Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association

The City of Chanhassen would like your input on establishing an approved Slow No-Wake Elevation. Through public feedback and cooperation with the Minnesota DNR, the goal is to control erosion and enhance safety at Lake MInnewashta.

We invite you to take the Slow-No Wake feedback survey at http://ci.chanhassen.mn.us/slownowakesurvey

You are Invited – Please Join the Conversation

In the land of 10,000 lakes, the ways we use and share our lakes and rivers impacts you, your neighbors, and your local communities. You are invited to come and talk with local residents, lake associations, anglers, and others interested in enjoying and protecting Minnesota’s lakes and rivers.

Conversations will focus on public access to Minnesota’s lakes and rivers, providing excellent recreational fishing, and stopping the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS).

Come to one of our three August events

We are hosting three events this summer. These gatherings will be different from many other public meetings. There will not be presentations by DNR Staff. The people who come to these events will set the agenda and lead the discussions.

There will be conversations among local residents, lake associations, and anglers focusing on use and protection of our lakes and rivers. We will discuss how local communities can work together better to address shared concerns.

Meeting Times and Locations

Thursday, Aug 1: Alexandria High School, Alexandria

Saturday, Aug 10: Central Lakes College, Brainerd

Thursday, Aug 15: Monticello High School, Monticello

Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. and the events will begin at 10:00 a.m. The events will end no later than 4 p.m. Lunches will be provided at no cost.

• Please pre-register online to help us plan logistics and lunch.
• Share and invite others to join the conversation!

For more information about the events, contact April Rust at april.rust@state.mn.us or 651.259.5706

Events are sponsored by the Minnesota DNR and Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Advisory Committee, to:

1. Bring together local residents, lake associations, and anglers to talk with each other about how public access to and protection of our lakes and rivers impact local communities, and how we can all work together better to provide access and protect our lakes and rivers.
2. Learn what local residents, lake associations, and anglers think needs to be done to address important issues related to angling, public water access and AIS to local communities.

Please come – Set the agenda – Join the conversation

Thanks to the efforts of our volunteer committee and the generosity of our sponsors and our residents, nearly $6,000 was raised as a result of the July 4th festivities in Minnewashta Heights! With the need to contribute $10,000 to Carver County to offset the cost of watercraft inspections, that money is sorely needed.

Special thanks goes to Dawn & Don Berry, Donna Bornhorst, Val & Travis Brasseur, Christy & Steve Brown, Kathy & Jim Dreesen, Margaret Coldwell, John Fabel, Belen Flemming, Cindy & Scott Hanson, Deb & Robyn Hollwedel, Kristin Jackson, Josey & Kevin Johnson, Lynn & Jared Lee, Heather & William Macgowan, Kim & Alex Mortensen, Annie & Eric Paul, Mary & Keith Pickering, Marlys & Benno Gapstur Sands,  Jenny & Tom Shawgo, Courtnay Suter, Brandi & Chad Virgin, Angie Weaver, Sarah & David Wells. Not everyone was pictured below so we apologize to those who were not included.

The LMPA sincerely appreciates your efforts!

With all of the rain we continue to have, the water levels on Lake Minnewashta continue to be very high. While there are currently no restrictions on speed or wake on the lake, if the levels do not drop, a Slow No Wake restriction might be in place early next week. In the meantime, please be considerate of your neighbors and drive slowly and with caution. This is especially important in the channels where shoreline damage is likely.  If you must go fast or if you want to wake surf, please take to the center of the lake whenever possible. Remember that within 100 feet of shore, boating must ALWAYS be done at a slow no wake speed.

Also, please remember that sound travels further over water and that not everyone has the same taste in music. Please keep the volume on your stereo at a reasonable level, especially in the early morning and evening.

There are noise ordinances and boating regulations and sheriff patrols on the lake to enforce them. Count on them being out there today and tonight. Let’s all be good neighbors and enjoy the lake together. 

Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES), operator of the metro-area
wastewater collection and treatment system, is continuing its response to a wastewater spill caused by a hole in one of its regional force main sanitary sewers that occurred on Thursday, June 20, in the City of Chanhassen.

Water quality monitoring:
MCES water quality monitoring results from Friday, June 28, and Monday, July 1, showed continued low bacteria levels at three monitoring sites at the north end of Lake Minnewashta, and staff have removed spill warning signs from the lakeshore. Water quality monitoring the week of June 24 also confirmed that several public areas of the lake were not affected by the spill. Bacteria levels in a stormwater streambed and holding pond just northwest of the lake were below the state water quality standard last week, but were above the standard on July 1, likely from rainfall-driven runoff over the weekend. MCES staff will collect water samples from these sites again today (July 3), and continue water quality monitoring until bacteria levels are consistently below the state water quality standard.

Site restoration:
MCES has an emergency contractor working at the spill site today (July 3) along the south side of Highway 7 west of Arbor Lane. The contractor is removing contaminated soil from a ditch along Highway 7, and placing new topsoil and seed. This should improve the water quality in future rainfall runoff that flows from this ditch into the stormwater streambed and pond northwest of the lake. The contractor also will add gravel and grade the area that was excavated June 21 to access and repair the broken sewer pipe. This will temporarily re-open a segment of bike trail until we can re-pave it in the next several weeks.

For more information, contact Tim O’Donnell, Environmental Services communications, at tim.odonnell@metc.state.mn.us or 651-602-1269.