KIMBALL, Minn. — Dennis Johnson has lived on Carnelian Lake in central Minnesota for 34 years, but he's never seen the water so high in August.
Homeowners at Lake Carnelian in Minnesota want a no-wake policy enforced that would prevent erosion while the lake is swollen.
Heavy rains throughout the summer have pushed the lake over its banks, swallowing lawns, flooding boathouses and threatening homes.
"It's washed away people's backyards," Johnson said.
Johnson helped organize a petition of homeowners who want Stearns County to enact a no-wake zone that would prevent boats from speeding across the lake, creating waves that batter the shore.
The county will address that request at a public hearing today.
"When the boats go by, it makes big waves that wash up over the rocks," he said. "If you don't have rocks, it just washes your yard away."
Dennis Johnson raised his retaining wall and begs boaters to adhere to the no wake policy to protect his Carnelian Lake home.
These rules are widely opposed by boaters and resort owners, who worry about the impact on their recreation and livelihood.
Jim DeRose owns Riverside Resort on Cedar Island Lake near Richmond, Minn. When Stearns County adopted a five-day no-wake zone on the lake in July, some customers canceled their reservations. DeRose said many of his customers look forward to boating, water-skiing and tubing.
"They're not going to book a vacation if there's a chance they can't use their boat," DeRose said.
Among other areas invoking these rules:
•Douglas County near Alexandria, Minn., adopted a no-wake zone Aug. 9 on about 20 of its largest lakes where boating, water-skiing and tubing are popular pastimes.
•Wright County in south-central Minnesota adopted a no-wake zone July 26 for more than a dozen lakes.
Minnesota Land and Resource Director Dave Rush says any wave action created by a boat or the wind causes the water to roll right up onto people's lawns and eat away at the shoreline.
Still, Kelli Ruegemer, who owns Island View Resort on Horseshoe Lake near Richmond, with her husband, Dave, has mixed feelings.
"We're losing shoreline here, but we know that people come to tube," she said. "I can really see both sides."
Some local governments are considering long-term measures. Dane County, Wis., has a permanent rule prohibiting wakes within 200 feet from shore on its lakes.
Tim Asplund, a lake expert with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, says boats create turbulence that disturbs vegetation at the bottom of the lake and create wakes that exacerbate shoreline erosion. Smaller lakes are more susceptible, he says.
Homeowners at Lake Carnelian in Minnesota want a no-wake policy enforced that would prevent erosion while the lake is swollen.
Heavy rains throughout the summer have pushed the lake over its banks, swallowing lawns, flooding boathouses and threatening homes.
"It's washed away people's backyards," Johnson said.
Johnson helped organize a petition of homeowners who want Stearns County to enact a no-wake zone that would prevent boats from speeding across the lake, creating waves that batter the shore.
The county will address that request at a public hearing today.
"When the boats go by, it makes big waves that wash up over the rocks," he said. "If you don't have rocks, it just washes your yard away."
Dennis Johnson raised his retaining wall and begs boaters to adhere to the no wake policy to protect his Carnelian Lake home.
These rules are widely opposed by boaters and resort owners, who worry about the impact on their recreation and livelihood.
Jim DeRose owns Riverside Resort on Cedar Island Lake near Richmond, Minn. When Stearns County adopted a five-day no-wake zone on the lake in July, some customers canceled their reservations. DeRose said many of his customers look forward to boating, water-skiing and tubing.
"They're not going to book a vacation if there's a chance they can't use their boat," DeRose said.
Among other areas invoking these rules:
•Douglas County near Alexandria, Minn., adopted a no-wake zone Aug. 9 on about 20 of its largest lakes where boating, water-skiing and tubing are popular pastimes.
•Wright County in south-central Minnesota adopted a no-wake zone July 26 for more than a dozen lakes.
Minnesota Land and Resource Director Dave Rush says any wave action created by a boat or the wind causes the water to roll right up onto people's lawns and eat away at the shoreline.
Still, Kelli Ruegemer, who owns Island View Resort on Horseshoe Lake near Richmond, with her husband, Dave, has mixed feelings.
"We're losing shoreline here, but we know that people come to tube," she said. "I can really see both sides."
Some local governments are considering long-term measures. Dane County, Wis., has a permanent rule prohibiting wakes within 200 feet from shore on its lakes.
Tim Asplund, a lake expert with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, says boats create turbulence that disturbs vegetation at the bottom of the lake and create wakes that exacerbate shoreline erosion. Smaller lakes are more susceptible, he says.
My only concern with this, is that places tend to just say "oh, make it permanent" once the water goes back down.
Comment