04-14-1986 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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The inventor) ublic access sites shows there is inadequate public access t! Lake Minnetonka in general and particularly in zones 3 and 5. The question o adequate over .' boating density on the lake is not as easily answered. Vali and reliable research exists to show that at peak times, the boat density reaches approximately one boat per six and one-half acres (2,200 boats on a 14,000-acre lake). In several small, restricted parts of the lake, the dens' . reaches one boat per acre. In several large, open areas it is less than one boat per 30 acres. If one looks at the peak, the level of access resu;ting in this density is more than adequate overall and would benefit from more even dispersal. However, recreational facilities are seldom planned or regulated to handle the potential peak time. A better criterion might be average weekend .day peak. The data is nut as clear for average peak as it is for potential peak. The reason is that there is only one study that addresses other than potential peak use --the 1984 DNR (Biocentrics) study. Earlier DNR creel census data does not provide this measure and is generally out of date, given the growth in boating since 1975. Annual data collected through 1982 by the LMCD is specifically aimed at highest peak use once a season. A- discussed previously, the 1984 DNR study is a valid approach which yields reasonable results when compared to other studies that collect the same kind of data. The "typical" weekend day peak density of about one boat per eight acres and the approximately 25 percent of this peak use coming from public accesses, indicate that overall lake access may be adequate but that public access may be inadequate. However, repetition is needed to provide reliable estimates of both these variables, neither of which has been addressed by other studies. Issue 3--Non-Local Funding for Land -Related Development The only use information applicable here is visitor origin. There is valid and reliable data available on where people come from to use the public accesses on Lake Minnetonka. This information could be used to address questions of non - local share of funding for boat launches and shore access area. While exact calculations have not been made, it would seem that about 25 to 30 percent of public access users come from the communities surrounding Lake Minnetonka. It should be remembered that access visitor origin may not be the only criterion to use for determining benefits received from public access. Issue 4--Non-local Funding for On -Lake Costs of Public Access, e.g., Public Safety and Law Enforcement Once again, visitor origin information, as a measure of who benefits from these operational costs, could help in developing an approach to non -local funding. The data is not as reliable here. As discussed in issue A, the amount of use from commercial and riparian accesses hr.s been addressetJ b,! only one study. There is also the question of whether all the commercial end riparian access should be seen as a benefit to the local communities arld their residents. In any case, the share of local benefit from on -lake operational activities would probably be higher than the share of Benefits from on -land, access -related activities. Issue 5--intergovernmental Coordination Use research has little to offer on this issue. Indeed, this issue may have more effect on the conduct of valid, reliable research studies than vice -versa. 24