Judge Tosses Lawsuit Against State Over Aquatic Invasive Species

Carver County District Court Judge Philip T. Kanning has dismissed a lawsuit brought against the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) by a group of west metro lake associations and property owners.

The groups and individuals associated with Lotus Lake, Lake Bavaria Christmas Lake and Lake Minnewashta sued the DNR in March, asking Kanning to institute a temporary injunction requiring the DNR to set up mandatory, centralized boat inspections stations to prevent the spread of zebra mussels. The plaintiffs said the inspection stations would help prevent zebra mussels from getting into their lakes.

Judge Kanning dismissed the injunction request, agreeing with the DNR that it did not have statutory authority to set up the boat inspection stations, which would have operated away from the lakes at a central location.

Kanning dismissed the lawsuit April16; his order was filed in Carver County District Court on April 23.

DNR officials say Minnesota has some of the stiffest laws in the nation to prevent the spread of zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species. This spring and summer, the agency will launch its largest-ever public information, enforcement and watercraft inspection campaign to curb against the spread of aquatic invasive species. Inspections will be targeted at high-use lakes with zebra mussels.

Information provided by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.