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97A.101 Public water reserves and management designation.

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 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.

HIST: 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

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes