BWCA Illinois Residents - Water Usage Stamp abolished 6/1/2018 Boundary Waters Listening Point - General Discussion
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05/15/2018 11:31AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
When getting a 2018 sticker for my canoe yesterday, the manager at Dick's tried really hard to talk me out of getting a stamp. Turns out last year the IL general assembly passed a law which in part repealed the Water Usage Stamp. Starting 6/1/2018, light watercraft including non-motorized canoes in Illinois no longer require the Water Usage Stamp or apparently any other kind of registration.

The DNR's website hasn't been updated to reflect this yet, however I found this in the ILCS website, as well as the bill that repealed it.
 
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05/15/2018 11:47AM  
What! I paid $6.50 for that in March when I got my fishing license and put the stupid glue on the wrong side for the fifth out of the six times I’ve attempted it. It’s got dirt and leaves on it and it’s so faded already you can’t even see it. Whoever the rocket scientist is that came up with that ought to be fired and start over. That said, next year it will probably cost $25.50. It was $3.50 at first.
 
HowardSprague
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05/15/2018 12:05PM  
While on the one hand I should be happy about saving $13 for my two boats (ok $20 counting kayak we got my daughter), on the other hand that sticker was good enough if I took my canoe to the BW. So now if I take my canoe up north I will have nothing current and may have to purchase the MN registration.
 
05/15/2018 12:12PM  
HowardSprague: "While on the one hand I should be happy about saving $13 for my two boats (ok $20 counting kayak we got my daughter), on the other hand that sticker was good enough if I took my canoe to the BW. So now if I take my canoe up north I will have nothing current and may have to purchase the MN registration."


MN changed their laws regarding out of state canoe ownership. If your state of residence doesn't require canoes to be registered MN will no longer make you register them as long as they are not within MN for more than 90 consecutive days.
 
smoke11
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05/15/2018 12:13PM  
my understanding is you dont have to have registration in BWCA if your home state doesnt require it. Correct me if i am wrong but I think it is new rule.
 
05/15/2018 12:25PM  
Well, I’m covered. I got the sticker with the glue on the outside with dirt and leaves stuck to it and already so faded you can’t see it and I got the paperwork too! Very proud of that.

I support all our past Illinois governors in jail at the present time. My $6.50 might have just bought Blago a Manhandler TV dinner for tonight. While he watches Naked and Afraid in the community room with the boys in the pen.
Cheers.
 
05/15/2018 12:57PM  
mirth: "When getting a 2018 sticker for my canoe yesterday, the manager at Dick's tried really hard to talk me out of getting a stamp. Turns out last year the IL general assembly passed a law which in part repealed the Water Usage Stamp. Starting 6/1/2018, light watercraft including non-motorized canoes in Illinois no longer require the Water Usage Stamp or apparently any other kind of registration.

The DNR's website hasn't been updated to reflect this yet, however I found this in the ILCS website, as well as the bill that repealed it."


Thanks for posting. This has not been well publicized.
 
05/15/2018 01:35PM  
It was news to me & like I said, the manager tried really hard to talk me out of getting the sticker. Unfortunately, the canoe in question is my boat for the Des Plaines marathon this weekend & so still covered under the old law.

Others who have replied regarding Minnesota law are correct, now that IL does not require registration then we do not need registration in MN either.

Personally, I wouldn't mind some kind of annual to semi-annual registration even if it were only used to track ownership.
 
05/15/2018 01:36PM  
Thanks for the information. It's unfortunate that neither I nor the clerk at Dick's knew this before I purchased the stamp in March.
 
plexmidwest
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05/15/2018 02:33PM  
Bought 6 WUS a few weeks ago. First 3 were $6 each, then $3 each after the first 3. Could have saved $27. They got me this year, hope they don't change it again.
 
05/15/2018 02:55PM  
mirth: " Unfortunately, the canoe in question is my boat for the Des Plaines marathon this weekend & so still covered under the old law.
"


I was just thinking that if I wasn't going to be in the minithon of the Des Plaines River marathon, I wouldn't have to gum up my boat with the sticker.

It is my first year entering the event. Do you think the water is going to be a little high this year?
 
05/15/2018 04:16PM  
I think the water will be great. We ran it two weeks ago at about average levels for the year. Current is about 2.5x average at the moment but should be settling down come the weekend.

Gurnee & into Kenosha county, which is where the Des Plaines' headwaters are, got 5" of rain this last week.

You should be done with the minithon in an hour or less. Good luck & have fun!
 
05/15/2018 04:19PM  
plexmidwest: "Bought 6 WUS a few weeks ago. First 3 were $6 each, then $3 each after the first 3. Could have saved $27. They got me this year, hope they don't change it again."


Same, except it was 7 for me for my son's Scout troop. Same Dick's even, and they didn't say anything.
 
Stumpy
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05/15/2018 05:04PM  
Good news !!
 
Portage99
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05/15/2018 05:13PM  
It has not been well-explained or well-publicized, but we're talking about Illinois-need I say more? Kind of like when they decided to stop mailing annual car registration renewals, but neglected to share that information with anyone.

I am glad they stopped the stickers! It was pricey with 5 canoes, some of which I only use on special occasions.
 
billconner
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05/15/2018 06:58PM  
Thanks for posting this.
 
05/15/2018 07:06PM  
I never really minded the old, 3 year registration decal, but the Water Usage Stamp was a pain in the rear. It was printed out at the place where you purchased it and the clerk had to give you a special clear, sticky rectangular thingamabob to adhere it to the canoe. Of course, they would never have the sticky rectangular thingamabob's so I'd have to stick them to my fleet with some clear packaging tape, which never stuck real well until you had to try to remove it's residue the next year.

I for one am real pleased to not be pestered by this pain in the rear.
 
05/15/2018 07:46PM  
RIP - not kidding, I goofed up putting the glue on the wrong side of this stupid sticker every time, which would be 0 for 5 in 3 years.








Just when I thought I had it figured out..
 
05/15/2018 08:46PM  
scat: "RIP - not kidding, I goofed up putting the glue on the wrong side of this stupid sticker every time, which would be 0 for 5 in 3 years.




You know it can go on the inside of your canoe if you want.






Just when I thought I had it figured out.."
 
jhb8426
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05/15/2018 11:14PM  
Yes, MN no longer requires registration if your state doesn't...

"A watercraft license is not required for:
Non-motorized watercraft 10 ft or less, or a watercraft owned by a person from another state and that state does not require licensing of that type of watercraft and it is not within Minnesota for more than 90 consecutive days. See MN Boating Guide for more information."

Ref: Watercraft licenses - registration procedures & fees
 
DrBobDg
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05/16/2018 06:31AM  
not natural for politicians to eliminate a tax.........

dr bob
 
billconner
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05/16/2018 07:19AM  
DrBobDg: "not natural for politicians to eliminate a tax.........


dr bob"


Especially in Illinois! I wonder what they snuck in to compensate X2.
 
05/16/2018 10:35AM  
Thanks for posting. I just bought two of them at Dick's week before last. Oh, well...
 
Flatlandpaddler
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05/16/2018 02:11PM  
Add me to the club bought 2 the beginning of the month as well
 
05/16/2018 02:23PM  
billconner: "
DrBobDg: "not natural for politicians to eliminate a tax.........

dr bob"


Especially in Illinois! I wonder what they snuck in to compensate X2."


I think I saw while skimming the bill that costs to register powered watercraft went up, possibly by as much as double or more depending on the size/class of the craft. Maybe the stamp didn't work out as well as they hoped, enforcement a nightmare, etc.
I found it amusing they initially wanted tubes or basically anything that floats & was introduced to DNR-controlled waters to get a stamp too.
 
05/18/2018 01:24PM  
mirth: "
Gurnee & into Kenosha county, which is where the Des Plaines' headwaters are, got 5" of rain this last week.
"


They just cancelled the DPR marathon due to the river being in flood stage and not expected to recede in time. :-(

Also, for the record, I bought three WUS this year but so far have only needed to gum up one boat.
 
05/18/2018 01:31PM  
Yeah, I got the email & saw the post on Facebook. Kinda bummed but I get needing to weigh safety concerns. The bridges on Rt. 22 and Deerpath Rd. are both pretty low & if the river's up by several feet it could be a clearance hazard.

Looking at going down the Nippersink Creek now on Sunday instead. It's not in flood & just a little higher than traditional levels for this time of year.
 
05/18/2018 03:18PM  
mirth: "Yeah, I got the email & saw the post on Facebook. Kinda bummed but I get needing to weigh safety concerns. The bridges on Rt. 22 and Deerpath Rd. are both pretty low & if the river's up by several feet it could be a clearance hazard.


Looking at going down the Nippersink Creek now on Sunday instead. It's not in flood & just a little higher than traditional levels for this time of year."

I love the Nippersink. Used to be my local go to paddle spot. Now it's the DesPlaines
 
05/18/2018 03:31PM  
Only other time I was on the Nippersink was ~3 years ago & we went upstream from the Canoe Base. Tried to make it to the park for our turnaround but then approaching thunderstorms & difficulties going against the current in the riffles forced us to turn around & go back. Still, it was a good 5-6 miles on the water.

We're going to do the 14 mile chunk from Wonder Lake all the way to the Base.
 
05/18/2018 03:47PM  
mirth: "Only other time I was on the Nippersink was ~3 years ago & we went upstream from the Canoe Base. Tried to make it to the park for our turnaround but then approaching thunderstorms & difficulties going against the current in the riffles forced us to turn around & go back. Still, it was a good 5-6 miles on the water.


