COUNTRY
WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016
Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township
VOL. 33 NO. 13 www.countrymessenger.com $.75
ZAVORAL SITE: Mine will close this fall, solar farm company agrees to maintain screening. PAGE 2
DNR will not stock muskellunge in Big Marine Gull and Fairmont chains will get muskie BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced Monday that it would release muskellunge this fall in the Gull Lake chain of lakes near Brainerd and the Fairmont chain of lakes in southern Minnesota, part of the agency’s effort to establish new muskie angling opportunities throughout the state. The public input process and local discussions prompted the DNR to decide not to stock Big Marine Lake, according to a news release from the agency. It will also withdraw its proposal to stock one of three candidate lakes – Franklin, Lizzie or Loon – in Otter Tail County. “We listened to and considered the more than 1,800 public com-
ments we received during the past two years,” said Don Pereira, chief of the DNR’s fisheries. “We want to thank everyone who helped guide this process.” Local groups including the Big Marine Lake Association, the Disabled Veterans Rest Camp, City of Scandia and Town of May
formally opposed the proposal. Area residents had also worked with state legislators to ban stocking at least temporarily, but the legislative session ended before the measure was put to a vote. Although Pereira called the decision a two-year process, locals did not find out about the plan to stock Big Marine Lake until late
last fall, when the DNR proposed several new waters for stocking and began asking for public input. According to Pereira, a majority of public responses supported diversifying fisheries in the Gull and Fairmont chains of lakes, a move he and others believe will
benefit the areas recreationally and economically. “Minnesota is the crown jewel for muskie fishing in the United States," said Al Lindner, a wellknown Minnesota fisherman who produces educational fishing programs. "Creating more places to catch muskie where SEE MUSKELLUNGE, PAGE 6
DNR unveils waterways impacted by new buffer law BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM
Earlier this month, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released a map of public waters and ditches that will require permanent vegetative buffers beginning next year. The map (see mndnr. gov/buffers) is part of a state plan initiated last year to protect and potentially improve water quality throughout Minnesota. Governor Mark Dayton championed the buffer legislation in 2015 and 2016, reasoning that the perennial buffers would help keep phosphorus, nitrogen and sediment out of lakes, rivers and other waterways. Backing his theory, studies by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency have shown that buffers protect and restore water quality and aquatic habitat. DNR Commissioner SEE BUFFER LAW, PAGE 2
The body of a Chisago City man was recovered from the river last Friday afternoon south of Rock Island.
Crews recover body lost in surging St. Croix BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
The body of Andrew Remley, a 26-year-old Chisago City man who fell in the St. Croix River July 15, was found last Friday afternoon, according to the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office. Search crews found Remley’s body shortly after 3 p.m. just south of Rock Island, which sits north of the Franconia landing. Remley had reportedly fallen from an angled rock while taking pictures with his girlfriend and two children in Taylors Falls the previous Friday evening. The river’s waters were unusually high and fast due to heavy rains and
Remley
flooding earlier that week in northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. An initial search the evening of July 15 was suspended after nightfall due to the dangerous waters. Searchers returned the next day, but called off the search around noon because of continued rough water.
County works to protect only source of drinking water
MN DNR
Although many local lakes and streams need 50-foot vegetative buffers under the state’s new law, few local landowners will be affected by the rule.
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Groundwater is the only source of water for drinking, cooking, doing laundry, and every other household task in Washington County. As such, the county works with state and local partners to assure a safe and stable source of groundwater. The County Board received a report July 12 on accomplishments regarding groundwater management for 2015, and management priorities for 2016. For many years, the county has provided leadership on groundwater issues, coordinated through the SEE GROUNDWATER PLAN, PAGE 2
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