Subdivision 1. Transportation prohibited. Unless specifically authorized under a license or permit issued by the commissioner, a person may not transport aquatic macrophytes, except as provided in this section.
Subd. 2. Exceptions. Unless otherwise prohibited by law, a person may transport aquatic macrophytes:
(1) that are duckweeds in the family Lemnaceae;
(2) for purposes of constructing shooting or observation blinds in amounts sufficient for that purpose, provided that the aquatic macrophytes are emergent and cut above the waterline;
(3) when legally purchased or traded by or from commercial or hobbyist sources for aquarium, wetland or lakeshore restoration, or ornamental purposes;
(4) when harvested for personal or commercial use if in a motor vehicle;
(5) to the department, or another destination as the commissioner may direct, in a sealed container for purposes of identifying a species or reporting the presence of a species;
(6) that are wild rice harvested under section 84.091;
(7) in the form of fragments of emergent aquatic macrophytes incidentally transported in or on watercraft or decoys used for waterfowl hunting during the waterfowl season;
(8) when removing water-related equipment from waters of the state for purposes of cleaning off aquatic macrophytes before leaving a water-access site; or
(9) when being transported from riparian property to a legal disposal site that is at least 100 feet from any surface water, ditch, or seasonally flooded land, provided the aquatic macrophytes are in a covered commercial vehicle specifically designed and used for hauling trash.
History:1996 c 385 art 1 s 9; 1999 c 92 s 6; 2004 c 243 s 26; 2011 c 107 s 23; 2012 c 272 s 10; 2013 c 121 s 11; 2016 c 189 art 3 s 16