Aug. 28, 2025



header


*Minnesota DNR News
*




*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
*

Aug. 28, 2025




*For more information:*

Contact the DNR Information Center

by email  <[email protected]>or call 888-646-6367.





In This Issue

* As Labor Day weekend approaches, Minnesota DNR reminds off-highway vehicle riders to stay safe [ #link_1491411839600 ]
* Minnesota DNR invites deer hunters to share wildlife observations [ #link_1491411977526 ]
* Stream restoration project completed on Seven Mile Creek in Nicollet County [ #link_1491412003165 ]
* Minnesota DNR proposes to increase yellow bass limit on Fairmont chain of lakes [ #link_1491412051810 ]

________________________________________________________________________



As Labor Day weekend approaches, Minnesota DNR reminds off-highway vehicle riders to stay safe

Labor Day is one of the busiest weekends for recreation, and off-highway vehicles will be one popular option for people looking to enjoy the outdoors in the waning days of summer.

As riders head out, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources urges them to prioritize their safety. So far in 2025, 16 OHV riders have been killed in crashes. During 2024, 30 riders lost their lives – a historic high.

The following tips can help riders ensure a safe ride:


* *Wear a helmet.* Wearing a helmet, along with other safety gear, reduces the risk of serious injury in the event of an accident. Riders under the age of 18 are required to wear a Department of Transportation-approved helmet while riding an OHV, and it’s strongly recommended for all riders.
* *Buckle up. *A new law that went into effect on July 1, 2025, requires seatbelts to be worn by all occupants of Class 2 ATVs that are manufactured with a seatbelt when the ATV is on public roadways or rights-of way. The DNR urges all OHV riders to wear a seatbelt if their machine is so equipped.
* *Drive sober.* Driving an OHV under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not only dangerous, but also a crime. Anyone convicted of operating under the influence —whether they’re operating a recreational vehicle, boat or motor vehicle —loses their privilege to operate any of them.
* *Stay on designated trails.* Riding OHVs on non-designated trails can be dangerous for riders. Designated OHV trail maps [ [link removed] ] are available on the DNR website (mndnr.gov/ohv/az.html).
* *Complete safety training.* Safety training is required for all ATV operators born on or after July 1, 1987, and off-highway motorcycle operators under the age of 16. Off-road safety training is available to anyone 16 years of age or older. Even if it’s not required, the DNR recommends all off-highway vehicle riders complete safety training. Safety training materials can be found on the recreational vehicle safety training [ [link removed] ] page of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/safety/vehicle).
* *Ride together.* Riding together supports rider safety. Having people nearby to help if things go wrong can be critical in situations where minutes matter. If people must ride alone, they should make sure someone knows where they’re going and when they plan to return.
* *Ride to the operator’s abilities.* If a trail appears to be too challenging, turn around. It’s also important to ride to the conditions and at a safe speed (which may be less than the posted limit).
* *Monitor young riders. *Whenever young people are operating or riding ATVs, parents or guardians should actively supervise them.

For more OHV safety tips, visit the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/ohv/atv-safety.html).

###

________________________________________________________________________



Minnesota DNR invites deer hunters to share wildlife observations

Community science helps broaden understanding of deer and other Minnesota animals
Two deer bounding across a road amid a forest

With archery deer season just around the corner on Saturday, Sept. 13, now is an ideal time for hunters to familiarize themselves with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ online log for deer and other wildlife sightings.

“We will again welcome hunters to use our online hunter field log to share what wildlife they see once the season begins,” said Tyler Obermoller, DNR research scientist. “Deer hunters definitely give us valuable information about deer and other wildlife species through this community science approach.”

This is the fifth year of this community science approach. The Minnesota DNR uses the information to supplement its model-generated population estimates, which are an important tool for managing wildlife.

Using a mobile device or desktop computer, deer hunters can enter information about wildlife they see while in the field on the Minnesota DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/mammals/deer/management/deer-hunter-field-log.html), including deer, turkey, bear, fisher and other species.

Hunters are encouraged to fill out a hunter field log after each hunt, even if they don’t see any deer that day. Filling out the log, even if no deer are observed, allows for an accurate estimate of the number of deer observed per hour of field observations, which provides a useful comparison to deer density modeling results. The log will remain open through the end of 2025.

More information on the hunter field log is available on the Minnesota DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/mammals/deer/management/deer-hunter-field-log.html).

###

________________________________________________________________________



Stream restoration project completed on Seven Mile Creek in Nicollet County

The Minnesota DNR collaborated with local SWCD, property owners to replace a low-head dam with rock arch rapids to improve fish passage, water quality
A before and after comparison of the stream restoration to a rock arch rapids

A nine-year collaborative conservation effort by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Nicollet County Soil and Water Conservation District and local property owners is now complete.

