|
|
|
|
Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2001 16:15:04 -0500 From: "Ron Payer" <ron.payer@dnr.state.mn.us> To: <fishes@brainerd.net> Cc: <dale@dalewalz.com>, "Allen Garber" <allen.garber@dnr.state.mn.us>, "Brad Moore" <brad.moore@dnr.state.mn.us>, <steve.morse@dnr.state.mn.us>,<sen.don.samuelson@senate.leg.state.mn.us> Subject: Re: DNR harassment Mr. Reynolds, I am aware of the decision to deny a permit to stock orange spotted sunfish, a non-indigenous species, in some of your ponds. The decision was neither arbitrary nor capricious, but based on a site inspection of the ponds and reasonable concern for the escapement of a non-indigenous species into the watershed. It is my understanding that you have been approved to stock 118 non-indigenous species, including orange spotted sunfish, into a number of other ponds, and that the denial is not, as you reference, for ponds for which you had previously been approved. Orange spotted sunfish are still approved for those original ponds. Your most recent request was very broad, essentially requesting a permit to stock all non-indigenous species into all of your ponds. Before we issue any permit for non-indigenous species, we request information on the specific ponds into which they are anticipated being stocked. The reason for the denial has been outlined in other correspondence, but is based on the concern of escapement from the ponds into an adjacent flowage and then unimpeded into the Mississippi River and ultimately the entire watershed. Your allegations that the Regional Fisheries Manager solicited money from you for a retirement party and any remote hint that there was any connection to pond licensing are totally unfounded, as are your continued allegations of ethical misconduct. You were appraised of the department's review of the ethical allegations and that there was no substantiation of your accusations. There is absolutely no correlation between your charges and any subsequent action by the department. We will continue to do our best job to manage our natural resources to provide for outdoor recreation opportunities and commercial uses of those resources in a sustainable fashion. Ronald D. Payer, Director Division of Fisheries MN DNR 500 Lafayette Road St. Paul, MN 55155-4012 Phone: (651) 297-4098 Fax: (651) 297-4916
|