DNR report: July 16

Talk about it

Reports filed Sunday from area conservation officers for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) assisted with a reported fuel spill in Agate Bay in Two Harbors. The substance in the water turned out to be large amounts of taconite dust rather than oil. Spent time at local Lake Superior accesses and noted that the word is getting out about the need to pull the plugs on boats and drain bilge and live well water.

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Water Resource Enforcement Officer Mike Scott (Northeast Minnesota) spent time on area lakes and rivers checking anglers and boaters. Invasive issues and concerns were discussed with boaters and anglers. Enforcement action was taken for failure to remove drain plug and transporting aquatic vegetation. Spent time working on several new wetland violation cases and set up a flight for aerial view of several suspected wetland violations. Received two phone calls from people reference driving off road vehicles into wetlands and having bud bog races.

*****

Randy Hanzal (Duluth) emphasis was placed on stopping the spread of invasive species on a plain clothes detail to again help get the point across to boaters and fisherman to remove any bilge plugs and empty all water out of their boats, live wells, and minnow buckets before leaving accesses. Several wildlife calls were handled. Recreational boating activity has been increasing in the area and so has enforcement of water safety laws.

*****

Kipp Duncan (Duluth) worked fishing and boating enforcement. Time was also spent working night boating enforcement. Invasive species enforcement was worked while at public boat access. Testified at a court trial for a forfeiture of an ATV.

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Troy Ter Meer (Marine Unit) responded to a reported spill in Agate Bay and assisted Coast Guard and emergency personal until it was determined the substance was not oil and not a hazard. Patrolled during a music festival at Bayfront, towed a personal watercraft back to the access after the driver got a rope from a tube he was towing stuck in the machine. Assisted the sheriff’s department with a hit-and-run boat accident and an off-road crash. Also witnessed a near collision between a boat and a personal watercraft when the owner of the PWC let someone without experience take it out. Anglers, boaters, and ATVs were checked with enforcement action taken for boating, angling, ATV, and invasive species violations.

*****

Keith Olson (Marine Unit) spent time checking anglers on Lake Superior. Salmon are still being seen in the bags of boat anglers. Some bear complaints are being fielded.

Tags: two harbors, dnr report, outdoors, fishing