Aeration Permittee Requirements and Responsibilities:
All permittees that operate an aeration system in public waters are required to have a current permit. Permits are renewed annually. The aeration permit is in effect from October 1st to the next September 30th. Applications are mailed to the regional fisheries offices for review and approval. Once approved, two copies of the permit to aerate will be mailed to the applicant. Upon receipt, both permits are signed keeping one for the permittees records and the other mailed back in the provided envelop.
For winter time aeration, permittees are required to post thin ice signs around the area of open water in a rectangular fashion, starting with the corners and making sure no adjacent signs are more than 100 feet apart. Signs must be posted and maintained at a height of between four and six feet above the surface of the ice and snow. Thin ice signs are diamond-shaped reflectorized signs with the words Thin Ice in black lettering on a white background surrounded by an orange border.
Warning signs are posted at public access points and other areas commonly used as access points. Warning signs are a larger all orange reflectorized rectangular sign with black lettering. Both signs can be requested for no charge as decals from the Aeration Safety Program. The permittee must provide the backing and the post.
During winter operation, and at all times the lake is ice covered once operation of the system has begun, the permittee is required to carry liability insurance or a bond in the amount of $500,000. Certificates of insurance must be sent to the regional fisheries office prior to operation of the aeration system.
Advanced public notice of the start up of any aeration system under permit in public waters during periods of ice cover must be given by the permittee. Minimum notice consists of publication of the location and date of the start up of the aeration system in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where the system is located at least two times between five and sixty days before aeration is started.
Permittees must complete the requirement for a workshop by viewing the aeration safety DVD. The DVD may be requested from the Aeration Safety Coordinator. First time permittees must view this DVD before the initial start-up of their aeration systems.
Permittees are required to inspect their aeration systems at least once every seven days to ensure the system is operating properly and thin ice and warning signs are properly posted.