(a) The commissioner may:

(1) acquire, construct, and maintain small craft harbors, channels, and facilities for recreational watercraft in the navigable waters lying within the locations identified in Laws 1993, chapter 333, section 1;

(2) acquire by purchase, lease, gift, or condemnation the lands, rights-of-way, easements, and other interests necessary for small craft harbors, channels, mooring facilities, marinas, launching ramps, and facilities normally used to support harbors of refuge, channels, docks, and launching ramps;

(3) provide the public within the boundaries of small craft harbors, through leases of public property, with mooring facilities and marinas developed and operated by public or nonpublic entities at no cost to the state or its political subdivisions;

(4) charge fees for both seasonal and daily moorage at state-operated or state-assisted small craft harbors and mooring facilities;

(5) collect the proceeds from the sale of marine fuel at small craft harbors or mooring facilities operated by the state.

(b) Fees and proceeds collected under paragraph (a) must be credited to the water recreation account. The sale prices of marine fuel and petroleum supplies and fees under paragraph (a) are not subject to the rulemaking provisions of chapter 14 and section 14.386 does not apply. The commissioner may establish the fees under paragraph (a) notwithstanding section 16A.1283. The fees and proceeds are appropriated to the commissioner of natural resources and must be used for purposes relating to mooring facilities and small craft harbors, including:

(1) operation and maintenance;

(2) purchase of marine fuel and other petroleum supplies;

(3) replacement or expansion; or

(4) debt service on funds provided through the sale of state bonds.

(c) Fees collected at small craft harbors and boating facilities constructed or operated by local units of government with financial assistance from the state shall, after payment of the costs of operating and maintaining the facilities, be used for purposes relating to mooring facilities and small craft harbors, including:

(1) operation and maintenance;

(2) replacement or expansion; or

(3) debt service on funds provided through the sale of state bonds.

History: 1993 c 333 s 3; 1Sp2001 c 2 s 89; 2004 c 221 s 24