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CHAPTER 2: Boating Access which lakes they used before. Private access facilities arc also available to metropolitan boaters. About one-third of the boats on metropolitan lakes arc launched from private marinas or resorts.^ Many marinas permit the public to launch boats for a fee. The DNR is mandated by the Legislature to acquire, develop, and manage public access sites. Access facilities arc '>rovided if a lake is suitable for recreation, both the lake and the surrounding lands can withstand xidiiional recreational use, and public access to the lake is inadequate or nonexistent The DNT: can only acquire land for access sites from willing sellers unless the Slate Executive Council (mace up of the six constitutional officers) agrees to let the DNR use the power of eminent domain to condemn land. In many cases, local governments or conservation districts enter into cooperative agreements to maintain public access facilities once the DNR develops them. In 1979, based on a recommendation by the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources, the Metropolitan Water Access Committee was formed to coordinate, plan, finance, and promote public boat launch facilities in the seven-county area. The committee consists of members from the DNR, Metropolitan Council, and Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development By the end of 1988, the committee had helped the DNR arul local governments acquiie, develop, and upgrade 95 access sites.® The committee had also produced a map showing all 160 access sites now open on metropolitan lakes and rivers.^ The Metropolitan Water Access Committee identified 95 prime recreational lakes that arc 100 acres or larger where access sites could be developed. These lakes have been ranked by their size, shape, types of fish, and clarity. In 1987,43 of these lakes were judged to have adequate access based on DNR plarming assumptions.^ However, more than 20 of these lakes had no public access facilities at all. In developing public accesses, the DNR plans for a total boating density of one boat per 10 acres of lake surface. Non-riparians and riparians are each assumed to contribute half of the total lake use; therefore, a lake is considered to have adequate public access facilities if one parking space is provided per 20 acres of lake surface. The number of parking spaces for boat trailers at access points theoretically limits the number of boats that can be launched. The DNR's planning assumption of one boat per 10 acres does not consider the arying piounts of lake surface needed for different uses. DNR staif say that it assumes an "unregulated mix" of uses, such as water skiing, fishing, and canoeing. Planning by the DNR also does not consider the amount of development around a lake or the presence of private launch sites. Conilicts can occur when government agencies try to develop new public access sites. Local residents often object when government agencies develop access sites nearby. Public accesses remove lartd from a municipality's tax rolls, increase lake use, and often require municipal maintenance. It should be noted that the department arid the local and regional agencies it works with have assigned priority to identifying arid using lands that are already in public hands. The DNR's current process for planning access facilities contributes to tensions with local ^denis because the public is not involved in the siting process until potential sites are already identified. When the DNR makes public these potential sites, it often runs into problems. Many new public access proposals have resulted in lengthy battles. For example, the DNR has worked for nirie years to get an access site on Turtle Lake in Shoieview. In another case, a boat ramp on Long Ibid. Metropolitan Water Access Committee, "Public Water Access on Twin Cities Metropolitan Area Lakes Rivers, 1988 Annual Report," p. 3. .Metropolitan Water Access Committee, "Twin Cities Metropolitan Area Public Boat Launch Guide." Metropolitan Water Access Committee. "A Cooperative Program for Providing Public-Access Sites on Metropolitan Area Lakes," 1988, pp. 18-20.