We are looking ahead to the next state legislative session and preparing our policy platform. Preventing Fish Kills will continue to be one overarching goal of MNTU as we consider specific hurdles to our work conserving, protecting, restoring, and sustaining Minnesota’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.Some issues we know will...
Legislative session was more a game of defense, rather than much momentum forward this year. In general we held the line on our priority issues and were happy that so many of you showed up to attend rallies and hearings, and in submitting letters of concern to your elected officials....
MNTU has a long history of developing awareness of, and urging action to reduce, nitrate contamination, especially where contamination impacts Minnesota’s trout streams (see timeline). Regulating nitrates in Minnesota, especially southeast Minnesota, is critical to protect the region’s coldwater fisheries, including brook, brown, and rainbow trout. These...
April 8, 2025 Keeping up with all of the important opportunities to advocate for protection of coldwater fisheries is nearly impossible right now with attacks on our natural resources coming at all levels of government. It’s important to continue speaking up against legislation that will impact what you hold dear, as...
If you’ve spent any time fishing the cold, clear streams of the Driftless Region, you know that matching the hatch is often the key to success. Hundreds of fly patterns exist to mimic the many species of mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies that emerge throughout the season. But in recent years,...
March 11, 2025 Bills are being introduced at the Minnesota legislature at a rapid pace now and we are following a number of them as they connect with our priority issues. Make sure you are signed up for our action alerts if you want to be alerted about opportunities to advocate...
Streams in the Driftless region in of Minnesota are most vulnerable to the impacts of agricultural runoff, including poor manure management techniques, and will benefit greatly from some of the provisions passed in the legislature this session.
Minnesota Trout Unlimited 4-30-2023 The Minnesota Senate passed a bill including a requirement that state agencies identify the statutes and rules that should be changed to prevent fish kills in Southeast MN. This provision was rolled into the large Environment Omnibus bill HF2310. However, the House version of the bill does not contain...
Minnesota Trout Unlimited 2-16-2023 After nearly 7 months, the state agencies investigating the Rush Creek fish kill today suggested that rainfall is likely to blame for killing over 2,500 fish. Nonsense. It rains regularly across the state and our rivers are not constantly filled with dead fish. Human actions in...
January 2023 Public Access – Permanent DNR easements along streams ensure fishing access, the ability to restore habitat, and protection of riparian corridors. Loss of “informal” access is accelerating. Substantially increased funding is needed now to seize generational opportunities before lands are sold and subdivided, or posted. Better signage and policy...
