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CMP Part 4A 'l:ransportatign Plan LAKE ACCESS PRESER VA TION AND MANAGEMENT With more than 40 miles of Lake Minnetonka shoreline and nearly 5 miles of additional lake shorelines, Orono's lakes provide a significant recreational resource for all Orono residents, not just for those who own property abutting the lakes. This value was long ago realized by the City fathers, as well as by early land developers. In order to provide lake access for the general public, as well as to provide for fire department access to the lake as a water source, a number of lake access corridors were created as the shoreland developed. These typically are platted, dedicated right-of- ways leading from the local road system to the shoreline, and are commonly from 16'to 66' in width. The historic level of use of these right-of-ways (sometimes referred to as "fire lanes" or "lake access roads") ranges from minimal to year-round. Certain of these corridors have been maintained by the City for local swimming beaches or as winter snowmobile and ice-fishing accesses. Certain accesses are provided with docks for fishing, and some have ramp areas suitable for launching a small boat. However, most do not have designated parking available, and are primarily intended to serve the neighborhood rather than the general public. A number of these access corridors have steep topography and experience a relatively low level of usage. The value of these corridors to the general public both now and in the future is too great to be measured. While an access corridor or fire lane may appear to an adjacent landowner as abandoned, there may well be a future public need for that corridor that may not be obvious today. The Minnesota Supreme Court in 1944 (Application of Baldwin, et al No. 33721 for vacation of a platted dedicated lake access road) upheld the value of retaining the public's right to access the lake. In an excerpt from the findings of the Court: 66781s court requires no proof that Lake Minnetonka is a priceless heritage of the people of Minnesota, to be preserved and passed on to posterity. Judicial notice will betaken of the fact that it is one of the most precious jewels in the string of Ten Thousand Lakes of which Minnesota is so justly proud... Because of its wide expanse and proximity to our metropolitan areas, it is much frequented and used for boating,fishing,picnicking and bathing -perhaps more than any other lake in the state. Its shore line of nearly 100 miles is dotted with permanent homes and summer cottages, not only at its waters edge,but extending far back front the shore. But the use of the lake is not confined to dwellers on its shore or nearby. During the sununer season especially, it is the mecca for thousands upon thousands of urbanites, not so fortunate as to possess a lake home, who-young and old alike-seek its shores and waters for diverse recreational purposes. To those who do not indulge in active recreation, it affords the opportunity of communing with nature at its best. With the increase in the permanent City of Orono Community Management Plan Page 4A-32 C6.. ')Ann