Woods & Water by Dick Herfindahl

This past week, when I received my latest issue of Outdoor News, an article by Bob Lessard caught my eye. Bob was the senator who was the author of the Lessard-Sams bill, which we (the public) voted on and passed in 2008. He was very disappointed with the current legislature because they are now seemingly in the process of channeling money the Heritage Fund has available for enhancing and improving habitat and using it for projects that were once funded by the general fund. Lessard stated in the article that “the Legacy Amendment was constitutionally designed to supplement, not supplant or replace funding, though replace is exactly what it’s done.”

A few years ago, I had a chance to meet with Mr. Lessard and Gary Leaf, who were instrumental in getting the amendment passed in 2008. We had met so they could inform me of a legislator from Minneapolis and one from Duluth who were trying to divert a portion of the Habitat funds to parks and trails in order to improve a Minneapolis park. Parks and trails already have a piece of the pie so that effort was eventually thwarted. At that time, Leaf told me politicians will always be trying to manipulate these funds for their own agendas. Now looks as if he was right.

When the Lessard Heritage Council presented its recommendations to the legislature this session, the legislators chose to make changes that will drastically affect the acquisition of new public land. To further discourage land acquisition, there is a no-gain clause that states the DNR has to sell off the same amount of land that it acquires.

The state of Minnesota has a healthy tourism income, although the arts and culture of Minnesota are a big draw for tourism. It is our clean lakes, streams, parks and trails that generate most of the income. For the legislature to take more steps to discourage more public access to our resources is, in my opinion, not a very good way to promote tourism which is over a $14-billion-dollar boost to our state’s economy.

The Heritage bill is set up to be distributed to four different funds: 33 percent to the Clean Water fund, 33 percent to the Outdoor Heritage fund, 19.75 percent to Arts and Cultural Heritage fund and 14.25 percent to Parks and Trails.

As long as I am on a political rant, I have to say our legislature has not even addressed the matter of raising fishing, hunting, and state park fees in order to keep our state parks staffed and our lakes stocked. I don’t believe I could find many folks who hunt, fish or camp who would be opposed to a little bump in the fees in order to maintain the many resources we currently enjoy in our great state.

While up north a couple of weeks ago, I had a chance to hear DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr speaking on a talk radio station out of Duluth. The topic of license fees came up and he stated without increases, the state parks may have to close camping at some parks because of staffing. He also went on to say they would also have to cut back on stocking because of the lack of funding. These were not idle threats but facts he was stating. He also said he was disappointed the legislature hadn’t even taken the time to address the issue in this session.

On a lighter note, the panfish are biting in area lakes and with the water temperatures in the 50’s the crappies are, for the most part, in the shallows. A light jig with plastic and a bobber fished shallow should bring a few fish to the table.

Weather-wise, the northern part of the state has been dealing with snow and sleet, so I guess I’ll settle for a little rain and cool temperatures with some 60’s thrown in for a teaser.

Until next time, the fishing opener is looming on the horizon, so if you haven’t done so yet, there is still time to take inventory on the old tackle box. I usually count jig heads to see how many twisters of my favorite color(s) have survived the previous season.

Please take some time to honor those who have sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy today. Also take a little extra time to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, those who served and those troops who are serving today.