02-09-1987 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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over shorelands and shoreland development. Its authority over shorelands is largely over public recreation facilities. Shorelands remain largely in the realm of the 14 municipalities. Hennepin County's most direct involvement in the management and use of the lake, other than highway and transportation issues, is through the Sheriff's Water Patrol. That division of the County Sheriff's operation is charged with the enforcement of speed limits, boating rules and regulations, winter use reg- ulations and boating safety in general. The Patrol has its own boats, snowmo- biles and other equipment. The Water Patrol operates with a nucleus of sheriff deputies supplemented with volunteer officers. The Suburban Hennepin Regional Park District is a Hennepin County Agency with its own board that develops, operates and maintains parks in four metropolitan counties. Hennepin Parks' holdings on Lake Minnetonka currently include Wild Goose Chase Island, Wawatasso Island, Noerenberg Memorial County Park, and part of Big Island. In the fall of 1986, Hennepin Parke is exploring the possibil- ity of acquiring and developing a regional park on the western end of Lake Minnetonka in Minnetrista. The agency is important to Lake Minnetonka because of its regional scope, power base, the extent of its present holdings, and the quality of its staff. The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District has authority over the entire watershed of Minnehaha Creek, of which Lake Minnetonka is a part. The Watershed District has state statutory authoririaa involving planning and development. The agency playa a major role in the State Department of Natural Resources permitting pro- cess, a factor particularly of interest in the development of new commercial fa- cilities on the Lake. The Metropolitan Council of the Twin Cities is also a regional agency based in state statutes. The Council has planning, funding, and review and consistency authority over minor civil divisions in the seven metropolitan couaties. The agency has been active in planning on the lake, including participation in the 1985 Governor's Task Force. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has authority over public access, use of the lake, shoreland development through its permit process and boat reg- istration and operation. Currently, the Department does not own or operate any access points on the Lake, but one has been planned and is ready for develop- ment. That access at King's Point, is the subject of litigation between the Department and Minnetriata. It is the DNR's stated intent to acquire public ac- cess on the western end of the lake. These agencies, along with the 14 municipalities comprise the management struc- ture of the Lake and its shoreline. Other State and local agencies are in- volved, but their participation is of leaser importance or scope in affecting water use patterns, public and private access, and shoreland development.