All of Lake Minnetonka Minimum Wake

[Big Island Lifer]

FYI
All of Tonka is under a high water warning; therefore the entire lake is minimum wake until further notice. I was out yesterday and had a nice conversation with the Hennipen Cty Water Patrol. I asked him if it is important enough for him to drive after me at full speed across the bay shouldn't they put up signs at the launches and get notices out to the media. He said "they weren't prepared for the water to be this high"
WOW- our tax dollars at work.

 

[jabs]

You would figure with taxes in that area there would be more than enough for some signage.

 

[Big Island Lifer]

Their boat was brand new and there were 4 of them in it.




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[Tonka Boater]

How long will this be in effect?

 

[Big Island Lifer]

Until the water level drops. Of course none of the weekend water cops knew what that threshold is. I have been meaning to call the sheriffs office but I haven't gotten around to it.
They have had the dam open for a couple of weeks but it's not making much of a dent.
I am not sure who is making the call the LMCD or the Three Rivers Park District or the DNR.




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[66pony]

Need to head over to White Bear Lake, Hear they are down 5 feet this year.

 

[Big Island Lifer]

http://minnetonka.waterpatrol.org/

Will give water level and flow rates for the dam.


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[Big Island Lifer]

Still minimum and looks like it will be for a while. : (




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[Tonka Boater]

Dang -- that stinks. I'm splashing Friday and was hoping to open it up after it's been sitting all winter. I was at my slip last week getting it prepped and I was surprised at how high the water is. The water was up on the lawn and creeping toward the gazebo last week. Lighthouse Island was almost under water last week after all of the rain. The fishing opener will be interesting if the water doesn't start dropping soon.

 

[Big Island Lifer]

We will need at least a week of no rain before they lift the restrictions. Here are the specific rules regarding the restrictions. You can make a wake if you are outside of 600 ft from shore. That leaves enough space to get up on plane for about a mile on the lower lake.

High Water Ordinance


From time to time, lake levels reach the point where normal recreational boat traffic can seriously damage the shoreline. If this is an imminent possibility, the LMCD in cooperation with the Sheriff's Water Patrol, will make a "High Water Declaration".
Following is the ordinance covering this declaration.
Section 3.021. High Water (From the LMCD Code) Subd. 1. Policy; Purpose. The Board of Directors of the LMCD has determined that (i) the operation of watercraft at normal speeds on the Lake during periods of High Water, as defined in this section, has serious adverse effects on the shoreline of the Lake and structures existing on the shoreline, and (ii) the restriction of watercraft wakes during periods of High Water is essential to the conservation of the shoreline of the Lake and the overall quality of the Lake as a natural resource. It is the purpose of this section to provide reasonable regulation of watercraft wakes during periods of High Water, and to establish a mechanism for enforcing of those limits and adequately informing Lake users of the existence and need for the regulations.
Subd. 2. Definitions. For purposes of this section the terms defined in this subdivision have the meanings given them.
a) "High Water" means a High Water Declaration has been made as provided in this section and has not been terminated.
b) "Minimum Wake" means the wave moving out from a watercraft and trailing behind in a widening "V" of insufficient size to affect other watercraft or be detrimental to the shoreline.
c) "Regulated Area" means (i) all of the surface area of the following bays and portions of the Lake; Emerald Lake, Libbs Bay, Seton Lake, Bay St. Louis, Black Lake, Coffee Cove, Big Island Passage, Robinson's Bay, Tanager Lake, Forest Lake, Carson's Bay, Excelsior Bay, Priest's Bay, St. Alban's Bay, Gray's Bay, Stubb's Bay, and Jenning's Bay, and (ii) the surface area of the Lake within a distance of 600 feet of the shoreline on all parts of the lake not included in paragraph (i) above. (emphasis added)
Subd. 3. General Rule. When a High Water Declaration has been made, it is unlawful for a person to operate a watercraft in the Regulated Area at a speed of more than 5 miles per hour or a speed that results in more than a Minimum Wake.
Subd. 4. Procedure: High Water Declaration. The Executive Director is authorized and directed to determine from authoritative sources the Executive Director deems reliable the water level of the Lake from time to time. The Executive Director may make a High Water Declaration when the Lake elevation has been at or above elevation 930.0 feet NGVD for a period of five consecutive days; provided, readings show an elevation of 930.0 feet or more on the first day and the fifth day (or next day thereafter when readings are available), at least one such reading between the first and last reading, and no intervening readings below 930.0 feet. The Executive Director shall make a High Water Declaration when the Lake elevation either 1) has been at or above elevation 930.0 feet NGVD for a period of eight consecutive days; provided, readings show an elevation of 930.0 feet or more on the first day and eighth day (or next day thereafter when readings are available), at least two such readings between the first and last reading, and no intervening reading below 930.0 feet, or 2) the Lake elevation has reached or exceeded 930.25 feet NGVD. Upon making a High Water Declaration, the Executive Director must forthwith take the following steps:
a) Notify the Hennepin County Sheriff's Water Patrol that a High Water Declaration has been made and that the wake regulations of this section are in effect as of a specific date and time.
b) Notify, by any practicable means, marina operators, associations and other interested persons that a High Water Declaration has been made.
c) Take whatever action deemed by the Executive Director to be necessary to disseminate as widely as possible the fact that a High Water Declaration has been made and that the wake regulations of this section are in effect.

 

[Tonka Boater]

With that restriction the only place you can make a wake is a straight line from Carson's Bay to Brown's Bay. Hope it recedes soon.