The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About03 14 2016 WSUM PresentationWater Surface Use Management (WSUM) Task Force Report City/Township Joint Work Session March 14, 2016 Why update WSUM? •Lack of regulations on Spring Lake •Ongoing feedback regarding erosion •Last substantial ordinance revision in 1994 •Patrol officer expressed a rise in safety concerns. Task Force Membership Name Affiliation Glenn Kelley Spring Lake Township Board,Spring Lake lakefront owner, Spring Lake Association member, active Spring Lake user Dan Kelly Spring Lake Association, Spring Lake lakefront owner, water enthusiast Wes Mader Shoreline protection advocate, Prior Lake resident,Prior Lake lakeshore owner Christian Morkeberg Water Quality/Environment advocate, Spring Lake Township, Spring Lake lakefront owner, public health/safety advocate Mike Myser Active/passive use advocate, Prior Lake resident, lakeshore owner, environmentalist Tom Stephenson Prior Lake Association, HOA Member Woody Spitzmueller PLSLWD Board, Prior Lake Assn Board, Prior Lake Community Safety Advisory Committee, and Boating Safety Instructor Mike Thibault Shakopee Prior Lake Water Ski Association, Prior Lake Lakeshore Owner Annette Thompson Prior Lake City Council, HOA Member •Education •Enforcement •Public Safety •Lack of WSUM provisions on Spring Lake •Impacts of boat and wind wake •Preservation of recreational opportunities WSUM Task Force Policy Issues Addressed Goals of WSUM •Accommodate all compatible recreational uses where practical and feasible; •Minimize adverse impact on natural resources; •Minimize conflicts between users in a way that provides for maximum use, safety, and enjoyment; and •Conform to the state standards. Lack of knowledge of rules. There is not a specific group that lacks the knowledge but rather boaters of all experience levels have different understandings Variety of Users: Many people only launch their boat once per year (those who live on the lake or have a dock on the lake). Boat Renters: The My Boat Club on Prior Lake has enhanced their training program and all users must ride along with a manager around the entire lake before using the boats. Training for Youth: The Prior Lake Association and Community Ed and Rec annually hold a DNR sanctioned boating safety training for youth. Top 3 WSUM violation issues (from Sheriff’s Office):personal watercraft, watercraft lighting violations, slow no-wake violations. Education Outcomes from Task Force: The Task Force recommends increasing education efforts. Focus on top 3 WSUM violation issues (from Sheriff’s Office): personal watercraft, watercraft lighting violations, slow no-wake violations. Create a Task Force to create an educational program that would tap into existing resources of lake and homeowner associations. The WSUM Task Force generated ideas for education efforts: Targeted groups Install consistent & updated signage at all public boat launch sites; look into posting signs on CR 21 bridge Create a guidance document for property owners relating to slow no-wake buoys and the existing County permit program Education Patrol Prior Lake is one of the 10 most highly used lakes in the state. The Sheriff’s Office has exclusive responsibility for water patrol. There are trained reservists but they must be accompanied by a Sheriff’s Office Deputy at all times. Prior Lake has enforcement presence 4 days per week. No lakes, other than Prior Lake, have regularly scheduled patrols. The DNR filled their Conservation Officer position after a 4 year vacancy and now helps with enforcement (DNR CO is county-wide position). The Sheriff’s Deputy must see a violation in order to enforce it (photos, reports, etc. are not enough). Enforcement Buoys Prior Lake has a number of regulatory or warning buoys that mark hazards and no-wake zones. The Sheriff’s Office stores and places these buoys. The County applies for grants to purchase buoys and other equipment including boats on a regular basis. Private property owners can purchase marker buoys (orange ball shaped) to mark the 150’ no wake Zone. Property owners are responsible for their own buoy, chain/rope, and weight. Anyone can apply for a permit to place a buoy in front of their private property. Marker buoys are not all placed accurately and there is not consistent spacing. Enforcement Outcomes from Task Force: A majority of the Task Force members agreed that there is currently sufficient enforcement on Prior Lake. However, there needs to be better delineation of the 150’ no-wake zone to achieve a higher level of compliance. Some task force members felt that enforcement is not adequate and that measures should be undertaken to increase the amount of overall rules enforcement. A majority of the Task Force agreed that Spring Lake needs additional enforcement. There was concern about response time when the lakes are not being actively patrolled. Enforcement Time of Use Close calls and other towing conflicts during the hour after sunset were a concern of the patrol officer. State law was recently changed to prohibit towing ½ hour after sunset. The City ordinance currently prohibits towing 1 hour after sunset. Towing Members noted that towing people through officially marked slow no-wake zones is a potential safety hazard. Crowding As use on the lake goes up, crowding on the lake and its impact on public safety has become a concern. Public Safety Outcomes from Task Force: Time of Use All Task Force members agreed that the WSUM regulations should follow the new state law for towing (changed from 1 hour after sunset to ½ hour after sunset); this law is currently in place and supersedes the current Prior Lake rule. Towing Restrict all towing through slow no-wake zones on Prior Lake Crowding The task force suggested reviewing other models that use parking restrictions to limit boats on the lake (allow one boat per parking space). Public Safety Impact on Water Quality Regardless of the delivery method (e.g., erosion, resuspension, wave action, etc.), sediment impacts water quality similarly. Sediment from shallow lake areas and shorelines are low in releasable phosphorus. Aquatic plants can help to trap fine