BRAINERD — The vast majority of waters in Minnesota are public and shared by everyone who can access them.

Consequently, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and local governments enforce some restrictions on the size of private water structures, like docks.

Jacob Frie, the area hydrologist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for Crow Wing and Aitkin counties, said the DNR’s regulations exist because excessively large water structures can send the message public waters are not public at all.

“When we have docks and structures that occupy public waters, we want to try and balance recreation use with natural resource protection,” Frie said.

Additionally, Frie said excessively large docks can harm natural habitats for fish and aquatic life, which is why they requir

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