06-25-1990 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY of developing local surface water plaiis. It should also coordinate the plans and activities of the various agencies involved in metropolitan lake management Good data are essential for good planning, but there is a frustrating lack of information on the use and quality of metropolitan lakes. For example, none of the agencies involved in lake management is collecting information on the extent of conflia between different types of surface uses and different groups of users. Furthermore, while several different agencies test certain measuies of water quality in certain lakes, no one is momioring regularly the presence of pesticides. We recommend: □The Metropolitan Council and Department of Natural Resources should conduct more complete studies of surface use on metropolitan lakes. G Water quality monitoring of metropolitan lakes should be more extensive and better coordinated. In the report, we also make recommendations on specific lake management issues. User Conflicts and Safety Problems Without changes in the current system of surface use management, conflicts and safety problems on lakes in the metro area will increase along with user density. Surface use should be managed to minimize user conflicts, ensure safe enjoyment of the lakes, ensure a diversity of uses, and preserve the natural environment. We recommend: G Counties and municipalities should regulate surface use to reduce conflicts among lake users. As often as possible, lakes should accommodate all compatible uses, but a few uses should be excluded from certain types of lakes. For example, activities like pow '‘rboating and waterskiing can disturb lake seUunents and waterlife, and are inappropriate for natural environment and shallow lakes. G Furthermore, the state should require operators of larger motorboats to be trained in boating safety and should establish a minimum age for operation of Jet-skis. Funding should be increased for enforcement of watercraft regulations. Boating Access Public boating access to metropolitan lakes meets neither the present nor anticipated demand. However, development of new public access sites leads to conflict between local residents and government agencies. We recommend: The Legislature should continue to fund efforts to develop public boat launch facilities in the metro area. Furthermore, the Department of Natural Resources should begin planning and acquiring access sites before a lake's shoreland is fully developed