Subdivision 1. Requirements. (a) The fee for a permit to operate an aeration system on public waters during periods of ice cover is $250. The commissioner may waive the fee for aeration systems that are assisting efforts to maintain angling opportunities through the prevention of winterkill. To be eligible for the fee waiver, the lake being aerated must have public access and aeration must be identified as a desirable management tool in a plan approved by the commissioner. Operation of the aeration system in a manner not consistent with the approved plan represents justification for rescinding the fee waiver. The fee may not be charged to the state or a federal governmental agency applying for a permit. The money received for permits under this subdivision must be deposited in the treasury and credited to the game and fish fund.
(b) A person operating an aeration system on public waters under a water aeration permit must comply with the sign posting requirements of this section and applicable rules of the commissioner.
Subd. 1a. General permits. The commissioner may issue a general permit to a governmental subdivision or to the general public to conduct one or more projects described in subdivision 1. A fee of $100 may be charged for each aeration system used under a general permit.
Subd. 2. Posting. (a) If an aeration system is used on the ice of public waters, signs must be posted by the water aeration permittee at a height of from four to six feet in a rectangular pattern at each corner of the open water, and additional signs between the corner signs so that a sign is posted at least every 100 feet.
(b) Additional signs must be posted by the permittee on the shoreline of the public waters at each public access point and other areas commonly used by the public for access to the lake.
(c) The signs must comply with the applicable rules of the commissioner.
Subd. 3. Publishing notice. Advance public notice of the commencement of any aeration system, authorized by a water aeration permit from the commissioner during periods of ice cover on public waters, must be given by the permittee. Minimum notice consists of publication of the location and date of commencement of the aeration system in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where the system is proposed to be operated at least two times between five and 60 days before aeration is started.
Subd. 4. Evidence. In an action for negligence arising out of the conduct of aeration operations authorized by a water aeration permit from the commissioner during periods of ice cover on public waters, evidence of compliance with the posting and publication requirements of this section and applicable rules and permit provisions of the commissioner are prima facie evidence of the exercise of due care by the permittee.
Subd. 5. Water aeration rules. The commissioner shall adopt rules relating to the issuance of permits for aeration, bubbler, water circulation, and similar systems used to increase dissolved oxygen or to maintain open water on the surface of public waters.
Subd. 6. [Repealed, 2006 c 281 art 1 s 24]
Subd. 7. Public waters without access. A person who receives a permit to operate an aeration system on a public water without a public access and who owns all of the riparian land or all of the possessory rights to the riparian land around that water is not subject to the provisions of subdivisions 2, paragraph (b), and 3.
1990 c 391 art 7 s 61; 1995 c 218 s 18; 2003 c 128 art 1 s 118; 2006 c 281 art 1 s 22; 2012 c 272 s 56
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapter 103G — Waters Of The State
Section 103G.001 — Citation; Water Law.
Section 103G.005 — Definitions.
Section 103G.101 — Water Conservation Program.
Section 103G.105 — Cooperation With Other Agencies.
Section 103G.111 — Representing State In Water Issues.
Section 103G.115 — Enjoining Water-flow Interference Outside State.
Section 103G.121 — Commissioner's Authority To Investigate And Construct Projects.
Section 103G.125 — Director's Authority.
Section 103G.127 — Permit Program Under Section 404 Of Federal Clean Water Act.
Section 103G.131 — Venue Of Certain Actions.
Section 103G.135 — Enforcing Commissioner's Orders.
Section 103G.145 — Application.
Section 103G.201 — Public Waters Inventory.
Section 103G.205 — Effect Of Public Waters Designation.
Section 103G.211 — Draining Public Waters Prohibited Without Replacement.
Section 103G.215 — Agricultural Use Of Public Waters During Drought.
Section 103G.217 — Driftless Area; Water Resources.
Section 103G.221 — Draining Public Waters Wetlands.
Section 103G.2212 — Contractor's Responsibility When Work Drains Or Fills Wetlands.
Section 103G.222 — Replacement Of Wetlands.
Section 103G.223 — Calcareous Fens.
Section 103G.2241 — Exemptions.
Section 103G.2242 — Wetland Value Replacement Plans.
Section 103G.2243 — Local Comprehensive Wetland Protection And Management Plans.
Section 103G.2244 — Wetland Creation Or Restoration Within Pipeline Easement.
