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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7A WSUM Public Hearing PresentationWater Surface Use Management (WSUM) Public Hearing May 9, 2016 WSUM Process •Winter/Spring 2015 •Reviewed ordinance •Held two community information meetings to receive input •Identified issues •April 2015 •Joint City Council & Township Board meeting •WSUM Task Force created WSUM Process •April 2015 –March 2016 •WSUM Task Force •March 2016 •Joint City Council & Township Board workshop to review Task Force findings •April 2016 •Community information meeting (4/28) Major WSUM Task Force Recommendations 1.Create Education Task Force 2.Address Buoy Placement 3.Consider Additional Spring Lake Enforcement 4.Update Ordinance Ordinance Process •May 9, 2016 –Public Hearing •DNR review and approval of ordinance •City Council & Town Board consider adopting ordinance 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 Ordinance Revisions Summary 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 Towing Task Force members noted that towing people through congested no- wake area zones is a potential safety hazard. Inconsistencies with towing at no-wake speeds within 150’ perimeter zone Outcome from WSUM Task Force: Restrict all towing through marked no-wake area zones on Prior Lake but allow towing at no-wake speed within the 150’ perimeter zone that were previously restricted. Activities Ordinance Revisions Summary Lakes are dynamic environments subject to natural and artificial erosional factors This issue is not unique to Prior Lake Several studies quantify magnitude of boat wakes and associated energy; potential for shoreline erosion increases with wave energy/size Reduction of boat wave energy should focus on areas having large boat passage frequency and areas where bank erosion is most problematic (US Army Corps of Engineers, 2008) Impacts of Waves Outcomes from WSUM Task Force: Increase in boat traffic Shift in active use patterns Wave energy is greater when boats are accelerating or decelerating Shoreline stabilization practices are changing on Prior Lake DeWitte Public Access area: Unique location due to several compounding factors that are not all present anywhere else on Prior Lake Lake configuration –narrow available travel areas Relatively steep shorelines DNR access point; accelerating & decelerating Traffic flow patterns on Upper Prior Lake Impacts of Waves Outcome from WSUM Task Force: Task Force investigated ways to reduce overall wave energy/impacts in this area Considered several other options to address the compounding factors Narrow majority of the WSUM Task Force was in favor of restricting the operation of boats in a sustained, artificially bow high manner in the area south of Twin Isle Other activities such as water skiing, tubing, general boating not impacted Enforcement by Sheriff’s Office The Task Force recommends creation of a guidance document for shoreline stabilization DeWitte Public Access Area Summary Ordinance Revisions Summary 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. No operation of a boat in a sustained, artificially bow-high manner south of Twin Isle. Next Steps •Public hearing •DNR review and approval of ordinance •City & Township consider adopting ordinance •Education Task Force