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CHAPTER 1 <br />SURFACE USE OF <br />METROPOLITAN LAKES <br />The increasing use of metropolitan lakes has led to concerns about safety problems m\ user conflicts. <br />This chapter examines patterns and trends in recreational use of metropolitan lakes, suiiacc use conflicts <br />and their consequences, and controls on surface use. <br />LAKE SURFACE USE <br />Patterns of lake use <br />A few metropolitan lakes are heavily used at particular times. According to a survey by the Minnesota <br />Department of Natural Resources (DNR). boating densities on metropolitan lakes are. on average, four <br />times those in other popular recreational regions of the state. Densities are greatest on weekends and <br />holidays.^ <br />By number of users. Lake Minnetonka is the ;nost heavily used lake in the seven-county area. On busy <br />weekends, the user density exceeds one boat per 10 acres (an average of about 1.400 boats).^. Similar <br />densities are sometimes reached on portions of the St. Croix River, White Bear Lake, and Prior Lake. <br />On the other hand, many lakes do not approach this level of use. <br />Planners expect lake use will continue to increase. The Department of Natural Resources has projeaed <br />significant increases in fishing and boating in the metropolitan area ^tween 1980 and 1995.3 por <br />example, average surface use of Lake Minnetonka is currently growing at a rate of about 45 boatt ^r <br />year Purchases of boats are expected to incrca.se in the 1990s and early ^OOOs as members of the baby- <br />boom generation reach middle-age and spend their additional earnings cn creational equipment and <br />artivities. <br />Powerboating is the most popular activity on metropolitan lakes. A DNR survey of boating use fomd <br />that powerboating accounts for about half of all boating activity on metro lakes between Memonal Day <br />and Labor Day.^ Other uses include fishing (the most popular use on a three-season basis), swimming, <br />canoeing, scuba-diving, sailing, and water-siding. <br />Some metro area lakes are prt.ferred for particular activities. Scuba-divers prefer clear lakes, such as <br />Square Lake in Washington County and Christmas Lake in Shorewood, and use these lakes for <br />teaching diving classes. Large coats need expanses of open water and have few desirable altemauves to <br />1 Wayne Barstad and Deborah Karasov, Lake Development: How Much is Too Muck? Minnesota <br />Department of Natural Resources, 1987, p. 4. . r u <br />2 However, if lakes are compared by density of users per acre, many lakes Oncludmg some of the <br />Minneapolis city lakes) are even more heavily used than Lake Minnetonka. <br />3 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, "Minnesota Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor <br />Recreation Plan 1984-1989." 1985. <br />4 Barstad and Karasov. p. 7.