The Keep It Clean Coalition is hard at work.  Not only is the organization growing, as it now represents more than 50 areas and over 1,200 lakes, it has also introduced a couple of new bills at the MN State Legislature.

As you may know, the “Keep it Clean 2.0” bills, authored by Representative Andrew Myers and Senator Aric Putnam, have been referred to respective committees in the House and the Senate for further consideration.

The Keep it Clean Coalition began addressing the growing problem of garbage and waste on ice of state waters due to winter angling and recreation over twelve years ago. We have worked hard since then to educate and to bring awareness to the problem of human leftovers in our frozen waters, but it is not enough.

The bill is garnering bi-partisan support, and would require agencies like the DNR and the Pollution Control Agency to add a state-wide KEEP IT CLEAN program to their portfolios.

Our coalition recognizes that users will have to bear the increased cost of managing and enjoying winter fishing and recreation. The bill requires a $10 surcharge on ice shelters, deposited in a KEEP IT CLEAN Account to cover administrative costs and establish a grant program for locally led efforts.

1. House of Representatives, Representative Myers introduced:

H. F. 788, A bill for an act relating to natural resources; establishing Keep it Clean program; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.475, subdivisions 11, 12; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 97C.

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy.

2. State Senate, Senator Putnam introduced–

S.F. No. 1297: A bill for an act relating to natural resources; establishing Keep it Clean program; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.475, subdivisions 11, 12; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 97C.
Referred to the Committee on Environment, Climate, and Legacy.

You may remember the “Keep It Clean” law that took effect July, 2023 in the state of Minnesota.  The law states it is now illegal to place any kind of garbage or waste on, or below, the ice.  People who ice fish, snowmobile or take part in any other activities on the ice of Minnesota waterways must keep their garbage contained in a fish house, vehicle, or container.  It is believed the new law will prevent literally tons and tons of garbage from entering Minnesota waters. The Coalition has now proposed a new bill seeking stability for the program and its efforts

How did Keep It Clean begin? 

A few years ago, a small group from the Lake of the Woods area began an effort to educate, promote and enforce those using Lake of the Woods in keeping trash and human waste off of the ice.  This group, of course, is called Keep It Clean.

Organically, the group grew when other areas saw similar challenges and reached out.  Upper and Lower Red Lake, Lake Mille Lacs and Lake Vermilion were early members.  Today, there are about 50+ areas around the state of Minnesota representing over 1,200 lakes who have joined in on the Keep It Clean efforts.

This expanded group has been busy behind the scenes working on a variety of efforts which will ultimately lessen the amount of trash and human waste entering our waters, the largest being the passing of the Keep It Clean bill at our most recent legislative session.

The Keep It Clean Coalition, as the name has morphed, has been working with a variety of stakeholders from Minnesota to push through legislation that will have a very positive impact on Minnesota bodies of water.  In a nutshell, it is now illegal to place any garbage or waste on the ice.  This means all garbage will need to be kept in your fish house, your vehicle or in a garbage can attached to one of the above.  Not a big lift, but legislation that will ultimately keep tons of unsuspecting trash and waste from being left on the ice and entering our waterways.

Most ice anglers and others who use the ice for recreation in the winter months are conscientious about keeping track of their garbage and making sure they are responsible about when Mother Nature calls and they have to do number two.

With that being said, good meaning people who, as an example, spend multiple nights on the ice have good intentions.  “Let’s just set these garbage bags outside the fish house for now and we will pick them up before we leave.”  However, out on a frozen lake, things happen.  Things such as 50 mph winds, birds, bags freezing into the ice, snowfalls and simply picking up most of the garbage but leaving a bit behind.

With the popularity of ice fishing in today’s world, leaving just a little bit behind multiplied by tens of thousands of ice anglers, equates to tons of garbage.  This newly passed Keep It Clean bill will help to eliminate a good amount of that.  It is not a hard lift, as they would say, but a measure that will really make a positive impact on our waterways.

In addition, it helps those out of the ice to plan ahead as to where they will use the bathroom when Mother Nature calls.  If you are staying at a resort, many offer facilities out on the ice.  If you are on your own, it is important to have a realistic plan.

The Bottom Line – What You Bring In, Bring Out

Lake of the Woods area has two winter pump-out stations for wheelhouses who have heated holding tanks with sewage and chemicals.  This is on purpose as in the past, cold weather dump stations were lacking during the winter months.  Other areas in the state are starting to create winter dump stations in their area as well.

The two winter dump stations at Lake of the Woods are at Log Cabin Bait near Wheeler’s Point at the mouth of the Rainy River and at Howard’s Cenex in Baudette, MN.

This legislation that was passed in 2023 also provides MN DNR Conservation Officers the opportunity to enforce trash and waste issue on the ice.  In the past, the way laws were written, it was very difficult to enforce garbage left behind.

Most anglers and other who use the ice really do a nice job of picking up their trash.  The slogan “pack it in, pack it out” is especially known with this topic.

Many, including the many unsung heroes called ice guides across Lake of the Woods and other lakes in MN, go out of their way to pick up after others on a regular basis.  If you are one of these conscientious folks, kudos to you and thank you.

We also want to thank the many organizations and legislators who assisted and backed up this legislation.  Various legislators, a variety of people from the MN DNR, MN Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota Lakes and Rivers, MN-FISH, various members of Keep It Clean across the state and others.  This is the type of legislation that makes good sense and will have a positive lasting impact on the waterways of Minnesota.  Kudos to all of you!

For More Information on Lake of the Woods and Lodging see: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com

Also see our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/lakeofthewoodmn

See Keep It Clean on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/keepitcleanMN or at www.keepitcleanmn.org