International Falls Bass Championship Board members told the Falls City Council Monday that a new law intended to protect Minnesota’s waters from invasive species could threaten the way the tournament is operated.

The Invasive Species Act will require boaters to drain live wells before leaving a body of water each day. In previous years, live wells were drained at Smokey Bear Park after the bass were transported there for the public weigh-ins.

Fish were transported to the park in the water they were caught in an effort to protect their health during the weigh-in part of the tournament.

Under the new law, the water from Rainy River and Rainy Lake would need to be dumped at the shores and fresh water used to transport the fish from the water to the park.

“If this isn’t complied with, theoretically it could shut down the tournament at the end of day one,” said Tom Walters, bass board, of the legislation.

Councilors and members of the IFBC Board agreed that the tournament and its economic impact is valuable to the community. The group agreed to speak with and write letters to state representatives and the Department of Natural Resources voicing support for the IFBC to conduct the tournament in the same fashion it has in the past.

“All we’re asking for is a little common sense. Let us get down to the park and drain our live wells there,” said Gary Potter, president of the IFBC Board. “The other thing we’re guaranteeing is 100 percent compliance.”

“It just doesn’t seem like an exercise in common sense in terms of what is best for the fish,” Mayor Shawn Mason said about the idea of transporting the fish in water different from the fish habitat.

Potter said last year tournament organizers already had permits in hand relating to the transportation of fish in live wells from Rainy Lake and Rainy River to bring to Smokey Bear Park before the Invasive Species Act took effect May 27.

This year, tournament officials believed it would be possible to get permits to operate the tournament in the same fashion, but later were told that wasn’t the case.

In November, Potter said he met with Sen. Tom Saxhaug to request an exemption to the act to get a permit to run the championship in the same way, and was told an exemption would be provided. In January, Potter said, the DNR provided the same indication.

But a recent letter from the DNR indicated that an exemption my not be forth coming.

The council agreed that meetings with state legislators and requesting the exemption from the DNR may help show the importance of maintaining the methods of the tournament.

Fish mortality recorded during the tournament has been very low.

“It’s a very healthy event for the community — and the fish,” Mason said.