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Issue 6--Municipal Policies Which Relate to Lake Use and Development clo the Lake <br />There is valid and reliable data on the number of boats stored on the shores of <br />Lake Minnetonka, by boat type (runabout, cruiser, sailboat, etc.) and source of <br />boat (commercial, multiple residential, other residential). This data has been <br />collected by the LMCD for several years. The number of boats stored on the <br />lake has dropped about 15 percent over the last 10 years. However, L`,e number <br />of boats stored at commercial and multiple residential sites has increased by <br />about 15 and. 25 percent, respectively. To the extent that municipal policies <br />can control storage, the data speaks to how well this is being done. <br />Issue ]--Commercial Access to Lake Minnetonka <br />Comments on issues 1 and 6 are applicable here. Commercial access has <br />increased according to data provided by the LMCD. The proportion of use that <br />comes from commercial accesses at peak on a typical weekend day approaches 50 <br />percent, according to the 1984 DNR study. Data from the 1983 task force report <br />indicates that about 35 percent of the potential "boats on the water" were com- <br />mercial access boats in 1982 (pp. 12 and 45 of the report show 2,966 commercial <br />craft and of a total of 8,622 public access pLrking spots and private boats <br />stored on the lake). Transient boats launched at private marinas would raise <br />this percentage somewhat. However, the number of unanswered questions and a <br />gap of 15 percent between the only two app'icdble data sources indicates that <br />more study is needed. <br />A related issue --Public information,/education/relations about use on Lake <br />Minnetonka <br />There is some research that shows the kinds of pudic infc-mation and education <br />that needs to be done. Water patrol activity data shows the hct spots needing <br />some kind of public education concerning rules for surface use. Valid and <br />reliable data exists on perception of crowding and on areas that are crowded. <br />Public relations and adequate access could stets people to less crowded times <br />and places. The 1984 DNR study contains some ;formation on boater opinion <br />about alcohol use and potentiai surface use restrictions. Speed limas are the <br />most commonly supported restrictions on use. Non-alcoholic beverages are seen <br />as the appropriate drink for boat operators by the majority of people. The <br />proportion of opinion in favor of both of the measures is greater for lakeshcre <br />residents than for public access users. While the 1994 DNR ;nterviews need <br />repetition, it would seem that these results provide a reasonable place to <br />start in forming a public information/education program for use of Lake <br />Minnetonka. <br />Issue 8--Status of Research on Lake Minnetonka Use <br />This section of the task force report deals entirely ..th this issue. <br />Summaries of research have been given. All that remains is recommendations <br />concerning the scope of research needed to support decisions on to lake use <br />issues. <br />Recommendations for Additional Research <br />1. There should be expended use monitoring, especially for peaks and length of <br />peaks. There seems to be some opinion and data that suggest level or <br />declining peak use. This needs subsIantiation. <br />25 <br />