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LOSING LAKES: Enjoyment of a Unique Metropolitan Resource is Threatened vii <br />and should work more with local residents ano other lake users in <br />the process. <br />□ Local governments should be compensated for the removal of land <br />from their tax bases and the costs of maintaining access facilities. <br />G The Department of Natural Resources should develop better planning <br />guidelines for evaluating access to lakes. These guidelines should <br />account for all sources of access to thf* IaK ?s development levels, <br />and restrictions on individual lakes. <br />Shoreland Access and Development <br />Prcsstire to intensify development around lakes continues in many parts of the metro area causing <br />concerns about limited public access to shoreland and degradation of the lakes and their shores. We <br />found that only 30 of 138 metropolitan area municipalities have adopted shoreland management <br />plans and regulations 14 years ^er they were required to do so by state law. <br />We recommend: <br />G By a fixed date, municipalities should comply with the requiren w.ii <br />to adopt shoreland ordinances that meet state standards. <br />G The Metropolitan Council should work with local governments and <br />the Department of Natural Resources to explore ways, such as tax <br />incentives and land dedication, to appropriately control shoreland <br />development and encourage municipalities to reserve shoreland for <br />public use. <br />Water Quality <br />Non-point source pollution now poses the most serious threat to the water quality of metropolitan <br />lakes. Water quality is difficult and expensive to improve once a lake has been allowed to degrade. <br />We recommend: <br />G Agencies with control over whole-lake watersheds should plan for <br />and manage lake water quality. <br />G Water quality goals should be based on proposed recreational uses <br />of the lakes.