Boaters, lake residents debate proposed new rule on Minnetonka

A proposed new rule to slow boaters on two popular Lake Minnetonka bays pitted dozens of lake homeowners against one another Wednesday.

The rule, which would prohibit boaters from going more than 5 miles per hour or creating a wake on parts of Harrisons and West Arm bays, would be the first speed restriction added to the Twin Cities' largest lake since 2008.

Six residents submitted a petition to the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District, which regulates use on the lake, asking to designate about 85 acres as a "quiet water area."

On Wednesday, the conservation district's 14-member board, which represents each of the 14 cities around the lake, heard feedback from residents in a public hearing on the request. They could make a decision as soon as Dec. 10.

"Tonight is listening mode," Board chairman Dan Baasen said before the meeting. "Each community probably has an opinion as to how this impacts them."

The area for proposed speed restrictions stretches from the north Seton Channel area to the east end of Deering Island — about a 2-mile perimeter that includes homes in Orono, Mound and Spring Park.

While speed restrictions already exist on several parts of massive Lake Minnetonka, such as the Seton Channel nearby, most of the areas were established three decades ago.

This past summer, the conservation district implemented unprecedented lakewide wake restrictions for almost two months because of historically high water levels.

But instead of calming the busy lake, Bickmann said erosion on Harrisons Bay was exacerbated by boaters who didn't follow the speed rule in certain areas.

However, other lake residents, like Ed Rockwell of Mound, said the proposed speed restrictions could affect hundreds of other residents on surrounding bays as well as lake businesses. He presented a petition to the board that more than 450 people signed against the proposed changes.

"I've never seen a safety issue there at all," said Rockwell, who has lived there for 14 years. "It's always been a safe place recreationally."

Sarah Reinhardt, mayor of Spring Park, also spoke out against the request as a resident of West Arm bay, echoing the lack of public safety issues in the area.

"What it boils down to for me is it's not a private lake," she said in an interview. "It's for everybody in the state to enjoy."

If the board approves the request Dec. 10, the board would still have to approve an amendment to its code in January, with the rule taking effect by the start of the next boating season.

Baasen said that the board won't take the decision lightly because, if approved, he said, other areas of the lake could use the same reasoning in similar requests.

"It's almost a legal issue where you could set a precedent," he said. "We want to make the lake a better place — whatever that is."

Kelly Smith • 612-673-4141