Hearings set on aquatic plant management fees

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - People who own property on Minnesota's more than 10,000 lakes are facing higher fees to take out permits to control aquatic plants along their shorelines.

Three public hearings on proposed changes are set for later this month: Feb. 23 in Fergus Falls, Feb. 24 in Little Falls and Feb. 25 in Plymouth.

The Legislature directed the Department of Natural Resources to recover the costs of its aquatic plant management permit program through fees.

The DNR proposes to increase permit fees for aquatic plant control adjacent to privately owned lake shore from the current $35 to $90. It also proposes a new $100 fee for businesses that remove aquatic plants.

Another revision would prohibit control of lotus flowers in public waters.

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