2002-03-12 P& Z Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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, fishing and boating in the no-wake zone provides a safety zone free of high-speed boats. I personally think a no-wake zone as proposed enhances use of the lake. Most everyone cruises around the island at no-wake speed already. The only impact the no-wake zone has is on the slalom water-ski course which shouldn't be there anyway. High speed boating in that shallow silty area kicks up phosphorus in the sediments that is not good for the lake. It spreads across the whole lake because the flow is north to south. Clearing out that area as was done is like filling the lake with carp that stir up the bottom. Ask any water quality expert about this. An expert told me the water quality in Rice Creek lakes up the chain is great at Clear Lake, great at Mud Lake (which is full of aquatic plants), and at Howard Lake, the water quality goes right in the dumpster because there are no aquatic plants and the lake is full of carp. You don't want to be clearing out beneficial aquatic plants. (Peltier Lake is downstream of Howard Lake.) I believe the Heron rookery with all of its natural wonders is compatible with normal boating on Peltier Lake. It can accommodate fishing, jet skies, water skiing, and canoeing. I believe we can have almost all on Peltier Lake. But I also believe that Peltier Lake can't do everything. The one thing it can not do well is accommodate uncontrolled slalom water-ski course skiing. The main "high speed" part of Peltier Lake is about 2,000 feet by 4,000 feet. A slalom water-ski course, when in use, has the effect of privately reserving 2,300 feet by 400 feet for one boat which dominates the entire area. Peltier Lake almost always has fishing boats and other watercraft on the lake and these activities must go around the slalom water-ski course activity. Why should one person effectively get exclusive use of nearly one third of the fishing route of the lake? When a slalom water-ski course is not in use, it still has the effect of cordoning off roughly 800 feet by 80 feet because of the placement ofits 22 buoys, lines, floats, and anchors. Because the usable area in Peltier Lake is relatively small, dedication of an area that size to one person who isn't even using the lake is not justified in my opinion. What if everybody did that? I'm not opposed to one-time events, but I believe it should be coordinated with the community. There is no reason why Peltier Lake should not have regnlations similar to White Bear Lake or Lake Minnetonka who do not allow slalom water-ski courses without special permission from the local community. In addition, White Bear Lake and Lake Minnetonka are much bigger and accommodate slalom water-ski courses much easier than Peltier Lake. But the first uestion is: do ou want to save the Herons or not? That is the onl uestion on that table at the moment. It seems to me that a no-wake zone has virtuall no im act on an one exc t for the two eo Ie who want to setu a slalom water-ski course north of the island. And besides for et the Herons hi~ s~eed boat traffic in the shallow waters north of the island is not ood for the environment an There will be 2 public hearings on the proposed ordinance so vour feedback will be heard. A second question is: do you want some controls put on the slalom water-ski activity? Do you want anyone from anywhere to be able to setup a slalom water-ski course, use it all day, every day ofthe year, and have no say in the matter. That is the current default situation. Anyone can do anything. Is that what you want? Do you want 2, or 3 or more slalom water-ski courses set up on Peltier Lake? I lJersonall. think it is worth savin the Herons. Action is needed this ear or the Herons are likel oners forever. I recommend suuport for the no-wake zone as suggested bv the DNR and Anoka Parks. I think it will rotect the Herons and benefit some of the more assive activities on the lake like fishing and canoein without hinderin water skiin or other eneral boatin . I'd like to hear vour opinion. Please call 651-407-0155. Thank you. Wayne LeBlanc