What are they thinking?

[adloos]

I am just amazed at some of the rules they want to pass. I think they are going a little over board on this who thing. Pretty soon we wont even be able to enjoy the river at all with all the rules.
What they need to worry about is the barges how they are filling in the river. What does everyone else think?

[Haywood04]

If there problem is with erosion the biggest culprit are the 25 plus foot tubs that create a 4 foot swell every where. The barges will be there, but there wake is usually minimal.
The tubs are a pain, but I don't have a solution. They have a right to be there too.
My biggest worry is that the DNR will restrict so many areas to electric motors only that we will not be able to fish much of the river.
Can you imagine trying a trolling motor with higher water? That’s not happening!

[Dave Cindrich]

A couple of meetings in Wabasha and Winonia areas.
Meeting times are:

Jan.23 2006 Winona MN. St. Marys University,Toner Student Center, Hall of fame room 700 Terrace Room
and
Jan.24 2006 Wabashia MN. Kellog High School, 2133 E Hiawatha

[dand]

Anyone know where to find what all recommended changes are?
I heard they want only electric motors on back waters?
Are they trying to get back to nature?
Feast and Faminn???

[apollo]

The changes are going to be crazy. There is no since is taking the river away from a huge majority of us. I don't see my self going on the backwaters with a trolling motor. This whole thing is driven by Money. We all know that the huge barges cause way more damage then our fishing boats could ever cause.
It's another thing that will be taken away from the common man. Just like hunting is being taken away from the common person. years ago farmers use to be more then happy to let people hunt deer now there getting 6000 a hunt and there more then happy to quit farming and take care of deer.

[adloos]

Great point Apollo. These rules with trolling motor only and also the rules for sandbars, its just ridiculous. And your right, the barges cause most of the problems. Its during the winter the river is always cleaner, yes its because of waves on the shore, but its also coming from the barges kicking up stuff from the bottom, because they are sitting so deep. :rolleyes:

[Dave Cindrich]

Here is a link to the proposals, you will need to nav. different links to proposals.
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/uppermiss/index.html

[Kris Brantner]

Go To A Meeting And Vote No Action!!!

[Dave Cindrich]

Here is an article from La Crosse Tribune
Published - Thursday, January 05, 2006

Refuge plan draws fire

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By ANNE JUNGEN | La Crosse Tribune

.
ONALASKA, Wis. — Tim Morgan of Stoddard, Wis., declared the plan the “beginning of the end of the most precious, unique thing in the world.”

Ken Visgor of La Crescent, Minn., said he thinks the plan makes “perfect sense” and adapts to the needs of a changing resource.

More than 170 people filled the Stoney Creek Inn conference room Wednesday for a public forum on the draft comprehensive conservation plan for managing the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.

The preferred plan, known as Alternative E, was released Dec. 5 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for 60 days of public review. The FWS on Tuesday extended the comment period by 30 days, to March 6.

Alternative E has many of the same elements as previous proposals: growth of FWS staff and services, more river access for nonmotorized recreation, land acquisition and the creation of “closed areas” in sensitive waterfowl feeding and resting sites on the river.

But it was thought to have shed many of the more contentious issues in previous versions of the plan, such as the proposal to limit waterfowl hunters to 25 shot shells a day and require 100-yard spacing between hunting parties, launch fees at boat ramps and a fee-based hunt at the Gibbs Lake area of Lake Onalaska.

Most of those at Wednesday’s forum, which appeared heavily made up of hunters and outdoor users, still found a lot they didn’t like about the plan.

The panel of three FWS employees was forced to silently listen rather than discuss as audience members vented their frustration.

Members of the crowd criticized the proposed plan as overly restricting use of motorized watercrafts, closing off too much usable hunting land and limiting areas where dogs can be run.

They also faulted the plan for not going far enough to counter river sedimentation, water quality and pollution and the exotic species that have made their way to the upper Mississippi.

Bert Knutson, a Onalaska sportsman, said he attended the meeting because it pertains directly to what he enjoys.

“(Alternative E) doesn’t address the problems the refuge has, like erosion control and invasive species,” he said.

Morgan also noted the alternative has pitted outdoors groups against one another.

One woman demanded the public comment period be extended another 30 days.

Ed Heberlein of La Crescent, Minn., was strongly against the restricted boat zones. “It’s ridiculous, and I don’t see how they can enforce that,” Heberlein said. “There’s no way they’re going to stop me, not unless they crash their boat into the side of mine.”

Under the plan, eight areas in the refuge would change to slow, no-wake designation from March 16 to Oct. 31, and all airboats and hovercraft use would be prohibited during the same period.

David Mikrut of La Crosse said Alternative E needed only some tweaking and was “getting close, but not there yet.“

When completed, the comprehensive plan will guide management and administration of the refuge for the next 15 years. Federal law requires comprehensive plans for all national wildlife refuges.

Refuge Manager Don Hultman said public comments “matter quite a bit” and will be heavily considered.

“People don’t like restrictions,” he said. “Many people think (Alternative E) is against fishing, hunting and trapping, and I don’t think that’s the case. It’s really about balancing the needs of all the people who use the river and refuge.”

Anne Jungen can be reached at (608) 791-8224 or ajungen@lacrossetribune.com.
.

[Dave Cindrich]

Here is a link to Alt.E proposal http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/uppermiss/AlternativeE.pdf

[Dave Cindrich]

Go To A Meeting And Vote No Action!!!
Fishermanpepin, one thing to remember we don't get to vote! The Feds. are going to come up with own plan and by Fedral law must have meetings and a comment period. You may get a hold the powers that BE and give them your opinon of what you support and remind them you are a taxpayer and a usier of the refuge. It is Fedral law that a one of the plans will go into effect! I really dout the feds will go with no action. I wish this effort would be towards where it can help the most and they would work with big buiseness to come up with soulitions, that could have a real effect not picking on some of the smallest usier of the river. Please attend meetings.