Laserfiche WebLink
1999 Lake Minnetonka <br />Shoreline Storage Count <br />COUNCIL MEETING <br />SEP 2 7 1999 <br />CITY OF QhO jvO <br />INTRODUCTION <br />The Management Plan for Lake Minnetonka, adopted in December of 1991, has <br />established Lake Use Objectives for the lake. Beginning in 1992, and every other year <br />thereafter, one of these objectives is to measure watercraft density and the distribution <br />of beached and rafting watercraft on Lake Minnetonka. At the August 12, 1998 Regular <br />Board Meeting, the Board reviewed the 1998 data presented to them. Because the <br />1998 Shoreline Storage Count revealed a 22% decrease in the number of watercraft <br />stored on Lake Minnetonka compared to 1996, the Board directed staff to conduct <br />another survey in 1999 to verify the 1998 data. <br />Three primary objectives were established for the 1999 Shoreline Storage Count. They <br />include: <br />1. Establish the total number of watercraft stored in 1999. <br />2. Outline dnta collected from historical Shoreline Storage Counts. <br />3. Identify any observable conclusions and trends from the Shoreline Storage <br />data collected. <br />METHODOLOGY <br />To ensure consistency and accuracy in the 1999 Shoreline Storage Count, LMCD staff <br />established parameters in which the storage inventory was to be conducted. Detailed <br />below is a summary of these parame rs. <br />1. Survey all 125 miles of lakeshore frontage on Mondays through Thursdays, <br />between the hours of 7:30 AM and 12:00 PM. This time has been selected to <br />best represent when observers could count the maximum number of <br />Watercraft stored on Lake Minnetonka. Friday was established to be an <br />alternative day when weather conditions were not favorable. <br />2. The count was to be conducted during the month of June with a completion <br />date of July 4 <br />3. The watercraft count was to be conducted by LMCD staff from the 18 foot <br />runabout owned by the District. <br />4. A shoreline storage count worksheet was created to assist in conducting <br />the shoreline storage inventory. Ten classifications of watercraft were <br />established on this worksnee. to categorize each watercraft type These <br />watercraft classifications include, runabout, cruiser, sailboat, pontoon, <br />houseboat, charter boat, fishing boat, personal watercraft, aircraft, and <br />miscellaneous watercraft. Further definition of these watercraft classifications <br />are outlined in Appendix A. <br />5 Residences that had docks with 3 boats, 4 boats, and empty slips were also <br />identified in 1999, In this Report, a slip was defined as either a docking <br />structure with three dearly defined sides or a boat lift. This data was not <br />collected in 1998. <br />1