3/8 Constitutional Amendment and how it affects fisheries

[Shawn Kellett]

I spent last Friday and Saturday at the DNR Round Table with John (muskiefool) and others from around the state. The topic that was central to the meeting was what is the 3/8 sales tax, what can it be used for and how to we move forward.

For those that don't know, MN voters passed a 3/8 cent sales tax on goods to be used for habitat, clean water, parks and trails, and the arts. The habitat and clean water aspects of this should equal to roughly 89 million dollars EACH.

For fisheries concerns habitat could include rip-rap, revitalizing weed beds, spawning ground improvement, etc. Clean water could include adding buffer zones for drainage, shoreline improvement, [PoorWordUsage] improvements, clean-up projects, etc.

Some things the money doesn't go for:

-Stocking

-Increased DNR personal or their "normal" day-to-day expenses

Now before anyone starts getting angry (like I did), we need to think about this in the big picture. With the human population expanding at the rate it is, we in MN are going to be up against some ugly issues. The largest of which is our fresh water supply and it's quality. The numbers are something like the MN population is expected to increase by over 50% in I believe the next 25 years. That's going to be putting some serious stress on our water supply in both availability and quality. It's also going to be creating more run-off issues as we expand out from the Twin Cities area. We've all seen what's happening to our shorelines as developments come in and build "cabins" that have green lawns right to the waters edge.

The bottom line is that good water quality is the most important part of any fishery period. Now that the amendment has passed it's up to the citizenry to manage this money to protect our legacy for our children and their children. We have a historic opportunity to practice conservation on such a scale that the big problem is thinking on such a grand scale.

I've been in contact with people in the Mille Lac watershed area as well as the Leech Lake/Walker area. It's my goal to be involved in the process and to spend a fair amount of time championing causes that can qualify for this money to improve not only the muskie fishery, but the fishery in general. All fish like clean water...well maybe not bullheads but I'm sure they'll manage.

Feel free to shoot any questions by me. I'm FAR from an expert on the subject and may have some things wrong here. I'm learning as I go and wanted to pass along the info.

[Muskiefool]

It was nice to finally see all the the fisheries stake holders wanting and seeing the need to work together with the legislature actually extending a helping hand and an open door to us.

I look forward to working with these guys and gals its truly a great time for fisheries in MN, Thanks for all your hard work and dedication Shawn.