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

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- I ~ and Centerville. To keep a course setup overnight, a pennit from the sheriff is required. In a meeting January 23, 2002, the DNR, Anoka Parks and others expressed concern for the rookery and did not want slalom water- ski activity next to the rookery. However, the sheriff attending that meeting said there is no regulation against it, so he would issue a permit if asked. Again, if the rookery is to be protected, local formal regulation is required. In addition, the normal users of Peltier Lake need protection. The main part of Peltier Lake is about 2,000 feet by 4,000 feet. A slalom water-ski course has the effect of privately reserving for one boat, an area roughly 2,300 feet by 400 feet. In my opinion, Peltier Lake is so small, and so heavily used by fisherman and other boaters, that reserving practically 12 of the fishing area of the entire lalce for one boat should not be allowed - not even tor even IS minutes. An exception, given a public hearing with adequate public leedback might permit the setup of such a course for a special, one time, event, but giving one person exclusive private use of 2,3 00 feet by 400 feet of public lalce any time they want is ridiculous. All indications are that an entire species, the unique and uncommon Black-crowned Night Heron, has completely vanished since 1998, which exactly coincides with the start of slalom water-ski activity next to the rookery. To me, this is not a coincidence. After foraging at night, Blaclc-crowned Night Herons come back to roost dwing the daytime (not nighttime like many other birds) and are extremely vulnerable to daytime disturbance which is what would happen with a slalom water-ski course next to the rookery. An entire species being wiped out from the rookery is very disturbing to me. Summary - A Solution I recommend protection with local regulation something like as tollows (see also the map in the appendix): I. At the island and north, establish a 110 walce zone. (This prevents fast boats fi'om disturbing the rookery and preserves the sensitive environment.) Authority: City of Li110 Lakes and CenterviIle. 2. The activity of skiing in slalom water-ski courses is not allowed anywhere on Peltier Lalce. (This protects all users of the lake.) Authority: City ofLino Lakes and Centerville. 3. Permits for slalom water-ski courses should not be issued. (With #2, this is not needed. However, without #2, tIus would go along way toward opening the lalce for other users as the floats, lines, and anchors might occasionally be removed so someone else could use the area. Realize, the course could still be setup every day all year still reserving the area. That is why #2 is needed.) Authority: Sheriff. 4. At least one public hearing should be required to grant exemptions to any of the ordinance. (This is the best way to inform the commwlity and obtain feedback from all the users of the resource to coordinate a one-time event, for example.) Authority: City ofLino Lalces and Centervme. S. The island should be posted as a bird sanctuary with no trespassing. Signs should be added at the boat launch, and buoys, markers, and other signs should be located by the island. Authority: Anoka County ParIes. [ hope the various governments pull together and suppmt an action that will help restore and protect the Heroll rookery, restore equal access tor everyone to the Peltier Lalce resource, and preserve and protect the environment from damage. Details - Mv Backl!round I've lived on Peltier Lake since 1979. In 1989, I started the Peltier Lake Association. Hexe are some of the accomplishments: .. Worked lalce level issues when St Paul Water pWllped Centerville and Peltier Lalce down 6 teet in 1988, .. Participated on the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) Citizen Advisory Committee for 3 years and learned much about watersheds. .. Began a roughly 4 year Curlyleaf Pondweed harvesting d'tort tor Peltier Lake in 1989. .. Motivated RCWD to implement a $90,000 Cleanwater Partnership water quality study for the Centerville and Peltier Lake watershed in 1990. ~ Worked darn level issues as landowners upstream wanted the dam removed and/or lake levels dropped over winter. .. Monitor Peltier Lake water quality lor tile Metropolitan Council" started in 1989. . , Launched an eftort to manually dig out recently discovered Eurasian Watermiltoil in Peltiel' Lake in the fall of2000. · In 200 I, lound $5,000 in RCWD grallt money to help harvest and attempt to control the exotic Curlyleaf Pondweed in Peltier Lalce soutIl of the island.