Using $490,000 in grant funds via Minnesota’s Outdoor Heritage Fund, the DNR and the SWCD collaborated to replace a failing low-head dam with rock arch rapids on Seven Mile Creek between St. Peter and Nicollet. The project was fully supported by the property owners, Steve and Betsy Bolint.

Stream restoration projects are typically designed to improve fish passage, water quality, and habitat in the immediate area and beyond.

"Low-head dams like the one on Seven Mile Creek were frequently built in the 1950s to prevent common carp from reaching upstream wetlands and lakes," DNR Clean Water Legacy Specialist Jon Lore said. "However, we've since found this type of dam blocks native species, allowing carp to thrive upstream. These dams also pose safety risks, require maintenance, and are increasingly prone to washouts due to more frequent and intense flooding."

Rock arch rapids consist of a series of large boulders arranged to mimic natural rapids, effectively replacing traditional dams with more natural stream conditions, while also managing the gradient and energy of the stream.

DNR watershed specialists proposed adding the dam to the statewide dam removal list in 2016. Grant funding for the project was secured by the DNR in 2021 and administered by the Nicollet County SWCD. The project was substantially completed in fall 2024, with final work in summer 2025.

“We had exceptional cooperation with the landowner, and everything we did with the DNR was great,” Nicollet County SWCD Manager Kevin Ostermann said. “Everyone worked together to get the job completed.”

“It’s better for the creek and better for the wildlife,” property co-owner Steve Bolint said. “It’s beautiful. We’re very pleased.”

Partial funding for this project was provided by the Outdoor Heritage Fund, created after Minnesota voters approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in November 2008. The fund may only be spent to restore, protect and enhance wetlands, prairies, forest and habitat for game fish and wildlife.

More information on DNR stream restoration work is available on the DNR River Ecology Unit [ [link removed] ] webpage (mndnr.gov/eco/streamhab).

###

________________________________________________________________________



Minnesota DNR proposes to increase yellow bass limit on Fairmont chain of lakes
A yellow bass held in someone's hand with a frozen lake in the background

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is proposing to increase the daily limit for yellow bass in the Fairmont chain of lakes (Amber, Hall, Budd, Sisseton and George) in Martin County, as well as in Lake Imogene in Martin County and Clear Lake in Jackson County.

The proposed special regulation would increase the daily possession limit on yellow bass from 30 to 100.

“While yellow bass is a native species in the Mississippi River, it is not native in southern Minnesota lakes but now makes up a significant portion of the fish in the Fairmont chain of lakes,” said Ryan Doorenbos, Windom area fisheries supervisor. “In our fisheries surveys, the abundance of yellow bass in the Fairmount chain of lakes increased from zero in 2013 to nearly 300 per net in just four years, dominating the overall fish community, with abundance continuing to increase.”

The DNR placed a 30-fish limit on the species ahead of the 2025 fishing season to align with a statewide goal to remove unlimited harvests for species. However, as staff in the area communicated to local anglers, there was the expectation that a special regulation specific to the area could be pursued to potentially increase that limit on the Fairmont chain.

“We believe the proposed 100-fish special regulation is a logical and well-supported step that aligns with both biological management objectives and social expectations for Fairmont area lakes,” said Craig Soupir, DNR southern region fisheries manager.

A public input meeting about the proposal will be held 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10 at Fairmont Public Library, 110 N. Park St. in Fairmont. DNR staff will give a short presentation summarizing the status of fish populations in the proposed lakes, and attendees will be able to offer comments.

For those unable to attend in person, an online option for the Sept. 10 meeting will be available on the Windom area fisheries page [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/areas/fisheries/windom/index.html).

People may also provide comment by contacting Ryan Doorenbos, area fisheries supervisor, by calling 507-832-6013, emailing [email protected], or mailing 175 County Rd. 26, Windom, MN 56101.

###





________________________________________________________________________

minnesota department of natural resources [ [link removed] ]

*Minnesota Department of Natural Resources  |  mndnr.gov [ [link removed] ] *

Email us: [email protected]  |  Call 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367

Follow us on Facebook [ [link removed] ]   Follow us on Twitter [ [link removed] ]   Follow us on Instagram [ [link removed] ]   Find us on LinkedIn [ [link removed] ]   Follow us on YouTube [ [link removed] ]

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:

Manage Preferences [ [link removed] ] | Unsubscribe [ [link removed] ] | Help [ [link removed] ]  |  Sign-up for DNR e-mail lists [ [link removed] ]


________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]
body .abe-column-block { min-height: 5px; } table.gd_combo_table img {margin-left:10px; margin-right:10px;} table.gd_combo_table div.govd_image_display img, table.gd_combo_table td.gd_combo_image_cell img {margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px;}