Section 103G.225 — State Wetlands And Public Drainage Systems.
Section 103G.2251 — State Conservation Easements; Wetland Bank Credit.
Section 103G.231 — Property Owner's Use Of Public Waters Wetlands.
Section 103G.235 — Restrictions On Access To Wetlands.
Section 103G.2364 — Property Owner's Use Of Wetlands.
Section 103G.2365 — Controlling Noxious Weeds.
Section 103G.237 — Compensation For Loss Of Private Use.
Section 103G.2372 — Enforcement.
Section 103G.2374 — Electronic Transmission.
Section 103G.2375 — Assumption Of Section 404 Of Federal Clean Water Act.
Section 103G.241 — Contractor's Responsibility When Work Affects Public Waters.
Section 103G.245 — Work In Public Waters.
Section 103G.251 — Investigating Activities Affecting Waters Of The State.
Section 103G.255 — Allocating And Controlling Waters Of The State.
Section 103G.261 — Water Allocation Priorities.
Section 103G.265 — Water Supply; Management.
Section 103G.27 — Water Management Account.
Section 103G.271 — Appropriation And Use Of Waters.
Section 103G.275 — Installation For Water Use.
Section 103G.281 — Water Use Prohibited Without Measuring Quantities.
Section 103G.282 — Monitoring To Evaluate Impacts From Appropriations.
Section 103G.285 — Surface Water Appropriations.
Section 103G.287 — Groundwater Appropriations.
Section 103G.289 — Well Interference; Well Sealing.
Section 103G.291 — Public Water Supply Plans; Appropriation During Deficiency.
Section 103G.293 — Statewide Drought Plan.
Section 103G.297 — Diverting Or Draining Water For Mining.
Section 103G.298 — Landscape Irrigation Systems.
Section 103G.299 — Administrative Penalties.
Section 103G.301 — General Permit; Application Procedures.
Section 103G.305 — Time Limit To Act On Water-use Permit Application.
Section 103G.311 — Permit Hearing.
Section 103G.315 — Denying And Issuing Permits.
Section 103G.401 — Application To Establish Lake Levels.
Section 103G.405 — Water Level Control For Landlocked Lakes.
Section 103G.407 — Water Level Control For Public Waters With Outlet.
Section 103G.408 — Temporary Drawdown Of Public Waters.
Section 103G.411 — Stipulation Of Low-water Mark.
Section 103G.412 — Stream Gauge Data.
Section 103G.413 — Appeal Of Order Establishing Ordinary High-water Level.
Section 103G.415 — Big Stone Lake; Seasonal Water Level.
Section 103G.421 — Control Of Mississippi Headwater Lakes.
Section 103G.501 — Constructing Private Dams On Nonnavigable Waters.
Section 103G.505 — Dam Construction And Maintenance By State.
Section 103G.511 — Publicly Owned Dam Repair.
Section 103G.515 — Examining And Repairing Dams And Reservoirs.
Section 103G.521 — Transfer Of Authority Over State Dams.
Section 103G.525 — Limitations On Transferring Dam Ownership.
Section 103G.531 — Dam Permit Exceptions.
Section 103G.535 — Hydropower Generation.
Section 103G.541 — Municipal Dams On Red River Of The North.
Section 103G.545 — Dams And Water Level Control In Cook, Lake, And St. Louis Counties.
Section 103G.551 — Dams Used Only For Water Level Regulation.
Section 103G.555 — Statute Of Limitations For Actions Against Public Officials.
Section 103G.565 — Right To Overflow, Obstruct, Or Impair Highways Granted By Governing Body.
Section 103G.571 — Bank Repair On Property Where Overflow Rights Are Acquired.
Section 103G.575 — Grant Of Flowage Easements In Upper Red Lake Region.
Section 103G.601 — Ice-cutting Fences And Guards.
Section 103G.605 — Deicing Water Bodies.
Section 103G.611 — Water Aeration Safety.
Section 103G.615 — Permits To Harvest Or Destroy Aquatic Plants.
Section 103G.621 — County Weed And Algae Destruction And Removal.
Section 103G.625 — Municipal Control Of Aquatic Vegetation And Organisms.
Section 103G.651 — Removing Sunken Logs From Public Waters.
Section 103G.701 — Stream Maintenance Program.
Section 103G.711 — State's Ownership Of Bed Of Navigable River.
Section 103G.801 — Great Lakes -- St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact.