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memo <br />12 of 14 <br />The main findings of the Lake Owasso Use Attainability Analysis have been summarized <br />previously in this memorandum. It is recommended that this information be articulated more <br />clearly in the revised GLWMO 2011 Watershed Management Plan. <br />4. Why are Lake Emily and Lake Bennett (as well as lakes in a rural setting) of poor water quality <br />when they are not subject to water - skiing /motor boating activity? <br />Lake water quality is affected by many factors, including lake type (size, depth, biological <br />community), phosphorus loads, and lake uses. Lake Emily and Bennett Lake are both more <br />shallow than Lake Owasso; Lake Emily's maximum depth is 15 feet and Bennett Lake's <br />maximum depth is 10 feet. These more shallow lakes typically have poorer water quality than <br />lakes such as Owasso that have deeper portions. The in -lake biological interactions in Bennett <br />Lake may lead to poor water quality. The lake has an abundance of panfish, which, through a <br />cascade of interactions, can lead to high concentrations of algae. Lakes in a rural setting may <br />have similar issues — high external loads from agricultural sources, poorly balanced in -lake <br />biological communities, and shallow depths. <br />S. Safety concerns of establishing a no -wake zone on additional portions of Lake Owasso and the <br />increase in boat traff ic on a smaller portion of the lake. <br />This is a legitimate concern and one of the concerns that would be addressed during the <br />evaluation of extending the no -wake zone to additional portions of the lake if the GLWMO <br />decides to move forward with this Implementation Activity in the future. <br />6. Impact of a no -wake zone on property values. <br />Lake use restrictions for Ramsey County are summarized by the MN DNR (Minnesota Lake and <br />River Use Restriction Summary, December 31, 2010 by MN DNR). In Table 6 below, the no- <br />wake zone (as feet from shore) and other restrictions (such as water skiing restrictions) are listed <br />for Ramsey County lakes. <br />There is no evidence that no -wake zones decrease property values. Lake Johanna in Arden Hills <br />and Pleasant Lake in North Oaks have more stringent restrictions on motor boat activity than <br />Lake Owasso and still have high property values. In addition, a study of lake property values on <br />37 lakes in northern Minnesota by the Mississippi Headwaters Board and Bemidji State <br />University in 2003 found that lakeshore property values positively corresponded to lake water <br />quality. Property values consistently decreased with decreased lake transparency, ranging from <br />$36,000 to millions of dollars per 1 m decrease in lake transparency. The results from this study <br />imply that if a no -wake zone on Lake Owasso improved lake water quality, that lake property <br />values would actually increase. <br />Table 6— Ramsey County Lake Use Restrictions <br />City <br />Arden Hills <br />Lake <br />Lake Johanna <br />Other Slow/ No-wake <br />zone (feet from restrictions <br />shor- ) (feet from shore) <br />250 and lake center <br />Little Canada <br />Lake Gervais <br />150 <br />Maplewood <br />Lake Phalen <br />300 <br />Mounds View <br />Spring Lake <br />300 <br />New Brighton <br />Long Lake <br />100 or WL > 866.22' <br />Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. <br />651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128 p: 651.770.8448 f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com <br />