Water News:

DNR Asks for Help on Structure Surveys in Public Waters

The Minnesota Legislature has required the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to revise its rules for “structures” in public waters by January 2010. “Structures” include docks, wharves, breakwaters, boat launching ramps, mooring facilities, marinas, retaining walls, boathouses, boat storage structures, energy exchangers and other facilities.

DNR would like to gather more information about the structures on Minnesota shorelines in 2008, with a concentration on docks. The agency is inviting any interested lake associations or individuals to help with this effort. Last summer, four lakes were inventoried by interested individuals. The results of these lakes can be seen at the DNR website at: www.dnr.state.mn.us/input/issues/docks/index.html.

If anyone is interested in helping out with this project, please contact Tom Hovey at Tom.Hovery@dnr.mn.us.  It may be a good opportunity to get around the lake for other types of monitoring you’ve been meaning to do. The agency looking for information on all size lakes and rivers, and from all areas of the state. Any time before mid-September would be a good time.