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: Hi Guys, : I need your help. The MN DNR is trying to pull a fast one with a series of public meetings regarding the new long-range trout management plan. They are making a big push for watershed management but I really question how they can be effective without laws that require certain land use practices. Also what is Fisheries doing spending angler money on non-angler projects? It is the opinion of TU and most MN trout anglers that if Fisheries provides quality fishing through good regulations and good trout habitat work then anglers will be more willing and free to take steps to tackle the watershed issues. MN DNR Fisheries has no legal or political power to tackle watersheds. : How you can help, please cut and paste the below position statement and email or snail mail it to Mark Heywood. Your out of state voices will carry considerable weight. : Thanks for your support and assistance. : Tight Lines, : Gary : : Minnesota Trout Unlimited Trout Management Position : Background: : The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fisheries purpose is to manage fish. Their funding comes from dedicated angler dollars. Regarding trout, much of their funding is from the MN Trout Stamp. While we strongly support watershed management we do not believe the DNR Division of Fisheries should be the lead agency when it comes to watershed management. Watershed management should not be a Fisheries priority. We believe that because agriculture and urban development interests control most of the political process in MN and the fact the DNR Commissioner is a politically appointed position the Division of Fisheries will never have the political power needed to be effective in watershed management. We feel strongly that a conservation collation of organizations like the Audubon Society, The Isaac Walton League, Minnesota Trout Association, local Soil and Water Boards, DNR Division of Waters, MPCA, city and county planners and other effected parties need to take the leadership role in watershed management. If the Division of Fisheries efficiently and effectively manages the trout resource Trout Unlimited will be free to tackle the larger political issues effecting clean water like watershed protection and enhancement. : Regarding specific Trout Management priorities, we support and suggest the Division of Fisheries make these items their top priority. : The three-tier trout regulation management plan that DNR’s Fisheries proposed to the Southeast Minnesota Trout Advisory Group, SEMTAG should be implemented as soon as possible. We agree that the plan addresses all trout anglers’ fishing preferences. We believe based on the University of Minnesota SE MN Angler Study that the majority of trout anglers want diverse opportunities when fishing for trout. The majority of SE MN trout anglers specifically stated they wanted increased opportunities to fish for more and larger trout while using different angling methods. They also stated they want to fish in open stream corridors that are easy to fish and atheistically pleasing. : Regarding Stream Restoration projects, we believe the Division of Fisheries must do a vastly improved job of successfully completing quality habitat work. Quality trout stream restoration work addresses the habitat needs of all sizes of trout, trout forage species and must be fishable for all trout anglers using all legal angling methods. Habitat work must be done cost effectively and designed to remain at least 80% functional for 30 years or more while protecting the stream corridor from excessive erosion. : We fully support and encourage the Division to aggressively pursue additional public stream easements for trout angler access. : Additionally we believe many dollars are being wasted on stocking catchable trout in areas where they are not needed. Where habitat improvement has been completed the stocking of catchable trout should be discontinued. In streams with naturally reproducing populations of wild trout the stocking of catchable trout should be discontinued. Catchable trout should be used to promote angling opportunities for kids, the elderly and the physically challenged. : I (name)________________________, Address:_______________________________City_________________State__________Zip___________ fully support these suggested recommendations be implemented as the priority items in the long range Southeast Minnesota Trout Management Plan. : Sincerely: : Mail to: : Mark Heywood : MN DNR : 2300 Silver Creek Rd NE : Rochester, MN 55906 : mark.heywood@dnr.state.mn.us

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