DNR, MPCA issue wetland status reports
ST. PAUL -- Wetlands in northeast Minnesota remain in good condition and similar in abundance to pre-settlement levels, while many wetlands in western and southern Minnesota have been lost, and those that remain generally are in poor condition.
Those were among the key findings of reports the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Department of Natural Resources issued this week looking at the prevalence and condition of wetlands across the state.
According to the reports, Minnesota has 10.6 million wetlands, and the plant communities in nearly half of them are in poor condition. Meanwhile, macroinvertebrates such as aquatic insects, leeches and snails fared much better. Plants and macroinvertebrates often are good indicators of a wetland's ecological health.
Minnesota's wetlands comprise 19.7 percent of the state's land cover, not counting deep lakes and rivers, the report said.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Even though 10 million acres of wetlands may seem like a lot, Minnesota has lost about half of its wetlands since pre-settlement days," said Doug Norris, wetland program coordinator for the DNR's Ecological and Water Resources Division. "We need to be diligent about protecting what we have left."
-- Minnesota DNR
Report reinforces outdoors impact
WASHINGTON -- A new report this week from the Outdoor Industry Association reinforces the impact outdoor recreation has on the economy. According to The Outdoor Recreation Economy report, more than 140 million Americans engage in outdoor activities each year, directly delivering $646 billion to the economy and supporting 6.1 million domestic jobs.
Outdoor recreation is responsible for:
- 6.1 million direct American jobs.
- $646 billion in direct consumer spending.
- $39.9 billion in federal tax revenue.
ADVERTISEMENT
- $39.7 billion in state and local tax revenue
"During a time when some American industries are struggling, we are seeing solid growth," Will Manzer, CEO of Eastern Mountain Sports and chairman of the OIA board of directors, said in a statement. "Since 2005, the outdoor recreation economy has grown approximately 5 percent annually. In fact, outdoor recreation supports a significant number of jobs, on par with -- or, in some cases, more than -- other sizeable American industries."
The full report is available online at outdoorindustry.org/
recreationeconomy.
-- Herald staff report
Did you know?
- Frabill Inc., a Wisconsin-based company known for its landing nets, portable ice fishing shelters and bait storage units, has been purchased by Plano Molding Co., a tackle box manufacturer. Tom Hurt, Plano president and CEO, called the purchase a "perfect fit -- like peanut butter and jelly."
- The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has issued a reminder that lighting fireworks is prohibited on state wildlife management areas. The noise disturbs wildlife, and the fireworks are a potential source of wildfires, the department said.
ADVERTISEMENT
- The National Shooting Sports Foundation is applauding the U.S. House of Representatives' passage of the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act. The bill (HR 3065) will ensure that shooters and hunters have high-quality public facilities for participating in recreational shooting sports and learning about firearms safety. The measure gives state game and fish agencies more flexibility and discretion to utilize Pittman-Robertson (Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund) funds for the creation, enhancement and maintenance of public shooting ranges.
- Results from a HunterSurvey.com poll show nearly 23 percent of hunters surveyed said they had lost access or faced restrictions to hunting land in the past year. That's an increase of less than 1 percent from the previous year, but the numbers reveal that nearly 1 in 4 sportsmen nationwide are potentially affected by the loss of access to hunting access.