sediments and stabilize the lake bottom. Impacts of Waves Wave Energy Both Spring Lake and Prior Lake are seeing an increase in more intensive uses (wake boarding, wake surfing, etc.). Wave energy is greater when boats are accelerating or decelerating. The DeWitte Public Access area has more shoreline impacts than other areas of Prior Lake. Shoreline stabilization practices are changing on Prior Lake. Impacts of Waves Outcomes from Task Force: WSUM regulations likely have a minimal impact on overall water quality (phosphorous) About 60% of the Task Force was in favor of restricting the operation of boats in a bow high manner in the area south of Twin Isle. The remaining Task Force was not in support of restricting uses around the DeWitte Access. The Task Force recommends creation of a guidance document for shoreline stabilization. Impacts of Waves Statewide goals for WSUM include: Accommodating all compatible recreational uses where practical and feasible Minimizing adverse impacts on natural resources Minimizing conflicts between users in a way that promotes maximum use, safety, and enjoyment Task Force members noted that passive uses, such as paddle boarding and kayaking take place in the early morning hours or during the week when there are fewer active users. Active use boaters are generally respectful of fishing boats. Recreational Opportunities Outcomes from Task Force: Recreation was central to all discussions during the Task Force meetings; therefore, no Task Force recommendations are specific to recreational opportunities alone Some members would like to see a “No Wake Wednesday ” Recreational Opportunities There is currently no high-water no-wake restriction on Spring Lake. Spring Lake residents have seen an increase in the amount of boat traffic. Spring Lake residents have seen an increase in the intensity of active uses. The lack of a regulated no-wake zone creates a safety hazard for swimmers. It is beneficial for compliance to have consistency of permanent regulations between Spring Lake and Prior Lake. High-Water provisions should be based on individual lake characteristics. Spring Lake Regulations Outcomes from Task Force: A majority of the Task Force members living on or using Spring Lake agreed that Spring Lake should have the same WSUM regulations as Prior Lake. The City of Prior Lake and Spring Lake Township must pass equivalent WSUM ordinances. The ordinances would include the provision that a temporary, lake-wide slow no-wake requirement is enacted when the water levels reach the Ordinary High Water elevation (912.8’). Spring Lake Regulations Major WSUM Recommendations 1.Update Ordinance 2.Education Task Force 3.Buoy Placement 4.Spring Lake Enforcement Ordinance Revisions Summary Speed Limits & Effective Time Existing Proposed 40 mph maximum,sunrise to 1 hour after sunset (weekends & holidays, Memorial Day through Labor Day) 20 mph maximum, 1 hour after sunset to sunrise 40 mph maximum,sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset (weekends & holidays, Memorial Day through Labor Day) 20 mph maximum, 1/2 hour after sunset to sunrise Ordinance Revisions Summary Area Zoning Existing Proposed Slow no-wake within 150 feet of shore at all times on Prior Lake Prior Lake marked slow no-wake zones defined in ordinance (Wagon Bridge Channel, Reed’s Island Channel, Lords Street Bridge Channel, Boudin’s Bay, Candy Cove, Mud Bay Channel) Slow no-wake within 150 feet of shore at all times on both Prior and Spring Lakes. Marked slow no-wake zones defined in ordinance (Wagon Bridge Channel, Reed’s Island Channel, Lords Street Bridge Channel, Boudin’s Bay, Candy Cove, Mud Bay Channel, and Paradise Bay) Ordinance Revisions Summary Activities Existing Proposed No inflatable water toys,air mattresses, or inner tubes more than 150 feet from shore, unless accompanied by a watercraft No swimming more than 150 feet from shore, unless accompanied by a watercraft No watercraft towing a person on water skis, inner tube, aquaplane or similar device shall operate within 150 feet of shore (exception for launching/landing by direct/safe route) No inflatable water toys, air mattresses, or inner tubes more than 150 feet from shore, unless accompanied by a watercraft No swimming more than 150 feet from shore, unless accompanied by a watercraft No watercraft towing a person on water skis, wakeboards, kneeboards, or barefoot shall operate within 150 feet of shore (exception for launching/landing by direct/safe route) No watercraft towing a person on water skis, inner tube, aquaplane or similar device shall be operated at any time within a Marked Slow No-Wake Zone. Operation of a boat in a sustained, artificially bow-high manner south of Twin Isle. Ordinance Revisions Summary High Water Slow No-Wake Existing Proposed Slow no-wake on entire surface of Prior Lake when water reaches an elevation of 904.0 Effective as of first televised notification on City’s cable channel Public access points must be posted during entire restriction period Removed when water remains below an elevation of 904.0 for 3 consecutive days Slow no-wake on entire surface of Prior Lake when water reaches an elevation of 903.9 (OHW) Slow no-wake on entire surface of Spring Lake when water reaches an elevation of 912.8 (OHW) Effective as of first posting on the City’s website Public access points must be posted during entire restriction period Removed when water remains below a high water elevation for 72 hours Next Steps •Hold Community Meeting •Conduct Public Hearing •DNR Review and Approval of Ordinance •Adoption of Ordinance Questions 1.Do the Board and Council support the ordinance language as presented? 2.Do the Board and Council support the creation of a Task Force to facilitate the education process and work with existing stakeholder groups (i.e. Lake associations and HOAs) to promote the messages. 3.Do the Board and Council support the need for additional enforcement? Should this be addressed at the City, County or SCALE level? 4.Do the Board and Council support creation of a mechanism to ensure adequate placement and spacing of buoys around the lakes? WSUM –Prior Lake Lower Prior Lake –Existing Restrictions Map