Last week Senate Democrats brought forward an Environment bill that fails to address important issues that have gone unaddressed for far too long. Discussions around wolves, water, and walleye have been ongoing for years. Unfortunately, the bill we voted on does nothing to address them.

One issue I’ve repeatedly heard about is the exploding wolf population. Many folks in my area have reported seeing more and more wolves, and far less deer than usual. Because of this, a lot of people are asking us to consider a wolf hunt as a way to manage numbers. Because wolves were once nearly eradicated, they were protected under the Endangered Species Act in 1970. But numbers recovered. By the mid-70s, there were between 1,000-2,000 wolves in Minnesota. A report by The Wolf Center on wolf population expansion noted the Minnesota wolf population grew to around 2,400 in the late-90s, putting numbers close to double the federal government’s goal for delisting. According to the DNR, the wolf population should double every 15 years. Well we are 25 years out from the 1998 numbers, when 2,500 wolves were estimated to exist in Minnesota, yet the DNR continually estimates the wolf population to be lower than it was in 1998. The Minnesota wolf population has been conserved and sustained, but now numbers are exploding to unmanageable numbers. Allowing this situation to go unchecked is putting livestock, pets, and small children at risk. The science supports a hunt, and we need to address this problem before it gets even more out of hand.

This bill also changes the definition of a “water course.” Previously there were 8 different classifications, and regulations would be based on where the water was, what size it was, etc. Now, since this bill creates only one definition, every water regulation will apply to every waterway. That’s an alarming overstep. The bill also takes away citizens’ oversight committees and replaces them with a 15-member board appointed by the commissioner – just another way for the government to circumvent citizens by using unelected bureaucrats for decision-making.

Walleye issues were also left out of this bill. There’s currently a six-fish limit on walleye, and that has been in place since 1966, but there have been recent efforts to further lower that limit. The DNR has been responsible for raising walleye in ponds and management areas throughout the state, but recent advancements have shown that the same task can be accomplished in a cheaper way if the state extends walleye farming to private management. Fishing is a huge tourism draw for Minnesota, and we can grow that industry. If we change the way our state raises and stocks walleye, it would be a win-win-win: it would increase walleye numbers, create better fishing conditions, and would take the issue off the DNR’s plate.

This Environment policy bill fails to address some of the most pressing concerns that folks have. We need to start tackling these issues, and Democrats need to start listening to the people.