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BOARD MEMBERS <br />Douglas E. Babcock <br />Chair. Tonka Bay <br />Bert Foster <br />Vice Chair. Deephaven <br />Eugene Partyka <br />Secretary. Minnetnsta <br />Craig Nelson <br />Treasurer. Spring Paik <br />Andrea Ahrens <br />Mound <br />B?b Ambrose <br />Wayzata <br />Kent Dahlen <br />Minnetonka Beach <br />Tom Gilman <br />Excelsior <br />Uli McMillan <br />Orono <br />Robert Rascop <br />Shorewood <br />Herb J. Suerth <br />Woodland <br />Sheldon Wert <br />Greenwood <br />Minnetonka <br />Victoria <br />o <br />6C'. RervdeJ Content <br />30*# Pcs! Consumtf Wtstt <br />LAKE MINNETONKA CONSERVATION DISTRICT <br />2500 SHADYV/OOD PrAD. SUITE 19 • EXCELSIOR. MINNESOTA 55331 • TELEPHONE 612'471-9588 ♦ FAX 612 471-0632 <br />Gregory S. Nybeck. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR <br />February 12, 1998 <br />TO:State Representatives Ron Abrams, Kris Hasskamp, Peggy Leppik, <br />Steve Smith, Barbara Sykora, Todd Van Dellen, Tom Workman <br />State Senators Janet Johnson, Jane Krentz, Cal Larson, Edward <br />Oliver, Gen Olson, Martha Robertson, Don Samuelson <br />FROM: LMCD Board of Directors <br />SUBJECT: Proposed Personal Watercraft Legislation <br />The Lake Minnetonka Conservation District (LMCD) was established by Minnesota <br />State legislation in 1967 to regulate a wide variety of activities on Lake Minnetonka. <br />We would like to take this opportunity to present feedback from the LMCD Board <br />related to the proposed personal watercraft (PW) legislation in SF374 and HR1690. <br />We would also like to inform you of some of the steps the District has taken to <br />regulate PW use on Lake Miimetonka. <br />The LMCD supports the expanded slow-no wake zone and the consecutive operation <br />provisions in the proposed legislation. We have successfully implemented a 3(X)’ <br />slow-no wake zone for PW's on Lake Minnetonka, which is double the 150' zone <br />previously established for all watercraft. The District also prohibits PW's from <br />operating in one specific area of the lake for more than 30 consecutive minutes. <br />Botli these ordinances have helped reduce the number of noise and operation <br />complaints related to PW use on the lake. <br />We have a concern with the legislation's provision that PW's may not be operated <br />on lakes less than 2(X) acres in size. If this provision is adopted, it may have the <br />unintended consequence of focusing any remaining PW problems on larger lakes, <br />including Lake Minnetonka. Even though Lake Minnetonka is primarily made up of <br />many small bays (some less than 2(X) acres), the bays are connected and managed as <br />a single "lake", and so would not be included in the proposed ban. We feel a better <br />long term solution would be to more thoroughly address the issues pertaining to <br />noise, operation, and education, instead of concentrating PW use on a smaller <br />number of lakes and rivers. <br />The idea of education, training, and licensing of personal watercraft operators, <br />especially for our youth, is legislation the LMCD fully supports. \l/e also agree that <br />mandatory insurance for PW's is a good idea. While the proposed legislation <br />contains laudable provisions in these areas, we do not think they should be focused <br />strictly on PW's. We believe most of the proposed legislation's provisions will be <br />Web Page Address: http://wv\Ay winternet com/-lmcd/ <br />t-i•mail Address; lmcd@winternet.com