RLIA Monthly Meeting Minutes – 2020-10 - Rush Lake Improvement Association

RLIA Monthly Meeting Minutes – 2020-10

Post author:rliawebmaster
Post published:December 4, 2020
Post category:Meetings

2020-10-17-RLIA-Minutes

2 days ago

New education requirements in effect July 1 for some boaters in Minnesota:The requirements aim to make boating even safer. . .Beginning July 1, 2025, more people who operate motorboats or personal watercrafts on Minnesota waters must obtain a valid watercraft operator’s permit. The updated requirements, passed into law during 2023, are intended to make boating safer by ensuring people operating motorized watercraft know the rules and are properly trained.Initially, the law applies to:People who were born after June 30, 2004, and are aged 12 or older.Anyone who wishes to serve as an “accompanying operator” for people without a valid watercraft operator’s permit, or for people under the age of 12 and not eligible to obtain a permit.Individuals who wish to rent/operate motorized rental watercraft.People who already possess a valid watercraft operator’s permit from Minnesota or another state do not need to obtain a new permit to meet these requirements. The requirements will incrementally include more people over time. When the law is fully implemented on July 1, 2028, all motorized watercraft operators born after June 30, 1987, will be required to have a valid watercraft operator’s permit. Boaters born before July 1, 1987, generally are not required to obtain a watercraft operator’s permit.Instances in which people born before July 1, 1987, need a watercraft operator’s permit include:If they’re an “accompanying operator” and allow youth or person without a watercraft operator’s permit to operate a motorboat. Accompanying operators must be 21 years of age or older; in the boat or on the personal watercraft; within immediate reach of the motor controls; and possess a valid operator’s permit or be an “exempt operator” (possess a valid U.S. Coast Guard license for maritime personnel, for example).If they’re renting a motorized watercraft. Renters must be 18 years of age or older and possess a valid watercraft operator’s permit.“Minnesota has a long and proud tradition of safe outdoor recreation, and a key part of that is safety education,” said Capt. Adam Block, DNR boating law administrator. “While this new law won’t initially apply to many boat operators, we still encourage all boaters – regardless of their age – to obtain their watercraft operator’s permit.”More information, including a link to complete the watercraft operator’s permit course, is at ... See MoreSee Less

New Boater Education Law

mndnr.gov

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources provides links to boating and water safety information, such as the Minnesota Boating Guide, which summarizes the state's boat laws and regulations.

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RUSH LAKE Improvement Association

2 weeks ago

Minnesota DNR webinar series offers ways to learn about the outdoors this summer: Registration open for new sessions of the Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series.Webinars on walleye genetics, buckthorn management, and fish dubbed “living fossils” like gar and paddlefish will be among the outdoors topics covered in the summer series of the Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.“Our outdoors skills webinars are a great way for people to broaden their interest in, and knowledge of, the outdoors,” said Benji Kohn, volunteer mentor program coordinator. “In Minnesota, there are tons of ways to enjoy fish and wildlife and public lands and waters. Our webinars can help people gain more knowledge and appreciation for what’s out there, and that can lead to being a better steward of our natural resources and trying something new.”New webinars this summer focus on topics that will appeal to people interested in nature, including anglers and hunters. The live webinars are at noon on Wednesdays and last an hour or less.Summer topics:June 18: Aquatic invasive species and watercraft inspectionsJune 25: Mitigating human-wildlife conflictsJuly 23: Buckthorn managementJuly 30: Walleye genetics and survivalAug. 6: Spruce budwormAug. 13: Gar and paddlefish in today’s worldAug. 20: Early teal seasonAug. 27: Why we manage chronic wasting diseaseAll webinars are live-captioned and free of cost (pre-registration is required). Recorded webinars are posted for those who can’t attend the live event. Episode descriptions, registration information and a robust webinar archive are available on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/discover).For other education and learning opportunities from the Minnesota DNR, including about boat and water safety, hunter education, firearms safety, natural resources education, recreational vehicle safety, visit the Minnesota DNR education and safety training page (mndnr.gov/education-safety). For information about the Minnesota DNR I Can! Program that includes programs on camping, paddling, mountain biking, fishing and archery, visit the Minnesota DNR I Can! page (mndnr.gov/ican).### ... See MoreSee Less

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RUSH LAKE Improvement Association

2 weeks ago

As recreational boating season kicks off, a reminder to make safety the top priority:Anglers have been common sights on waterways across Minnesota, but lakes and rivers are about to become much busier with the arrival of Memorial Day weekend. The long weekend represents the traditional start of the recreational boating season, when other water recreation enthusiasts join the anglers and paddlers who’ve been on the water since ice-out.“Everyone who uses the water has a role in keeping Minnesota’s lakes and rivers safe,” said Conservation Officer Matt Miller, who’s stationed in Duluth as part of the Department of Natural Resources Enforcement Division’s marine unit.“Water is synonymous with Minnesota, and it’s great that summer means spending time on the lake for so many people,” Miller said. “We just want to make sure everyone who’s out there prioritizes safety – for themselves and everyone else. Our goal is to ensure everyone who heads to the water comes back with nothing but positive memories and a desire to get out there again.”The following are safety tips for all boaters to keep in mind to ensure a fun, memorable, safe and successful boating season:Wear a life jacket, don’t just bring it. The law requires children under 10 to wear a life jacket when the boat is underway, but wearing one is the best way for people of all ages to survive an accidental fall into the water.Leave alcohol on shore. Operating a boat under the influence is illegal and the single greatest factor in fatal boating accidents.Check safety equipment. Ensure life jackets are in good condition and fit the wearer. On motorboats, ensure carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, navigation lights, and sound-producing devices are in good condition. Wear the engine cut-off lanyard anytime the boat is underway.Own your wake. Large wakes can negatively affect the shoreline and be hazardous to other people recreating on the water.Take a boater education course. New requirements mean all boaters must complete the course. See the DNR website for more information. Through Memorial Day weekend, anyone who signs up to take the online Boater’s Safety Exam will receive $5 off the cost by using the code 25MNBoatSafe.Additional information Video, photos and sound bites will be available after 3 p.m. on May 22 in the DNR media room.### ... See MoreSee Less

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RUSH LAKE Improvement Association

3 weeks ago

RCFD/RLIA Golf Tournament – Saturday, Sept 13th ... See MoreSee Less

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RUSH LAKE Improvement Association

4 weeks ago

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites people interested in wildlife and outdoor skills to check out the spring program schedule for the Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship webinar series.On Wednesday, 05/28/2025 Otters in MinnesotaEpisode: 214Join NPS Ranger Stephen Walker of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, to learn about river otters and their unique habitat in the floodplain forest. Is flooding good or bad for otters? What are some adaptations these elusive creatures have? And what makes their fur so soft? All these questions and more will be answered, through the lens of their relationship with the Mighty Mississippi River.The Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series webinars are free and offered year-round, though registration is required. Visit the Outdoor Skills and Stewardship webpage of the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/discover) for the registration portal, more information about upcoming webinars and recordings of past webinars. ... See MoreSee Less

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