ATV in a wetland?

[ZapMan]

Can you operate an ATV in a wetland?

The wetland is privately owned.

Permission is granted from owner.

Is there diff. rules for winter (frozen) vs. summer?

[Dave S]

From Page 8 of the MN DNR Regs:

Public waters where OHVs may not ride include: below the ordinary

high-water level of unfrozen lakes, rivers, and streams; certain wetlands; or

in calcareous fens.The inventory of public waters can be viewed on DNR’s

HSOforum; DNR Waters and Fisheries offices; and various county offices.

Repeated on page 16:

You may not operate an off-highway vehicle:

• on the median of a four-lane highway

• within the right-of-way of any interstate highway or freeway

• on the right-of-way between opposing lanes of traffic

• on grant-in-aid snowmobile trails

• on designated non-motorized trails

• at airports

• below the ordinary high-water level of unfrozen public waters that are lakes,

streams, rivers, and certain wetlands, or in calcareous fens

• on any frozen public waters where you don’t have legal access or where it is

prohibited

• in any area restricted by local ordinances or municipalities, including streets

• in a tree nursery or planting area on state forest lands that are posted or

designated closed to motorized uses (see pages 19-23)

• on agricultural land without permission (see page 26)

• in most state parks, state recreation areas, state historic sites, wildlife

management areas*, state scientific and natural areas with the exception of

posted trails and areas.

*OHV use is prohibited on wildlife management areas, except OHVs that are licensed

highway motor vehicles may be operated on established roads at speeds up to 20 miles

per hour in the following WMA’s: Carlos Avery, Hubbel Pond, Mille Lacs, Red Lake,

Roseau River and Thief Lake

And more on page 17:

OHVs and Wetland Disturbance

A person may not operate an OHV in a manner to:

• indicate a willful, wanton, or reckless disregard for the safety of persons

or property

• carelessly upset the natural and ecological balance of a wetland or public

waters wetland

• impact a wetland or public waters wetland in excess of minimum amounts

established under law.

There are increased penalties for OHV wetland disturbance. Conviction

may be a gross misdemeanor and/or the Off-Highway Vehicle (ATV,

OHM, ORV) forfeited. See page 24.

Wetland restrictions apply to private land as well as public land, and vary

by area of the state and other criteria.

[chasineyes]

NO. If you google a story from last year about a group of individuals up in the Cambridge area, they had a track/mud pit set up on their land through the wetlands and it caused quite an uproar.

[ZapMan]

OK, what I need to know is: My neighbor's kid is riding in his wetland on the frozen water/mud. He said my kids could too, but another neighbor said it was illegal, and he was going to call the DNR.

What should I do.

I told the kids, no!

What would you do?

[LipRipper!!]

Read the Regs. and not let them ride!!!

[charliepete]

Can you cross a river on 4-wheeler? There is a graveled out river crossing used by logging trucks near an area I hunt, but I looking at the regs it seems like it might be illegal to use (even though everybody and their brother crosses there with trucks wheelers etc).

[Dave S]

Simple answer: NO!

Because everyone else is doing it doesn't make it right.