03-31-1997 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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PARKS JUNE, 1980 A PRINCIPAL GOAL OF ORONO'S PLANNING PROGRAM IS THE PROTECTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL AMENITIES, PARTICULARLY THE WATER QUALITY OF LAKE MINNETONKA. The Environmental Protection Plan emphasizes Orono's unique environmental position in relation to the long-term health of Lake Minnetonka. This is vital to Orono's recreation plans because Lake Minnetonka is the single most used, most significant recreational facility available to Orono residents, and to many other citizens of the metropolitan area. If Lake Minnetonka's water quality diminishes, recreational use of the Lake for fishing, boating and swimming will be lost. LAKE MINNETONKA IS AN UNPARALLELED RECREATIONAL FACILITY. Lake Minnetonka, as shown on Map No. 1, is actually a series of lakes or "bays" inter connected by narrows or channels. Some bays are up to 90 feet deep while other areas are extremely shallow. Lake Minnetonka outlets at Grays Bay in the City of Minnetonka into Minnehaha Creek and eventually into the Mississippi River. LAKE MINNETONKA IS THE TENTH LARGEST LAKE IN MINNESOTA. Lake Minnetonka has a surface area of approximately 21.5 square miles and a capacity of 400,000 acre feet of water at the normal lake elevation of 929.4 ft. MSL. One third of the lake surface is in Orono as are 40 miles of its over 100 miles of shoreline. LAKE MINNFTONKA HAS SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC VALUE AS A RECREATIONAL ASSET, as an environmental resource and as a setting for private residential development. Lake Minnetonka's closeness to Minneapolis combined with its size have long given it a unique status among the lakes in Minnesota. In the 1880*s, Minnetonka became a nationally known resort area and has been a favorite locale for summer and suburban homes for generations. From the viewpoint of the fisherman, the lower lake resembles the more northern waters of the state, whereas the upper lake and its bays resemble southern Minnesota waters. The large size of the lower lake is a major attraction for sallboaters while the variety of bays, channels and water routes offer attraction to the casual boater. THE AMOUNT OF LAND IN ORONO * DEVOTED TO PARKS AND OPEN SPACE FAR EXCEEDS THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL'S STANDARDS. The Metropolitan Council has adopted a classification system to describe different types of parks as related to their facilities and their service area. At the present time, there are many public and private parks and open space facilities located in the City of Orono. The recreation and open space facilities make up a total of 676 acres of which 310 acres are public and 365 acres are private. CMP 8-6