Upper Mississippi Fishing Docks, Hunting Guides May See Increase In Permit Costs

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is planning to increase the price of permits for businesses on part of the Mississippi River.

A portion of the river along Wisconsin is part of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, which means any businesses on the river, from guided waterfowl hunts to commercial fishing docks, have to pay for a special use permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Most businesses have paid $100 per permit over the last 40 years. But now the agency wants to increase the cost to 3 percent of a business’s gross revenue, or at least $500, and add a $100 administrative fee.

John Rieple owns Best Dam Fishing Float near La Crosse. He said he doesn’t think it’s necessary to switch to a revenue-based fee.

“It doesn’t cost any more to regulate a large fishing float than it does a small fishing float, so why would the fees differ?” Rieple said.

To gain a special use permit in the past, Rieple said he met yearly with refuge officials to make sure his business complies with regulations.

“It takes about an hour a year to go through that process,” Rieple said. “I don’t see where an annual fee of $2,000 or $3,000 would be justified over the current $100 fee.”

But Refuge Manager Sabrina Chandler said the price increase isn’t a new decision for the Fish and Wildlife Service.

“A number of the changes that we’re proposing at this time were originally put in place in 2006 but were never fully implemented,” Chandler said. “The fees are just one part of that, but they are based on a national standard that we implement on national wildlife refuges across the country.”

Chandler said many people forget the river is a protected habitat and conservation efforts come before any recreational or commercial use.

“We have to set the minimum and make sure it’s an appropriate fee for the use of that public resource for private gain,” Chandler said.

Chandler said re-evaluating the cost of special use permits is part of what allows businesses to operate on the river.

“Like most business operations, understanding that there is some cost associated with the location that you plan to do your business,” Chandler said.

The refuge is hosting a series of information meetings and will take public comments on the changes until Oct. 1.