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Lake Owasso Task Force <br />12/4/96 minutes <br />attending: Peggy Egli, John Gramer, Sheila Prok, Jim Stark, Jim Vanous, Betty Wolfangle, <br />Gary Wood, Steve North <br />absent: Deane Anklan <br />~anp elists: Kim Elverum -Boat and Water Safety Coordinator, DNR; Terri Roesler -Boating <br />Staff Specialist., DNR; Sgt. Doug Biehn, Ramsey County Sheriffs Water Patrol <br />otherattendees: Steve Gallop, Nito Quitevis, and Lake Josephine Homeowner's Association <br />representatives. <br />chair: Gary Wood <br />1. Approval of minutes from 11/13/96. <br />Minutes were unanimously approved with the following corrections: Jim Stark provided a <br />written summary of comments from an aquatic biologist at USGS/Hydrology, but will not <br />invite them to the 12/18/96 meeting. Kate Linder was absent 12/18. <br />2 Panel discussion of safety/regulatory issues. <br />Panelists (above) addressed the LOTF's questions roughly in numerical order; question #'s <br />are in boldface. For clarity, comments are grouped under the pertinent question. <br />1. What la« s, other than safe boating, affect water surface use of Owasso? <br />MN Rules (86Bj about boating safety are the primary rules for water surface use (KE); <br />other local or criminal ordinances apply on water and land but offenses on water are rare (DB j. <br />2. What is the rationale behind DNR's water surface management standards, including slo~i-no-~+~ake zones and <br />speed limits? Ho~ti ~i~ere the standards chosen? <br />The management standards were developed in 1980 after 2 public hearings and 2 years' work <br />(KE). <br />3. Are there official Lake O~ti~asso maps that describe lake bottom composition and obstructions or hazards to <br />nay igation? Define "obstruction or hazard to nay igation". <br />LOTF already has the official DNR map of Owasso. KE supplied info from the Lakes <br />Inventory Inquiry to GW. Bruce Gilbertson of the Regional Fisheries Office or Duane <br />Shodeen or Ecological Services could. provide info on lake stocking, bottom types and clarity <br />(KE). <br />Obstructions or hazards to navigation are not usually on DNR maps. Acommonly-known <br />rockpile (for example) would not be marked unless there was an accident report. Marker <br />buoys are provided by counties. Alternatively lake associations may purchase buoys, obtain a <br />county permit, and install them ($60 to $72 per buoy + anchor). Hazards can also be man- <br />made. <br />4. Hotr current are the data on ~-~ater surface use and/or type of use for area lakes including O~~ asso? What are <br />the trends? <br />Lake use data are from 1984, when 20-30 metro lakes were surveyed from the air and at <br />public and. marina accesses (see 21). On average, 22.3 boats were in use on a summer <br />weekend and 15.3 on a weekday. A similar survey for 1996 is in progress (contact: Tim Kelly <br />of the DNR) and. raw data should be available by Jan. or Feb (TR). Minnetonka is surveyed <br />every 2 yr, and usage has been ~ constant from 1984-1996 (KE). <br />5. What is the accident record on O~;asso? What types of boats were invol~~ed, ~i~hat «ere the causes? Are <br />s~i ampings and capsizes recorded? Compare to other metro lakes. Compare accident rates to use trends. <br />Since 1985, computer records show 3non-fatal. and no fatal accidents on Owasso (DB): (i) <br />1991- operator fell and boat hit operator, (ii) 1987- ski boat dropped skier 100' from shore and <br />