Protection of coldwater fisheries is our core mission and this means protection of the water, watersheds and aquifers upon which trout, steelhead and salmon depend for survival. Public policy decisions, especially those ultimately made at the Capitol can have huge consequences for the health and long term viability of Minnesota’s coldwater fisheries. Ensuring clean, cold water is central to fisheries protection. Educating decision makers and advocating for sound management of natural systems is thus a vital part of what Trout Unlimited members do.
2024 ADVOCACY UPDATES
As we enter Minnesota’s legislative session, we are closely following a number of priority issues. The recent legislative report, Preventing Fish Kills in Minnesota’s Driftless Region, as well as the workplan Addressing Nitrate in Southeast Minnesota both released by state agencies have presented an opportunity to work with partners to challenge and push for more ambitious action from all branches of government, including our state agencies.
In January 2024, MNTU staff identified the following issues based on MNTU member input, mission alignment, and opportunities to make significant impacts, as well as support partner-led campaigns.
- Preventing Fish Kills is at the center of our advocacy work and is addressed in part by the issues included below.
- Feedlot impacts and nitrate contamination must be curbed through effective manure management including timing of use, and storage practices.
- Agricultural runoff to streams and aquifers, including pesticides, especially neonicotinoids, and fungicides, have dire impacts on the entire food chain including insects and trout.
- Public Access to trout streams must be preserved and expanded.
You can support the protection of coldwater fisheries and prevent fish kills!
We are supporting the following provisions in the Environment Omnibus addressing neonics, feedlot and manure management, public waters, and agricultural runoff. The House and Senate versions of the Environment Omnibus bill differ, and many good provisions are in one version only. A Conference Committee will soon meet to decide which of these provisions remain in the final bill.
- Providing $2 million in funding for Manure Management grants to small farms – those with fewer than 1,000 animal units – to better protect streams and groundwater. This gives small farmers tools to prevent fish kills through proper applications of manure. (Senate provision)
- Requiring a mandatory environmental impact statement for the largest feedlots – those proposing operations with more than 10,000 animal units. Manure being washed off the land by rainfall has been identified as the likely causes of the major fish kills on the Whitewater River, Garvin Brook, and Rush Creek. Assessing the potential impact of very large feedlot operations is critical to preventing more fish killings. (House provision)
- Requiring state agencies to report nitrogen fertilizer use and develop reduction strategies. Agencies must decrease nitrogen usage by 25% from the initial reported total. Nitrogen fertilizer reporting and reduction goals are critical to taking steps to reduce the widespread nitrate contamination in southeast MN. (House provision)
- Prohibiting the sale of seeds treated with neonicotinoid pesticides for non-agricultural uses. Neonicotinoids are likely the most ecologically harmful pesticide since DDT and decimate aquatic ecosystems. Lawn and garden uses contaminate urban and suburban areas but are unnecessary or easily replaceable. (House provision)
- Clarifying that the existing statutory definition of public waters controls, rather than error prone maps from the 1970s and 1980s. Preserving both our fishing culture and fishing economy requires protecting all public waters. (House provision)
Follow the steps here to develop your letter of action for the 2024 Environment Omnibus.
General Letter Writing Tips
- Find out who represents you at https://www.gis.lcc.mn.gov/iMaps/districts/
- If you need a head start, use this template to develop your letter
- If you receive a response, follow up with a thank you!
- Let us know how it goes at action@mntu.org
Write an opinion piece and submit it to your local paper.
Contact us if you’re interested. We can help you develop your story and get it submitted.
Contact: action@mntu.org
We will also support important partner-led issues including preventing sulfide mining impacts and ensuring proper management of Aquatic Management Areas that protects and sustains aquatic resources.
Sign up now to receive our regular action alerts so you can get involved in protecting coldwater fisheries!
Read more about some of the resource threats that Minnesota Trout Unlimited has worked on over the years: