The DNR is already in discussions with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to secure control permits for double-crested cormorants, Landwehr said.
New advisory committee — The DNR will create a 12- to 16-member panel representing businesses, anglers, local officials and others to help guide future management decisions. The commissioner will appoint members in September.
Increased transparency of safe-harvest quota setting — The DNR will increase the transparency of the quota-setting process by inviting two advisory committee members to attend and observe fisheries technical committee meetings.
Promote other fishing and outdoor recreation — The DNR will promote other fishing opportunities in the lake, including northern pike, smallmouth bass and muskellunge.
"Mille Lacs is an incredibly important fishery for Minnesota," Landwehr said, "and we are redoubling our efforts to ensure its long-term health."

"I strongly support the actions Commissioner Landwehr has taken today," said Gov. Mark Dayton. "These measures will be essential in restoring Lake Mille Lacs to greatness, and in earning the public's trust."

[snow1]

What a joke! wonder what they're smoking in the peace pipe these days? Yeah that's the fix,lets dump 3million (for starters) of tax payers money so the tribes can keep netting! BS! Pretty simple solution here w/o spending our money,pull the nets during spawn,let the lake fix itself as proven from 2013/2014 late ice out,no nets equals a BOOM in those two year classes,the lake is loaded with 8" to 12" walleyes,what walleyes are left had a chance to spawn.