DNR Enforcement report: Beaver permits, Remove boat plug regulation etc.

Here is the weekly report from Department of Natural Resources conservation officers in northwestern Minnesota for July 26:

District 1 - Baudette area

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) monitored ATV and OHM activity in the Roseau, Marshall and Kittson County areas. Angling was checked on the Roseau River and Lake Bronson. Water levels have dropped to normal levels on the Roseau River and walleyes are being caught. A wetlands violation was investigated in Kittson County. CO Huener assisted the sheriff's department with a juvenile driving an Off-Highway Motorcycle on the highway.

CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) checked local anglers and conducted equipment maintenance. The Beltrami Island State Forest was patrolled for ATV activity and follow up was conducted on an open investigation of unlawful farming of a WMA. A Cease and Desist order for a Wetland Conservation Act violation was issued. Enforcement action for the week included ATV registration violations, and allow illegal operation of an ATV by a juvenile.

CO Keith Backer (Blackduck) checked angling activity on area experimental regulation lakes. Anglers were reminded to pull drain plugs on boats before leaving landings. ATV activity was monitored and complaint of no lights on a watercraft after sunset was investigated. Enforcement action for the week included license and angling violations.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck #2) monitored boating and angling activity on Upper Red Lake. Fishing has been spotty, but the weather was poor all week. CO Vollbrecht monitored area boat accesses and educated boaters on the new pull the plug law. OHM and ATV activity was monitored in the Bemidji area. Violations encountered during the week included boating and OHM violations.

CO Robert Gorecki (Baudette #2) spent the week working in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area checking campers and anglers. CO Gorecki assisted local officers by working on numerous remote access lakes only accessible by canoe for fishing, boating, and BWCA camping rules. Anglers reported fair fishing and excellent weather throughout most of the week. Enforcement action included fishing and boating violations.

Karlstad - vacant.

Warroad #2 - vacant.

District 2 - Bemidji area

CO Stuart Bensen (Erskine) checked anglers and boaters. Angler success was slow. Nuisance animal calls were addressed. The officer assisted deputies and troopers with calls for service. Preparation for Firearms Safety Classes is underway.

CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) issued a number of Special Beaver Permits to landowners experiencing water problems caused by beaver dams. Angling, boating, ATV, and leech trapping activity was monitored. A river alteration complaint and a call of an injured deer were investigated. An illegally taken bear case was sent to the county attorney for prosecution.

CO Chris Vinton (Perham) set up the TIP Wall of Shame trailer at the East Ottertail County Fair and spent time at the fair answering DNR questions. The officer assisted the sheriff's department with a missing person call, and investigated a burning complaint causing a neighborhood dispute. TIP calls involving over limits of fish were also investigated.

CO Phil Seefeldt (Moorhead) checked anglers and boaters on area lakes and rivers. Anglers are catching good numbers of sunfish but the walleyes are slow. Water levels on the Red River are high and the catfish take is slow. Invasive species and PWC operation complaints were investigated. Several wetland alteration cases are under investigation and some Restoration Orders are being prepared.

CO Joe Stattelman (Detroit Lakes) investigated fishing complaints and met with the county attorney about pending cases.

CO Gary Forsberg (Pelican Rapids) checked anglers and boaters. The panfish bite is improving. PWC operating after hours, boats without navigational lights after dark, aquatic plant removal, taking a fawn from the wild, deer shining, livestock depredation, and fish over limit complaints were investigated.

Water Resource Enforcement Officer Larry Hanson focused enforcement efforts on invasive species issues on Lake of the Woods, Becker County lakes, and Ottertail County lakes. A Wetland Technical Advisory Committee meeting was attended. The officer met with a county attorney regarding a wetland alteration case and restoration. A resolution to the case is pending.

Bemidji #1 - vacant.