06-25-1990 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Up to now, metropolitan residents have been able to take for granted their ability to find a lake to use and enjoy. About 100 large lakes, hundreds of smaller ones, and three rivets piuvide tremendous opportunities for water-based recreation in the Twin Cities area. But the situation on metropolitan lakes seems to be deteriorating in several important ways: • surface use of the lakes continues to increase, and the conflicts that have resulted lead some people to feel the lakes are becoming overcrowded ana unsafe; • the water quality of many lakes has degraded and is threatened at other lakes; and • continuing shoneland development and redevelopment has caused concern about limits on public access to the lakes and their shoneland. Unfortunately, lake management has been fragmented and mainly oriented towards current issues and interests rather than long-term concerns. Metropolitan lakes are managed in varying degrees by three federal and four state agencies, seven counties, seven soil and water conservation districts, 46 watershed districts, two conservation districts and 138 municipalities. These governmental bodies sometimes have conflicting goals and activities. Conflicts between their short-term and long-term goals are also common. In this report, we emphasize the importance of comprehensive, long-range planning for the lakes and stress recognition of metropolitan lakes as an interconnected, regiori^ system. Such an approach is needed to ensure that future generations can enjoy the lakes and other surface water. We recommend: □ Lakes in the metropolitan area should be viewed as a regional system, with regional coordination of planning and management activities. G Local governments should develop plans for the surface waters before lakes deteriorate further. Lakes in the metropolitan area arc a unique regional resource, and improved regional governance and long-term plarming are needed. We recommend: G The Legislature should charge the Metropolitan Council with the responsibility for planning and coordinating management of metropolitan surface waters. In partnership with local governments, the Metropolitan Council should develop a compteiicnsive policy framework and metropolitan guidelines for shorcland and surface water management Local governments should be required by a fixed date to develop local surface water plans subject to approval by the Metropolitan Council. The Council should provide grants to cover part of the cost