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<br />In the spring of 1999, r was canoeing around the island when <br />r discovered a float just under the surface. I pulled it up and <br />saw it appeared to be part of the slalom water~ski course from <br />1998. I looked around and saw another, then another. That's <br />when I stopped looking. I don't know how many more were <br />there. Permits do not extend through the winter. All material <br />must be removed from the lake. In August of 200 I, I watched <br />them take down their course in the main part of the lake in <br />the evening. [n every case I observed, they only removed the <br />top float. They left all the other apparatus in the water <br />overnight (which is illegal without a permit, but perhaps they <br />had a permit). They set their course up in the only place <br />where r have ever caught a walleye in the lake. With all kinds <br />of lines, concrete blocks and who knows what down there, I <br />wouldn't go fishing there. And even if they had a slalom <br />water~ski course that sunk when not in use, there would be <br />perhaps a 1,000 feet of hose, other lines and apparatus under water so you couldn't fish there. <br /> <br />Estimated Slalom Water Ski COLlrse.lmpacts <br />On Peltier Lake . <br /> <br /> <br />Sllllom'water ski C:OunRI slZIJ to liCIlle <br />I, I course I I 11~~u:~ndS <br />Smallest version of olllclal <br />slalom watlllr ski ,;oum <br />aboul2.300 x 400' <br /> <br />North <br /> <br />l' <br /> <br />1000 Feet <br /> <br />There are alternatives for those who want a slalom water-.ski <br />course. Goose Lake,justsoutl1 of White Bear.Lake,haS a <br />permanent slalom Water~Ski course installation. Just across <br />the road, on adjacent Centerville Lake, there is a water ski <br />club that performs at least weekly. They already regularly <br />obtain a permit for a water ski jump and perhaps this club is <br />also interested in a slalom water~ski course in the same rough <br />area. Centerville Lake is much bigger in its usable area. <br /> <br />As boating pressures continue to increase in the future, it will <br />be even more important to be careful ~ everyone has eq-pal. <br />access to lake resources. Not pemntting slalom water-ski <br />courses just ensures that everyone can fish. boat, and water <br />ski with equal access to the Peltier Lake resource. It also <br />helps ensure protection of the rookery. <br /> <br />Details - Behavior Observed <br />It may also serve some perspective to describe some observed <br />behavior of the two individuals involved. <br /> <br />One family is apparently quite insistent on their occupation of public waters. Perhaps they heard about my <br />concern for the rookery. On July 10, I was visited by a husband and wite who rudely threatened me with a <br />lawsuit saying r was somehow denying them the right of their disabled child to ski the slalom course, or <br />something like that. They said the ADA was going to get me. They said they were going to sue the Peltier Lake <br />Association for numerous offences. I said I wanted everything in writing. I never got anything. An attorney told <br />me this is not an ADA issue. <br /> <br />Regarding the other person, all the years he had his current boat on Peltier Lake, he apparently telt no need to <br />license it. It wasn't until DNR and other vehicles started showing up that he finally got a license for his boat in <br />July. I have seen him drive his boat right next to fishermen when the whole lake was clear. I was fishing once <br />myself when he drove by within 50 feet pulling a skier. He happened to come back near us and my daughter <br />called out to him, "Can't you see we're fisqing here?" He said, "There aren't any fish there." I said, "No, o:ot <br />anymore. .. <br /> <br />My opinion is that the behll:vior of dll:lSe two individuuls should not be rewarded by reserving 2,300 feet of <br />Peltier Lake for their private Wie. Strict enforcement of new clear regulations as described betore are required to <br />protect the Heron rookery, the environment, and normal users of the lake. <br />