04-14-1986 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Task Force recommends that new boat and shoreline access opportunities be established in certain areas of the lake and that some existing access facilities be expanded and/or improved. The Lake Minnetonka Conservation District (LMCD) should continue to be the primary agency in coordinating the study, monitoring, and regulating of recreation use patterns that will balance the needs of the regional public, riparian interest, enjoyment and protection of the lake. Finally, adequate personnel and funding are required on a continuing basis to impremant these recommendations and to maintain the management of Lake Minnetonka for the continued assurance of quality recreational experiences. The report was accepted/endorsed by LMCD and DNR, among other responsible agencies, and some actions to implement the 83TF recommendations have begun. The remainder of this report is organized to coincide kith the issues list. ISSUE l: ADEQUACY" OF PUBLIC ACCESS TO LAKE MINNETONKA Discussion During their review, the Metropolitan Council'.. Task rorce on Lake Minnetonka (MCTFLM) considered the report of the 83TF. The 83TF found (p. 3) "that there is a ne i -nd a demand for additional access to Lake Minnetonka tc serve persons who wan, to fish and otherwise enjoy the lake in boats and from the shoreline. There is no demonstrated need for addi- tional lake access for boats other than fishing craft and small recreation boats. Because the majority of the existing publicly -owned boat launch capac- ity is located primarily n the nnr h and east shores of Lake Minnetonka, it is •pcommended that additional public ,coat launch opportunities be provided on the ith and west :;,corer. In identifying new access sites, the Task Force recom- mends that consideration 5e given to ten differen, site selection criteria. Further, there is opportunity for improvement _1 existirg boat launch ramps and scenic shore sites on Lake Minnetonka." The MCTFLM concluded t;iat the 83TF report was based on an accurate assessmen' of the status of the lake. A second body of data, in a 1984 DNR Metropolitan R!-ion lake use study, supported the idea that users entering the lake frc free public cress arc not the large t group of users on the lake. The study also showed that a large percent of users entering from free public access sites engaged in the rr._-o consumptive uses on the lake compered to those who entered from comrrercla; access sates and from riparian properties. This supports the 8371F conclusion that "there is a need and a demand for additional access to Lake Minnetonka to serve persons who wane to fish and otherwise enjoy the lake in boats and from the shoreline ... (and that)... additional public boat launch opportunities be provided on the south and west shores." The MCTfLM noted that DNR has accepted the 83TF report and committed itself to implementing the recommendations which are under its authority. The I.M.CD has also accepted the 83TF report and acted to implement some rf the recommendations by confirming some reliable parking areas. 4