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Master This Comment Date Who Made Comment List # Tables # attendance in excess of 50 people. At the public meeting, Barr and the GLWMO identified this as a major surprise and that while it was always thought that the largest part of the watershed (53 %) feeding Lake Owasso was being filtered as it came through the wetlands this was no longer the case. Discharges of untreated storm water run -off, particularly public properties (especially roads), was also cited numerous times as a bigger priority (than no -wake zones) and had been demonstrated to have correlation with poor water quality. The frustration here also centered on the lack of priority for these more significant needs, i.e. fix the up- stream problems first. 14 9 There are multiple concerns from the many people that the Association has heard from regarding a no -wake / no- boating proposal on Lake Owasso, below I have tried to August 11, 2011 Edward Roberts highlight what I have understood to be the main issues: Lower property values. Several people reacted that a no -wake / no- boating zone would reduce property values. In fact one homeowner, in the middle of finalizing plans to build, declared that if this goes through they would not build. Others are furious that an unelected body could simply insert a statement in a document that could potentially have so much impact on their enjoyment of the lake and detrimental economic value without any definitive facts. There are many places to complete no -wake studies before impacting values and lifestyles on Lake Owasso. A few people also added that Lake Judy and Lake Emily have poorer water quality than Owasso, and they do not have boating activity — so suggesting that stopping boating activity on Owasso is at best speculative! 15 10 The lake is already too crowded on most weekend days and this no -wake rule will place the same number of watercraft into a smaller area, thereby increasing watercraft August 15, 2011 John Ledy density and reducing safety even further. 16 11 The no -wake zone would be extremely challenging to enforce with the limited amount of time the sheriff is on the lake and no clear way to designate the what area is no- August 15, 2011 John Ledy wake. 17 12 If a no wake zone were introduced, and an attempt also made to decrease watercraft volume (so as not to increase watercraft density) then another set of regulations would August 15, 2011 John Ledy also need to be enacted; for example minimizing the number of trailer parking spots for watercraft that is tailored to Lake Owasso. This in turn is not really "regulatable" in that it is not uncommon for tailored watercraft to park on nearby private property. In reality you really can't "regulate watercraft volume via rules and regulations ". Rather the system regulates itself by potential users choosing not to access the lake when they see the lake is busy. What can be and is done is to increase Sheriff Patrol at peak usage times, like Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day to ensure public safety. 18 13 The 150' rule surrounding the shoreline is already more than sufficient as a no wake zone. Any additional no -wake area simply concentrates the same number of watercraft August 15, 2011 John Ledy into a smaller area. 19 14 If the no -wake zone applied to an area where a lake resident has frontage they would be restricted from departing or returning to their premise except in a no wake fashion. August 15, 2011 John Ledy Such residents would also argue that a no wake zone in their vicinity would reduce property value. The City of Roseville and Shoreview may not want to have properties devalued where their tax revenue would be lessened. 20 15 Studies indicate that improperly filtered run -off (not watercraft traffic) is the overriding contributor to phosphorus loading. August 15, 2011 John Ledy 21 16 If the argument is that watercraft movement is responsible for phosphorus release, then why are rural lakes near farms without watercraft activity often green? Run -off is a August 15, 2011 John Ledy much larger contributor to water quality than the effects of watercraft movement. 22 17 Lake Emily and Bennett do not appear to have good water clarity. If watercraft activity has a significant impact on phosphorus release, why is the clarity on Emily and Bennett August 15, 2011 John Ledy clouded given even though there is no boat traffic there? 23 18 Newer motorized boats and inboard boats, propel water in a more lateral direction vs. a downward direction, hence minimizing any disruption to bottom sediment. August 15, 2011 John Ledy 24 19 Research indicates that the constant energy of wave action has far more impact than wakes or propeller movement from watercraft. August 15, 2011 John Ledy 25 20 Similar studies point to carp as a significant source of sediment disruption and clouded water. August 15, 2011 John Ledy 26 21 Water clarity on Lake Owasso goes down the most after a major rain storm. This indicates that the major phosphorus loading source is the result of what comes into the lake August 15, 2011 John Ledy Grass Lake Watershed Management Organization — 2011 Watershed Management Plan Response to Comments: 60 -dav review period 9/19/2011 Page 2