In This Issue
Safety is the first priority for anglers; ice remains
unsafe in much of the state
With Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend coming up Saturday, Jan. 13, through Monday, Jan. 15, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is advising anglers to put safety first when making plans.
?Ice is unsafe in much of the state, including in the metro area where there is still open water on some lakes,? said Benji Kohn, DNR volunteer mentor program coordinator. ?Other areas, especially in northern Minnesota, have more ice and some ice fishing opportunities there.?
During the three-day weekend Jan. 13-15, any Minnesota resident can go fishing for free if fishing with a child 15 years old or younger. Minnesotans 15 years old or younger don?t need fishing licenses any time of the year.
Additionally, the fishing season for stream trout in lakes outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness begins Jan. 13. This opener typically features anglers flocking to some metro areas lakes; however, these lakes do not have safe ice, with some still showing open water.
Opportunities for fun off the ice
Ice fishing isn?t the only way to enjoy the weekend. In addition to fishing, the Minnesota DNR is waiving vehicle permit fees at all 75 state parks and recreation areas on Jan. 15 during Free Park Day. With this year?s unusual weather, the DNR wants people to know there are many winter park activities that don?t require snow or ice, such as birding, winter hiking, nature photography, and having a campfire with hot chocolate and s?mores.
Ice safety guidelines
Ice is variable and people should be very cautious, including in northern Minnesota. Don?t rely on reports alone ? always check the ice.
If people are going out on the ice, check the ice and not just for thickness. White and rotten ice can be deceiving. If the ice is white, double the ice thickness guidelines. In most places, people should wait before taking out ATVs or other vehicles out on the ice. The ice is just not ready yet.
No ice can ever be considered ?safe ice,? but following these guidelines (mndnr.gov/icesafety) can help minimize the risk:
- Always wear a life jacket or float coat on the ice (except when in a vehicle).
- Carry ice picks, rope, an ice chisel and tape measure.
- Check ice thickness at regular intervals; conditions can change quickly.
- Bring a cell phone or personal locator beacon.
- Don?t go out alone; let someone know about trip plans and expected return time.
- Before heading out, inquire about conditions and known hazards with local experts.
- Parents and guardians should talk with their children about staying away from the ice unless there?s adult supervision. This includes lakes and rivers, as well as neighborhood ponds, retention ponds and anywhere ice forms.
Fishing information, including regulations, fishing basics and the popular DNR LakeFinder, is available on the Minnesota DNR fishing page (mndnr.gov/fishing).
###
Participants will receive high-quality data
on their woodlands at no cost
 Photo credit: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is inviting private woodland owners with two or more acres of forested property to participate in a new effort to help improve and advance forest inventory across Minnesota.
The DNR?s Resource Assessment Program is developing a more precise forest inventory ?? information on the type, number, and size of trees in forests that can provide insight to the health of forests and how they?re changing. This is developed by pairing lidar (light detection and ranging) data collected aerially with on-the-ground information gathered by professional foresters via a process known as Plot Based Inventory (PBI). Thousands of PBI plots are needed to verify the lidar data and develop statewide forest inventory models.
Until now, PBI has been conducted primarily on public lands, but nearly half of Minnesota?s forested lands are privately owned. Expanding PBI to private woodlands will provide valuable information to increase the accuracy of forest inventory models statewide.
Private woodland owners who participate in the PBI effort will work with a professional forester and receive high-quality forest inventory data of their woodlands at no cost. Following data collection, landowners will receive an initial report with information about the inventory data collected. A more comprehensive follow-up report will be sent after the project is completed at the end of 2025.
The forest inventory information can be used to:
- Learn about fire fuel loads and how to reduce wildfire risk.
- Improve forest management relating to harvest planning, wildlife habitat, tree planting or trail development.
- Create forest stewardship plans to sustain healthy, resilient and beautiful forests for generations to come.
Interested landowners can visit the DNR website (mndnr.gov/forestry/forest-inventory.html) to learn more and sign up to participate in the PBI effort. Participants will be contacted by a project team member to confirm details about their woodland and discuss next steps.
This project is funded in part by the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.
###
Note from DNR: Getting these releases on Sunday?
If you are receiving these news releases on Sunday, you have signed up for our weekly digest option. If you want to change your preference to receive these releases as they're sent:
- At the bottom of the email message, select "Manage Preferences."
- Enter your email address and select "submit." You will be shown a page with three tabs.
- Select the "preferences" tab.
- If you signed up to receive messages weekly, the bottom choice will be selected. To receive the bulletins the same day they're sent, choose to the top or middle radio button.
- Select "submit" to update your preferences.
|
? 
? 
? 
? 