We're going to do the 14 mile chunk from Wonder Lake all the way to the Base."


I am thinking of running the Nippersink as my plan B option too (Keystone Landing to Pioneer Landing).

I have been checking the Nippersink gage at Spring Grove as well as the Des Plaines gage at Lincolnshire. That is why I was worried about the levels on the DPR. The Nippersink is only slightly higher than average though.
 
OldFingers57
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05/19/2018 10:41AM  
Great one less thing to worry about getting each year.
 
05/21/2018 01:08PM  
rdgbwca: "
mirth: "We're going to do the 14 mile chunk from Wonder Lake all the way to the Base."


I am thinking of running the Nippersink as my plan B option too (Keystone Landing to Pioneer Landing).

I have been checking the Nippersink gage at Spring Grove as well as the Des Plaines gage at Lincolnshire. That is why I was worried about the levels on the DPR. The Nippersink is only slightly higher than average though."


We made the run in about 6 hours yesterday, which included stops at Pioneer and Lyle parks to wring out & dry off. Took the new boat out, went swimming 3x.

It was a great paddle despite the wetness from above & below. Now I have a 3" chunk of missing gelcoat on the bow stem from a rock strike. Go figure.....
 
05/21/2018 01:42PM  
mirth: "


We made the run in about 6 hours yesterday, which included stops at Pioneer and Lyle parks to wring out & dry off. Took the new boat out, went swimming 3x.


It was a great paddle despite the wetness from above & below. Now I have a 3" chunk of missing gelcoat on the bow stem from a rock strike. Go figure....."


Thanks for the update. I called an audible and cancelled my paddling plans altogether. Sunday morning my truck said it was 48 degrees and raining.

I had signed up for the minithon because I wanted it to be a family outing with a 6 and 8 year old as passengers in my 17 foot penobscot.

I took my kevlar Canadienne down the Nippersink once when the gage at Spring Grove was at 5.18 feet. I have decided not to use a kevlar boat on the Nippersink again. Looks like the Nippersink was at about 4.5 feet on Sunday...a little low for a kevlar boat.

What make and model of boat were you using?

Were these 3 unplanned swimming events?

We like to stop at a nice slow part to stretch legs, let the kids swim and hunt for mussels when the weather is nice and sunny.

We got some strong rains in the area on Sunday morning.
 
05/21/2018 02:00PM  
rdgbwca: "Thanks for the update. I called an audible and cancelled my paddling plans altogether. Sunday morning my truck said it was 48 degrees and raining.

I had signed up for the minithon because I wanted it to be a family outing with a 6 and 8 year old as passengers in my 17 foot penobscot.

I took my kevlar Canadienne down the Nippersink once when the gage at Spring Grove was at 5.18 feet. I have decided not to use a kevlar boat on the Nippersink again. Looks like the Nippersink was at about 4.5 feet on Sunday...a little low for a kevlar boat.

What make and model of boat were you using?

Were these 3 unplanned swimming events?

We like to stop at a nice slow part to stretch legs, let the kids swim and hunt for mussels when the weather is nice and sunny.

We got some strong rains in the area on Sunday morning."


Yeah, we went into our day trip with eyes wide open to conditions. I had committed to spending the day paddling down a river in a canoe and was going to see it to fruition, marathon cancellation be damned.

I took my newly reconditioned North Star out on the river for it's first real piece of action since 2004-5. Got lots of fresh scratches in the hull but all are superficial except for the missing gel on the stem, which will require a few layers of epoxy to fill & build back up. The scratches will disappear when I get around to varnishing it.

3 unplanned swimming events. 1st was after the first riffle, 2nd was within sight of Pioneer, and 3rd was in downtown Spring Grove near the church - the bells started ringing so loud & clearly that we jumped then broke out into hysterical laughter.... which was followed by a swim.
 
05/21/2018 02:34PM  
mirth: "

Yeah, we went into our day trip with eyes wide open to conditions. I had committed to spending the day paddling down a river in a canoe and was going to see it to fruition, marathon cancellation be damned.

3 unplanned swimming events. 1st was after the first riffle, 2nd was within sight of Pioneer, and 3rd was in downtown Spring Grove near the church - the bells started ringing so loud & clearly that we jumped then broke out into hysterical laughter.... which was followed by a swim."


I admire your dedication and perseverance. Yesterday was not the greatest day to go swimming in the river.

Hopefully you had some soup or warm drinks to keep your spirits up.

I think the sun did eventually come out in the evening.
 
Marten
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06/07/2018 09:15AM  
https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/boating/Pages/default.aspx Info on no title or water usage stamp for canoes in Illinois
 
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