OUTDOORS NOTEBOOK: NDGF tax payments, Minnesota interactive water trails map etc.

NDGF pays $464,000 in property taxes

BISMARCK -- The North Dakota Game and Fish Department recently paid $464,835 in taxes to counties where the department owns or leases land. The 2010 in-lieu-of-tax payments are the same as property taxes paid by private landowners.

The Game and Fish Department manages more than 200,000 acres for wildlife habitat and public hunting in 50 counties.

The department does not own or manage any land in Traill or Renville counties.

Here's a look at the taxes the department paid in select eastern and northeastern North Dakota counties:

- Cavalier: $21,068.47.

- Pembina: $14,717.35.

- Grand Forks: $12,203.30.

- Walsh: $8,792.74.

- Steele: $7,993.98.

- Cass: $6,043.79.

- Ramsey: $5,001.46.

- Nelson: $4,505.42.

- Benson: $2,988.86.

-- N.D. Game and Fish Department

DNR unveils interactive map of water trails

ST. PAUL -- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has released a new online interactive map to help people explore the Minnesota State Water Trail system, which offers 4,400 miles for canoeing, kayaking, boating and camping along rivers and in Lake Superior.

The interactive map includes all 32 State Water Trails, in addition to public water accesses and campsites along each route. The map makes it easy to zoom, search and pan and to find and print information about facilities.

The new digital map format provides paddlers and boaters with an opportunity to create a customized map and to take advantage of the connections between water trails and other public lands, such as state parks, state trails, wildlife management areas and state forests. The DNR still distributes free paper maps, as well, and plans are in the works to launch an upgrade to the river levels report on the agency's website.

The new interactive map is available online at mndnr.gov/watertrails.

-- Minnesota DNR

DNR asks anglers to report tagged fish

BAUDETTE, Minn. -- The DNR is asking Minnesota anglers who catch a tagged fish to record the tag number, fish species, length, site of catch and the date on which it was landed.

Anglers can enter the data online at mndnr.gov/fisheries/tagged_

fish_reporting/index.html.

"Tagging and marking are important techniques for studying individual aquatic animals or populations," said Phil Talmage, area fisheries supervisor for the DNR in Baudette. "Anglers who report tag data are contributing information that helps improve fish management."

Anglers who enter data into the website typically receive a letter, phone call or email that summarizes the tagged fish's history in the DNR's database.

"We appreciate the information that anglers have provided in the past and look forward to that same high-quality data this season," Talmage said.

-- Minnesota DNR

FWS ruling allows use of glyphosate-tolerant corn, soybeans

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a "Finding of No Significant Impact" for the use of glyphosate-tolerant corn and soybeans on National Wildlife Refuge System lands within the Mountain-Prairie Region.

The finding means use of the tolerant corn and soybeans has no significant impact on the quality of the environment. Glyphosate is a herbicide used to kill broadleaf weeds and grasses.

Roger Hollevoet, project leader of the Service's Devils Lake Wetland Management District, said the office has been partnering with area farmers for years by allowing them to farm Service properties in the district. He said the farmers often prefer to use glyphosate-tolerant crops such as corn and soybeans.

"This environmental review allows us to continue this practice, which helps us restore habitats on the public lands we manage," Hollevoet said. "We often use this technique to restore habitat back into vigorous stands of dense nesting cover or our practice of reconstructing native prairie plants to provide long-term cover for ground-nesting waterfowl and other migratory birds. These stands also attract partridge, grouse and lots of white-tailed deer does and fawns."

-- Herald staff report

Did you know?

- Minnesota hunters have until June 3 to apply for one of 12 elk licenses the DNR is offering this year. There will be two seasons in each of the Grygla and Kittson County zones -- Sept. 17-25 and Dec. 3-11. During the first season, two either-sex licenses will be available in Grygla (Zone 10), while one either-sex license and three antlerless licenses will be available in Kittson County (Zone 20). In the second season, two antlerless licenses will be available in Grygla, while one either-sex license and three anterless licenses will be available in Kittson County. Info: mndnr.gov.

- The DNR is offering a free, bright yellow warning sticker reminding boaters to "check their drain plug." Invasive species regulations that went into effect last year require boaters to remove the plug and drain the bilge and live well before transporting a watercraft. The DNR developed the sticker because some boaters forget to put their drain plug back in place before relaunching. Stickers are available by calling (888) 646-6367 or by emailing boatandwater.dnr@state.mn.us and requesting the "Drain Plug Sticker."