ST. PAUL - The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced Tuesday that it won’t change many rules for several state Scientific and Natural Areas in northern Minnesota after all.
The DNR in April said it was considering relaxing regulations at 10 of the state’s 159 SNAs to allow more human activities, including hunting, dog walking, berry picking and swimming.
But a public comment period on the plan raised little support for the changes and, except for allowing dogs on leashes at the state’s 18-acre Minnesota Point SNA in Duluth and one other regulation change, the existing rules will hold. The Minnesota Point SNA rule change makes legal a longstanding beach walker practice of having dogs on leashes, and corresponds with the city’s rules on all adjacent, city-managed beachfront.
The only other change will be to allow deer hunting without a special permit at Lake Alexander Woods SNA in Morrison County.
The DNR received 123 written comments on the proposed rule changes, mostly opposed to them.
